World War III??????????????????????

 For literally decades, actually, when I was age 5-6, I read everything I could get my hands on concerning World War 2 and a lesser extent World War I and the American Civil War. Read everything I could get my hands on.I went through every book Vidor High School had on the subject in about 3 months. It was not until I went to divinity school I really became enthralled with church and British History. ( That whole English Reformation got me started. I was already a bit of an Anglophile, I guess I always have been, even in my cowboy boots, Hawaiian shirt, dipping Copenhagen days. )

And I wondered why I had a hard time getting a date. 

And concerning history, I knew more than more history teachers in high school. And they had actual history degree. 

I'm not playing. 

I look at what is going on, and I see us close to World War 3. 

- Ukraine and Russia are at war. 

In the last several days, Ukraine attacked Iran's shipping in the Caspian Sea. ( Inland sea, best known for Sturgeon that produce caviar. Caviar is nasty. One of the few things I refuse to eat.) Ukraine apologized, but still they hit Iranian ships.   

Russian missiles in the last day hit inside of the nation of Poland, which is a NATO member now.  These are missiles capable of carrying a nuclear payload. I keep looking for NATO to just not only be sending weapons to Ukraine, but will somehow get involved militarily. Already the British, German French governments are planning for war. NATO has been arming Ukraine during this war and I look for Russia to " have enough" and strike a NATO facility. 

- The US and Iran are busy shooting at each other, about the time we think there will be a ceasefire they start bombing again. 

Iran hitting American bases at will all over the Middle East. US bombing mostly coastal installations in Iran. 

Two days ago, a drone set a US flagged ship on fire docked at a port in Egypt.  

All while allegedly, the US is out of smart weapons.  

And according to the latest AP-Poll 2/3rds of Americans say the war is not worth it.  

-Saudi Arabia and the US have bombed  Iraq, not Iran, Iraq claiming the rebels there are being supported by Iran. 

-Saudi Arabia is bombing the Houthis in Yemen, and like Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz are blocking the Red Sea for Saudi commerce. ( Take a look at Marine Traffic, not much is moving through.)

Look for Saudi with US support to send in ground forces and continue bombing of of Yemen. 

-Then, there are what if's.....

What if the Ukraine War and the Iran War become linked? Look at the map. They are close.  

 What if Iraq invades and take Kuwait again?

What if Argentina decides to take the Falkland Islands? The British do not have the navy like they had when Argentina invaded in the 1980s and Thatcher sent the Royal Navy to take it back...

What if China decides it wants Taiwan and makes the move? 

Will the US decide they have to go nuclear to stop Iran from having their own nuclear weapons? We have B-1 bombers in the region. 

And finally...

What if the US decided to land ground troops? 

Then I see Moroccans in an act of desperation storm the Spanish city of Ceuta, which is on the North African coast.  If I was in Morocco I'd be trying to leave too....( We kicked around visiting Ceuta, it has been a part of either Portugal or Spain for 600 years.)

And in this is not taking the economic fallout that is coming. And trust me, at Christmas, it is might look dire.  

 

  

  

 

 

Men- We Need to Talk.......

 I really need to do a Buna " Bits and Bobs for July 30th/" But, I may wait a couple of days. 

Men, we got to talk about hats. 

I know the rules have somewhat changed, and I know it is 2026. 

Please men, if you are at a funeral, inside the the church building.....Or at a funeral home, inside the chapel.....

TAKE OFF YOUR DAMN HAT/CAP.

I know in a nicer restaurant, I take my hat off at the table, place it in a chair or on my knee, but I am not afraid of Tony Soprano( If you know the episode) showing up, but rather , what would my late father say?  

I know I have been in churches in Europe and older men seem to leave wool flat caps on....Specifically when we were in Cork, Ireland.  

We try and go to the UK often during Easter. And Cork has a giant Church of Ireland( Anglican) Cathedral in the city, very near University College Cork. 

St. Fin Barre's Cathedral. ( Absolutely, one of the great pipe organs in the world, it and St. Giles in Edinburgh. The Minster in York is impressive also.)

We went there for Easter service, and the place was full, and it was raining and about 35F. Inside the church it was still about 55F. With heating. 

And yes, even though we are not Anglican, we took communion. And I grew up in a Baptist Church that had closed communion, in other words, only for members. 

For the longest I would not take communion outside my home church. 

But what did Christ say.....  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22: 19-20. 

Didn't say you got to be a member of the Fourth Baptist Church of Buna......Or any other church.... 

And the older I get, the more I accept "open communion." Don't write why I shouldn't accept it. And I am not going to talk about Acts 20:7. 

Anyway..... I digress. 

The older guys kept the wool caps on........And you can understand why.....55F is chilly to those of us follically challenged. 

But in Texas, we generally have adequate heating and air conditioning......Plus, you're not out standing in the sun. Or in the cold. 

Take your damn hat off in the church...... Show a little class.....

 

 

I Did a No-No

 Old Kerry Don is off in the weeds this morning, listening to a odd mix of AC/DC, Billy Strings, The Smiths and Audioslave,,,,,Fred seems to like Audioslave, AC/DC.....Then again, I played the complete Requiem Mass in D Minor by Mozart and it put him to sleep, then, my cat sleeps about 12-14 hours a day.( Like a cat) 

Then, I am looking at shoes this morning.....Allen Edmonds to be specific.....I don't have lawyer or Bryant Long money, so, I look at the sales, and the seconds.( In most cases the seconds, you can't tell what is wrong.) I need a pair of new black shoes....The old ones are over 40 years old and well, they've seen better days. 

The thing is, I hate black shoes. 

Not enough "flair" for me.  

As I have eluded to I had to go to a funeral this week and well, I dressed well, even if it was not quite "funeral appropriate." 

Navy pinstripe suit, Navy colored of AE's Fifth-Avenue cap toe shoes, such a dark navy, you have to really look to tell they are not black, Dainite soles, even wore a navy colored belt, not braces. 

I refuse to buy, wear a black suit. And I really should not have worn pinstripes. And yes, I have a solid navy suit. 

I was running late and when I looked in the mirror, I looked like an extra from a set in the 1940s British War Movie sitting in the backbenches of the House and Commons.  Not going to the funeral......I went with it anyway. 

I looked actually like I was an economics teacher......And from time to time, I try and express that of my former self. 

And, I was a bit ashamed of myself until I got to the actual funeral.  

One forgets this is Southeast Texas, and well, whatever you wear it probably going to be okay. There was someone at the funeral in bib-overalls. 

No, I got off in the weeds on Allen Edmonds' site and really got to looking at the green suede cap-toe dress shoes.... ( If I was rich, it'd be Crockett & Jones or Alden's Shoes, you know, those who insist you use Saphir shoe creams, shoe polish, Made in France, it comes in a glass jar, yes, it is what I use.)

No I really don't need them, but they are on-sale........

Maybe I need to not care, peacock and wear whatever I want......put the money in the kitty towards the next trip to England & Scotland..... 

 

 

 

Please Buna People, I Implore You.....

 I went to a visitation at the funeral home in Vidor last evening. 

These happen, as life goes on. 

I am sure when it is "my time" someone in Buna will go..../" Let's go to the funeral, and check and make sure he's really dead...." 

And at the visitation, I ran into 3 former students.  

Yes, I do remember them.......But not a clue their names. 

For some of you, it has been 30 + years since I have actually laid eyes on you.......And literally over the decades, I have had thousands of students. 

I probably would/could tell you the last 25 Emperors of the Roman Empire rather than name an entire class of seniors.  

Terrible of me, but the truth....

And some of you, I will remember forever and a day.... 

Please, help the old man out, help me with your name.  

I know at least two of the former students asked other people if it was " Me" or not.....Yeah, I got old. And hair, beard is pretty much grey. Plus, I am 70 lbs down from when I was teaching.  

Always glad to see you, but well, it has been a long time..... 

Bits and Bobs....Buna Schools?

 Bits and Bobs....A British expression to explain odds and ends, often to explain stuff you may carry....Or  miscellaneous items, or little tasks. 

I may start using this as my blog titles on various subjects in which, I have a mix of information....

- We are getting to the point summer is dadgum near over for teachers. A week before in-service starts.  I hated this coming week when I still teaching like you do not know. Oh, I was okay the Monday morning I leave for the opening convocation....But as I have said for years, I would much rather walking into a school and teach kids. Not be bored to death by someone who has not taught in 25 years. 

- In my messages, texts, etc. I receive every week, few days a message from a parent I either taught or I know. All Buna ISD alumni....And they are moving their kids out of Buna Schools. 

Kids being bullied. 

Kids not learning anything. 

Buna just not any good anymore.

Are just what they are saying.....Among other things.  

Deweyville, Evadale, Vidor, LCM, Lumberton......Whoever or wherever their children will be accepted.  

And these as I have talked about have a long time association with either attending, graduating, their family having a long association with Buna ISD. 

And I understand. You got to do what you want to take care of your kids. And all school districts are not the same. 

Trust me, I have been so many school districts, I understand, and if I was in Buna ISD as the government/economics teacher in 2026, I would be looking for another school district to teach.  I know when I retired, I had enough. Today, I can't imagine how unhappy I would be....And I know there were teachers who looked and for whatever reason, wound up back at Buna ISD. Sometimes, you just can't uproot your life and move to Dallas-Ft. Worth, or Austin, or Amarillo......Midland-Odessa.......Ft. Stockton.........Mt. Vernon......

Again, you want local change?  

 

 

 

 

So, Buna ISD Made KFDM Channel 6 News

 Of course in typical Kerry Don Thomas style, I was long in bed before the 10PM News on Channel 6. 

I get up generally around 3:30AM, mainly so I can pray at 4AM. Best time for me. Get up early, " Have a Little Talk With Jesus" as the old Southern Gospel song would say, get the day off to a good start.  ( Then again, I always had a question about the song's verse "feel a little pray'r wheel turning," I can't help but think about Nepalese Buddhism....I know, too much education ain't always so good......

So, I watched the news story this morning....https://kfdm.com/news/local/buna-isds-new-bus-policy-raises-concerns-for-parents-ahead-of-school-start

A Nothing Burger.... 

Not anything, we already did not know......I do appreciate a local media putting a little pressure on a local government entity, but in reality, will anything change today? 

The one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb. 

"  One grandparent of Buna ISD students, who asked to remain anonymous for what she called safety reasons..."

Translation- Does not want anything they say to come back on the grandchild. 

Man, when you are afraid of a government agency.....Well, you know how I feel....Local School Board elections in November. 

 

 

 

So, I Wrote a Blog on This Over a Year Ago.....And STILL Get Hate Mail....

 And it has NOTHING to do with the Buna ISD.....I was told, "Yeah, they get mad at you, but at some point, even if they don't admit it to themselves even, they think, we might be able to use him down the road."

Little scary...... 

And apparently some Pulitzer Prize award hopeful( sarcasm) at a local TV station is wanting to do a story on the Buna School's bus changes.......If I see it, I see it......And may write about it....

No, I still get letters from people about my concern about the Swinger Groups in Jasper County.....And who I know is involved. 

I don't know if someone may ask me about it, or I may use it against them....

In truth, go do what you want to do.....Swing from the rafters, Be lead around by a dog collar, Hop up and down on the bed.....and try to touch the ceiling with your head..... 

I don't care........But I still worry about emotional damage down the line. And wonder if the kids know, but dare not say anything?

So, you want to become a blogger? It's all fun and games until the messages come in..... 

  

Meanwhile, Across the Pond....

 Here is a brief bio of the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham. 

First entered politics fresh out of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, working for Tessa Jowell as a researcher.

He then went on to work as a special advisor to the Culture Secretary, Labour's Chris Smith - before entering Parliament in 2001 as MP for Leigh.( Part of the city of Manchester, UK)

Mr Burnham held several positions in the Blair and Brown Government's firstly as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and then as Culture Secretary.

He then became Health Secretary and then work in the Shadow Cabinet of Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn from 2010 - 2016.

Burnham then attempted to become Labour leader, in 2010 and 2015 and then left Parliament to become Mayor of Manchester.

He was elected as MP for Makerfield( Part of the city of Manchester, UK) this year, and was swept in by the Party as Leader of the Labour Party unopposed before becoming Prime Minister.

- In his first speech as Prime Minister,  he attacked Margaret Thatcher, who was Prime Minister about 40 years ago, for basically all of Britain's problems in 2026.  

Buna ISD....Bus Policy Change?

 I was hesitant to go here. 

It is the middle of the summer and whether we care to think about it or not, we are rapidly coming to the end of  Summer Vacation. I know I have family members who are taking a trip out of state to visit family over a 1000 miles away, because they are either teaching or they start taking classes very soon. I do not even want to look and see when the in-service days start for teachers. I do not joke when I say there is nothing worse than listening to someone from a Region Service Center(RSC) drone on like they know anything about what they are actually are talking about. Most of these people have not been in an actual classroom in 25-30+ years, and even then, they were an administrator in a school passing through. ( All Regional Service Centers are the same. I have listen to their experts from the Beaumont, Houston, Fort Worth RSC areas, and none have an actual clue about teaching....)

In the last couple of days, the Buna ISD has changed how and where the kids can get off a bus. 

I am wondering if the coming diesel shortage, shortage of drivers, has anything to do with the changes? 

Trouble is, not every kid goes home to the same place in the district every evening. There are parents with 50-50 custody and the child going to different homes within the  ISD. 

There are parents who are on different shifts and their child has to go to grandma's or Aunt Eula's, and I wonder just what kind of a log-jam the pick-up line will be if there are even more people picking up kids? Cars down to the Dollar Store?  

And why wait this late before school starts to announce this change?  People's lives don't turn on a dime. Arrangements have to be made. It's getting late to announce this. 

My concern is the people getting flak because of their concerns. 

Again, and apparently the school district thinks they are something special, or the Bill of Rights doesn't apply to them....

But, schools are taxing entities. Government, taxing entities.  

They are subject to criticism, just like any other government agency.  

The last I checked, we still have a First Amendment and it was originally added to the US Constitution because in the old days, Americans could not gripe or criticize the King of England.  

Somehow, we missed that in government. I have a theory on what happened, but I am not going here right now. Perhaps at a later date. 

Buna is in a downward spiral. The patrons have lost control. "The school board apparently do not understand the role of the school board" as I was told the other day. 

I have not been talking it much in recent days, mostly as I said above, because most Buna patron's mind are worried about anything but school right now. 

So many people are trying to figure a way to get their kids out of the district. And they've been working on it for months. Trust me, I know. This just puts another burden on many people in the district.

I am wondering what the district's grade average is going to be in 2026?

I am not teasing, if I was a parent, I would be looking for another ISD for my kids.... 

 

 

 

 

 

Buna Patrons.....It Could Be Worse?

 I am going to ask a hard question in an upcoming blog. If I lived within the district, I would have already started the process for you, just to see how serious you are about, well the school district. 

I went through the process when I was a fairly new teacher at Magnolia ISD years ago, and might be able to guide you in getting started in the process........

If you are man/woman enough to get involved.  

But I tease a future blog.....

No, I look at the mess at Hamshire-Fannett ISD......And local media is not even covering it. 

Which goes to show just what our local media amounts to.  

As you may know, the Supt. of Schools allegedly had an affair with the Asst. Supt. of Schools.....They both are no longer with the district is my understanding. 

One of the rumors is that many of their " trysts." ( I kept trying to spell it "trists" the old British spelling and spell-check was throwing a fit.)

Anyway, rumor is they were meeting up in classrooms to play " slap and tickle." 

That is nothing new, when I taught at Dayton a Coach and a ELA teacher were having their " fun and games" in the science department, and " knocking it outta the park" on top of the science lab tables.  

I can just about see the fit Mr. Taucer would have thrown. I would have had to help him get the tables into the backyard, pour 5 gallons of coal-oil on them and burning them. ( Coal-oil for you uneducated, is the old East Texas term for kerosene, even though they are different products, very similar.)  

Of course Dayton ISD had them both "resign" their teaching positions.  

On a different note/story, I am remind when I was talking with a couple of other teachers, including a lady math teacher, Charlene Chumley, only girl with 6 brother, if a fight breaks out, she was in the middle help breaking it up....Tiny woman, taught plane geometry. As she said, I had 6 brothers always fighting, "I always wound up breaking it up. " 

It was her, a brand new English teacher who weighed about 90lbs., Tommy Mayhood PhD from Baylor, history teacher, Laird Engel, the St. Paul's Lutheran minister, teaching chemistry part time.( Laird had a chemistry degree from A&M, and they got him to teach 2 classes a day)  

Anyway, Mrs. Pinter who was the head janitor at the school came down and said, " There is something odd going on in the janitor closet we never use down in the Junior Wing." 

We all walk down and normally locked, the door was just a little ajar and from the room was coming , " the " sounds of bliss" coming from it. 

Laird opened the door, and we all looked-in.

3 boys and 1 girl......

In what looked like " an octopus out of control."  

The girl had invited the 3 boys down for some "lunch-break bliss."  

Of course, all 4 got to spend some time at home. 

( Mrs. Pinter's sister was a cook at DHS, she and Mrs. Novak turned out some of the best Czech dishes including amazing pastries for the faculty, and they made a chicken and rice dish that I think was served at the Last Supper, was that good. Dayton still had a number of rice farmers during that time and rice was on the school menu in some form, 2-3 times a week.  And those of you who really know me, know, I got some across the river Frenchman in me that, well, I love me some rice.)

No, the Western side of Jefferson County is having troubles....

The JP in that part of the county is allegedly  under investigation by the judicial commission.

The Constable in that part of Jefferson County was supposedly notified this past week that TCOLE may suspend his peace officer license.Then his Chief Deputy was arrested last week for suspected DUI. 

Then there are now allegedly  investigations into grant money and the former Asst. Supt. of Schools in HFISD.  And if the grant money somehow wound up with Region V Service Center instead of HFISD. The money being used to pay the former Asst, Supt. salary at Region V? 

Then there is the story that the HFISD School Board supposedly knew for a year about the affair. But kept mum. 

Makes you wonder what the Buna ISD patrons don't know is going on....If there are things being hidden? 

I keep telling you, DO NOT trust any government institution, especially if the entities leadership are sitting with you on the pew at church. Maybe it is because I attended a seminary and saw how many of these " Men of God" were questionable at best, and how many that I went to school with left the clergy after " playing hide the hot dog" with a parishioner. And how many times it was covered up. It is part of the reason why I am no longer Southern Baptist. 

And to quote one of my favorite movies , "The Last Picture Show." 

Sonny- " It could've been worse."  

Sam the Lion-" I guess you could say that about anything."  

 

 

 

Going to Get a Lot Out of My System Today.....

 So, I think there is someone trying to discredit the blog and myself.  So get ready. I have sins and other problems, trouble is from their point of view, I am one to pretty much confess all of my bad stuff. And if you find out something bad, I am probably going to say, " Yeah? So what?" 

Already someone was making fun because I now own a cat. 

Is that your best shot? 

My cat is a little rough, and rough around the edges. His owner wishes he himself was something else, but in the end, I am a little rough around the edges. And Fred fits in around here. 

I've never really "fit in" never was in the "clique" never was a "Chad" always just a bit of an outsider. 

So, if ugly things are said more and more about me, well, I am expecting it. 

It makes you wonder if it is an attempt at " Hey look over there at this, not what is really going on?" 

And I am thinking they are a school apologist, not necessarily associated with the district. 

I am shocked at the number of people who think the school does not wrong.   You should get my mail. 

Get ready.

- I am seeing more and more Mamas and Daddies upset because their children are going off to college. 

Do you really want them to stay at home until they are 35? REALLY?

Wait until they decide to teach at a university 14 hours away by plane. The coolest part was we got to visit a city in the middle of Asia, most people in America have never heard of, and you literally were the only " blue-eyes" in a city of 9 million. And the city is more modern than anything that is right now in America. 

We were shocked and impressed. 

The Land Rover, Jaguar dealership was bigger than any dealership in Houston...... We drive a half mile up the road and the Mazda dealer was twice as big. ( They love Mazda in China/ Dr Zhou, April's dad, drives a model not available in America, a sedan the size of an old Crown Vic.. )

Be happy your kid is going off and trying to make something of themselves. You can Zoom them now anyplace in the world. 

And I know it is difficult, see the next message below. 

- Saw my brother's 2 sons Saturday. 

I am very close to both of the boys. I miss BS with them. And as both their parents said when we first met up, " They both were excited to see y'all, especially their uncle."  

I have several nieces and nephews by marriage, but somehow it just isn't the same, I know, I am being ugly, but they are just not " us."  Just not the same. 

They are " hooked-up" like their uncle, and  I can mention some obscure 15th Century Scottish King and they will both know what I am talking about. And all three of us plan at some point visit the battlefield where he was killed. 

Or cuss and discuss theology....For "Fun." 

-I am scared to death this of Iran War spiraling out of control and either nuclear weapons are used, or drones start to blow up Motiva, or Exxon-Mobil, or Dow/DuPont in Orange....Do not think it cannot occur. 

Don't think the US Government won't let it happen to " rally" the American People. 

- On  a lighter note, thinking about getting Fred a collar, no bell, Not sure what color? Name? Cell? Suggestions from you cat people. My dog(s) always had a leather collar in a natural color. 

 

 

 

Be Ever So Careful. AI is Well.....I Will Explain

 I was sent some information on Thursday from a source that, I normally trust, and still do. 

Had a link that I clicked on to what I thought was a government site. And it looked like a government site.  

It was not. 

I think I and 3 other sources of mine were being " set-up" by well, not sure who they are. 

I caught it before I wrote a blog, as did my normally reliable source and within the hour I discovered the ruse, all other sources also realized what had happened. 

The AI was so good, so good, I am going to need to run material I receive through an AI app to see if it is now real or not. 

I was upset with myself that I was fooled. And did not feel so bad when an expert whom I know very well told me that they too sometimes have a hard time seeing the real from the AI. 

And they told me, " It is going to get worse." 

They are doing background research and told me, they will figure out who it came from....It may take a few days, or weeks. ( This is one of the benefits of sending your "kids" to fancy graduate schools Carnegie Mellon and the University of Texas.)  

I am going to have to follow more of the ancient Greek Euripides, " Question Everything." Especially in this day of AI.  

 

  

Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater.......What is Wrong With You Teachers?

 I do not know if kids today even say that anymore?

I see the headlines of the East Texas Banner, and KBMT, KFDM, KLVI, KJAS, all had this as a story.  

Coach fired, arrested for having an allegedly inappropriate relationship with a student. He knew better. 

16 years old was my understanding was the high school student. 

In a county across the river a school district police officer was also let go for an allegedly inappropriate online communication with a student.  I am sorry, if true, he REALLY should have known better. 

Do a search of teachers and this happens more than you know. In recent days, it seems there are more and more female teachers, married females messing with their kids. 

Heck, some of these kids are 13-14-15 years old. 

And what I do not understand, in many cases, their husband stays with them. And is often waiting for them when they get out of jail.

I just do not get it. 

Are we so in need of teachers in America, that we do not beat into prospective teacher's brains that this is an ultimate " No-No?"

Rather than have some " idjit" from the Region Service Center come and bore the entire school district with some new teaching method they came up with when writing their doctoral dissertation, that a week within the implementation,  every teacher in the district knows will not work.( High School people know it won't work, in the session, especially if it is some sort of elementary method.....Something like " being nice to your high school kids"....Please, you're trying to keep classroom control. ) 

But, because the Supt. of Schools is friends with the person who dreamed up this " new way to teach" and the Supt. of Schools wants a job with the Region Service Center, the teachers have to try and make this excrement work. They, the teachers, and the kids, are the ones who suffer. 

Instead, they need to have an " instructional session" on leaving your students alone. 

Scare the hell out of them. 

Lose their job, their marriage, their certification, go to prison, be a registered sex offender.... Be a felon and have a hard time finding a job doing anything. 

I guess these teachers are looking at our political leadership and see that many of them are cheaters and nothing happens to them. And we keep voting for these people. And don't say well, it is Democrats, or it's Republicans, it is both parties. ( I am sorry, I have a problem with politicians anyway, and cheaters, well, I really have a problem with.)

I know administrators may find it an uncomfortable subject, but it needs to be discussed, every year.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Again Buna ISD Patrons.....

 It seemed like I literally spent the holiday weekend on the cell. 

And for a person who really doesn't like the phone, well, it was not fun.

Including a friend who called from Europe, bouncing off the walls last night that England won. I know it is not popular and you should root for the underdogs, but I was still in England's camp last night, and the English will tell you they are still trying to re-live 1966 when they won their only World Cup. 

Two phone calls I received over the weekend were from people kicking around running for school board. Trying, or actually were, picking my brain about campaigns. 

Again, I am not a political consultant, yes, I have worked in campaigns, but I am far from an expert on the subject.  

I know this may sound defeatist, but if you are planning to run for Buna School Board, well, you should have decided already, not waiting until time to file to decided to run. I know it is not a countywide position, and I know it is only a 3A District, but in 2026, politics is well....A lot of thought and issues, positions should be well thought out, not just, " I think I can do better."  

Again, I encourage people to run for office.  

And as I have always said, run, the worst thing you can do is lose, and if you do, pick yourself up, brush off and if you've not gotten it out of your system, think about what you need to change to run the next election cycle.  

 

 

Yep, We Are Failing in Schools....And More " Stuff"

 America turns 250 tomorrow. Somehow, it is not as big a deal as it was in 1976 during the bicentennial. 

And there are a number of people in this country who do not have a damn clue what the 4th of July even represents, or what happened on that day. 

These numbers are from a Cato Institute poll.  

61% of Gen Z. In the ages 18-29 do not have a clue what the date July 4th represents. 

A number thought it was the first presidential election. Others, when the Pilgrims arrived on Plymouth Rock, still others, 30% did not have a clue. ( If you go to England, avoid the City of Plymouth. The Royal Navy has a base there and there is a university in the town, but as far as tourist things to see or even historical things to see, well, nothing. The site where the Pilgrims departed, has a small monument, with British and American flags. The town itself is pretty run down. Same with Torquay, about 12 miles from Plymouth, which is nicknamed the " English Rivera" it reminds you of a " Bad Galveston." And yes, there are palm trees in that part of England, yeah, surprised me too....Cornwall, is not much better. I'll save you the trouble, do not go south of Somerset or Dorset......Stay in the Cotswold's if you travel to that part of England. When you think Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, think the TV show Midsomer Murders.  )

Age 30 to 44 is not much better. Only 46% of Americans in that age range know it is Independence Day.  

I wonder if they considered asking from what nation we declared our independence? 

It boils down to those damn state exams. Follow the money. We are teaching everything but what the kids actually need to know.  

-I know Buna Schools has some openings, but I took a look a Region V area districts and was surprised at the number of openings, for teachers, there still are in our area, including a number of history/social studies positions.  Heck even one was looking for a government teacher. ( No, Kerry ain't coming out of retirement, when I say, " I could not do it today" I mean it.)

Again, schools have gotten to the point it is hard to recruit people to do the job, and with the economic situation, well, it may not hit the oil patch like other parts of the country. 

And people just do not move to this area, even for work, oh, they might live here during construction or during a project, but rather than stay and continue working here, most get the hell outta here....

Only people like me, whose ancestors have been in Orange County since the 1830s, or the 1880s, depending on which family tree you study, people just do not move here in the 2020s. ( I need to sit down and write a "History of Orange County" one day.) 

- There has been at least 2 of my former students who have made the arrest report in recent days. 

Yes, it upsets me. But teach thousands of kids and it is to be expected. People make mis-steps. Yes, they get my prayers, especially them. 

- Have a good 4th folks. I think we are having mystery meat ( hot dogs) and perhaps some links tomorrow for the holiday here at the Compound. Nothing fancy.  

Unless something dramatic occurs, I will taking a few days off from blogging..... 

 

The Govteach, Plays Govteach This Morning....

 The old Govteach kept an eye on the Supreme Court and the case concerning whether if you are a US Citizen, if you are born in the US. 

For years, the USA has followed the 14th Amendment. 

The 14th Amendment is the longest of the 27 Amendments to the US Constitution.  

Written after the War Between the States, AKA the American Civil War, AKA the Late Great Unpleasantness With the North, the 14th was written as a result of the conflict. 

It has been quoted and used by the Supreme Court in the following cases.....Brown v. Board of Education( Segregation in Schools), Loving v. Virginia( Can marry outside your race, big if you have a Chinese daughter in law),  Obergefell v. Hodge.( Gay weddings) 

The 14th says the following about citizenship. 

 "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

And the court ruled yesterday that if you are born here, you are a US Citizen.  In a 6-3 vote. 

The name of the court case was Trump v. Barbara.  

I was not surprised it was a 6-3 vote. It is just the way voting is now on the court. 

5 of the justices quoted the 14th as the reason for their vote. 1 quoted a  Federal law I have never heard of. ( That's what happens when you have a team doing research for you. 

3 voted against the birthright citizenship  and writing for the minority,  Justice Alito was as he said, "one of the most important decisions in the history of the Court", though he considered it a "serious mistake".

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts said,  it was a "promise" kept to the Constitution's Framers. 

The ruling keeps the US as, as they would say in Latin "Jus Soli" or the " Right of the Soil." If you are born here, within the boundary of the US states and territories, you are an American Citizen." This is directly from old English Common Law in which most Americans Laws are based upon. 

( Do not get "Jus Soli " confused with "Jus Sanguinis" or "Right of Blood." Here is an example, If my son and daughter in law were visiting China, or living there, any children would be US Citizens because my son carries a US Passport, and " by blood" any children born to them are American Citizens. )

Yeah, the old US Citizenship teacher in the Beaumont ISD learned this years ago.  

I know people reading this will disagree, it was the right call.