Get Schooled

By jim d

January 16, 2007 08:22 AM | Link to this

Perhaps I’m wrong on this one, but it certainly would appear that were a student cutting too many classes that they’d flunk out of school, losing their education visa elgiblity anyway.

Looks like another BS, smoke and mirrors piece of legislation to me.

By KA

January 16, 2007 08:32 AM | Link to this

NO.

By jim d

January 16, 2007 08:59 AM | Link to this

KA,

Thanks, that was the word I was looking for

By catlady

January 16, 2007 09:07 AM | Link to this

Like the K-12 teachers, let the professors TEACH (and do research, supervise grad students, meet with undergrads, and publish and present their work, plus bring in grants for the university). The Federal Government NEEDS TO DO ITS JOB.

By catlady

January 16, 2007 09:26 AM | Link to this

BTW, what is the basis for the thinking on this? That terrorists cannot multitask—go to classes AND plot death and destruction?

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 09:38 AM | Link to this

Oh I think it’s a great idea. While we’re at it, why don’t we fight obesity by having professors report to the federal government every time they see one of their students in McDonalds?

By Ernest

January 16, 2007 09:39 AM | Link to this

I’m with you, JimD. This looks like another attempt by a politician to get their ‘fifteen minutes of fame’ by proposing worthless legislation that simply is a smokescreen for appealing to our fears.

FWIW, there is already a federal government program called SEVIS that tracks and monitors foreign students in higher ed. Let them get that informatin thorugh this program.

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 09:48 AM | Link to this

Maybe we could harvest some stem cells from Rep. Day in the hopes that one day it would lead to a cure for intelligence.

By catlady

January 16, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this

In my mind’s eye, I have a picture of legislators, state and national, sitting around thinking “What else can we assign educators to do?” You got a problem? Give it to an educator!

By catlady

January 16, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

Does ANYONE critique these ideas before they are presented?

By SET

January 16, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

The Federal Government has sold out the people of the USA with their treasonous open borders policy - inviting the invasion and occupation of the USA by Mexicans. As a result more people are maimed and dying of DUI crashes every year from the alcoholic Mexican illegals than lost in Iraq. That may sound like a reach unless you live in CA and you see this happening on a monthly basis. (Not all Mexican Indians are alcoholics but they have the largest delegation since the Kennedy family…) And I’ve met many victims of these incidents.

So when the same treasonous congress and executive branch hatch this sceme to “protect” us all you have to take it with a grain of salt. They do lie.

Still they are our government. Guess what - they do have the right to condition placement of foreign nationals in USA colleges (and granting the Student Visas) on such conditions and more. If the colleges don’t want to do the paperwork - say so and don’t accept the foreign students.

The presence of foreign nationals on our soil is no right but a gift that may be made conditionally. And that (conditions) goes for those who cater to and invite foreign nationals and ask the government’s permission to have them as guests.

In the 60’s my family sponsored Hungarian nationals - a husband and wife. We signed with the government as being financially responsible for them - I know there was a specific clause that we’d have to repay the government if they went on any kind of welfare… My parents helped them find jobs and while the husband was away working for several months the wife lived with us. A lifetime later the couple owns at least one apartment complex and are well off.

So I’m very much used to the concept that with “adoption”, even temporary, of foreign nationals comes responsibility.

So don’t cry about it.

This doesn’t mean I’m pleased with the government - But stop expecting a free lunch when you get involved with such things. Grow up.

By jim d

January 16, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

SET,

Just exactly what the hell has that to do with professors reporting absent students? You lost me. If you are simply talking responsibility—that should belong to the body that issued the student visa and has the authority to revoke it.(jmho)

By WakeUpAmerica

January 16, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this

1984 in 2007

This yet is another attempt to advance the Orwellian police state. Look at how the Globalist Power Elite (CFR, Trilateral Commission, etc.) have succeeded in mandating this totalitarian dictatorship through their puppets on Crapitol sHill! The Military Commissions Act was passed and Posse Commitatus Act was trashed. Wake up & educate yourselves my fellow Americans! Demand the Constitution be upheld before it’s too late!

http://www.infowars.com/cashless_society.htm#surveillance

By Ernest

January 16, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this

SET:

As I indicated earlier, there IS a federal program called SEVIS that already does this. Why create another level of oversight when much of the information is probably already available? Perhaps this legislator should indicate how this legislation differs from what already exists.

By Lisa B.

January 16, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Okay, lets enroll all the illegal aliens as college students, then the college professors could report when the students arrive at school hungover, or high, in addition to reporting class-cutting. Everyone knows that when college students cut classes they are planning terrorist plots, unless they are getting drunk and driving around town.

:-)

By jim d

January 16, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

Ernest,

I wasn’t aware that SEVIS actually kept up with attendance.

By Dave

January 16, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

Fat chance!!! University professors want as many terrorists in this country as possible. For generations they have wanted to weaken our current system and install a more progressive government. The fastest means to this end is by not reporting the terrorists.

What is the homeland security think its doing? Its like having the wolves report on the foxes. They both want the henhouse.

By lovelyliz

January 16, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

Why is the government trying to have private citizens do its job?

By Ernest

January 16, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

JimD, I believe you are right, I’m not sure if SEVIS goes to that level of detail. I will still submit much of the framework for collecting this information exists in this program.

Lovelyliz, actually college professors are government employees. I would still prefer to someone other than them be responsible for collecting attendance data.

Think foreign national students would submit to implanting a RFID chip on their body? This would enable the feds to keep up with their whereabouts….

By Taxpayer

January 16, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

Has our erstwhile representative Mr. Day actually been to college himself? I suspect that he didn’t need any of that higher learnin’ and such to achieve his lofty post and thus has no idea what college professors actually do. I teach, grade papers, and prepare lessons. If Rep. Day now wants me to become a government agent, he is going to have to spring for the trenchcoat, decoder ring, and cool car.

By WakeUpAmerica

January 16, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this

Ernest, be careful about what you wish for (regarding RFID & VeraChip implantations). This is definitely on “Big Brother’s” to-do list. The Globalists are quickly working their way towards mandatory VeraChips for U.S. citizens. It will be pushed as a convenience, but is the ultimate infringement of American’s privacy.

http://www.infowars.com/print/bb/verichip_cleared.htm

By Ernest

January 16, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this

WakeUpAmerica, it was said somewhat ‘tongue in cheek’. I agree it is probably on the ‘to do’ list for all citizens at some point in time. I wouldn’t be surprised if some suggested they be implanted at birth.

By JustMe

January 16, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

I agree with most of the posters here. There is no way college professors should be in the middle of this mess.

What if they don’t report an absence? Will the professor then also be guilty? How stupid is that?

We pay tons of federal dollars for this “homeland security” bunk. They should at least be able to keep up with the valid people that they have let into this country. Lord knows that they cannot stop any illegals from entering, so you would think that at least they could keep up with the legal ones!

Do they just sit in their DC offices, thinking up stupid ways to “pretend” to do their job?

By Taxpayer

January 16, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Hey, Rep. Day, can I be 008?

By WakeUpAmerica

January 16, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

Ernest, good point indeed sir. This RFID plan coincides with Globalist agenda items such as population control/reduction (e.g. - The Neo-Malthusian “Club of Rome”), open borders & the CFR planned/forthcoming North American Union (www.spp.gov), and the eventual creation of a two class dystopia (with 95% peasant/serf underclass & 5% Ruling Elite). As Americans, we MUST turn off the mind-numbing “SheepleVision”, put down the iPods, Bluetooth(s) & video games and *educate ourselves on the facts of governmental tyranny. Also, we need to be vigilant in ensuring that our Constitution is **always upheld!

P.S. - here’s some further info on RFID…

http://www.spychips.com/metro/overview.html

By catlady

January 16, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

Ernest, what it will come to is the chip being implanted at conception (I am not sure how this will work, but I bet someone somewhere is working on it), so government can keep an eye on things! We can all be a Person of Interest from the earliest moment!

Seriously, I seem to remember some theory from grad school that describes all problems and all solutions going into a big garbage can and whatever comes out together with the problem is the solution to it. Seems appropriate here.

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 02:22 PM | Link to this

If Rep. Day wants to do something really productive, he’ll propose legislation to deal with the sleeper cells of terrorists in elementary, middle, and high schools who disrupt the learning process each and every day.

But that would require backbone, something evolution doesn’t seem to deem necessary in the lower life form we know as “politician”.

By Jeff

January 16, 2007 03:40 PM | Link to this

All this means is that professors would have to check attendance every class and report when a foreign national misses class, or x number of classes. NOT A BIG DEAL, and COULD actually help in other areas!! (Por ejemplo: Even I was known to cut a few college classes, particularly on those (RARE) occassions when the professor didn’t know me. HOWEVER, I PROMISE you that if I knew a prof checked attendance - and that it was a formal part of the grade, or that I would be kicked out of class for missing x classes, I MADE SURE I was in theat prof’s class!!)

By lovelyliz

January 16, 2007 03:55 PM | Link to this

Ernest

What about private school instructors? And while we are at it, why don’t we deputize everyone who is in anyway related to any public service?

By Janis Ian

January 16, 2007 04:45 PM | Link to this

Ernest, Do you want Chan Gailey snooping on students, too?

By Blind Homer

January 16, 2007 04:52 PM | Link to this

Deputize and provide handguns with appropriate training. Then someone could have taken out this morning’s Cambell stabber. My idea of zero tolerance.

By Tony

January 16, 2007 05:37 PM | Link to this

As an educator, it is not our role to police the immigrants. However, I take exception to the professor’s attitude about doing nothing even if he knew of a plot. While it would not be an educator’s job to stop the plot, reporting the plot to authorities would certainly be expected!

Another writer implied that educators are assigned many tasks that take us away from our primary job: teaching. The writer is correct. With those assignments that take our time and resources, there is no remuneration nor is the time robbed from our students made up.

It should not be the job of any educator to report “too many absences” of an international student.

By Jeff

January 16, 2007 05:50 PM | Link to this

Brian and Tony,

As I said: All it means is that college professors would have to check attendance at each class meeting, and some already do so. Once a month, as the situation arises, or whatever the law states, you let your department head know “Abdul missed x number of classes.”

Means you may at least have to attach names to faces of ALL your students, but guess what? ALL the teachers in lower levels (re: secondary and below) have to do it anyway!

The way I see this law working is actually not that big of a deal. The professor takes attendance via some method (possibly even by sign in sheet?). At some given interval, the professor sends a report to the Department Chair listing all students who have missed more than x number of days. The Department Chair then tasks the departmental Student Assistants with tracking who on the list is an international student. Department Chair forwards newly culled list to International Students Office, who then contacts the appropriate authorities. It COULD be even simpler on the Department level if the entire original list is sent to International Students Office, and THEY have to figure out who is international and report them.

Again, NOT a big deal, and TRUST ME, nowhere NEAR the hoops us lower level teachers have to deal with under NCLB.

By catlady

January 16, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this

Or too many absences of any student. If a student goes over the stated allowable number of cuts, drop them. If you don’t attend class, you should be kicked out and deported immediately (if on a student visa) and kicked out and sent packing if you are not. Too much space is already wasted by “students” who don’t have the skills or drive to do the work (sometimes they lack the ability also). Enough.

As for me, I am as scared of the “terrorists” who take away our privacy as the terrorists who plan mayhem. Both are a threat to our country. To quote “The Far Side”: Hey, we don’t have to be JUST SHEEP!

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 06:17 PM | Link to this

Mr. Corrigan,

When you dine at the Waffle House, do you preface your order with “As the Georgia Professor of the Year, President of the Dahlonega Literary Festival, and instructor at the North Georgia College & State University…”

One would think someone was posting under your name in the attempt to make you look like a pompous buffoon. To bad you didn’t hook up with the jaywalking history professor. Y’all could have had a grand old time waxing philosophic about “the great unwashed”.

By thomas

January 16, 2007 06:23 PM | Link to this

We have seen nothing yet.

Ever since 911, lots of whacked, 1984-style ideas have been talked about/put in place. First it was the mailman. Then it was the bus driver. Now it’s teachers.

By Jeff

January 16, 2007 06:31 PM | Link to this

Those that sacrifice security for safety deserve neither. - Benjamin Franklin-

In all seriousness though, while I am for every “privacy” protection possibly available for UNITED STATES CITIZENS, I feel we should have foreign nationals on our soil under so much security that if they fart, their last meal’s contents can be recorded!

BTW: The reason for the quotes around privacy: Look at the law, as it stands today. There IS no “right to privacy”, and in fact such a thing is NOT constitutionally garaunteed!

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 06:44 PM | Link to this

jim d,

Re: “that would require teachers to grow a pair”

Absolutely right; and a never ending source of frustration. Still, the business of educating students is too important to wait for teachers to do so. We must develop policies that will give them more leverage when they try to stand up for themselves.

Example one: Have an administrator’s evaluation be based in part on how teachers judge him when it comes to support on discipline

Example two: Allow teachers who contest on retaliatory grounds to be observed by a panal including teachers AND administrators

This would make an administrator think twice about retaliation. As to the concern that it would “protect weak teachers” why is it that no one expressing this concern every shows concern about weak administrators?

Perhaps because they are most concerned with protecting the status quo of allowing administrators to be spineless on discipline

PS Has anyone involved with TAG ever considered a class action lawsuit for breach of contract, based on the working conditions? IMHO, (from yesterday) one thing to bully a teacher; whole ‘nother thing to bully a jury that’s probably not too happy with public schools to begin with

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 08:03 PM | Link to this

Re: “They (the Waffle House) is for common people.”

But of course. I never meant to suggest that you would satisfy your palate there; only that you might deem frequenting said establishment from time to time a necessary evil in order to do “research” on the great unwashed.

Oh the sacrifices the intelligentsia make for our nation…where is their memorial?

By KA

January 16, 2007 08:15 PM | Link to this

Jeff, read the question again! “..should educators be used as an arm of the law?” NO! the answer should always be NO NO NO! Any citizen, whether a government employee or private citizen can and should report suspicious signs that they think may indicate illegal activities. However, to REQUIRE college professors, or any other non law enforcement person to report on the habits of people smacks of Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union! You said it was no big deal, and that “I feel we should have foreign nationals on our soil under so much security that if they fart, their last meal’s contents can be recorded!” Consider this Jeff, if you befriended one of these “foreigners” you may also have your acitvities monitored by the government. Brave New World, or deja vu Nazi Germany, and the USSR. Jeff, you need to go read some history immediately!

By Beretverde

January 16, 2007 08:21 PM | Link to this

This is the craziest idea since “have you been in possession of your bags at all times?” Another joke, we should be watching the professors as they are the national security threat with their looney ideas and anti-americanism! Letting the foxes watch the henhouse! Who is running the show? The “War on Terror” is turning into the war on Americans. Another failure due to PC and affirmative action’s lowering the standards on effective anti-terrorism. Willie Williams and Beverly Harvard are in charge of security at Hartsfield… another joke!

By KA

January 16, 2007 08:24 PM | Link to this

Troll Alert, The poster posing as Brian Jay Corrigan is a fraud, and has posted on other blogs. I have several friends from Dacula HS who are freinds with the real BJC and this poser cannot tell us who they are, and so his is an identity thief and troll. Bridget, can you ban his IP?

By Jeff

January 16, 2007 08:33 PM | Link to this

KA:

A) I sign almost the exact same oath every time I sign my contract that Armed Forces members say when they enlist. (As a matter of fact, the first time I ever read one was shortly after nearly memorizing the Marine Corps Officers’ Oath, and they were nearly identical.)

B) Teachers are ALREADY an arm of the law!!! Guess where MOST child abuse reports come from? It AINT exactly a “concerned neighbor” so much as a teacher that is REQUIRED to make said reports!!

By Jeff

January 16, 2007 08:36 PM | Link to this

KA:

Also note that I said American Citizens’ so called “right to privacy” should be STRICTLY upheld, to the point that I personally would support officially defining and enshrining said rights in the US Constitution. In other words, your argument about “befriending” has NO bearing on my comment.

By holdingAJCaccountable

January 16, 2007 08:45 PM | Link to this

KA,

Can I get a Sherlock Holmes award? If you saw my earlier post, I alluded to the idea that someone was out to (for whatever reason) portray Brian Jay Corrigan in a negative light.

Something just didn’t seem quite right…

By KA

January 16, 2007 09:00 PM | Link to this

Jeff, Your oath to the Armed Services is just that, to protect and defend your country, and it’s not an all inclusive duty to report on the ordinary habits of people to the government. And your “legal” duty in loco parentis as a teacher is to act in the best interests of the students, to report child abuse or child endangerment and that does not make you an “arm of the law” either. See the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inlocoparentis

What we are discussing here is requiring professors to report on the ordinary and everyday habits of class attendance, and is not suspicious acitivites or dangerous actions, just attendance, of a group of a profiled group of people. Once the teachers are reporting, then someone will be analyzing the data, looking for trends, and drawing conclusions, and bingo someone may be arrested on suspicion of terrorism or detained and questioned all because he skipped classes! ABSURD, and SCARY! Now do you understand?

By KA

January 17, 2007 08:15 AM | Link to this

Did anyone see “24” Sunday and Monday nights where FBI agents were rounding up people of Middle Eastern origin and putting them in detainmentent areas? They had no warrants when they went to a business and requested ALL of the personnel records, and when the records were refused they returned later with an ‘adminsitrative’ warrant, not a warrant that would have required probable cause. Now I know this is just a TV show, but guess what, this is what happened during WWII in our country to Japanese American CITIZENS!!! It can and will happen again if we let it. What we are discussing here is exactly one of the first steps the Nazi’s took when they targeted the Jews. This is the bigggest NO in my lifetime!

By Flo Jean

January 17, 2007 09:14 AM | Link to this

Sorry KA…but after 9/11 I would have deported ALL people of Middle Eastern origin who are not here without the proper paperwork. I would also deny them access to our colleges and universities. Why should someone from Iran go to Harvard and then go back to their country saying they hate Americans. It’s too bad it has to be this way. For the record I’m against the war in Irag. We should be concentrating on wiping out terrorists…not other people’s governments.

By KA

January 17, 2007 09:27 AM | Link to this

Flo Jean, I don’t believe that we are discussing people “who are not here without the proper paperwork.” We are discussing those who are validly registered students in colleges. It is already the responsibility of colleges to determine the status of their students’ visas or green cards. Have you ever traveled abroad? Do you have knowledge of Middle Eastern people or their cultures? Our county was built upon the diversity of the origins of our people, why change that now? Yes we should be aware of who enters this country, and make sure they leave when their visas expire. That is the present failure of the federal government, lax enforcement when foreign visas espire, and the failure to defend our borders and stop the Mexican invaders.

By Bridget Gutierrez

January 17, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

KA: Thanks for the head’s up. I spoke with the real Brian Jay Corrigan at North Georgia College & State University this morning. He hadn’t even heard of Get Schooled. The imposter will be banned from the site, and his previous posts deleted. Ahhh, the joys of the Internet!

By WakeUpAmerica

January 17, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

KA, you are very wise indeed. The government/media complex is trying to get the American public “used” to seeing police state activities such as detainment camps (as glorified in “24). In fact, they are building FEMA camps across the country. For those of you who doubt me, just do a internet browser search for “FEMA Camps”, “REX 84” and/or “Operation Garden Plot”. The Globalists are mandating a forthcoming Orwellian, dystopia, and are using their (bought & paid for) puppets on Crapitol sHill to enact their agenda. For any doubters, I suggest you research the Military Commissions Act or read the details of the Patriot Act 2, or perhaps why the Posse Commitatus Act was overturned by the Neocon/Globalist Bush Admin. Folks, we must turn off the Sheeple-vision & educate ourselves in order to defend our Constitutional rights against governmental tyranny…just as our forefathers intended!

By Taxpayer

January 17, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

Jeff, since you are not a professor, you really don’t know what you’re talking about. WHICH “foreign nationals” would I need to keep attendance tabs on and report? Are you implying that I should report on anyone who’s not from this country? Or do you think I should just report on those who look Middle Eastern? And how am I to know which students are “foreign nationals”? Contrary to what many believe, as a professor, I am not privy to personal information like the addresses and phone numbers of my students. Thank goodness, my students also don’t have access to MY personal information.

This is all so ridiculous! Does anyone really think that tracking whether foreign students come to class or not is actually going to do anything to fight terrorism? Has anyone considered that terrorists might be able to attend class AND build bombs?

By jim d

January 17, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Holding,

Horsefeathers!

“Absolutely right; and a never ending source of frustration. Still, the business of educating students is too important to wait for teachers to do so.”

We’ve stood by helplessly watching as external forces (politicans) have changed the face of education in this country for several decades now. Look what we got! I believe Meaningful change can only occur from within the establishment at this point. To paraphrase, an old friend wiser than Yoda himself, once told me “to bring down a power you must use that same powers own internal forces..”

Teachers are that force!

One day, hopefully before many more generations of students are lost, y’all will realize the power you hold in your hands to bring about meaningful change in delivering an education to the youth of this once great nation, restablishing the greatness we once knew.

By SET

January 17, 2007 01:06 PM | Link to this

Maybe it’s a California thing, but we have Universities here with their own Nuclear Reactors.

Decades ago I rode along with the UC Berkeley Police Dept. There were certain buildings that had “special” alarm systems and a certain complex adjacent to Campus that had it’s own “Police” Dept supposedly with very interesting weapons.

And it’s not just Berkeley that has extraordinary research and remarkable devices lying around the campus. Colleges around here have a lot to protect, as well as the real estate.

If you (College?) Teachers out there think that you are some kind of priests who decide for yourselves what you will and will not do - you’re in the wrong fantasy world. You are (often) state employees and you have far less bargaining power than say, the physicians and pharmacists as to what you will or will not to. You will do as you’re told or you’re fired and/or jailed.

At the college level in CA we have lots of foreign nationals and lot’s of subjects being taught that enemy nationals and warriors really would love to get into. It’s not a short list. From something as basic as flight school to deployment of poisons, pathogens, computer science, chemistry, and other fields there is reason to regulate the presence and activity of foreign nationals as well as our own “citizens”. State and Federal regulations are commonplace starting with the duty of a elementry school teacher to call 911 when she finds out that Mommy’s Boyfriend has been screwing/beating/terrorizing the kids - to Pharmacy Schools having to account for every drop of Demerol.

While CA no longer has Misprison Of Felony statutes, the Feds still do. No one is safely free to look the other way in all circumstances, least of all those who take government paychecks or hold government licenses or who work in regulated occupations.

The Pious attitude of “Teachers” who think they’ve joined a religious order and speak of what they believe they “have” to do is funny - Only the Librarians have more hubris. You’re just a bunch of employees, people!

And I only say that with the greatest of respect. Workers of the Nation, Unite…

By SET

January 17, 2007 01:28 PM | Link to this

Besides, on the Left Coast it’s not just the Muslims that are of concern - the Chinese love to get their hands on American technology, research & DVDs because they really prefer to steal rather than innovate. They’ve made an art form of lifting intellectual property from whoever creates it. Even our Porn Valley in Southern CA has to worry about them.

Now if present trends continue what will be the Asian percentage in CA Universities in 25 years??? Gotta love that Anti-Affirmative Action legislation CA passed!

The locals here are sending their kids to college in Boise and talking about acquiring real estate there…