Bravo to The Tennessean for covering news about the HOPE Scholarship that broke a week ago.  Make sure you open up your copy of this fine paper on Monday, February 12, to read a detailed analysis of the Superbowl!

The paper reports that only 25% of the first group of students to receive the scholarship will graduate next year still receiving the money.   One proposed change to the scholarship is to lower the standards so that more students are able to retain the money.  Yes, let’s continue to fund students who have proven that they are not prepared to get average grades in college.  Sounds like a fantastic investment to me!  Let us proclaim, “Silly us for holding you to a reasonable level of expectation.  We’ll lower the bar to a point at which you feel comfortable.  Please let us continue to coddle you as we did throughout your high school years.”

Getting a 3.0 GPA in high school does not indicate likely success in college.  With grade inflation and lower standards, a 3.0 should be considered average at best.  Instead of finding a way to fund even more students who are destined never to graduate, why don’t we refocus our efforts on improving high schools that are forcing students to master important math, writing, geography, history, etc. skills?  And, let’s crack down on the absurd level of grade inflation.  An “A” in a course should really mean that a student displayed mastery of the content, not just that he completed some crossword puzzles for extra credit or quickly copied his buddy’s homework every morning.

The overall state of higher education is depressing.  Major state universities are accepting students whose GPA barely cracks the Mendoza line just to keep up enrollment numbers (I’m talking to you, MTSU).  The level of coursework has diminished in its expectation for critical thinking, writing and individual accountability.   And, too many students who have no real interest in learning are taking up space and oxygen in the classrooms.  The value of the piece of paper coming from most colleges and universities has greatly diminished.

Gary Hart and his tryst on the “Monkey Business”.

Michael Dukakis riding in a tank.

John Kerry and his “botched joke” regarding intelligence levels of those serving in Iraq.

And now …

Biden also had fighting words for Barack Obama, calling the Illinois senator “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy…. I mean, that’s a storybook, man”

I don’t think that Biden ever had a real chance of getting the nomination, but this remark certainly ended any speculation of such a possibility.  First, he pulls out the expected use of “articulate” to describe a black man who actually talks in complete sentences and with proper subject/verb agreement.  Not at all insulting.  But, then he goes on to point out that Senator Obama is “clean”??!!  Wow.  That one word just acted like a jackhammer drilling a huge hole into Biden’s now-sinking presidential ship.  (I’ll give you a moment to reflect on and appreciate the stunning use of both a simile and a metaphor in that sentence.)

It was bad enough when Biden bragged about Delaware’s history as a slave state and explained how this lovely historical tidbit would help him in the South.  Personally, I am drawn to candidates who represent a state that held other humans in captivity 150 years ago.  When I see Biden, I think, “This man really gets the South of 2007!  Consider me a fan!”  But now, he actually thinks he is giving a compliment when he says that a black man knows how to use soap.

Now Biden will have time for other pursuits, since he no longer needs to waste time on a presidential run.  Good news for his wife, based on the comments he made last summer:

Speaking to a group of 130 twenty- and thirty-something supporters of his leadership PAC last Thursday, Biden indicated that while he thinks he could be an effective chief executive, as far as the job itself goes, he could take it or leave it.

“I’d rather be at home making love to my wife while my children are asleep,” he said.

Just make sure you clean up first and make yourself presentable, Senator Biden.  If you need any assistance,  I’m sure that Senator Obama can give you some pointers.

A middle school student in Florida was forced to remove his Florida Gators t-shirt because it was considered “gang-style” clothing. To be fair to the school officials, based on prior actions by “student”-athletes, universities in Florida are going to raise some suspicion. Perhaps this young man was quietly endorsing the use of illegal drugs and the occasional need to commit grand larceny. Or, he may have been hinting that he intends to start a midfield rumble following the soccer game with the middle school across town.

The parents complain that their son was “humiliated” for the insinuation that he was involved in a gang and because he was forced to wear his gym shirt for the rest of the day.  Oh, please.
Was the request to remove the shirt ridiculous? Sure. But let’s not start crying for the damaged self-esteem of the young lad. I would have found it amusing if my middle school principal accused me of being in a gang. I can just imagine the stern words, “Remove that New Kids on the Block t-shirt right now, young lady! Do you want to start a war with the girls who are wearing the Corey Haim t-shirts?”

I’m a step ahead of Rep. John Deberry. With his “Grills Bill”, he wants to allow only dentists to make the mouth impressions for the lovely “grills” that have become so popular with the kiddies these days.

State Rep. John J. Deberry Jr. said his “Grills Bill” is aimed at mall kiosks and jewelry stores that take dental impressions under less-than-sanitary conditions.

“I guess we can’t outlaw the jewelry for your mouth,” said Deberry, D-Memphis. “But we can make sure that it if your children go in there they are not getting an impression of their teeth with a mold and material that someone else has just used.”

First, let me applaud Deberry for tackling the tough issues that face Tennesseans today. I, too, want to make sure that people who are choosing to insert large pieces of metal containing diamonds or other precious gems of the earth into their mouths are doing so in a hygenic fashion.

Now, back to the original point of my post … I am one of the few lovers of the grill who sought assistance from the appropriate medical personnel when getting a new piece of bling. After my most recent cleaning, I turned to my dentist and said, “I’m starting to feel pressure to be the cool mom. I’ve been researching my options. I can buy some alcohol for Catherine and her friends to share during playgroup. Perhaps wearing some sweatpants with the word JUICY written on the backside would help. But, more than anything else, I am convinced that a grill for my top teeth would make me the envy of all other moms in my neighborhood.”

My dentist agreed and told me that his wife has a grill for every day of the week. Yes … a man who understood my mission! He carefully sculpted a perfect mouth impression for me and I left for the nearest mall kiosk knowing that my grill would be clean and a precise fit. No embarrassing grill slippage here!

I proudly wear my platinum grill with the words “HOT MAMA” written in diamonds everywhere around town. The other moms at Target and Kroger just stare and I know those looks are filled with jealousy! How sweet it is.

So, Rep. Deberry, while I’m sure your bill may help some uneducated souls who make the important decision to get a grill without first doing the necessary research, the purpose of your legislation is lost on me.

For my fellow migraine sufferers, you know how these mega-headaches can knock you out for several days.  I am just recovering from a five-day excursion into the land of feeling like my face and brain were both on fire, enjoying an unrelenting quease of the tummy and trying to catch the spots that kept floating in front of my eyes.  Elusive little creatures!  These precious migraine moments have become even more challenging since Catherine came into the world.  I found myself near tears pleading with her to take a long nap so that I could spend some time alone in a dark room with a cold washcloth on my head.  Of course, she had no idea what I was saying.

Combine my busting-with-pain head with the fact that I stepped on and cracked the adaptor to my laptop chasing Catherine away from a vase and you find the reasons for my state of non-blogging.  I am borrowing my husband’s computer this evening so that I can reconnect with my internet world while waiting for a new adaptor to arrive.  (It was so sad to see that little battery symbol go empty and then watch helplessly as my laptop blinked a few quick orange warning shots before its final farewell.)

Add my name to the list of moms who will not be taking her kids to any circus that uses animals. The idea of making an elephant do headstands or stand on a tiny object is not entertaining to me. In fact, it makes me sick to my stomach. A bear is a dominant beast of the forest … this animal should not be juggling or riding a bike while we laugh and point. Catherine and other siblings who may follow can be introduced to exotic animals at the zoo. Sure, Nolensville Road is not the natural habitat for giraffes, but at least they are cared for by experts who truly love animals.

I eat meat and I’m under no illusions about the lives and deaths of the chickens and cows who end up on my plate. I like the idea of eating free-range meat for this reason. (I can almost feel Nathan rolling his eyes as he reads this) However, I believe there is a difference between using animals for sustenance and training them to do ridiculous show tricks. Perhaps I’m a hypocrite for my own convenience, but that’s my stand.

I want to join with the other voices who are adpplauing Air Tran for removing an unruly three-year-old and her parents from a flight recently. For those not familiar with the story:

Julie and Gerry Kulesza and daughter Elly were removed from the flight when the girl refused to take her seat before takeoff, airline officials said Tuesday. But her parents said they just needed a little more time to calm her down.

The Kuleszas planned to fly home to Boston on Jan. 14 from Fort Myers after a four-day visit with the girl’s paternal grandparents. She was removed because “she was climbing under the seat and hitting the parents and wouldn’t get in her seat” during boarding, AirTran spokeswoman Judy Graham-Weaver said.

Of course, the Kuleszas are now considering a lawsuit.

There were 112 other passengers on the plane whose sanity and schedules needed consideration. The flight attendants acted correctly by removing the tantrum-throwing toddler. Considering the behavior described, I have a feeling that others have had the pleasure of witnessing little Elly’s prolonged meltdowns in public places. Do all kids throw fits? Sure. But, I believe it is the responsibility of the parents to handle the child and not expect everyone else to bend to the emotions of a toddler.

I am hoping that my flawless discpline and boundary setting techniques will mean that Catherine will never act like a complete brat on any method of public transportation (except perhaps a ferry … because ferries bring out the wild beast in all of us, don’t they?). However, if such an unfortunate incident happens, Nathan and I will voluntarily remove ourselves from the transport device and deal with the consequences of reaching our destination later than planned. I will never expect others to suffer due to my daughter’s behavior.

Mr. Kulesza has indicated that he will never fly Air Tran again. Please remind me to book my next flight on Air Tran!

So, tonight is the State of the Union speech … just twelve minutes from now.  I really don’t want to watch it because I have recently found myself in physical pain when watching President Bush make attempts to communicate through the spoken word.  I couldn’t bring myself to tune into his recent speech aboout the troop surge in Iraq.  I just didn’t feel like massaging my face the next day to release the severe cringe that would have taken hold.  I read the transcript instead.
Despite my legitimate concerns over my well-being, I suppose that I will take some deep breaths and watch what Bush has to say about the state of our fine union.  Will there be boos from the Democrats … from some Republicans?  Will John McCain find a way to be in the camera shot as much as possible?  Will Hillary Clinton stop President Bush on the way to the podium and offer to have “a chat” or “a dialogue” about her “middle of the country” values?  Let’s tune in and find out!

Catherine Jennifer Moore turns one today! Happy birthday to our beautiful daughter!

Dear Catherine,

I have been so fortunate to be your mommy for this past year. I love starting my day by walking into your room and having you greet me with a “Aaaaeeeee” and a laugh. I love ending my day singing to you in the darkness and rocking you to sleep. Being your mommy is the most important and amazing thing I have ever done. Take those wobbly first steps into your second year with your precious four-teeth smile and contagious curiosity. So many adventures await you!

Love,

Mommy

Today’s Tennessean has a front-page article about the problem of text message language finding its way into high school English papers. As if our kids’ writing wasn’t already bad enough (reading the papers of my high school and college students sometimes made me cry), now we have to deal with “tht bk wuz cool” as an offered analysis of The Grapes of Wrath.

As I have mentioned many times on this blog, I fear the impact that some gadgets are having on our ability to communicate. People hardly need phone manners anymore because so much business is done via email or Blackberry (I still don’t know what this technological fruit thing is, but the students had them in the Tennessean story). Proper grammar and punctuation use is already on life support since students no longer diagram sentences and drill sentence structure. Our students must be forced to maintain proper use of the English language through harsh penalties for “Web slanguage” in submitted assignments. At the very least, each instance of text message slang should be a one-point deduction. That could add up quickly, don’t u knw? If a student gets caught using a cell phone in class, take it away until a parent can come to the school to retrieve it. Maybe a few days away from the thumb-spraining device will remind the student what a capital letter looks like.

Mark my words now — Catherine will not have a cell phone until she leaves for college and chooses to get one for herself. If I want her to have a way to get in touch with me during a date or other excursion, she can borrow mine. I don’t need her to text her friends dozens of times every day or call someone just to engage in sparkling conversation like, “I’m parking at the mall … Now I’m walking into the mall … Now I’m walking by the food court … What are you doing tonight? … School sucks … Jason’s in The Gap, should I go in there? … What are you watching? … I can’t find my keys!”

I would like to join the chorus of bloggers who are writing about the overemphasis on a college education today, perhaps spawned by the news report about the Hope Scholarship flunkies.  As has been reported in the KnoxNews, 64% of students who started college with the Hope Scholarship had lost the funding two years later.  I am not at all surprised.  You do not need to be a whiz kid to get a 3.0 GPA in your high school coursework or a 21 on your ACT, and just one of these two qualifications will get you the Hope money.  With grade inflation being the norm in today’s classroom, a “B” indicates average understanding of the course material at best.  The fact that some recipients of the scholarship still need to take remedial math and/or reading courses once they arrive on a college campus speaks volumes.  These students have proven that they aren’t ready for college-level material before even taking their first exam!  (And, by the way, remedial courses have no place at a four-year school.  I’m glad that the responsibility for these courses is shifting entirely to the community colleges where they belong.)

The scholarship recipients need to maintain a 2.75 GPA during their freshman year to keep the money.  Come on!  You can get a few Cs over the course of the year and still earn that grade point average.  The state is not asking very much here.  With a little effort and focus, you can get those grades at Vanderbilt.  Answer the extra credit question “What is today’s date?” on your MTSU midterm and you’re golden!

I agree with the bloggers included in the link above — the main problem is that too many people are going to college these days.  It makes me sad that a college degree has replaced the high school diploma as the baseline requirement for a decent job.  If you don’t enjoy learning … if you don’t care to think critically and be challenged … stop taking up space in the lecture hall.  College should not be the next stage in life simply because you don’t want to move out of your parents’ house or get a job.  I hope to instill a passion for books and learning in my children.  But, I only want them to go to college if they are ready to make the most of the experience and they have shown a genuine interest in school.

As a high school teacher, I was frustrated by the students who showed no interest in learning and were barely getting the 69.5% needed to pass required courses but still intended to start college in the fall.  Why??

Drudge links to an article about parents who were putting the brakes on over-the-top birthday parties that are being thrown for children these days:

Heard the one about a group of seven-year-olds picked up in stretch limousines to transport them to a friend’s birthday party?

Or New York’s designer candy store, Dylan’s Candy Bar, that charges $1,200 for a 90-minute party for 20 preschoolers?

Or the sleepover party at New York’s upmarket FAO Schwarz toy store on ritzy Fifth Avenue where a store spokeswoman said prices start from $25,000?

The cost and range of children’s birthday parties has spiraled out of control, according to one group of U.S. parents and educators who have joined forces to collectively stamp their feet and say “enough is enough.”

Just watch My Super Sweet Sixteen on MTV if you want to be disgusted by parents who are completely indulgent of their children’s desires. Sure you can have a six-figure birthday party and wear a skimpy dress while gyrating against a boy and then of course we’ll give you an expensive car at the end of the celebration! You’ve earned it, sweetie! And, no, we don’t mind at all if you are unappreciative, use foul language in front of us and repeatedly tell everyone to “keep all eyes on the princess”. As long as you like us and consider us your friends instead of actual authority figures in your life, then we are happy!

And, as the article states, it’s not just the teenaged set that is getting spoiled in return for adding another candle to the birthday cake. Elementary school kids are coming to expect fancy themed parties that cost hundreds of dollars (at least). These misplaced priorities will not teach our kids a sense of appreciation, and will inevitably lead to disappointment. How can anything be good enough?

I attended several bar and bat mitzvahs when I was in middle school and these friends of mine were treated to extravagent parties at downtown hotels complete with bands, lots of food and virgin daquiris. (I was scared to drink them because I didn’t realize that virgin meant no alcohol.) I understand the importance of the event, but there was a lot of pressure among the parents to have the biggest and best after-party of them all. Has this become the norm for every birthday celebration, regardless of age and religious significance? Congratulations, Suzie, you turned eight! Let’s rent a limo for all of your friends to get manicures and facials! After that, we’ll rent out a dance club for a few hours so that all of you can dance to Cheetah Girls (is that right?) and that Hannah Montana girl (or is she part of Cheetah Girls?). Please.
What happened to cake and ice cream and playing a few games in the backyard? Heck, I’ll even support going to McDonalds or the roller skating rink. But, my dear daughter will be sorely disappointed if she expects costumes, clowns and a chauffeur when she turns seven. It’s not going to happen.

Catherine turns one on Monday. I’m excited to make it a special day for her. She’ll get her favorite foods all day long — graham crackers, bananas, mac and cheese, yogurt, pancakes, grilled cheese, etc. And, I’m going to make her a cake that she can destroy and stuff in her mouth (and all over the table, chairs and floor). I even plan to tie a few balloons to her highchair and decorate the living room with stuff she can grab. My mom is flying in from Maryland and it’s going to be a special family day. No need for a big party. No extensive planning and spending.
Children should feel special every day (just ask Mr. Rogers), and feel particularly so on their birthdays. But, does that mean throwing them huge parties and buying lavish presents? I don’t think so.

I have not yet entered the world of weekly birthday parties that I’m sure awaits me. Is the over-the-top party problem as prevalent as I think?

The talk shows were abuzz today with the impact that last night’s nuclear explosion on 24 would have on the public’s feelings about the war on terror.  Would this shocking television moment remind some people of the emotions they felt so strongly on 9/11?
The debate reminded me of a trip I made to NYC in 2002 to visit my sister.  I told her that I wanted to visit Ground Zero.  She had not yet been able to bring herself to visit the site, even though she lived in Brooklyn, but agreed to make the stop with me.

The experience was solemn, humbling and emotional.  I had to leave when a group of tourists took turns smiling for the camera and taking pictures in front of the giant hole that once housed the foundation of the twin towers.  It made me sick.  They weren’t standing in front of Mount Rushmore or the world’s largest rubber band ball!  This was not a photo opportunity with which you can take the finished print and add it to your scrapbook matched with stickers like “Wish You Were Here” and “My Summer Vacation”.  Did the people with those toothy grins remember what happened at Ground Zero?  Were they so callous that it didn’t matter to them?

I took several photographs while I was at Ground Zero.  But, it certainly never crossed my mind to pose for the camera!  Instead, I wanted to document the scene of a pivotal moment in American history.  Those photos deserve to stand alone, not in the same frame as Great-Aunt Fanny Pack.

Smiling for the camera at Ground Zero — right or wrong?

Senator Barack Obama announced the creation of his exploratory committee today. I wish I could do an official count of how many times the media used the word “articulate” when describing Obama and his appeal to voters. A quick Google search of “Barack Obama” and “articulate” brought up 17,800 results. Scanning through some of them, most of the hits I saw were articles extolling the senator as an articulate man.

Listen to that black man! He can talk in complete sentences and use correct subject/verb agreement!

“Articulate” is often the default compliment given to black public figures, and it seems a bit insulting to me.

On ESPN’s NHL Power Rankings, the Nashville Predators are now #1 - we were #2 last week.

So, would some of you all start going to the games? To paraphrase Samuel Johnson…if you tire of live hockey, you tire of life!

I never watched 24 before last night.  I knew it was the type of show that required attentive viewing every week and I didn’t know if I was ready for that level of commitment.  Marriage is one thing, but committing to a TV show should come with serious thought and soul-searching.

I could hold out no longer.  I was always intrigued by the snippets of the show I had seen before (Nathan’s mom is a 24 fanatic and I had watched it with her when visiting in Georgia) and I decided to tune into the season premiere last night.  I love this show!  I can’t wait for the next two hours that are going to air tonight!

My biggest issue right now?  Getting past the fact that actor Kal Penn, star of the comedy Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, is now playing a teenaged terrorist.  Quite the different role.  He is very attractive, I must say, and he might just bump Rich Eisen off my list.

The morning talk show hosts on 1510 AM this morning (Kevin Wall followed by Steve Gill) both discussed how Martin Luther King Day is viewed by most Americans.  Is it just another day off from work or school?  Are there some who think that other leaders in our country’s past are more deserving of a national holiday?  Is MLK Day seen as a “black” holiday?  All interesting questions for debate, I think.

I plan on using this holiday as an educational opportunity for Catherine and other Moore children who may follow.  I see it as a great opportunity to discuss civil rights, the role of government, race relations, the stereotypes of the South, etc.  Maybe one year we’ll take a weekend trip to Montgomery.  Another year we can visit my parents in Maryland and take the Metro into D.C. to see the location of the “I Have a Dream” speech.  I want to go beyond the typical MLK remembrances (which are fine, but often predictable and safe) and have some honest discussions about the issues.
Presidents’ Day will also receive special treatment in our home.  (I still think there should be separate days for Washington and Lincoln as I contend both of these men did more for our country than King, but I’ll work with what I’ve got.)  Every year, the kids are going to pick a president’s name out of a box.  We’ll spend the week leading up to President’s Day learning about this man and the times in which he lived.  Then, we’ll have a birthday party for him on the day off from school and talked about what we learned.

There is a new push in Nashville to name a street after Martin Luther King, Jr. Apparently, we are the only (or one of the only) major city in the United States that does not have a roadway named after the civil rights leader.

I am reminded of a bit by comedian Chris Rock, and found a great editorial written about Rock’s comments several years ago in the St. Petersburg Times. Here are some excerpts:

Black comedian Chris Rock tells a joke that goes something like this: When a white friend told Chris Rock that he was on a street called Martin Luther King and asked what he should do, Chris Rock answered, “Run!” At another time and on a more serious note, Rock said: “I don’t care where you live in America, if you’re on Martin Luther King Boulevard, there’s some violence going on.”

If we do nothing else, we should resolve to transform all King roadways into clean, well-lighted places that will attract businesses of all stripes, that will entice tourists to spend time and money among us, that let local residents know that a visit to King Street is a chance to enjoy yet another part of their city.

Kimberley Wilson, a member of the African-American Leadership Group, asked: “Why isn’t black America outraged that (King’s) name is attached to the crime-ridden ghettoes and schools where no one is learning? What kind of tribute is this to Dr. King’s legacy?”

It is not a tribute to King’s legacy. It is an outrage. It disgraces the memory of one of the greatest figures of the last century.

If Nashville does rename one of his major roads after King, will we find a way to make sure it is an exception to the unfortunate association that Martin Luther King Boulevards around the country have with crime?

Much has been written about the 67-year-old Spanish woman who recently gave birth to twins.  I’m not amazed and enthralled by the scientific advancements that allowed her to have these children so late in life.  Instead, I am angered by this woman.  Did she think through the next eighteen years of her life and whether or not she will maintain the physical and mental health necessary to care for these children?  Or, did she just regret that she didn’t have babies earlier and decide to make herself feel better?

The article on the front page of The Tennessean today sparks some of the same questions.

Science has pulled the plug on a woman’s biological clock.

Through a procedure dubbed oocyte cryopreservation, a woman can extend her reproductive years by having her eggs frozen for use at a later time.

I understand that women are living longer, and I love the idea of women having babies in their 30s and 40s.  I want to see a pregnant forty-year-old over a pregnant teenager any day.  I will likely have reached forty by the time Nathan and I finish expanding our family (assuming all goes as we wish … I know we don’t have total control over such things).  However, I think that women do reach a point when the decision to become pregnant becomes selfish at the expense of the best interest of the baby.

Do you want to pursue your professional dreams and spend your life climbing the corporate/acting/academic/medical/etc. letter?  I think that’s fantastic and I hope that my daughter views some of you as role models if that is her chosen path.  But, you must make a choice.  I don’t think it’s fair to the child for a woman in her 50s to say, “I’ve reached the peak of my career and I was always too busy to think about having kids, but now I really want one.”

And, I’m not being sexist.  I get just as irritated as stories of men in their 60s and 70s having children.  These old male celebrities (Donald Trump, Michael Douglas, Tony Randall, Larry King) do not impress me with their fertility.

Yes, I could die in a car crash tomorrow and Catherine would be left without a mother.  That’s not my point.  I think that parenting should be an integrated and primary part of your life and you should offer your best years (and as many years as possible) to your child.  Parenting should not come about as a result of earlier decisions making a woman feel as if something is missing in her life.