A Letter to Currently-Suspended-Teacher Natalie Munroe

Dear Natalie Munroe,

Did you ever approach the school board and tell them the system is not creating the brightest youth? That the school system you teach for is not educating the children of America? Is the school board to large an authority? Okay, did you ever approach the School District Attendant? Sorry, still too big? Did you talk to the principal of your school, about how the school was doing with educating the youth of America? No? Hmm. Were there any other teachers in the school who you discussed your gripes with, in hopes that maybe you could figure out a way to help the kids? Did other teachers share your concerns? Did you get together and take your issues to the Principal or some higher authority? No? Because if things are so bad, it seems like this would be easy to do, is it not? Is the school system so broken that not even one of its’ own teachers can penetrate its’ stubborn desire to avoid change and progress? Are the vast majority of America’s youth destined to spend the better part of their youth not receiving an education, whether in school terms, disciplinary terms or any other method that would help them live in the future? Are we that screwed? Is our school system so limiting with regard to teacher input, that you felt scared to say anything to anyone… unless it was anonymous? If that’s the case, why didn’t you quit? Did you have a noble cause? A higher purpose? Did you think you could stick it out and change things in ten or twenty years? Is that why you needed the blog to vent? So you could be the change you see in the World… thirty years down the line when you’re a principal or other more powerful entity? Is that the thing that kept you teaching while berating your kids behind their back? Please tell me it is, because if it’s not, I can only ask one more question, ‘What is it?’
Thank you.

Sincerely,

LIVININSANITY

P.S. You can respond in the comments section.

Where Are We Going and Why Are We in This HandBasket?

The title of this post is the name of the blog teacher Natalie Munroe was writing, until Central Bucks East High School suspended her for writing it. Within the confines of the blog, started in August 2009, the teacher called her students a number of names, such as lazy, whiny and unmotivated. Currently, the web is abuzz about the topic, since this brings up a question of free speech.

Natalie Munroe was blogging relatively annonymously. Her name on the blog was “Natalie M.” and never mentioned the school she worked at. However, in my estimation, the usage of the moniker “Natalie M.” is not all that annonymous. (But, I digress.)

Admittedly, Natalie Munroe raises a valid point that today’s youth is not the best, when stereotypically viewed as one entity. She seems to often blame parents, which is a valid point. However, it is also valid to blame the teachers, the school system, today’s mediated world and a number of other factors. Either way, complaining on an “annonymous blog” won’t change anything. Changing teaching styles could. A real teacher would attempt to change the students. A real parent would do the same. But, let’s stop passing the buck and let’s all take the blame. After all, aren’t we all at fault?

I’m reminded of a quotation: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I would expand the quote to include women, too.

In other words, Natalie Munroe’s students may be lazy and whiny, but Natalie Munroe is a lazy, whiny teacher.

On Writing (And Blogging… But Mostly Writing)

I don’t feel like I have anything worth saying.  Granted, I’ve written humorous stuff in my day, but the type of writing that really gets me going as been different, not humorous.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the humorous stuff – it all has it’s place.  However, when you’re trying to write a meaningful psychological drama and you feel like you have nothing worth saying – writing – it cramps your style.  So, my style is utterly cramped right now.

I’ve done a lot of questioning about writing lately… and a lot of non-writing.  One of the main things that keeps going through my head over and over is: “What do I have to say that is worth reading or watching (given a script).”  The other is: “Is this ever gonna work out?”  And, “What am I doing?”  Where am I going?  I don’t know.

The one thing I know is – as my writing goes, so goes my blog.  Neither has really gone anywhere lately.

The Average Blog…

The average blog last less than a year.  I think I read somewhere it was like 282 days… or maybe it was 82 days… or maybe it ws 228 days – I remember some 2′s and 8′s.  Anyway, it seems like it’s a possibility that this blog might eventually get lumped in will all those blogs that do not survive.  I’m not saying I’m intentionally ending this blog, but lately, as you can tell, I  haven’t blogged much lately.  So, blog readers, it’s up to you, PROGNOSTICATE as to the future of this blog.

Will this blog endure forever and ever?

Will this blog slowly sputter out and die?

Will this blog have some slow times (ok, very slow times) like now, but, ultimately, surive?

What is the future of this blog?

It’s About Time (Not About Clocks)

MJ raised a valid question when she asked “Are you still alive in there?” in the comment section of my last blog post.  (My las blog post was over a week ago.)  I think this is a good question for multiple reasons.

First, if a blogger were to die, how would blog readers know?  The blogger would, obviously, not blog about dying (or would they?).  Second, I find interesting the phrase “in there” which undoubtedly refers to “in the computer” or “in the internet.”  I just find that interesting – the concept that bloggers exist within a piece of technology, or a web of it, for that matter.

What’s the point?  I don’t know.  To let you know I’m alive, I guess.  So yeah, I’m alive.  Then again, if I was kidnapped, perhaps my kidnapper could be posting this blog to keep y’all unawares.  Hmm.  The possibilities seem endless – I blame MJ. 

So, what have I been doing?  Writing informative, educational, humorous and possibly deceptively misleading titled articles, like this one: “What is Cornhole?  And How Does it Involve a Woody?“

Hey A$$HOLES!!!

Stop stealing my words.  Stop stealing my words.  Stop stealing my words.  Seriously, how moronic can you be?  You steal my words, link back to me and think I won’t notice?  No, actually, you don’t care.  You want me to investigate your illegal activities, because, to you a hit is a hit is a hit is $$$$$.  So, STOP!!!  It’s against the law, you’re breaking it and if I ever saw you in person I’d kick you in the balls with a steel toed shoe.

I’m beyond sick and tired of all this plagarism and breaching of fair use bullshit.  Unfortunately, with the internet age, plagiaristic scum have materialized like nobody’s business.  It’s everywhere.  Blogs.  Forums.  Look, people, if you quote an entire entry, article or whatever verbatim it is not allowed even if you provide a link.  It does NOT fall within the realm of fair use.  I remind people this in a friendly(ish) manner on forums, to which they reply “Are you the Internet Police?”  Well, yes, apparently, you need to be policed, becasue you’re constantly breaking these laws.  So, STOP!!!

Today

I’m told I’m supposed to write something here, but I don’t feel like it.  I got nothing to say.  Feel free to talk amongst yourselves…

Inaugural Poll (Hopefully This Works)

If you have a blog that I’ve left comments on, what do you think of my comments? 1) Stop being such a smartass 2) Your comments are great the way they are 3) You should be more of a smartass View Results Make your own poll

I Wish I Had a Voting Mechanism

I wish I had a voting mechanism, so I could poll my blog readers, lose track of their votes, hang chads, blame faulty electronics and act in opposition to what my readers actually want.  Wait.  No.  That’s not what I want.  That’s something else entirely.

But I do want a voting mechanism for polling.  Today, I removed the “recent posts” box on the right side of the blog (it was underneath “recent comments”) and I would like to know how my readers feel about that.  I would like to know if there is any point in having the “tags” listed on the right, or is “categories” sufficient?  (Aren’t these essentially the same anyway?  Yes, but not quite.  Ay yi yi.)

I want to ask my readers silly questions.  Or thoughtful ones.  I want to gauge them.  I want to experiment on them.  You did not read that last line.  You are becoming sleepy.  Focus on the watch swinging like a pendulum.  Anyway, polls rock and I’m jealous of all those blogs that have polls.  Polls allow for increased inter-activity, which I yearn for.  I want to be able to please my readers.  Or, so I say.  I at least want to pretend like I want to please my readers.  I guess you could call me a politician.

Good News for the Blog

This blog was born on or around April 2nd, 2008.  In that time, holimonths have been co-created (although Colby’s really the creator – I merely suggested to turn this from a day to a month… to do the cause justice and give it the time it deserves) and promoted, smartass comments have been left (and missed when not smartass enough) and much spam has been deleted (although it all seems to be about insurance or gambling).  And, today, someone found my blog by searching for “hot puerto rican mamis.”  I don’t recall ever blogging about Puerto Rico or posting about hot mamis (maybe I should), but I digress…

Today marks the last day of July.  This blog is almost four months old.  In that time, it has learned to, well, it’s learned to sit there and do absolutely nothing.  However, visitors, like you, yes you, and you and you and you… find comfort (apparently) in knowing my blog won’t move.  I think my blog is boring for not going for a walk once in awhile, but, hey, that’s just me.  I suppose I’m being impatient with my baby blog, though.

Anyway, congratulations are in order.  My blog had more visitors in July than any previous month.  That’s a good trend.  And I have all you to thank.  So, thank you.  Graphically speaking, the trend looks something like this:

A line going from the left to the right, increasing as it goes.  Can’t you picture it?  I know what you’re thinking – you’d be able to picture it better if I actually included a picture.  Well, consider this a lesson – from my blog to you (as a thank you) – in picturing graphical representations without visual aids.  Anyway, keep up the good work, y’all.