I Often Wonder This About Buna and School Growth?

 After yesterday's blog, I received a number of messages from people. Folks that have been affiliated with Buna for years and years. 

Buna High School is not growing. It just isn't. It is about the same number of students as when I first went to work there in the 1990s. 

Other 3A schools have had growth. 

Buna has 404 kids in the district.  

I know that the area really has not gown and many people once they graduate from high school in this area, they are gone. 

Social reasons, employment reasons, marry someone from outside of this area.  

Buna is the smallest school in its 3A District for football. There are other schools in the district that have right at 150 more kids than Buna. In 3A 150 kids makes a big difference in fielding a team. There are just more kids to put on the team.   

As I was told by someone in the know, " The people moving into the district just do not have kids." Which tells me, these are retired people moving into the community. 

And look around, how many people who are old name's grandchildren are going to school someplace else? 

And I know there are school districts in the area that have not recovered from Ike, Rita, Harvey, etc.....But others have.... 

How many people in community leadership positions have kids, grand-kids going to schools outside the community, never mind, their residence is in Buna ISD?   

Then, I was written this by 2 different people. 

Many teachers outside the district are trying to leave, others, have already submitted their resignation effective at the end of the current year, in May. Others, are waiting until closer to the end. 

The teachers, and not all, outside feel, well, like there is a double standard for Buna teachers, and those outside. 

That is not a story. When I was first employed at BHS, I was an outsider. I felt it. And to a certain extent was treated that way. I ignored it in my middle years there and tried to " fit in." Tried to dress more  East Texas" and well, my late father who was blue collar as you can get, said something to me one afternoon after teaching,  when I was dropped by my parent's house, I was wearing Wrangler jeans, Justin boots, a ratty shirt. " Are you working cows? Or are you professional?"

I started wearing a coat and tie the rest of my career.  I was a damn senior economics teacher. I need to dress as such. 

I knew I was not going to fit in. Never would.  I will dress and act however I think I should.  Never mind other faculty might and some often did say something derogatory. 

I failed miserably trying to fit in where I was technically an outsider. 

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed my time in Buna ISD. There are some good people in the community. There are many people in town I am very fond of. But when I got my points in with Teacher Retirement, I talked with my family and well, not going to lie, I almost quit every Monday my last semester. Those last years, I really felt like an outsider. It's like there were people who could not wait for me to leave.  

I was looking at the numbers of people employed by Buna ISD with, or with an invalid teacher's certificate. The majority who live in the district. And the thing is, it won't get any better. 

We will discuss uncomfortable things later this week in this same vein.  

 

I Know Buna....I Know......

 I owe you a blog.....

And I do not know, I am having a hard time writing a blog without it possibly being my last one or it being one in which I have to step away from the blog for a while.  

All this while, me trying to set up a blog. My " expert" in the field is starting a new position and well, the way jobs are right now, I do not what to disturb them and hurt their long-term stability at that job. 

( Concerning the "kids" moving to Southern California. They are not moving, they visited a little while back and decided that the move was not for them. L.A. was literally a hell-hole in their eyes, and the cost of living, well, it did not pay enough for them to accept new positions. Plus the state taxes....)  

So for now, they are in Washington state....And the food alone up there is making them want to move back to Texas. Seattle food is passable at best. ( We went to a fancy, fancy wedding a few years back in which a country club was rented out and they had the best of the best foods. I saw the menu choices, and well, it was okay, and that was top of the line menu items. )

I am just upset with Buna right now, I don't know what I am writing is actually doing any good, other than letting folks know that " Many of of you are not alone. More than folks want to know." 

My understanding there is a board election coming up later this year. And some of you need to quityerbitchen and run for the board. 

No, you may not win, and sometimes you need to run more than one time to get elected. 

Years ago, when my brother ran for a countywide office  in this area, he lost and well, we all just knew he had gotten politics out of his system. Low and behold, years later, in another district of 4 counties, he is running again. And this time he wins. The clique is not as strong as you think it is....And Buna, well, it is not growing as fast as people think, or should be growing. We will talk about that in a future blog. 

Just sometimes being out " On the point" alone is sometimes hard. Not going to lie, the " Happy Pills" help.  

Anyway, I've not forgotten you, a blog is coming. 

As always, thank you for your support.  

 

 

 

Buna ISD 26-27 Calendar........Other Friday Thoughts

 This week, the Buna ISD School Board approved the 26-27 School Calendar. 

Easter is in March in 2027, so there is time off for that holiday. Good Friday, and one day earlier in March  for Redbud. 

There is a Winter Break like this year, which begins today and ends next Tuesday. 

In the 26-27 school year, there is a week long Winter Break and like all winter breaks, it is crap shoot. It might be cold or " sort of" nice like it will be during this year's 3 day break.  

Next year, the February break is a week long, the third week of the month...... 

And next year's Spring Break is the last week of April.....

Why?

Am I missing something here? 

When the kids return from Spring Break there are only 18.5 school days left. 

Do you know what kind of battle it will be for teachers to get kids, especially high school Seniors to do anything?  Heck, most kids are done. 

Now I know the April Spring Break is done that way because of state testing. 

Why didn't we just go ahead and end school a week early in May? Have graduation on May 21st? Start Summer early? 

 

 I will be shocked if they find Savannah Guthrie's Mother still with us. This whole thing is just "fishy."

The Epstein Files......Man, I need to talk about it at some point. Not going to be shocked if King Charles III abdicates due his brother Andrew's involvement and Charles III say it is due to his cancer. I have theories and you may think I have finally lost my mind. 

I need to talk about the economy. It is worse than we all think or even suspect. 

I have a fit on the Buna Schools coming in the next few days. Seriously glad I am on " Happy Pills" right now so I can handle it.....And yes, will talk about the " clique."  

 

 

Bad Bunny....Kid Rock......Commericials.....

 Bad Bunny,  don't get it......

Yeah, I could not understand it either...Yeah, it was in Spanish, and that is what they speak in Puerto Rico.... And yes, they are US Citizens. They hold US Passports. 

They became American Citizens in 1917 when the United States decided that they were eligible for the draft during World War 1. My father in law served with a guy from Puerto Rico in Vietnam. He was seriously wounded with along with John when their boat was hit by a rocket. 

Puerto Rico was acquired from Spain after the 1898 Spanish-American War. It was a colony of Spain from the 1500s until 1898.  The last referendum, they voted for statehood, but congress decides on statehood. 

 Kid Rock lip-synced his music.  Come on man. Robert Plant of Led Zep no longer can sing either. Plant at least tries to sing, or no longer even try.....When you get older, your voice changes. And sometimes, you cannot sing like you once could. 

I hated both of the halftime shows. 

And I only watched them this morning. 

Same with the Super Bowl TV Commercials.....

Most of you are younger than me, but most of the commercials had actors who were relevant 10-15-20 years ago.....They are have become professional pitchmen and pitchwomen. It seemed like they came out of their retirement home because they needed a paycheck. 

The only ad that came even close to interesting was the William Shat one, and even it was   sort of amusing at best. 

And the Kardashian-Jenner sisters, I just do not find them attractive. And I figure talking to them is pretty boring.  Find a girl ( or guy) who loves you for you...

Bud is trying too hard and their commercials with Peyton and  Post and Shane Gillis, who was funny for about 5 minutes, well, he thinks he's cute and no longer is. His humor is pretty much one thing....The Bud Light ad was, well, just stupid, were most of them. And it might not be so bad, but Budweiser products are just awful. 

All of them, they are pretty much taste like "Bug Urine." Then again, most American mass produced beers have gotten awful in the last 25 years, simply from cutting corners on product.  

The ballgame? Who cares? I've driven by both New England's stadium in Foxborough  and Seattle's. ( We drove by the one in Foxborough when we rented a car and drove from Boston Logan Airport to Providence, RI T.F. Green Airport when we flew to Shannon, Ireland. Seattle's when we were visiting the kids, this past year.....Norwegian Air to Ireland. Might be one of the worst airlines in Europe.) 

But in the score of life, Seattle won? I don't care. Fred don't care. In truth, I could not tell you who won the NBA title last year, or NHL, and while at one time I cared about who won MLB's title, so much money is spent to win, I don't care..... 

 

 

I Told Y'all I Might Do This.....

 And I spoke in my traditional East Texas vernacular not to run many of you off.....Or in East Texan, " You got Runt Off."

The Prime  Minster of Britain, the UK, whatever you care to call the nation is a man called Kier Starmer.  He is a member and leader of the Labour Party in the UK. 

Labour is similar to our Democratic Party. Conservative or Tory Party is similar to our Republican Party, There are fairly big differences, and will discuss those at a later date..... Also, the UK has many other parties with representative in their main legislative branch, the House of Commons....

There is a scandal in the UK involves the former British Ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson.  

Mandelson is a long time politician, longtime elected member of the House of Commons, he is also a British Lord.  

Mandelson was a close friend to Jeffery Epstein of the Epstein Files.  

Even after Epstein was convicted for running a prostitution ring, Mandelson remained friends with him.  

And Kier Starmer was aware of this, and still appointed Mandelson to the Ambassadorship in the U.S. 

In the latest release of  Epstein Files, it was discovered that Mandelson gave stock information to Epstein in 2008 while Mandelson was a cabinet member for another Labour Prime Minister. The information was confidential and could be used to help Epstein profit in the stock market. 

UK Police are investigating Mandelson for Misconduct in Public Office, which in Britain could carry a life sentence.  

While Starmer may not have been aware of the extent of Mandelson's ties to Epstein when he tapped him to represent Britain in Washington D.C., British lawmakers have sharply criticized the government's vetting process, stressing that some elements of Mandelson's friendship with Epstein were public at the time he was given the position.  

The leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has questioned Starmer's judgement in elevating Mandelson to such a key diplomatic post. 

"The Prime Minister cannot blame the process. He did know...it was on Google. If the Conservative research department could find this information out, why couldn't Number 10?," referring to the prime minister's office at 10 Downing Street in London. 

Because of this and the economy, immigration, many in the UK are calling for Prime Minister Starmer to resign, especially many in his own political party.  

It is not unusual that pressure for both the voting public and political leaders that a British Prime Minister resigns from office.  

Because of his unpopularity, the percentage chance that Kier Starmer resigns is now at 80%.  

In the UK, like other parliamentary style governments, the prime minister CAN dissolve the government and call for new national elections.... 

But we will see. The next man( Or in this case, woman) up, gets the role of Prime Minister. 

Trouble is, she is not liked very well at this point in time either.... 

If a new election is called in Britain, we will talk about UK politics in detail, and that should be interesting.... 

 

 

 

And Who Knew???

Was asked by someone, former student , who knows, I always have music blaring when writing the blog. Again, some of you will think, it shows my immaturity, got to have music going....But they asked what I listened to yesterday?

Sorry....But yesterday it was " Rage Against the Machine." " Alice in Chains" and "Audioslave..... "

Today, it is WA Mozart's " Requiem Mass  in D minor." ( Lacrimosa)   

Yeah, today pretending I am someone. 

It has gotten to the point, once again, a large number of people are " peeping" and joining the blog's site on Facebook. People, well, I do not know.  

Caveat Emptor

This blog is not what you may think it is. 

I often swear.  

I may turn around the next blog and talk about faith. 

I am going to write something that will at some point step on your toes.  

I often use mind altering substances. I take " Happy Pills."  Anything to keep me out of pain....

I now have a cat, and not going to lie, still not sure how I feel about it. A dog person all my life, at age 68 a cat shows up, and he's my cat. He's on the rug watching me type.  So, if I talk about Fred, you'll know who he is....

I often refer to my wife as " St. Debbie" or "Debbie the Good." Had a class give her that nickname a number of years ago, and she to put up with my lunacy....Stick around you'll understand. 

I have a Chinese daughter in law, so don't get too hard on the Chinese. ( China, Hong Kong are amazing places. We went and were shocked at how modern the country was....) 

I don't blog every day and while I write on Buna and Jasper County matters, I am not above writing on anything and everything from economics to history, to theology, to whatever strikes my fancy.  

I am a bit of an Anglophile, and often write on the UK. We've been 4 times in recent years. I am fascinated with British History,  politics and may write on British politics.

Yes, I call my " alter-ego" Govteach because I was a government teacher for many years. I find I have to include that because there are people who do not know my background.  

Welcome to the blog, and as I have written, I am working on a podcast sometime in 2026. It's going slower than first expected..... 

 

 

Buna ISD Story..... The First Amendment.

 As many of you know, especially those of you who took my class know, I am an absolutist on the Bill of Rights, especially the  First and Second Amendments. 

Look, I had a radio show, I write this publication on a regular basis. I am working on a podcast....

And again, if you took my class, you know I am an absolutist on Amendment 2. I still want a fully-auto German MG42 or a British Vickers.....

This story comes from a reader of the blog, who felt that they needed to share with me. 

Allegedly, they received a call from a local law enforcement officer(LEO) to stop posting on social media concerning school district leadership. That it was....

 " Against the law." 

It somehow was " harassment?  "

What the cornbread ??????

Look, I am a " Public Personality"( Public Figure) writing this blog.  You should get some of the stuff I receive. I even have people write me and tell me I am "Going to Hell" because of my religious beliefs.  I generally write them back and say, " See you down there."

It bothered me at first, but it got to where, I just ignored it and went on.... It's just part of writing the blog. I fully expect it when I start the podcast. Ain't no telling what people will say.....And I know this. 

When you take a job on the taxpayer teat, well, you are subject to criticism. This triply  applies if you are in a school or any government leadership position. 

When Harry Truman was President of the US, one of his sayings was ...."If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen." 

In other words, can't stand the criticism that goes with the position YOU accepted, leave. Quit, go do something else. 

The patron, still pays Buna ISD taxes is my understanding who received the phone call from law enforcement, they of course were upset and went to LEO leadership and told them what happened and they( leadership) told them what they had written on social media was protected speech.  

If school leadership is using law enforcement to try and shut you up, that should scare the hell out of you..... 

I was about to recommend an attorney.  

So, my question is this, does the Buna ISD School Board know this was going on? If so, have they done anything about it? Or do they want that "pesky" Amendment 1 to go away?

My message to leadership? 

Toughen up. Grow some thick skin. What you going to do when something really bad happens? 

My understanding is board elections are later this year.  

Just saying.....