Red Line (Feb. 2)
Music Video: “John Wayne Gacy Jr.” by Sufjan Stevens
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All comments are edited for length and content. Because of content or space limitations, some comments may not be published. More than one comment from the same person during the same week will normally not be published. Please limit calls to two minutes or less.
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A visitor to the Red Line Web site, self-identified as “Donna Williams,” wrote, “I simply do not comprehend the mindset of school officials, from Arne Duncan — the current U.S. Secretary of Education — to the Madera Unified School District’s Board of Trustees to Mr. Stafford the superintendent. Someone please explain to me why any administrator would make more money and have more benefits than a teacher does?
“The secretary of education, the Board of Trustees and Mr. Stafford do not instruct my child in math, history, English, science, and other basic critical thinking. It is the teacher in the classroom all day.”
A woman responded to a letter to the editor from Jeanne Martin. The letter, published Jan. 14, claimed “a veteran teacher costs tens of thousand dollars (more) for a period of 35 years than hiring a new or less senior teacher. She (Martin) failed to quote the senior teacher’s salary. Could she or the Tribune find out and print it. That would be interesting.” (Editor’s note: That information varies according to the teacher’s education and years of service. In Madera, teachers at the top of all educational and time-in-grade scales make about $65,000 a year plus benefits. Starting teachers make about $36,000 a year plus benefits. On average, California’s senior teachers are the highest paid in the United States; however, some individual school districts in some other states pay more.)
An online reader, self-identified as Krissann Samaniego, commented on a letter by teacher Brian O’Donovan that praised Superintendent John Stafford.
“This sounds like Human Resources’ damage control,” she wrote, “It would be much more effective with specific examples of the ‘great’ things Stafford has done. I like to see numbers and facts. Otherwise, everything is just an opinion and opinions aren’t worth very much.”
A lady “had some information for (columnist) Leon Emo about food. He needs to know that carrot cake can count as a vegetable, too.”
A woman called “about the (Madera County) Animal Shelter” and expressed some ideas. “Maybe they can make up the cuts that are going to be made by asking the casinos to be a partner with them. They can also go to the local stores and charities.
“They also need to educate people better in getting a puppy, then when they don’t want it anymore they get rid of it, and get a new one.”
A woman responded to last week’s caller, who wondered why Judge Edward Moffat’s funeral reception was not held in his church’s hall. This week’s caller said, “It was unfortunate why it was not held at Holy Spouses Hall.
“There was a call to the person who handles the reservations for Holy Spouses Hall for the celebration of life for Judge Moffat. It was only fitting the celebration be held at Holy Spouses since he was so involved with the (Catholic) church, church clubs and the school.
“The caller was told that the rental for the hall was $750, and that was the discounted price. The Madera Elks Lodge stepped up and was honored to have the reception at their facility, and at no charge. The Elks and YMI members did a wonderful job, food was great and the members worked their hearts out to make sure everyone was as comfortable as possible.
“It is too bad Holy Spouses Hall had to charge so much that the family used some place else. The Elks also donated the food that was left over to the Holy Family Table.”
“After being a lifetime member, this is why I dropped out of the (Catholic) church,” said a man. “It was disgraceful when they said they would have to charge for Judge Moffat’s reception. All they want is money, more land, and then, more money. Thank God for the Elks Lodge. Their members appreciated what a wonderful community member Judge Moffat was and didn’t charge the grieving family anything.”
A woman asked, “I wonder when the county and city are going to clean up these properties that constantly have furniture and junk in front and back of their houses? They have trailers and such. This town is looking like trash. … This is America and you should keep your house neat and, if you don’t, the city and county should enforce it.”
“Just a comment on Monday’s article by Chuck Doud,” said a man. “He’s either so ill informed or doesn’t know what he’s talking about when he wants to give us another Contract with America. That group of legislators and congressmen was the most corrupt in money-grabbing. He needs to research it. They gave us the mess, the wars, the economy, that we are in now.”
A regular caller said, “The Obama administration is one lie after another. Shame on him.”
A reader of the Red Line Web site, self-identified as a “Madison parent,” said, “I was at a James Madison 5th and 6th grade awards assembly and I was shocked to discover that neither the principal nor the vice principal were there to congratulate our students. This is messed up. We want our students to do good, but when they do the people in charge don’t even care enough to be there. What a shame!”
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Thank you for your comments. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24 hours a day by calling 674-4478 or by visiting the Red Line online at www.maderatribuneredline.com.
About Haiti…..
While Haiti is suffering from starvation, disease and lack of every day sustenance, in a disorganized society mismanaged by devious and exploitation oriented leadership, these point men should be grateful that there are people in the World of America who invested not just a few dollar donation but their time and dedication to show up on ground zero and embrace the impoverished society to help forsaken children to survive, believing in a better future.
It is an utter shame that the dishonest leadership – we know that they are, decidedly try to profit from drummed up charges, charges which may be valid under usual circumstances, but not applicable in an emergency situation that we
are going through now – and they start acting like dogs, biting the hand that feeds them.
The World should unite and pull out from Haiti and set up all help organizations next door in Dominican Republic, – a more civilized country- until the disreputable brotherhood of leaders in Haiti show some gratitude and formal dedication to preserve the safety and mobility of men, women of goodwill who are tirelessly work for their country, attempting to bring hope and material help for the suffering!
Their devious action is not only an insult to the volunteers but is a slap on Americas face, indirectly accusing our culture to be involved in child trafficking, slavery and at the same time a profound insult to the Christian community implying that Christians are slave traders in the international market. These big-wig Haitians confusing Christianity with voodoo practices.
God bless the children and the volunteers, and shame on the Haiti administration of impropriety. Pull out all the agencies and move next door until the leadership apologizes and ensures the security of all helpers and dismiss the
falsely applied charges against all those who were so savagely targeted with demeaning accusations!
As a privet building inspector I was becoming tired of my contractors continuing to ask me to approve structural changes that they wanted to make because they had a “better way” to build it or they had made a mistake and wanted me to approve it or because they just didn’t want to build it like the plans showed.
So I added the following message to my cell phone. “Hi you’ve reached my cell phone. If this is a can we, how come or what if question please refer to your blue prints. For anything else please leave a message.” Pretty soon the contractors stopped asking and started taking responsibility for their own work.
I think Madera Unified School District, the students and the parents could benefit from a similar message on the District phone system. “Hello, you’ve reached the Madera Unified School District. Please listen to all the options before making a selection. To lie about why your child is absent please press 1. To make excesses why your child did not do his homework, please press 2. To complain about the teachers please press 3. To swear at a teacher please press 4. To ask why you didn’t get information that has already been mailed to you, twice, sent home with your child and included in the
news letter please press 5. If you expect the school to raise your child please press 6. To request another teacher for your child please press 7. To complain about the free bus transportation, the free breakfast or the free lunches please press 8. If you would like this message in a language other than English, please move to that country. If you realize that this is the real world and you and your child must be accountable for their own behavior, class work and home work please have a very pleasant day.
Don Williams
Jordan a teacher wrote what seems real for those of us in teaching. I think parents really need to get it and some administrators that don’t need to do the jobs we do every day, before they decided to lay is off and cut student services.
I am a teacher.
And I am tired.
Tired of politics, administration’s scare tactics, frustrated colleagues, mandated state tests that have no real meaning in your child’s future endeavors, (unless there is a job that pays you to fill in bubbles on scantron sheets all day).
Semiconscious students, media hype and especially,
I am tired of parents that expect me to resolve their children’s problems.
I simply do not have the answers.
I have tried everything.
I have hugged you child, listened to your child,
Bought supplies for your child and reminded your child
Of the importance of getting an education as well as the importance of caring about life
with heart and genuineness.
I have read theories on how to teach at-risk students
(this includes the entire student population, because “at-risk” is really defined as
children growing up without parental supervision).
I have read theories on how to teach pregnant students, non- English speaking students,
Students on drugs, abused students, high-energy students, gifted students, religious students, underachieving students, shy students, culturally different students, special needs students, female and male students, and gay students.
I have attended conferences for ideas on how to teach hands-on activities,
higher level thinking skills, cooperative learning groups and numerous other strategies.
I have lain awake at night rolling over and over in my head solutions, and lamentations.
I have cried tears, trying to find the answers for motivating your child to have success in my classroom.
I am a Teacher.
I am not a doctor,
I am not a psychiatrist,
I am not a minister,
I am not a Harvard graduate and I am not a former drug attic, (or anything that provides insight into your child’s situation).
I am not God, and I am, emphatically and unequivocally, not your child’s parent.
I am a Teacher.
I am tired of politicians blaming policy-makers, state governments blaming localities, administration blaming the the school board, school board blaming the state budget, and everyone blaming teachers.
I have to tell you,
the students who have success in my classroom are the ones whose parents I have met at every open house and on every parent/teacher conference day.
So please, do not tell me that educators’ attending more classes at their own expense is the solution.
The solution, the power and the state of your child’s welfare lie in your hands.
Not mine, but the hands of you, the parent.
And if you do not want to lose another educator who cares, sweats, who encourages your child, then I suggest you get to your child’s school and make education matter in your child’s life.
Because I am a teacher.
“That will lose their job or has lost their job at M.U.S.D. While others padded their pockets”.