The authors of Everyday Mathematics do not believe it is worth students’ time and effort to fully develop highly efficient paper-and-pencil algorithms for all possible whole-number, fraction, and decimal division problems. Master of the intricacies of such algorithms is a huge endeavor, one that experience tells us is doomed to failure for many students. It is simply counter-productive to invest many hours of precious class time on such algorithms. The mathematical payoff is not worth the cost, particularly because quotients can be found quickly and accurately with a calculator. [Emphasis mine]
This video is a must view for anyone involved with education:
And this is why my homeschooled kids will p0wn publicly-educated kids when they grow up.
In another posting, I lamented the fact that the Catholic Bishops refuse to take a stand publicly on the Colorado Personhood Amendment, which will go before the voters of Colorado on the November 4 ballot as Amendment 48.
The Amendment itself is simple:
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Article II of the constitution of the state of Colorado is
amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
Section 31. Person defined. As used in sections 3, 6, and 25 of
Article II of the state constitution, the terms “person” or “persons”
shall include any human being from the moment of fertilization.
This Amendment has far-reaching implications, for SCOTUS Justice Harry Blackmun himself stated in Roe v. Wade,
If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant’s case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.
However, at present, the Colorado Catholic Bishops have refused to support the Amendment publicly. By way of the Respect Life Meeting for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, the general consensus is that the Amendment itself is a huge step, which will be fiercely opposed by the likes of Planned Parenthood. Colorado law only allows an Amendment to be on the ballot every so-many years. And since the Bishops and the Colorado Catholic Conference are not confident that the Amendment can pass, they do not want to give their full support (spiritually and financially). The chance of losing the battle and not having a chance to bring it up again for so-many years was too much for them to support at this time (since we don’t have the money to fight it).
Rather, the Respect Life Office sees the [soon-to-fail] Amendment as an opportunity to educate the public about birth control, how it can act as an abortifacient, and how it damages the female body.
The crux of the matter is that the Amendment is on the ballot. All Catholics in the state of Colorado should actively support this proposition, whether through monetary donations, social activism, or ardent prayer.
The entire nation recognizes that Colorado (along with Minnesota and Georgia, who have similar ballot measures) have a unique opportunity to turn the tide in the current battlegrounds for Life.
As a follow up to the Polygamist Compound Raid in Texas, I present the following. Apparently, 416 children and their mothers are being held in a shelter that is contributing to fear and illness. The state is spending $25,000 per day on this debacle.
Dr. Stephen Smith has been providing medical care at the state shelter, and he says he is upset by what he has seen there.
“All of the mothers and children that I spoke with wanted to go back to the ranch, without a doubt,” Smith told ABC News. “Personally, it makes me very sad for what we have done.”
For over a week, these people have been subject to state investigations that have produced no fruit.
The teen who made the call for help that prompted the raid has yet to be identified.
For some reason, the term “witch hunt” comes to mind. But if you are not concerned about this, do not worry. The state will continue to violate human rights when they find an excuse to move your family into a shelter and scrounge through all of your belongings.
“In every way I look at this, it’s more of the same. It’s religious persecution,” said a church member named Richard.
Some 133 women left the ranch voluntarily with the children and were being housed at a historic fort here while authorities conduct interviews. Dressed in ankle-length dresses with their hair pinned up in braids, the women milled about Monday as the children played on the fort’s old parade grounds.
The entire area is being searched for evidence of misconduct, including personal homes and the area church.
One of the investigators, Children’s Protective Services spokesman Marleigh Meisner, said she was also involved in the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco.
Where is due process?
Still uncertain is the location of the girl whose call initiated the raid.
Since when is it perfectly acceptable for government authorities to follow-up on an anonymous, unverified tip to displace over 500 people? Who is next?
Beware! As soon as those in power decide that you or your family or your church are no longer chic or tolerable, they will be knocking on your door and taking away the ones that you love.
Oh, yeah. All of these people actually live in a compound and belong to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They broke with the mainstream LDS generations ago over the discipline of polygamy.
I do not condone the practice of polygamy, but I do believe that this kind of strong-armed action confirms the dangerous precedent that the United States Government and her State puppets no longer believe in the “land of the free and the home of the brave”. In the opinion of the authorities, the sooner you conform to the idyllic Stepford Wife model, the safer you will be.
Clare Assumpta was born on Monday, August 27, 2007 at 11:28 p.m. She and mom are doing very well following the 3 hour labor. I will bring them home tomorrow.
She joins Rachel, Genevieve, James, Rose, Brigid, John, & Catherine.
James