Re: theater

[Peter Campbell <campbellp@mail.montclair.edu>]

On May 4, 2006, at 11:53 PM, George K Cunningham wrote:

> Here is a better take from Opinion Journal
>
> Some on the Angry Left could
> actually have the courage to stand up if they were faced with real
> consequences--but they are unlikely ever to get that chance. America's
> almost boundless tolerance thus reduces them to the level of petulant
> children. No wonder they're so angry.

I'm sure the thousands and thousands of public school teachers out  
there would appreciate being called "petulant children" for "whining"  
about NCLB. Rest assured, though, that most of them only whine behind  
closed doors. Those that whine in public are threatened with  
termination. A colleague of mine in the St. Louis public schools has  
publicly questioned the implementation of Open Court. He raises  
reasonable objections, as many well-respected scholars have. But he  
was told point blank to cease and desist by his building principal.  
So he did. He has children to support and bills to pay. Most other  
teachers I know do, too. Just try talking to any teacher in the St.  
Louis public schools who has reservations about Open Court. See how  
many people are able to talk.

So do they lack courage? Perhaps. But let's not kid ourselves about  
the "real consequences" of standing up. "Boundless tolerance"? Please.