Buna High School 'Problems?'

 I know there are people that tell you that the school district is doing "great" well, like every other school district in the state, there are changes so fast, so furious that well, the world is changing and like most of us, schools have a hard time keeping up. 

And I've heard this from more than one source.....

Allegedly, the discipline is just well, trying to be nice here, as one person told me " Was pitiful"......" That the male student body just ignores school administration." And according to more than once source, they're just don't feel threatened by administration.

Which makes you wonder about just what is going on?

Say what you want, I sort of wanted you to be afraid of me. And in 2024, I am sure they'd let me go, but I'd teach some of these Senior boys new adjective, verbs, nouns, and how to string them together. 

And if they protested, I'll let them know I called their daddies " Much worse words....." ( It was called the "Cuss Porch" for a reason. That said, the porch was used more to tell seniors things that the rest of the school didn't need to know. )

Senior boys.....In my mind, you're grown-ass people....And trust me, if needed, the Vidorian can come out in me.... 

There are also stories that between 3-4 teachers at BHS are looking to " Call it a day" and resign and not come back after Christmas. Already some have told administration not to expect them back for the Second Semester. 

Apparently, "  Due to the frustration they feel with being micromanaged and bullied."

Fuck that micromanagement. 

Yes, I am using the American usage, not the Irish pronunciation like I often use. 

Did you hire these people to teach, or be toadies?  Get the fuck out of my way. I know what I'm doing in the classroom more than you. ( No brag, just fact) You're an administrator, "you're chasing the bag." ( As the kids now say) 

I don't know, I really don't.I'm still somewhat Old School. And I know COVID has changed schools, and don't say it hasn't, but you know, I still believe in structure, discipline, and allowing teachers to teach. I know when I was at BHS, the administration stepped away and let me teach. And many times I left some of you in tears. Once again, I've always seen the Senior Year as a transition year. And most of you at some point will turn 18 years old. Grown-ass people, and the state sees you that way too. Just ask the next District Attorney of the 33rd District of Texas. He's give you life-without or put an 18 year old on Death Row in a heartbeat....

People wanting to leave at Christmas......Who, or just what will replace them? Think about that....

Yeah, there will always be people who'll tell you things are " Great" but in reality, there is a lot of "Smoke and Mirrors." 

Parents, You Might Want to Talk to Your Kiddos

 I started to take the day off from blogging and saw this on several of my news feeds this morning. 

700 students in America have been arrested this academic year, so far for making threats, mostly called in, against their schools. 

700.....and it's still September. 

I know that when we visited my brother's family, the school in Llano was having threats nearly every day....Rural 3A Football Division 1 Llano....Same size as Buna....You know it's happening in this area, but we are not told about it, or we'd be in a panic constantly.

Parents, you might want to talk to your kids. Tell them, that this will mess them up, well, forever. They just think school is bad, jail, prison is 10 times worse. 

They think they are being picked on in school? Wait until they are in prison and they get to be a 'sex toy' for the older, meaner folks doing life/without. 

I know 50 years ago, when I was in school there were threats against the school, but they were few and far between......But today, kids literally take it to the point they will shoot up everyone at school....And I am not understanding the mentally to it. As a kid, I had access to serious weaponry, and never dreamed of shooting anyone or anything at school. Hell, people had shotguns and rifles in their trucks in the 1970s, at school. And no one thought twice about it.

But, this is the world we live in in 2024.

Thank you Jesus I am retired and don't have to put up with this......

Just Disappointed

 Probably shouldn't have, but I hit the trad/prep men's clothing sites this morning.....Ben Silver, O'Connell's, Ralph Lauren.....Brooks Brothers......J Press......

Worst clothes I have ever seen for Fall/Winter 24-25. 

Just awful.....Other than a tie at Ben Silver's, and they're asking too much for it, nothing floated my boat. ( They wanted $125 for the tie, the bow-tie was nearly as much. )

Then again, I have about 100 ties in my closet, most of which I never wear, this time of year, it is always one of the tartan ties that I can 'officially' wear. ( You're not supposed to wear a tartan tie unless you have family or professional affiliation..... But in America, no one cares, but I still follow the traditional standard of the "Old Country." And invariably, I pull out the 'clergy' tie. Somewhat muted, conservative enough you can wear to a funeral.)

I don't know, so much of what was offered, I already own. My wife makes fun of me because now, I have 3 closets in 3 rooms full of my clothes.....and about 12-14 shirts hanging on the ironing board. All American cut OCBD....Except two British made ones.

Like I got someplace fancy to go....

I got to go to the doctor in the morning, and this is how much of a flop I am. I've already picked out the clothes I am wearing there tomorrow. Should be cooler( a little) and I've already looked at lighter, Fall like clothing....

But the real question is, which hat I should wear? 

Ladies, beware, if you are dating a guy who re-ties his bow-tie 4-6 times, so he does not look like Tom Keen from Bloomberg, beware, you'll get into a mess like my wife has.....

 

Monday Sept. 23rd Board Meeting

 From the reports I am receiving the board meeting was a little more 'Patron Friendly' after the last meeting which angered many in the community. Or at least to those in attendance were a little more pleased.

Last night's meeting was simply to appoint an interim Supt. of Schools for Buna ISD. A re-run, as they were the interim before the present Supt. of Schools. ( Bill Boyd is interim)

For those of you who did not know, and it 3 of the 4 board members up for re-election this November are not running again.  So, the term "Lame Duck" takes on meaning here. Say what you want, put 3 or 4 new members on board and the dynamic is going to change. And that change will be the first of the new year which is in 3 months now. 

Let me put my 'gubmint' teacher hat on for a second. 

The general election, including the local vote for school board is Tuesday, Nov. 5th. 

The last day to registrar to vote in Oct. 7th.  Here is a link to the Texas Sec. of State Texas online registration.

2025 Review-New Subie

 I drove the Subaru Outback for the first time this weekend. We took a road trip to Llano to see the nephew's ball game.

As you know, we are hooked on the Subaru, as I am convinced my wife would have been killed had she been driving something other than the 2017 Subaru Outback we previously had. ( Or any Subaru)

And like Augustus McCray said about Deets, my wife is not one to make much of a change. Green paint, Ivory interior, same model, Subaru Outback.

I am amazed at the computer technology  that is in the 2025 model.massive screen,  of course a backup camera that they all have now. But the technology is starting to be too much to keep up with. And the screen changes to several different ones. I do like the oil and water temp on the screen.

The AI is pretty amazing in that there is a self driving setting that not only keeps you in the lane without hands of the wheel, but slows you down behind pokey cars to your front. It does gripe at you and make you put your hands on the wheel if they're off too long. I am debating hooking a C-clamp to the wheel to see if it will let me go hands free? Then again, do I want to do that?

The stereo system is a little disappointing. But our 2017 system wasn't that good either, and well, my personal vehicle has a subwoofer, so you blast  as you go down the highway. ( Old guy in a 2010 Toaster blasting Also, and new cars don't have CD players which is a disappointing to us older people. Then again I need to learn how to run tunes off my phone. 

The a/c vents are also smaller, but I was comfortable in the drive. Deb is disappointed in the vent sizes however. 

The Outback no longer has the 3.6 liter 6 cylinder engine, and now offers the 2.4 engine with a turbocharger. We did not get the turbocharger. Just the standard 2.4 which we had in the other Outback. Of course, it is a Subaru and the engine is in the Boxer style. And can hear it down the highway before my wife turns into our drive. Boxers have a unique sound I can pick out. ( I had a love affair as a youth with Porches.)

The car got 29.8 MPG on the trip to Llano, this is with a heavy footed driver ( Me) behind the wheel.  

I enjoyed driving the car, very similar to the '17 Outback we had, so in truth, the car wasn't that much different. 

This said, if I was looking to buy a new vehicle, I would look at a Subaru, not the Outback, because, well, we already have one, but I'd look hard, hell, I'd buy the Forrester. I like a boxy vehicle. And the new green one? Oh Hell yeah, so close to BRG.....

Okay, Okay, We Go There......This Blog is for 'Some' Buna Folks.....

 So, over the last week, I've had more people show up in my DM's and PM's that well......

These are people I have not a clue who they are. I didn't teach them, teach their kids, or know them from Buna ISD in some form or fashion. 

If you send me a message, and I don't know you from the above criteria, let me know. 

I already am getting message from people that, well, at best, I wonder about their motives, and their sanity.....You know good and well, some people, well, " They just ain't right." ( And I know people say that about me, and well, I embrace my "difference" and I guess I always have. )

For those who have not realized, the blog readership in the last 4-6 months has taken off like no other time. 

And I am not going to lie, it makes you hesitate sometimes when you write the blog, and most of you know, I most of the time don't give a good shit who I make mad, or embarrass. 

So, Govteach, Mr. Thomas, Kerry, Kerry Don, get to the point of this blog......

I encourage you to send me your concerns, your stories, information, about whatever you learn......And most of the times, I will investigate and use your info, maybe not the same day, but often within the week. 

And please, let me know who the hell you are, especially if I do not know who the hell you are. Please, please, please..... 

And as always, I never name sources. 

Never. 

As I have always said, I am an absolutist on the First Amendment. 

I can say stuff other people can't. And as the blog grows, I may actually tell you what I think, like I'm not already there. What are they going to do? Make me attend church in Buna? Force me to go back and teach 'gubmint' back in Buna? 

The answer of course is "No."

That's Enough.....

 In the past few weeks, I have had many, many requests for " friendship" on my regular Facebook site. Most, I've not a clue who they are, and in truth, I really do not care. 

Like I am going to hang out with these people. I don't associate with the people I am "friends" with on Facebook now. 

I am more of a a homebody/introvert than you know. 

Seriously, I show up to an event of any sort, be shocked and amazed I have come out of Lemonville to civilization. 

I generally try and keep my Facebook page itself at about 800 and right now I am close to 1000. Well over my 'Mendoza Level.' 

That said, if I taught you, I will go ahead and accept you as a "friend" on Facebook, but if I have not a clue, well, don't take it as an insult, as you can always keep up with the blog by joining at this Facebook Group link.  

I already have too many people posting stuff on regular Facebook and I am wondering....." What the cornbread feck are they talking about?" And in truth, I don't give a good damn about. And it clutters up people I really want to know about, and if need be put on the 'Prayer List.' ( Yep, cussin' and prayin' first thing.....If you know me, you aren't surprised. St. Peter had that problem, and one day, I need to write a blog titled the " Sins of St. Paul.." "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.")

That said, for the second time, I had someone introduce themselves to me in the store. Blog reader...It gets scary. You don't know if they like what you write, or not.  

But, I digress. 

At some point, I must run a purge, clean house, get Facebook to a manageable level.  

But not today.........