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Venting

charliek92 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:49:43 +0000

Next month will mark my 13th anniversary as a journalist. I can say I have never been more ashamed of my industry as I am now.
I have long been a defender of the First Amendment, particularly when it comes to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. These two basic rights are key if a society is truly going to be free.
With those freedoms, however, come great reponsibility. My comrades in arms in the media world are severely shirking that responsibility when it comes to coverage of this year's presidential election.
The difference in coverage between the campaigns of Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, and Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate, is like night and day.
From day one, Obama has been painted as the savior of all mankind; the one who will pull America out of its dark days. Reporters are covering his campaign with obvious delight.
McCain has been an afterthought.
The Project for Excellence in Journalism recently did a study of the contest, reviewing the coverage of 48 news organizations and more than 300 political stories in newspapers, magazines, and on television to determine whether each candidate is a significant part of a story, or part of more than 25 percent of the stories. Between July 7 and 13, here's what they found:
* Obama had a significant presence in 77 percent of the stories.
* By contrast, McCain had a significant presence in 48 percent. That's less than half folks.
From July 14 to 20, Obama's presence increaseed to 83 percent, while McCain jumped to 52 percent, according to the PEJ study. That's still a significant gap.
Last week, The New York Times reported that all three major networks sent their lead anchors to cover Obama's recent trip through the Mideast and Europe. However, the Times reported, the networks didn't send Charles Gibson, Katie Couric or Brian Williams during McCain's international trips. At times, the networks didn't even send a correspondent.
That's not all. The Times story showed that Obama has received 114 minutes of TV network news time, compared to McCain's 48 minutes. Again, not even close.
Remember, this is the same New York Times that published an op-ed piece written by Obama on the Iraq War but rejected an editorial written by McCain, which focused on the exact same topic.
Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz, in an interview on CNN recently, noted that Obama has been on the covers of Newsweek and Time more than a dozen times in the past three years; twice as much as McCain.
I should point out that Obama and his wife have been on the cover of U.S. Weekly, and his family has been featured on "Access Hollywood."
Sometimes, what's more telling is what the media is not telling us. For instance, the major media outlets nearly wet themselves reporting that Obama spoke in front of about 200,000 people in Berlin recently. What they didn't tell you is two very popular German music acts put on a free concert before Obama spoke, and that free beer was handed out at the event.
Hell, I'd go see Osama bin Laden or Adolf Hitler speak if U2 or The Grateful Dead put on a free show beforehand, and even more so if there was free beer.
Last night, I read two AP accounts of McCain and Obama's campaigns. In the McCain story, the writer pointed out that images of Obama and McCain over the past week were a stark contrast, and favored Obama. For instance, the story pointed out while images of Obama showed him in front of cheering throngs in Berlin, standing against the Mideast landscape and rubbing elbows with European leaders, McCain was shown eating brats in Ohio and mingling with senior citizens at a Pennsylvania grocery store.
Yeah, there is a stark contrast. Obama's grandstanding on the international stage. McCain is meeting with people who actually have a say in this election.
What disturbs me the most is that the media isn't even trying to hide the fact their coverage favors Obama. In fact, they readily admit it, and there's no indication they plan to change their approach anytime soon.
And that's a shame. I don't like either candidate, but I think McCain deserves the same amount of coverage as Obama. And both candidates should be covered in a way so Americans know exactly who their candidates are and what they stand for.
Anything less, or more, is a dereliction of duty on the part of the press.
End sermon.

YOUR RIGHT TO WHINE

anemi — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:58:27 +0000

USE IT, OR LOSE IT...

So, former Senator, and erstwhile economic Czar to John McCain, Phil Gramm is "in dutch" for saying this about Americans:

"We have sort of, become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining..."

John "I feel your pain" McCain, the presumptuous (sic) Republican presidential nominee, scared he won't live long enough to covet the White House, immediately goes dutch-candy-tail, and attempts to distance himself by asserting; "Phil doesn't speak for me." Well...why not?

John and other critics are missing something here. Phil was close, but blew it when he said; "sort of, become." Huh? America was founded by whiners, and for centuries now, whining has made it the "in" place to live, and let me explain. I mean, what do you think the Pilgrims were up to back in the 1600's? Whining, of course. Whining for religious freedom from the Church of England. Feeling strongly about it, they whined their way out of England and wound up re-locating to the Netherlands, until "issues" caused them to re-whine a long, full ten years later, and then take their act to America.

History shows us, and the Pilgrims wrote to all, that life was tough in the Netherlands. They spent dry their savings withdrawn from the Bank of England, couldn't find "suitable" employment, had "trouble" learning the Dutch language, and knew there was a big problem when all the young Pilgrims decided to bolt back to England for a better gig, leaving the old broke Pilgrims to fend for themselves.

The Pilgrims even whined about moving to America with all it's uncertainties. (They almost moved to Guiana, but their English investors and business partners sold them on America instead). Stories had come back from America about failed colonies. There were fears that the native people would be violent, that there would be no source of food or water, that exposure to unknown diseases was possible, and that travel by sea was always hazardous. Anyhow, after some particularly unscrupulous business deals, lies, and high-seas hanky-panky, the Pilgrims made it to America in 1620, albeit, in the wrong place.

Fast-forward to the 1780s after the American Revolutionary War, necessitated because whining was not working fast enough to get a divorce from the English Monarchy. You would think winning the war would be enough to make all Americans happy, but nope. In effort to "incorporate" the new America, there was vehement whining between the "Federalists," such as Alexander Hamilton who favored a strong federal government, and the "Anti-Federalists," such as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry who favored a weaker federal government. Go figure.

Patrick Henry, famously saying; "Give me liberty or give me death," really meant, "I have a right to whine, hear me roar." (Think "Freedom of Screech, er, Speech" here). and so was born the Bill of Rights and protections of the First Amendment of the Constitution, ratified in 1791.

Clearly, "the right to whine" is our most important, greasing the skids for 26 other, not to be over-shadowed Amendments, or rights. Nobody will dispute that America would not be great without the First Amendment, although caution, and sometimes discretion, is advised in exercising it judiciously. In example, speaking last Sunday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said he wanted to "cut his [Barack Obama's] nuts out" and he accused the fellow Chicagoan of "talking down to black folks" on numerous issues and social concerns, including responsible fatherhood. Ouch! Talk about things that could make you whine!

Now, I don't think anybody believes that Jesse will follow-through with his threat to Barack's "family jewels," but, it should be remembered that statements far more "civil," have landed quite a few, including Jesse, in places much worse than than being "in dutch," like the Pilgrims.

Everybody recalls where they were in the 1970's when Peter Finch famously whined from an open window of his Manhattan co-op in the movie "Network;" "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore," and likewise in the 1980's with the equally riveting lesson of Michael Douglas in "Wall Street," eloquently reminding a room full of whiners that "Greed is good."

Look, whining gets things done in America. It's practice is never "manly" or pretty, but where's the beauty in pain and suffering? There is not a single homeless person that hasn't seen a better day some place else, and our pot-holed streets are getting crowded with 1 out of 500 families now (and growing) in some stage of foreclosure. If this is you, take comfort in knowing the good news is that getting run-over by a Prius is far less painful than by a Hummer. (And the Pilgrims thought they had it tough because they wouldn't learn to speak Dutch).

I'm strongly in favor of whining, the "oil" which keeps America rolling. If it weren't for "squeaking wheels," Norm Larsen wouldn't have realized his "American Dream" with the invention of WD-40 in the 1950's, the same goo that actually enabled flight of our ICBM defense system and journeys to the moon. Whining got us Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" in the 1930's, and Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" of the 1960's.

The real problem with America today is not whining, it's that we're not whining constructively enough. A case to consider, but let me first preface by saying I am no fan of either John McCain or Barack Obama. It doesn't matter whether you call "it" (<<see Bill Clinton for definition of "it") a recession, we've got some very serious money problems, causing all flavors of other problems, and no Norm Larsen, no "WD-40" to turn to.

Pretend for a moment that you are a troubled business owner interviewing applicants for that accounting position, and some "John" waddles in and tells you; "I don't really understand economics." ...Oh... Or, here comes "Barry," the hot-shot candidate you're considering for your HR problems, who lies to you about his people skills by saying, "I can no more disown him (Rev. Dr. Wright) than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother." ...My...

"Change" is already here for a bunch of folks, and it's not all good. Live with it, or do something about it with a collective and concerted whine for the better. The Beastie Boys tried to convey this message over twenty years ago through song; "(You Gotta) Fight (Whine) sic for Your Right (to Party!)" ...and drive the car of your choice, lose yourself in a McMansion, eat corn, and get a paycheck every once in a while...

BEASTIE BOYS ~ "FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT"

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ANEMIC ROYALTY

Racism Defined: Lower Standards For Our Children In Henrico County Schools

ugotnerve — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:41:42 +0000

Educational Leadership featured an exceptional article from Julie Landsman which focuses on the most overt form of racism that exists within our public school system, the racism of low expectations.

This is the form of institutionalized racism that is rampant under the leadership of Fred Morton, Henrico's school board, and many of the building administrators that they have unethically placed with no regard for the impact to our children.

It is clear that Morton and the board have no intention of refraining from engaging in this form of institutionalized racism as it pertains to our students, parents, and educators. Their racist mentalities and corrupt hearts that care nothing for children of diverse backgrounds will not allow them to address and combat this issue with integrity, care, and a heartfelt desire to meet the needs of children that are not like theirs.

To make matters worse, Henrico County Public Schools has no plan of action on how to confront and eradicate the institutionalized racism that Morton, the board members, and others thrive on and benefit from. Building administrators like Andy Armstrong, John Rokenbrod, Courtney Ellis, and Paul Jordan have been repeated identified by parents and educators as administrators that have no expectations for our children and even go as far as to help them maintain the low expectations. This is the worse type of racism by the worse type of racists, those that walk on the backs of our children in order to climb the educational ladder that benefits their own personal agendas. One thing is for sure, "racists of a feather flock together."

Landsman is a white woman that has the courage, integrity, and security to explore the topic of the racism of low expectations for our children. She also proposes solutions on how to fight this negative impact on our children.

See: http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200411_landsman.html

Does Your School Have High Expectations for All Students?

Are examples of the achievements and ideas of diverse authors, thinkers, and historical figures woven into—not separated from—the curriculum?
Are texts, lessons, and discussion topics chosen with thought about how to provide a safe environment for discussion of controversial issues?
Do all students feel safe in the classrooms, hallways, and lunchroom?
Does the school challenge anyone making generalizations about racial and ethnic groups?
Is evidence of diverse cultures displayed in hallways, in the library, in classroom examples, and in the racial and cultural backgrounds of adults working in the building?
Does the school take students' and parents' discomfort, frustration, or anger seriously? Are issues worked out through mediation and discussion?
Do teachers expect all students to complete and turn in work, know the answers to different levels of questions, work in class, follow class guidelines, and respond to structure?
Do parents of color feel welcome at conferences, parent advisory group meetings, and school events?
Do students of all ethnicities represented in the school participate in all academic courses and programs?
Are students of color counseled to consider high-level academic programs and college?
Are administrators and teachers willing to counter racist comments?
Do teachers value inclusive curriculum even when the school is primarily populated by white students?
Do teachers and staff members feel they can openly discuss issues of race, class, and gender without feeling defensive or ashamed?

—Julie Landsman

DNC: Fractured Fairy Tales

sharmajee — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:24:24 +0000

This is not exactly a followup, but an inevitable sequel, given the tin ear with which the media at large continued to cover-up the campaign. Especially when you consider that Hillary kept winning states with huge margins in late Spring, and left-wing politicians kept calling her to quit the race and hand over the lead to her opponent.

But Hillary kept faith with the voters she was fighting for, and in turn the voters kept faith with the one they trusted most, no trusted period. And then by Memorial Day 2008 there was this mass movement to seat all delegates from Florida and Michigan, and that's what this video is all about.

On that day of infamy which will live in the minds of Hillary supporters forever, when new names sprung up to become instant legends, Harriet Christian for one, the power brokers of the DNC went into mind boggling posturing and slid into pathetic mathematical gyrations and a resultant perfidy of a decision ...... it was inevitable that Shut The Freud Up came out with this new gem, again credit to Indy Robin mostly.

Who Is Morton REALLY Punishing?

ugotnerve — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:26:02 +0000

UGOTNERVE received a very interesting comment from an extremely angry parent that states that they have had it with Henrico's superintendent and his abuse of authority that results in innocent children suffering.

The comment is as follows:

"I am a parent that has a student with special needs that attends Henrico County Public Schools. I am DISGUSTED TO THE POINT OF BEING PHYSICALLY SICK" at the way that the superintendent has treated my child, who had Ms. Lucas as his teacher. This superintendent decided that his "beef" with Ms. Lucas was more important that his job to make sure that my child has a qualified teacher to teach him. When he decided to remove Ms. Lucas, I want to know if he thought about MY child and the other children that would suffer by his removing Ms. Lucas from their lives? I want to know how he could have even thought that any school in this county could go without a special education teacher, especially my son's school. The classes are overcrowded. The instructional aides are being used to do the jobs of the teachers. Students are going without the services that they need because of the staffing shortage, then this superintendent has the "balls" to remove a teacher that my child, not wanted, but needed. Who does he think he is punishing when he robs my child of a teacher during some of the most critical years of his life? Who does he think he is punishing when he robs an already short-staffed school of a great teacher whose only crime was caring more about our children and doing the right thing for them than her job or his jacked-up ego that made him think that he is god? I am an angry woman. I am angry because this man has robbed my son of what is rightfully his. My son deserves the best education possible. My taxpaying dollars deserve that. I am angry that this superintendent so immature, vicious, and heartless that he would sacrifice MY child to get back at another adult. I am angry that Mr. Montgomery, the man that I elected to fight for me and my child, is letting this happen when he said that he would work to make things right on the East End when I voted for him. I am angry that more parents and teachers are not angry because our children are going to hell in a hand basket and this superintendent is the one that is carrying the basket. I am angry that I promised my son that if he worked hard, made the right choices, did what his teachers said, behaved in school, and had a good attitude, he would get the best education possible. What I am angry about the most is that this superintendent made me out to be a liar to my son. My son did his part, this superintendent and the people that he put over my son did not. He removed a woman that was doing what every teacher and administrator should have been doing, but wasn't. She shamed you all, but you did not feel shame and apologize to make this right, you went on pushing my son deeper and deeper into the hell that you created for him. Well, not anymore. Ms. Lucas has shown me how to fight back and to fight for my son when the people that are suppose to fight for him fail him. Now, I will fight, and because I am angry, I will fight very hard for my son and everyone else's. Our children did not do anything wrong and do not deserve to be punished by this man by having their education suffer."

Wow!, we could not have said it better our selves. This is what Lucas and many other educators have been saying all along, our children are suffering and Morton, the school board, and many others could not give a damn.....but they care about children (yeah right!).

KEEP UP THE "MAMA" NERVE!

A TIME FOR JUSTICE: LUCAS' PULBIC HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED!

ugotnerve — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:05:18 +0000

Ms. Lucas, the special educator that Superintendent Morton illegally suspended for "planning" and "sending" a grievance to him when he states that he did not give her permission to, will be heard during a public school board hearing on Friday, May 30, 2008, at 4pm. The hearing will take place at Elko Middle School, located on 5901 Elko Station Road in Sandston, Virginia.

Hundreds are expected to attend, including various civic advocacy groups, parent support groups, faith-based organizations, civil rights groups, child advocates, educators, special education alliances, and students. There have even been rumors of protests being organized at Elko on that day to bring media attention to the injustices that continue to take place in Henrico County AND Henrico County Public Schools. The ball is rolling! Change is coming! The tide is changing! An invitation has been sent to the local and national media, specifically African-American media sources, that have followed Lucas' story for months.

UGOTNERVE will be there, and the word is so will hundreds of educators from all over the Commonwealth that want justice for Ms. Lucas, because justice for her means justice for all of them and all of us...our parents, our educators, our communities, our world, our schools,.......most importantly, JUSTICE FOR OUR CHILDREN!

A TIME FOR JUSTICE, A TIME FOR TRUTH, A TIME FOR HAVING A HEART FOR CHILDREN, AND SAVING OUR SCHOOLS, SAVING OUR EDUCATORS, SAVING OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURES HAS COME......

While many think that the school board, Morton, and their attorneys have the final say....we all know otherwise. The fact is that it is common knowledge that Morton is on his way out. Whether the school board members will be joining him will depend on what actions they take to rectify this horrific injustice that has been committed and that they have allowed to go on in this county that has destroyed the lives of many educators, parents, administrators, and students.

A TIME FOR JUSTICE....A TIME FOR CHANGE.....A TIME FOR CHILDREN BEING FIRST....A TIME FOR INTEGRITY!

KEEP UP THE NERVE AND WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE PUBLIC HEARING!

Lucas Returns To Rolfe.....

ugotnerve — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:22:00 +0000

Ugotnerve's staff was buzzing all Friday afternoon in an effort to either confirm or deny that Ms. Lucas, the special educator that was illegally and forcefully reassigned from John Rolfe Middle School to another school, had indeed returned to Rolfe on Friday.

Reports confirm that while she was at Rolfe on Friday afternoon, she was not returning as a teacher in the school, although her presence created a great commotion for educators, administrators, and students alike. At the request of a concerned parent, Ms. Lucas' special education consultation services were requested. As a result, she attended the conference as an advocate.

Lucas was greeted by her former peers with hugs, smiles, and handshakes. Of course, there were those that offered blank stares, cut eyes, and made every effort to avoid her completely due to the stance that she has taken as a "whistleblower" and "advocate" for children, parents, and educators. Students throughout the school were extremely excited with her return and some even thought that she was coming back permanently. In fact, it was shared that one student ran home and told his mother that "Ms. Lucas is back!" She immediately contacted Ms. Lucas to confirm what she and many other parents hoped to be true, but quickly found out that it was just "wishful thinking."

While Ms. Lucas set aside any and all "adult" issues in order to appear at Rolfe in order to advocate for the best interests of a highly intelligent, gifted, and sweet child; several administrators within the school made every effort to block her efforts by refusing to permit her to enter the school building.

It was reported that Courtney Ellis, the special education department chair for Rolfe Middle School, attempted to prevent Ms. Lucas from attending the meeting even though the parent had requested her presence based on Lucas' expertise and effective advocacy efforts that had been observed for the past several months. In fact, sources state that Ellis went as far as stating that Lucas would not be allowed in the building, which seems to be a very hypocritical stance for her considering the fact that she is the special educator that did not hesitate to permit her "boyfriend" to enter the school building, during school hours, in the presence of children, through the back door, with no problem.

Ellis was not alone. Sources also shared that John Rokenbrod, the eighth grade assistant principal and special education administrator, also attempted to block Lucas from appearing at the meeting as an advocate for the student and parent. Reports indicate that he went as far as to contact Central Office in order to take the necessary action required to ensure that she would not be allowed on the school grounds.

Hmmmm.....it makes us wonder why Rokenbrod did not take the same aggressive actions to ensure that a habitually disruptive, disrespectful, verbally abusive, and defiant student was not prevented from entering the school grounds, but was instead permitted to remain on the campus roaming the halls and interfering with the learning and safety of other students.

Hmmmm.....it makes us wonder even more why neither Ellis, Rokenbrod, or Armstrong have not taken the same aggressive actions to ensure that a special educator that has been reportedly intoxicated at work, verbally assaultive to a female peer, threw a video tape at a student with special needs, and referred to an African-American female student with special needs as a "fat bitch", is prevented from entering the school.

Ohhhhhh...we forgot, the safety of children is not their priority. They only take action when they are mad or threatened. PA-THETIC!

Well, Central Office got it right for once! Evidently, Rokenbrod was advised that "legally", based on fedel law, they could not prevent Ms. Lucas from attending the meeting as a special education advocate. Why didn't the special education department chair and special education administrator KNOW this law? A baby monkey could have told them that! We wonder how many parents and students have been deprived of much needed advocates, services, and accommodations all because Ellis is more concerned about her hair, flip flops, nose ring, and social life; while Rokenbrod is more concerned with hurrying meetings along so that he can get home. PA-THETIC! One thing is for sure, Lucas has one more act of discrimination and retaliation to add to any civil suit that she is planning. Oh, it was reported that Rokenbrod "punked" out of the meeting, and Ellis...well, she never comes to the meetings from what we here anyway. Instead they sent a central office staff on their behalf. Are they THAT scared of Lucas? Or are they THAT scared of Lucas exposing their incompetency AGAIN?

It seems as though some things never change, Ellis and Rokenbrod are still working very hard in every way to be obstacles to the success of children with special needs. Perhaps if they spent as much energy on Friday trying to prevent Lucas from attending a meeting as they did doing their job with integrity, competency, and passion, John Rolfe Middle School would be a "blue ribbon" school instead of a "blues singing" school. In addition, Henrico has no reason to be upset with Lucas, THEY gave her sixty days off with pay, so she is free to attend EVERY IEP meeting in the county as an advocate if need be!

See, God does NOT like ugly, stupid, or retaliation! What Henrico meant for evil, God worked it for good. Ms. Lucas has been EVERYWHERE helping, advocating, speaking, and consulting...all on Henrico's payroll! Thanks, Fred!

KEEP UP THE NERVE!

Superintendent Visited Rolfe Today, SO WHAT!

ugotnerve — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:19:16 +0000

UGOTNERVE luvs our readers...

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"Today, I came to pick my child up from Rolfe Middle School and guess who I saw there? The superintendent and our school board member. I am not sure what they were there for, but it does not matter to me because neither of them responded or came when they decided to remove my student's teacher and replace her with someone who isn't even qualified to teach my child. It is not the new teacher's fault, he seems like a nice guy that just happened to be used by a brainless and heartless superintendent and principal. The principal hung up on me when I wanted to know what was going to happen to my student. The superintendent and school board member did not come to Rolfe then. My student's teacher was giving him grades that he did not earn. The superintendent and school board member did not come to Rolfe then. From what I can tell, the superintendent and school board member are "real politicians" that really don't care about our black and poor children. They say they do, but they are liars. Their actions scream louder than their words. Someone told me that the school board members son was suppose to go to middle school in the Varina district, but does not. It doesn't take an Einstein to know why. I agree with removing them because they do not listen to us and do not take the futures of our black children seriously. I think that they are setting our black and poor children up for failure on purpose so that they can't do better than their kids. Rolfe needs a strong leader like the sixth grade principal. She is the only one that my student respects because she makes him act like I expect him to. The other principals and that Ms. Ellis and her sidekick Ms. B are helping our children kill themselves by letting them do whatever they want in the class while they do whatever they want in the class. The superintendent and school board member did not come to Rolfe to check on them. They did not even care enough about my child or me to come to Rolfe to have a meeting about what they had done when they destroyed my student's life by removing a teacher that cared about him like he was her own child. So, one thing I will thank the superintendent and school board member for. Thank you for making it just that much harder for my child to be successful by removing someone that not only helped him and many other students to experience success for the first time in their lives, but also made them feel like someone cared about them at Rolfe. I agree, with the opinion that the issues that you have with that teacher have nothing to do with my child or her ability to teach him. Your abusing your power to deny my child a quality education with a great teacher shows how pitiful you really are. I will pray for you because a REAL man, a REAL leader, a REAL educator does not sacrifice children for personal gain."

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Wow! Y'all really KEEPING UP THE NERVE!

So Let Me Get This Straight....

ugotnerve — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:35:56 +0000

This is one reader's comment that we HAD to post...

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" I just spent the last two weeks reading this website. I am from Arizona and we cannot believe this! Let me get this straight, the superintendent of this school district put two unqualified people in the role of a principal and now the school is screwed up, the county has risen to the third highest drop-out rate for that state, this teacher received a handwritten threat in her mailbox at school that was in a school envelope that he refused to investigate, their has been an astronomical increase in violence within the district schools since he took the reigns, a student with special needs has been pepper sprayed and his administrators lied about it, this teacher received a reprimand ordering her not to communicate any safety concerns to school bosses, the superintendent and principal broke the law in order to cancel her contract, then had to reverse it because she threatened to sue them, the principal admitted to lying to parents about the teacher status at the school, a school official admitted to falsifying a reprimand because she had not investigated against this teacher, the teacher was reprimanded for demanding that the other teachers at her school follow the law, the superintendent sent a school employee to her home on a Friday night before she was suppose to testify against him for the Office of Civil Rights, this superintendent was allowed to deprive her of her free speech, then suspended her when she complained and challenged him, now he is trying to illegally dismiss her six days after renewing her contract.....AND SHE IS THE ONE THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR DISMISSAL????????!!!!!!!

WHERE IS THIS SCHOOL BOARD?????? THEY DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS MAN'S ACTIONS??? THIS IS CRAZY!?? THEY SHOULD BE CHASED OUT OF THAT STATE WITH THEIR TALES BETWEEN THEIR LEGS FOR LETTING THIS GO ON TO A TEACHER AND HER STUDENTS!

-"SLEEPLESS AND SICKENED IN ARIZONA"

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Our readers do have a way with words!

KEEP UP THE NERVE AND PASS IT ON! IF WE EXPOSE THEM ENOUGH AND PUT ENOUGH PRESSURE ON THEM, MORTON HAS GOT TO GO!

Others All Over The World Speak Out Against Henrico's Superintendent

ugotnerve — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:12:10 +0000

Throughout the Commonwealth and beyond, in places like Texas, Maine, Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New York, Switzerland, Canada, and Wyoming, concerned individuals are voicing their support to remove Fred Morton, Henrico's Superintendent, and his cronies that carry out his every illegal whim.

The momentum is growing. Those that once felt that their voices did not matter, or had their voices demeaned or ignored by the likes of Morton, are now finding their inner strength to "fight back" because they have the REAL power.

Grandparents, parents, educators, students, and community and civic leaders are taking to the streets of Henrico County in order to make Morton's removal a reality by gathering up support for this month's school board meeting.

UGOTNERVE was notified that a team of advocates is organizing a trip to Harlem, New York in order to meet with the National Action Network's Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson next week in anticipation of the upcoming school board meeting. If you are interested in traveling with them, email UGOTNERVE1@gmail.com. All travel expenses are being paid by one of "the movement's" supporters in Henrico County. Space is limited, so respond quickly!

Justice will flow like a riva' for our children, our parents, and our educators, even if those "dam blockers", like Morton, try to stop it, they don't have the power to!

KEEP UP THE NERVE!

Outraged Citizens Are Writing Henrico's School Board Protesting Morton's Actions!

ugotnerve — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:27:27 +0000

UGOTNERVE received an email that an outraged citizen sent to the members of Henrico County Public School's board. She expressed her outrage and disappointment that the board would continue to support such horrific actions and abuse of power that continues to be demonstrated by Morton toward Ms. Lucas. Read for yourself, then send your thoughts to the board at: schoolboard@henrico.k12.va.us.

Like one parent stated, "if he has done this to Ms. Lucas, he has and will do it to many others if he is not removed. Just think of what he has done to our children if he is mistreating adults like this. Anyone of us could be his next target just for disagreeing or questioning him! We must get rid of him through the powers of the pen, voices, and votes."

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"Ms. Lucas spoke at the NAACP meeting last week. I was so appalled at the injustices that she has suffered; so much so that I was brought to tears. The Superintendant of Schools should be removed immediately. He behavior is indicative of an earlier era when Afro American were treated like second class citizens. Please do not allow him to continue to work for this great county."

-Virginia

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This resident, parent, and former employee of the county vowed to get others to email the school board members as well regarding Morton's outrageous behavior. They have also initiated four thousand signature petitions throughout the county in support of his removal. Hmmm....seems as though the masses have found a "cause" for which to rally around! Justice for those that face injustice is always a good cause!

Will the board do the right thing or uphold Morton in his illegal activities to their own demise?

KEEP UP THE NERVE!

How The Mormon Kids Got Caught Up...

realfunnystaff — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:57:49 +0000

THIS JUST IN....

A 33 year old black woman named Rozita Swinton is a "person of interest" in connection with the emergency 911 phone call that got the LDS kids caught up.

*Hanging our heads in shame*

Not Rozita from down the street!

Not Rozita from the block with the big gold hoops and the ponytail to the side!!

Not Rozita from the shop!

AWWWW HELLL! This is so embarassing and the staff at REAL FUNNY took a moment of silence before...

jumping off the jokes.

I am just curious as to how someone decided to make such a benign phone call, that would only affect the lives of, say, hundreds of people. Our first theory is she just didn't have sh.t else to do. It was sort of like on her To Do List.

TO DO LIST- ROZITA :) - 03.14.08

1) Pick up sanitary napkins from Target.

2) Make 911 phone call to police, pretend to be 16 and abused (use white girl voice and call from closet)

3) Call Ray-Ray and tell him he ain't sh*t.

4) Make nail appointment.

Are you kidding me? This is not the false report I would have expected from Rozita. Rozita would have called and said my flat screen is missing or someone stole my thousand dollar packs of weave (#34 spanish wave). But this right here, is all the way wrong.

Ofcourse, our second theory is that she was a black woman scorned. We've all seen Waiting to Exhale and when a black woman gets mad, it ain't nothing nice. How much do you want to bet that Rozita was trying to get down with one of the LDS husbands until she found out that he was married...six times. That's when she decided to set it off. I imagine the conversation went something like this:

Rozita ( on the phone, angry): You didn't tell me about Stacey, Betty, Katie, Casey, Renae, Tammy, Tonya, Tracey, Amy, Marie, Donna... or the kids. You said you were getting a divorce, that you were going to marry me!

Joe: Umm, I did get a divorce...from Ann and I do want to marry you. I want you to be one of my wives.

Rozita (cackling like a mad woman): Who the hell do you think you are? I need to be the only one. This is some bullsh*t. You cheatin' bastard...I'll show you (click).

(Rozita hangs up and immediately dials 911...)

I am so embarassed and upset and I am praying that the allegations aren't true and it really wasn't her. But until such has been confirmed, imma need her turn in her RACE card stat. And since her first name is latino sounding, imma need her to get her some #34 spanish wave yaki and gone on and start telling people she is latino. Doesn't she know Barack is running for president? Hell, Wesley Snipes has yet to be sentenced, how is this going to impact his case. We just can't afford to have random black people making false reports at such crucial times in our nation's history.

And to take this to the next level (because that is what we do here at REAL FUNNY), is Rozita secretly that chick that has been the snitch in the black community. Did she put the word out on Ron Isley? Drop dime on R. Kelly? Is she the one who rolled up on "Mr. Biggs" and let him know his wife was cheating?

I am so mad at Rozita... or whichever one of her personalities told her to do this. *Arms crossed*

*UPDATE*: Per ABC news, Wesley Snipes was sentenced to 3 years for tax evasion.

*DEEP SIGH*

Is Henrico County Public Schools' Real Mission: Kill Them Before They Grow?

ugotnerve — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:51:51 +0000

In his book, "Kill Them Before They Grow: The Misdiagnosis of African American Boys in American Classrooms", Michael Porter exposes and confronts the institutionalized horrific practices that are destroying our African American males within the public school setting.

The book is described as a "resource for parents, teachers, administrators, and students of education, psychology, and Black Studies. Porter explores factors impacting the education of Black boys based on seven years of experience working with children labeled "behavior disordered." Chapter topics include:

1) "A Curriculum of Genocide"

The present curriculum, as it exists, allows for students to graduate without being able to read and they are taught algebra without having learned basic math facts. They use a calculator for two digit addition and many of them have never used a dictionary. In Henrico County, students have access to their own computers but would rather fill it up with music videos, pictures, and proxies than reading materials, and math facts.

2) "Pre-Jail"

Many districts like Henrico County Public Schools profess their commitment to "preparing our children for the 21st century." What they are really preparing them for is a life of failure, frustration, and futility...all traits that will earn a child a trip straight to jail. It is amazing to us that in jail, the same children that required accommodations, modifications, and all types of "fications" have access to none of these things, but are subjected to extreme forms of discipline and either conform or are consequenced. The disheartening part about all of this is that people like Royal, Jepson, Armstrong, Rokenbrod, and Ellis are working hard to ensure that our children go to jail because they have no discipline. The fact is if you do not love a child, you will not discipline a child. Henrico has its own personal pipeline from the cradle to the prison.

3) "Behavior Management Through Self-Knowledge"

One of our parents shared how he felt that Henrico County Public Schools is systematically depriving our children of role models that they can identify with that promote a healthy self-image and encourage the pursuit of self-knowledge. Once a child knows their history, the sacrifices that were made by their ancestors to get them to this point, they cannot help but value their lives and their opportunities to succeed. When our children are deprived of this, they act out and have no roots upon which to build their identities or a point of reference from which to build their character.

4) "Medicated to Learn, Medicated to Act Right: The Slaughter of African Boys"

Back in the day, there was no ritalin, concerta, prozac, or time out. We had a belt, a switch, and sometimes good pinch on the arm that was our "medication". It was a lot cheaper, a doctor did not have to prescribe it, it had fewer side effects, and we never got addicted to those interventions. We all received a good "beat down" once in a while from our parents and did not die. Many ignorant people say that spanking a child results in a child being physically violent. The truth of the matter is that if you "spare the rod, you spoil the child" and when corporal punishment was removed from school, violence, disruption, disrespect, and defiance went rampant. Many have said that corporal punishment was removed when intergration was mandated and white parents did not want black teachers disciplining their children. In the process, our black children lost out. For many of them, specifically our black boys, a good old fashion "whoop'in" now, would spare them the humiliation of a policeman's "beat down" later.

5) Public Law 94-142 and the Creation of Black Monsters

This federal mandate legitimized a system of "dependence" within public schools. Black monsters were created similar to the Frankenstein story. The creators have developed our black children into dependent, addicted, immature, retarded and incapable monsters that can only respond to the basic instincts of their nature. They live to satisfy their appetites, which is the lowest form of existence, similar to that of animals. To eat, to sleep, to..well, you know the rest. They are never encouraged, challenged, or even taught to rise up and live out their own potential to the fullest. The oppressor has them completely fooled into thinking that they are their friends, but the oppressors become upset when these same children grow up and bang them over the head on a street corner because they need to satisfy a desire to get money or some other need.

6) The Conning of African American Parents

We can't tell you how many times school officials have lied to, manipulated, hidden, and even falsified information to parents regarding the education of their students. The reality is that African American parents participating in the conning game when they do not educate themselves on their rights and the rights of their children. An educated parent is a "nightmare" for school administrators. And NO! Parents should NEVA', NEVA', NEVA' trust the future of their child to someone who is getting "paid" to care.

7) Paycheck Slavery and the African American Professional

African Americans that receive college degrees and obtain professional jobs should help elevate the race, but instead the Brothers and Sisters sell out. Instead of fighting against public education's institutionalized racism against our boys, they see an opportunity to make money in the system; thereby choosing "GREEN" over "BLACK". I can give examples of this just by pointing to Henrico's Director of Middle Schools, Rolfe's Director of Counseling, and several of its African-American educators that choose to be silent so that they can keep their jobs and in the good graces of the system's tyrants than to stand up against a system that is killing our children.

Porter's book is eye-opening and validates what many school boards, administrators, and school officials dare not part their lips to admit. Well, the truth of the matter is that they do not have to admit that there is a big pink elephant in the classroom of every public school where a black child (or any child for that manner) is deprived of their right to learn without prejudice.

WE DEMAND THAT HENRICO COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS "STOP KILLING OUR CHILDREN BEFORE THEY GROW!" Now that we know their crime, it is time to hold them accountable for this atrocity and remove the murderers and their partners in crime.

They kill are children's spirits, esteem, minds, bodies, and souls and remain indifferent and uncaring in the process.

They kill the promise of our seed, the seed that they committed to nurturing, protecting, defending, and growing; then have the nerve to become indignant when we expose them for the murderers that they really are.

Well, UGOTNERVE is right in the heat of this struggle and will do all that we can to support the war effort against districts like Henrico and leaders, (and we loose the term loosely), like Morton, Royal, Montgomery, Jepson, Armstrong, Rokenbrod, and Ellis.

We will make it our job to make their lives the living hell that they have created and permitted to exist within the lives of our children. How? It is easy, we will keep shining "light" on their "darkness." For them, that is the ultimate hell!

KEEP UP THE NERVE!

Keep the motor idling

gene — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:48:26 +0000

I've got another from Steve Goodier and it is just marvelous. Had it stuck in draft and forgotten about until tonight. Take a look at a neat story. I'll be back after. :^)

KEEPING THE MOTOR IDLING

I relate well to the comment made by Barbara Johnson: "Patience
is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping
your gears." I know that if I can keep the motor idling, it will
be ready to go when I need it.

A kindergarten teacher practiced keeping her motor idling. A
story has it that she was helping one of her students put his
snow boots on. He asked for help and she could see why. With her
pulling and him pushing, they finally succeeded and she had by
now worked up a sweat. She almost whimpered when the little boy
said, "They're on the wrong feet."

She looked and, sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier
pulling the boots off, and then she had to wrestle the stubborn
boots on again.

Just as she finished lacing them he announced, "These aren't my
boots." She bit her tongue to keep from screaming, "Why didn't
you say so?"

Once again she struggled to pull off the ill-fitting boots. He
then calmly added, "They're my brother's boots. My mom made me
wear them." She began to realize how close she was to stripping
her gears as she struggled with the boots yet again.

When they were finally laced, she said, "Now, where are your
mittens?"

"I stuffed them in the toes of my boots," he said.

She may have been the same teacher who once commented about a
particularly difficult child in her class, "Not only is he my
worst behaved child this year, but he also has a perfect
attendance record.

A Dutch proverb observes, "A handful of patience is worth more
than a bushel of brains." I may never have to worry about having
a bushel of brains, but I can sometimes muster a handful of
patience. And that should be enough.

-- Steve Goodier

I think I could safely say that about me, lol. Not only am I my worst behaved child, but I also have a perfect attendance record. In the stillness, I have had flooding through me memories, of times and places long ago. I've been trying to make sense of some things, life, the why of the lights and the look into home I've been given. And I've had the oddest amalgamation of two songs running through my head for weeks. Parts of Answer, from the wonderful Sarah and a bit of Mad As Hell from the Dixie Chicks. I've talked about my admiration for Sarah many times here, as an artist and as a person. I feel the same sort of affection for the Dixie Chicks, who were not only unafraid to exercise their constitutional right to free speech but to unabashedly pay the price exacted for doing so. Part of Mad As Hell, not the part I'm interested in, says:

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don't mind sayin'
It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Sayin' that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

What is there to add to that? Those aren't just words in a song, they are examples of how Americans reacted to the words of a young woman who dared criticize George W. Bush and his insane foreign policy, his futile hunt for weapons of mass destruction while reducing Iraq to rubble and creating a new generation of jihadists who will hate the great satan all of their days - unless somehow they see the light. And realize it isn't a bomb. That's my dream. :^) Always look on the sunny side of life, from an old movie. Not always easy but it isn't impossible either. I think I've cried more tears in the 11 years since Brandon died than I did in the 47 that preceded it. Not always tears of sadness, in the early years, yes, but things have seemed to affect me so strongly emotionally since then, that the tears just come, unbidden, unhidden. I've learned to take kleenex to movies or have them handy while I watch tv or read because I just can't tell when something is going to reach in and touch my heart so deeply that I am going to cry from joy or sadness, or both. I don't mind at all. I caught the last half hour of Winn Dixie the other night and cried like a baby. That little girl, I have no idea her name, was SO perfect in that movie, for that role, Jeff Daniels was at his wonderful best and it all came together in a crescendo of love that sent me to bed damp but smiling at what we can be when we but try, just the littlest bit.

So this amalgamation I mentioned just above is pieces of two songs. They, too, come unbidden, jen just starts playing one or the other, sometimes mixing them in my head, so that I'm not sure which is from what but I always know what she means. Not the whole songs, just a couple verses. These four verses:

First, From Mad As Hell:

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting

I'm through with doubt
There's nothing left for me to figure out
I've paid a price
And I'll keep paying

Then, from Answer:

I will be there for you while you take the time
In the burning of uncertainty
I will be your solid ground
I will hold the balance if you can't look down

If it takes my whole life
I won't break, I won't bend
It'll all be worth it
Worth it in the end

Over and over. All jumbled up and sometimes perfectly clear. The thing that has come to me in the stillness of the past month is my own truth. I am through with doubt, there is nothing left to figure out, and if it takes my whole life, I won't break, I won't bend, it'll all be worth it, worth it in the end. I believe that. I know it. It IS my truth, I have figured it out, or she has with me, for me. We'll talk about that too one day, but that day is a bit off, much between now and then. For the moment, much, love, :^) gene

I don't know that anyone notices but I pick different colors for the salutation, often, because I love the names so, this one is cornflower blue. I've never seen one, but I believe in them. As I believe in these words.

If today brings even one choice your way
choose to be a bringer of the light :^) gene

Could This Child's Life Have Been Saved If Administrators and Educators Had Done Thier Jobs?

ugotnerve — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:26:08 +0000

UGOTNERVE received this story and had to share it with our readers in order to remind all of us that educating and advocating for our children is a MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

A first grade African-American male student experienced very little success while in public schools. He could not read, was larger than the other children, and did not interact with others very well. He was often involved in fights, skipped classes, and slept in class.

Eventually, his pattern of anti-social behaviors, increasing failure in school, and constant verbal and physical abuse against his peers and teachers lead to his reassignment to an alternative school setting.

While in the alternative school setting, no one from the sponsoring school ever called to make sure that he was being educated properly or received the appropriate social skill instruction. He remained in the alternative school setting for the second, third, and fourth grade with no meaningful social skill progress or academic development.

He still could NOT read or complete simple math problems.

He continued to become increasingly verbally and physically aggressive toward those around him, including his own mother, who was a single working woman.

In September of his fifth grade year, he arrived to school refusing to eat, drink, or even complete his work. He would place his head down on his desk for most of the day initially. Eventually, he would complain of stomach cramps, vomit, and would spread out on the floor of his classroom due to being in such pain.

The student's teacher and Instructional Specialist reported their concerns to the private school administrator, who had no formal training in general or special education, but did know how to "warehouse" children for long lengths of time in order to ensure that the profit goal was met for the school's executive director. After all, the local school districts pay, on average, $20,000 annually for alternative school settings. THAT'S THE COST OF ONE YEAR IN COLLEGE!

Despite the complaints of the educators, the administrators of the school continued to refused to report their concerns to social services. October, November, December, and January went by with months of the student lying on the floor of an empty classroom with increasingly painful stomach cramping and moaning due to the pain, but nothing was done because if social services were called, the student would most likely be removed from the home, and removed from the school, which would remove $20,000 from the pocket of the executive director.

All of this changed one day in February, when the student no longer came to school. We found out that the student had been diagnosed with cancer. He had advanced malignant tumors in his pancreas, stomach, head, and spine. By the time he went to the hospital, doctors gave him less than six months to live.

He was placed in a local hospital where he began to receive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but it was far too little, too late.

We remember going to the hospital to see him for what would be the last time. He was in a great deal of pain and very angry. Angry that he was sick. Angry that we did not believe him. Angry that he was not important enough for us risk all for in order to get him the help that he needed sooner. Angry that he trusted adults that he thought cared for him, but viewed him as a nonpriority, a nothing, a means to an end with no regard for the future.

This child was angry that he would not have the opportunity to grow-up, graduate from high school, have children, go to college, and so much more. We could not blame him. We did let him down in the most grossly negligent way. WE JUST DID NOT GIVE A DAMN AND REFUSED TO BE HIS VOICE.

A week after we went to visit him, he passed away. He was three days short of his 13th birthday. We were reminded of how he had questioned us so many times the previous fall about God and what God was like. Little did we know that he was going to be resting in God's hands less than six months later. Some of us felt that he knew.

UGOTNERVE KEEPS UP THE NERVE FOR CHILDREN LIKE HIM SO THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF A DYING CHILD AND SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE ALL THAT WE COULD DO TO SAVE THEM.

Parents Outraged Over Sexually Vulgar Comments On Principal's Blog

ugotnerve — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:30:50 +0000

UPDATE 4/9/08: Well, it looks like someone from Armstrong's camp read UGOTNERVE today, and informed him of the vulgar nature of the comments on his blog because all of the comments have been deleted. But fortunately for our readers, we copied all the comments for your review, knowing that they would take such action once they were exposed. Perhaps if Mr. Armstrong had been doing his job, as opposed to falsifying information against educators like Ms. Lucas and others, he would have had the time to monitor his blog properly. WRONG PRIORITIES! WRONG POSITIONS! WRONG PEOPLE! PA-THETIC!

Because we believe in the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH...just because you delete it, does not mean it does not exist.....we will keep this story posted for all of the employees and parents that have been accused of unethical, unprofessional, incompetence, poor judgement, and inappropriate communications by HCPS's cronies. Can we all say hypocrites??

***************************************************************************************************************

Original Posting:

A parent contacted us in order to advise us of the grossly inappropriate comments that were made on the blog of John Rolfe Middle School's principal. They shared that they had went to the blog in order to comment on recent concerns, specifically the fact that their seventh grade student was being subjected to harassment by older students.

It was stated that when the parent and student went to the website, the parent immediately excused her student from the room due to the extremely vulgar nature of the comments that were left on a principal's site that he supposedly committed to monitoring and updating on a regular basis, but has not been updated since November 29, 2007.

The information below should not be read by ANYONE under or above 18 years of age, nor do comments like this have any business being placed or left on a middle school principal's website.

This is grossly unprofessional and inappropriate. Once again, the question of when will this administration be held accountable for its actions is staring us all in the face.

How much more blatant do they have to become in violating district, state, and federal laws to the humiliation of this county before this school board takes action?

Do they not know that this website can be viewed from ANYWHERE in the world?

What type of message is being sent to our children when they read this?

More importantly, why was someone able to place these vulgar comments on Armstrong's blog and due to the fact that he does not monitor it, he failed to prevent our children from being exposed to it?

Neither he nor any other administrator that has permitted this to take place has any grounds for disciplining another employee for unprofessionalism, poor judgement, or inappropriate communication skills...that would definitely be the pot calling the kettle black!

WARNING: UGOTNERVE in no way confirms the use of this type of vulgar language in any form and would not have shared this information in its exact format if we felt that in doing so, we would bring attention to and solidify the fact that the instructional leader of Rolfe Middle School, and those that support him are highly incompetent, wreckless, negligent, and do very little to ensure that our children are protected from conditions, words, situations, and environments that are detrimental to their well being.

Furthermore, while they are proclaiming from the roof tops that whistleblowing advocates, like Ms. Lucas, are "airing the district's dirty laundry", and making the county look bad; they may want to accept the fact that it is representations like the ones below, by incompetent individuals that not only fail to keep their word, but fail to keep the proper standards of decency, that are really humiliating this county and destroying the quality of education for our students.

UGOTNERVE wonders, will the board get rid of Armstrong NOW? Or is "white still right", no matter how wrong this is....and this is REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wrong. If something like this were on an African-American principal or teacher's blog, they would be gone before the close of business...especially if it were someone like Ms. Lucas, Fred Morton, Philip Jepson, and Marilyn Royal would not hesitate to come out in condemnation and immediate termination....but we already know that the double standard exists.

The board needs to take over the management of Rolfe before the VADOE does. Their first action is to appoint Ms. Sharron Archer, a highly qualified, dedicated, disciplined, and professional African-American instructional leader that is not only extremely competent, but would have John Rolfe Middle School turned around in less than thirty days, on the path to a blue ribbon school...but Fred Morton knows that and does NOT want our African-American and economically disadvantaged children and families to have a REAL instructional leader that can deliver on the promise of Henrico's mission by making it a reality. He would rather continue to place incompetent cronies in positions of power for the purpose of perverting the promise of potential within our children.

As Martin said, "why we can't wait".....see his April 16, 1963 speech from a Birmingham jailhouse in which he answered his critics that encouraged him to give the oppressors of African- American and poor people more time to change. Martin said ,"NO!" See: http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/popular_requests/frequentdocs/birmingham.pdf
*************************************************************************************************************

See: http://henricostaffdev.org/armstrong/?p=6#comments

Principal’s Coffee 11/29

November 29, 2007 By: Armstrong Category: Uncategorized

I held my second principal’s coffee today with about 10 different parents of JRMS students, each with different concerns and comments about what is happening at Rolfe. I left this morning’s nearly 2-hour chat with parents refreshed and hopeful about our work at Rolfe. As I expressed to parents this morning, our community and our school should be working together toward the common goal of acting in the best interest of developing each child. The days of the assembly line mentality in schools is over; 21st century skills require that students are able to think critically, use technology, interact with each other, and communicate effectively. While we will continue to discipline students appropriately, it is important to keep in mind that care and compassion guide our actions. Thank you to the parents that attended today and to those who keep me thinking about things and how we can do them better.

Some of the major concerns that came from today’s meeting were:

Use of examview in classroom assessments and how the results are communicated to parents.

Timely contact with parents by teachers and administrators regarding issues at school.

Regular updating of HCPSlink and associated boards.

Communication of news to parents: for example, our new 8:25 start time.

I will be following up with all of these issues with faculty and administration in the next few weeks. If you were not able to attend today and still wish to provide feedback, please stay in touch. Thanks!

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*If you feel the need to email the school board after reading this, which you should,they can be reached at schoolboard@henrico.k12.va.us. The Virginia Department of Education can also be reached at Dr. Billy Cannady at Billy.Cannaday@doe.virginia.gov.

This is why we have to continue to expose their gross incompetence in relation to our children and.....

KEEP UP THE NERVE!

Ich fühle also bin ich?

wegi — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:56:43 +0000

Ich musste in den letzten Tagen mit Erschrecken etwas feststellen. Die Menschen handeln viel zu emotional. Die ganze Erkenntnis, des rationalen Denkens, welche während der Aufklärung gemacht wurde scheint plötzlich weg zu sein.

Als ich darüber Nachdachte wie das denn kam, erlange ich (wiedermal) den Schluss, dass es durch die Medien bezweckt wird. Statt uns zu rational denkenden Menschen zu erziehen, wird man von den Medien überhäuft mit Daily-Soaps, Talkshows, Beziehungsschlichtershows und dem restlichen geistigen Abfall, mit dem man diese Liste unendlich fortsetzen könnte. Selbst am Beispiel Filme: Überlegt euch mal wie oft in einem Film ein Problem entsteht, weil jemand ohne nachzudenken emotional statt rational handelt? Da in Filmen aber meist ein Happy End statt findet, sieht man so was m.M.n. unterbewusst als positiv an.

Dies kann ich aktuell mit keinen Studien oder ähnlichem belegen, da ich dazu nicht recherchiert habe, sondern dies meine eigenen Gedanken waren. Wenn das stimmen würde, würde esdie mir zu Grunde liegenden Informationen bestätigen, dass wir durch die kontrollierten Massenmedien nur dumm gemacht und dumm gehalten werden sollen, da sich bestimmte Interessenskreise keine all zu große Menge an kritisch denkenden Menschen leisten kann.

~ © Wegi

Und das bereits in nem Film von 1976....

GIVE US FREE! GIVE US FREE!

ugotnerve — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:44:00 +0000

Free Us All From Unfair and Corrupt Ed. System

New York Post, December 3, 2006

By Ryan Sager

The rich in New York City already have school choice. Parents with means can choose where they live based on the quality of the local public schools.They can choose to send their children to local private schools.

Heck, they can even send their children to any boarding school in the world, if they so choose.

And because these parents are educated consumers with lots of options, the schools that compete for their education dollars know they have to perform.

It’s called the free market, and we know it works - for cars, for clothes, for computers, for practically anything we buy or consume.

When companies have to compete, consumers win.

Yet when it comes to one of the most important products any of us will ever purchase - a child’s education - we treat parents (at least the nonrich) as prisoners instead of as consumers.

The reason? Because a corrupt education monopoly - consisting of the teachers’ unions, the principals’ unions, and public-school administrators - doesn’t want to have to compete.

They want you to go to your zoned school.

They want you to sit down, shut up, and take whatever they dole out to you.

And then they want you to thank them for it.

And they have the political muscle to make you - by thwarting proposals to give low-income parents school vouchers, by capping the number of innovative charter schools that can be started, and by refusing to grant students transfers out of failing schools (even though they have a right to such transfers under the federal No Child Left Behind law).

The result of all of this is a public-school system with wildly inconsistent results.

Sometimes a school succeeds because of a talented principal, a dedicated staff, or a critical mass of bright students and involved parents.

Then everyone fights to get into that high-performing school - clawing their way in through extralegal means if necessary.

The students left behind - well, those are your prisoners, trapped in schools with which they and their parents are simply stuck.

And because these schools have captive consumers, they never go out of business.

These failing schools will continue to thwart the education of generation after generation of New York City children - until we find a way to bring the power of the market and consumer choice down upon them.

editor@rhsager.com

Retrieved from; http://www.ryansager.com/blog/index.php/free-us-all-from-unfair-and-corrupt-ed-system/

State Officials Are Already Aware of Henrico's Bias Against the East End

ugotnerve — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:56:46 +0000

This article was in our archive, and we were encouraged to share it with you. It is a letter from Senator McEachin regarding the real FACT that the East End is suffering from the "separate and unequal" sydrome that Brown v. Board of Education made illegal over fifty years ago, but is still alive and well on the East End thanks to our school board and administrators.

As one cafeteria manager from Highland Springs High shared on Thursday night, the cafeteria in that school is a health code nightmare due to not having up to date sanitizing equipment and hot water.

HOW COULD THE BOARD EVEN CONSIDER GIVING OUR MONEY TO THE WEST END FOR THEIR "EXTRAS" WHEN OUR CHILDREN CANNOT EVEN HAVE SANITIZED DISHES, WORKING TOILETS, HOT WATER TO WASH THEIR HANDS, AND SAFE SCHOOLS?????

We found Senator McEachin's words of "poor judgment" and "insensitivity" to be appropriately stern, and communicated the growing concern that we on the East End continue to face with no effective or meaningful solutions from Mr. Morton or this school board.

We guess it's just a coincidence that school board members and Mr. Morton can demonstrate such blatant and bias "poor judgment" and keep their jobs. Educational advocates like Ms. Lucas can be falsely accused of "poor judgment" for expressing the exact same sentiments as Mr. McEachin, and be retaliated against by Mr. Morton. We wonder why he did not retaliate against Mr. McEachin? Hmmmmmm..... we all know why!

The reality is that if you REALLY care about our East End children, families, schools, communities, and educators; letters like this from government officials would NOT be necessary!

Notice how Mr. McEachin was careful to include the two newly elected school board members, Mr. Bagby and Mr. Montgomery in his correspondence. It makes us all wonder why they are not more sensitive, vocal, and responsive to the plight of the East End and its students, families, communities, and educa-tors.

Turning a "blind eye" to the injustices that this administration is perpetrating on our children, parents, and educators cannot continue gentlemen! We elected you to be OUR voices, OUR children's voices, OUR educator's voices, OUR parent's voices, and OUR communities' voices....WE CAN'T HEAR YOU! WE NEED TO HEAR YOU NOT JUST SPEAK THE MISSION OF HENRICO COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE NEED YOU TO "LIVE" IT THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS AS OUR ELECTED VOICES!

LETTER: McEachin chides schools decision

Wednesday, Dec 05, 2007 - 12:09 AM Updated: 01:07 AM

RELATED: McEachin chides schools decision

Statement from HCPS Superintendent Fred S. Morton IV

"I received a letter from Delegate and State Senator-Elect Donald McEachin and look forward to speaking to him directly. We will give him information and data that I hope alleviates any of his concerns about the Fairfield Middle School renovation project. I appreciate Delegate McEachin's support and commitment to the students and staff of Henrico County Public Schools."

Letter from McEachin to Morton follows:

A. Donald McEachin
5905 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230
804.288.3381

December 3, 2007

Dr. Fred S. Morton, IV
Superintendent of Schools
Henrico County Public Schools
Post Office Box 23120
Richmond, Virginia 23223-0420

Dear Dr. Morton:

I write today to express my dismay over the recent action taken by the Henrico County School Board last Thursday. The transfer of $134,000.00 from Fairfield Middle School to Deep Run and Tucker High Schools shows poor judgment and insensitivity on the part of the Board.

The transfer of this money to renovate the 50 year old Fairfield Middle School to Deep Run and Tucker for the purpose of designing field houses has left many across Henrico County shaking their heads in disbelief. Essentially the Board has said that athletics in the western part of the County is more important than updating academic facilities in the eastern part of the County.

When I go door to door in eastern Henrico the one consistent concern that I hear from my constituents is that the County government favors the western part of the county over the eastern portion of the County. This transfer of money only serves to confirm that belief in the minds of many.

I hope the incoming Board will reverse this very poor decision and I would further hope that you, as the Superintendent of our schools here in Henrico, would encourage the new Board to reinstate the funding for the eastern area schools and explain to them both the dismay among the citizens and the importance of academic facilities. Please know also I intend to work with all the concerned residents to try and remedy this egregious situation.

On Friday I will, of course, attend the annual legislative breakfast that the Board sponsors for the Henrico delegation to the General Assembly. I must tell you however, that at this juncture I doubt if a legislative agenda prepared by a Board of such poor judgment and insensitivity will fair well in the upcoming session.

I look forward to hearing from you on any positive developments on this very discouraging situation.

Respectfully,
A. Donald McEachin

cc: Mr. Lamont Bagby
Mr. John Montgomery

*******************************************************************

Parents and Educators Stand Up to the Bullies In Henrico County's Public Schools!

ugotnerve — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:30:09 +0000

WE TOOK AND STAND! WE TOOK A STAND! For nearly an hour parents and educators spoke out at last night's school board meeting regarding the horrific safety conditions at John Rolfe Middle School and the unwillingness of the administration to address it. Parents spoke of how their children have been negatively impacted emotionally, mentally, and physically as a direct result of the unsafe environment. One parent described the atmosphere at Rolfe as "thuggish" and "street-like" where students "curse like they are grown" and "dress like gangsters", which directly impacts their attitudes and the atmosphere. She also stated that the adults in the school do nothing when they see this because they will not be supported by administrators or they will be targeted by administrators. There were repeated requests for the school board to intervene and make unannounced visits where the administrators do not have time to get things in order. The question that was consistently asked to the board was, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT ROLFE, THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH?" Mrs. Lucas made her fifth appearance before the school board and confronted the injustice, discriminatory, and retaliatory actions of Mr. Armstrong, Rolfe's principal, and Mr. Morton, Henrico's superintendent, in recommending her for non-renewal and forcefully reassigning her to another school due to her relentless advocacy on behalf of our children and educators at Rolfe. Many parents spoke out regarding the injustice of the action taken against her as well. Several media representatives were present at the meeting and both, parents and educators had the opportunity to be heard by both the board and the media. MR. MORTON, YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED! MR. ARMSTRONG YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED! HENRICO COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED! NOW, GO DO THE RIGHT THING:

TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO CLEAN JOHN ROLFE MIDDLE SCHOOL UP FOR OUR CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS (EVEN IF IT MEANS REMOVING MR. ARMSTRONG, WE ALL KNOW THAT MRS. ARCHER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE PRINCIPAL OF JOHN ROLFE....PARENTS KNOW IT AND TEACHERS KNOW IT!)
RETURN MRS. LUCAS BACK TO ROLFE AND WITHDRAW THE RETALIATORY NON-RENEWAL RECOMMENDATION (IF THIS IS THE RESPONSE FROM PARENTS AND THE MEDIA JUST BASED ON YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, MR. MORTON AND MR. ARMSTRONG, JUST THINK OF WHAT TYPE OF VERBAL BEATING YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE IF HER CONTRACT IS NON-RENEWED UNJUSTLY..IT AIN'T GONE BE PRETTY AT APRIL'S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

WE WARNED YOU, HENRICO!, WE WARNED YOU! PARENTS ARE TIRED! EDUCATORS ARE TIRED! THE COMMUNITY IS TIRED! IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, OR DO WE NEED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO ORGANIZE IN ORDER TO HAVE YOU REPLACED IF YOU DO NOT REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES?!THE BALL IS IN THE BOARD'S COURT.....FOR NOW!