mel jacobson on wed 16 sep 09
just try teaching in the modern world.
fear of the law? you bet.
i would never go back, never.
to sub is crazy. and to work in a room
with machines? not me, any longer.
the average teacher spends many minutes a day
on a computer making sure, making sure everything
she or he does has a record.
everything a naughty kid does has to be recorded...your word
means nothing.
i would never go back.
our schools do not have shop classes, cooking classes, often
phy.ed. is touchy feelie so no one feels bad.
i wonder what i would be like if i had not taken wood, metal
and electricity classes in both high school and jr. high...my
foods and cooking classes were magic to me. they still
influence my life.
and the one with the greatest fear? the principal.
everyone is out to get them, for every reason possible.
i called a dear friend last night who has spent his entire life
in court rooms...litigation. his take is:
most judges will throw out foolish cases. the case is rare
that is frivolous, but when one does hit the scene, it makes
headlines everywhere. he also said `remember, juries can
do very silly things, i know....i have lost massive cases because
the jury had a `silly moment`. it is not uncommon for a lawyer
to look for that `silly, stupid juror`.
i was the foreman on a rape case, we had two of those
silly folks. they would not budge...they thought the guy
that had raped four women had found religion and was
going to be a `good boy`.. he got off. i have a very different
view of juries today. i asked for a ten minute conference with the
judge, just to vent my anger. he said, `it is the system that we
have, go home and get a good sleep...but, it makes me crazy
many days, but on average, the system works very well.`
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
Steve Irvine on wed 16 sep 09
Mel,
I once served as the jury foreman on a first degree murder trial.
Despite six weeks of grisly evidence, I was impressed by how
conscientiously my fellow jurors considered every detail of the case,
and how seriously they exercised their responsibilities.
The trial took place late in the year, and I would guess that it cost
me well over a thousand dollars in lost wages. Nonetheless, I'm glad
that I did it, and was able to serve my community in this important
way. It was an education to see how the Crown, defense lawyer, and
judge went about trying to find the truth (nothing at all like the
process shown on tv) and it has given me insights into a process that
tries to sort fact from fiction. As you say, on average the system
works well.
Coincidentally, one of my fellow jurors was also a full-time potter.
Steve
http://www.steveirvine.com
> i was the foreman on a rape case, we had two of those
> silly folks. they would not budge...they thought the guy
> that had raped four women had found religion and was
> going to be a `good boy`.. he got off. i have a very different
> view of juries today. i asked for a ten minute conference with the
> judge, just to vent my anger. he said, `it is the system that we
> have, go home and get a good sleep...but, it makes me crazy
> many days, but on average, the system works very well.`
> mel
Sean Burns on thu 17 sep 09
On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:43:03 -0500, mel jacobson =3D20
wrote:
>just try teaching in the modern world.
>fear of the law? you bet.
>
>i would never go back, never.
>to sub is crazy. and to work in a room
>with machines? not me, any longer.
>
> Mel- While you are correct- It makes me shudder to think that g=
=3D
reat=3D20
teachers of today would not show up in our public schools- particularly t=
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he=3D20
less affluent- to teach our youngsters - We have lost shop in the school =
=3D
I=3D20
teach at- as well as cooking- some time ago- a damn shame and for all the=
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=3D20
wrong reasons-Kids will get fat at Mcdonalds and not know how stuff is bu=
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ilt-=3D20
wonder who that benefits. For those reasons and more we need what art and=
=3D
=3D20
craft have to offer - In many systems we are the last stand for a way of=3D=
20=3D
thinking and creating. The law? well-=3D20
Regards,
Sean Burns
Williamsburg, M=
=3D
a.
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