Friday, November 23, 2012

Uncle Miltie speaks

JJ obtained a copy of an email Desoto County Public Schools Superintendent Milton Kuykendall sent to his employees this week:
Principals,

As you all know, the run-off date for the election of the Senate 19
position is scheduled for Tuesday, November 27th. This is a very
important election.

Knowing who the candidates are and what they stand for will have a
direct impact on public education in DeSoto County. It is important
that everyone take the opportunity to exercise their right to vote for
the candidate of their choice in this run-off election. Principals,
please give your staff the opportunity to go vote on Tuesday, November
27th.

As an incentive or perk, on this day, Tuesday the 27th, any employee
that will go to the polls and vote, or if you are not in this run-off
district, but would be willing to encourage and remind those who are,
to go vote, you may wear blue jeans to work on this Election Day.
Principals, please pass this along to all your staff.

I hope that all of you enjoy and safe and Happy Thanksgiving holiday!


MK


Well, I guess this is a step up from Ross Barnett although the effort is the same: fighting to keep education reformers from improving education for blak children in Mississippi. While I'm on this kick, here was this paragraph written by Charlie Mitchell in a column opposing charter schools:

"Overall, as has been written before, what schools need most is for politicians to give them buildings and money for teachers, books and supplies – then butt out."

That has been done, Mr. Mitchell. Its called the Jackson Public School District and your recommendations have been followed to the letter. Want to defend the results?


13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, this Desoto Supe clearly makes the case here for ending Mississippi's extremely odd practice of electing county school supes.

While I am no fan of charter schools being set-up in place of high-performing public schools, in the failing districts and neighborhoods, they should be allowed to be given a chance to be established and tried-out as an alternative that could well work.

Kingfish said...

So you are stuck in NE Madison County. The schools suck in that area. Under your logic, the kid is still trapped.

Anonymous said...



No charters will be established "in place of" any school.

Kingfish said...

If I had my way they would be. Starting with Provine and Wingfield and a couple of JPS Middle Schools. Leave the kids in the schools, replace the administrations and change the names.

Anonymous said...

9:16, Notice that I specifically pointed-out that if any local school(s) in any area or neighborhood is underperforming, even if it belongs to an entire district that generally performs well or is highly-rated, then a charter should be allowed to replace it. Yes, the kids can stay and the administration and faculty can be replaced.

Anonymous said...

Them DeSoto teachers must be easy marks if Kuykendall can buy them with as little as permission to wear blue jeans to work.

Anonymous said...

At least he didn't mention any candidate by name this time.

Anonymous said...

Politics and religion are excluded in the professional, modern model of pedagogy. This is the primary reason education is ineffective and lifeless. My point is that the teacher must be a whole person to be believable. The liberal values of pluralistic society can be maintained if educational law recognizes fundamental teacher values and their proper classroom transmission. Teachers must have a certain measure of independence to be effective.

Shadowfax said...

7:41; What bullshit. You pulled that from a philosophy paper you turned in at Millsaps, right? Do you actually believe that classroom students ponder the believability of a teacher based on some analysis of how 'whole' they are or aren't?

I'm sure, though, that we will agree the teachers most 'effective' at mind control and indoctrination are those (in liberal institutions) left entirely to their own odd devices. I believe you called it 'independence'.

Anonymous said...

Academic freedom is what its called at the college level, Shadow. At the high school level its simply a good teacher who is honest about their assumptions. Sectarian or provincial ideas are challenged at the university, but not all pupils will have that opportunity to debate universal concepts. High school instructors don't want to be debated so they should demonstrate fully the premise and purpose of their instruction. At MC they call it 'educational leadership' for their teachers on an administrative track, but the logic must extend to every high school classroom.

Shadowfax said...

Can any among this audience (by a show of hands please) let us know if any of your high school teachers were 'honest about their assumptions'?

Thank you. And as Kangaroot might say, "Golf clap please".

Anonymous said...

Honesty is a value, Shadow. Teachers are role models are required to exhibit the collective values of a community. Logical honesty is an academic value and a moral value, but not necessarily a 'legal value' or an 'economic value'. If a teacher is strictly seeking their own economic value, they might not be as effective as a teacher. They might forgo teaching in their home district of Holmes County and commute to Madison or Jackson where the pay is better. See today's story on the teacher credential scam for further demonstration of honesty.

Shadowfax said...

I hate to call bullshit on you over and over; however, your latest bullshit trophy is awarded for your comment "Teachers...are required to exhibit the collective values of a community." Are you sure that's your final answer and you don't want to call a friend. Teachers reflecting the values of the inner city Jackson values is precisely the driver in JPS problems.

Your attempt to draw a parallel between poorly performing employees and applicants cheating on tests is quite a flopping cannon-ball in the deep end of education. I see not every foot soldier turned in his tin foil hat to the Paul campaign.

To be fair, you are right about several things: Honesty is a value. Teachers are role models. A greedy, selfish teacher might not be effective. And, a teacher might commute for more pay. You should stop there, though.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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