Mr. Barnes commentary is spot on regarding about the fact that more Americans are worried about how crazy Mel Gibson is, or who the new American Idol judges are going to be rather than reading and learning about what is going on in their government.
Unfortunately this isn't a new problem. People didn't have the facts when Bush 43 was in office. Being informed about what is happening in your government isn't a partisan issue. Stop making it one. It always seems when one group is in office the other is shouting "wake-up" to see what is happening. It shouldn't matter. We should all be knowledgeable about what our government is doing.
Regardless of who is in office we should know what is going on in our nation and in our world.
I'd just like to take a step back and try to give a different perspective on this whole "equal chance" and transferring school districts issue.
I can understand the frustration when we see school board officials sending their children outside of the district where they live. But it's not just "a lawyer thing" and in my opinion, it's very close-minded to think so. When my (middle class) family re-located to the area my mother made the conscious decision that I would be better suited at Union Pines, although my district would have put me at Pinecrest. So they requested for a district transfer and I was approved. My parents understood my learning style and believed that I would flourish at UP vs. PC. And they were quite right. I went to Pinecrest on a few occasions and it's size overwhelmed and atmosphere was overwhelming to me.
I am not trying to attack PC, I just know that for me it wasn't the right fit. And I was able to accomplish so much at UP and I wouldn't trade my time there.
That being said, equality in MC schools clearly isn't about one being better than the other. With only North Moore meeting AYP, it would seem to me that both UP and PC are falling short.
If we want to talk about giving students "equal opportunities" then we need to focus on reviewing resources that are distributed to the schools to ensure that equality. In my opinion that starts with the administration of each of the high schools, we need to put people in charge of the schools that actually care about the students, not just about numbers, funding and what makes them look good.
Equality doesn't come from district transfers, equality comes from making the intentional efforts to make our schools better for our students.
The problem with Russo, is that his resume shines. On paper, he looks like an incredible candidate and he is able to polish those ugly parts where he left his position, with his "qualifications." He left his position in GA, to come to MC under some shady conditions (as we know now). And his track record of that continues. Unfortunately for him, and for a period of time Moore County, his ethical standards do not shine quite as bright.
He is quite the snake-oil salesman, making big promises he can't keep and he continues to show is inability to be a functional leader of a county-wide school system.
Thankfully we are rid of him, and hopefully the time where he pulls the wool over the eyes of school boards across the country for the last time is fast approaching.
While I find this entertaining, it would certainly be nice to actually be able to comment on the article at hand and read various points and perspectives instead of constantly seeing T2D and DR going back and forth about how much they are either right or wrong. I completely respect both T2D and DR's right to free speech, but it would be nice if you two would find a chat room or a boxing ring to duke it out instead of here.
I think the problem with this article isn't that it addresses something that is a non-issue, but rather only begins to show the tip of the iceberg of what is so infuriating about the current position of the GOP.
The use of nazi propaganda in correlation with President Obama is something that is in constant use by the Republicans and tea party activists. They use these images for shock value and then when their choices are called in to question their answer is always "We are just trying to say that Obama is a socialist." Oh really, is that what you were trying to do? I couldn't tell from the billboard image with Obama sandwiched between Hitler and Lenin. Thanks for clarifying.
But this is just one of the many ways that Republican hypocrisy is running rampant. When it was President Bush's image with Hitler mustache it was "outrageous" and "completely inappropriate." But when it's Obama, they are just trying to make a point.
It's just like the bank bailouts. When it was Bush pushing this policy, republicans supported it. But when Obama came in to office and opted to continue the recovery plan that Bush began, you began to hear the cries of "SOCIALIST" from the republicans.
There is little that can be considered pretty about politics. The process of villianizing one's political opponent occurs early on in the political playbook. To me that's not the issue. The issue, and I believe Mr. Rhoades would agree, is not about the sensationalism behind trying to compare the President (Bush Jr. or Obama) to Hitler, but rather hypocrisy.
How do the republicans (and in many respects the democrats are guilty of this as well) expect us to put the country back in their hand when they seem to living in a land of negativity and hypocrisy. I would be much ore interested in knowing how the republicans (heck, even the tea party) plan to help our nation, instead of using Photoshop to create negative imagery "to make a point".
We need to stop the name calling and the creation of false comparisons and get work done to better our country.
I am so proud of these young people. They did an amazing job representing, our county and our state. They truly are "the pride of the Sandhills" and I am absolutely thrilled for them to be getting the recognition they deserve! Congratulations guys, you've earned it!!!
mcg2010 2 years, 9 months ago
It's Our Own Fault
Mr. Barnes commentary is spot on regarding about the fact that more Americans are worried about how crazy Mel Gibson is, or who the new American Idol judges are going to be rather than reading and learning about what is going on in their government. Unfortunately this isn't a new problem. People didn't have the facts when Bush 43 was in office. Being informed about what is happening in your government isn't a partisan issue. Stop making it one. It always seems when one group is in office the other is shouting "wake-up" to see what is happening. It shouldn't matter. We should all be knowledgeable about what our government is doing. Regardless of who is in office we should know what is going on in our nation and in our world.
mcg2010 2 years, 10 months ago
Academy of Moore Reaches AYP Goal
I'd just like to take a step back and try to give a different perspective on this whole "equal chance" and transferring school districts issue. I can understand the frustration when we see school board officials sending their children outside of the district where they live. But it's not just "a lawyer thing" and in my opinion, it's very close-minded to think so. When my (middle class) family re-located to the area my mother made the conscious decision that I would be better suited at Union Pines, although my district would have put me at Pinecrest. So they requested for a district transfer and I was approved. My parents understood my learning style and believed that I would flourish at UP vs. PC. And they were quite right. I went to Pinecrest on a few occasions and it's size overwhelmed and atmosphere was overwhelming to me. I am not trying to attack PC, I just know that for me it wasn't the right fit. And I was able to accomplish so much at UP and I wouldn't trade my time there. That being said, equality in MC schools clearly isn't about one being better than the other. With only North Moore meeting AYP, it would seem to me that both UP and PC are falling short. If we want to talk about giving students "equal opportunities" then we need to focus on reviewing resources that are distributed to the schools to ensure that equality. In my opinion that starts with the administration of each of the high schools, we need to put people in charge of the schools that actually care about the students, not just about numbers, funding and what makes them look good. Equality doesn't come from district transfers, equality comes from making the intentional efforts to make our schools better for our students.
mcg2010 2 years, 10 months ago
Russo in Legal Battle With Virginia School System
The problem with Russo, is that his resume shines. On paper, he looks like an incredible candidate and he is able to polish those ugly parts where he left his position, with his "qualifications." He left his position in GA, to come to MC under some shady conditions (as we know now). And his track record of that continues. Unfortunately for him, and for a period of time Moore County, his ethical standards do not shine quite as bright. He is quite the snake-oil salesman, making big promises he can't keep and he continues to show is inability to be a functional leader of a county-wide school system. Thankfully we are rid of him, and hopefully the time where he pulls the wool over the eyes of school boards across the country for the last time is fast approaching.
mcg2010 2 years, 10 months ago
He's a Citizen By Birth
A year ago to the day. America's most trusted man in news covered this story.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-22-2009/the-born-identity
To the right crazies, I say get informed. To the lefties, I say enjoy.
mcg2010 2 years, 10 months ago
Whose Side Is Obama On, Anyway?
While I find this entertaining, it would certainly be nice to actually be able to comment on the article at hand and read various points and perspectives instead of constantly seeing T2D and DR going back and forth about how much they are either right or wrong. I completely respect both T2D and DR's right to free speech, but it would be nice if you two would find a chat room or a boxing ring to duke it out instead of here.
mcg2010 2 years, 10 months ago
It's OK Now to Call the President Hitler
I think the problem with this article isn't that it addresses something that is a non-issue, but rather only begins to show the tip of the iceberg of what is so infuriating about the current position of the GOP. The use of nazi propaganda in correlation with President Obama is something that is in constant use by the Republicans and tea party activists. They use these images for shock value and then when their choices are called in to question their answer is always "We are just trying to say that Obama is a socialist." Oh really, is that what you were trying to do? I couldn't tell from the billboard image with Obama sandwiched between Hitler and Lenin. Thanks for clarifying. But this is just one of the many ways that Republican hypocrisy is running rampant. When it was President Bush's image with Hitler mustache it was "outrageous" and "completely inappropriate." But when it's Obama, they are just trying to make a point. It's just like the bank bailouts. When it was Bush pushing this policy, republicans supported it. But when Obama came in to office and opted to continue the recovery plan that Bush began, you began to hear the cries of "SOCIALIST" from the republicans. There is little that can be considered pretty about politics. The process of villianizing one's political opponent occurs early on in the political playbook. To me that's not the issue. The issue, and I believe Mr. Rhoades would agree, is not about the sensationalism behind trying to compare the President (Bush Jr. or Obama) to Hitler, but rather hypocrisy. How do the republicans (and in many respects the democrats are guilty of this as well) expect us to put the country back in their hand when they seem to living in a land of negativity and hypocrisy. I would be much ore interested in knowing how the republicans (heck, even the tea party) plan to help our nation, instead of using Photoshop to create negative imagery "to make a point". We need to stop the name calling and the creation of false comparisons and get work done to better our country.
mcg2010 2 years, 10 months ago
Vikings Participate in D.C. Parade
I am so proud of these young people. They did an amazing job representing, our county and our state. They truly are "the pride of the Sandhills" and I am absolutely thrilled for them to be getting the recognition they deserve! Congratulations guys, you've earned it!!!