Now you can meet the blogger, and hear him sing! Stop by Muscogee Manor at 7150 Manor Road in Columbus Thursday, 26 February at 2:00 p.m. ET. I'll present songs from my debut CD, "One God, Many Moods." It's on the "local artists" shelf at Mustard Seed in Columbus -- or you can click here for music samples and details on online ordering.
BURKARD'S BLOG
I searched on the Internet at the start of 2003, and found no one keeping a blog about events in Columbus, Georgia. So being the web-savvy guy that I am, I decided to start a blog of my own - chronicling happenings in the town I've called home for nearly seven years, as well as my experiences in it.
But.... I used to have a humor service called LaughLine.Com, so my views may be a bit amusing. And the views are my own; no one has paid me to present theirs. Pressured, yes - but paid, no.
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19 FEB 04: TEACHER'S PIT
Did you see the report Wednesday night about a web site for critiquing schoolteachers? This is yet another sign of the decline of U.S. society. After all, students used to do this in person on the school bus....
The web site "Rate My Teachers" apparently is the talk of Opelika High School, because at least one teacher has been the target of negative comments. The principal expressed concern Wednesday the criticism is "not constructive." I assume by extension, this principal bars teachers from turning on radio talk shows in class.
But the Opelika High School principal is puzzled by one name on the "Rate My Teachers" web site - a person who doesn't even teach at the school! So what grade will the students get for this creative writing project?
(You don't think this is all fun and games for Opelika students - having a strange sort of fantasy education league....)
One Opelika High School teacher recommended if students have a problem with her quality of teaching, "come to me about it." Why, if students go online with their criticism, next thing you know they might go to the school board.
Some people might say it's about time high school teachers were held accountable for the quality of their work, in training students for the future. Shouldn't they be held to the same standards as the head football coaches?
I couldn't resist calling up "Rate My Teachers" Wednesday night, to see what students are saying anonymously about Columbus teachers. Some of the comments are rather blunt, and not always about teachers:
+ Columbus High School Principal Susan Bryant is "ineffective at best. Tends to blame in-school policies on the school board when they are her own." Was this really written by a student - or a jealous teacher at Carver?
+ Pacelli High School Counselor Nita Walters "doesn't help you get into college." Well, there IS a shortage of priests - and seminary training probably takes less time.
+ A history teacher at Hardaway High is "cute and nice and very cool!" Now THERE'S a way for Muscogee County schools to make money - selling "students' studs" calendars.
+ A Harris County High history teacher twice has the comment: "You have to study every night." So if a Harris County resident never wins "American Idol," this could explain it....
As it happens, the Opelika teacher-rating issue surfaced as a Hardaway High School senior challenged a Muscogee County School policy. Ashley Schlag is pregnant, and says sending her to a special school would mean a lower-quality education. But doesn't this school provide some advantages - like maybe more space at the desks?
It doesn't help the district's cause that the school for teen moms is referred to as "Teenage Pregnancy School" - or TAPS. In an army town, that sounds SO final and devastating....
All this talk about teaching quality happened to come on the day Columbus State Rep. Tom Buck asked on the House floor if this was the right time to approve a pay raise for teachers. Well, it certainly couldn't hurt - unless he wants teachers lining up at job fairs to become police officers.
BLOG UPDATE: Not wanting to be outdone by Saint Luke United Methodist Church's "Mardi Gras" night, Cascade Hills Church holds its annual "Wild Game Supper" tonight. And at this church, "wild game" does not refer to softball with bad umpiring.
The Wild Game Supper is known for serving all sorts of exotic meats -- everything from alligator to elk to bear. This way you can learn once and for all if everything tastes like chicken....
(One of these years I'm going to stop by the Wild Game Supper - with my Bible open to the lists of unclean meats.)
The Cascade Hills Wild Game Supper will have more than food. One minister said Wednesday there will be an archery contest - with the winner taking home a new shotgun! We hope this doesn't go to someone on the Sunday preaching
schedule....
Now other items from the Wednesday wire:
+ Phenix City Police Chief Preston Robinson held a "community awareness meeting" on topics such as racial profiling. Based on the last couple of months, we're not sure Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson is aware of it yet.
(Did I hear WRBL's Katie Weitzner right - the police meeting occurred before a "mostly all-black crowd?" What were the other people, polka-dot?)
+ Presidential candidate Al Sharpton visited Atlanta, and was endorsed by former Mayor Bill Campbell. I really doubt any more candidates will visit the Columbus area -- because Sharpton's trip in late December jump-started his campaign about as
much as Howard Dean's visit to Plains did.
+ Somebody's gotta ask it: what is wrong with the Columbus State women's basketball team? The Lady Cougars were clobbered by Kennesaw State 82-56, and only scored 15 points in the first half! I simply can't believe that many players are resting their bodies for the start of women's soccer next fall.
(After several years of playoff appearances, C.S.U.'s women now have a 10-13 record and their worst losing in ten years. This is one year where Coach Jay Sparks may have nothing but duds.)
+ Instant Message to Bill Heard Cadillac: I'm glad you're big fans of Auburn sports - but it's mid-February. Isn't it about time you changed your radio commercial supporting football coach Tommy Tuberville?
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© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.