Even More Mail From Buna ISD Patrons......Some Families Are Fighting Over it....

 Then again, there were families shooting at one another during the American Civil War....Why would today be any different?

 - Again, I am shocked at the numbers of people who are upset with the Buna ISD. 

All pretty much saying the same thing in a way I will paraphrase....

" What has happened to our district?"  

As a long time teacher and Buna graduate told me......" I like the district I am teaching in right now......Why would I move to be disrespected? And I have heard from people asking about me moving....I literally would have to be nuts to move to Buna right now." ( They have a much needed (a couple of three  )  Texas Teacher's Certificates that are much sought after. They can apply in pretty much any district and get hired. )

- And I keep hearing the same theme from parents......

" Bullying" 

And this concerns me. 

Let's face it, I was rough on y'all as I have said in previous publications.....But I have tried to be " Equally rough on everyone....I wanted Buna kids to be the best person in the college classroom, or on that job site." 

I don't know if you have noticed, but I check on y'all fairly often.....And while some of you have had missteps, which is to be expected, most of you who have fouled up, have got, up, brushed yourselves off, found work, and are trying to become meaningful  members of society. And I am damn proud of you. 

But, in the tradition of the blog, I digress. 

This bullying is something else. 

It is like there is one treatment for one set of kids, and another for another group......And it is oblivious.... 

And like I have said, if you can, homeschool.....Get your kid into another district,  I don't know. I keep hearing rumblings of parents consulting legal counsel,  but nothing solid yet. So many parents are afraid of ramifications coming back on their children. 

Then, there are some who keep saying " If XYZ can just graduate..." 

Trouble is, that doesn't help the next group of kids coming through.... 

There is also the inevitable time in which I will stop writing this publication. I'll get up and say...." Not today Satan.....Never again, God is pointing me in another direction.And that day is closer than even I know....."    

But for now, you need to just vent, send me your troubles, especially concerning the ISD.  I will keep it in my prayers, in my thought, possibly more than you know.  There are times I lie in bed at night and can't sleep worrying about the school district. 

 

 

 

 

I Received More Mail than Normal on the Buna Schools!!!

 Generally I get " Jumped on" by an apologist for the district. Apologist does not necessarily mean supporting the religious tradition they follow.....Comes from the Greek, apologia( supporting speech). Thus, the association with religion. 

But not this time. It was surprisingly quiet.  

I often wonder if my blogs are doing " any good" but sometimes, something you have written surprises even yourself. 

 Perhaps this message I receive described it the best....This from a long time employee who held several positions within the district. And this is from a person who knows. 

" The longer I am retired from the Buna Independent School District, the more I realize just how messed up it was and still is..... "

Then, there were those who are a growing voice concerning the district. 

" I thought the new school board would be better, but I am disappointed."  

" I am thinking about running....But I happened(spelling) got a dog's chance."  ( Run, you never know)

And they are not alone. People are disappointed with the board...As one put it....

" They've become just another politician." " Afraid to make waves."

Then, there was this.....

" I got no hope" ( In the school board.)

Then there were letters concerning bullying.....

" I am so glad my kids are now in LCM." " I don't understand what is going on concerning them ( Buna) it is like they do it for us to leave. " 

And there were those like these....

" The Taucer, Tady( Tandy), and you days are gone. There are so many teachers who are there for the 20th only." ( The 20th is payday each month in the Buna ISD. It is earlier if you direct deposit, paper cheques are on the 20th.) 

" Like you have said, just what the fuck do some of these people do?" ( I think I said " cornbread feck.")

" I hope the clique is happy with what they got." 

Then, I received more of these than any other....

" We stay silent. We are afraid for our children." 

Finally this.... 

" Did you hear about the cat?"

Yes, and I am upset about this one. I may write a blog on this one..... Is there a video? I keep hearing rumors, if so, send it to me. Surely the story isn't true.....

Again, if I was unhappy, I would homeschool, figure out a way to move. And if you are looking to move back, my question is " Why?" There are really good districts in the area that are close to grandma and grandpa's. Look, some of the best and brightest teachers are leaving for better districts and it isn't just the money other districts are paying.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please Buna Folks.....And I Got(s) Questions about BISD.....

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” 

-Aristotle 

“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” 

- C. S. Lewis 

I spent a large part of my week speaking to folks about getting their children out of the Buna Public Schools.  

Many of them were asking about homeschooling their children. More than you know, and the question keeps coming up, and I paraphrase here. 

"Am I smart enough to teach my kids at home?" 

For most of you, my answer is...." Grades k-8, yes." When they get to high school well, that was where it splits.....Do you want your kid to go to college and study in a STEM program? For some of you, yes, for some of you, well it depends. 

The depends is, are you have the will to learn enough to teach say pre-cal? Or find someone to tutor the child in maths (as the British call it)? Same with many of the sciences?  Economics? Heck, might even go into some of the other programs.....

But where there is a will, there is a way. 

To be honest I don't trust a lot of the curriculum programs being used in Texas right now, case in point, the Bluebonnet Curriculum has 4,000 mistakes. 

It's why I wrote my own Gov/Eco curriculum. Yes, it followed the TEKS, but the curriculum's that were offered, well, they sucked. Sucked bad/  

A brain-damaged squirrel could have written a better curriculum for economics. And I am pretty sure it was done that way on purpose. 

Then, there was a community person who is dead serious about setting up a private school of some sort in the South Jasper County area. Picked my brain so much this week, I am thinking about sending them a dun for a consultation fee.  They hinted at me teaching a couple of the upper level classes and I said " No." I am through. I am too far away from the classroom to come back and I love not having to go anyplace in the morning.....I am telling you, retirement is the best job I have ever had.....

- Then, I am trying to figure out the " Whys?" on the Mock STAAR  EXAM being added to the grades without or is my understanding without there being some sort of adjustment or curve like the test itself has......

I had a student of mine who is brighter than me....Yes, there are several of you smarter than me. Especially with the mathematical formulation within microeconomics.  Hell, I took a 439 Microeconomics course from Dr. Smithson at LU and he had PhD in Agricultural Microeconomics from the Univ. of Minnesota and he got off in the math and had to come in the next class, and tell us he messed up and started over. ( It actually was a sort of fun class. Hard, but I enjoyed the agricultural part of the course.)

I don't know. 

There is so much micromanagement going on now in the school business. 

Most of you would have failed Gov/Eco. And I know there are people still mad at me for failing my class, but do you really understand how hard it was to flunk my class and even then, I literally lost more sleep than you know before I gave you an " F." And trust me, you earned it. I was pissed off at you for putting me in that spot.  

As much as I loved the Buna ISD in the past, if you are unhappy, and can do so, get your kids out. I don't know how many of the faculty today puts their necks out for the kids like was done. I know what I did for some of y'all, and well, I liked doing it because it pissed off certain people, however, you know me, I am a bit " different." But there were upper level teachers retired or now gone to greener pastures, you need to thank for what they did for you. I do not think you know how some teachers risked their careers for some of you. You need to buy them breakfast sometime, or at least thank them when you see them in the store , they seriously would be thrilled.  

 

 

Alright You Sorry-a$$ Sumofab*tch.....

^" There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

-Paul- Galatians 3:28

I swear Buna is " Vidor North." 

And trust me, I know Vidorians. ( Vidor High School - Class of 1975)

Do not tell me otherwise, I thought at one time you were better, but you are not. 

Lately on Facebook, I have seen posts that look like they come right out of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan handbook. 

Some who refer to me as a " friend" and they often post Facebook comments on my blogs. 

I seriously wonder if you remember that I have a Chinese daughter-in-law? They are apparently trying and if I have grandkids, they will be half Chinese and they plan to have the child in China, that way they'll have duel citizenship. US and Chinese. And in this day and age, they may need to get the hell out of here. I know I am keeping my Chinese Family Visa up to date in case we have to leave. Don't plan to, and may need to fight and die in the streets of America at some point, but the way stuff is, well, you never know. I really do not think many of you understand how modern 2026 China is. I too was shocked when we visited. We have lost the plot here in this nation.Don't tell yourself otherwise. We are not leaving it better for the next generations. And the younger people know it. 

Or how long it'll be before the Chinese will be included in their posts? 

Many of you claim that you you are a follower of Christ, yet, some of your hatred well, it is 1950s Vidor.  

And the Lord knows I have sins....But some of you are not even trying.  

Some of you may need to unfriend me.  

 

What is Going on in Iran?

 "The first casualty when war comes is the truth."

-Sen Hiram Johnson 

Things to remember and think about concerning this war.... 

-Always keep this in mind like all wars in history, this is a religious war, and an economic one. It became a religious one when the Supreme Leader was killed. When that occurs, all bets are off.....There are those who preach Dispensationalism who want this war to bring thinking it will bring back Jesus. 

-There is a real possibility Israel may use nuclear weapons in the war.   If this happens, anything might occur.

-Do not be shocked if there are American troops sent into Iran. Already there is talk about " Boots on the Ground." 

If US troops are sent in, the question is how will they be resupplied? Has that even been considered? 

Then, there is already talk that the draft may need to be brought back. I remember my relatives being brought back in body bags from Vietnam. Deb's dad being seriously wounded on a patrol boat in the Mekong River. Feck that shat. I have several nephews age 18-25. I don't want them fighting for the Knesset.  

 -Rumors already abound that the US Army 82nd Airborne is being mobilized.  (Perhaps sent into Azerbaijan? Or 3-4 other spots)

- If Iran starts hitting desalinization plants in Saudi,  Kuwait, UAE, etc, they are in trouble. They do not have enough water. 

-If Iran starts hitting the oil fields in Arab nations.....I don't even want to think about the price of oil. 

-At 5;30am today, oil was $102 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate.  The US economy is already in trouble, this won't help. Inflation is really about the ramp up. 

The counties most effected by the oil being capped off  are India, S. Korea, Japan, China, and while S. Korea and China have large stockpiles, this will eventually run out. And China needs energy and may get desperate. 

Remember fertilizer depends upon petroleum to be manufactured. Oil for transportation, oil for farming, gas for a lot of electricity production, the economics spooks me alone.   

- Iran has finally picked a new Supreme Leader. 

- Remember, Iran is said to be able to manufacture 500 drones a day. 

- There was talk if Tehran falls, Iran will fall. This is why you study history. In the last 7000 years, Iran/Persia has had 77 different capitals.  

- If you think bombing Iran into submission will be easy, get out your maps and take a look at the size of Iran.  

-  The family who rules Bahrain may fall, trouble is, who might replace them? 

- Stagflation is scaring the hell out of economists. Price/inflation rising and there being no jobs.  

Remember this, we do not know how far prices are going to go up. 

- We do not know how long this war will last. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin said it would last 3-4 days.....We are now into year 4.   You must remember, Iran has been preparing for this exact thing for 20+ years. 

 

 

 

Again, For My Ex-Students....

 There are times I get out and about. I know the original hermit/monk, who probably could have made it in a monastery, has been going places....Which would make me a friar, not a monk....

Quick lesson....

Monks- Stay in and chant.

Friar- Get out and about. 

But, I've had appointments, have gone in an actual store that didn't say hardware or dollar in it's name.  Have been seen in a restaurant. 

In the past, I have taught a lot of people. A lot. 30 years of high school kids add up. 

Most of you, I know. And will call you by your last name. 

Trouble is, if you are female, I will call you by your maiden name. And sometimes, husbands get upset when I do so. Like I know the boy from Adam. Unless I the male spouse, I either taught, or is from Buna, I probably don't know the boy. ( I know some, I performed your wedding)....But most no...

And time to time, the boy gets all bent out of shape when I call their wife by the maiden name.....Which makes me wonder seriously about the psychological make-up of the spouse. ( I've been to Deb's PNG Reunion before and what does everyone call her? " Debbie Britain." And I expect them to and in truth, I do not care....Why should I, it was her name for years....) And the boy who gets upset seems to be in the same profession.....And it ain't teachers, professors, lawyers, etc......

Sometimes, I will know you, and won't recall the name. Help the old man out. But most of you, I will know your name. 

And we have done this before. 

You don't have to call me " Mr. Thomas." 

I know people like Tara Laramore will, she has told me " I feel funny calling you something else." 

But, Kerry is fine...Hell, if I was teaching with you, in a meeting, in the teacher's study, I would want you to call me " Kerry." 

And besides, most of you are well, you're getting old. I see the grey hair.  

My nephews are 22 and 18 and long ago, they dropped the " Uncle" when they call my name. It's Kerry or Kerry Don, the addition of " Don" is a family thing, and well, if you add the " Don" well, I do not mind. Hell,  it's my name. 

Anyway, from time to time, I feel the need to go over this, especially when I see a former student and they stumble. fumble what they are going to call me.  

Debating writing a  blog over the war we are now involved in, and it may not be what you want to hear....

 

 

 

Bullies at Buna ISD?

 I am hesitant to go here. 

The world has changed since I long ago darkened the doors of Buna High School. 

And the Lord knows I gave y'all Hell when I was the Gov/Eco teacher at Buna. And I tried to spread out giving you Hell evenly. 

But I know I gave some of you more Hell than others, and to be honest, I saw lost potential in some I rode like a $2 Mule. 

I know I was giving a girl in my class a fit one year and looked in her eyes and thought she was going to " tune-up" and bawl her eyes out.....So I just left her alone. 

A week later she came by during lunch and asked me...." Mr. Thomas are you mad at me?" " You've stopped saying anything to me."   

But, the theme of bullying keeps coming up on social media. Yesterday, bullying at Buna Schools was discussed on a Jasper page. And there were several who added their two cents, most agreeing with the fact that a form of bullying is going on, mostly from other students, but many included faculty and administration in their complaints.  

I know my first year in college band I was hazed like you would not believe. It was just a 
"right of passage" in the 1970s. I gave the Fish Hell my next year, but by the time I was a senior, well, I wound up dating Freshman in the section. And I saw myself as a leader my senior year, and tried to take care of my "Fish." ( To paraphrase Boone from "Animal House" " Hey, you can't abuse that Freshman in my section, that's my Fish to abuse.") 

Again, The Govteach could not teach school today. I could not. As I had a couple I taught tell me " Their kids would literally come home despondent the first day in my class, and would be all downhill from there. "

I am sure I will receive bullying examples and I am hoping I do.....