Ot: Soap Box Rant

[Aussie D25]

I have come to my own conclusion that greedy [Censored] holes are cashing in on enthusiasts that are trying to restore, rod, or customise classic cars.

I say this as everywhere I look now some guy is offloading his un-salvageable too far gone pile of junk as a "rat rod builders dream"

"dream" ... come on it's a rolling chassis with a dilapidated nail head a front grill and a doorless shell that has rust so bad you could poke your finger through.

So why the rant you ask ?

Well as it goes there was a P15 posted on eBay.com.au recently that was basicaly shot but it had an in tact fender that I could use on the dodge... pluss a few spares for glass and what not ... but maily interested in this one fender. the guy was palming this car off as a "rat rod builders dream" for a princely sum of $2000 buy it now no option for bidding. I thought that this guy had to be nuts I wouldn't have even paid $500 for it but I messaged the guy and informed that I had a similar model and that if the car didn't sell I would be interested in buying some parts off it.

I got a message back informing that I could have all the parts I want for a reduced price.

I messaged back and asked how much for the fender ?

He wrote back and said "$2000"

My final message......... JERK!

This is what is wrong with society, I was raised in the country and everyone would fall all over themselves to lend a hand but after moving to the coast I see that people are selfish and greedy especially if they have something that you want and they know that they can make money off you.

While I'm on my high horse ..... where has the service gone in our service stations (gas stations)

I broke down due to flat battery in my 300ZX TT Fairlay only to have 5 other people watch me struggle to push my 1.6 ton paperweight into a parking spot. they just sat there and stared at me while they filled their cars. The guy at the counter inside said I saw you pushing your car... did it break down?... well we have laws against killing people that ask dumb questions where I come from so I just smiled politely and flipped him off.

Bringing it home now....

I stopped in the middle of traffic in the city about a month ago to help an old lady who had odiously blown a tyre only to be abused and beeped by other motorists for my troubles. the lady said that she had been there for hours and that not one person had stopped to help her even after trying to flag someone down. She was very nice and I felt really good for helping her out. My girlfriend went all "my knight in shining armor" which resulted in a new ratchet set (SCORE!)

Its sad I tell you .... if we just stopped stabbing each other for a second people might realise that they wont be mugged for lending a helping hand.

end rant.

[Plymouthy Adams]

what you are ranting about comes under the new catchword....CHANGE

[martybose]

what you are ranting about comes under the new catchword....CHANGE

True, and isn't it a shame .......

Marty

[Normspeed]

Aussie, I agree, so many people nowadays think only of #1. When I was in California for so many years, especially working with people on utility company matters I learned that the California motto is, "I want it all, I want it now, I want it for free, if there's a cost to it or if it's ugly, put it in my neighbor's yard":(

But, at the same time, I met many great folks there, including some forum members. Folks who would gladly drive miles to help with a project, or would give you a spare part just because they knew you needed it and they had it. Tony C, 47Heaven, MikeMaker, Dennis Hemmingway to name a few.

The best approach I found is to try and be one of the good guys that everyone remembers later. At least then you know you won't be the subject of someone's rant...or their bellyache. And you'll be contributing to the solution instead of the problem. Hang in there.

[Rodney Bullock]

Aussie, You have to understand that most people are "ordinary" That's why they would not stop for the lady or help you in the gas station. I live my life as a constant reminder to the ordinary that they could be and live better if they changed their thinking.

This forum has a collection of folks like this, they are special, have great interest. These people usually find each other because the frame of mind they have is like a magnet. They also attract help when they need it. I make it a point to observe this kind of behavour when I am at shows or gatherings.

I get calls and people come by that need help and usually if they are sincere they find what they need. The money is a by product. I remember once I helped a guy get what he needed and after everything was over we forgot to talk price. A week later he came by and dropped a load of money on me and I had to give some back. When people pay out of gratitude the asking price is dwafted. Keep doing what you are doing man, good luck will always fall upon you always I am a living example of that:D My future is so bright I need sunglasses indoors:cool:

[Tony Cipponeri]

Amen, Amen. Tony C

[RobertKB]

Being an old junior high teacher now retired I saw a lot of changes in kids. Kids are still kids and there are a lot of nice ones out there but they do reflect society. The "me first" attitude of a lot of parents rubs off. The "self-esteem" movement did more harm than good. Some kids got the idea all they had to do to get good marks was "breathe" and not put in any effort. I dealt with a lot of parents who thought their kid should have a higher mark just because "he tried hard." Not hard enough in my book in most cases. Self-esteem is earned not handed out just because you are alive. Yes, I treated all kids with respect but I had standards and expected kids to meet them. End of rant.

[PatS....]

We have it slightly different here and it shows up when it's 30+ below. Now, for sure there are a few jerks who drive by, but at that temp someone stranded could die in a short time.

You will find multiple good samaritans stopping to help stranded motorists and people helping each other shovel sidewalks, etc

As far as selling junk for an inflated price, just check the Calgary Kijiji site under "classic cars" and you'll see those in spades. Not sure if they sell or not but there's lots of them at astronomic prices.

4 door, six cyliner 3 on the tree 63 Chevy Biscayne for $18,000...yes $18 grand. 63 Chevy's are rare ya know!!

One guy selling an '08 Mustang, not getting any bites at $40,000 threatens that this is the last weekend it's for sale until spring, after that the price will be $65,000. Brain-dead fool.

Have to say though, in person, most people I meet are nice enough folks. This forum has some og the best people as well. Lots of help, advice and long distance free parts exchange.

Cancels out the jerks

[Bingster]

I'd have to say that water seeks its own level in that nobody will buy that hulk for $2000 and ultimately he'll be forced to sell it for what it's worth as is or in parts.

I don't know if we're talking about the same guy or not - I don't think so - but there was a Desoto coupe on ebay awhile back that didn't sell. I asked him if he'd sell a part off it and he said he would. He was pretty nice about it.

It's just people. I am just now finishing up a job for a lady who wanted Beverly Hills quality but didn't want to pay fo it. I got burned into settling with her to get the hell ouytta her house, but in the process I lost a good $600 or more in labor.

Some folks are just plain selfish and always want to come out on top. But I do believe that what goes around comes around. Call it Karma or whatever, it seems to run true in life. I'm glad I'm me and not her. My conscience is clear and God knows my heart.

That guy who wanted $2000 for the hulk isn't typical of what I have seen to be some very nice guys and dolls in this hobby. This forum is a great example. Everybody shares what they know and have and isn't envious of anybody else, at least not seriously!!

Same on the other Desoto sites I belong to and most others I have seen. Ebay is a temptation for those who want to take advantage of people for hopefully a quick buck. But I have bought quite a few items for my car and everybody has been great.

So just blow off the occasional jerk. They aren't worth raising your blood pressure.

[Don Jordan]

I hope you don't mind but I am going to vent and preach to the choir.

I teach school in a lock down juvenile detention facility. I get the creme of the crap. I was thinking about this the other day. When many of us were kids we watched TV shows like "Father Knows Best", "The Donna Reed Show", "Ozzie and Harriet", "Bonanza", "Sky King", "Rin Tin Tin" - I, of course, could go on but you should get the point. We were taught manners, respect for others and their property. When we had time we played "Kick the Can" or helped around the house.

Today, if you can break kids away from all the electronic games that include violence and disrespect for women and the law, the shows they watch are "Married with Children" which teaches the opposite of family values.

I read a book that began "What we give to the poor is what we take with us when we die." I've always liked that.

In defense of those that didn't help you push your car - if anything would have gone wrong you could have been sued or worse you could have sued. I'm telling you guys - we're going to hell. Our culture is eroding and we've become more concerned about being politically correct than right.

I don't mean to rag on you guys I've just been so disappointed lately. People are blaming the teachers because their kids aren't learning. It would seem obvious to me you might want to consider blaming the students and then the parents.

sorry - this just caught me at a bad time.

d-

[Norm's Coupe]

As for the guy who wanted $2,000 for his heap and this hobby, I'll just say this much.

Most of us on the forum or hobby as a whole will be somewhat reasonable when it comes to parts and cars. However, as in all wakes of life, there are some who simply buy and sell old car parts and really aren't interested in the hobby. Those people are just plain business people looking to make a living (through profit of their goods) just like you and I. So, you really can't blame them for trying to make a profit off something like the $2,000 heap that started this thread.

As for peoples attitude toward one another. I'll agree we are no longer living in the days of "Father Knows Best". That was a great era, but it seems to be gone today, as we all know.

As for teachers. Now, I'm not saying there aren't any good caring teachers today like there was when I grew up in the late 40's - early 60's. However, I've sent two kids to school who started school in the late 60's. To be honest, I haven't found one teacher (or school), that they went to that was as nice as when I went to school. First of all, they don't seem to learn as much as we did. Not only that but the pass on kids to higher grades that really aren't ready to. Some reports over the past 30 years or so says most kids can only read at 8th grade levels when they graduate high school, for example. That reflects on the schools and teachers in my book, not the kids or their parents. When I was in school, if a kid in class was having a problem learning something in that class, the teacher would work with them individually to help them learn. A lot of times, that took place after school, not during class. We also used books to learn from not sheets of paper that are copied from something or that the teachers made up to learn from.

As for teachers of old. I had one teacher in 6th grade that I'll never forget. Not because she was a strict teacher, but because how much she really cared about teaching and kids as a whole. She not only taught 6th grade but also taught Sunday school at our church. In addition to that, she was instrumental in starting and carrying on a kids group called "The Young Churchmen Club" of our church. We had weekly meetings at church once a week during the winter, then organized dancing etc. after the meeting. Many times, she would find a volunteer dance teacher to come in and teach the kids how to dance. In the summer we rotated to each others house once a week for parties and other outings. She did all this on her own time and without pay. The age range for the Church group was from 12 years old to 18 years. She also had many parties at her own house for the kids during the year. As a final note to her caring. Every year our Young Churchman's Group would sell Christmas trees and wreaths on the church grounds to raise funds for the club. That teacher and her husband was there every day during that period helping us and showing us how to make wreaths from the scraps of the trees, so we could sell them. Yet, she also found time to do her own Christmas shopping for their two daughters, who were also members of the group.

Now, I ask you. How many teachers today do those sorts of things, or anything close to it? The teachers I've seen (or heard about) in the last 30 or 40 years don't do any of those things. All I see them do is go on strike or threaten to for more money and benefits for less work. Not only that, but they are constantly saying the classes of 30 to 35 kids in a class are too large. However, when we grew up, the classes were also 30 to 35 kids in a class. So.........what's the teachers problem today. If they taught that many back in the 50's in a class, why can't they today. Simple answer to that has to be. They don't want to because it causes them to work harder. Then they may not be able to get out the door as soon as the bell rings. Some teachers are probably out of the school before the final bell rings.

Even on 20/20 the other night they were saying to get a high school education today, you have to go to college for four years. Now, that's just sad in my book, but I do agree with them.

Now again, I'm not saying all teachers are like that. However, most are it seems. So.........if the teacher doesn't take the time to make sure a kid learns, how's the kid or parent going to respect that teacher or school?

So........As John Stochel (spelling?) of 20/20 always says. "Give me a break" when it comes to schools and teachers today. Throwing money at the system doesn't make it good, it just waste's more money.

Now, I'll step down off the soap box myself.

[Captain Neon]

As for the guy who wanted $2' date='000 for his heap and this hobby, I'll just say this much.

Most of us on the forum or hobby as a whole will be somewhat reasonable when it comes to parts and cars. However, as in all wakes of life, there are some who simply buy and sell old car parts and really aren't interested in the hobby. Those people are just plain business people looking to make a living (through profit of their goods) just like you and I. So, you really can't blame them for trying to make a profit off something like the $2,000 heap that started this thread.

As for peoples attitude toward one another. I'll agree we are no longer living in the days of "Father Knows Best". That was a great era, but it seems to be gone today, as we all know.

As for teachers. Now, I'm not saying there aren't any good caring teachers today like there was when I grew up in the late 40's - early 60's. However, I've sent two kids to school who started school in the late 60's. To be honest, I haven't found one teacher (or school), that they went to that was as nice as when I went to school. First of all, they don't seem to learn as much as we did. Not only that but the pass on kids to higher grades that really aren't ready to. Some reports over the past 30 years or so says most kids can only read at 8th grade levels when they graduate high school, for example. That reflects on the schools and teachers in my book, not the kids or their parents. When I was in school, if a kid in class was having a problem learning something in that class, the teacher would work with them individually to help them learn. A lot of times, that took place after school, not during class. We also used books to learn from not sheets of paper that are copied from something or that the teachers made up to learn from.

As for teachers of old. I had one teacher in 6th grade that I'll never forget. Not because she was a strict teacher, but because how much she really cared about teaching and kids as a whole. She not only taught 6th grade but also taught Sunday school at our church. In addition to that, she was instrumental in starting and carrying on a kids group called "The Young Churchmen Club" of our church. We had weekly meetings at church once a week during the winter, then organized dancing etc. after the meeting. Many times, she would find a volunteer dance teacher to come in and teach the kids how to dance. In the summer we rotated to each others house once a week for parties and other outings. She did all this on her own time and without pay. The age range for the Church group was from 12 years old to 18 years. She also had many parties at her own house for the kids during the year. As a final note to her caring. Every year our Young Churchman's Group would sell Christmas trees and wreaths on the church grounds to raise funds for the club. That teacher and her husband was there every day during that period helping us and showing us how to make wreaths from the scraps of the trees, so we could sell them. Yet, she also found time to do her own Christmas shopping for their two daughters, who were also members of the group.

Now, I ask you. How many teachers today do those sorts of things, or anything close to it? The teachers I've seen (or heard about) in the last 30 or 40 years don't do any of those things. All I see them do is go on strike or threaten to for more money and benefits for less work. Not only that, but they are constantly saying the classes of 30 to 35 kids in a class are too large. However, when we grew up, the classes were also 30 to 35 kids in a class. So.........what's the teachers problem today. If they taught that many back in the 50's in a class, why can't they today. Simple answer to that has to be. They don't want to because it causes them to work harder. Then they may not be able to get out the door as soon as the bell rings. Some teachers are probably out of the school before the final bell rings.

Even on 20/20 the other night they were saying to get a high school education today, you have to go to college for four years. Now, that's just sad in my book, but I do agree with them.

Now again, I'm not saying all teachers are like that. However, most are it seems. So.........if the teacher doesn't take the time to make sure a kid learns, how's the kid or parent going to respect that teacher or school?

So........As John Stochel (spelling?) of 20/20 always says. "Give me a break" when it comes to schools and teachers today. Throwing money at the system doesn't make it good, it just waste's more money.

Now, I'll step down off the soap box myself.[/quote']

Norm, it sounds like you need to get out of Wisconsin. I know lots of teachers and aspiring teachers that are just like the "Young Churchmen Club" leader you had in the '50s.

When I was growing up in the '80s and early '90s, I was a member of my local volunteer ambulance service. Most of the people on our ambulance service were teachers at the local high school. Their fine example is what inspired me to learn, perfect, and hone the skills necessary to be a volunteer EMT.

My wife has worked with and currently works with many fine professionals. As much as some teachers would like to assist the students that have fallen behind, too often career damaging accusations are the result. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."

[captden29]

where i live[just moved here] they want too much for all their old junk, including cars. if you try to negotiate a decent price they refuse, then whatever the item is they will let it sit out in their yard until it is worthless, but you can't have it. they even let houses sit and rot and cave in. it is a porrer area than where i used to live, but that is no excuse for greed and/or stupidity. i had a pool and a swing set in the yard when i bought the house. i did not want them so i gave them away. they were perfectly usable but not worth enough to argue price over and i did not want them in my yard. my motive was free labor to disassemble and remove, so i am not the most generous. i see today, and ebay has been responsible to some degree, that so many people think their crap is so valuable. i say let them keep it. dennis

[Rodney Bullock]

As you all know I go to alot of these "seller's" folks asking for high prices for something they saw on "My Classic Car" in perfect condition. I use a method I learned from my dad. I pull up in my classic car all waxed and clean:) as I look at what they have I notice them looking at my car. It works everytime as I ask what they want for a part or project I look at my car and than them:rolleyes: That price comes down every time.

My little girl(21) and I were talking the other day about kids in school. I have often told her that she is twice as smart as I and it's the truth. It was a different time as well, alot of my friends could not read however they knew enough to get by. If you look at some of those trying kids, behind them are some parents that are lacking. She also told me about the lesson plan these teachers have to go by, I don't know anything about this however it might be something that needs addressing.

Yeah, examples on TV are very important because they shape the ID. The Cosby show was the last for me, taught values and what could be:) Good manners, fairness are things that have to be learned in this time, in my time you had to try hard to be dishonest, disrespectfull and it would hurt "Inside"

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm, it sounds like you need to get out of Wisconsin. I know lots of teachers and aspiring teachers that are just like the "Young Churchmen Club" leader you had in the '50s.

When I was growing up in the '80s and early '90s, I was a member of my local volunteer ambulance service. Most of the people on our ambulance service were teachers at the local high school. Their fine example is what inspired me to learn, perfect, and hone the skills necessary to be a volunteer EMT.

My wife has worked with and currently works with many fine professionals. As much as some teachers would like to assist the students that have fallen behind, too often career damaging accusations are the result. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."

Well, around here about half of the local property tax bill on my house goes to pay for the public schools. There's something wrong with that picture if you ask me, when it takes as much as the city and county budget combined, just to operate the local schools. Then they still cry because they claim they can't run the schools for that amount. Yet, the school ratings still keep going down, not up.

Don't know if you've ever watched Jay Leno's Jay walking segment. But........he's interviewed several people on the street (including college students, professors and teachers) that don't even know who we were at war with during WWII. All kinds of answers like Mexico, France or England. Some don't even know who Hitler was? Granted Jay is looking for something funny so he will only show those who are really out of it. But..........my question is, how did these people get to be instructors and/or college students when they can't answer a question a 10 or 12 year old would normally know.

[Niel Hoback]

Now that Norm has brought up Leno's JayWalking segment, I'm getting fired up. Its gotten so that I can't watch it when he does it. It just makes me mad.

Those people are so stupid I don't see how they find their way home at night and yet they are allowed to vote and have kids. Some of them claim to be college students too.

The last time I saw it I muttered to my wife that maybe Hitler was right about one thing, eliminate the idiots.

Sorry, thats why I can't watch it. Gonna make me shoot my TV.

[Don Jordan]

I don't mean to run this into the ground - I'm sure if you saw it on TV it must be right and I won't be able to change your opinion.

But until we do away with social promotions (a product of parents) we are going to crank out kids that can't read.

When I went to Catholic school it was not uncommon for the nuns to smack us on the hands with a ruler. When I went to a Baptist school more than once I was paddled on the butt. I turned out okay. Now, today you can't touch the kids and they know it. 40% of my classroom time is spent with discipline problems. Teachers are dealing with kids that have no manners and no respect. And the parents are unwilling to accept that their child could be a problem.

When you have 30 kids all in one room it can be daunting. I'm always amazed at how people seem to think it's no big deal. 30 students times 5 classes. That's a lot of students to keep track of, a lot of papers to grade. I spend 2 to 3 hours a night grading papers. I don't get paid for that.

Everyone seems to value education - no one wants to pay for it. Does no one find it extraordinary that a basketball player makes over a million dollars for entertaining people. And yet the ones you entrust your kids to make a pittance.

I'm sorry - it does no good to try to convince people who have already made up their mind - The kids today are the future of tomorrow. If you short change their education it will come back to you.

We've got to get our priorities straight. Go spend a day in a class room. I'll open mine up for you. When a student can tell the teacher F*** you and there are no consequences. I'll stop. I've said too much.

I do own a 48 Plymouth so I can't be all that bad. I teach an after school class on small gas engines. These kids can't identify tools. Now I'm really done...

[Aussie D25]

Wow .... I really stird things up

Im a young bloke at the age of 29 now and I work in IT and play a lot of online games, I still find the time to go to mums for a roast once a week and do a service on her car each month (she gets ripped off by the mechanics)

I play "world of warcraft" on the PC of which has been deemed as adictive as heroin and I have seen people waste thier lives away playing video games...

why?

Why not get a hobby, there is an anual billy cart race (soap box cart) that is held near my place but last year it got cancelled do to lack of interest.

I play baseball on the weekends rather than stealing cars and mugging senior citisens which is hard cause it may be your nations favorite pass time ... yet over here people look at you strange when they ask you "what sport do you play?" and you say "right field for the Roo's"

http://ccba.centralcoastsports.com.au/

My cousin is 14 and she stayed at my unit (apartment) one time for a few days... I didnt even know she was there half the time as she had he face stuck to her laptop on Face Book and myspace .... the music she listens too is terrible, rock has gone soft ... its all this sook rock with boybands that cry at each other.

I thought that I was in the know and still down with Generation Z yet being a generation X baby obviosly there is a massive rift between X and Z... I just dont seem to understand her at all these days and the only conversation you will get from her is if your talking online.

Its the social skills that are rapidly degrading.

I think I was just born in the wrong decade ? I love old cars... basicaly anything with an engine.

I bought a lawn mower the other day ... just a 4.5 hourspower 4 stroke push mower and I was so excited to use it I mowed the lawn for almost 2 hours. I can remember when I was a bit younger I would go to a friends place to get out of doing chores like mowing the lawn

I think im growing up ....

[Andydodge]

Hey...AussieD25.........of course people would look at you strange if you made that comment about the Roos.......thats aerial pingpong.......why don't ya play a REAL MANS game.......lol........Rugby League or Union......lol.......nah, only kidding.......btw welcome to one of the BEST WEBSITES around, keep it to cars and you can't go wrong....lol.......btw........where are you?........I'm in Sth Grafton NSW up the coast, have a 40 Dodge Sedan & 41 Plymouth Coupe......regards, Andy Douglas

[Aussie D25]

Hey...AussieD25.........of course people would look at you strange if you made that comment about the Roos.......thats aerial pingpong.......why don't ya play a REAL MANS game.......lol........Rugby League or Union......lol.......nah, only kidding.......btw welcome to one of the BEST WEBSITES around, keep it to cars and you can't go wrong....lol.......btw........where are you?........I'm in Sth Grafton NSW up the coast, have a 40 Dodge Sedan & 41 Plymouth Coupe......regards, Andy Douglas

heheh Im so Americanised, my friends ask me when my visa will expire they just dont get classic cars ... nor baseball for that matter

Please some one send me a case of Dr Pepper, we had it here for a little while but Dr Pepper to Aussies is like Vegemite to the US ... but why am I the only one I know that liked it and why is it so damn expensive to buy. its like $60 a carton here and you have to go to specialty lolly shops (candy shop)

Andydodge:

I have family in Grafton ... and I am sure I have seen your cars... you didn't happen to have a shop in Sth Grafton that sold books and model cars by any chance did you ? my 48 is actually at my dads place in Junction Hill right now, I plan on bringing it back down to the Central Coast (NSW) once the settlement is finalised on my first home.

I cant wait ... check out my workshop.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Mopar to you for Chrysler's sake..!

[Don Jordan]

I wanted to get a work shop like that - it was going to cost $1,000 for a permit from Los Angeles County and $700 for a permit from my city. And that was just for their approval. So $1,700 for permits then the pad and then the building which I think was about $25,000. I decided to wait. My first house cost $37,000 - boy, those were the days.

[IronMike]

Yet, the school ratings still keep going down, not up.

Don and others,

I work in education, and I agree that sometimes the funding that goes in doesn't seem to match up with the product put out. I could go on for days about the ills of social promotion, lack of discipline etc. in public schools. Unfortunately it will probably get worse before it gets better...... with all of the federal mandates coming down the pipeline it is pretty hard to be a "slacker" as a teacher and keep your job. Currently in Tennessee a H.S. student has to earn their credit load and pass mandated "Gateway" exams in Algebra, English and Biology in order to earn a diploma. Starting with incoming freshman '09 it is proposed that ALL students pass the ACT college entrance exam with a score of 19 to graduate.Think about all of the students that are good solid students on a technical path in say "welding" and now your told that you have to pass a college entrance exam in order to get your diploma on a technical path.

The powers that be have got it in their head that somehow life is multiple choice and the teacher is forced to turn out test takers instead of thinkers and problem solvers. I am held accountable for my students (as I should be) but they don't take into consideration the student(S) that think the test is a load of bull and go in on test day and bubble in "c" down the answer sheet. Thus, pulling down my measured effectiveness as a teacher, we as teachers are held more accountable than our students in many cases.Yet we have very little say in how to develop or implement our instruction.

As far as the school ratings going down, the statistics are skewed. In Tennessee they use "value added" which is a agricultural model used to project future crop growth. So, if you have a school that scores out in middle school at the 98th percentile and the students maintain a 98-99th percentile in high school the school can get a bad score on their "report card" because they did not make adequate growth, on the other hand a school system can have scores in the 50th percentile and raise their scores to the 75th percentile and they are lauded as having made wonderful progress and recieve high marks.....they don't tell you that in the newspaper. Rutherford as well as some other counties fall victim to the "value added" scheme

[Andydodge]

Aussie D25.........a guy in Sth Grafton that sells models & books & has the same sort of cars that I have..........poor sod!!.......must be my half cousin, twice removed.......lol........Junction Hill........I still need some engine bits.......wonder if he'll notice...............lol......andyd

[Norm's Coupe]

For Iron Mike, Don & Other teachers.

I'll be one of the first to agree that teachers almost have to be a policeman these days in school. Then as Don pointed out, don't get caught smacking anyone's hands, or a swat on the rear with the wooden paddle like we got at school if we misbehaved. Then you get charged with battery against a minor, plus a lawsuit. But..........there is a way to change that.

Without teachers, there is no school, no matter how many school buildings are built. Teachers are members of a union. They get together and strike for higher benefits and salary's whenever their contracts expire, etc. if need be. So...........what better benefit would this be for the teacher. Have it put in your union contract that you are allowed to send a kid out of you room to the office 3 times. If after sending that kid to the office three times, he's suspended for a period of days or expelled all together. That way you get rid of the trouble makers and then just maybe you can spend more quality time teaching instead of trying to keep someone from disrupting the classroom. They did that when I was in school and it worked. Oh, and regardless of how many people you kick out of your class, the teacher doesn't get a demotion or fired for not being able to control the animals.

In short, lay down the law in your teachers contract and let the school board know you are tired of being policemen. Now, I would think that would be one of the best and easiest concessions that could be put into any contract. If they don't give it, then go on strike and stay out until you get it. I normally don't support a lot of reasons for striking (or even a union), but here is one thing I would support.