Our Local Paper

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject: Our Local Paper

Our paper (yes, we have only 1 here) has this thing called "Rapid Response". They pick a topic, ask a question, and people who sign up for the "Reader Panel" reply. They then select several to be printed in the paper. While I usuall reply, I seldom get printed, as my views are not usually considered "appropriate" (pronounced LIBERAL)

Here is this weeks example, anybody care to bet on wether or not my reply gets printed?

Question: High school graduation rates for Indiana have been released, and statewide 76.5 percent of high school students graduated on time in 2007, according to the state Department of Education.

All Tippecanoe County public schools posted declines in their graduation rate, with the exception of Jefferson High School, which increased its graduation rate from 63.6 percent to 70.1 percent. McCutcheon High School's graduation rate dipped to 72.9 percent, down from 76.5 percent in 2006; Harrison High School posted a rate of 80.8 percent, down from 2006's 85.7 percent; West Lafayette's rate dropped to 86.1 percent in 2007, down from 95.4 percent in 2006 (officials are disputing that decline.) A new formula was used to create 2006 graduation rates, and then amended to produce this year's results.

How do you feel about the results, and what do you think should be done with this information?

MY REPLY:

According to the question, the percentages given are worthless. "A new formula was used to create 2006 graduation rates, and then amended to produce this year's results."
What "new" formula? It's simple math. The formula should be (Graduates this year / Seniors this year) x 100. Simple, basic math. But considering the number of adults with high school diplomas who are functionally illiterate and/or can't calculate their correct change in the supermarket line without looking at the register display, I guess these new formulas work.

Eric D. Swearingen
Lafayette, IN
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Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject:

Your right, I'm considered a conservative thats pronounced republican and we will probably never agree again lol. I think they do the same thing in Howard county they use whatever formula makes their percentages look better, so they can grab that grant money. Rolling Eyes

Also I agree with alot of schools that will have sports programs but the money they put into these programs I think should be put into education to make sure these people can at least be able to do math and read before they graduate them.

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

Nicely done, HTR! Succinct, factual and to the point. I'm sure you won't be surprised when this letter is not printed either Wink

Having said that, please allow me to use this as a springboard to sound-off on yet another topic that sparks my ire.

I am fifty years old and in college to get a degree in order to get a "good" job. Despite over thirty years of real-world work experience and owning my own business for much of that time. My point? How often do we see news stories telling us how businesses are disappointed with the labor pool they have to choose from? These businesses lament the fact that college graduates are coming to them to apply for jobs and they can't even read at a middle-school level. I can tell you from experience (having sat through four semesters at a community college now) that high school graduates cannot seem to read at the most basic level. I remain amazed!

Yet these same businesses won't even give you a second look if you don't have.......a college degree! WTF?! Experience counts for nothing anymore, they insist that you have a degree rather than a brain/experience. Gee, do I sound bitter?

The bottom line is this; If the schools responsible for educating our youngsters cannot recognize their role in this farce how will the choices for businesses ever improve?

Thanks for allowing me to sound-off, HTR.
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Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

I agree in my career field I see alot of college graduates that couldn't find their own butt with both hands. I'm not saying college isn't a good thing but I have seen alot of college people that have NO common sense but are book smart. Whatever happened to having past experience. It seems some employers think that if you have a paper saying you sat through classes, that makes you perfect for a job. Wrong..

I guess we are all older and bitter...lol

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject:

Too true...

In my area, many of the highschools are labeled as "Dropout Factories" (guess why Wink

), and they turn the percentages into very complex math, when they COULD just do like you suggested, Redneck. I'm telling you, society in general is going to hell.
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

They haven't asked anything about college degrees yet, but when they do I will give them my usual reply...

There are some rare cases such as Cynic or even my sister-in-law where an adult is going to college to further his or her education. But for the most part, a college degree is just a piece of paper that says "Mommy and Daddy had enough money to get rid of my sorry a$$ for 4 years."

Sorry, I share the same bitterness about degreed idiots... Until they start having classes like Comon Sense 101 or Second Semester Reality Check, college degrees and High School diplomas are the same "I sat in a room for x amount of time".
_________________
Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject:

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:54 pm Post subject:

Later in life?! Dude, I'm 50 years old, my later is almost here. Crying or Very sad

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject:

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject:

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:18 am Post subject:

Here's a not-so-new twist on the college vs. reality issue.

Just found out last night that after 26 years working for the city of Lafayette, my step-daughter's boyfriend has been let go... His most recent post was that of Supervisor for the road department... (The ones responsible for snow removal among other things...)

The city government has, in it's infinite wisdom, decided to replace his job with basically a new position with the exact same responsibilities, but a different title... And oh yeh, the new title requires a college degree... Since he doesn't have one, he is out of work...

Someone please explain to me how a college degree is better than 26 years of on the job experience, because I just don't get it...
_________________
Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject:

I'd be interested to know if the new guy can read. Rolling Eyes

_________________

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage!

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

Just a quick addendum, my response actually got printed in this past sunday's paper... I would presume that they got so few responses back that they had to print everyone's just to fill the column... Can't wait for the next question... Twisted Evil

_________________
Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!

Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Way to go, HTR! Perhaps the logic of your argument overwhelmed them and they felt they had no choice but to print it. Wink

In this morning's edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch I had a letter-to-the-editor printed as well. Mine was in response to a gun-control idiot from last weeks edition. Here is the link to the letter that sparked my ire (read - Gun Enthusiasts Look Like a Sketchy Bunch):

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/letters.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-19-0014.html

Here is my response (edited down by the newspaper. Read - What Gives Him the Right to Deny Others' Rights?):

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/letters.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-01-28-0043.html

Here is the full text of my letter, before the editors whittled away at it.

January 19, 2008

Dear Editor,

I am compelled to respond to the letter-to-the-editor in this morning’s edition of the Times-Dispatch, by Robert L. Vidrick, Sr., of Mechanicsville (Gun Enthusiasts Look Like a Sketchy Bunch).

Please allow me to begin by pointing out that Mr. Vidrick’s ignorance regarding the Second Amendment is astounding, but not surprising. For any reading of that amendment and the history behind it to conclude that it pertains to “regulated” militias is to belie one’s lack of comprehension. The amendment speaks to the fact that “the people” at large are the militia. I would challenge Mr. Vidrick and his ilk to actually look into the history of the writing of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights and then come to the same conclusion he espouses.

Now, as regards his alluding to those who attend gun shows as being “less than deserving of the right to bear arms.” Who is he referring to? Does Mr. Vidrick think that I am undeserving of that right? I live in an upper-middle class area of Chesterfield County. My wife and I enjoy an income that is well above the poverty line. We have two teenage children who attend school and have part-time jobs. My wife is college educated and I am now going to college full-time in order to receive a degree in history and political science, with the intention of becoming a teacher. I have no criminal record and a concealed carry permit granted by the county government (having gone through a thorough background check).

Perhaps Mr. Vidrick is referring to my brother-in-law, who has worked full-time for the same company for over twenty-five years. He and his wife are rearing two fine young boys who are excellent students, one of whom works part-time while attending high school. My brother-in-law and his sons are avid hunters and well versed in firearms safety. He and I have attended the gun shows that were alluded to. Are our rights to be discarded if we do not fit Mr. Vidrick’s standards for gun ownership?

Perhaps Mr. Vidrick is referring to those who do not share his appreciation for fine fashion, or maybe he doesn’t like the cars they drive, or the way they style their hair. I’m not really sure what standards Mr. Vidrick applies to those who should be allowed to own firearms in a free republic. I certainly hope he wasn’t referring to their race or ethnic background.

It should be noted that those who set up tables at gun shows, to sell firearms, are, in fact must be, licensed. Those who purchase guns at gun shows must also go through the instant background check that is mandated by state law. Mr. Vidrick seems to paint with a rather broad brush when it comes to talking about gun shows, and gun owners and their rights. I wonder what category we should place Mr. Vidrick in?

Sincerely,
Floyd C. Bayne