You are a public school teacher. You are required to maintain composure under such minor discourse as we have here. We are adults in political discourse – that is we speak of policy. It shouldn’t get to you like this. You know when you debate policy there will be principled disagreements. You can’t expect agreement here. The emotional level of your words are unusual for this forum. They are not unusual for a conversation with a liberal. You can’t maintain emotional balance in the face of disagreement. No surprise for a public high school teacher nowadays – or even a public college instructor. To disagree with popular dogma is heresy and you react like the clerics of Bloody Mary.

You can’t get away with this with me or with any adults in a free society. We’re not your captive students who you can fail for disagreeing with your politically.

Deal with it.

I’m glad you’re not Katy or this forum would be largely dedicated to reading lyrics from the the ‘Oakland teacher solidarity choir.’

Here’s a Web Site advertising it will soon feature a ‘members only’ forum [ http://oaklandea.com/news/ ]. I believe you’ll find a lot of happiness there. In fact I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it inspired you to change your (screen?) name from ‘Cranky’ to ‘Happy.’

Some people just aren’t cut out to consider or tolerate opposing points of view without taking personal offense. It’s nothing to be ashamed of Cranky. Make the transition to a forum with more homogeneous thinking thoughtful people less inclined to write things that cause you upset or “shift the debate (?)” away from how you define it.

Have a nice day and a good nights rest.

What “policy” have I espoused which “harms kids, especially black kids”? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! You are making serious accusations here.

Or are you saying that simply because I haven’t ditched OUSD, I am part of the problem? We should all quit so they wake up? Interesting theory.

And when did I claim your criticisms of Dellums were smears? Criticize politicians all you want — they can take it. I get mad when you broadly savage teachers as harmful idiots and teenagers as wild infants.

Finally, explain how and where I say ANYTHING in the way of claiming “OUSD has it all together”? That would be an INSANE statement and no teacher in Oakland would ever say that. Implying that I believe that is a slander, since you know damn well I never said any such thing.

You are the ultimate straw man, red herring debater. Your only goal seems to get a rise out of people. Well, mission accomplished.

Now you imply that I am on hard drugs. So I don’t even have to explain why I think of you as a “smear artist.”

My position on civil servants was posted elsewhere. I think they are known. For the most part the civil servants do tough jobs well.

I am also known as taking the position that people should leave rather than remain in place in an organization that is running into the ground.

I could try to make inferences about you and your work from your postings – but this blog isn’t about personalities, it’s about politics and policy. You take my apparent disaproval of anyone and anything as you will.

As for Mayor Dellums and the disgrace he and Edgerly have taken the city government – well, let the restaurant owners weigh in on that. I never did see he and Edgerly, his city manager, showing up at the restaurants when the robbery sprees started to bus tables, greet diners or help out the owners and employers in anyway. That’s unforgivable for a local politician.

And we won’t even bother with the Bakery Gang and what they did in the city – sex slaves, assasinations and all..

The duty of a leader is to rally the constituiency and keep the people cohesive. Something Bush has failed to do. Something McCain and Palin are more likely to do. I consider jabs against a leadership, be it OUSD or Oakland, fair game. I don’t pick on OUSD as much as comment on why their scores and products are bad.

I irritate you. Good. Tell us more of your view of why OUSD has it all together. Tell us something good. You do work there. What do I know anyway? I may be wrong about all kinds of things. Or I may be right on the money. The policy you espouse harms kids, especially black kids.

I just graduated from Skyline. I enjoy Nextset’s perspectives. How can you label someone a “smear artist” for sharing his perspective on this blog?

Do you encourage your students to label people who have a different perspective?

Would we need this blog if we all shared the same view?

Are you a Cranky teacher on crank?

I take those as personal attacks, and clearly many of the students who posted or commented on here do as well.

Which is why all druggies – employee and student – shouldn’t be setting foot on OUSD Academic campuses. They bring dangerous drama with them and OUSD isn’t supposed to be Betty Ford Clinic. OUSD should have a special school for the dregs. We can name it after Mr & Mrs Reform.

Anyway I’m sure there will be lots of immigrants happy to take the sanitation engineer jobs. Perhaps immigrants who are not into drugs.. The benefits of the school job will complement the Subway franchise on the side.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_10431462?source=most_viewed

His answer: “To avoid narcotic dealers in the area who were looking for him.”

Troy Flint, a district yapper, said: “We’re relieved the suspect was apprehended. Of course, it’s distressing to realize it’s somebody in the OUSD family.”

What a family! Da ya think Tony Soprano will be Oakland’s the next OUSD “family” Superintendent. Da ya think this custodian will soon join the (other) City family as their newest (felon) family member. Gotta keep em in the Oakland family, right!?

Oakland! What a town! What a school district!

Nextset, try not to “smear” this arrested former OUSD custodian – it will only upset Cranky and the crank dealers he was disguising himself to avoid.