• Be written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it.
• Be passed by a Congress that hasn't read it (but exempts themselves from it).
• Be signed by a president who smokes (and also hasn't read it).
• Have funding administered by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes.
• Be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese.
• Be financed by a country that is nearly broke.

What could possibly go wrong?

Am I missing anything?

As much as I wish I could take credit for this, this came from the Patriot Post - a free newsletter that you can sign up for at http://www.patriotpost.us/subscribe.php

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Well, I have to say I am surprised.  I did not think they would print my letter!  If you get ahold of paper today, Thurs. August, 3, mine is the first letter.  (or you can click here and read her online)  It is signed Vigilant Mom in SC...Actually that is not how I signed my letter. I actually used Mrs. Dani. My guess is they thought that was my real name instead of a nickname. Anyway, you can see my post about the orginal letter from June 12 by clicking here. You can also see where they took out some of my more forceful language.  I guess they had to edit for space.

Wow! who would have guessed!

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By now, everyone has heard what our Governor of the State of South Carolina has done; run off with some woman to have an affair.  I have to say with confidence, that no one in this state saw that one coming. Even my father, a die hard democrat was in shock. Gov Sanford always seemed to be a good man. He worked hard for the people of this state; never backing down to the politicians.  He would save money for us by not having the annual big balls that past governors would have because he said it was a wasteful and irresponsible because so many in our state were suffering. When he took office, he used up the old stationary letterhead and envelopes with the former Governor’s name because he thought it would be a waste of money & paper. He slept in his office to save the tax payers money when the Governor’s house was being treated with mold.  Even his family shopped at Wal-mart to save money.

He fought to help the elderly by stopping the raise in property tax.  People that had lived on a now popular lake for over 30 years were losing their homes due to raising taxes; families on the coast who were the descendents of former slaves who bought the land when they were freed were losing their land because the taxes shot up because the land became a poplar vacation spot.  He tried to get legislation passed to cap the taxes so these people would not loose their homes.

Yes, he did a lot of unpopular things, but he always seem to work hard for the people of SC.

But now, the man I admired, respected, supported and voted for need to resign. He has shown himself untrustworthy.  He was irresponsible and showed no regard for his State….the people he was elected to represent. He took off without leaving anyone in control. He did not turn the reigns of power over to our Lieutenant Governor :of course our Lieutenant Governor would have used his first 5 min in power to go speeding down Assembly street out running the state troopers again (those of us in SC get that joke)    If there had been a state-wide emergency (i.e. flood, tornado, fire, Red-neck Revolt) there would have been no one that could have called out our National Guard.  If ANYONE else in the real world had taken off like that they would not have had a job to come back to.

Governor Sanford, I supported you and your policies (which I think are still right on) but as a supporter and a citizen of the state of South Carolina , I believe you should step down! Grant you that would mean Andre Bauer would be our Governor (God help us! No really, God would have to help us! Every citizen of the state is cringing with that thought).  For the good of our state and hopefully the saving of your family, you should devote your time to repairing the mistakes you have made.

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DEAR ABBY: I am embarrassing my 7-year-old son. I make him come into the women's restroom with me if no family bathroom is available. He can use the bathroom by himself, of course, but I worry about who might be lurking in the men's room while he is out of my sight. Other mothers say they agree that a "bad man" could be loitering in public restrooms these days. Is it more traumatic for him to come into the ladies' room or have me stand outside the men's room yelling, "Is everything all right in there?" -- LISA IN PHOENIX

DEAR LISA: If your son is old enough to be embarrassed by having to come into the women's restroom, then he should not be forced into it. It is not necessary to stand outside the men's room yelling, "Is everything all right in there?" Simply announce loudly when your son enters that you will be "waiting right here," so anyone inside will know he is not alone. Then, if your son isn't out in a reasonable period of time, ask if everything is all right. And if he doesn't respond, check on him.

It is apparent to me that either Dear Abby has no small children or she keeps her head in the sand.  I sent this answer.

Dear Abby, By giving Lisa in Phoenix the advice you have given her a false sense of security and put her child in danger. A molester will not be deterred when he hears a mother at the door saying loudly she will be right there.  A child can be hurt in a matter of seconds with the parents right there! It has happened in the play areas of fast food restaurants before!  Better advice would have been 1) make sure your child uses the bathroom at home before you go out and 2) if you must use a restroom, do what I do with my nephews.  Knock on the door, if no one answers, open and call in to see if anyone is there.  (if you are too scared to do this, get an employee. I have yet to have one tell me no) go in and make sure no one is in there.  Then stand outside the door and if any man comes up explain the situation to them and ask them to wait.  I have never had a man mind waiting a minute or two. NEVER trust that  you standing guard at a door will deter someone from harming a child.They couldn't care less.

It never ceases to amaze me how people will put their own discomfort before the safety & protection of children. What do you think? Or better yet, what do you do?

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Yes, you did indeed read the title of this post correctly. Not sure where to even start on this story. 

Kids Told to Shout Obscenities in 'Swearing Lesson'

for link to orginal story, click here

A British school was blasted Friday after kids as young as 11 were told to shout obscenities during a lesson in swearing.

Expletives like the f-word and c-word were written on a blackboard before a teacher explained their meaning to 30 seventh graders.

S.t Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, Wilts, claims it was part of a sex and relationship education program to "dispel" the myths of swear words.

But parents say they were not consulted by head James Colquhoun about the class and say kids were left "deeply upset."

One parent said: "This is a total disgrace. Our children go to school to gain an education, not qualifications in swear words. Most kids had no idea what the words meant and were forced to grow up faster than their parents want. Heads should roll for this."

Some pupils claim the teacher told them not to tell parents about the lesson.

Deputy head Richard Clutterbuck said Friday night: "This lesson should not have focused on the slang terms. I must apologize for any distress caused."

Wilts County Council said it is the governors’ responsibility to decide specifics of sex education lessons.

In February The Sun reported on 10-year-olds at a church primary school who were told to write the crudest words they knew to "analyze bullying insults." 

Now before anyone states the obvious, I am sure these seventh graders have heard these words from their buddies before.  That is not the point.  They were encouraged to swear as part of a lesson plan to  …and I quote…”part of a sex and relationship education program to "dispel" the myths of swear words. “  This was part of a sex education  program.  What was the point of the lesson? Learn how to be disrespectful or turn something beautiful into something ugly?   

What REALLY got me was the kids were told by the teachers not to tell their parents.  Yeah, I believe it.   I had teachers tell me things in school and told me not to pass the information on.

Oh, and the response from one of the higher ups, "This lesson should not have focused on the slang terms."  Excuse me?  The lesson should not have focused on SLANG words? Regular cuss words are ok, but we mustn’t use slang.  What do you even say to this attitude?  First they punish kids for swearing (all the while teachers swear all the time from the blackboard) then they encourage them to shout out cuss words, they had better not write any kid up now.  All the kids have to do is claim they were discussing what happened in class.   Of course if a Muslim had been in the class they would not have dared because that would be insulting to their religion.  A Christian? Well, we need to expose them to the “real world” would have been the attitude.

I was raised by my Grandmother where truly educated people do not have to lower themselves to cuss words to get their ideas across.  All the while I had teachers using the same words, while standing at the blackboard, that they wrote the kids up for saying.  I don’t know, maybe, just maybe their time would be better spent….I don’t…know learning arithmetic, or perhaps history…oh, that’s right. They can not study certain historical events in Britain because they have found it offends Muslims.  (kid you not.)

And they wonder why people like homeschoolers have lost all faith in the school sysem.  Go figure!

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Ok, where to begin. The orginal article (what a surprise from CA) can be read by clicking here.

School Field Trip to Teacher's Lesbian Wedding Sparks Controversy

First-graders in San Francisco took a field trip to City Hall to celebrate the marriage of their lesbian teacher on Friday, but opponents of same-sex marriage in the state say the field trip was an attempt to “indoctrinate” the students, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The field trip was suggested by a parent at the Creative Arts Charter School, and the school said the trip, where students tossed rose petals on their teacher and her wife as they left City Hall, was academically relevant.

"It really is what we call a teachable moment," said Liz Jaroslow, the school’s interim director, according to the newspaper. She said same-sex marriage had historic significance. "I think I'm well within the parameters."

California will vote on Nov. 4 on Proposition 8 which seeks to ban same-sex marriage in the state, and supporters of the measure say the field trip shows that allowing same-sex marriage will mean it’s taught to school children, the newspaper said.

"It's just utterly unreasonable that a public school field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," said Chip White, press secretary for the Yes on 8 campaign, told the Chronicle. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to have an understanding of its purpose."

Now let’s pretend for a moment that this was not a same sex marriage. It’s a non-issue.  God was clear, ANY sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman, whether it be pre-marital sex, adultery, homosexuality is fornication. They are all the same to God.  No one is worse or better than another. Period.  Don’t like it? Take it up with God.  Good luck with that.

Back to the article.  These kids were taken out of school for something the teacher said was academically relevant.  How is taking kids out of arithmetic or science class to attend their teacher’s wedding relevant to what they were learning?  Don’t get me wrong, I am against same-sex marriage but really it doesn’t matter.  I would be just as upset if this were a man and woman being married.  There is NO academic relevance whatsoever.  They are claiming it is based solely on the fact it is a same-sex marriage. 

And just what is the teachable moment?  The teacher’s belief is more important than what your parents may think?  It also shows the utter content they have for any of the parents’ beliefs.  They show tolerance for   everyone’s beliefs except Christians.   My view: if you want to be a homosexual, that is your business.  All sins )from over-eating, lying, murder, homosexuality) are the same in God’s eyes.  I am no worse a sinner than you.  My problem, as well as for most Christians, is the Gay community trying to FORCE us to change God’s Word.  They sit and wave the flag of live and let live, but they do not practice it. 

You know they did not get permission slips.  Isn’t that illegal? 

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 Where do I even start?  I am so sick of this nonsense.    I wrote about this before here.  The big trouble with zero tolerance, everyone is so accustomed to hearing the ridiculous, that a case where a child might actually need to be thrown out and get help for the safety of the other students and himself, is just dismissed as foolishness.   Is it me, or does the old story about crying wolf come to mind?

But this is not that kind of story.  When I saw this headline in my state, I just couldn't believe it. This is a case of zero tolerance gone amuck.

10-Year-Old Suspended For Broken Pencil Sharpener

Click here for original story link.

Hilton Head Island, SC) - A 10-year-old South Carolina student has been suspended from school after his pencil sharpener broke and he didn't immediately get rid of the blade inside

Authorities tell The Island Packet of Hilton Head that a teacher at Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School found a small razor blade on the boy in class Tuesday. A police report says it was obvious the blade came from a pencil sharpener.

The report says the boy is a well-behaved, good student and cried when he was suspended for at least two days. He could face further punishment.

School district spokesman Randy Wall says the district has a zero-tolerance policy on weapons, but wanted to be reasonable. He says they needed to make sure the student understood the seriousness of having the blade.

The "seriousness of having the blade"?  How dare this child be concerned with having a sharp pencil!   I just get the feeling after all the cops have to deal with they were ready to slap the principal for bothering them with this. 

It is a good thing my kids are not in public school.  Between the Swiss Army knives, the science equipement they carry and tools, they would be in juvy for their entire lives!!!!!  But they would have sharpened pencils at least.

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Words cannot describe the horror I felt as I read this.  This child was only 5 years old!  I cannot imagine leaving a child this young alone.

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1)       First, reusable ones are not very sanitary in my opinion.  If you are carrying meat or vegetables in them they can get “polluted” and then get germs on the next thing carried in them like baby cereal.  Yeah, you can try to keep certain ones for only the meat but if the juice leaks out or some food is left in them to rot…..sorry does not sound healthy to me.

2)       Second, I do reuse the plastic bags so they do not go to waste.  I use those plastic bags for all sorts of things.  They are the perfect size for small garbage cans (hence, I do not have to spend money to buy bags), I use them for quick gloves, to line all sorts of things, you name it.  It is rare that I throw one away without being used unless it is the cheapo kind with holes in it.

So sorry to all the tree huggers, I have no intention of using those reusable bags unless someone can show me how to keep the cloth bags clean.  (and do not suggest I throw it in the washing machine because that creates more usage of water, energy and detergent that goes back into the environment not to mention I am taxed enough with the shopping itself and worrying about the kids having clean underwear to really worry about whether my shopping bags are clean so you are only trading in one pollution and aggravation in for another)

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I have seen some people say the reason they homeschool is because the dangerous environment of the schools; fights and such.  Here is a story at a school not far from us.  Do I really even need to comment on this? 

Richland County (WLTX) - Richland County deputies and Richland One officials say two teachers got involved in a fist-fight Friday in front of a group of students.

It happened at St. Andrews Middle School.

According to officials, two eighth-grade female teachers got into a fight over a personal matter.

The incident is being investigated. There's no word on any charges.

WLTX.com will post additional information as it becomes available.

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I have posted rants about this in the past.   This article appeared yeasterday. The orginal link is here

Coming-Of- Age Novel Causes Uproar in California School

YORBA LINDA, Calif. —  When Patricia Cosby's 12-year-old daughter brought home the novel "Prep" from school, she was horrified to find out what her daughter was reading.

"It was really like reading something that was pornographic," Cosby said.

Her daughter found the book -- which is part of an accelerated reading program -- in the Heritage Oak School library in Yorba Linda, Calif.

"When the book first came home I couldn't sleep the first night," Patricia Cosby said. "I just kept waking up and I just had this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"Prep," by Curtis Sittenfeld, is a coming-of-age tale about an Indiana teenager who wins a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school. It has won awards and has been well-reviewed, but several passages in it border on the pornographic.

One of the tamer passages in the book reads: "I wrapped my legs around his waist. He jerked against me so strongly that I thought he might tear through my underwear."

The book was on a list of recommendations sent to schools all over the country that use a program called accelerated reading from Wisconsin-based Renaissance learning.

The company says "Prep" is appropriate for ninth graders, but it also says the reading level is appropriate for 12-year-olds.

Greg Cygan, principal of Heritage Oak School, immediately pulled the book off the shelves. He says he blames Renaissance for putting the book into the hands of young children at his school.

"I think most people in the K-12 group would stand behind me and say it shouldn't have made the list.

"But if it was on the list, clearly Renaissance has a responsibility to put some sort of a warning on the book. And then the school library can make a decision whether or not they want to have that."

In an e-mail to FOX News, Renaissance executives denied responsibility, saying, "Ultimately to use or not use a book is based on professional judgment about the book's appropriateness and is the sole responsibility of librarians, teachers and/or parents."

Renaissance said it will neither remove "Prep" from its recommended reading list nor change the age group for which it is deemed appropriate.

While I commend the principal for pulling it off the shelves, he puts the blame on the company.  Wait a minute; are you saying that your school librarian is such a mind numb robot that she (or he, must be politically correct now mustn't we?) never even bothered to read it?  Oh, I see, there was no Jesus on the cover. That is what made it ok. 

Did you also see what the company's , Renaissance, response was?  So what? We care very little what you have to say. WE have decided it is appropriate for your kids.

I once helped a child of a friend of mine do a book report and was shocked at the garbage that the schools have the kids read.  Some of the books that they are REQUIRED to read have lesbian overtones, violence, cuss words, oral sex  and these are elementary school kids! I can not tell you the excuses given. 

Well, we know these books have some "questionable" material, but they help kids to see they need to not be ashamed who they are. 

AM I ONLY THE HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET THAT HAS READ ANNE OF GREEN GABLES? LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE" AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS?

I feel sorry for public school kids.  They will grow up thinking that the drivel handed to them in class is good literature, when the only usefullness it serves is to line a bird cage. They will never know what joy reading the truely great literary works until they are adults.  They will miss out on the awe and excitement that only a child can experience.

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Finally, A Mother with real backbone! I was so thrilled to read this article on Fox news.  It is about time to see a parent with real backbone.  If more parents behaved like this, we would have a lot fewer delinquents. 

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I am the daughter of one of the 60’s feminists.  You know, one of those women that history books show pictures of them bravely burning their bras to show they would no longer be constrained by the preconceived notions of the role of women in society.  They marched for equal rights and equal pay.  They demanded care farcicalities be built so they would not be forced to stay at home and slave for the home and be reduced to wiping  snotty noses, when they could be out making  a career for themselves and self sufficient.  They goal was to free every woman from the enslavement of marriage.

My heartfelt thanks to you ladies….for enslaving us.  You took a worthy cause, giving woman equal rights and corrupted it into a way to justify your laziness and selfishness.  You cared little for your children so you just shoved them aside.  Forget if they needed a mother or a father, you deserved sexual satisfaction from every man you met, you had the right to put your career before anything else.  It mattered little that you had children; you made sure they did not get in the way of “the cause”. 

NOW WAIT! I have heard you argue that you just did not want to confine your daughters to the role of house maker only.  You wanted them to see that everyone was equal.  Well then why did you not teach your sons to cook as well as your daughters?  No, you were too lazy going out and enjoying your protests and sexual escapades to be bothered with teaching your kids how to do their laundry or to read.  So you demanded that pre-schools be built. That way children would get the education you perceived they needed without you sacrificing anything.   You enslaved us.

Why are our kids really overweight?  Because you have enslaved us to the fast food places because no one ever taught us how to prepare healthy meals. 

Why do our daughters dress like sluts? Because you enslaved us to the department stores to provide our clothes because we were never taught how to sew our own clothes. 

Why are people in so much debt? Because you have enslaved us to credit card and check cashing companies by never teaching us to budget for our household. 

Why are venereal diseases running rapid, why are our daughters and sons failing prey to the offers of “love” child predators promise?  Because you enslaved us to lust; you have shown us that love is nothing more than what cats do.  You never taught us or showed us how special the gift of sex was that was to be saved and given to our future spouse. 

Why are so many marriages ending in divorce? Because you enslaved us by teaching us that marriage was not between two mature, committed, self sacrificing man and woman; it was only for connivance and if it got too difficult, file for divorce.  

Why are there so many people who have little regard for life?  Because you enslaved us to the notion that life is only life if it is wanted; if it is wanted it is a baby, if not it is nothing but a mass of tissue. We are nothing but an accidental series of mutations is what you tell us.  

Why are so many children abandoned by their fathers? Because you enslaved your sons by teaching them duty and responsibility are secondary to their feelings; what you feel is all that matters. 

So thank you all you 60’s feminists for enslaving us.  I would sarcastically ask, “I hope you are all proud of yourselves,” but of course, you have shown you do not care.

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The information I am commenting on comes from her own words in an interview she gave.  The Edwards family have hired a tutor, a licensed teacher.  Now this teacher is in direct contact with the Edward’s kids’ teachers in the school district they would normally attend.   All of the materials used, from text books, worksheets, and tests are the exact same thing they use in the classroom. The tutor, has daily contact with the school teachers to make sure the Edward’s kids are at the exact place their public school comrades are. I mean we can not have the children actually having the chance to exhibit independent thought or take the chance to cultivate an interest in a particular subject. So what if they want to experiment some in science, they have a schedule to keep, darn it!

 This is NOT homeschooling!!!! She would not even be legal in SC where a parent is required to provide at least 51% of the instruction!  She likes to pretend she has taken control of her kids’ education when all she has done is turn it over to a public school teacher who happens to conduct class in their home.  This nothing more than  public school at home.  Grant you this is the way the teachers’ union would like it done.   This is no different than when a child is too sick to go to school and the district sends a sub to visit the home daily with their regular schoolwork.

One must give her credit.  She is indeed a politician’s wife.  She sits up there talking about how she did not want to interrupt her children’s education without offending the teachers’ union.  She must think homeschoolers are idiots.  Does she really think we do not know what she is up to?  She is trying to win our votes for her husband without upsetting and losing the votes of their base in the NEA.  Personally, I find this insulting.  I believe this post at Why Homeschool says it better than even me. 

Do not insult my intelligence and my hard work by pretending to be like me.  I have no respect for you.  Imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery; it shows you are nothing but form without sustenance. 

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At first glance at this story, my first knee-jerk reaction was the school overreacted like they normally do with this nonsense they call zero tolerance.  However, upon really reading this I have a few questions after this.     

Oregon First-Grader Suspended From School After Violent Drawing (orginal story here)

1)       What the blazes is this child doing watching the Simpsons?  Animated does not mean it is for kids.  The father is the one who should be punished for letting a CHILD watch such a vulgar show.

2)       If this kid had just drawn stick figure with a gun, it would have been one thing, but he drew two specific girls (according to FoxNews).  Not to mention several parents complained that their children had been threatened. 

3) The kid LIED about it!

4) The father kept making excuses!  Yeah, what he did was wrong, but..... There seemed to be no repentance to me. 

These  things made me reconsider whether or not this was zero tolerance gone amuck.  But you see this is the trouble with zero tolerance, everyone is so accustomed to hearing the ridiculous, that a case where a child might actually need to be thrown out and get help for the safety of the other students and himself, is just dismissed as foolishness.   Is it me, or does the old story about crying wolf come to mind?

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“Ok, you say it is not about the money,” was my first question, “they truly only care about the rights of a woman?”

“Oh, yes,” came her reply, “it is really about the rights of a woman!  Why can you not see that?”

“Then they should not be allowed to charge $3000,” was my suggestion.

“W-w-what?” she stammered.

“Here is my reasoning.  If they truly care about these woman and it is all about their rights, then make it illegal to charge for an abortion.” Is what I said, “ Charging so much puts a horrible burden on these suffering woman anyway.  If they really cared about this right of women, they should not be allowed to charge the woman or the insurance company.  I wonder how many people would yell about rights if they could not profit off of it?  How many of these dedicated doctors or nurses would still be so dedicated?  I am willing to bet not to many.  Oh, to be sure there are some out there that would still perform this, but not very many.” 

“Well, they have to make a living,” was the predictable reply.

 “Oh no, throughout history our rights were secured by those who sacrificed, “I pointed out, “ It is their turn.  Besides, their practices made money before they were allowed to perform abortions, just not as much.”   

So my stance has changed.  Sure, let’s make abortion on demand legal, but a clinic, doctor, nurse or even pharmacy can not charge a single penny to the woman or insurance company or government  for any service or medicine or even so much as a band-aid.  After all, rights should not be charged for.  We do not have to pay for our right to vote, why should we pay for our right to end a pregnancy?   So, how many of you out there who charge any amount of money for an abortion would  still claim it is a right?  

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I have heard the intellectually void argument about homeschooling, "well, how are your kids going to know how to deal with a bully if they never face one on the playground and get a bloody nose?"  This article about what happened in a school in my county really makes this argument look beyond stupid.

Lexington Co. sheriff: 12-year-old assaults six girls, threatens rape

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WIS) - An Irmo middle school student is charged with assaulting six girls on school grounds.

The boy is accused of touching the girls' private parts with his hands.

The girls told an administrator that the 12-year-old touched them inappropriately on numerous occasions between August 27 and September 19. Sheriff Metts says the girls told the administrator that they had repeatedly told the boy to stop, but he wouldn't.

The sheriff says one girl said the boy told her that he was going to rape her after he touched her.

So I suppose the argument will now be, "well, how is your child going to know how to deal with a molester or rapist if they have never been exposed to one or had one threatened to rape them?"

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The husband and I only watch one tv show.  We make it a date once a week after the kids are in bed.  You can read about it here.  Well, we had the kids in bed, popcorn popped, and set in front of the tv only to find it was extortion time at PBS.  So of course, they take off the shows you normally watch to put on some show that no body I know watches, to convince you to donate to help keep this program on the air.  Of course, you will never see the program aired again until the next extortion time. It is also the only time you might see a Christian show like Veggie-tales on air on PBS.

Why do I call it mafia or extortion?  Well, think about what they tell the kids.

"Now look kids, we are not sayin' that anythin' is goin' to happen to Big Bird, but...uh...if youz mommy and daddy don't send any money in, you might never see Big Bird again'

I also get sick of them saying, "if PBS doesn't air it, who will?"  If no one will pay to advertise on it because NO ONE will watch it, then call me crazy but mabey it should not be on the air!  There are plenty of shows that do not stay on the air because no one watches them.  And with all of the blasted elmo and seseame street junk in the stores, why can they not take  1 or 2% of the profit and give it to the station that airs the show that causes all of that junk to be sold in the first place? 

You may be saying, "well you like one of the shows, why do you not donate?"  They get more than enough money.  I have been to their studios, they waste it!!! 

Ok, rant over.  I am better now.  Thanks for listening.

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This is a real funny story.  Normally, I do not feel sorry for crooks, but this poor fool. The original story is at www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286847,00.html

The main story goes like this.  72 year old Bill Barnes of Grand Rapids, Mich, was at a gas station scratching off his lottery ticket, when he felt a pickpocket's hand slip into his pants pocket where he had $300 in cash. Unfortunately for 27 year old Jessie Rae, he did not do too well picking out his victim.  First, Mr. Barnes is a former US Marine (I do not use ex because Marines are never not Marines).  As if that was not bad enough for the poor criminal, Mr. Barnes is also an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer who has placed more than once.   Wait! It gets better! The 72 year old was retired after 20 years as an iron worker.  You might have guessed by now what had happened.  The 72 year old/USMC/boxer/iron worker beat that stupid kid to a pulp.

If I were the judge I would be too busy laughing to sentence this fool.  I really like the Old West form of justice.  I should think this pickpocket has learned a more valuable lesson from his victim than he ever would from jail.

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I am sure we all remember the fund raisers we use to do when we were in elementary school.  We would sell candy bars or wrapping paper or whatever.  I heard on the radio just a few moments ago about a fund raiser my local middle school was doing.  They were able to get two big name grammy winning country singers to come do a concert.  My problem is not with that.  My problem is what they were raising the money for.

When I was in school, we use to try to raise money for new gym equipement or for science equipment.  I remember the outrage once when the CHILDREN had to raise money for updated books.  People came out of the woodwork to donate, local reporters did on the spot pieces how disgraceful it was that the students themselves had to work to get new decent textbooks.  It was the school board's duty to see to this.  Why, there were demands to see where all the tax money had gone!!

What are the local students trying so desperately to raise money for?  What did they see the need to work so hard for?   What do they want more than anything to help improve their education?

Security Cameras

How bad has our schools become that instead of trying to raise money for new dodge balls, our kids have to raise funds for security cameras!!!!!  My heart breaks for these kids. Instead of concentrating on getting a better education or socializing with their friends, they have to work to get the funds to keep themselves safe!!!! 

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Saddened, dismayed, sick....these do not begin to express what I feel with this tragedy.  But I do not add shock.  NO, I am not shocked.  Why should any of us be shocked?

For decades, we have told kids they are special and their lives are valuable.  Yes, that is true, but we left out that everyone else's life is valuable and special.  We have cheapened life, that there is no real value to life.   We have taught kids that they are an accident of nature, a mutation, no more valuable than an owl.  We have SHOWED them that all that matters is mommy or daddy's happiness or sense of fullfillment at a career or hobby is what is important.  Seaseme Street has even stated in an epsiode, " and doesn't your mommy deserve to be happy."  And what do kids think?  They are not making their parents happy.  Just stick those burdens in the most expensive day care you can find.  Expensive means the best, doesn't it?

We have taught them it is all right to murder a baby if it is an inconvient time or we are short on cash to have one.  If you have a disabled wife who is cramping your style, just get a judge to help you starve them to death and collect the money.  Old? No problem, we can just get a doctor to withhold medicine.  We have taught them not to let anyone "diss" them or their sex, gods, or their race. 

So why are we surprised?  Did we really think we would not reep the harvest?  Of course not, which is why our kids think the same. 

Yes, God made you special and loves you very much, but He made everyone special and loves everyone very much.  (not a diss on Veggie-tales.  I am a huge fan)   Life, ALL LIFE, is valuable.  Everyone's life is worth something  .And until we get back to that, I fear this will only be a small taste of what is to come.

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Tennessee High School Students Make Porn Film Between Classes

MAYNARDVILLE, Tenn. —  A group of Tennessee high school students are in hot water for trying to make a steamy porn movie between classes.  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255746,00.html

Four female and two male students were punished after a drama teacher caught them filming the flick in a Union County High School classroom.

Wayne Goforth, curriculum coordinator for the school district, told WATE-TV in Knoxville that the female students had stripped down to their underwear for the boys who were acting as the cameraman and emcee

(They were only interacting with their peers)

The drama teacher assigned to the classroom was on hall-monitoring duty, Goforth said.

(So they were being left alone! How many homeschool families are visited by child services each year because of a report that the children were left alone?)

"Personally I think students see too much on TV," Goforth told the station. "They like to mimic what they see, and if they're watching that sort of thing, of course they're going to copy that."

(so the kids are such mind-nimb robots that they can not think for themselves or know the difference between right and wrong.)

The students were suspended for various amounts of time, with two students being suspended for at least three days, the station said.

"For the most part, we have excellent students at Union County High School, and it is a learning experience," Goforth said. "And the behavior and discipline is just part of their learning experience."

(Hey, its no big deal! It is just part of the learning experience to be part of porn flick)

Some of the students are in special education, he told the station. School authorities confiscated the tape

($20 says the tape will "disappear" and their will be no proof this every occured.  So all you parents need to calm down, go back to your lives and let us continue to raise your children to be well educated thinking adults.  Nothing more to see here.)

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Now what really ticks me off is that any coward can call in a complaint about a child being abused without leaving their name but if someone wants to call in a complaint to animal control about anything they must give their name or animal control can not do anything about it.  If you are defending a child you should be proud of it!!!

I know the argument is someone is more likely to call in a tip if they can be anonymous.  Well, here is the problem with this.  It has created more work for child protective services.  Instead of spending time, energy and money on real cases of child abuse, they are forced to take these much needed resources to waste time investingating false accusations like the one in this article and like the ones people call in for revenge purposes.  What they should do, is demand a name like in the case of animal control but only release it if they find a complaint was made of malice.  Am I the only one who sees the wisdom in this?

Anonymous Tipster Turns in Homeschoolers

On the same Saturday they moved into a new home, the Love* family was visited by a social worker. She indicated she had received an anonymous tip claiming that the Love children were not being supervised.

The accusation involved three incidents. The first claimed that the children were unsupervised and climbing on the roof. In fact, the children were safely retrieving something from the roof, under the supervision of their parents. The second allegation stated that the 6-year-old did not wear a helmet when riding his bicycle. This child usually, though not always, wears his helmet when riding, even though there is no law requiring that a child wear a bicycle helmet. The last allegation concerned the children riding a go-cart; this was true, but is not illegal. The social worker also asked about the family's schooling.

Shocked at these allegations, the Love family decided to contact Home School Legal Defense Association for help.

Attorney Chris Klicka sent a letter to the social worker refuting the allegations, and verifying that Mrs. Love is a stay-at-home mother, who is with her children throughout the day. Klicka assured the social worker that Mrs. Love is very conscientious and guards her children from harm.

The Love family suspected the allegation was made by some neighbor who wasn’t too happy about having a family with children moving in nearby.

Klicka instructed the Love family to send letters of reference from people who knew them and could vouch for their being good caregivers who supervise their children. The letters were sent to the social worker.

Neither HSLDA nor the family has received any contact from the social worker since.

original story at http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/fl/200702261.asp

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There have been a lot of stories about teachers and principals using drugs while at school lately.  So many in fact, I do not have the time to comment on all of them. 

I remember a while back there was a large outcry that the public schools were going to give random drug tests to students.  Now the arguments went something along these lines....

It violates their rights.

Yes, but if we can catch & HELP one kid, it makes it worth it. Besides, the courts have ruled that the kids really have no rights in a school.

It creates an atmosphere of distrust.

Only for those on drugs.

Blah, blah, blah, and so on.

It ended up the schools only do drug testing on those students interested in participating in sports.  Now I wonder what those same people who supported drug testing for students would say if they instituted the same for the teachers.

It is a violation of their rights.

Plenty of jobs require drug testing.  Look at professional sports and are we not subjected to hearing the teacher's union drone on and on how teachers are more valuable than any sports hero?

But if creates an atomsphere of distrust!!!!!

Only for those who are on drugs.

Blah, blah, blah.

I wish someone would demand it.  Of course it would mean half the teachers in my local high school would be out of a job. (comment made from attending that school and knowing half the teachers and what the kids who go there tell me.)  When I was in high school, 16 years ago, we had a teacher who would go to the teacher's lounge to smoke pot every day.  Everyone knew and did nothing.  Kids are not stupid.  They know which teachers are doing drugs.  Do not believe me?  Ask them.  You may be surprised at the answer.  Then again, if you have been watching the news, you won't be.

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LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) -- Lexington School District One is one of the latest school districts in the state to use a new security system to quickly check the background of visitors.

The systems were installed over the winter break. They scan a visitor's driver's license and compares the name, date of birth and gender against registered sex offender lists nationwide.

The manufacturer of "School Check In" says about 250 schools in South Carolina are using the system.

Visitors without a driver's license are required to provide a name and date of birth to check against the registry.

The checks usually take less than a minute. If --no-- match is found, a computer prints out a visitor's pass that includes a replica of the driver's license photo as well as the date, time and purpose of the visit.

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Now really, what is the big deal?  I mean this coach was just providing exposure to the real world. You can not shield kids their whole lives.  This is just silly!  It is social interaction! That is what the schools are for, blast it!  (In case you do not know me, this is sarcasm)

Cheerleading Coach Charged With Giving Students Beer http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=46067

(Ware Shoals)- An employee of Ware Shoals High School has been charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor after police say she gave beer to cheerleaders.
Officers say 28-year-old Jill Moore works as a clerk in the Guidance Office, and she also serves as the Varsity Cheerleading Coach.
An investigation began a week ago after a parent complained to police regarding Moore's activities with members of her cheerleading squad.
Investigators say they were able to determine that Moore's "innapropriate behavior wasn't confined to the high school".
In addition to giving the cheerleaders alcohol, we're told Moore "inappropriately took members of the squad from schoool premises, and placed members of the squad in 'incredibly inapproprate situations' pursuant to a sexual relationship Moore was involved in".
Investigators haven't elaborated on what the inappropriate situations were, but say at this time Moore hasn't been charged with any sexual activity involving a student.
Moore was booked at the Greenwood County jail. She has since been released on a personal recognizance bond.

  http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5973628

(Columbia) January 23, 2007 - First the high school cheerleading coach was accused of providing students with beer, now the principal has been charged with trying to block the investigation.

Police say the principal of Ware Shoals High School in Ware Shoals tried to hinder the investigation of coach Jill Moore, who was arrested last week and has since resigned.

Moore was arrested last week for providing beer to students and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Police say Blackwell wasn't directly involved in those incidents, but when investigators began asking questions, she told the cheerleading squad to keep quiet.

Blackwell was arrested about 2pm Monday after Greenwood County officers searched her office, taking two computers, calendars, notebooks and other items.

The principal is accused of calling a meeting of the cheerleading squad and telling students not to discuss the case with anyone after investigators told her they planned to talk to each cheerleader.

Frederick says it clearly is a case of the principal trying to "keep this thing quiet."

Blackwell has been charged with obstruction of justice.

Blackwell was released from jail Monday on her own recognizance. She asked for an attorney, but it was not immediately clear if she had hired one.

Ware Shoals is located about 80 miles northwest of Columbia.

Another news station reported she was taken out of her office in front of the whole school in handcuffs.  Wow, I bet the students had a lot of respect for her then.  Talk about a role model!  Sad thing is, from what I have seen, this seems to be the norm for upper middle & high school.

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These two articles regarding two schools near me must make them proud. After all, it is degrading to teach girls to act like ladies.  They should not only reject acting like a lady (which we all know is only a way men use to keep woman in a servant manner) but they should not allow anyone to treat them with respect (for that is degrading)

Footage of Irmo High School Fight Leaks Onto Internet  http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=45999

(Irmo) - Video of a brawl between two girls at local high school has been leaked on the Internet.
Watch the Video on YouTube (Warning: Video Contains Disturbing Images, Inappropriate Language)
The fight occurred last week at Irmo High School, according to a spokesperson for the Lexington Richland Five School District. They say a student using a camera phone taped the incident. Footage of the fight was posted on YouTube and has been viewed more than 2,000 times, according to the website.
“I heard about it today,” explained Jenifer Rodgers, a freshman at Irmo High School. “There were a whole bunch of people crowded around a computer, and I went over and saw. There were two students fighting on the computer.”
The video shows the students punching, pulling hair, and one student banging the other’s head against a wall. School officials say the two girls were suspended for eight days. The student who recorded the fight received a two-day suspension.
“She knew she could have stopped it,” said Benjamin Rodgers, whose daughter attends Irmo High School. “It's like being an accessory before and after the fact.” School officials say the student who taped the incident violated school policy by aiding and abetting a fight.
Cell phone usage is only banned inside of classrooms, according to district officials. However, if more fight footage is leaked on the Internet, school officials say they will consider revising that policy.

Six Eau Claire students facing charges for fight http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5946769

 

 

Two of the students were 17-years-old. They are being transferred to the detention center, and charged with fighting and disturbing school grounds.

There were also three 16-year-olds involved. They are being released to parents and also charged with fighting and disturbing school grounds.

The remaining student, a 15-year-old, is being released to her parents and is being charged with five charges of simple assault as well as fighting and disturbing school. She had Mace and used it.

None of the teens were severely injured or taken to the hospital.

It appened after school in the bus area, according to SGT McCants of the Columbia Police Department.

 

(Columbia) January 16, 2007 - Tuesday afternoon, officials say six students at Eau Claire were involved in a fight, and they are facing charges for their actions.

But rest assured, someone will cry and get off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.  Yeah, my daughters are missing out on this kind of social interaction.  How shall they ever survive in the "real world" (or should I say the real world until they get out of high school)

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more along the lines of my post on 12-year old wetting pants & my rant about how guidance counselors gossip. 

Counselor Sentenced For Having Sex With Autistic Student

INDIANAPOLIS -- A former school counselor who pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual misconduct with an autistic boy was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison with four years suspended.

 

Becci M. Hill, of Martinsville, was accused of having a sexual relationship with the 15-year-old, whom she had mentored at one point, according to authorities. She was a special-needs counselor with the Wayne Township school district in Indianapolis.

 

Hill was arrested in July after a police officer saw her and the teen engaging in sexual activity in a car on a rural road, according to the Marion County prosecutor's office. She was 31 at the time.

In addition to sentencing her to prison, a judge ordered Hill to serve three years of probation and register as a sex offender upon her release.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/10716523/detail.html 

 

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Resource officer uses taser twice during arrest at Newberry Middle School  http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5915566

Then officials say the first student broke free from the school resource officer, charged the patrol car, grabbed the supervising school resource officer dealing with the other student, then jumped on the officer's back, and began swinging wildly, striking both the school resource officer and the other student.

The first officer then fired his taser, striking the student and stopping his attack. The student was placed on the ground, but authorities say he continued to fight with the officers and the taser was used a second time. The student then began to comply with the officers and was taken into custody.

The officers received minor injuries during the attack.

Sheriff Lee Foster thinks the taser prevented a worse outcome,  "I am convinced that had the officers not had the taser available to them, this incident could have escalated and turned out much differently.  It is very possible that the officers or the suspect could have been seriously injured.

Wow, how is my child going to survive in the "real world" without knowing how to attack an officer?

ps. this is a VERY rural area near me, so those of you who think this only happens in the inner city schools, think again. you are kidding yourself.

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