education
A place to hash out all opinions on education policy, charter schools, statewide testing, and what the political world is and isn't doing about it.
Epiphanies, Personal and Public
Epistemology and ontology are sciences concerned with truth, whether it exists and whether even if it does exist, it is ascertainable. They are fields of great interest to academics, especially philosophers, but provide scant confidence or comfort to the population at large which finds them ethereal, esoteric and of little quotidian use. The language of academia seems mystifying to most people. Take theories for example. Most people consider a theory an unproven hunch (e.g., the theory of evolution as perceived by creationists) but in the world of academia, theory is as close to truth as we ever get. What most people perceive as theories, academics and scientist refer to as thesis and hypothesis which evolve into the realm of theory only when successfully put to proof. The truth is that popular truths like gravity and basic mathematics are “mere” theories” while many concepts the public views as theories are mere thesis or hypothesis (e.g., intelligent design).
By Guillermo Calvo7 years ago in The Swamp
Money and the Individualist–Collectivist Divide
Politics, in large measure, deals with the art of reconciling individual and collective interests. The overwhelming majority of humanity (with the possible exception of abandoned children who grew up as hermits) inhabits both spheres. The hardiest individuals generally use money and tools and roads and water supplies, perhaps listen to radio and television, read and frequently form parts of families. The most dedicated collectivist does some things alone and usually, at least at times, values privacy.
By Guillermo Calvo7 years ago in The Swamp
Conversation with Robert Kennedy Jr.. Top Story - May 2017.
It is no secret that we are currently in an unprecedented environmental tailspin. Carbon levels are rising dangerously, the polar ice caps are melting, and species are rapidly disappearing etc. While the rest of the world has taken steps to mitigate the damage humans cause the planet, The United States has taken a cynical and irresponsible path towards climate change.
By Michael Lee Nirenberg7 years ago in The Swamp
That's Stupid
For several years now I have administered discipline in high schools and middle schools, which has given me a unique insight into human behavior and American culture. Our children are tiny, carnival mirrors reflecting the best, and the worst of us in obscene and sometimes inaccurate proportions, but reflecting truth none the less. One way observing young people is useful is to see them as negative role models. Essentially, if you want to act like an adult, stop acting like your children.
By David Bulley7 years ago in The Swamp
The Biggest Laughing Stock in New Mexico
In late March, Santa Fe University of Art and Design sent an email to its thriving community announcing that the for profit institution is to shut down after 2018. Students went insane and instructors tried to remain calm but broke down in silence. Ever since the dreadful email was sent out, the school has offered very little assistance to the students unfortunate enough to be attending this university and is handling the overall situation very poorly. In this article, I am going to be jumping around to try to explain a very, very, very, very, complicated situation.
By Gavin Tovar7 years ago in The Swamp
The Confederate Flag: Hated or Misunderstood
The confederate flag today is often viewed as a symbol of racism and hate associated with slavery and hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and white power skinheads. But what a person chooses to believe in as a symbol does not reflect what another might believe. An argument could be made that the issue is not about the symbol of the flag itself but what it has been used for and how it has changed people’s perception of it. The flag has an interesting religious background. (Coski)
By Kevin Bailey7 years ago in The Swamp
Another Day In Paradise
As one travels through the cities and towns across the United States you see the faceless multitudes drifting from place to place. For you and me it is just another day in paradise. But, for those countless millions all across the country their plight continues unmercifully with no respite in sight. Day after day, night after night those weary souls are just left out in the cold. Their plight has only grown in numbers. As of today in the state of Washington alone there are over 60,000 children roaming the streets. That is just the children that they account for. And, there are thousands more adults, and families seeking shelter each night. These numbers themselves indicate that their is something drastically wrong in our society today. In New York City there are close to 70,000 homeless adults and children and many more encamped in old subway tunnels. The fact of the matter is that in every major city and even in rural areas their is a growing percentage of our population forced into a vicious cycle that is almost impossible to break free.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
Education Reform
The American educational experience from the late 1960's thru today has been a total disaster. Instead of securing our place in educational standards when the educational experience of the post World War II period up till around 1970 we have succumbed to the lowest common denominator. In the mid 1960's is where the United States was ranked first in Math and Science of all the industrialized nations; a far cry from the realities of education in America today. We have failed generations of our youth. Today, the United States has yet to climb back even into the top 25 of countries around the world. Over the past 40 years through policies, laws, and Supreme Court decisions that were supposed to improve education have done the exact opposite. A lesson in futility sort of speaking has undermined the ability of Americas to compete in the global economic community. Sure, there have been bright spots here and there but the overall educational experience in the United States from elementary thru secondary we have continued to loose sight of the aspects that what made American educational the success it was 50 years ago.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
Above The Law
When American History is taught there is an oversight. An oversight that has universal consequences of how our government has morphed into this self serving bureaucracy that we have today. What is being purposely omitted in every history class pertains to the original 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This omission really isn't an oversight but a blatant, willful deception perpetrated by our government for decades for the express purpose to keep students and the general public unaware of how government, and our elected officials have been deceiving the public into thinking that they are not above the law. To take a closer look into the original 13th Amendment we find that our founding fathers had very keen insights on how to protect the virtue of our Constitution. Insight to maintain that our government will continue to work for the people and not become in essence what our government is today.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
The Years Of Living Dangerously
The years of living dangerously are now upon the world today. Untold carnage has seeped into ever corner of society. When you look at practically every major city around the world from Chicago, Buenos Aires, to Damascus, violent carnage is an all too frequent reality. The sociological shift in our society has given birth to a totally different, more unconscionable, uncompassionate existence where the sanctity of life has been replaced by an epidemic of violent carnage against man, animal and nature. Never a second thought as so many willful perpetrators of death and destruction continue to carry out heinous acts of violent behavior that have transformed humanity's existence.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
To Jeff Sessions, With Love
Dear Mr. Sessions, I was born and raised in the great state of Alabama and most of my, if not all of my life you have been a senator or political figure in the state. I grew up on a farm in rural north Alabama, going to a small school with only roughly 68 people in my graduating class. I obeyed the states laws and I attempted to bet he best citizen I could be.
By Megan Bradford7 years ago in The Swamp