Failing the Children

Good Morning, Breakfastpoppers. Today is Tuesday, June 9, 2015. Our creative friend, Spider Harlotte, is at the breakfast table this morning. She has spent the better part of last evening weaving a tale of stupidity that virtually guarantees children in New York City will get the worst possible education. If the insanity spreads across the country, the damage will be unimaginable. Harlotte has asked for the pleasure of your comp I will be providing the liquid refreshment. We hope to see you soon. Harlotte is anxious to bring you up to date about the latest outrage from the PC gang.

Thank you for joining me this morning. A federal judge in New York has thrown out a test used by New York City to vet potential teachers. I don't think it's a stretch of the imagination to suggest that teachers should meet basic criteria in order to stand before our children and attempt to educate them. If you feel this way, you would be wrong! The judge found that the test discriminated against racial minorities. He knew this because their scores were lower. If their scores were low enough that their ability to teach was impaired, that should have been the end of the story. How are we supposed to graduate competent students, if those that teach them are themselves incompetent? This has nothing to do with race. This has everything to so with keeping standards high, so that our children will be equipped with the tools to help them succeed out there in the world.

Just in case you are wondering what the test is like, let me give you one sample question. The prospective teachers were asked to read four passages from the Constitution and identify which of the passages illustrated the concept of checks and balances. Apparently, the test takers and the judge felt this was way too much to ask of those who desire to educate children. The federal judge believed that the question, along with others, were tainted by racism because Black and Hispanic applicants had a lower passage rate than whites. I wonder, do minority parents want their children taught by minority teachers who are lacking basic high school skills related to liberal arts and sciences? Why would anyone in their right mind accept mediocre teaching skills? Clearly, there is an assumption here that minority members are just not as smart as members of the white majority. If I were a member of such a minority, I would be livid right now.

The ridiculous aftermath of this finding now focused on New York City. The city had to prove that the test measured basic skills essential for teaching. A district judge decided that the city didn't prove their point. The story does not end here. The test has not been administered since 2012, but the ruling will most definitely upset the applecart. Minorities who failed the exam may qualify for years of back pay. Those candidates who failed the exam and became substitute teachers instead might be assigned regular classrooms. We are talking about thousands of candidates and millions of dollars. This test was used throughout New York State, so the ruling may sweep the state. The end result will be a bankrupt city with incompetent teachers deciding the future of the children.

Let's take this ridiculous turn of events to the next level. Let's get rid of all testing. Why should future doctors have to pass any exams? Why should they have to pass the boards? Everyone should have the right to open a practice and treat patients. Let's forget about requiring pilots to actually know how to fly a plane. Anyone who wants to be a cop, can be a cop, no questions asked. Let's face it, aren't we doing that right now with the TSA? We let anyone take that job. In fact, I learned today that at least 73 TSA agents have ties to terror. If a terrorist wants to keep our airways safe, why not offer them a job? To do anything else would be discriminatory. Come one, come all. You can be anything you want to be. Just wave your magic wand. Ah, life is good!

Harlotte's Song

Oh, what tangled web we weave

When first we practice to deceive.

Sir Walter Scott