Fw: Levy Comments

["Linda Pall" <lpall@moscow.com>]

Dear Visionaries,

At Shahab's request, I pass this on.

All the best,
Linda


----- Original Message -----
From: Shahab Mesbah <meteor2@moscow.com>
To: Linda Pall <lpall@moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 4:21 PM
Subject: RE: Levy Comments


> My dearest friend Linda,
>
> I did not intend my departure to be a magnet for compliments but am
> overwhelmed with kindness from several of the friends who have written to
> me. I am preparing a response for all, which will take me sometime to
> compose. I will likely send it as a thanksgiving message. I would be
> grateful if you would convey this message to the friends at V2020 since I
am
> no longer a part of the forum.
>
> I also wanted the friends know that we have planned a demonstration in the
> cities of Iran on Thursday 7pm local time after the Ireland-Iran world cup
> qualifying soccer game. This demonstration is against the tyrannical
regime
> in Iran and for freedom and democratization of Iran. This is the
> continuation of the demonstrations that began in Iran after the events of
> 911 in NY and DC expressing solidarity with the American people. It is our
> hope to free our nation of the fundamentalist tyrannical leaches who have
> killed our young and oppressed our people. We ask our American friends to
> pray for justice in Iran and express solidarity with their brothers in
that
> far away land. For we may differ in race and geography but we are of the
> same spirit.
>
> "Your brother in arms"
> Shahab...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Linda Pall [mailto:lpall@moscow.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 8:01 AM
> To: Shahab Mesbah; vision2020@moscow.com
> Subject: Re: Levy Comments
>
> Dear Shahab, My Brother in Arms:
>
> Stay with us, Shahab... your voice is valued, if not always agreed with. I
> should certainly know about that!
>
> All the best,
> Linda Pall
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Shahab Mesbah <meteor2@moscow.com>
> To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 8:30 PM
> Subject: RE: Levy Comments
>
>
> > Ok... I will bite!
> >
> > I have been a great supporter of the schools and am generally happy with
> > Lena Whitmore school where my children attend school. I am, however,
> puzzled
> > as to the concrete evidence you seek. The fact that our schools are
barely
> > above average in a nation that ranks poorly among countries with a
> fraction
> > of its resources is not enough? Ok... I will give you another. How about
> the
> > fact that I have to spend 2-3 hours a day supplementing my son's
education
> > so he actually is challenged? How about the fact that the majority of
> > students graduating from high schools are not ready for college. How
about
> > the fact that most of my students at U of I complain about my junior
level
> > class being too hard when it is sadly watered down. How about the fact
> that
> > we do not teach our children the skill of thinking. How about the fact
> that
> > we spend a lot more money on education that those other countries that
> beat
> > us but get much less for it. Do we not see that the ignorant children
make
> > for ignorant adults? Why do you think it is that foreign students breeze
> > through American schools? Do we think that foreigners are just smarter?
> Are
> > there superior brain genes abroad?
> >
> > I have found the earlier 1-5th grade classes move at a reasonable pace
but
> > they did not progressively increase the level of difficulty. My son is
now
> > having problems in 6th grade not due to its difficulty. No... in fact I
> have
> > started him on far more challenging projects at home and he is
excelling.
> > His problem is that the substance is not there. At this age, there is a
> huge
> > need for critical thinking and reasoning skills yet they are still
working
> > on generating index cards out of stories. They should be working on
> > research, report writing, and presenting skills but they have to wait
> until
> > high school for that... and even then a weak treatment. At some point we
> > have to realize that we are not challenging our kids. They are getting
> > bored.
> >
> > I am not suggesting that the English system is appropriate. I went to
> school
> > in such atmosphere... I did not like it! However, we cannot continue to
> > ignore discipline. We cannot continue to allow our children to be
victims
> of
> > mediocrity. We are not preparing our students for hard work. We think we
> are
> > doing them a favor but in reality, we are committing a great injustice.
> They
> > will have to compete in this increasingly global world and believe me
> > friends... even our college graduates do not come close to those of the
> > other countries. It is sad really, we are loosing the intellectual
> advantage
> > we have due to laziness and apathy.
> >
> > Having said that I have to admit that I have known many dedicated
> educators
> > at my children's school. I have mentioned before how fond of this school
> and
> > its principle I am. This may seem like a contradiction but it is not.
The
> > problem is not our school system alone. The problem is with us as a
whole.
> > As long as we go on accepting mediocrity and being mediocre ourselves,
we
> > will be blessed with mediocre children! We, as a nation, are bringing up
a
> > bunch of mediocre, lazy, ignorant, unmotivated children. We are too busy
> to
> > care about our kids. We are quick to blame the schools and the system
for
> > our own lack of parental fortitude. We treat our schools as a glorified
> > babysitter and are amazed when the system fails. The fact is that our
> > children are a reflection of us. If we are lazy unintelligent couch
> potatoes
> > who sit in front of the TV for 4 hours a day we will be unlikely to have
> an
> > intelligent, motivated, productive offspring.
> >
> > My purpose here is not to blame the schools, the parents, or the
society.
> My
> > purpose is to blame them all! Stop wasting money in the schools. Start
> > challenging the kids. Get your face out of the damned TV and spend some
> time
> > with your children. It all depends on your priorities. If you are self
> > centered enough to not have time for your kids then do not expect them
to
> > turn out any different that you.
> >
> > I am sorry if this letter is harsh to everyone. I am sure I will be
> > unpopular for this one but I guess that is not a big change. I seem to
> enjoy
> > a strong level of contempt from most of the members of this forum. But
> quite
> > frankly... I do not give a damn! When it comes to kids, I am all on
their
> > side! I am sick and tired of lack of vision and concern about our
children
> > in this country. I am tired of the children suffering for our stupidity.
I
> > am tired of people blaming others for their lack of motivation and
> > dedication. I am tired of stupid power games in the governing bodies of
> this
> > country, including the school board, which further erode the resources
> > available to our children. I am sick of the parents who have their heads
> so
> > firmly planted where it was not intended to be and thus utterly failing
to
> > accomplish their duty. Until that adult population of this country pull
> > their head out of their (you know what) we will not change the education
> in
> > this country... no matter how much money you throw at it.
> >
> > "Your brother in arms"
> > Shahab...
> > By the way, since I have been a source of annoyance to most of you in
this
> > forum and also since I have started working with my son in the
afternoons
> > after school I will be signing off this forum. I am sure there will be a
> > great rejoicing in the land so I feel I am achieving two goods with one
> act.
> > For those who have shown me kindness, I appreciate it. For those who
> taught
> > me things, thank you. I feel that it is more important for me to spend
> time
> > with my children than voice my un-welcomed and unpopular mind.
> >
> > I wish you all well and hope that Truth finds you,
> >
> > Shahab...
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: John Davis [mailto:jcdavis@uidaho.edu]
> > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 7:01 PM
> > To: vision2020@moscow.com
> > Subject: Levy Comments
> >
> > I too am concerned with comments by French in the MDN and Danahy on the
> > vision listserve, and am disturbed for several reasons.
> >
> > First, French calls for 'efficient' schools, based I suppose on some
sort
> > of efficient factory-production model.  Well, we just can't do that very
> > easily with people; especially given the mandate of American public
> > education: a comprehensive successful educational experience for all
> > students in a safe, non-threatening environment.  It is no small feat to
> > accomplish this task, given the multitude of variables our professional
> > educators manage (ranging from learning styles and abilities to concerns
> > over issues which socially impact their students).  While I agree that
> > there are some fiscal parameters that our district can and will examine
> > from a cost-effective standpoint (technology, transportation, energy
> > consumption, etc.) AND knowing that the majority of funds are committed
to
> > salaries I, and I am sure many others, are quite content with paying an
> > additional tax of $.50 to $1.00 per day to ensure that we retain small
> > class sizes and the supportive, nurturing environment that is enabled by
> > such schools.  Keep students in schools within their respective
> > neighborhoods. . . and if we have some variation between schools,
> > departments, and grade levels regarding class size, so be it.
> >
> > Second, Danahy claims that our schools are not effective. . . and even
> > "stoops so low" (to use his words) to engage in accusations against a
very
> > professional group of individuals--yes, our community teachers.  You
state
> > strong opinions, but they appear to be just that--baseless opinions, not
> > positions supported by evidence.  Speaking of evidence, where is
> > yours?  Even a shred?  Have you interviewed and categorized all the
> parents
> > and children who attend schools other than MSD?  Do you examine test
> > scores, both standardized and pencil-and-paper?  Are you familiar with
the
> > post-graduate success rate of our students in business, industry,
> > vocational programs or college?  Are you at all familiar with what our
> > children can do?  Are you even remotely aware of the quality environment
> > our children have in this lovely, provincial community?  I suspect not.
I
> > am not even going to portray my children's experiences, although,
suffice
> > to say that it is far more positive than your account. . . AND my
children
> > had experience with MSD and a local private school.  It seems as though
> you
> > harbor some hostility regarding the teachers. . . yes, there is an
> apparent
> > long-standing 'issue' between the MSD and trustees. . . but, it is time
to
> > grow up.  I expect my current, future, and past trustees to be
> professional
> > in every sense of the word.  Resentment of the past can only lead to
> > continued conflict in the future.
> >
> > I am proud of all of our community schools. . . ALL of them.  They are
> > staffed by well-educated, well-meaning, bright, articulate professionals
> > who work hard to help us help our children be successful in any and all
> > endeavors they choose.  Do they make mistakes?  Of course.  Do
> > I?  You?  Yes, we all do.  However, it is our responsibility to learn
from
> > our mistakes and move forward.
> >
> > John Davis
> >
>