Teacher's Lounge: At the Polls

An educated mind is an opened mind. An opened mind is a liberal mind. Teachers don't have to intend to create liberals, it happens naturally.

On the inside:

• At the Polls (an essay)
• Links to other education-related stories.
• As always, the topics will be whatever you want to discuss and there will be good community.

It's not for teachers only.

Door's Open...

At the Polls

On Thursday night students, faculty and staff at Bloomfield College gathered for a discussion of the issues and the candidates in the current campaign.  I have to admit I missed it.  I was in the midst of becoming rather ill and in need of horizontal collapse.

I do have to admit that Edwards and Giulliani dropping out on Wednesday ticked off the students who were preparing the event for Thursday.  Students always hate it when work they've done becomes irrelevant.  But at least those students were able to participate in the issues discussion.

This event and other events are the brainchildren of a collaboration between the political science, history disciplines and women's studies disciplines and Student Government.  The candidate event kicks off Black History month for us.

On Monday we will vote.  All faculty, staff, and students will be able to cast their ballots either online through BlackBoard or in person at a couple of voting stations.  Results of the voting will be announced on Wednesday, after the state of New Jersey votes on Tuesday.  Results will be delayed until Wednesday so as to avoid influencing the voting patterns of people also participating in the New Jersey primaries.

The objective, of course, is to compare the campus numbers with the New Jersey numbers.  That is a bit problematical, since the groups of voters will definitely not coincide.  A large portion of our students are not eligible to vote in the primary since they are not US citizens (in one class a year ago, my eight students were born in eight different countries...three of them were American citizens, eligible to vote).  Some of them have never registered to vote.  A registration drive is also taking place.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  I think the fact that Obama is a son of a foreign national will have a huge impact in his favor.  Given that our student population is approximately 65% women, gender will also have an impact.  Our two largest groups on campus are African Americans and Latinos.  It might be interesting to see breakdowns of the vote like that which is offered in exit polling, but I believe that is not planned here.

We shall see what we shall see.

And no, I am still not revealing how I am going to vote.  I am uncommitted from one viewpoint.  Truth be known, I'm an ABAR voter:  anyone but a republican.

--Robyn Elaine Serven
--Bloomfield College, NJ

Education Round-up:  I've categorized. For examples of People Teaching, please visit What have you got to learn? (or teach) 56 by plf515 Philosophy and Politics CA not taking any crap from Bill by blogswarm 10,000+ People at Obama Rally! (w/pics) by lowkell Obama and Kennedy at My Alma Mater by Kal I can't believe I'm doing this! by teacherken Photo diary: Cal State San Marcos Obama rally by ourprez08 Who trusts George Bush more -- Hillary or Obama? by Eternal Hope A student needs your help! - UPDATED! by teacherken teaching, school and students - some not so random thoughts by teacherken Stories:  Ourselves and Others (video) Faculty on Food Stamps 2 by Marc Bousquet In the Harem of the Dean by Marc Bousquet Teh Stupid by ek hornbeck Mardi Gras is about the Music by YatPundit The New Playground (Is Our Children Learning?) by Ruben Salazar Learners versus Educands - Evolving our Language by brazmunkee Is Our Children Learning? (SOTU Edition) by Ruben Salazar SOTU - the students view by teacherken What is with this disconnect? by Tex Kosmaniac Dem Lady Mr. B Doesn't Care About Black People (Is Our Children Learning?) by Ruben Salazar Why are you so angry? (Is Our Children Learning?) by Ruben Salazar Freedom and Justice on Campus Balmer: Race, Abortion and the Creation of the Far Right by Maaarrrk Olaf H. Prufer: Anthropologist against Immigrants by civilrights Race Relations in America; Colormute, Not Colorblind by Bcgntn American Parents are Killers of the School Systems by civilrights NCLB/Department of Education/Standardized Testing/Assessment The Administration and Education by possum Money Bush Hijacks Pell Grants for School Vouchers by Avenging Angel Turning up the Heat on Endowments by blmiller Action, Advocacy and Information On the Road with SAVE in South Carolina by alicescheshirecat A Question of Rudeness by Mark Gisleson Gays waiting for UCSF chancellor meeting on staph stigma by MPetrelis Brian Bilbray's Economic Stimulus Plan: Create Our Own Poverty by withthelidoff The fight to keep the G. W. Bush library off the SMU campus by DWG From Negro History Week to Black History Month, Part 2 by LNK

I'll be hanging around most of the day, actively waiting for your comments (actually, I'll be working in another program, but I'm close by), so at least one person will be here to discuss whatever anyone wants to discuss.

The Not-so-many Rules No general bashing of administrators, politicians, etc, just on general principles. If you want to bash them, have a point and a plan. No bitching about students unless you're talking about what you are going to do to alleviate the problems you think the students have. Introductions are encouraged, but not essential. I have no investment in hosting the Teacher's Lounge. If someone else thinks they can and wants to do it better, cool.  I just want the space. And not for teachers only, but respecting the general theme of teaching and learning. Teacher's Lounge can be "slow blogging" if you want it to be.  You don't get quality writing if you demand velocity.  It doesn't have to be the case that something posted today is dead by tomorrow. I would like it to eventually be up and active 24/7, but that may have to wait until I have developed an independent blog site.

Every Saturday I'll post a clean slate, around 12 noon EST.

•  Just to show that getting sick...

  ...doesn't have to be a total loss, I posted Delirium last night.

  I stupidly gave in to eating some chocolate before going to bed, which led to a disconcerting couple of hours during the dark hours.  That's why I am late.  Sorry.

  Robyn

  by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:13:20 AM PDT

  •  I've been ill too.

    I spent the first week of the year in hospital (which is the biggest reason I've been absent recently). So you have my empathy, Robyn--and my admiration for being able to get anything at all done, which for me is hard enough even when feeling well. I hope you're recovering well.

    As for me, I face a couple of distateful medical procedures this coming week, then surgery in mid-month to remove my gall bladder. (I'm joking to myself that it's the result of reading too much bile at Daily Kos in recent months.) Anyway, I'm expecting a complete recovery by early spring.

    Apologies for being so self-absorbed here; but I do think it's one of the few privileges enjoyed by invalids. :-)

    by slksfca on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:44:09 AM PDT

    •  Thanks for letting us know, Scott.

      I'll try to keep positive vibes headed your way.

      {{{{{HUG}}}}}

      Robyn

      by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:50:05 AM PDT

      •  Thanks!

        Positive vibes very much appreciated!

        -Scott

        by slksfca on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:53:39 AM PDT

      •  I might add

        ...that I put up a diary a few days ago with some observations about healthcare, prompted by my hospitalization.

        by slksfca on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:59:25 AM PDT

        •  I Agree that Medicare part D is bad

          and that for most people, Medicare is good.

          Numerous people are incentivized to ask the doctor to please change to other less good medications for them just to save money.  Just yesterday, somebody was willing to switch back to a medication which had caused him high potassium levels just to save a few bucks.  I told him no, and asked him to ask his son for the money if he needed to (the son is an attorney).  The patient said, no, he had the money, but he did not want to spend it.  The patient would risk renal failure for the sake of saving the system money??

          by frosti on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 07:13:31 PM PDT

    •  Healing vibes

      and supportive thoughts headed your way, Scott. (You don't mind if I call you Scott, do you?) If your cholecystectomy is laparascopic, your recovery time will be relatively short - not like the old days, where they had the magician/doctor saw you in half to get to it!

      We've missed you around here.

      It isn't easy being green.

      by emeraldmaiden on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 10:16:43 AM PDT

      •  Thank you!

        I'm genuinely touched. And yes, call me Scott--it's much easier to pronounce than my username :-)

        by slksfca on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 11:37:15 AM PDT

        •  :)

          Easier to spell, too! Though I always thought of you as "Silk from San Francisco, CA". How elegant you must be!

          You can call me Trish. It actually is my name! LOL

          It isn't easy being green.

          by emeraldmaiden on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 11:41:39 AM PDT

          •  Thanks, Trish :-)

            In college one of my nicknames was 'Slick,' not because I was in any sense of the word (on the contrary, I was gawky and awkward--'gawkward,' if you will), but because my initials are SLK.

            by slksfca on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:21:38 PM PDT

      •  Absolutely true

        I had a laparascopic cholecystectomy on Monday night, an ERCP to extract a stone from the bile duct on Tuesday, and was bored and ready to return to work on Friday.  But I did not have an overwhelming case of infection or other complications, so it varies from person to person.

        by frosti on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:08:08 PM PDT

    •  {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

      to both of you for a fast recovery.  I am so sorry you have been having problems.  

      Scott, I am sure you will feel much better after the surgery.  Best wishes as you recover and please take it easy.  

      I am sending many good thoughts your way!!

      by cfk on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 01:07:19 PM PDT

      •  Thank you, dear cfk!

        I welcome the good thoughts!

        -Scott

        by slksfca on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 01:18:51 PM PDT

  •  I'm glad you seem to be

    feeling better, Robyn. I spent all last night alternately shivering and sweating. Not much sleep was accomplished; I stayed out in the living room and watched mindless TV, and a movie or two.

    Voting was not really emphasized when I was coming of age to do so; as a result, I did not vote in any election until 1992, when I cast my first vote for Bill Clinton. I'll be voting in our primary on Tuesday.

    It isn't easy being green.

    by emeraldmaiden on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 10:14:01 AM PDT

    •  This is the first primary...

      ...where I have still had a choice to make.  In the past, everything had been already decided by the time the primary or caucus in the state in which I lived took place.

      by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 10:23:34 AM PDT

      •  It's my first primary

        GWB made me a Democrat; I was an independent until a couple of years ago.

        It isn't easy being green.

        by emeraldmaiden on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 10:29:40 AM PDT

      •  It is the first one

        for me where I feel my vote would make a real difference  And I am not really happy about that, I think.  I am conflicted about both candidates, and either one seems to be equally exciting, and equally problematic.  In some ways I am okay with either result.

        by annetteboardman on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 11:56:40 AM PDT

        •  I think we have two fine candidates left.

          (and Gravel)

          by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:13:39 PM PDT

    •  When I was in high school in the 60's

      we lobbied the legislature to get the 18 y/o vote. It worked, and was a great experience. Just wish more kids would vote.

      by frosti on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:09:32 PM PDT

      •  In 68...

        ...when I was 20, I wish we could have voted.  Nixon scared the hell out of me.

        by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:11:52 PM PDT

        •  In 68

          when I was five, I knew nothing about the process. A few years later, I was old enough to notice Watergate; it interrupted my kid shows. Obviously, I didn't understand what was going on until later, and no one bothered to explain it to me.

          It isn't easy being green.

          by emeraldmaiden on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 03:12:06 PM PDT

•  Registration!

  The deadline to register here in TX for our March primary is Monday, so Thursday I had someone come in from the county to register all of my students to vote, give them election calendars, and talk a little bit about WHY we should all vote. I think they liked it, and I think we picked up a few voters. When I asked how many weren't registered, only a handful raised their hands. When I asked how many were registered at home, most raised their hands. When I asked how many had made plans to vote absentee in the primary... Again, most raised their hands. So we moved quite a few forms after that. :-)

  It was good. And it's important for them to hear over and over how important voting is. We start early voting on 2.19, so they will be reminded many, many more times. :-)

  by kath25 on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:17:47 AM PDT

  •  That's the point of the exercise:

    to convince those who are eligible to vote that voting is hip, that there is a lot in it for them, and that they can make a difference.  

    by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:22:46 AM PDT

•  Small correction

  Obama is not the son of an immigrant.  His father never immigrated to the US.

  by Montague on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:41:27 AM PDT

  •  Okay.

    Will change.

    by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:44:32 AM PDT

  •  But it still remains that many of our students...

    ...have parents who were born in other countries.  Many of these were themselves born in another country.  Whether or not Obama wins...or even whether or not they vote for him...I think it sends a message to them that expands their sense of belonging.

    by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 12:10:16 PM PDT

    •  Oh, I definitely understand what

      your intent is!  Point taken.

      by Montague on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 02:31:50 PM PDT

•  Where's the interest?

  I refer to the CSU (CA) campus the I attend. Besides occasionally working in elementary settings I still haven't finished my own course work. Reading through the diary reminds me that the campus I attend is downright quiet. It has been termed a "commuter college". Most people have outside lives and spend a minimum of time on campus. Get to class and go home. It has been one of my frustrations because it is difficult to find someone that wants to hang out and have deep intellectual discussions. Also, it doesn't help that I live 75 miles away.
  I have attended other campuses such as SJSU. Completely different deal. There are so many issues that face students, like the recent increase in tuition (again), or the reduction of Pell grants. It's like these people are oblivious or don't care. Most of them don't know it's even happening. I suppose I'm just ranting or jealous, but I really don't understand the disconnect that exists, on this campus at least.

  by Kairos on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:43:14 AM PDT

  •  This is also mostly...

    ...a commuter campus.  But the SGA is making a massive effort to have an impact this year.  I hope they succeed.

    Get to class and go home.

    You left out the part about spending any free time on campus talking on a cell-phone, increasing the isolation.  I try to talk about how that prevents getting the full experience of college, but it largely falls on deaf ears.

    by rserven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:48:42 AM PDT

    •  Right you are

      At any given moment, approximately 30% of people walking on campus are on cell phones. I know this because I did a survey at random times. It's really odd to see a group of people sitting together on at a bench and they're all on the phone to someone else!

      by Kairos on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:54:43 AM PDT

  •  I Suppose the Key

    would be to somehow break through to these students that so many of these other issues they're facing can -- and would -- be impacted solely through the medium of political participation.  I'm not suggesting that they be harangued into turning themselves into die-hard political junkies, but right off the bat, I would hope that it wouldn't be too hard to explain to some of them the degree to which the money available for Pell grants or state/federal higher education funding (thus tied to tuition increases) is at least indirectly a factor of who runs the executive and legislative branches.

    If students don't vote, issues important to students will never be on the agenda.

    by The Maven on Sat Feb 02, 2008 at 09:58:58 AM PDT