Teacher Evaluation & Student Responsibility

Sen. Gaetz says teacher eval system doesn't make sense | The Florida Current
State Senator Gaetz (R Florida) is correct in his assertion that "teacher" evaluation makes little or no sense. When will America stop scapegoating the classroom professionals. When will she end the use of the term "teacher" to identify those professionals who struggle with getting students to "LEARN"? Some 10-12 years into my classroom experience I had an epiphany. I could not "teach" my students. I realized that my responsibility was to be thoroughly knowledgeable in my subject area and to present course content in a manner that addressed the diverse "learning" styles of my students in as clear a manner as was possible. After that, what happened with students was out of my control. That is, a student will choose to either receive the information provided, process it, and do what is necessary for him/her to "LEARN" on the other hand, he/she, for whatever reason, may choose not to assimilate/process information. In the former instance, he/she will "pass" the course; in the later, he/she will fail. If this is true, is the "teacher" responsible for the "choices" students make? Does America not saddle the "teacher" with the responsibility for student behavior over which he/she has no control? It is pass time that American parents stop behaving as though they have no skin in the game. It is also time that children, beginning with pre-K, be informed that they are responsible for their education/learning; that will go a long way toward improving "education" in America. Wake up America, get on board.

The NRA, David Keene and the AR-15 Bushmaster

Folks, please use your heads; pay attention to the arguments made by the president (David Keene) of the NRA and his supporters. They couch their arguments, regardless, as an attack on the 2nd Amendment. They continue to assert that pro-gun reformers want to take their "assault rifles." Nothing is further from the truth, folks, the horse is out of the barn. Keene and his minions argue that the classification of weapons as "assault" is confused; Keene argues that it is a matter of appearance. "The appearance of the M 15/AR 15 are one in the same weapon with the exception that the that the M-16 has a selector switch that allows for automatic/semi-automatic methods of fire, however; remove the selector switch, apply a well-polished wooden stock and fore grips makes this weapon acceptable, but, Keene argues, replace the stock and fore grips with something 'black' and policymakers take issue. Folks, let us understand one thing; the arguments made by the NRA and its supporters are nothing more than window dressing that covers and deflects from the realities associated with the AR-15 (Bush Master). The rifle, (as M-16) was developed during the Viet Nam conflict. It was quite a difference from the 9.3 pound,
7.62 millimeter (close to 30 caliber) weapon that was extremely heavy and made being armed with one in the thick underbrush of the South Vietnamese jungles next to dysfunctional. The M-16, (.223 caliber) 5-6 pounds when loaded with a 20 round quick change magazine was ideal combat in Viet Nam. The small caliber and reduced killing power of the smaller round was overcome by a very large shell casing that, when fired, produced an extremely high velocity projectile. And here is the important fact that the NRA and its supporters fail to mention. The M-16 .223 caliber weapon was designed for the express purpose of killing and/or severely disabling the enemy. Unfortunately, the rounds fired by this weapon were so light (in weight) that when fired in dense underbrush were deflected by the limbs and branches on the way to the target. This was overcome by the automatic function that simply blanketed an area with projectiles which, enough sprayed in the direction of the target would yield the desired result. THE RESULT was horrific. The light projectile when entering the body at such high velocity and light weight produced the most horrible wounds that one can imagine. One was luck if the round entered the body and passed through without hitting a bone. Hitting a bone would cause the round to deflect and take a different direction IN THE BODY. It was horrible; I once saw a North Vietnamese soldier who had been hit in the left side of his neck. With all of the bones in the neck, the round was deflected upward and exited the right side of what was once his head and face. The short of it? The AR-15 Bushmaster is the semi-automatic version of the military's M-16 and is designed for one thing, to kill a human being. I have hunted and cannot, to this day, figure out what one would be hunting. The caliber is too small for anything larger than a rabbit, a coyote, maybe. Unless one is expert at getting off many rounds semi-automatically, into the same place, the value of this weapon as a hunting rifle is questionable. Hit a so-called "varmit" results in a blob of less than disquishable
flesh. For many of you, this is probably the first, and only, time you will be exposed to the realities associated with the AR-15 Bushmaster. Finally, it's popularity has to do with its very light weight; a child can carry and fire it. The easy (quick) trigger pull and rate of fire almost guarantees a hit on target; yea. The purpose of this weapon is to kill human beings upon contact. Hunting, and target shooting? Maybe, target shooting to perfect the likelihood of shooting another human being. Please do not be fooled by the specious assertions and fact less claims posited by the NRA and its more extreme supporters.   Finally; I think it important that you all know that I am, and have been a member of the NRA for some time, that, however, does not commit me to blind allegiance to their doctrine.