Comments on Out in Left Field: This is a long one - so grab a cup of coffee or a ...

President John McCain

2008-05-25T21:18:00.000-04:00

President John McCain

Ok, people, not everyone in Colorado Springs is a ...

2008-05-23T23:46:00.000-04:00

Ok, people, not everyone in Colorado Springs is a right-wing religious lunatic republican. I know 3. Including myself. So back off!

Chase, please, no more singing.

2008-05-23T12:56:00.000-04:00

Chase, please, no more singing.

Kate, I think Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman sai...

2008-05-23T09:36:00.000-04:00

Kate, I think Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman said it best in the (dare I say "classic") film "Ishtar," in their song, "Telling the Truth" ...

You hum these all day. And remember what I told you about The Springs :-)

"Telling the truth can be dangerous business.

"Honest and popular don't go hand in hand.

"If you admit that you can play the accordion,

"No one'll hire you in a rock 'n' roll band.

"But we can siiinnnngggggg . . . our hearts out (all night)

"And if we're lucky, then no neighbors complain.

"Nobody knows where the beginning part starts out (sing all right)

"But being human we can live with the pain.

"Because life is the way we audition for God;

"Let us pray that we all get the job.

"Cryin' out loud gets you pointed and laughed at

"Be like a baby. Only babies should cry. . .

"Somebody tell me how that rumor got started.

"Some things I know that only God knows why.

"But we can siiinnnngggggg . . . our hearts out (all night)

"And if we're lucky, then no neighbors complain.

"No body knows where the beginning part starts out (sing all right)

"But being human we can live with the pain

send the letter - then for the hell of it - sue th...

2008-05-23T06:52:00.000-04:00

send the letter - then for the hell of it - sue the bastards!

You know, given the work environment and given the...

2008-05-22T23:55:00.000-04:00

You know, given the work environment and given the fact that this paper trail mysteriously starts only at your review, it might behoove you to talk to a lawyer. Given the area of the country you live in, perhaps a lawyer for the ACLU with good media contacts nationwide.

Given the fact that good teachers are so hard to find (and actually keep in teaching) it is horrifying that this is happening to you. Given that it's Colorado Springs, which is pretty much a lost cause, I don't know if tilting at legal windmills is something you're up for, but sometimes a stink must be made.

I have a favorite saying, as far as I know it's mi...

2008-05-22T22:04:00.000-04:00

I have a favorite saying, as far as I know it's mine, "When telling the truth, do so quietly."

Like Dumbledore said of Percy Wesely towards his parents, "It's a lot easier to forgive someone for being wrong, than for being right."

Kate, I didn't get rehired at my last job because I stuck up for a bunch of students that were being railroaded out of the school. They weren't perfect kids, but they deserved due-process. They didn't get it, and I went into the administration and stuck up for the kids, and told the admin it wasn't right.

Someone told a parent that the kids were being railroaded, Hand to God, it wasn't me that told the parent, but the admin, just knew it was. I said, no, I told you guys, I never mentioned that to another soul. They didn't believe me. Losing that job was better than supporting what was not right.

You did good! You'll always know that and there are a lot people out there that will never forgive you because they know you were right!

Keep trudging on, Kate. It is shocking to me that ...

2008-05-22T20:19:00.000-04:00

Keep trudging on, Kate. It is shocking to me that none of the other teachers supported you in pointing out obviously inappropriate behavior. Odd, that teachers respect the "rights" of children to express themselves in oppressive or mean ways, or to slack off their responsibilities, but abhor you, an adult who has earned the right to express herself. Seems like they got the whole thing ass-backwards.