The Court of Public Opinion

These days it is easy to wander onto Facebook and read about the day’s drama, rants, complaints, narcissism or just the good clean fun. It is as easy to read as it is to post. I’m sure we can agree that it is easy to vent a little when we have had a bad day but how far is too far?

There have been court rulings that have protected Facebook as a forum of free speech. That’s great. The first amendment is my favorite. But just as we relish in that small victory, let us remember that the first amendment comes with responsibilities. I have always told my students that your rights end where the next man’s nose begins. In other words, you can do what you want so long as you do not hurt others. That being said, I think there are some folks out there that need a lesson in libel and slander.

Libel and Slander occur when a person communicates false information that damages the reputation of another person. Now in some cases this is not done intentionally. People just don’t know all the facts and they misspeak about a situation or a person. There are some people though, sadly, do this intentionally for whatever reason. Some might need the support of others when they want to be right. They may do this at the expense of a good person and cause them many headaches with family, friends or even their jobs. The bottom line is that you can be sued for this. As the courts continue to sort out the online world, I would treat Facebook as if you are literally standing in front of your 457 friends (most of them you didn’t even talk to in high school) and realize that somebody will hear you. Facebook has actually made the world a smaller place, not a bigger one.

Exercise caution my friends!

http://www.enotes.com/first-amendment-law-reference/libel-and-slander

Special Leadership and Devotion

It goes without saying that life brings many struggles for all of us in different ways. Granted we don't live in the 1960's and deal with the racial inequalities that Martin Luther King fought to end but we can all learn lessons from him long after he inspired so many. As a white man I will not attempt to say that I understand the African American experience to the fullest extent but I can say that if we don't listen to Dr. King and live the examples he tried to teach we will all be doomed to struggle.

Two lines that he spoke have always made my mind become stronger around my own struggles. In "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail" he writes that a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. He went on to explain that his actions were not just on behalf of those in Birmingham but for all that experience this injustice. I often look at my own efforts in education and when I need to strengthen why I decide to make a decision or make policy for the school, I think of this approach. If I set a good example in my own backyard, I hope to set a good example for all and strengthen every school. This unselfishness is a worthy example for all of us.

One line he spoke that always chokes me up was spoken in his last speech. He said very clearly that "I just want to do God's will". Now I'm not going religious on you readers, I just feel the words speak to something different than just religion. I feel that he was also saying that he belongs to a much larger enterprise that was in need of special leadership and devotion. We are all a part of something bigger and think that gets lost on us too much. I was disappointed a couple of weeks ago when two of my students found themselves in a sticky situation, the electronic rumor mill did nothing to volunteer solutions but did everything to devalue the kids and the school. The development of our kids is OUR responsibility. Their development is a much larger responsibility that families or schools can take on alone. We have to understand that this endeavor is bigger than us and requires special leadership and devotion.

Please visit the sites below and be inspired as I have.

http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/Letter_Birmingham_Jail.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0FiCxZKuv8

Be Whats Right About Life

I recently found myself really discouraged about all that is wrong in my world. As a school administrator I have a lot of hot topics on my plate on a daily basis. Bullying just might be the hottest these days. It seems as if everyone is a victim, or a bully, and many hours are devoted by me just to prove that kids are equally mean to each other. Response to Intervention is another good one. How do you help students learn when the reason that they fail is that they just won’t do their homework or that they just don’t have much of a home to go to. I could go on and on but my reality is that people who work in my profession are undergoing huge changes that impact their daily lives and I didn’t even mention the fact that the Illinois General Assembly is trying to take our retirement away.

I decided to follow my own advice. I often tell my students to be what is right about a classroom and not what’s wrong with it. The fact is that I have a lot to be encouraged about. I have a wonderful family that makes coming home from my difficulties worth it. They bring me back to earth and remind me why I bust my tail. I have great friends that remind me of where I came and in the same way remind me of where I am going. I guess my point is that I want to be what’s right about my life and not what’s wrong with it. The next time I feel discouraged about things that are out of my control, I’m just going to focus on those things that keep me in control.

Red Foreman is My Hero

I have written about this before, but what is going on with the American male? Most of the time I feel like Red Foreman from That 70’s Show when I’m out in public. Its like every one of these boys are like Eric and I just don’t get it. It would just be easier sometimes to call them dumbasses and move along.

Last night I went to see Taylor Swift with my wife and daughter. I was one of maybe 200 males in the 14,000 that were there. Right in front of us were two high school aged boys absolutely pumped about Taylor Swift. Are you kidding me? They were saying things like, “that song was sick” and “she rules.” It was if you took two metal dorks out of the Metallica concert, plugged them into the Taylor Swift concert and they didn’t know it. That’s how bad it was. At one point one kid, who was about 6’5” I should mention, jumped on his friend’s shoulders to get higher and cheer louder. I thanked God for the amusement and we drove home.

We stopped for gas and as I was in line there was a Katy Perry song on the radio. In the candy bar isle stood a young man that I would say was about 21 or so. He was singing, without reservation, the song that was playing. I again just wanted to call him a dumbass and leave. Then, he gets into a debate with the cashier about which Katy Perry songs were good and bad. Why God Why?!

As I drove home I just accepted the fact that I’m getting old and becoming Red Foreman is a very likely future for me. They just don’t make men like they used to and I will just have live with it and hope my daughter doesn’t bring home a dumbass some day.

Thank God We Got to the Bottom of That

ESPN is reporting that the NFL lockout is coming to an end. Thank God we got to the bottom of that. Its really difficult for me to watch millionaires battle billionaires for billions of dollars and have any concern. Now I'm all for fair labor contracts and all of that but I think something else was in play for the last 131 days.

The NFL is doing exactly what they have been doing successfully for years, extending their season. They generally succeed in making their season longer than the 16 games they are given. This summer was no exception and football was on our minds the entire time. Despite a ton of great sports we have had this summer, we have been directed to football at the top of every sportscast. I feel we have used to help keep the rich rich yet again.

Another sports story I think none of us should care about is the firing of Tiger Woods' caddy/coach. Is it not apparent that as soon as Tiger is out of the picture for a minute and golfers actually start to play golf again that he surfaces?

My request is this, give attention to the athletes that are actually playing! My only concern is those poor ESPN guys. What will fill time on Sports Center now? Maybe sports.

I Want to be a Jedi When I Grow Up

Recently my daughter celebrated her 7th birthday. I told her that when I was seven I had watched my first Star Wars movie and of course the "you're a dork" look came over her face. It is common knowledge that I am a huge Star Wars nerd and I could probably take just about anyone in a trivia contest. I thought of this because I can remember that once I saw Star Wars, an entire world of imagination was opened up to me. I began to have big thoughts and began to think about my own abilities and possibilities.

Last week I was at a workshop and a story was shared about a young girl who had aspirations of becoming an anime artist. She shared this with myself and other educators during a meeting concerning her educational plan. When announcing that she wanted to be an artist like the one she had been reading about in a book sitting next to her, the members of the group dropped their shoulders and began to tell her that maybe their was a good art program at John A. Logan where she could get her start or maybe she could make a good living in graphic design. I quickly jumped on my laptop and Googled the artist in the book. He had dropped out of high school his junior year and evidently is one of the premiere anime artists in the field.

There is no doubt this young lady has considerable talent. One of her chalk drawings is hanging in my office. I began to wonder if we are failing her. We very often try to steer students in a path that we feel is acceptable. I was struck by this and felt pretty bad that this young lady had to be told that what she had a talent for was unrealistic and that maybe she could do something else.

Now when I was seven I was convinced I wanted to be a Jedi when I grew up. I know this is not possible but I can say that big dreams were never discouraged. Is the American dream being compromised in my story? Are we telling kids that this dream doesn't exist by pushing them into "acceptable" post high school plans? I am realistic enough to know that not everyone can do everything and I will never undervalue being educated, but we should never ignore true talent. We never have in sports but I guess art is different.

Thank You General Logan

Many students think I'm joking when I tell them that our very own John A. Logan came up with the idea for Memorial Day. When they hear the words John A. Logan, they usually think of a large high school without bells or lockers. (I am a proud alumni by the way) But its true. General John A. Logan first declared Memorial Day on May 5, 1868 in his General Order No. 11. (www.usmemorialday.org/order11.html) If you visit the link you will read and understand the purpose for such a holiday and it really begins to humble you.

My favorite movie of all time, and there will be no other, is Saving Private Ryan. The images truly make me appreciate the high price of freedom and also brings me back down to Earth. The part of the movie that always makes me choke up is the end of the movie when a aged Private Ryan asks his wife to tell him he had led a good life. He lived knowing that he had to earn the quality of life afforded him by soldiers he never knew. Lots people tell me that the premise of the movie is not realistic. Sending a squad of men to find a single soldier is a waste of resources and only makes for a good movie. That may be right but the real premise of the movie can be lost. Watch the clip and tell me that it doesnt center you. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhU6JWWZKbM)

Had there not been a holiday we would have one less opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of others and be thankful for our way of life. Put flowers out this Memorial Day and fly your flag proudly. Better yet, fly it everyday.