AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2006 > April > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USYour Name in Print
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some Get Schooled contributers have notice their wise words in the newspaper on Mondays. The real paper. The one made out of trees that I wish more people would take the time to pick up and read even if you get some ink smudges on your hands.
My editor came up with the idea to pull together some of the best Get Schooled comments for the Monday paper. I compile the list just before I leave on Friday.
How do you get your “name” in print? I’d say stick to the topic, have a fresh perspective and pay attention to spelling and grammar. (Words in print really need to be spelled correctly.) Brevity is a plus.
How do you make sure your comments are not included? Well, you can’t. I pick them somewhat randomly.
Thanks to everyone who posts on Get Schooled. You do my job for me, and I appreciate it.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By SET
April 5, 2006 01:12 PM | Link to this
This will be interesting.
The people who buy and read the print newspaper are a different demographic. Their exposure to what’s going on in the blog might prompt them to join the party. The more opinions the better.
What about the typos? And the blog abbreviations? Will those be cleaned up or will you have a definitions chart?
Also - will the AJC be able to deal with politically incorrect points? Most mainstream press can’t.
Good luck with the project.
By Leia
April 5, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this
I’m encouraged that you said that spelling and grammar count in this project! If nothing else, that will exclude a few of the more persistant and annoying bloggers from being published!
By Teacher Teacher
April 5, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this
Persistent bloggers are annoying, huh?
By Patti Ghezzi
April 5, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
Hi SET, yes, I have mopped up a few typos for print and spelled out or eliminated some of the blog abbreviations, such as LOL and IMHO. Like you said, many of the newspaper’s readers are not familiar with our online content.
As for political incorrectness, I don’t worry about it. I’m looking for sincere and interesting responses that address the specific topic. Those tend not to be radically left or right, just ordinary people concerned about the education of children.
Thanks for your avid participation.
By Leia
April 5, 2006 01:44 PM | Link to this
Teacher Teacher - I don’t know what you’re getting at, but, what I mean is that there are certain bloggers who will argue about everything, even topics that they have absolutely no clue about; and yes, that is annoying! It’s like trying to win an argument with a 4 year old!
By Leia
April 5, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
Teacher Teacher - OH I GET IT!! You caught my spelling error!! Mea culpa! Or, as my students say - my bad!
By Susie
April 5, 2006 01:46 PM | Link to this
It’ll make for a good read on a Monday morning! Some of it might even be funny, since the quotes will be out of context.
By SET
April 5, 2006 01:50 PM | Link to this
Leia’s comment on annoying bloggers is to the point.
What’s the point of a blog like this one if we are all holding hands and singing Kumbayah?
The problem with Teaching now is the (maternal?) need to have everybody happy. Maybe we have too many women in the profession and not enough men - so women’s values and comfort levels predominate. It’s this fear and aversion to annoyance that keeps real learning from taking place.
Pain teaches, but so does frustration. Getting frustrated is what makes you go over your work (or assumptions) and recheck everything to see what is not working and why.
People like Leia (and everyone else) have to be annoyed to change. And change is good when the status quo is no longer working.
I learned the hard way that being nice doesn’t pay. Although I can be real nice around a good dinner. Public discourse is not a good restaurant meal. It’s rough and tumble.
By Leia
April 5, 2006 02:01 PM | Link to this
SET - I thoroughly enjoy a good debate. I have never indicated (ever) that I want everyone to agree with my opinions! Why did you draw that conclusion? My point is that there are those (I didn’t even included you in my mental list!) who have one sole purpose in participating in these blogs - to argue! It doesn’t matter to them that the topic is something they know nothing about!
People like Leia (and everyone else) have to be annoyed to change. What does that even mean? And FYI - being nice does pay! Try it and see!
By SET
April 5, 2006 03:54 PM | Link to this
Leia: I think the annoyance comment explains itself and I was referring to my own experience through 8th grade to High school (College Prep work) through 4 years of college, 3 years of law school to practicing law for over 25 years. My most creative, innovative and save your behind moments have not come from when I was happy and feeling great.
Every time I had a breakthrough in something it was because I was struggling to get something to work or work out. That’s when you are forced to look at what you are doing or thinking and why, and consider that you were doing it wrong (after all). Then you try another way.
The people and processes the set the moment (of change) off were as annoying as hell. They were my good teachers, my experienced opponents, my idiosyncratic co-workers.
If people and the times had ever left me alone and happy I would not have accomplished anything in life. I’d be living with my parents sleeping till 1pm watching TV all day.
And on Saturday and Sunday if I was caught in bed sleeping when they were up my parents would make me go out in the yard and pull weeds or clean the house or do something real fast I didn’t care for. So I got a job and got up and went to work on weekends (while still in high school).
My Parents were annoying also.
Annoyance is not a bad thing especially in policy debate.
By SET
April 5, 2006 04:07 PM | Link to this
As far a being nice doesn’t pay - There are plenty of books on that. Especially for minorities and women or anybody who doesn’t own the place. We are surrounded with people who take what they want (some I work with). If it’s yours then you have the problem.
I worked in retail credit before becoming a lawyer. Now I see people every day who are victims not just once, but serial victims.
I have always been able to protect my point of view, and my interests & property. I suppose that’s how I wound up here. Nowadays you can’t afford to be a nice as you would like to be. Civil, yes.
I have family and friends & colleagues, I don’t need love from strangers. Hope my elbows aren’t too sharp.
By Leia
April 6, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this
SET - you remind me of my father. He too was an attorney and had very strong opinions about EVERYTHING! He too had family, friends, and colleagues, but very little joy in his life.
Your elbows don’t hurt me. I think you’ve been wounded as a child and young adult and choose to transfer that pain through your blogs.
By Mary Ann Lipscomb
April 10, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this
I have a question re: the Grammar test that appeared on Sunday. In Ques. #2, it says the clause (whom you invited to dinner) is a direct object. How is this possible since friend is a predicate nominative?