Education Crisis

This evening's news heralded more coverage here in St. Louis on the Albert Pujols contract dilemma with the Cardinals.  ESPN speculated the following in a report today, Albert Pujols talks break off.   

"Is Albert Pujols worth $30 million per season?  He is a year and a half younger than Alex Rodriguez was when he signed a 10-year, $275M contract in 2007, and based on the numbers here, one could say that Pujols has been underpaid." 

Another issue that is on the Greater St. Louis area's plate is more budget cuts for one of our largest school districts.  This evening Francis Howell School District announced that it expects to lay off nearly one-hundred employees (mostly teachers) this week during a board decision meeting.  The almost certain decision will affect nearly every school in the district.

Check out KSDK's Francis Howell School district layoffs expected video report.  (Technical note, when I embed this particular source it defaults to automatic play on my blog's home page, long story short it's rather irritating hence the provided link).

My brother and I are products of the Francis Howell School District.  While I attended a private secondary school, my entire primary school education was through FHSD.  My brother will graduate this May, a K-12 product of the district.  Not only is FHSD one of the largest districts in the area, it also offers a myriad of extended learning services including top quality support for disabled and mentally handicapped students.  While the district, like other St. Louis area districts, has faced budget cuts in the past, I feel that at some point enough is enough.  I am not in any way criticizing the decision Francis Howell will most likely make as they are responding to their budget cuts the best they can.  My problem is in the budget cuts, and education funding in general.

In a larger sense, education budget cuts are a national trend;  St. Louis is not unique in this regard.  Money is a hot button topic and everyone loves to complain about the darned economy.  Yet at the same time, our entertainment industry seems to be doing just fine.  I don't have access to credible figures, but I'd be willing to bet that an obscene amount of money is funneled into the entertainment industry annually in the U.S.  Take James Cameron's 2009 Avatar, for example, which cost a whopping $237M to produce and grossed $2.7B worldwide.  Criticisms regarding the content of the film aside, I wouldn't say it was completely hopeless (if you ignore the "unobtanium" moniker); but in the grand scheme of things, do we really think this film was worth the money?  Here's the kicker, Avatar isn't the only movie out there to cost mega mullah.  I guarantee that the majority of the films that make it to theaters blew through millions as well; and for what?  To offer a lineup of new movies every few months - a ridiculously small percentage of which are even worth a fraction of the cost to go see it at the theater?

I realize it might seem a bit odd to take education cuts and the entertainment industry and discuss them side by side when they represent two very different systems.  Education is government sanctioned while the entertainment industry is comprised of private corporations.  The way I see it, however, there is a common denominator: the public (i.e. everyday Joe Schmoes, e.g. yours truly).  Our tax dollars support the education budget in our states.  Our money also directly funds the entertainment industry.  The only difference is that taxes are compulsory and going to the movie theater or buying a DVD is elective.

This is not to condemn paying for a movie or sports ticket, entertainment is there for a reason.  That said, I still take offense that we can so readily support one industry for our pleasure and then nickel and dime another.  The possible solutions to this conundrum I guarantee would be met with heated criticism.  Politics aside, this is our children's education that is at stake here.

To even begin to address our society's aspirations, that liberty and happiness our government was founded on to ensure, we absolutely have to educate our children.  They are our future.  If we neglect them now, we will certainly pay the price.  This is not to say that a thrifty education system cannot provide a quality education, but with continual budget cuts we run the risk of jeopardizing the quality the system is able to offer for the sake of money.

I bring this up because I am passionate about public welfare.  In a year I plan to graduate with a B.A. in Criminal Justice.  Even in the short period of time I've been exposed to the Criminal Justice field, I can resolutely affirm just how crucial a supportive education is for society.

The money exists that would benefit education; the question is how do we as a society ensure that it's used in the best way possible?

Candidly, I wonder what it would take to organize a "Movie Tickets for Education" event?  What if there was a way to encourage people to donate the cost of just one movie ticket's worth to their local school district?

Just some food for thought.

Signed,

RF

The cost of free speech, a message to the Westboro Baptist Church

The Bill of Rights did not come into existence at the behest of ignorant people who wanted to picket military funerals with anti-anything signs.  The Founding Fathers put those rights into the Constitution to protect the common man (and woman) against oppression.  Furthermore, the soldiers who have died defending this nation over the centuries did not do so lightly.  It is no small gift, the freedom we have, yet there are some in our midst who seem to treat it like garbage.

Enter the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) protesters.  Recently the controversial group made good on their promise to protest in front of an administration building in St. Charles, Missouri, near my hometown.

From an article entitled 'Cowards, go home' Peaceful but vigorous counter-protest compels Westboro protesters to exit early:

"Nothing WBC protestors could say was audible with hundreds of counter protestors drowning out the unwelcome visitors, waving flags and shouting them down.  Military veterans, Tea Party organizations, youth groups, and ordinary citizens were on hand to greet the five or six WBC members upon their arrival.  Whatever message the WBC had planned to deliver was literally drowned out. "

This ladies and gentlemen is a fine example of honoring the meaning of our First Amendment rights.  Yes, you have the "right" technically to say a lot of things in the public arena (such is one of the beauties of our country), but the sacrifices that gave you that right also give you a certain responsibility to use it appropriately.  The truth in a quote popularized in the 2002 Spiderman movie, "Remember, with great power comes great responsibility," we would do well to acknowledge.

To the members spearheading the WBC's message of hate and slander against service men and women I have this to say, the heroes who have given you the right to stand up and say whatever (cowardly) message you want have made a sacrifice none of us will ever begin to deserve, you least of all.  You call yourselves Christians, followers of Christ, yet there is not one record in the Bible of Jesus Christ condoning your behavior.  Furthermore, it was Jesus Christ who said "Truly, I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).  You may be "Christians" but you are not Christians.

A funeral, regardless of who the deceased was, is a time for mourning.  The privacy of the family and friends, and the dignity of the deceased is of the utmost importance.  It is not appropriate for complete strangers (such as the WBC and the people they've protested) to ever make slurs against these people, much less at their funeral.  Add the fact that the people in question are service men and women who've fallen in defense of this nation.  The absolute fury I feel at this is indescribable.

To the rest of America, I ask what will we do with the freedom that has come at such a dear price?  Will we use it to crucify the very people who've ensured such protection, or will we use it to honor them and live the lives they've fought to ensure us?  I only hope I can begin to live up to the great responsibility given to me, and even then I know I am indebted far beyond my ability to repay.

Respectfully,

RF

The un-replaced toilet paper role

What will become of you, the poor soul who, after relieving yourself, goes for the padded white roll located conveniently near your throne, only to discover a very thin sheet of tissue separating you from the coarse brown tube of emptiness? Who will be your voice when you're sitting uncomfortably in the bathroom, debating the options.

Do you yell and hope a fellow housemate will hear? Do you further hope he or she will take pity and come to your rescue?

Perhaps that would be too awkward or the only person around is your roommate's boyfriend or you're not even in your own home or that of a close friend's. Perhaps you're at a friend of the family's party. You just ducked in for a quick freshen up.

If you're at home, and you're still unrelieved (which is unfortunate given what you set out to do in that room in the first place), do you attempt to separate the brown cardboard and use that? Do you eye a bath towel, with plans to bleach it or pitch it after? Do you consider replacing your clothing as loosely as possible and go in search of toilet paper yourself? Do you weigh the chances of getting caught with your pants down as you streak (pardon the pun) to the next closest bathroom? What if that bathroom is also void of tp? What if your whole household is dry of the comfort your bottom craves?

You're beginning to get that even more uncomfortable tingling feeling. You know where. You're cold. And probably feel disgusting. Your cellphone is buzzing in the next room. It occurs to you that maybe you could text someone an SOS, but if only you could reach the phone! Again, the problem of being caught in the nude arises.

Maybe you're in a bathroom that also has a shower. Do you remove the rest of your clothing and just rinse your whole body off? What if you're not? What if you have someplace to be in ten minutes and you've already dressed?

With another pitiful attempt to search under the sink, as you crane your body around the side of the vanity and over the side of the door (they never swing in your favor), you know it's impossible that a roll could have materialized in--no, wait! At last, sweet relief! You missed the back corner on your side of the cabinet. There, behind the spare economy bottle of shampoo, tucked in its dark little nook, your spool of heavenly plushness awaits. You have to half-stand to reach it, but reach it you do. Your fingers paw at the line where the tissue flap is adhered to the roll. You shred it a bit, and through a combination of impatience and utter bliss you retrieve far too much tp. You don't care, you've just been delivered.

Finally, your business is complete. You can flush the toilet and replace your clothing in comfort. You give your hands an extra long washing and you replace the empty roll with the new one. The savior.

Then you think back on who else has been home that day. Who was the last to use the bathroom? Who took the last of the precious tissue, leaving only that tiny flap, and walked away, dooming you to your moments of agony? Who?

I wish you all the best in tracking down the foul felonious fellow. If only those scoundrels could be tried for crimes against humanity and punished accordingly? What if they could be made to stack boxes of Charmin, Scott, Bounty, or the store's brand of toilet paper in the freezing cold and wearing wet pants? What if?

Alas, my friend, we don't live in such a world. All us survivors can do is take extra caution that regardless of whether we're taking a quick potty break at the mall or we're taking care of our morning business at home, we double check that roll- is there adequate tp for your toiletting needs? If not, is there a stash nearby? In the house somewhere? At your neighbors? Once you have done so and have completed your business, also be sure to do your part for society (or your household at large) and check the remaining tp roll. Is it appropriately supplied for the next patron? If it's looking on the low side, can you locate a new roll and place on the counter or the tank, providing back-up?

Whether you're a culprit or a victim or both, one final thing. For the love of God. When replacing the toilet paper, follow these steps EXACTLY:

1. Retrieve old, empty roll from the holder.

2. Throw empty roll in garbage.

3. Take new roll, put on holder.

See, not that difficult. Three easy steps.

Do your part, don't contribute to the un-replaced toilet paper role pandemic. You may even thank yourself some day.

Signed,

RF