In regards to the the description of the video, Neil Boortz is NOT right wing. He is a libertarian. I am writing this NOT as defense of libertarianism, private schooling, or the right. Rather, my criticism here is to point out two unaddressed complaints I have about the description:

1. By labeling Neil “right wing”, the author has not done adequate homework on the target. If you visit his website, he even claims to be a libertarian. He is for the elimination of the war on drugs, pro-gay rights(equal rights, not special rights), pro-seperation of church and state, pro-choice, and pro-free speech( he’s against laws banning flag burning).

2. This is a more general complaint. I cannot stand the idea of black and white morality. This does not mean that I am a relativist or a subjectivist, but it seems that a noticable amount of people of a modern, american, liberal persuasion claim to be more open minded(The only literal meaning I can discern from that phrase seems to be that other ideas should at least be taken to task,using your natural reasoning skills, to see if they cut the mustard). But no, if one issue happens not to fall in line with the generally accepted progressive belief, then I guess it’s right wing or worse, as the blogger link that lead me here “facist”. This is the same cheap shot that right wingers love to use on liberals. It’s like slinging the word “commie” if you endorse a govt. sponsored social program or calling someone unamerican or treasonist if they don’t think exactly like GWB does, ’cause, in the end, he’s looking out for you.

Even though there is some truth in it, Blue State vs. Red State has got to go. There are people who don’t want to be pigeon-holed. Not only are there people who hold unconventional, but still democratic views, there are people who are undecided.

By the way, what does “progressive” mean anyway? What does “conservative” mean anyway? What are you you trying to progress towards? What are they trying to conserve?

Would not any rational person see what is wrong with society and try to progress beyond it?

Would not any rational person look at society, see the moral aspects and try to conserve them?

There is NO SUCH THING as a “teacher who can’t be fired.” If the administrators weren’t too lazy to do their jobs, then they would be able to fire any teacher found to be lacking. I teach in a large high school, and I know teachers who NEVER teach. But nobody in administration wants to be bothered with headaches of first trying to correct the problem, then following procedures to get rid of the offending teacher. If we had no tenure, we’d be at the mercy of vindictive administrators and school directors. Fuck that!

Comment by valiant venus — February 20, 2007 @ 7:56 pm

So we can trust school boards, public entities, corporations, etc., to always treat employees fairly? NOT!

It’s going to take a hard, ruthless dictator at this point to force these maggots to back off at gunpoint if we’re going to save this nation. We’ve let freedom go too far. Freedom without honor and discipline is nothing more than anarchy.
I have no respect for any Liberal or anyone that supports them. It’s like wearing a huge sign on their back that says “IDIOT!”..
Personally I’d re-institute the Draft, imprison all Liberals and shoot all our corrupt leaders for High Treason as a lesson to the rest of these lowlifes.
Civil war is coming and I can’t wait…

Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 10:59 am”

Paul, the word is BEARS — not bares, which is like one taking their clothes off to expose their body or, in your case, revealing that yet another idiot thinks they can home school their child. Learn the meaning of words, please, for your child’s sake.

1. To maintain public elementary and secondary schools and such other
educational activities as in its judgment will best serve the interests of the Town of Branford;

2. To give the children of Branford as nearly equal advantage as may be practicable;

3. To decide the need for school facilities;

4. To determine the care, maintenance and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used for school purposes;

5 To determine the number, age and qualifications of the pupils to be admitted into each school;

6. To employ, assign and transfer certified personnel; to suspend or
dismiss the teachers of the schools;

7 To designate the schools which shall be attended by the various children within the town;

8. To make such provisions as will enable each child of school age residing in the town to attend school for the period required by law and provide for the transportation of children wherever it is reasonable and desirable;

10. To prescribe rules for the management, studies, classification and discipline for the public schools;

11. To decide the textbooks to be used; to make rules for the arrangement, use and safekeeping of the school libraries and to approve the books selected therefore;

12. To approve plans for school buildings; to prepare and submit budgets and, in its sole discretion, expend monies appropriated by the town for the maintenance of the schools,

13. To make such transfers of funds within the appropriate budget as it shall deem desirable.

I think you get my point, all of the rights controling “how children are educated” are and have alway been controled by the various Boards of Education throughout our commnities and Country. So do not blame teachers and Unions for the state of Education today. The elected people have the blame not Unions who only have control over the teachers wages, hours and working conditions as defined by law. Stop making the only vehicle available to workers which provides some limted say regarding working conditions, Labor Unions.

MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
OF THE 172 CONTRACTS ON FILE 12 TOWNS DO NOT HAVE CLAUSES IN
THEIR CONTRACTS WHICH ARE LISTED BELOW:
(AS OF 6/20/06)
EAST HAVEN FARMINGTON FRANKLIN
HEBRON NORTH BRANFORD REGION #4
SIMSBURY SOUTHINGTON THOMASTON
VERNON WESTBROOK WILTON

Management rights example

BRANFORD – 2006-09
Article II – Responsibility
A. It is recognized that the Board has and will continue to retain, whether exercised or not, the sole and unquestioned right, responsibility and prerogative to direct the operation of the public schools in the Town of Branford in all its aspects, including but not limited to the following: to maintain public elementary and secondary schools and such other
educational activities as in its judgment will best serve the interests of the Town of Branford; to give the children of Branford as nearly equal advantage as may be practicable; to decide the need for school facilities; to determine the care, maintenance and operation of buildings, lands, apparatus and other property used for school purposes; to determine the number, age and qualifications of the pupils to be admitted into each school; to employ, assign and transfer certified personnel; to suspend or
dismiss the teachers of the schools; to designate the schools which shall be attended by the various children within the town; to make such provisions as will enable each child of school age residing in the town to attend school for the period required by law and provide for the transportation of children wherever it is reasonable and desirable; to
prescribe rules for the management, studies, classification and discipline for the public schools; to decide the textbooks to be used; to make rules for the arrangement, use and safekeeping of the school libraries and to approve the books selected therefore; to approve plans for school buildings; to prepare and submit budgets and, in its sole discretion, expend monies appropriated by the town for the maintenance of the schools, and to make such transfers of funds within the appropriate budget as it shall deem desirable. These rights, responsibilities and prerogatives are not subject to delegation in a manner inconsistent with or in violation of any of the specific terms and provisions of this Agreement. No action taken by the Board with respect to such rights, responsibilities and prerogatives, other than as there are specific provisions herein elsewhere contained, shall be subject to the grievance provisions of this Agreement.

(”You’re dismssed” sounds too much like the limousine liberal letting the staff go for the night.)

What pisses me off, is not being able to terminate the employment of a non productive employee.

Really? You have no procedure in place to dismiss an employee? Why is that? Does management at your company not have a bargaining team? You’re completely helpless in this situation?