tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9022354377530449289.post357852838208185316..comments2011-01-24T08:27:07.792-05:00Comments on Summer at Brown: 2009 Ivy League Connection: Time To Get Serious.Dennis Shemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106247464730295713noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9022354377530449289.post-24057414726150876382009-07-02T17:56:38.328-04:002009-07-02T17:56:38.328-04:00Zack,
I appreciate that your blog today indicates...Zack,<br /><br />I appreciate that your blog today indicates that you’re in New York for purposes other than gaming, shopping, hanging out with your new buds and demonstrating your athletic prowess.<br /><br />I wish, however, that you wouldn’t delete your blogs. At the same time, I don’t want you to feel that you have to restrict what you put into the blog for fear of negative comments from some of us back home.<br /><br />It’s good to see that you’re becoming aware of the problems we face with the CYA. Something you might ask yourself, though, is how did it all come to this? Do you really believe that the State goes out of their way to hire cruel and vindictive people to work in the CYA? Could some of this be a result of the frustration in dealing wit a system that will not allow certain types of discipline and inmates who have learned to make the system work for them? Even in your own classrooms, you know that there are certain things the teachers cannot do to the students so don’t you see some of the students taking advantage of that to see how far they can push the teacher—how much they can get away with?<br /><br />There’s never any excuse for crossing the line with anyone, let alone young people, but we need to look at the whole picture before tarring the whole system with the same brush.<br /><br />I hope you also know that what you saw was a piece put together to demonstrate a specific agenda. Of course they were going to show the worst-case scenarios. Thos are the ones that validate the message they’re trying to get across. And if you stop right there and fail to check things out on your own, then these people will be able to claim victory. <br /><br />What you saw was a form of propaganda assembled to get the public inflamed over a specific issue. Their goal was not to provide a fair and balanced report but to stir the embers to affect a change. Were they successful with you and your classmates?<br /><br />Lastly, you’re allowed to break your blog into multiple paragraphs. An 825-word paragraph might make your AP English teacher shudder just a bit.Don Gosneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17110247579694408858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9022354377530449289.post-24091963602903050662009-07-02T09:14:59.289-04:002009-07-02T09:14:59.289-04:00This is a what I needed to read from you. This is ...This is a what I needed to read from you. This is a great post and provides me insight into how you see this class. <br /><br />The one thing that I clearly see is how you have coupled your words with your life. Now how do you take it back to Pinole Valley High and encourage others who have "lost faith" in themselves to work harder to get back on track.<br /><br />Now is the time to redouble your efforts and show everyone that you want it more than they think, that now is your time to take it to the "next level".<br /><br />Tomorrow you will be in New York, look at the environment and examine everything that you see. Many people will only look at the tall buildings and large crowds of people. You need to closely examine the environment and see how many people are really struggling. Look at the panhandlers, look at those who are peddling goods and services on the side of the street.<br /><br />Yes, enjoy yourself, but be conscious of your surroundings. It will tell you a great deal.<br /><br />Take care and a very thorough and enjoyable post that you have written.<br /><br />Keep up the good work.<br /><br />Charles T. Ramsey, Esq.<br />School Board Member<br />West Contra Costa<br />Unified School DistrictCharles Tillman Ramseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698891858507901393noreply@blogger.com