TheGraphicOnline

It’s possible that visitors to this Blog may not know what’s appeared here since it was started, so this time around I’ll start with a thumbnail sketch of each one so they can check out anything that might interest them, all of which are stored on the Archives for easy retrieval.

INTRODUCTION

This is an attempt to try to explain why TheGraphicOnline web site was started in the first place. Whether there are good reasons for it or not, it’s here. And you are invited to share in any opinions.

WHY THE 54% GRADUATION RATE?

The first of several (and future) opinion articles on local education, it tries to explain why Richmond High School’s graduation rate suddenly dropped to such a low level, said to be the seventh lowest in the state.

WHAT’S 9TH GRADE ACADEMY GOT TO DO WITH DROPOUTS?

Not all news about local education is bad. The 9th Grade Academy is focused on preventing dropouts and is already showing some measurable results.

EVERY THIRD GRADER READS (PART 1)

The Wayne County Learning Corporation has identified five “Leak Points” in the educational system, that is, the most crucial stages where students either “make it” or tend to fall behind. This first of two reports examines why the Third Grade is so important and what has happened to the RHS School Board’s policy of no longer permitting “social promotion” for students not meeting grade level proficiency standards.

EVERY THIRD GRADER READS (PART 2)

Since the policy doesn’t seem to be working, a few suggestions are made on how a special program might make it effective.

SIMPLIFYING THE PRESIDENTIAL SWEEPSTAKES

Here’s where we shift gears and take on a simpler problem: How to choose candidates for both parties in the coming national elections. Starting with the Democrats.

WHO’S TO BE THE G.O.P. TOP DOG?

In case you’re wondering, the G.O.P. is (or are) the Republicans. They need at least as much help as the Democrats. We dispose of all the leading contenders.

TOPPING OFF THE G.O.P. TICKET

But we didn’t abandon them.The Republicans can earn a new reputation for being brilliant if they just follow the advice in this third (and last) column on presidential candidates.

TAKE PART IN EDUCATION SUMMIT

Back to reality. You can probably skip this, because the Education Summit has already taken place.

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

This is still current — a quick review of the Education Summit, followed by a copy of a short talk at the opening session at Earlham College that attempted to give an overall view of the local education picture. Modesty prevents me from identifying the speaker, but he agreed to include it here since he learned it doesn’t cost anymore to add anything to this blog.

* * *

O.K., FINALLY SOME NEW STUFF TO READ

It’s time to give readers (if any) a break from thinking deep thoughts, and we are indebted to Bill Niersbach ( who is capable of thinking deep thoughts, but not all the time), for supplying the “Levity of the Week,” which we will call:

Efficiency in Government

The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians, passed on from generation to generation, says that, “When you discover that that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.”

However, in government (and this has nothing to do with the current national administration, unless you want it to), more advanced strategies are often employed, such as:

1. Buying a stronger whip.
2. Changing riders.
3. Appointing a committee to study the horse.
4. Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride dead horses.
5. Changing what it means to be successful in riding a dead horse.
6. Reclassifying the dead horse as living-impaired.
7. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse.
8. Harnessing several dead horses together to increase speed.
9. Providing additional funding and/or training to increase dead horse’s performance.
10. Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the dead horse’s performance.
11. Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less costly, carries lower overhead and therefore contributes substantially more to the bottom line of the economy than do some other horses.
12. And of course, promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position.

–Vic Jose

For the “Introduction” to this web site and all other articles appearing on this page, click “Archives.”

Vic Jose :: Oct.23.2007 :: Uncategorized ::

Trackback URI | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed