Penchuk.com

This really made me laugh.  The picture accompanying the story is hilarious.

Seen today on a carpet cleaning van:

5 Room Special $99, Wednesday, Lady’s Day, 6th Room Free

“Lady’s Day”.   LOL.  Does that really work?

The Penchuks’ day started at 4AM CST as we prepared for our flights home from Houston.  We made it to IAH with no problems but then when we tried to check in, only Laura’s ticket was recognized.  US Airways, doing a fantastic job of trying to drive away its customers, had given each of us our own confirmation number, despite the fact that we were all under one on the way down and that Laura had the receipt for all of us with just one confirmation number.

We made it to Charlotte with no problem but due to very thick fog, our flight out was delayed.  Then it was cancelled.  So US Air decided to rent vans for us and drive us to RDU, adding a 2 1/2 hour drive to our already 2+ hour delay at CLT.  So, basically, it’s been a long day.

For the past 20 minutes, Jack has been screaming at the top of his lungs that he wants us to rock him to sleep or that he wants Mommy or that he wants Daddy or he wants his Blue Bear.  He’s over-tired.  But, Ben is doing his part to save the evening from total disaster.  He’s singing songs to him and doing a great job of comforting Jack.  The whole thing is pretty darn cute.

There aren’t many bigger Yankee fans out there than me.  I get sick to my stomach when they don’t play well and can get in a foul mood (no pun intended) when the Red Sox win.  But, you’ve got to be a HUGE fan to spend the rest of eternity in one of these bad boys…

Vonage hasn’t always been my favorite service but they do neat things sometimes.  Every Christmas they provide a special number to call Santa and the kids always love it.  Well, this year, you can call the big guy and leave a message. Vonage then emails you an audio file of the message.  It’s really cute.  Ben Calls Santa, fantasy bowling, that Ben played at a friend’s house.

Here are some pictures for you…

Yin and Yang

Halloween 2008

Fun Photos – October 2008

Recently I wrote about the need for an exit strategy from all of the government bailouts.  In today’s Wall St. Journal there is an op-ed piece by Christopher Cox, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  In it he opines about free markets but saves the best for the last two paragraphs:

For all of these reasons, it is incumbent upon federal policy makers to ensure that the extraordinary actions of the past months are understood to be temporary, and constructed so that they are self-liquidating. Since government programs do not on their own go away, there has to be a deliberate design to eliminate them, and a relentless adherence to execution of that plan. Anything short of this will almost certainly guarantee eternal life for these vast new federal roles.

Focusing on exit strategies now is of vital importance to ensure that we do not stumble along a dangerous path of confusion that may end in far greater financial exposure for the American people, and a far worse situation for America’s taxpayers and investors. If we answer the tough questions now, and make sturdy plans for the future, we can position our mortgage market, our financial services industry, and the broader economy for renewed growth and prosperity.

As Ronald Reagan said, “There is nothing so permanent as a temporary government program.”

This is going to be a serious post and one that I plan to continue to write about as I learn more.  It has to do with the public school Ben attends and the restrictions facing public schools.

Today Laura participated in an event in Ben’s class and got to talking with the teacher.  Turns out that there are two non-English speaking students in the class.  Both of them speak Spanish.  Ben had mentioned something to me about one student that didn’t speak English and I dismissed what he was saying.  To me, it doesn’t make sense.  Why would you have a five-year old kid that can’t speak English in class with him? I thought Ben must be confusing something or not understand something.

Now, mind you, Ben’s teacher does not speak Spanish.  These two kids really can’t participate fully and frankly, they can’t be properly educated by the teacher.  It’s not her fault.  She told Laura that there’s nothing she can do and that she will, at year’s end, HAVE TO promote them to the next grade.  One of my first reactions to Laura telling me all of this was, “what about ESL (English as a second language) programs”?  Laura relayed that Ben’s teacher said the ESL teacher (sit down before you read the next few words) DOESN’T SPEAK SPANISH.  Now I’m totally floored.  I’m really stunned.  So, I started to do a little research.

The Wake County Public Schools System regulations on Promotion and Intervention contain this fascinating nugget:

“Students with limited English proficiency are required to meet the same promotion standards as all other students.  However, in accordance with federal law, English language proficiency cannot be the factor that determines whether or not a student has met performance standards.”

Can you explain to me how a 5-year old non-English speaking boy can demonstrate proficiency to a non-Spanish speaking teacher adequately enough to meet promotion standards?  I would argue that kid has zero chance of doing so.  But, it’s FEDERAL LAW that just because the kid can’t speak English, that’s not a reason he shouldn’t be promoted.  Does that make any sense at all?

It strikes me that the two LEP (Limited English Proficient) students aren’t learning appropriately and that it’s unfair to them.  How must they feel going to school every day and not being able to effectively communicate with their peers and the teachers?  Is this good for them?  Does it cause any damage?

All of this got me thinking about something I read the other day:

“The Wake County Board of Education approved a new academic goal for the Wake County Public School System. The goal states:

WCPSS students will demonstrate high academic growth; by 2014, all students will graduate on-time prepared to compete globally.”

What instantly came to mind was “what was their previous goal?”  Seriously.  Turns out the current graduation rate is 78.3%.  I have no idea what they were shooting for before they decided it was time to graduate every kid.  One other interesting thing was that the goal says kids will be “prepared to compete globally”.  Nothing about reading, writing and arithmetic.  Does competing globally cover that?

Are public schools really this messed up?

Way back in 1999, I proposed to Laura at Seasons restaurant in Boston overlooking Faneuil Hall.  Laura loaded up on memorabilia to mark the momentous occasion.  One of those things was a Christmas ornament.  Tonight, while pulling all of our ornaments out of the box, Ben, who has been EAGERLY helping, said:

“Mommy, look at this one!”

Laura:  “Ohhh, that’s one of Mommy’s favorites.”

Ben:  “Why?”

Laura:  “Because that’s Faneuil Hall where Daddy asked me to marry him.”

Ben:  “And did you?”

***

In other news, Jack’s struggling with his cold-induced asthma again.  Three doses of albuterol today and I have a feeling that there could be a middle of the night breathing treatment in our immediate future.  We’ll see…

There is apparently someone from college that knows me.  I don’t know her.  I don’t remember her name.  Her picture doesn’t even ring a bell.  Yet, I have received about 8 Facebook requests to become her friend.  I have ignored her about, oh, 8 times.  Why does she keep coming at me like that horror movie character that never dies?  Why does Facebook keep allowing her to friend me?  I feel digitally harassed.