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Re: The Simpson Verdict
Posted:
Oct 20, 1995 9:00 PM
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Mike-
It's unfortunate you spend sleepless nights fretting over this forum. Get
some Melatonin, you'll sleep better.
But, seriously, Mike. I only brought up the Simpson trial to speak about
mathematical literacy. You made the racial connection and that was very
unfortunate. Of course, you absolutely ignored my saying that the connection
of race and innumeracy were a manufacture of the Dream Team and not God. You
ignore anything I write which doesn't allow you to go for the throat.
I accept the Simpson verdict. Do I accept the jury only spent three hours
deliberating nine months of testimony? I think it's preposterous, but I
accept it as I accept you. I accepted the Rodney King verdict although I
thought it was a miscarriage of justice (not on the order of the Simpson
thing).
Do I think the jury made a conscious racist verdict? No, I don't as I don't
think the Simi Valley made a conscious racist verdict.
My school serves the area King was beaten in and served by the now-infamous
Foothill Division of the LAPD. We lose lots of kids to gangs, drive-bys, and
assorted other crimes. I spoke with a CHP officer recently. She patrols that
stretch of road where King was caught speeding. Her impression was the LAPD
completely blew that one. I accept her view. She also told me an LA cop
unholsters their gun at least once a day (compared to her average of once a
week.) Can you imagine what kind of pressure that puts on a person? But, it's
obvious the LAPD has a way to go, as do us math teachers, as do some
university types.
BTW, Mike. It appears you had some real trouble with the Simi Valley verdict.
How come it's OK for you to have trouble with that one and I can't have
trouble with the Simpson verdict? Little bit of a double standard, eh, Mike?
(I know you won't reply to that, but I thought I'd stick it to ya' since I
like you so much.)
Connecting this to math education is not difficult. There is an overwhelming
imperative of the Left not to ask anything from anyone. So issues like
teenage pregnancy and personal responsibility and even real education
standards become taboo and approaches which might seek to improve things are
dismissed as "mean" and "unfair". Welfare is accepted as a lifelong
entitlement, even though there is overwhelming belief that it destroys the
people it seeks to help. Even the miscarriage of judgement concerning an
ex-football star is applauded by some on the Left as justifiable "payback".
Yes, America must accept this because of past real injustices. Well, the old
adage holds, "Two wrongs don't make a right." Even the idea of "right" and
"wrong" are dismissed by our friends as too judgemental and absolute. Does
this mean the conservatives are 100% OK. No, they have exactly one thing
going for them; they're not the Democrats.
On the issue germaine to this post, real content standards, supported by a
rigorous exam schedule are dismissed mainly because these folk don't have the
guts to ask anything of anyone. (They insist standardized testing isn't
authentic, but they don't seem to give much of a damn when something they
ostensibly care about is proposed. Witness the flood of posts about the
Assessment Standards. NOBODY CARES!!).
What animates many of these people is primarily politics. They sit in their
ivory towers explaining to us poor chalk stained wretches the errors of our
ways and what evil sorts we are for using something that appears to work a
little with kids we care about teaching. Mike, why not get a job in inner
city Detroit, put your theories to work, write a book which cannot be
replicated by anyone, then lead us to nirvana.
Instead, you'll probably stay at the university cooing at your liberal
friends, living in some marvelously liberal environment where everything
seems possible and there is no time for unpleasantness, where no one can tell
the truth or stand to hear it spoken.
And what we need to hear is that all American kids need a structured system
of schooling with special consideration (such as tutoring and special summer
programs)given to those at the bottom of the economic ladder so they might
meet the same standards as everyone else. Standards that can be met
regardless of race and ethnicity.
But what do we get instead of reasonable people of all races coming together
to find common ground and standards? We get the Left assuring us everything
will be OK if we just teach differently. Can you imagine the absurdity of
this position? If we only change our pedagogy all American schools will
become Etons or Sidwell Friends.
And, unfortunately, the merit of much they encourage is dismissed by most
because of their transparent politics. Reasonable reforms in math education
are dismissed because the reformers have gone too far. The "leaders" have
lost touch with the led. Almost every math teacher feels these folk are full
of it and they're not to be trusted. I've never talked to someone who teaches
in the inner city who doesn't believe my position is long overdue. Who's the
only ones who disagrees? The ones in charge of the "Standards"!! Is this
"Alice in Wonderland"? Standards? Who are they kidding?
So who becomes the teller of the truth now that liberalism has lost its
common sense? Some reasonable Truman-esque liberals like Al Shanker, in my
opinion, a great man. And some folks in New York who've seen it get bad
enough, they'll start getting honest. But how's about our friends in the
ivory towers? Does it ever get real bad there, fellas? I mean, hell, you've
even got your own sports teams, playing for room and board. What could be
nicer than a bivouac at the U of M or U of H?
But who else tells some truth? We're reduced to depending on a fellow like
Farrakhan to tell the truth. Only he can preach common sense values of
decency, virtue and hard work to save those of his people who need saving
(along with a lot of non-Blacks). Louis Farrakhan whose other side is
blatantly racist and despicable. Yet, he's the man telling ALL Americans what
we need to hear. Very troubling.
But like I said we've the Left to thank for it. You can't blame Rush Limbaugh
for this one, pals.
Outta' here
Hart
PS I apologize to the rest of you, but I felt I needed to make this post
public. At some point in the near future after Mike and his buddies have
completed their say, I'll fade away. I've found spending the same amount of
time writing politicians with my concerns is a more useful means ofwasting my
time. Ciao.
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