Parents and lawmakers speak out against Obama's speech to students

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Just FYI, you went up about 10000 points in coolness in my book. You have achieved two of my professional dreams (membership in the SCOTUS bar and having cases before the Court).

- KSigKid
SCOTUS junkie

I know. Wow. MysticCat, did you actually argue them there?

About Channel One from last page, None of the schools that I've actually taught at show it. If my red state experience is at all representative, it may not be freaking out conservative parents because their kids aren't in the schools where it's most often shown. Can anyone find data about where it's shown and to how many students? I was surprised to learn it even still existed.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

About Channel One from last page, None of the schools that I've actually taught at show it. If my red state experience is at all representative, it may not be freaking out conservative parents because their kids aren't in the schools where it's most often shown. Can anyone find data about where it's shown and to how many students? I was surprised to learn it even still existed.

My state is a red state, and we watched it throughout middle and high school. They still do, although it is up to the teacher to decide whether they'll turn on the TV or not. Some of my teachers allowed us to watch it, while others chose not to.

I don't remember it being much about any political bias though. The one Channel One "episode" I remember was when I was in 10th grade and they reported on Aaliyah's death. I do remember watching when Maria Menounos was on Ch1.

IDK about specific stats, but Channel One does say on it's website that it's shown across 48 states & DC, to school that have at least 200 students (and they only air it to grades 6-12). And the schools must air Channel One 90% of the school days.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by epchick

My state is a red state, and we watched it throughout middle and high school. They still do, although it is up to the teacher to decide whether they'll turn on the TV or not. Some of my teachers allowed us to watch it, while others chose not to.

I don't remember it being much about any political bias though. The one Channel One "episode" I remember was when I was in 10th grade and they reported on Aaliyah's death. I do remember watching when Maria Menounos was on Ch1.

IDK about specific stats, but Channel One does say on it's website that it's shown across 48 states & DC, to school that have at least 200 students (and they only air it to grades 6-12). And the schools must air Channel One 90% of the school days.

I don't think I've ever seen it. (I'm pretty sure I was out of high school before it was invented, but I don't think even in student teaching the school had it.)

I suspect that what happened here was that in the early days of the Georgia lottery, when they sent money to every school to invest in technology, schools didn't need Channel One as much. If you didn't have to be beholden to watching programing 90% of the time, why would you?

I wonder if only systems that really don't have money to fund replacement technology have kept up with it down here.

I never heard anything about its bias.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I suspect that what happened here was that in the early days of the Georgia lottery, when they sent money to every school to invest in technology, schools didn't need Channel One as much. If you didn't have to be beholden to watching programing 90% of the time, why would you?

I wonder if only systems that really don't have money to fund replacement technology have kept up with it down here.

I never heard anything about its bias.

Actually, from what I was reading on the Channel One website, the schools don't have to pay for the technology. If the school signs up and says they'll show Channel One. Then Channel One puts in the TV, the satellite and all the equipment needed to show Channel One in school. All the school really has to do is show it 90% of the school days and give notice to Channel One (usually within 48 hours) if there is some technical difficulty.

If there was a fee to the school, I doubt that my school or any other school here would show Channel One. My school didn't even have enough money to buy enough protractors for the geometry classes (true story...lol).

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by epchick

Actually, from what I was reading on the Channel One website, the schools don't have to pay for the technology. If the school signs up and says they'll show Channel One. Then Channel One puts in the TV, the satellite and all the equipment needed to show Channel One in school. All the school really has to do is show it 90% of the school days and give notice to Channel One (usually within 48 hours) if there is some technical difficulty.

If there was a fee to the school, I doubt that my school or any other school here would show Channel One. My school didn't even have enough money to buy enough protractors for the geometry classes (true story...lol).

Oh, right. I guess I wasn't clear. The only reason to have Channel One, IMO, is if you can't/don't want to buy the technology a different way.

Since Georgia had the lottery money for a while to buy technology, I think a lot of the poorer systems were able to get some stuff that they otherwise would have tried to get Channel One to supply.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Oh, right. I guess I wasn't clear. The only reason to have Channel One, IMO, is if you can't/don't want to buy the technology a different way.

Since Georgia had the lottery money for a while to buy technology, I think a lot of the poorer systems were able to get some stuff that they otherwise would have tried to get Channel One to supply.

oooh ok, I understand ya now. And yeah, you are probably right.

[UGAalum94]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us...ewanted=1&_r=1

Eh.

Nice sounding rhetoric, but the specifics of how you do it are pretty important.

And if you consider all the limits he places on the system, I doubt it's even possible.

I happen to think the line about you won't have to change your insurance if you like it is about as honest as Palin's comments about the death panels. ETA: he says "nothing in this plan" will require it. No, but it might be a relatively predictable outcome if your employer thinks they can get something cheaper.

It's kind of an interesting read just to see him pander to such a wide range of constituencies. Late in the speech when he addresses reformers who wanted a lot more is probably my favorite part.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Just FYI, you went up about 10000 points in coolness in my book. You have achieved two of my professional dreams (membership in the SCOTUS bar and having cases before the Court).

- KSigKid
SCOTUS junkie

I'll sponsor you when you your time comes.

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I know. Wow. MysticCat, did you actually argue them there?

Fortunately, no. I say fortunately because in every case I've had there except two, I represented the winning party in the court below. My briefs were to convince the Court it didn't want to hear the case -- I wanted to keep my win -- and they agreed. In some ways, that's not that impressive -- they hear few cases. But in at least one, I was pretty proud that they said "no" -- there was a fair amount of speculation that they would take it. In one other case, we asked them to reverse and remand for reconsideration without argument, which they did. In the one case where I was on the losing side below, they accepted our petition for cert, but my collegue actually argued at oral argument. (We lost.)

All of this is why I said I had "had cases" at the Court, not "argued," since that to many people implies oral arguments. But I have filed quite a few briefs, so I've argued in that sense. I've been there quite a few times and met a few of the justices.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

It's just one of those days when I know what I mean but can't clearly and concisely communicate it to others.

I have those days too.