A Slender Rosie...

With all of the photo-shopping going on lately, it seems that Rosie O'Donnell was the next most likely candidate. Katie Couric looked great in her new pictures, and Al-Reuters and the New York Times have been doing it for years.

It's a great picture. I'm glad that it doesn't endanger any lives or blame America or George Bush first. In fact, Rosie says she likes the picture.

Here's wishing Rosie O'Donnell and The View a great season in 2006-2007.

God Bless Don Rumsfeld

In the midst of the worst attack on any public figure in recent history, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld gave a stunning speech on Monday further explaining and defining the current events in Iraq. He received little coverage for the speech with the exception of incessant, liberal sniping for being political. Wow! The liberal elites who manipulate the media every day are calling an American who has spent a large part of his adult life in resplendent service to our nation a hypocrite. Smarmy news bimbos get to mislead the public about the war while calling Mr. Rumsfeld a hypocrite. While Rumsfeld and the men and women of our armed forces fight terrorism, these people blame America for everything wrong with the world. After all, Jack Murtha said that we created the terrorists.

Secretary Rumsfeld’s articulate words speak for the entire conservative movement at this point.

I'm not one to put much faith in opinion polls. But the other day, I came across an interesting set of statistics that I want to mention. It seems that the Pew Research Center asked opinion leaders in the United States their views of the prospects for a stable democracy in Iraq. Here were some of the results: 63% of people in the news media thought the enterprise would fail. So did 71% of people in the foreign affairs establishment and 71% in academic settings or think tanks.

Interestingly, opinion leaders from the U.S. military are optimistic about Iraq by a margin of 64% to 32%. And so is the American public, by a margin of 56% to 37%. And the Iraqi people are also optimistic. I've seen this demonstrated repeatedly--in public opinion polls, in the turnout for the elections, and that tips to authorities from ordinary Iraqis have grown from 483 to 4,700 tips in a month.

This prompts the question: Which view of Iraq is more accurate? The pessimistic view of so-called elites in our country--or the optimism expressed by millions of Iraqis and by the roughly 158,000 troops on the ground? But, most important is the question: why should Iraq's success or failure matter to the American people? I'd like to address these questions today.

Secretary Rumsfeld concludes with these comments:

"So I suggest to editors and reporters--whose good intentions I take for granted--to do some soul searching. To ask: how will history judge--if it does--the reporting decades from now when Iraq's path is settled?
I would urge us all to make every effort to ensure we are telling the whole story. To take a moment for self-reflection and reassessment.

Further it is worth noting that there are 158,000 Americans in uniform who are sending e-mails back to friends and families, telling them the truth as they see it. And much of it is different than what those in the United States are seeing and reading about every day
Our country is waging a battle unlike any other in history. We are waging it in a media age unlike any that war fighters have ever known. In this new century, we all need to make adjustments--in government and in the media. And change is hard.

But to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, we are all Republicans. We are all Democrats. We are all Americans. We are all in this together. And what we do today will not only impact us, but our children and our grandchildren, and the kind of world they will live in. "

God Bless Don Rumsfeld!

Others on this topic: Sister Toldjah has it right! From the Left has an interesting take.

Villanious Compnay has a treatise on the topic. The American Spectator has a wonderful article.

Neal Boortz on TV

The always wonderful MsUnderestimated has up two exquisite posts this morning that provide detail on the brainless dribble of some folks on cable news. Tucker Carlson’s latest pathetic attempt at a news show has a segment called “three on three.” I wish we had video like so many other blogs.

I just happened to see this part of his show on Wednesday afternoon when Tucker was “interviewing” his three guests: Jerry Springer, the always hateful and creepy Jennie Backus, and libertarian Neal Boortz. There is little wonder why Tucker Carlson is a failure. He is one of two or three faux conservatives who provide a slight veneer on the otherwise liberal façade at MSNBC. Both Tucker and Joe Scarborough are huge disappointments as anchors and as conservatives. These two gentlemen don’t even do a good job posing as anchormen or conservatives any longer.

Anyway, as MsUnderestimated demonstrates in her commentary and video, that the “three on three” segment was completely ridiculous. Tucker has no concept of balancing the time between his guests, and he seems to be compelled to argue with every conservative as he tries to prove his independence to the authorities at NBC. Tucker joined in on shouting down Neal with Jennie and Jerry. When given his few seconds to talk, Neal made some excellent points.

Jenny and Jerry are obviously both accustomed to and enjoy shout fests, and Jerry showed why his syndicated spectacle is always a frenzied mess without any useful purpose to an intellectual pursuit of living. It is amazing that in our free society that anyone would consider having Jerry Springer on as a guest commentator for any political or international affairs topic. It would seem that Mr. Springer would have forfeited any credibility by hosting that trash talking, tabloid sickening circus for the last ten years.

MSNBC and the low rated, disgraceful performance of Tucker Carlson are barely worth a comment. At least Ms U. was able to make the entire episode entertaining. Stop by and check her out-she’s got a great news site with precious commentary and useful insight.

See the original post of Ms. U.

She has another great post featuring video of Neal on Hannity and Colmes.

Well, Well, Well, It's Armitage-Not Rove, Cheney, or Libby...What Now...

Although it has been known and reported for some time, The Wall Street Journal today made the news very mainstream: the entire Valerie Plame identity scandal was nothing more than a media obsession with a crime that NEVER existed.

From its very start, the ballyhooed case of who leaked the name of CIA analyst Valerie Plame to columnist Robert Novak has been drenched in partisan politics and media hypocrisy. The more we learn, however, the more it also reveals about the internal dysfunction of the Bush Administration and the lack of loyalty among some of its most senior officials.In other words, the leaker wasn't Karl Rove or Scooter Libby or anyone else in the White House who has been accused of running a conspiracy against Ms. Plame as revenge for her husband Joe Wilson's false accusations against the White House's case for war with Iraq. So what have the last three years been all about anyway? Political opportunism and internal score-settling, among other things.
While conspiracy theories can be used to weave an intricate plotline, the wild-eyed, totally contrived theories promulgated by liberals and their willing accomplices in the media are finally exposed as the deceitful heresy that has become the foundation of the democrat party. If democrats plan to use these fabricated mantras as Fall campaign slogans, the November elections should prove to be very entertaining.

Although Richard Armitage has been outed as the source for the original Rober Novak column, we must remember that there is not now, nor has the ever been a crime committed against Valerie Plame or the United States government. It has been well established the Plame was not an undercover employee any longer, and in any case, she had already outed herself publicly many times over. We explained this in a detailed post on October 23, 2005.

"So, here is what we have. Valerie Plame uses here married name, her cover name, working at the CIA front company called Brewster-Jennings & Associates, contributes $1,000 to the Gore campaign. The media spins this as a revelation resulting from the Novak article-and of course, Karl Rove. But, this is not what this shows. What this shows is that Valerie Plame blew her own cover because she contributed to the campaign of Gore under the same name that she used for her undercover, her married name, and the name of a CIA front company that she worker for. So, Valerie Plame violates who knows what other kinds of protocol using her undercover name, exposing the existence of a CIA front company and all of this is totally ignored because supposedly her name was leaked and that is how people noticed. Now, this is a clever, clever attempt to try to spin the as she didn't do anything wrong. Why is it perfectly normal for an American and CIA agent to contribute and want to contribute to the Gore campaign."

Also, often lost in the devious, democrat, demagoguery parroted by the mainstream media for more than three years is the fact that every assertion by Joe Wilson (aka Clown Wilson) has been proven indisputably false.

"ON JULY 22, 2005, the New York Times published a lengthy, front-page article detailing the work of two senior Bush administration officials, Karl Rove and Scooter Libby, on the Niger-uranium story. A seemingly exhaustive timeline ran alongside the piece. In 19 bullet points, the Times provided its readers in considerable detail with what it regarded as the highlights of the story. The timeline traces events from the initial request for more information on the alleged Iraqi inquiries in Africa to Joseph Wilson's trip to Niger; from the now-famous "16 words" in President Bush's 2003 State of the Union to the details of White House telephone logs; from Bush administration claims that Karl Rove was not involved in the leak to the naming of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, and on from there to the dates that White House officials testified before the grand jury.
As I say, seemingly exhaustive. But there is one curious omission: July 7, 2004. On that date, the bipartisan Senate Select Intelligence Committee released a 511-page report on the intelligence that served as the foundation for the Bush administration's case for war in Iraq. The Senate report includes a 48-page section on Wilson that demonstrates, in painstaking detail, that virtually everything Joseph Wilson said publicly about his trip, from its origins to his conclusions, was false."

Only a media culture in which Bush hatred has become the psychotic, impenetrable template for news could produce news stories that make Wilson appear at all credible. The mainstream media continued today to focus on their own irresponsible vendetta while missing the two key elements of this episode.

Since the embarrassing revelation, the Paul Begala wing of the liberal party has been strangely silent. When any of these strident voices fall silent on any topic, it means more than an admission of defeat, it means that further discussion of the tired issue might endanger Ned Lamont or some other current “cut and run” darling of the extreme left. Valerie Plame and Clown Wilson must be sitting at home feeling like a used woman: they were paid for their services and discarded afterwards.

Others on this topic: Rhymes with Right, Donklephant, Mike's Noise has a Fabulous post.
InstaPundit, GOP Bloggers. Not-A-Pundit.

Mark Levin weighs in..

Huber Heights Teacher's Strike: Media Circus

As we previously stated at Thespis Journal, things aren’t always as they appear to be in the mainstream media.-especially in a strike situation. Although the Dayton News stations have made valiant attempts to cover the news radiating from Huber Heights, these mainstream media outlets have lived up their nickname of being the “drive-by” media. Sketchy facts and supported by sound snippets and finished off with remarks from anchor people who have no idea what might be actually transpiring. All three of the newscasts led their 11:00pm Tuesday telecasts with the news of the “forced” federal mediation taking place in Columbus today. Each of the three networks also foolishly sounded a clarion call that school might resume on Thursday, August 31. While school could resume on Thursday, it seems unlikely, and the real news coming from Huber Heights had nothing to do with school resuming on Thursday or any other day in the near future.

The Huber Heights Education Association has repeatedly requested to return to the table. The hapless Superintendent Kirby seemed to think that he would force the teacher’s to return to the table and forfeit their right to strike. He still seems intent on having the strike declared illegal, yet he has never explained to the public the benefit of having this strike declared illegal. Absent an agreement on a new master contract, the teachers could strike again with a new ten notice, and the district could experience another several days or weeks of turmoil.

Without a doubt, every member of HHEA is thrilled that talks are taking place today. True professionals would always rather be with their students teaching and learning. The blame for the interruption of school lies with Superintendent Kirby, his team and his board. Their failure to bring closure to the process has earned him the distinction of being idiot of the week. Kirby has spent more than a week worried about the legality of the strike. He should have been worried about getting students and teachers back in school.

A lot of the current crisis has been brought about as a result of an alternative Mutually Agree Dispute Resolution Procedure (MAD). Both sides agreed to a legally binding change in the procedure. In a pattern that he established in his previous district in Indiana, Mr. Kirby could not abide by his own agreement. He is very familiar with contracts not being settled since the teachers in his last school district worked for two years without a contract. Kirby brought this baggage with him to Huber Heights. Kirby’s tarnished history with labor relations demonstrates what we have been saying all along: the Superintendent is at the center of all that is wrong in the Huber Heights crisis.

Hopefully, the talks went well today. The football team was practicing, so all is well in the district. Prior to Wednesday, all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities had stopped. Surely, the pressure to settle a contract must be enormous. Parents should be demanding to get their students back in school. School may be in session yet this week. While it is a guessing game, Mr. Kirby’s history and blatant disregard for his teachers and his lack of integrity may cause a longer strike than the mainstream media wants us to believe. It seems like the real question to some is the status of the football game on Friday night.

The Dayton Daily News has more.
Detroit Schools Show Down: Teachers on Strike
Perkins Teachers are on Strike too. More on the Perkins Strike

The 82nd Carnival of Education

Welcome to the 82nd Edition of the Carnival of Education
Special Theatrical Edition
Featuring Articles submitted from across the Edusphere

Have you ever had a day, a week, a month, or an entire school year when you thought it would be appropriate for your students, colleagues, or administrators to form the cast of a Broadway play or musical? Do you sometimes find yourself in melodramatic episodes that could be written into a fully formed script or libretto? If so….read on…

Thespis Journal is proud to present education articles from a panoramic view across the horizon of teaching and learning. You might want to play some music from Phantom of the Opera, Annie, Gypsy, Hairspray, or even Wicked as accompaniment for your trip to the Great White Way.

I am expressing my sincere apology to each of you in advance for the lack of parallel structure in the outline of these posts.

Scott Elliott at Get on the Bus will host next weeks carnival. Submissions are due to Scott next Tuesday, September 5 by 9:00pm. EDT. Send your submissions to scemel@aol.com.

Leading Actor...

From the Trenches of Public Education takes a leading role in today’s theatrical carnival with his post, The Right to Burn the Flag and Shoot Ourselves in the Foot. The fine line between innovative lesson demonstrations and public perceptions of our work is carefully explored by Mr. Fermoyle. You might want to check out the book In The Trenches.

The Textbook Evaluator has a great post relative to the marketing and creation of textbooks. There is true expertise in his post.

“Let me be clear, however. I am not against textbooks, nor do I have it in for the big textbook publishers. I do not support the radical decentralization of instructional decisions to individual classroom teachers. My general beef with instructional materials is NOT the materials themselves. My frustration is that the structure of the market for educational materials does not reward innovation, does not reward effectiveness, and does not lead to general improvements in student performance.”

At Texas Ed (a voice from outside public education), there is a powerfully worded, well conceived post about the over-valuation of football coaches in Texas. It’s hard to argue with T-Ed’s reasoning.

The Education Wonks award The Knucklehead of the Day. You have to read the post-the driver is truly a bonehead.

D-Ed Reckoning has a post regarding clueless newspaper reporting.

Ms. Cornelius at A Shrewdness of Apes wins a Tony Award for her leading role in being the most theme appropriate this week when she writes, When Teaching School is like a Divine Comedy. How did she know we needed a comedy, and it's only the second week of school?

The King And I...
In the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein classic the King and I, the King of Siam rules with infinite authority making all decisions: Mrs. Anna teaches the King’s numerous children.

The King’s Choice:

In this touching and revealing post at Meri Musings, the author tells of taking her daughter to the first day of kindergarten.

The American Spectator has a thoughtful and instructive post “No Sex Please: We’re Teenagers.”

Right Wing Nation takes Educration and Liberalism to task. They invented the term, go there for the instruction. No doubt, Right Wing Nation would have no tolerance for the King's dictatorship.

Mrs. Anna’s Lessons:

The Author of Teaching in the Twenty-First Century quotes the most well-known lyrics sung by Mrs. Anna in The King And I. The very appropriately titled post is “Getting to Know You."

It’s a very ancient saying,
But a true and honest thought,
That if you become a teacher,
By your pupils you’ll be taught.

There’s nothing to Teach is the title of a post at Supreme Narcissism. The post explores the debate over teaching “intelligent design,” and the pitfalls of sex education.

Sex education from a different perspective is featured in an astute post at NYC Educator. NYC Educator titles the post: Forget Merit Pay!

Mrs. Anna must have some very difficult lessons to teach the children of Siam these days because Jon Swift takes an off-beat view of funding for subjects like science and the like. Swift’s sarcastic wit could be put to good use at our school.

Diane Weir has a lesson for all of us on being an advocate for pre-schoolers vs. being an advocate for preschool. This pungent post is worth it for all of us as a reminder to keep the kids needs first.

The History Boys...
(The 2006 Tony Award for best new play)

There’s a Colorado Flag update at Millard Fillmore’s bathtub.

The Good Human has more on the Colorado flag incident. This is a great post with several links.

A History Teacher says "They Don't Get It, We Can Help." I hope that this History Teacher gets to see History Boys.

From History is Elementary: What is it Going to Take -a wonderful post on motivation.


Wicked...
(The 2003 smash hit featuring songs of the legendary Stephen Schwartz. Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and is noticeably more inspired and artistic.)

Scheiss Weekly has a post for us that reminds me of Elphaba, that Wicked Witch of the West: Fire burn and cauldron bubble; That one witch is rambling again.

I keep saying this but here it is again: There are certain skills that intelligent persons simply must have, at certain ages. When one becomes a self-sustaining adult, (which status of course many 'adults' never attain because their families and they themselves allowed them to go through school without doing or learning anything!!!) (My SELF ESTEEM!!!!!!) a decent person will be armed with skills, marketable skills, with which to earn one's own living.

Alexander at This Week in Education writes about the rate of Blogging, and the appropriate number of posts for an education blogger. There are two week totals of posts from several prominent education blogs and a comparison chart. This is Wicked good.

Edspresso has a salty posting in which they respond to commentary and concerns from AFT members.

NCLB Let's Get It Right pours the java right back in Wicked fashion to Edspresso. These two bloggers could create and intriguing plotline to watch at the theater.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest...
The Tony Award winning play by Dale Wasserman that explores a ward of mentally challenged patients. Cuckoo’s Nest is a compelling drama, and a famous movie circa 1975.

Campus Watch has an article filled with additional information regarding the use of the popular site Facebook as a coping technique relative to the tragedies at Virginia Tech.

Going to the Mat has a detailed post with analysis regarding Principal Signing Bonuses In Maryland: Incentive without Insurance. Like many concerned citizens today, Matt demands accountability measures that accompany the pay incentives.

At Get Lost Mr. Chips, the author tells a tale about the first day of school that had to make the teachers believe they were starring in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.

Children of Eden...

This post reminds me of the show-stopping musical number Generations from the Stephen Schwartz musical Children of Eden. What It’s Like on the Inside has a post regarding the class of 2010. Warning: this might make seasoned educators feel as though you have been teaching for Generations.

Chris Quimby illustrates that there is no back to school for homeschoolers and boasts about the advantages of home schooling in a poetic treatise called Back To School.

Online Charter Schools are not synonomis with Home Schooling! Spunky Home School has quite an essay on this topic, and she's right! I'm not sure what qualifies an online charter as a school. (This is an editor's choice article.)

Trivium Pursuit Blog has information on Vitruvius in for home schooling.

Creative Home Schooling Is Thinking Out of The Box boasts of a success on a standardized test for a home schooled child. Way to go!

Sometimes it is better to do nothing! Read all about it in Paul's Tips.

The Pajama Game...
In this 1954 musical, the workers at the Sleep Tite Pajama Factory are about to go on strike for a pay raise.

Scott says the Huber Heights Strike is difficult to handicap. Thespis says that Superintendent Kirby needs to lead. Best wishes to the Huber Heights, Ohio teachers who are fighting for teachers wages and rights for local teachers and teachers across Ohio!


Featured Actor...

Scott Elliot at Get on the Bus has a caution for teachers-especially teachers of primary grade children-regarding overly complex and demanding school supply lists. Scott has a point about public perceptions regarding alternative agendas being promoted through the very specific supply list.

The Hall Monitor also has new ways of acquiring school supplies.

The Workplace Prof Blog has an insightful post on age discrimination in the hiring and promotion of adjunct faculty members.

Where are the students in the National Standards Debate is a question posed and answered by Poor, Starving College Student.

Ms_Teacher is shaking her head in disbelief at grade level promotions. I thought NCLB was supposed to solve all of these issues.

At Discourse About Discourse, the author talks about metawriting and best and worst writing prompts. This featured performer asks for feedback about the performance.

Anonymous Educator posts on the topic of internet addiction for students and battling this internet addiction.

The Jill Carroll Story comes from The Current Events in Education from an extremely creative and imaginative teacher. There are even lesson ideas; how wonderful!

A Teacher from New York spending a year in Turkey sends in the latest report.

In a timely post the HunBlog provides an update on Katrina's Aftermath on Education.

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying...
The 1962 Tony-Award Winning Best Musical

Matt Inglot shares secrets with college students regarding starting their own business. Success Points for Starting A Business as a Student could make you a millionaire by age 40!

Peter Pan...

Scheiss Weekly has a wonderful post about her confused experiences with a teacher and the novel for children, Peter Pan. This is a fascinating post. You might want to think of the marvelous Jule Styne music, Never land Waltz as you are reading.

Applause! Applause! Thanks for visiting the special theatrical edition of the Carnival of Education. See you on the midway next week!

Check out the Carnival of Education Archives.

Check out the Mudville Gazette on the naming of a school.
A Post on Guest Blogging at Junkyard Blog
The Conservative Cat

Kirby's Latest Fumble

Superintendent William Kirby seems like he has done it again! He has proven that he is inept at utilizing two of the most fundamental management techniques in a strike situation. If he manages the Huber Heights Schools so recklessly on a daily basis, there is little wonder why the district is facing this crisis.

Kirby should be using his time to facilitate a settlement in the on-going dispute. All of the efforts of Kirby and his negotiating team should be directed at bringing closure to the conflict. Students need to be in school, and they deserve competent teachers who are in the classroom eager to teach and mentor all the young people in the Huber Heights Schools.

Instead Kirby is playing classic games, yet he obviously has no skill or expertise in forcing a settlement. His efforts appear bumbling at best, and totally mean-spirited at worst. First, according to the Tuesday edition of the Dayton Daily News, Kirby admits to having tried (unsuccessfully) to intimidate his teachers with the threat of canceling their health insurance. He says that the law requires that the benefits be canceled. Kirby's statement is blatantly false. The Board of Education can continue to pay for the benefits if they choose to do so. Most boards do not in a strike situation. Kirby should be man enough to own up to his decision to threaten his teachers and agitate this situation.

Secondly, Kirby has still not made good on his threat to file with the State Employment Relations Board to have the strike declared illegal. Any idiot could have filed that complaint on Friday of last week. Apparently Mr. Kirby's incessant talking about the filing is all that has happened. Surely the public must wonder about Kirby's leadership abilities: it is now Tuesday, and Mr. Kirby and his board have yet to file the concern that has seemed to be the center piece of their strategy to settle the strike. Kirby has been talking about having the strike declared illegal for more than a week. The flaws of Kirby's ridiculous plan are exposed here.

Superintendent Kirby seems to lack the motivation to settle the strike. Obviously, the circumstances of the work stoppage have overwhelmed him. Perhaps it's time for someone else to take the leadership role to get the Huber Heights community through this situation.

Superintendent Continues Delay Tactics

One has to wonder if Superintendent William Kirby has any intentions of ever settling a contract with his teachers. According to the Dayton Daily News, Kirby plans to spend the day today trying to penalize and outmaneuver the teachers instead of talking with them. While refusing to engage a federal mediator, Kirby and his fellow administrators are playing legal games again. Kirby appears willing to invest time in arguing over semantics and trivialities rather than get his teachers and students back in school.

One has to wonder how long this hapless leader will allow this drama to play on.

Lots of other links from the Dayton Daily News.

True Leadership Needed in Huber Heights Strike

While Superintendent William Kirby and his highly paid negotiators spend valuable time worrying about the legality of the teacher’s strike, he and his team could be using their time to foster and promote a settlement that will get the students back to school permanently. The Huber Heights teachers, students, and community deserve more from a man who is supposed to be the educational leader of the community. Kirby seems to have a propensity to focus on trivialities while the community senses a crisis. He displayed a bizarre brand of intellectual bankruptcy when he placed last week’s football game above the fundamental educational needs of the students in the Huber Heights schools. The Huber Heights students and teachers deserve more. Those involved in Huber Heights schools deserve a productive year with a singular focus on teaching and learning; however Mr. Kirby appears to be more concerned with the possibility of a temporary victory that would be nothing more than a band-aid on a gushing wound.

Every time that we see Mr. Kirby in the news or read about him in the newspaper, he is touting his effort to have the strike by the local OEA affiliate declared illegal. Kirby behaves as if the state employment relations board declaring the strike illegal would make the whole situation evaporate. His thinking represents nothing more than a simplistic myth. Teachers would retain their right to strike, and would no doubt file another notice, and be on strike again within a matter of days.

Kirby’s lame move to the State Employment Relations Board followed his pathetic attempt to get the press and the public interested in his blizzard of paperwork which amounted to administrative propaganda regarding the current state of bargaining. Surely, he must have been hoping that if he, acting as deity, could let the teachers know his “final offer” that the teachers would sense his warm personality and melt in their resolve to achieve a fair and equitable settlement. Kirby may have hoped that teachers would shrink from the challenge and be afraid to strike. Friday must have been a harsh reality check for Mr. Kirby.

There’s obviously a lot going on in the Huber Heights teacher’s strike than we are seeing and reading in the mainstream media. There are always many factors at work behind the scenes which are not witnessed by the media or the union members. What is public, however, is Kirby’s determination to keep the district solvent in the years ahead, without regard for the interim stability of the district. A rigid philosophy, holding the financial bottom line above all other factors will not produce an effective district. A truly creative, imaginative leadership team must think beyond the unencumbered balance of the district for fiscal year 2010. Most Ohio school districts are fortunate if they have a fiscal management plan that extends further than two years. By allowing a narrowly defined fiscal policy to control every decision, Kirby has allowed controversy to erupt in the Huber Heights community, and has exposed the district to a level of scrutiny that raises the negative perception of the district in the mind of average voters. Kirby will live to regret all of the circumstances which led to this strike.

In the meantime, it is incumbent on Kirby to get his negotiators back to the table to meet with the Union representatives. Non-stop negotiations should begin immediately. The administration/board side must show some flexibility. Clearly there are resources to produce a settlement that is more attractive than the so-called final offer. It is a little shocking that the administration would resort to the obsolete technique of releasing a “last offer” unless their intent was to implement the offer (forcing the teachers to accept it), and to inflame an already strained process. Kirby seems to have excelled at both of these goals.

A leader must lead, and Kirby has seemed more like a professional whiner than a dynamic leader who can facilitate a solution in this current situation. Superintendent Kirby should lead the way back to the table, and join his teacher’s in a collaborative effort to construct a fair settlement sometime early this week. It’s time to stop playing the games that he has obviously been playing for several months.

Read more in the Dayton Daily News here, here, here, and here.

Kathie Bracy has more.

Ghost Light: Posts of the Week

The drive-by media is trying their best to convince us today that the only story this week is the anniversary of Katrina. Please! There are lots of other interesting news stories and commentary available. Enjoy, and keep the ghost light on.

Seth at Hard Astarboard pokes fun at the democrats for their agenda for the Fall campaign: A War on Wal-Mart. Now, that is laughable!

Dr. Sanity has her weekly "Carnival of the Insanities." You'll enjoy it.

Gull at Perish The Thought has new insights claiming that Kofi Annan has softened his stance against Israel.

The Buzz Blog has the weekly Fair Tax Blogburst. Keep the Fair Tax Alive!

The Education Wonks are tracking the travels and commentary of Margaret Spellings again. It must a terrible life to have to travel the world defending the NCLB legislation.

Mr. McNamar has a great post at The Daily Grind called Whaddya Wanna Bet.

Blue Crab Boulevard tells the story of 128 Hammond, Indiana students suspended on the first day of school for dress code violations.

Joanne Jacobs has information that debunks the cry for more and more P.E.

Scott Ellioit at Get on the Bus has a list of MSM Education Bloggers.

AJ Strata has a short column on Liberal Whiners.

Hot Air reports again on Britan's George Galloway and his moonbat views of the world. He should get over here quick and campaign with Nutty Ned!

They're Alive, Safe, and Free

Fox News is reporting that Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig are safe and free. Everyone is thankful for the release of these two inncocent journalists. So many bloggers kept the story from being forgtotten, and the outcome is a welcome relief. You can watch and listen to Centanni with Shepherd Smith on Fox News this morning. Centanni is was very emotional and relieved. May God Bless these men and their families. Only Centanni, Wiig, and their families understand the meaning of this ordeal.

Fox News has the video and all the news.

Previous post, and links. Michelle Malkin has more.

Right Winged tells of the forced conversion to Islam. MsUnderestimated has her usual comprehensive coverage.

Check out Blue Crab Boulevard

Shame, shame, shame!

Shame, shame, shame! The shame is on visiting Judge Gary McKinley for turning the tables on justice, teaching, and common decency in Kenton, Ohio.

This is almost unbelievable. I say “almost unbelievable” because, if you have witnessed the emphasis that most administrators place on school athletic teams, it is not difficult to believe this sad circumstance. It seems that a local judge believes football to be more important than teaching a life lesson, more important than upholding the intent of the law, and more important than the lives of two young men. The Toledo Blade provides a summary of the story with some editorial content.

And then there are the victims, two blameless young men who are left with disabling injuries and the distinct impression that what happened to them matters less than the future of those who committed the thoughtless act.
In what apparently was supposed to be a prank, the Kenton boys stole a deer decoy and put it in the middle of a road last November so they could watch as motorists swerved to avoid it.
One driver, Robert Roby, Jr., crashed his car, suffering a broken neck, collar bone, arm, and leg. Now 19, he faces his 11th surgery to repair those injuries. His passenger, Dustin Zachariah, 18, wasn't as fortunate. He has brain damage.
The perpetrators, Dailyn Campbell, 16, and Jesse Howard, 17, pleaded no contest to charges of vehicular vandalism and juvenile delinquency counts of possession of criminal tools and theft.
The two were sentenced to house arrest, ordered to pay fines and restitution, and they must write 500-word essays on "Why I Should Think Before I Act." But they're still free to play with the Kenton Wildcats when the team opens its season next Friday. Their coach testified on their behalf.
While it may be true in theory that football builds character in young men, we believe the more important lesson to be taught is that criminal behavior - even a stupid prank gone awry - has serious consequences, and that there are worse things in life than missing a football season.

The anti-public alliance is no doubt lurking in the wings ready to blast public education once again, yet the failure this time is clearly with the legal system.

In an appalling, yet not surprising statement, the Superintendent of Schools, defended the decision of the School Board to permit convicted felons to participate in school sports. ‘‘The healing’s got to start some time,’’ Superintendent Doug Roberts said afterward.

The lesson being taught to countless students, students who are sharp and can figure things out for themselves, is that football players are above the law. Each year, there are many compromises made and lessons learned for student athletes of all stripes. These issues are “in house” issues such as grades and work completed. These episodes that occur in practically every high school in the nation often teach the wrong lesson as well. However, the life and death circumstance perpetrated in Kenton, Ohio by two delinquent young men is beyond the pale.

As a teacher and coach, it would not be good for team morale or the long term efficacy of any program to have convicted felons play on the team. The punishment must fit the crime, and while the punishment might fit for the two guilty boys, the accommodations made for these delinquents are not acceptable.

It’s just another case of athletics trumping everything, and in this case everyone-even precious human lives still hanging in the balance.


Others on this topic: If You Would Just Listen to Me, Conservative Culture, This and That, Mommies at Law, Michael's Corner.

WICKED: Starring Hilary, Ned, Jack, and Ray

Hilary Clinton, Jack Murtha, and Ray Nagin, taken collectively, had quite a week. This is not the first time that they have been cited as singing their song of gauche harmony within a few days of each other. It’s almost as if the New York Times kicked off another story for the cast of Hilary, Jack, and Ray to sound off in a discordant unison. Hilary was responsible for the round off back tuck that brought the verbal gymnastics to a conclusion on Friday. Attempting to pull off the mother of all political triangulations, Hilary had a rendezvous with Ned Lamont to stage-manage and scheme for his campaign against Joe Lieberman. Never mind that Bill Clinton campaigned vigorously for Lieberman in the primary or that Hilary endorsed old Joe just a few weeks ago. The leftist, socialist wing of her party has surrounded her like the winged monkeys of Oz to demand her loyalty to their patron saint, Ned, as he attempts to unseat the evil Joe. Leave it to Hilary to fly in on her broom and attempt to save the day. The monkeys’ will no doubt protect her as they fly rapidly, in a vulture like formation, to protect her against all the elements of Oz, or in this case, The Times, The Post, and The Daily Kos.

From the New York Post: August 26, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday jumped off the sidelines to throw the full weight of her monstrous political machine behind anti-war Democratic darling Ned Lamont - a move aimed at appeasing her liberal critics. To help Lamont thwart an independent general election challenge from Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, Clinton is loaning Lamont her trusted political spinmeister Howard Wolfson and vowing to help the political novice raise gobs of campaign cash. The relationship is mutually beneficial: While Lamont gets access to Clinton's campaign experts and fund-raisers; she can reap some of the liberal love being heaped on Lamont by party activists and bloggers. She revealed the stunning scope of her support over coffee during an hour-long meeting with Lamont, his wife Annie and his campaign manager Tom Swan at her Chappaqua home yesterday morning.

And, the Daily Kos loved it! In well over 300 comments, readers of the Daily Kos express their obvious glee at the meeting of Elphaba and Fiyero. (If lost, see the Wicked homepage). In the meantime, The Times, The Post, and The Daily Kos are cheering Hilary on in her latest display of unadulterated duplicity. These media outlets hold only conservatives accountable.

Jack Murtha had his moment in Oz this week too. Murtha continues to blame America for the rise of terrorism in the world, and therefore espouses the appeasement strategy of Europe by default.

Poor Jack Murtha, he's tried everything, and he obviously can't help it. He will say anything to get back to the front and center of the mainstream media circus. He seems to know precisely what to say to return his name and picture to the front pages of the mainstream media. "Instead of deterring terrorism, our policies are fostering it," Murtha said. "We're spending $8 billion a month on this war, our courageous fighting men and women are being killed and maimed and we are wreaking havoc on Iraq. An end must be brought to this now.” Murtha truly believes that America has created the terrorism. His logic surely applies to pre-9.11 policy as well. Therefore, Murtha blames America for 9.11 and the entire scope of worldwide terrorism. What a fool! It looks like Murtha has the early lead for idiot of the week.

To continue with the Wicked theme, Murtha seems to see himself as the great Wizard himself, behind the curtain, pulling the strings and pushing the buttons. Too bad Murtha already overplayed his hand, and pulled his own curtain away as he exposed his true motive: to run for majority leader when Nancy Pelosi ascends to Speaker. Murtha’s fifteen minutes of fame has probably just entered its final Act.

With Hilary as Elphaba, Lamont as Fiyero, and Murtha as the Wizard, Nagin completes our cast today in the role of Madame Morrible. An aging magician, trying to instruct others in the craft, Morrible often gets her foot in her mouth. The comparison to Nagin is obvious. His colorful comments are approaching the status of legendary, and if we didn’t know they were true, Nagin’s comments would seem like something straight from the Myth of Oz.

With the onslaught of Katrina anniversary stories just about to begin there is just another irresponsible statement from Ray Nagin: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin criticized efforts to develop the empty World Trade Center site when confronted in a television interview about delays in rebuilding his city after Hurricane Katrina. During the CBS "60 minutes" interview, a correspondent pointed out flood-damaged cars still on the streets of New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward. Nagin replied, "You guys in New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later. So let's be fair," according to CBS.

From the New York Daily News: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin refused to apologize for taking a cheap shot at the sluggish rebuilding of Ground Zero - but Mayor Bloomberg would not hit back. Bloomberg said he was "scrupulously avoiding criticizing anybody" and focused on the efforts New Yorkers made to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina last year. "We sent down police officers, firefighters, correction officers, equipment to New Orleans," Bloomberg said on his weekly radio show. "So I'll let Mayor Nagin worry about [rebuilding] New Orleans and I'll try to do everything I can to help the governor here." Nagin had upset some New York officials by invoking Ground Zero during a tour of New Orleans' still-decimated Ninth Ward in an attempt to deflect criticism about the pace of the cleanup in the Big Easy.

Come on Ray, you're slipping. This comment didn't have the humor of your earlier comments like "Chocolate City." This was just mean-spirited and stupid. Maybe you and Kathleen Blanco need another skirmish to bring out your best verbal fireworks.

Is it possible in Nagin's twisted mind that the Katrina disaster and a terrorist attack are equivalent events? In what universe does Nagin exist...

We have assembled part of our cast for this upcoming production of Wicked. The days ahead, replete with fabricated Katrina plotlines and half truths, will no doubt provide fodder for more trips down that famed yellow brick road of fantasy, fiction, and contrived intrigue.


Check out Stop the ACLU, MsUnderestimated, Michelle Malkin, Captain's Quarters, TMH's Bacon Bits, Mudville Gazette, Hot Air.

Ray Nagin's Twisted Mind

With the onslaught of Katrina anniversary stories just about to begin there is just another irresponsible statement from Ray Nagin:

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin criticized efforts to redevelop the World Trade Center site when confronted in a television interview about delays in rebuilding his city after Hurricane Katrina.

During the CBS "60 minutes" interview, a correspondent pointed out flood-damaged cars still on the streets of New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward. Nagin replied, "You guys in New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later. So let's be fair," according to CBS.

Come on Ray, you're slipping. This comment didn't have the humor of your earlier comments like "Chocolate City." This was just mean-spirited and stupid. Is it possible in Nagin's twisted mind that the Katrina disaster and a terrorist attack are eqivilent events? In what universe is Nagin existing...

Red Hawk Review
Ten Stupid Things Said By Liberals
Junkyard Blog
The Jerry Springer, Al Gore, Ray Nagin, Hilary Clinton, and Jack Murtha America
The New York Daily News

Our Covert Enemies

Michael Barone is almost always fabulous. This week, along with Ann Coulter, he writes about those within the United States who are the covert enimies of our way of life. "Our covert enemies don't want the Islamo-fascists to win. But in some corner of their hearts, they would like us to lose." His writing is brilliant, and it is unfortunate that millions of Americans will never see it and understand it.

In our war against Islamo-fascist terrorism, we face enemies both overt and covert. The overt enemies are, of course, the terrorists themselves. Their motives are clear: They hate our society because of its freedoms and liberties, and want to make us all submit to their totalitarian form of Islam. They are busy trying to wreak harm on us in any way they can. Against them we can fight back, as we did when British authorities arrested the men and women who were plotting to blow up a dozen airliners over the Atlantic.

Our covert enemies are harder to identify, for they live in large numbers within our midst. And in terms of intentions, they are not enemies in the sense that they consciously wish to destroy our society. On the contrary, they enjoy our freedoms and often call for their expansion. But they have also been working, over many years, to undermine faith in our society and confidence in its goodness. These covert enemies are those among our elites who have promoted the ideas labeled as multiculturalism, moral relativism and (the term is Professor Samuel Huntington's) transnationalism.

At the center of their thinking is a notion of moral relativism. No idea is morally superior to another. Hitler had his way, we have ours -- who's to say who is right? No ideas should be "privileged," especially those that have been the guiding forces in the development and improvement of Western civilization. Rich white men have imposed their ideas because of their wealth and through the use of force. Rich white nations imposed their rule on benighted people of color around the world. For this sin of imperialism they must forever be regarded as morally stained and presumptively wrong. Our covert enemies go quickly from the notion that all societies are morally equal to the notion that all societies are morally equal except ours, which is worse.

Barone is a fascinating and gifted author. Read the entire column, it is well worth the time and the effort. When you watch CNN, NBC, MSNBC, and other mainstream media outlets they demonstrate their central role in aiding and promoting our covert enemies.

Blackwell and Strickland

With the approach of Labor Day, the race for Ohio Governor is heating up. At Thespis Journal, we are watching the election from the wings at this point. Our hearts may be with Ken Blackwell, but the burning issue of public education keeps Strickland as a viable alternative.

Oh no! Eric Kephas says that Strickland is nothing more than “Ohio’s Jimmy Carter.” Eric could easily be right.

The Democratic Party still has no plan, and Ted Strickland is really nothing more than Ohio's Jimmy Carter. When push comes to shove, a lot of people are going to decide that - regardless of what they think about the Ohio GOP - Strickland is too liberal, too inexperienced, and too much like what we've already had.

You'll see more of this as the campaign goes on. Unhappy Republicans may flirt with Ted Strickland, but they'll come home to Ken Blackwell. Eric is sharp. Eric’s guess is my forecast too.
At the Boring Made Dull, there is a report of Blackwell in the Lion’s Den. We share the concerns of the professional educators in the room.

The political forces in Ohio are polarized when it comes to dealing with the issue of public education. The education of an entire generation of Ohio’s students may be sacrificed while so-called leaders posture themselves with ideological purity and partisan demagoguery. This polarization wins elections. It is terribly unfortunate that Ohio’s leaders will not come together and make education in Ohio a real priority, and join in a collaborative model that can sell Ohio to the nation.

More at Project Logic
Stop the ACLU

Ann Coulter Hits The Nail

With her column today, Ann Coulter cuts through the daily birrage of liberal drivel that the Iraqi war has nothing to do with the War on Terror. As usual, she puts into words what many others are thinking. Ann asks the question, "What part of the war on terror do liberals support?" Ann is really correct in her analysis. Liberals do not support the Patriot Act, the Iraqi War, the NSA survellance program, or any of the other efforts of our military to defend the United States in this current war. Here's the preamble of Ann's article today.

This year's Democratic plan for the future is another inane sound bite designed to trick American voters into trusting them with national security.

To wit, they're claiming there is no connection between the war on terror and the war in Iraq, and while they're all for the war against terror — absolutely in favor of that war — they are adamantly opposed to the Iraq war. You know, the war where the U.S. military is killing thousands upon thousands of terrorists (described in the media as "Iraqi civilians," even if they are from Jordan, like the now-dead leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi). That war.

As Howard Dean put it this week, "The occupation in Iraq is costing American lives and hampering our ability to fight the real global war on terror."

This would be like complaining that Roosevelt's war in Germany was hampering our ability to fight the real global war on fascism. Or anti-discrimination laws were hampering our ability to fight the real war on racism. Or dusting is hampering our ability to fight the real war on dust.

It's Ned Lamont time for the democrat party. I still believe that some issue will rally the conservative base of voters and get these people to the polls. There were indications of a narrowing of the races this week.

With Sherrod Brown and Ted Strickland emboldened in Ohio to speak of overtly liberal causes, it seems like quite a year of the liberal. I guess time will tell. The liberals are measuring curtains in the speaker's office and the Governor's mansion. They seem very confident. Again, only time will tell. These early polls are not the same result that we will see on election day. If the election were held today, there might be a democrat landslide. But the election is November 7. Maybe someone needs to take a message to Howard Dean: the election is on November 7.

Eyes on Fox has a ridiculous view of Ann's appearance on Neil Cavuto today. Read it to get an idea of leftist views.

Watch Ann's heated appearance on Hannity and Colmes last night.

Usher's First Preview Night

This post is dedicated to Daniel Gould and Kevin McColaugh.

There was a great deal of coverage in today's New York papers after last night's first appearance by Usher in the Broadway revival of Chicago. Although he is technically only in previews-his official opening takes place on September 5, there were hints that Usher can sing, dance, and sometimes act his way through the role of Billy Flynn. There has been lots of press, and ticket sales for Chicago are hot.

Check out the coverage, and hurry to Manhattan to see it for yourself if you have the time, financial backing, and interest.

The New York Post, The New York Daily News, Broadway.com

Carnival Time

You'll want to check out these useful and informative carnivals. Thanks to the wonderful hosts for providing this invaluable service. There is a lot of good reading at both. Sit back, read, and enjoy a "day in the woods."

The 81st Carnival of Education

Carnival of Ohio Politics #36

The Murtha of all Morons...

Poor Jack Murtha, he's tried everything, and he obviously can't help it. He will say anything to get back to the front and center of the mainstream media circus. He seems to know precisely what to say to return his name and picture to the front pages of the mainstream media.

"Instead of deterring terrorism, our policies are fostering it," Murtha said. "We're spending $8 billion a month on this war, our courageous fighting men and women are being killed and maimed and we are wreaking havoc on Iraq. An end must be brought to this now."

Murtha truly believes that America has created the terrorism. His logic surely applies to pre-9.11 policy as well. Therefore, Murtha blames America for 9.11 and the entire scope of worldwide terrorism. What an idiot. It looks like Murtha has the early lead as a nominee for this week's Carnival of the Insanities.

Heavy-Handed Politics Murtha's Big Waves,

Still Missing...

MsUnderestimated and Michelle Malkin have been all over the story of missing Fox News reporter Steve Centanni and his cameraman Olaf Wiig. Please pray for these Americans facing an unknown circumstance. Here's more courtesy of Michelle Malkin:

Fox News Channel reporter Steve Centanni and freelance cameraman Olaf Wiig are still missing. It has now been more than a week since their kidnapping at gunpoint in Gaza by unknown terrorists. FNC top management, the journalists' families, and Palestinian journalists continue to press for their release.

Following up on my post late Sunday night, some media types are now musing that one possible reason the story is not getting the attention it deserves is that there aren't any "new" developments to report. Vaughn Ververs, CJR Daily, and Stephen Spruiell at The Media Blog weigh in. TV blogs are covering the story: check TV Newser, Johnny Dollar, and Inside Cable News.

My opinion: No news is news. So is unchecked terrorist thuggery against Western journalists. The disappearance of Centanni and Wiig is at least as newsworthy as--and far more threatening to our national security than--people falling off cruise ships or getting eaten by alligators or attacked by bees.


Thanks Michelle and others covering this topic: MsUnderestimated, Hot Air, Media Blog, TV Newser and many others.

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