For S,

#Keep the private-messenger comments coming. I love it!

For S,

Thank You- for sharing all the pics of you and your daughter! How sweet. You are right. It is different being on the parenting end.  I appreciate your concerns about not wanting to get that “F-* vaccine for you and your child”. Who CAN you trust? Especially after you were told you would “just end up dead, a gang-banger, or in jail” by a trusted teacher, anyway. (Yes I do know of him.) How sad. I’m sorry that had such an impact on you.

Also, I am happy to know you are not dead nor in jail (I don’t really know what a gang banger entails, so?). What I see is you just being a dad. 

Looks like you are a working dude trying to raise your daughter in a confusing environment, the best way you know how, with the best information you have. I understand. 

I’m angry too. Like you, I am frustrated with the lack of compassion and humanity in public education. No wonder you are scared to bring your daughter to school. You get it. 

“I made it,” you said, “after 18 struggles” and against unsupportive individuals in positions of power. Good for you S! I am so proud of you! 

And yes, I would love to meet your daughter some day. It would be an honor. *Six feet away with a mask*, mind you, but an honor, nonetheless. 

Thanks again for reaching out after all these years. 

Take care of you, and that adorable little girl! 

~I.N. 

I don’t heart radio, part 2.

RK, iheartradio (copyright),

R, Wants to put Putin’s “head on a pike.” And to “hang em all.” Hmmmm, now where have I heard this before? Let me think while I continue to iheart listen. 

Caller: “hey R, first time caller, long time listener. Are we playing drinking games tonight? To see if Brandon, I mean, ’sleepy creepy Joe’ has any stamina?” (I took liberties with the callers voice, but I’d heart the original transcript). 

Translation: Will we be participating in a drinking game, while watching the State of the Union address with Joe Biden tonight? “The first drinking rules are for Biden. Pick and choose whichever rules from this list you prefer”: heavy.com

Something like that, I’m guessing.

R svp-ed- with the caller and indeed the “State of the Union games left everyone at home drunk.” Indy100.

Congrats to all. 

I was concerned as to how this turned out for R. Especially after hearing about his erectile dysfunction testimonial-infomercial he just played on air. Or was that preprogramed? Either way, -and I’m not a doctor, or even a man, but I’m thikin- drinkin and low testosterone medication may leave somethin shrinkin. I’d be careful of making fun of sleepy joe’s stamina, but that is none of my business. I’m sorry I know any details, in fact. 

Once again, I get angry at the false historical spins placed on “opinions”. Now, Where, have I heard this before? 

And then I did some research. 

We all good iheart AM and afternoon DJ’s! I understand.

Because 

Draft: I don't heart radio. Part 1.

This is a letter I was going to send. I chose not to.

To MC, iHeart (copyright),

Welp (to quote your quip), I’ve been listening to your radio show and I have a few comments/ questions, myself. Oh yea, you said “I have some questions for teachers and I’d actually like to hear what teachers have to say about this.” Welp, I’d like to answer, M___. Curiously, now that I think about it, I did not hear from any other teachers on your show.  

I volunteer. 

Here’s my bio for your consideration: 

I have been a history teacher for nearly 30 years in JeffCo. “Retired”, officially, but still in the biz, if ya know what I mean.  You can take the girl out of the country, but not the country out of the girl, am I right, M? 

Most everybody told me not to reach out to you, but I’m notably a bit kooky, so here I am. (Sort of).

Anyway, I am loyal to NO political party, nor government agency.  Some have speculated I am a Liberal. I hope not. Not many would pair me with conservatives, but they may be in for a surprise when it comes to education. A lot of former students would attest to this. 

You can be the judge. 

I do, however have a few issues I’d like to address with you.

  1. Do not speak for me! You can say, “this is what I heard is in the history curriculum,” but that is way different then you saying “All history teachers are teaching about…,” blah blah blah. See the discrepancy? The failure of deductive reasoning? Never use “all.” Girl, you are just setting yourself up for an informal fallacy.

  2. And this is in defense of students! They are not stupid. If I said half the stuff you say I said in class, I wouldn’t last a day. How dare you talk about my students as if they are sacks full of soup. Obtuse. Give em some credit, eh? Most of them are imaginably more adept than you and I. Combined.

  3. Masks! Good on ya. I hope those liberals are mistaken about miserable mask mandates, M. Kind of a risk, though, with kids…ya know? but what the heck. What’s confusing me once again, is your logic. You don’t trust the government, under Biden, to enforce mask mandates, but you trust them when they tell you not to? Do you see the flaw here, M?

  4. And another thing! Your incendiary and reckless rhetoric has had direct consequences on teachers and students in Douglass and neighboring counties. Do you understand imminent lawless action? Me neither. But yes, if you did not know, there are a few restrictions on freedom of speech. Communicative restrictions that have NO protection under the First Amendment include: speech that incites imminent threats or causes harm particularly with commercial speech integral to education.

  5. Oh, but M____, M____, M____. The grand gaffe! What I will not tolerate are your historical inaccuracies. To further quote you, I am very, very “disappointed.” From the Constitution to the Kremlin (sorry, I just made that one up for alliteration), your comments on social studies are beyond bewildering. ‘Highly conflicted’, as some of your strategists implied. I’m guessing intellectual conservatives wish you were off their side. Just a hunch. Please, please let me teach you about NATO!

-Now, silly me, I don’t know a thing about international strategies for gas and oil laws, or global pipeline regulation investments, but it sounds like you do! Whew. We can teach each other. 

Hey. Honestly, I’m just a shy, scared lil mouse.. But I get protective of certain ideals-like the Constitution of the United States of America; History in general, and Philosophy. It bugs me when radio personalities get it wrong. 

It’s when you talk about kids, though, that push me out of my comfort zone.  You’r a mom, so you get it, right? Liberals as well as conservatives are using kids like bitter parents in a nasty divorce (relatable?). Talk talk talk about me me me, but not listening to kids. And then to add further insult to injury, adults turn around and blame the kids for “their failures.” 

You and I might even be friends! Who knows. Like, you are the cool girl from school and I am her nerdy older adversary. It’s just so weird it just might work. Your wine Podcast sounds hilarious, and you do sound kinda fun, M!

I’d love to chat with you. Let’s set up a meeting, K?

My email is hotplate7@yahoo.com Seriously, that is my legit email. I used to be pro- death penalty. It’s a reference. More extra credit? Ya know, like good guy bad guy simplicity? Anyway…

Call me. We can just have coffee and chat, no big whoop. 

Here is my lame blog: inewson.org (Yours is Way Cooler!)

Sincerely, 

~I.Newson (hey, like, iHeart! Catchy.)

More to come…

“Thank You For Teaching During Covid-19!”

Is a flyer I received in my mailbox today. “Register and Learn More: @ icu.edu.covidpd” (not the real University, but I still have the flyer if you are interested). 

Advertised was: “Professional Development ‘opportunities’ toward recertification renewal/salary advances”. (Sigh)   

So I went to the pre-approve PDF to sign up. $55 per credit, (cheap right?). Lesson 1: Learned and Implemented Google Classroom (copyright). Lessons 2-22 were geared toward the teacher- like,“What was the best feature used” in Google? “After watching tutorials on Youtube(copyright), how easy was it to upload videos?” Into Google.  Get it?

Lesson: Be very weary of “free” or cheap lessons or professional development. (Brought to you free, by i.school, no copyright). 

If you are confused: See #4. Business Management syndicates that require Big Money strategies to profit from involuntary, legally-mandated, schooling.   

4. Technology

5 Business Management syndicates that require Big Money strategies to profit from involuntary, legally-mandated, schooling. 

4. Technology : Honestly, it’s difficult to keep track of the big tech industry in education. Researching technology about technology is unquestionably troubling.  The who, what, how, when, where, why investigations suspiciously stall. I would wager, however, if food, drinks, testing, and data collecting are prevalent, you can bet tech is there too. Am I right?

2016 Article:

“Four of tech’s biggest companies — Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon (a.k.a. the Big Four) — are moving aggressively into the education market. Beyond the potential of selling their products to a previously untapped trillion-dollar industry, there’s a chance to create lifelong brand fans by connecting to younger generations as early as possible via schools.” Vox

The article outlines tech ways to profit from schools. It suggests “the big four” are merely paving the way for more “entrepreneurs” to invest. 

“Become a student of teachers”-

“You will not be successful if you assume you know how to make something teachers will like and never actually talk to them or observe your product in use.”

“Make Money or Die.” 

$3.1 billion was invested in 2015 by the big 4.  This increased by 30% during the pandemic. 

“Apple is a strong supporter of STEM programs in K-12 and beyond, and we welcome the administration’s new initiative,” a spokesman said. “We believe that every student should have the chance to learn to code since it creates creative and economic opportunities that last a lifetime.” Vox

“A most disruptive year to schools and society proved lucrative for the education industry, particularly for those raising private capital.  In 2020, U.S. education technology startups raised over $2.2 billion in venture and private equity capital across 130 deals, according to the EdSurge edtech funding database. That’s a nearly 30 percent increase from the $1.7 billion invested in 2019, which was spread across 105 deals. The $2.2 billion marks the highest investment total in a single year for the U.S. edtech industry.” Edsurge.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

https://hbr.org/2021/11/time-to-rein-in-big-tech

https://www.vox.com/2017/9/26/16364662/amazon-facebook-google-tech-300-million-donald-trump-ivanka-computer-science

Mini Train Sampler:

Lack of Genuine Knowledge. (preview),

Request:  “Ms. Newson, please explain your researching techniques.” Or “How did you?….”

Ok. Here it is: Step by step Thinking Train example, by I.Newson:

  1. After researching business profiteering from schools- like Textbooks, I set this tab aside-

  2. Washington Post Headline: Big Education firms spend millions lobbying- Mar 30, 2015- Lobbying has helped fuel a nearly $2 bill testing industry… The original post said testing made up for shrinking textbook market…. “Pop Up Ad: TRY 4 WEEKS FREE.”  No, thank you.

  3. Me: Hmmm, Lobbying. 

  4. Sent me to,Open Secrets Lobbying:

  5. Which took me to Education Lobbying-

  6. And Led to- investopedia lobbying.

  7. Check Credibility-

  8. Then I checked the College Board annual Lobbying-

  9. Noticed- Educating for Democracy Act of 2020

  10. Looked at H.R. 8295- 177 Congress Educating for Democracy Act (2019-2020)

  11. Saw “SEC.5. GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS”

  12. Recognized similar wording like, "granting priority to qualified nonprofit organizations that propose to use the grant to develop…curricula,” .. like from nonprofits, like The College Board.  SEC.5

  13. Then went on to note “3 Unique organizations registered to lobby” on H.R.8295: Educating for Democracy Act of 2020. 

    Consortium for Civic Learning

    National Coalition for History

    College Board 

  14. “Consortium for Civic Learning” showed no specific web page, but directed me to Center for Civic Education.

  15. Which led to “Free Lesons” such as 9/11 and the Constitution” Which led me to draw my own conclusions as to its potential backers and philosophies.

  16. The National Coalition for History page looked similar to the Center for Civic Education. I clicked on Members and got a list. I started clicking on links. And then clicked and clicked. All professional web pages. Good. "Diverse”. A little Too good. Too “diverse.” Staged. Almost like they shared similar ideas.

  17. And we already know more about the College Board. (WSJ, pop up Ad Read for $8; No, Thank You).


Pause. Things get muddled here. Name changes get difficult to track- Companies, Consortiums, Coalitions, Councils.. get rebranded. Like changing Philip Morris to Altria Group, Inc. Sounds nicer, but it’s still PM- Philip Morris influencing smokers; and it’s still BMs- Business Managements infiltrating education.

Education Businesses, like Textbooks. (See #3. BM)

Which NOW, leads me to more questions like, who decides the content of textbook curriculum? Clearly the Consortium for Civic Learning and National Coalition for History have a political agenda, funding, and a reason to rebrand. 

Then I start again. Simple. Follow the links. 

Hope I answered your question, R. 

P.S. 

Next time I’ll tell you the I.School method way: The Newson Rant Way.

When researching:

First, “Always listen twice. First, what’s being said, then who said it.”  Or, Go right to the Source.

Second, Prepare to Double Switch On-Dock Rail. 

Third, “Chick Sexing Exceptions.”  Truth is, I don’t want to explain my head except to say-it’s not what it sounds like,  perv.  It’s about a Podcast; it’s an actual reference to chickens, Japanese culture, gender, identity and sorting. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/phr.2009.78.2.242

Nuff said, except to say, with exceptions.

End, Newson Rant. (Only those who know me, get this). ;) 

3. Textbooks

5 Business Management syndicates that require Big Money strategies to profit from involuntary, legally-mandated, schooling. 

3. Textbooks.

Business Monopoly or Oligopoly exclusively exploiting education.

The top five educational publishers are: 

  • Cengage Learning

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

  • McGraw-Hill Education

  • Pearson Education

  • Scholastic

Red Flags from 2002: PBS

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/10/10/354881230/digital-natives-except-when-it-comes-to-textbooks

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/mcgraw-hill-b-n-accused-of-online-course-materials-monopoly

For R,

For R,

I don’t know if you remember this, but; well actually, I don’t know if you even know about ‘this.’  It was the week of parent-teacher conferences. I had spent the day teaching the ‘Psychology of Sponsorship’, and I brought up statistics about the Super-bowl. A graph was  displayed showing company spending on commercials. Particularly money spent on the Super Bowl.  Pepsi was one example. One very big example. 

That evening, along with about 50 other teachers, I sat in my plastic chair in a small gym behind a table. I scanned the faces of parents waiting in lines. Parents discussing grades and ‘performance’ of their child. Honestly, I never know if a parent is friend or foe. Mostly I have had pleasant conversations. But not this time. 

R, when your mom and dad approached, I got an ear full. Your mom was fuming! “How dare you  criticize Pepsi! Pepsi has given scholarships to kids. My so-in-so worked for Pepsi and has been very generous with…” To tell you the truth, I started to tune out your mom.  I could not help but notice her impeccable suit and color-coordinated Birkin bag. Oh, and she smelled heavenly. Louis Vuitton? While she was giving me ‘a piece of her mind,’ all I thought was, ‘you look and smell sensational!’ Defense mechanisms at work, I guess.  

Your dad was quiet until the end of the, umm, ‘conference’, when he politely and perhaps a bit embarrassed, said, “It IS remarkable how much companies spend on ads.” And that was it. 

I did not consider you and I especially close as teacher-student. However, close relationships have no bearing on lessons for me. I did wonder what you must have shared with her about your interpretation or perception of the lecture.  It crossed my mind that you were using me to enrage your mom. Simply speculation. 

In hindsight, it was humiliating. Your mom chose to address her concern with me in front of other parents and my peers.  I watched your mom and dad leave the gym, passing the Pepsi displays and dispensers, wondering, ‘how can I teach critical thinking without offending? Someone?!’ I had a ‘normal’ 150 students that semester.

Your mom hit my worst fears- that something I say in class will be twisted. To be fair, another student in the same class went into advertising and used similar strategies taught that day to her advantage. Another student said it was empowering being able to recognize association techniques in ads. He began to see how patterns of persuasion like, “trustworthiness, reciprocity, mere-exposure effect, and emotional appeal tactics” are effective tools manipulate masses. 

Another effective tool is intimidation. I did not forget how I felt that night. You mom may be happy to know it worked, to an extent. I became more apprehensive when teaching that particular lesson. And I never shook the feeling that it could happen again.  I could have 30 grateful and inspiring parent- conferences, but from that night on, I became more anxious looking at the faces waiting in line. Waiting for another public verbal flogging. 

I did not hold it against you. In fact I defended you, as I should, because I was your teacher. I want you to think for yourself. That’s it. I would have loved a conversation with you, your mom, your dad about that lesson. Is that not the point of learning? Discourse leading to understanding? But in an open gym, with no warning, and with no way to defend my position, I was constrained. I just had to take it.

R, I hope you can appreciate my position, and that this is not a reflection on you. Although not forgotten (obviously) I use these experiences to learn and adjust. In the large scheme of things, that occasion made me even more suspicious of corporate sponsorship in education. So, thank your mom for me. I’ve been researching.

Most importantly, it is you I really think of, R. It must have been confusing to hear conflicting perspectives from home to school. I see that as a lesson. I think you saw it as a threat. I understand and I sincerely hope you are well and are thriving in relationships.  I’m pretty confident you will never read this, but if you do, please feel free to reach out. I’d welcome an update from you after all these years. 

Genuinely, 

~I.Newson

P.S. Feel free to share this with mom. I’d like to follow up with her too, if possible.

2. Coke and Pepsi

5 Business Management syndicates that require Big Money strategies to profit from involuntary, legally-mandated, schooling. 

2. Coke and Pepsi

The Soft Drink War over “Pouring Rights.”

By 2012, 80% of Public Schools have contracts with Coke and Pepsi. While the two soft drink giants were funding (false dilemma) advertising campaigns- as in, ‘are you a Coke or a Pepsi?’ seemingly pitting two rivals; they were dividing up school districts like a pie, while investing up to 49% in each others stock. So it is not characteristic of an illegal monopoly, and not a legal oligopoly. money,money,money.

"Clearly, there's an interest in getting to the kids early," said Judy H. Warde, assistant executive director of the New York State School Boards Association. "Exactly when is it in life that you become a Coke or Pepsi person? It's as though if they don't have you hooked out of high school, they feel they haven't done their job." The Buffalo News

1. The College Board

5 Business Management syndicates that require Big Money strategies to profit from involuntary, legally-mandated, schooling. 

1. The College Board. “The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity.” collegeboard.org 

Mission-driven. Mission: “An important assignment carried out for political, religious or commercial purposes.” Driven: Compulsive or urgent. Miriam Webster.

Not-for-Profit:  A nonprofit corporation is any legal entity which has been incorporated under the law of its jurisdiction for purposes other than making profits for its owners or shareholders. Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction, a nonprofit corporation may seek official recognition as such, and may be taxed differently from for-profit corporations, and treated differently in other ways.

  • College Board: 2017 $1 billion in profits; $1.2 billion 2020.

  • CEO David Coleman made $1.6 million in 2016;

  • 31 Executives earn $300,000 to $500,000 per year.

  • David Coleman, current president of the College Board, was the architect of the now defunct Common Core.

  • Gaston Caperton, former Governor of West Virginia; president of the College Board 1999-2012.

    • West Virginia ave teacher salary: $47,826; ranked #45 as one of the lowest paid for education, in the nation.


Organization. Antitrust laws protect “organizations”, but not monopolies. Monopolies are illegal.  A monopoly is defined as: a market with the "absence of competition."  SAT, PSAT, and AP

  • On May 16, 2020, a class-action lawsuit joined by FairTest was filed against the College Board based on alleged breaches of contract, gross negligence, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. An earlier lawsuit alleged that the company used "unfair and deceptive means" to sell student data.

  • “The increasing power of the College Board in determining the standard for academic success and college admissions raises the question as to whether or not we, as citizens, will allow a corporation to dictate higher education, synonymous for the future of our populace, in America.” Texas Orator

College Success. Success meaning- “a favorable or desired outcome.” “The good or bad outcome of an undertaking.” Miriam Webster. 

  • “Success” in Student Loan Debt: $1.58 trillion as of 2021.

  • Nearly one-third of all American students now have to go into debt to get through college, and the average student loan debt reached a record high of $38,792 in 2020.  Collectively, they owe about $1.58 trillion as of November 2021, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

  • Over the past three decades, the average cost to attend a public four-year institution is more than three times the cost to attend a public four-year institution, and it more than doubled at both private and public four-year schools, according to the College Board.

Opportunities- a favorable combination of circumstances. Webster example: “This school could be a wonderful opportunity for____”. 

  • The College Board also includes links on how college is still statistically encouraged for the “well-being of the next generation.” College pays. 

  • The SAT started in the 1930s as a scholarship test for Ivy League schools. Based off of an Army IQ test, it was meant to give more opportunities to those who came from more humble backgrounds to be noticed by more prestigious schools. Other universities followed suit.“Standardized testing may now be hurting rather than helping disenfranchised students.” PBS.

**Two additional points for consideration:

One-  Schools and individuals can become a member of the College Board for $400 a year if you agree to bylaws. Example: XXIII Seal of the Corporation subject A. "The seal of the College Board shall bear the name “College Board,” “1957” (the year of organization), and the words “Corporate Seal,” “Not-for-Profit,” and “New York;” collegeboardmembership.org.

Two- Bylaw XXIV. “The Bylaws of the College Board may be suspended at a duly called meeting of Members at which a quorum is present by unanimous consent of the Members in attendance.” Suspension of Bylaws included competing educational corporations.

  • There has only been one business suspended from the College Board (that I can find): Hanban, which is affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education; or the Confucius Institute program. Now changed to the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation. 

  • “The US State Department on August 13 designated the CIUS as a “foreign mission of the People’s Republic of China.” Although the designation doesn’t require CIUS to shut down its US mission or US institutes to close individual Confucius institutes, it does require more transparency.” CollegePost

  • Senator Blackburn’s public Tweet reveal that the “College Board was awarded an annual grant by Hanban from 2006 to 2020” got the attention from other Senators. The twitter exchange resulted in the College Board severance with Hanban.

Hanban ‘Mission Statement’: “Our goal is to continue to grow and to do it with quality, because our role is not only to teach the language, but also to offer services to the government, enterprises, to transmit our culture and to strengthen much more the relations with the rest of the world “ XU LIN.

Summary: Follow the money. Watch for educational competition in areas of Language, History and testing.

For C

Friday letter.

For C,

I remember skipping the “make a wish’ assembly with you.  After our class raised- oh, I don’t even remember how much money was piled on the front table- funds for a precious toddler. It was significant.  It wasn’t until the other students left, and I was ready to lock up, that I saw you in tears. We ended up talking for the duration of the assembly.

No, I didn’t know you were homeless. No one suspected your situation in such an affluent school. You hid it well. And I’m sure it was confusing seeing so much money picked up by the treasurer. Money so precious to you. I could not explain why it was unfair that some had so much to donate, while you took two busses to go to a more “reputable” school every day. 

Good question- why do we focus so much on the celebratory tragic end of lives, while ignoring and complaining about each other daily? And why disrupt learning for a week? School is mandatory, which means being part of school fund raising is involuntary. Opting out of “make a wish” happened that day, but remember how emotionally charged the rest of the class and school was when they returned from the hour rally? You said something like “Good luck trying to teach this class now.” We laughed. We bonded after that day. I enjoyed talking to you off and on after. 

I also remember how you would rarely complement me on my attire. My daily dress. :) I’d say, “how about this one?” And You would say (without a smile), “I will tell you when I like it, Newson.” It cracked me up! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated your honesty even on the little things. And then…


And then you were just gone. Your personal information was incorrect and I had no way to contact you. To be honest, I had 140 other students demanding attention so I did not pursue it further.  I just hoped you were warm and had a way to get food. 

You taught me a crucial lesson. I began seeing fund raising assembly’s through a new lens. I did try to talk to school leaders about my concerns and I think you could guess how that went. I looked like a monster.  Like I was trying to keep dreams away from sick kids. Like you, I saw a different evil. But how do you even begin..

I don’t know if you remember me. I understand if you don’t. I just wanted to tell you I remember you and the impact you had on me. Take care C. I hope we cross paths again. And I hope I have on a really ugly scarf- just to hear your comment. ha. But more than that, I really hope you are well. You are not forgotten. 

~N

Then Know the Best Good

“People who think they know everything really annoy those of us who know we don’t.” ~ Bjarne Stroustup

I’d like to include myself in that “we”. I don’t know. I know that I don’t really know. I also happen to be right. Sometimes.

Now stay with me here. The thing is- I don’t want to be right. I research, and I want truths, but the more truths I unearth, the grosser and more disgusting they are. When I assert a proposition, a truth to someone, I usually am at odds with those who seek to be “right”. Argumentation is for the louder, cruder, ‘winner’ winner chicken dinner mentality in our culture. 

Truths piss people off. Challenge em with facts and they’ll get louder, cruder… etc. Believe you me, I wish I was wrong when introducing distressing and unpopular information- especially AS incidents were unfolding. Like, in real time.

Three events come to mind: The Election of 2000; The invasion of Iraq; and Citizens United. As a history teacher, I believed it was important to demonstrate current- cause and effect juxtapositions with monumental milestones occurring simultaneously. (Does that make sense?) I wanted to show history in the making. 

The snag I ran into was vitriol. Every time. Emotional acidity analogous to assuming ones accuracy. People Wanted to be right. I did not. The narrative arc of historical foreshadowing was NOT looking good to me. However, more upsetting to me then, and even more so to me now, is the lack of reasonable repartees. In school discussions flamed and factioned off in a flash. 

Potentially lengthy Great debates become, well, Good-enough disagreements. And quickly extinguished. Ding ding ding. Round 2. From 2000 through 2018 conversations- even with colleagues could not be established. We didn’t have time- all those tests, ya know.. Plus, I cared more about genuine knowledge, than disingenuous data. I wanted to be the best at a slow deliberate systematic search for truth.

Truth pisses people off. “No, I don’t know! Stop pretending you do,” is what I would want to say. So we can get to the good stuff!

Being “the Best” at research is eudamonious, a reward in and of itself. Albeit, lonely. Good enough wins (faux) ’arguments’, but keeps us from painfully powerful truths. We can do it! Karate Kid style- “Try to be best ‘cute you’re only a man, and a man’s gotta learn to take it.” Truth. 

Next nest- my 5 “Gets.”

I'd Rather Stop Being the 'best' and Start being more Badder..

Karate Kid song: “Try to be best, ‘Cause you’re only… ” 

Now stop it. Sweep the Leg. 

The best is the enemy of the good ~Voltaire

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without ~Confucius

Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well ~Shakespeare

Here is a little game of “I’d Rather:”

I’d rather be bad at something for a greater good; then to be good at something for a greater evil. 

Examples- 

I would rather write badly (and improve over time), then to write for a good test score.

I would rather draw badly, then fill in good bubbles with a #2 pencil.

I would rather dance badly, then sit in a desk ‘well behaved.’

I would rather harmonize badly, then be well shamed, and well-silenced.

I would rather sing badly, then to be approved or disapproved of as ‘good’ enough.

I would rather create a bad poem, then annotate a ‘good’ one.

I would rather crochet a bad looking scarf, then garner a scarf from a good looking ad.

I would rather cook a bad meal, then eat a ‘good’ lie.  Too far?

I would rather be abnormally ‘bad’, than ‘normally’ good? Wait, does that work? See? 

Badly, well done!  ~I

I would rather be enlightened with ‘bad’ truths, then shadowed with ‘good’ lies. 

I would rather be bad at honest self-expression; then to be good at deceptive mimicry. 

What is the good life then? To “look” like your life is good? Is it?

I’d rather look like a fool with bad skills, than be a fool with none. 

*I’d rather be an unexceptional revolutionary, than a complacent spectator. 

I’d rather die of natural causes, then of manufactured casualties. 

~Damn, I’m on a roll… 

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s “Being the Best- why you should not settle for being just good enough.”

Confused? You won’t be. 

For K,

I remember helping you construct an argument endorsing an unpopular presidential candidate a few years ago. I personally may not have agreed with you, but my job is to help you argue, not proselytize you. However, I do remember this conversational game changer. This was a dialogue that took place after school in Philosophy/ Psyche club: I think you remember it too, 

As if we just walked in on it: Cringy at first, but it got interesting.. 

K: Because he cares about this country. He does not want people coming in taking advantage of our money.


**After careful consideration, I have omitted the dialogue out of my enduring respect for you, K.**


Me: So, the premise was that (so-in-so) are considered (such and such). And yet, the conclusion contradicted the original premise, therefore…

K: Oh, I get it!

And do you remember? I saw it on your face. A click. Now, that did not deter you away from your hopeful, and soon to be president.  Good. The point was to show a weak vs. strong premise and conclusion; not to think like me, but to think. 

Unfortunately, to demonstrate the power of rhetoric, I have defended and convinced students of ideas, I myself abhor, just to see if I could. It worked.Too well.  What I wanted was to show how easily we can be swayed if we don’t understand the art of the argument. It can backfire. Not in your case though. That was unique. 

I wanted to thank you for continually showing up and challenging yourself regardless of content. Remember I suggested you and I go ‘on the road’ to demonstrate just how to argue particularly when at odds? Me too. 

We had such a great teacher-student bond. Thanks for surprising me years later and showing up for class promoting Philosophy. 

I hear you went to college, altered some ideas (I hope not too much) and have a boyfriend. 

I am so proud of you. You demonstrated courage, honesty and humility. I will cherish our times together. Always.

Hi to the family,

~I.Newson

P.S. I know how crude that conversation sounds, and was. It was gut wrenching in real time. I also know that if we shame and shut down cringey conversations, they manifest into monstrous monologues. I hope this was an appropriate example to share. There is SO much more to you,K. I know this. I just thought I could show one moment, out of one day, in one year, in the life of what could happen in school. No one else sees that stuff. And,I will happily change or take this post down if you reach out and disagree with my recall. I have too much respect for you, and my memory cannot be as trusted- as I trust you K. :) 

Elementary Fighting

Problem pattern with argumentation:

We think we need to be right.

We think we are right.

The art of argumentation is to use words to convince the other to submit to our rightness.

The other also needs to be right… thus the pattern.

*Circular. Dead end.

Another use of a more mature pattern of argumentation:

We think we may be on to something we are passionate about.

We don’t know for sure, but we have questions.

We want answers, and are grateful for contradictory information as that gets us closer to truths.

The art of argumentation is the use of words, no matter how unflattering, to get ‘truthiness’. 

Biggest barrier to truth? Trust? Who do you trust to disagree with?
Pick a fight with? Do we know how to argue? Disagree articulately? 

No, I don’t think so either. 

In fact, it has been an education to realize just how simple human concepts are abandoned. Example: Health. 
It has been said that the following 5 concepts are ESSENTIAL to health:

Breathing. Slow intentional breaths.

Moving. Staying active. 

Not sitting for extended periods of time.

Getting good Sleep.

Natural Lighting. Access to windows and fresh air.

(Do you agree with those statements?) 

5 could even be reduced to 3- breathe, move, sleep. Yes?

3 physical and psychological Profound Foundations of health-That not only do we Not teach at a foundational level, school, we can observe quite the opposite. Stressed-out, stagnant, sleep deprived kids. (And then we blame them…and argue over them.)

It is so frustrating to repeatedly read confounding reports regarding basic needs of human health that are consistently neglected at the basic level of understanding. And for the most vulnerable of our populations- children. 

If that does not piss you off to, what am I missing? And what is there to argue about?

We “argue” about kids and health and are clearly clueless on all three topics. 

So here is my ongoing gnawing question: What is the purpose of education?

Can we agree that so far it is clearly not for health reasons? And if it is, what does that say?  How can we even begin to have discussions on education when we are not asking the same questions and already have assumed answers prior to any questions asked in the first place? (right?)

Aristotle's Anger-

“Anybody can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, with the right degree, at the right time, for the right reason is not so easy.” Aristotle, The Art of Rhetoric. 4th Century BCE.

Which was adopted into a lecture of mine for years. Which I did not forget.

Which begs the question- who are we angry at when it comes to education?

Teachers, administrators, parents, kids, a radio personality host? Cuz it sure looks like we are blaming one another.

If it is anger over history curriculum, well who is writing it?

If it is anger over teachers and students walking out of school, well lets take a ‘deep dive’ and ask, why?

If it is anger over school funding, well who is funding education, and who is not?

I am angry at a radio personality for using her position of power for personal attacks on teachers, directly resulting in increased violence in an already volatile setting- school.

Which makes me realize how we as a society do not know how to talk to one another. It is important to be angry. But I’d also like to show Aristotle restraint and be absolutely clear as to who, what and why I am angry.

Would this not be a really cool lesson‽ Teach HOW to use anger creatively, with intent not to harm, with intent of a greater good- into a direction of more well being, not less. Yes, yes?

How, how? Start with rhetoric, and anger Aristotle, style?

mic not right

What to do? Ignore or Speak?

Specifically in regard to a local radio personality. She is very vocal about: personally being Anti-teacher (and Unions); She attacks history teachers for not teaching "good guy facts" about founding fathers and slavery for example. As if it is simple and a matter of opinion...

She tells her audience what teaching is like. There is no one to challenge her as far as I have heard. A one sided mic is not like teaching...

I also have heard of students engaging in physical altercations with teachers and administrators in response to her show, to which she replied "now kids, don't go hurting teachers," AFTER she incites incendiary, verbal attacks.

this is not just a matter of opinion and differing perspectives, it is master morality- just because one has the power of the mic, does not make it 'right.'

So far- Ignore 6. Speak up 2.

Philosophers Delima: 

In overhearing conversations regarding education that are false, in a public setting.

  1. Ignore. Then I think of Sartre “Every word has consequences. Every silence too.” Or Martin Lither King, Jr. “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but by the silence over that by the good people.” Or Edith Stien “Those who remain silent are responsible.”

  2. Speak up. And I refer to Maya Angelou “Sometimes it’s wiser to be right in silence”; or an English Proverb “If speech is silver, then silence is gold.” Or the Bible “When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

So what do I do?