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What They've Thought
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What They Thought September 4, 2005 Alan
Caruba Click here for columnist bios |
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The haunting images of New Orleans were those of a Third World nation unable to cope with a natural disaster. The overriding question in the first days following the hurricane was, “What is the government doing?” Americans have been conditioned to look to the federal government as the answer to all their needs. The federal government has steadily taken over our education and health care systems through vast programs that, in the former case, has ruined what was once one of the best in the world and, in the latter case, through Medicare and Medicaid, exercises control over the way the system works and who it benefits. Social Security has, for too many, replaced planning and saving for one’s old age. When a portion of everything you earn is removed from your paycheck in order to pay for someone else’s senior years, how can you be expected to put aside money you don’t have to save, invest or spend as you wish? We have been required to turn personal responsibility for our lives over to “the government.” It sounds good on paper, but the reality is that Social Security is going broke and the interest level in the current administration’s effort to “fix” the system is so low the President’s efforts have been met with a significant measure of indifference. The “government’s” response to the disaster that befell huge swaths of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama suggests that there are, indeed, limits to what it can do. It is, after all, composed of bureaucrats who must obey the thousands of regulations and laws affecting their agencies and that have been imposed on our national economy, affecting all the rest of us. One of the first actions “the government” took was the Environmental Protection Agency announcement that it was suspending the idiotic mandates requiring countless different formulations of gasoline to ensure that a sufficient supply was available nationwide. In one state after another, these mandates ensure that different formulations are required in different areas of the same state. Mandating the use of ethanol in order to ensure a bounty of riches for corn producers while ignoring the need to drill for oil in Alaska or ignoring enormous off-shore reserves and shale oil exposes the politics that overrode the need for greater energy self-sufficiency and independence from a Middle East that largely hates America. The looting and criminality that occurred in New Orleans also revealed the failure of not just local people, but much of the black community in America to take advantage of the protections and opportunities afforded by the Civil Rights and Voting Rights legislation enacted since the 1960s. As Washington Post columnist, Eugene Robinson, pointed out on September 2nd, “New Orleans is two cities, not one, according to census data — a relatively affluent, small, achingly lovely city that’s mostly white, and a poor, big, unlovely city that’s almost all black. Overall, the city is two-thirds African American; it ranks as the ninth-poorest big city in the nation. It is also one of the most violent cities in the country, now making a bid to reclaim the ‘murder capitol’ designation it held for many years.” This is repeated over and over again in many of the nation’s cities, many of which are also falling prey to the influx of millions of illegal aliens flooding across our southern border, bringing with them crime and disease, replacing native-born American workers for those jobs they might have had were it not for the low wages the illegals will accept. The laws fashioned to protect and help blacks have brought about some improvements. A black middle class has emerged, but the evidence demonstrates that too many black Americans opted to remain mired in their own failure to take advantage of educational opportunities, continued to produce the one-parent families in which men were largely absent, and remained responsible for much of the crime in the cities. In return, they offered America a “gangsta rap” and “hip-hop” culture that reflects attitudes immune to the values shared by the majority of Americans. They were not marginalized. They marginalized themselves. The physical losses in the affected areas will be rebuilt. Americans always rebuild after natural disasters, but the social problems are likely to remain unless and until we begin to shut our borders against what can only be called an invasion and until black Americans fully integrate themselves by taking more responsibility for their lives. We all need to rely less on the “government,” but it seems unlikely at this point the government will allow that to occur. Congress is too in love with the billions it can seize for countless pork barrel projects “for the folks back home” and to ensure reelection. There are too many people dependent on the socialist programs enacted after WWII. The mindless federal spending has been reflected at the state level while, at the same time, federal mandates have eroded state and local power. We need to vastly reduce the vast matrix of economic regulations that suck billions out of the economy while creating obstacles to free market answers to our most pressing needs and, as in the recent Supreme Court ruling, destroy private property values with a ferocity matched only by natural disasters. Life in America is going to get more expensive because “the government” claimed it could take care of us from birth to death. It can’t. It never could. |
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No column this week. R.A. Hawkins Web Site Contact Back to Top |
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Best-selling author Bernard Goldberg has a new book called 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America, in which he lists… well, 100 people who are screwing up America. I guess the name is self-explanatory. Anyway, I like this idea, so, not to be outdone, I’ve put together a list of my own. Here now, in no particular order, are 25 other people who are screwing up America. Feel free to disagree with my choices. Just know that any complainers will be added to the second edition. 18. Former NJ Governor Jim “James” McGreevey. This guy hands out a Homeland Security post in exchange for homosexual services, steps down, and disappears. I’m sorry, sir, but this is America. It doesn’t work that way. Get out here and shamelessly exploit yourself. You’re setting a bad precedent for disgraced former governors everywhere. 11. Anyone who goes on Dr. 90210 and says they’re getting plastic surgery because, in their line of work, it’s important they look their best. I’m sick of this way of thinking. “I’m an interior decorator. I need a neck lift because it’s important I look my best.” No, it isn’t. You’re picking out wallpaper. You think people care if your epidermis hangs down your neck like a prayer shawl? Please. I’m a second-rate syndicated columnist. In my line of work, you should get off your high horse before you fall down and rupture an implant. 10. Smoking ban advocates. I understand smoking in restaurants, but smoking in bars? You want to ban that, too? Quit telling other Americans what to do. 12. Smokers. I understand smoking in bars, but smoking in restaurants? You want to smoke there, too? Quit ruining other Americans’ lungs. 1. Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes, of Hannity & Colmes fame. One’s a loudmouth conservative who’d conserve nothing and blow up everything; the other’s a little liberal puppy who barks and growls and then rolls over for a belly rub. Hannity is the worst. Every call on his radio show consists of him and his caller calling each other “a great American” over and over again. It’s nauseating—like the “You’re shmoopy"/"No, you’re shmoopy” scene from the Soup Nazi episode of Seinfeld. Colmes is no better. He only takes a backseat because he isn’t as good at drowning out his opponent. He’s equally annoying, though. And his head looks like a rotting pear. Watch these guys long enough and you’ll start to see everything as a Left and Right issue. Even breakfast. “Coming up after the break: Why some liberal housewives refuse to put sugar in their coffee. Are these Splenda-lovin’ liberals bad for America?” 4. The Bush administration. No one screws up America better than these people. I mean, detention without trial? Come on. You’re joking, right? Is this a prank? Next, can we play monkey-in-the-middle with the Constitution? 19. People who think Lance Armstrong is America’s greatest athlete. Not because I disagree with them, but because they insist pro cycling should be on TV. No, it shouldn’t. Pro cycling isn’t watchable. Get these tricycles off my television. Give me pro bull riding any day. Or, hell, give me the fireman’s challenge on the Deuce. 9. Crusty old newsmen who use the word “blog." God Almighty, how they make my ears hurt. It sounds like they’re throwing up or something. 17. Fruity beer drinkers. I like the commercials for Mike’s Hard Lemonade as much as the next guy, but get these sugary, beer-type concoctions away from me. Just looking at the packaging makes my stomach hurt. This is America, damn it. A man’s country. Make room for manly beers—like Budweiser, Yuengling, and that Schmitt’s Gay stuff SNL used to advertise. Our forefathers fought so you could be free, not so you could drink Hooch. 3. Atlanta Falcons RB Michael Vick. Yes, I realize he’s a quarterback, not a running back. But when I was a kid, quarterbacks didn’t run with the ball. They passed it. Which is something Vick apparently never learned to do. Is he fun to watch? Yeah, I suppose he’s fun to watch. But if this guy is the “future of football,” then the terrorists have already won. 8. Oil companies. War and pollution are bad enough, but gas prices are the final straw. You want gasoline to be the only game in town? Great. Now tell me why I’m burning $69 just leaving the Lukoil parking lot. Otherwise, show me some progress on alternative fuels. 13. People who complain that George Bush “talks to Jesus,” as if the president is a delusional schizophrenic who thinks he’s having the Lord over for tea. Prayer is not a mental disorder. I don’t want to be the first to throw stones here, but I suspect there’s a certain fiery underworld with your name on it for purposely misconstruing the truth like that. 16. Christmas crusaders. I hate to break it to you, but a town hall without an Xmas tree is not an “assault” on “people of faith.” It’s just a town hall without an Xmas tree. What are you praying to, anyway? A pine cone? 14. The DEA. Hi. Remember Prohibition? Remember all the crime it caused? Keep doing what you’re doing. The war on drugs makes perfect sense. 23. Salesmen who ask if they can help me with anything as soon as I walk in the store. Yes, you can start by helping me lock you in my trunk till the air runs out. Leave me alone. I’m a grown man. I don’t need help picking out clothes. 24. Tom Cruise. Somehow, Maverick saying there’s no such thing as post-partum depression just doesn’t do it for me. 2. The Supreme Court. Pot used for cancer pain relief—bad. Homes seized to build office parks and strip malls—good? 22. Anyone who uses steroids to make themselves seem better than they actually are. And, by “anyone,” I mean anyone. Baseball players and Congressmen both. 15. Ann Coulter knockoffs. If you’re going to act like Ann Coulter, at least be Ann Coulter. I can’t take Monica Crowley anymore. Every time she talks, it’s like an ostrich reading from Richard Nixon’s memoirs. 20. Kids who wear Che Guevara t-shirts. Seriously. Do you even know who Che Guevara is? 5. People who use “freedom” as a synonym for “victory." I realize the words belong together sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they’re one and the same. Imagine we took this principle off the battlefield and used it in sports. Would you say the ‘96 Bulls defended their freedom 72 times and lost their freedom 10 times? Me neither. Stop being ridiculous. I love America. 25. Hillary Clinton. I haven’t heard too much from her lately, but I’m pretty sure she’s still screwing up the country somehow. 21. Pro-lifers and pro-choicers. A hundred years from now, America’s outerspace alien conquerors are going to look back and say, “Wow, those people actually sat around debating when to kill babies.” Doesn’t anyone else realize how weird this is? 7. Best-selling author Bernard Goldberg. Unless you think a list of people “screwing up America” is somehow good for America. 6. Jonathan David Morris. At least I’m trying to screw up America. Which is more than I can say for some other folks I know. Jonathan David Morris Web Site Contact Back to Top |
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I've read that in order to be truly fluent in a language a person must be able to think in that language. I imagine that the process of deciding between which languages to use would be similar to an artist choosing oil paints or watercolors, colored pencils or charcoal, clay or papiér maché. Being well versed in one medium or another allows a person to better conceive an idea. Having command of language allows a person greater capacity to derive meaning from what is being expressed. No one would argue that a person has to be fluent in two languages to be able to communicate just like no artist is expected to be able to create through multiple mediums. However, a mediocre artist or a person who is not fluent in any language will face much greater challenges when trying to have any meaningful impact in the world around them. An English learner is faced with multiple challenges when entering the public school system in the United States. The student needs to achieve fluency in the English language while at the same time master the content required of all students assigned to the same grade level. Unfortunately, the instruction offered to English learners doesn't always reflect these dual goals and sometimes serves to undermine both of them. As of July 1, 1976, Illinois school districts have been required by Public Act 78-727 to offer bilingual education programs (English and one other language) whenever 20 or more students of limited-English fluency were enrolled in one school. However, John Hood of the John Locke Foundation ascertained almost ten years ago that, "A review of 300 'studies' of bilingual education by federal researchers found only 72 that were methodologically sound. Of those studies, 83 percent comparing bilingual education to immersion found that kids learned to read better through immersion. Not a single study found the reverse." (Immersion vs. bilingual education) NCLB, by requiring schools to disaggregate data derived from test scores to give a more accurate picture of who is learning what, has created a much greater public awareness about the problems faced by English learners and has brought to our attention that many of them fall under the category of "left behind" at the end of the educational process. NCLB is meant to force the education system to remedy these types of problems so that every student is given equal opportunity to succeed in our society. How is Illinois addressing the situation? In some ways Illinois is going backwards. According to a new study by Christine Rossell of the Lexington Institute, the "Illinois Board of Education lowered the score one must obtain on the IMAGE to be 'proficient' which would apply to 2004-2005 results, as well as future results. In addition, the state board voted to increase the minimum size of a sub-group from 40 to 50 before it can be held accountable." This gives schools some relief in making AYP (adequate yearly progress) goals. In Illinois, individual school districts like Elgin U46 will be required to use the ACCESS test to determine English proficiency of LEP students. "Having one uniform statewide English proficiency exam is an improvement, but it does not solve the essential flaw in English proficiency tests – they frequently cannot distinguish the difference between a student who does not know the answer and a student who does not know English." (Rossell) Recommendations such as more professional development for EL teachers and standardization of EL curriculum will help improve the situation. But even more needs to be done. "Standards will improve the education of LEP children by giving all teachers in a state the same benchmarks and skills they should be looking for at different grades and different English proficiency levels." (Rossell) However, implementing standards will not ensure that LEP students get to the state’s proficient level unless there is a road map designed to get them there. As Robert Linquanti suggests in The Redesignation Dilemma, specific procedures must be put into place that will assure annual monitoring of students' academic progress and appropriate remediation for those who most assuredly will be left behind under the current system. There needs to be clear performance expectations and progress indicators for English Learners in English Language Development and English Language Arts, such as the following. 1. Delineate when English Learners are expected to reach grade level performance in academic subjects. 2. Carefully monitor which ELs are making adequate progress and which are not. 3. Monitor how well former ELs are meeting grade-level standards since exiting the program. 4. Provide frequent interventions to ELs and former ELs who are not progressing. Whatever it takes, changing curriculum, programs, policies, it must be implemented to make sure these procedures take effect. Statistics show ELs likelier to drop out than graduate. To prevent this from happening, families must be guaranteed that their children will receive academic instruction from qualified teachers, fluent in English, and who will provide "best practice" in their methods of instruction. Anything less pays lip service to the crisis which spurred the attachment of accountability measures to federal education funding in the first place. Immersion vs. bilingual education "Making
Uneven Strides: State Standards for Achieving English Language Proficiency
Under the No Child Left Behind Act", Nancy Salvato Web Site Contact Back to Top |
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No column this week.
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©2004-2005 by their respective authors. Reprinted by permission. |
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