Interesting Thought

My college students were very upset yesterday that a judge may throw out the CA Exit Exam. Is it really asking too much for a student to have a minimum level of education if they want a diploma? What's the standard - 8th grade math and 10th grade English? Oh sure the test is going to be more difficult for a second language learner, but should we lower a standard to accomidate those who are not willing to put in the extra effort to achieve? We are so dumbing down America with crap like this.

Saw the original Poseidon Adventure last night. Wow...70s movies are often so cheesey. God, ain't that grand?

My kitty, Mr. Valentine, has been in a cast for the last 8 weeks. A German Shepherd came up on our porch, grabbed him, and tried to run off with the cat in his mouth. My youngest saved him, had to rough up the dog a bit to get him to let go. Poor cat....had a broken leg in three places, needed 2 pins (Femur and Tibia) and has been limping about in a cast ever since. Did I mention he was only 3 months old when this happened? He has had the cast so long, I do not think he remembers what it was like to not have a cast. He RUNS through the house, thumping this cast behind him. It has not slowed him down. He gets the cast off today and the comedy will ensue as we watch him try to acclimate to life without the cast. Good times!

Just another day....

So...The lovely Mayor of LA, Villawhatever, wants CA to audit the LAUSD. Bring it. I would love to know where all the money this district is supposed to have is going. I am sure not seeing much of it. He also wants control of the LAUSD so he can break it into little districts. Good luck. Let's see if he can do any better with a student body that are a majority of seond language learners from all over the world.

Turns out CA is the 15th poorest state in the country, but that if you factor in cost of living items like the cost of gas or housing, we would be #3! Tell me somehting I don't know, would ya.

Have you seen this?????


And a final slap in the face for the day....gas is 12 cents a gallon in Venezuala. Too bad I wouldn't want to live there...language issues =)

STAR Testing

So, it's testing week and my poor students have to take the STAR exam, even though more than half of them are second language learners. I also read that they are about to get rid of the HS Exit Exam. This is so lame....you should not get a HS Diploma if you can't do 8th grade math and 10th grade English.

I am also a bit saddened that the US will not try to deal diplomatically with Iran. I think the whole Iraq situation is such a mess, that I think we would jump at the chance to try and do things right.....but our administration does not view war as a means of last resort.

And lastly, on a more personal note, an aquaintence of mine has a son, who managed to shoot off his own testicle, while trying to pull a gun from his waistband. That'll teach him the importance of the safety! =)