Tuesday, April 20, 2010

In the middle of the dream

Have politicians forgotten us? As they argue their differences on the way to solve problems, we all hope they don't lose sight of the end game. You ask what is the end game? Securing the future of our middle class. If they let this support pillar crumble then downward it falls!

26 comments:

Cicerone said...

Brison, you ad in the paper did not fit you. Did twil-lite write that for you?

Personally, I would rather see a sermon than hear one any day.

I know you are not smart enough to understand what this means.

Live it man, don't just preach it.

Taxes R US said...

Improving The Academic and Vocational Quality Of Education For All PISD Students

Improving public education is the critical first step in solving our common problems. Our national goal should be to produce educated, emotionally mature, and thinking human beings.

It is good to see that the PISD is catching up with the technology that has been in use in many public schools for more than a decade. It is good to see that the PISD is adapting to the changes in learning technologies. It is interesting to see those stepping up to claim responsibility for modest gains in State test scores. Some of these people are the same ones who raised property taxes beyond what was needed, spent some of the excess on unneeded athletic facilities, and horded the rest.

It is unfortunate that the PISD has had to rely on grants from taxpayers outside of Camp County to obtain the technology that is being used to help students pass tests on minimum State standards. It is unfortunate that grants are not available for supporting competitive athletics and expensive extracurricular programs. It is unfortunate that the PISD is unable to offer and maintain respectable academic and vocational programs within the PISD. Fortunately, recent developments in learning technology make it possible for economically poor ISDs to improve the academic and vocational quality of all students.

Building another facility for athletics is a waste of taxpayer money. A better use of the $1.5 million dollars plus needed to build a multi use athletic facility would be to purchase tablet computers for all students and employees of the PISD. A tablet computer like the iPad allows users to do almost everything that is now done on personal computers. Within the next four years, electronic books will probably replace most textbooks. Tablet computers will make it possible for slower students to catch up and for faster students to get ahead. Tablet computers connected to the Internet will enable most students to spend less seat time in classrooms and to be less dependent on our public schools. Perhaps some of the home-schooled and private-schooled students will want to return to the public schools for a portion of their education. Perhaps some of our public-schooled students will want to join the home-schooled students. Perhaps the sharing of economic and mental resources is an idea whose time has come. The widespread use of tablet computers may even cause, with the exception of those involved in expensive extracurricular activities, a decrease in the cost per student per year.

Many of the early adapters of tablet computer technology and the young people who work in Apple™ Stores would be pleased to demonstrate the power of tablet computers to anyone unfamiliar with the devices.

Constitutional said...

Sounds like these old guys might need to go back to college so they can try to make a difference in the world, dont ya think?

Constitutional said...

I agree, this web site is a joke. Just old men not getting their way, poor guys. Maybe one day they will learn how to respect others. After reading this blog, doubt it!

Constitutional said...

Wow, someone told me about this web site and had to check it out. You guys I think have went off the deep end and at the point where hate speech is the word for this web site. You guys have lost all credibility in this town along with the owner of this blog.

Constitutional said...

Texas R US, You say it’s good to see Pittsburg catching up to these things. This is a small town in East Texas. Most of the kids here are from low income houses. This is not Dallas where you can have whatever you want. We are years behind in things yes, but so are the other schools in this area. And there are also worse areas in this country that do not even have computers in their classrooms. That is why smaller towns that want what Dallas area and Metro areas get with ease, we have to have bonds. Yes, the bonds impact us more but that is because the population base is smaller. When you have a mixture of low income families, people that move here to retire that do not want to see a penny raised to help the school reach what other schools have; you have it were they will not vote to help the schools. It just doesn’t sound right but that is how things work. We have to have places to house the students first! Pay the teachers! Make sure they are safe! Have the right tools to teach them! And then we can talk about every student having ipads! This is not the metro-plex, living in the country comes with a price, and our lives are simple, our lives are great. We do not have the tax base to get anything we want to help our students. But there is something that can help that, a bond. You need to start speaking from the view of a small East Texas town, not the metro-plex where you can have anything you want at the snap of your finger.

Jim L. Richardson said...

Bubba Hawkins is back.

Constitutional said...

Schools doing everything on computers in the future will not come true either. You keep pushing that and keep telling PISD to move forward and spend millions on technology like computers for every student and ipads. This will never happen, do you know why?
Schools teach their curriculum to fit the TAKS test, or in the future to what ever test they will have for the students to pass and move to the next grade. The TAKS test is still a pen and paper test, not taken on computers. Because of this, teachers will teach students with books and pencil & paper assignments. The teachers want to keep everything as close to preparing them for the actual test that they can. They don’t want to teach them on ipads and then have to take a pen and paper test, they will not be prepared for it. Even colleges in this area still have pen and paper tests.
It is not the teacher’s fault, but the states fault that they pressure them so much over the test.
Now you may ask, why do we not switch the TAKS to computer test? First of all, that would cost the state billions to supply every single school in the state with computers to take it. Not counting the software and security for the computers. And the room! The room to house every single computer for every single student! You guys cry foul and complain when they want to add portable buildings. Oh, they can take the computers home you would say! Ha, half will not bring them back and half will break them!
Every school has to take the test equally and each student has to have the same opportunity and advantage to taking the test. One school in Dallas can not have all laptops to take the test and a poor South Texas school district can not have pen and paper. That is not fair. They are at different advantages.
Why not let each school purchase their own computers for each student to take the test? Have you seen the many schools in Texas and across this country, many can not even afford enough paper for all the students to use.
This is why your continued theory of the future being full of technology and computers in the classroom will never happen. So start looking at what schools have now, what they can approve on the things that are reasonable, and stop giving school districts so much grief. Apparently you are clueless of reality.

Constitutional said...

Whattimeisit... Very good post

Constitutional said...

Good information from Brison in the paper. I have never been affiliated with the school in any way, but I knew these facts. Good to know people are getting the facts, even if some do not believe in them. Truth does hurt sometimes and facts will always overcome rumors and lies. There is much more information that I am sure would need more than one page in the paper, but if people want to know, they need to go to the meetings and find out. Not just yell really loud false information and think people will listen. Some will, we see that by this blog.

Constitutional said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Constitutional said...

Taxes R US and his buddies continue to talk and give PISD hate speech about athletics and the turf! IT IS TIME TO STOP. You want Pittsburg to stay ahead of the times.. Here you go! Here are just a few schools in North Texas that are building NEW Football Stadiums.... Also below is a list of some (I got tired of listing them all, there are more) East Texas Schools that have field turf. Pittsburg did theirs at the best price and building things like the athletic building at a conservative price....

Allen New Stadium
http://www.scribd.com/doc/29858263/Allen-high-school-football-stadium-drawings-specs

Texarkana Pleasant Grove
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/localsports/2009/07/26/pleasantfootball.jpg

Brownsboro
http://www.c-bstatesman.com/news/2010-04-08/Front_Page/Trustees_eye_15M_for_stadium_upgrades.html

Little Elm’s New Stadium
http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/77df0173-ee89-47bb-9e37-0f0f2bea9f7f.jpg

Pine Tree ISD New Stadium
http://www.ptisd.org/default.aspx?name=Bond.2010.Project.Stadium



ET Teams that have turf!
1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A
Arp
Chapel Hill
Mt. Pleasant
Hallsville
Pine Tree
Whitehouse
Kilgore
Longview
Carthage
Tatum
Royse City
Greenville
Pleasant Grove
Gilmer
Prairieland
Lufkin
Tyler Lee
John Tyler
New Boston
Pittsburg
Paris
Gladewater
Marshall
Athens
Canton
Bullard
Ellison Fields
Van
Mabank
Brook Hill
Bullard
Grace Community
Crockett
Eustace
Palestine
All Saints
Central Heights
Bowie
Pattonville
Pottsboro
Hitchcock
Groesbeck
Lindale

Taxes R US said...

To: Whattimeisit, Super Super and Pittcares

You and those who “think” like you are living in the past. You are confusing Friday night entertainment with education. You are confusing wants with needs.

The recession has taught many of us to pay as we go. ISDs must become more efficient. Change is inevitable.

On behalf of some of the old men who meet in coffee shops around the county I have a few comments for those who are too emotionally or economically tied to the PISD. It is time for everyone to be honest, to compare values, and to seek common ground as we try to educate the next generation. It is time for those with influence in Camp County to wake up and to realize what can be done to quickly catch up with education in the real world. It is time for those too busy to think to pay more attention to the old men who have time to think.

Several of us would welcome the opportunity to meet you and discuss our different views of the world.You can then decide on who needs to go back to school.

Bubba put down that cocktail and listen to your elders!

Your reading comprehension is showing.

Bob Roe

outsider said...

I say SHUTEM down!!!

Constitutional said...

You forgot me! No one wants to talk to you guys or the owners of this blog.... Roe, Sneed, Boyd Proctor.... and so on. I have in no way for or against the school but I will support those that are having hate speech said to them! Why is their any point in talking when all hope is lost?
I am glad to see people on here standing up against this kind a behavior! That is what’s wrong with this country, you have people that try to stir up trouble and tell lies because they do not get their way. You guys are just like those in Arizona protesting and going crazy over the immigration law. But if you would take the time to read it and understand it you would find out the truth. 70% of Americans support the law. This is exactly like what is taking place here in Camp County. Those that support PISD is about 70% and the other 30% is you guys and the other people that believe what you have to say. The minority and those that are not in control are always the loudest.

Constitutional said...

Asking people to meet you so we can talk about this…. Please ya’ll are exactly like bullies on a playground.
It is funny though that you want to talk to anyone that responds to you. Aww, that’s so cute, you’re like “Someone is listening to us!” “Hey guys lets talk to them!!”
How sweet, now you need to learn manors and the appropriate actions to adult conversations, and then maybe people with want to talk to you! And cut out the hate speech too, it’s not nice and illegal!

Constitutional said...

A lot of people called it prison when I was growing up (kind of like you guys with PISD)
But these are my roots and this is what I love
Cause everybody knows me and I know them
And I believe that's the way we were supposed to live
Wouldn't trade one single day here in small town USA

Give me a Saturday night, my baby by my side
A little Hank Jr. and a six pack of light
Old dirt road and ill be just fine
Give me a Sunday morning that’s full of grace
A simple life and I'll be okay
Here in small town USA

Around here we break our backs just to earn a buck
We never get ahead but we have enough
I watch people leave and then come right back
I never wanted any part of that
I'm proud to say that I love this place
Good ole small town USA

Give me a Saturday night my baby by my side
David Allen Coe and a six pack of light
Old dirt road and ill be just fine
Give me a Sunday morning that’s full of grace
A simple life and I'll be okay
Here in small town USA

I wouldn't trade one single day
I'm proud to say I love this place

Give me a Friday night, High School Lights
Sweet home Alabama and Football sights
Old dirt road and ill be just fine
Give me a Sunday morning that’s full of grace
A simple life and I'll be okay
Yeah I'll be okay
Here in small town USA

glimmerman said...

Where are you Bubba? The same would have happened to you if you had stayed on the board.

sojourner said...

Glimmerman, please leave the fool alone. It is better for all of us when he is out of sight and out of mind.

Constitutional said...

Congratulations to the winners of the election. I know they will be a great addition to the board. Looks like the county is happy with the board and its decisions. With only a small percentage voting and such a close race in one, good to see the communities support for the school. The opposition will always run to the polls and in this case it was good to see a low turn out. It is time for you guys to give the school its respect it deserves. I pray that you guys give these new board members a chance and if you have a problem with them than talk to them in a respectful way.

Constitutional said...

Very well said SayItAintSoBob! These guys need to give the new members respect. I take back Camp County being 70% for the school and 30% against. It is more like 90% for the school and 10% against. Saturday’s vote proved that.
Camp County has a little under 8,000 registered voters. Only 850 came out to vote.
That vote was split by the ones that were really opposed to the school board, and those strongly for the school board. Also with the guy Bobby was campaigning for lost says a lot also.
Close to 7,000 people in Camp County are ok, happy, approve, or fine with the school board as it has been conducting itself. We always know in an election that the voters that are strongly for or against will show up. That is split in this county by less than 10% while the rest are OK with how things are run. Good Job School Board, and keep up the great work.
90% - Agree with the Board
5% - Strongly for the Board
5% - Strongly Against

Constitutional said...

I’m not your Bubba, try making an educated guess……
Congrats to the New Board Members! PISD is doing a great job and the turn out proved that!

Cicerone said...

Oh Bubba! You are right. You are not my Bubba. I would not claim you if you were mine. But, you are still Bubba Hawkins (AKA Mitch Carter) How many aliases do you really have Bubba?

Cicerone said...

I would guess that you are sayitain'tsobob and supportpollan also. It is not difficult figuring out such a simple mind.

Cicerone said...

You might be pittcares too.

Cicerone said...

Get you another shot of that old stuff that gets you high and dwell on that awhile.
By the way, you kind of like them strip joints yourself, don't you?