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Tim McG

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Everything posted by Tim McG

  1. In college, I did a whole analysis on George Carlin's contribution to the study and current use of language for a class called Contemporary American Public Speakers. Got an A on the paper, too. The man had a definite understanding of words and his unique take on the whole concept of "Good" words vs. "Bad" words stays with me even today. His whole idea was that words are tools and that the values we arbitrarily place on them [that there are no good or bad words; just words] got me thinking in entirely new directions relative to word use. I will miss his unique insight and profound influence on our language. Rest in Peace, George.
  2. Giants bullpen rides again. Lincecum left the game leading 10-3 and the Arson Squad blows a 7-Run lead to lose 11-10. Dave Righetti must die. Grrrrrrr
  3. Just keep your hands and arms inside at all times. Nobody gets hurt.
  4. If you believe that this reasonable suspicion [which is the secondary issue according to the law where a "known" incident takes priority over reasonable suspicion] is the end all to be all, IDENTIFY the "known" incident then. There is none. An autistic child exhibiting sexual behavior is NOT EVIDENCE OF ABUSE. It might be - but it is not evidence IN AND OF ITSELF. SO, we are back to the psychic, and the reasonableness of that allegation. Wrong again you contemptible moronic fool. Read again what I said. My friend has a MASTER'S degree in Special Education, with a specialization in Autism. HE SAYS that your support of this referral is absolutely ludicrous, and that THE LAW does NOT require that such an allegation be reported - even though fools like you aren't smart enough to recognize what a REASONABLE SUSPICION is and isn't. Furthermore, I make no reference to the people on this board. My friend sent off this news article to ALL of his SPECIAL ED colleagues. The responses NOW are EIGHTEEN to ONE that the word of a psychic does not trigger the "mandated" reporting. I'll keep you informed as my friend continues to receive responses. He expects a much greater response on Monday when more people see their work email accounts. Who knows - he might find that he knows two Special Ed PROFESSIONALS who regard this referral as legally mandated. So, you might find the final numbers something like 75 to 2. There's hope yet, Timmy. And the TA has a degree in what again...? Maybe your "friend" could renumerate on that point as well, eh? Apples and oranges, big boy. WHAT THE FUCK??????? You talk about two teachers who "know" that this is the proper course of action, I give you over a dozen people, Special Ed specialists, who say that the word of a psychic is no word at all, that no report is required by law. And you say "the TA has a degree in what again" and "apples and oranges"? Alexander? Right. Once again, the allegation came from the TA to the teacher, Dan, not from the psychic to the teacher. If you're going to get it wrong, get the facts right at least. And this "friend" of yours, did you ask him about reporting abuse or did you stack the deck by asking if he thought a psychic's word is grounds for a report? BTW, I hold a MASTERS Degree in Education-Administration and would seriously question anyone who did not report any allegations of abuse. Job title is not an excuse to ignore any allegations regarding children. I would fire your ass. Pssh. Amazing. Good day to you, Sir.
  5. If you believe that this reasonable suspicion [which is the secondary issue according to the law where a "known" incident takes priority over reasonable suspicion] is the end all to be all, IDENTIFY the "known" incident then. There is none. An autistic child exhibiting sexual behavior is NOT EVIDENCE OF ABUSE. It might be - but it is not evidence IN AND OF ITSELF. SO, we are back to the psychic, and the reasonableness of that allegation. Wrong again you contemptible moronic fool. Read again what I said. My friend has a MASTER'S degree in Special Education, with a specialization in Autism. HE SAYS that your support of this referral is absolutely ludicrous, and that THE LAW does NOT require that such an allegation be reported - even though fools like you aren't smart enough to recognize what a REASONABLE SUSPICION is and isn't. Furthermore, I make no reference to the people on this board. My friend sent off this news article to ALL of his SPECIAL ED colleagues. The responses NOW are EIGHTEEN to ONE that the word of a psychic does not trigger the "mandated" reporting. I'll keep you informed as my friend continues to receive responses. He expects a much greater response on Monday when more people see their work email accounts. Who knows - he might find that he knows two Special Ed PROFESSIONALS who regard this referral as legally mandated. So, you might find the final numbers something like 75 to 2. There's hope yet, Timmy. And the TA has a degree in what again...? Maybe your "friend" could renumerate on that point as well, eh? Apples and oranges, big boy.
  6. Once again, Dan...the psychic didn't tell the teacher, the psychic told the TA who then told the teacher of the abuse, not the psyhcic's "vision." That came later. Go back a re-read the article...several times, if necessary. There will be a test. Dan [heaviest of sighs] being an abusive individual yourself you couldn't possibly understand what it is like to teach in an environment where loud mouths like you, and on both sides of the political spectrum, control everything we do. You aren't a teacher [thank God] and wouldn't survive ten minutes with an attitude like yours and a mouth full of expletives to go along with it. You would be the one being accused of child abuse, Dan. It wouldn't take a psychic to tell you that one either. If you believe that this reasonable suspicion [which is the secondary issue according to the law where a "known" incident takes priority over reasonable suspicion] is the be all to end all, there are thousands more people who don't....none of whom are teachers. All of whom are parents we serve. A few people on this BBS do not constitute 10-0 of anything let alone what the law clearly states we are required to do. We have to serve all people in public education not just the non-psychics and belligerents like yourself. It is impossible to please everyone and no matter what we do, we are wrong. You have said as much yourself. So you report everything. Period. End of comment. The facts of this matter, the law regarding it and the professional opinions of two teachers aren't good enough for you. You still want to run off at the mouth even when I, too, have said the TA is a moron and people who go to psychics aren't playing with a full deck. You are in no position to judge, Dan. And, I dare say, ill-equipped to do so. You have to be right even when you are dead dog wrong. Buddy, if you pulled your act with my last year's 5th or 6th period class, we'd read about you in the newspapers ten days after they found your duct taped body locked in the custodian's closet. You want my job, Dan? Think you can do it so much better? Then come and get it, big boy. You'd quit within the week or get fired for being an idiot or because you alienated everyone on the staff...including the TAs. You can bet the ranch on that one, too. You simply have no idea what you are talking about, Dan. Oh, and have a nice day.
  7. WRONG. THAT is how it started. Reading comprhension skill, apparently, is not your forte Dan, eh? All of the information and the allegations came from the TA to the teacher. Re-read the article, Dan. Then go back to abusing somebody else. So what are you stupid enough to assert? That because the psychic is one stepped removed from the source of the accusation, its appropriate to launch a full investigation? You're a freaking loon is what you are. Speak to the lawmakers, Dan. Guys like me are merely following the law. Why that is problem for you is beyond my comprehension. Guys like you constantly piss and moan about how we don't do our jobs....and now, why we do. I think that brings back to loony, Dan. Here's to having both ways. Peace...out.
  8. WRONG. THAT is how it started. Reading comprhension skill, apparently, is not your forte Dan, eh? All of the information and the allegations came from the TA to the teacher. Re-read the article, Dan. Then go back to abusing somebody else.
  9. I'm not addicted. I can quit anytime, er...I mean, if I really wanted to you understand.
  10. Speaking of abuse.... Go back and read the article, Dan. The person making the report was a teacher assistant. A non-credentialed person with little or no college education. Obviously, not a terribly bright individual either. You want to gang up on somebody, fire up on her. The teacher and the administration were only following the chain of command set down by the law which governs our required response to an allegation of abuse. This is easy to understand, Dan. We aren't building a rocketship here, OK? No, only to a foolish person like you. The T.A. reported what her psychic said - and the first thing the teacher should have asked is, does this constitute a reasonable suspicion? No, it does not. "Case" closed, and sign up the T.A. for James Randi's email list. In your opinion, Dan. Not in the opinion of the law. The TA was the first contact for this incident, not the teacher. The teacher, by law, correctly followed legal procedure which she is required, by law, to do. It is not our call to make after the TA has determined this is a situation in need of the attention of CPS. Once the allegation is made we must report on it. Period. End of discussion. Game over. A psychic, however idiotic we may think she is or the people who consult them are, is still a living, breathing, thinking human being. On that level and on that level alone, however shaky her evidence is, we are still required to report the allegation. A game board, tea and a child's toy are things, Dan; inanimate objects.They by themselves cannot talk or think or see or reason, OK? I thought you said this was a serious question. You don't like the law then write up a petition to change it on the next election ballot. Until then, you can go get your teaching credential, get a teaching position job and ignore all the allegations of child abuse you want. People like Alexander and myself will obey the laws of our land until a better way comes along to change how it's done now. Understand? You still refuse to answer the question: What does "reasonable" mean in the statute? What constitutes "reasonable" and "unreasonable" suspicions? "Reasonable" suspicions come from living, breathing, thinking psychics? And "unreasonable" ones come from a game board, tea leaves and a child's toy? Why was "reasonable" inserted into the language of the statute? Its time for you to simply tell the truth: As a matter of policy, teachers are told that "reasonable" has no meaning. The statute is to be interpreted as if "reasonable suspicion" has the meaning of "any suspicion". Just tell the truth: that is how the statute is interpreted. Not to protect children but to protect your own job. Otherwise, tell us what "reasonable" and "unreasonable" suspicions are. That's the letter of the law! What does it mean? Tell us. Once agian you are pleading the case for the defense here, Dan. If you don't know what a reasonable suspicion is, how in God's name can you expect anyone to be able to reach an exact, definable and agreed upon definition? This is why we are required to report it, Dan...to let the experts handle the situation and either support or negate it. [ta-da] Well, yeah, Dan. We're teachers, not lawyers. It is not our job to interpret the law, simply to carry it out. Back when *I* was working as a TA, I had to report things to the teacher that my student said (I was a one-to-one). One day he came in to school and told me that he had been in a fight at a party over the weekend (this is a middle school student). His uncle was throwing the party. There was booze. The guy my student fought with was an adult and drunk. His mom broke up the fight and there was no harm done. That said, my student BEGGED me not to tell the teacher what had happened. I told him that I have no choice: If he didn't want the teacher to know about it, he shouldn't have told me about it. As a mandated reporter, teachers and TAs are no different than cops: We just enforce the letter of the law and let the laywers and judges work on what the law meant. If we let something slide, even something as seemingly irrelevant as my student's story (or the word of a psychic), it can come back to bite us in the ass. So yes, we are trying to protect ourselves AS WELL as the children. That's just how the system works. Put yourself in the teacher's shoes, Dan. Do YOU want to be the one the state comes looking for if it DOES turn out that the girl was abused? Because I will tell you one thing, Dan: They honestly will not care about your INTERPRETATION of the word "reasonable." They will fire you, fine you, and possibly even imprison you. I don't want to go to jail (I WORK in a jail. I have no desire to become a perminent resident). Not even in the name of being right. Exactly. And if the allegations were true and the teacher said nothing, guys like Dan would be spitting fire at the teaching profession. Amazing, isn't it? You are spot on, Alexander. Well said.
  11. there is one thing left i do not get... i understand that caution is needed... but then: why did the psychic's word get the teachers started (and not observing the girls sexualized behavior (whatever that means))... alexander and goodspeak: after observing "sexualized behavior", would you have waited with the investigation until one of your assistants got a hint from his or her psychic? With 40 kids in a class? Please. Besides, we are trained to understand these types of behaviors in our special needs students. A TA, however, is not. Autistic children act out in often inappropriate ways. The first allegation of sexual abuse came from the TA then the teacher did what she is required to do: Report it. It was after that they heard of this psychic business. Seems to me you guys are phishing for a reason to play the blame the teacher game.
  12. This is the line I really like... Source? Who pays attention to psychics? Are these the same people who watch that show "Medium"? Wacko... No one that I know....but we do pay attention to TA's.
  13. $4.79 today...what the hell is going on here?
  14. Speaking of abuse.... Go back and read the article, Dan. The person making the report was a teacher assistant. A non-credentialed person with little or no college education. Obviously, not a terribly bright individual either. You want to gang up on somebody, fire up on her. The teacher and the administration were only following the chain of command set down by the law which governs our required response to an allegation of abuse. This is easy to understand, Dan. We aren't building a rocketship here, OK? No, only to a foolish person like you. The T.A. reported what her psychic said - and the first thing the teacher should have asked is, does this constitute a reasonable suspicion? No, it does not. "Case" closed, and sign up the T.A. for James Randi's email list. In your opinion, Dan. Not in the opinion of the law. The TA was the first contact for this incident, not the teacher. The teacher, by law, correctly followed legal procedure which she is required, by law, to do. It is not our call to make after the TA has determined this is a situation in need of the attention of CPS. Once the allegation is made we must report on it. Period. End of discussion. Game over. A psychic, however idiotic we may think she is or the people who consult them are, is still a living, breathing, thinking human being. On that level and on that level alone, however shaky her evidence is, we are still required to report the allegation. A game board, tea and a child's toy are things, Dan; inanimate objects.They by themselves cannot talk or think or see or reason, OK? I thought you said this was a serious question. You don't like the law then write up a petition to change it on the next election ballot. Until then, you can go get your teaching credential, get a teaching position job and ignore all the allegations of child abuse you want. People like Alexander and myself will obey the laws of our land until a better way comes along to change how it's done now. Understand?
  15. Speaking of abuse.... Go back and read the article, Dan. The person making the report was a teacher assistant. A non-credentialed person with little or no college education. Obviously, not a terribly bright individual either. You want to gang up on somebody, fire up on her. The teacher and the administration were only following the chain of command set down by the law which governs our required response to an allegation of abuse. This is easy to understand, Dan. We aren't building a rocketship here, OK?
  16. Once again, any allegation of child abuse must be reported. Period. No contest. Again, the school employee was a TA who then reported to the teacher who, by law, reported to the admin. staff....by law, VB. We don't have an option here. Who the TA went to was not made known until after the reporting. And even if it was, we still are required to report it. I seriously don't know why this is so puzzling. First of the case being in Canada, hope those rules don't apply,. Second although it was done with good intentions, i hope you agree this is a dumb rule, think about it , i could easily email to a bunch of teachers i've never met that some of their pupils i've never saw are being molested and sent the poor teachers into a frenzy. You would be surprised how often false reports are made to accomplish that very same purpose or worse....to get a teacher in trouble. According to the law, we still have to investigate them. And I do agree that this particular teacher assistant probably isn't the brightest bulb in the stadium. I mean, a psychic? Right there that should tell you this TA is one brick short of a load....but we are still required to report it. Sad, but true. It is the law. Let's just be sure we aren't blaming the teacher or the administration here. They were only doing their job. This whole business rests solely upon the soulders of a, shall we say, less-than-circumspect TA.
  17. Once again, any allegation of child abuse must be reported. Period. No contest. Again, the school employee was a TA who then reported to the teacher who, by law, reported to the admin. staff....by law, VB. We don't have an option here. Who the TA went to was not made known until after the reporting. And even if it was, we still are required to report it. I seriously don't know why this is so puzzling.
  18. Aggie....there doesn't need to be a witness. An allegation of child abuse must be reported even if it is a bald faced lie from the kid just to get his big brother in trouble or what have you. That makes it a "known" incident by definition. We now know about a possible abuse situation. OK? There is absolutely no wiggle room on this one. You are also aware [i hope] that verbal abuse isn't visable either...neither is most neglect. So if a person tells you there is abuse you report it. Game over. Geez. Write your congressman if you don't like how this law works. There's not one damn thing we teachers can do about it. We report or risk jail, fine or job loss. Period.
  19. Aggie, you are beating a dead horse here. The "known" instance came to the teacher via a paid TA. That automatically makes it a required reportable allegation of abuse. It is out of our hands at that point. We are required to report it. Period. End of discussion. And whose definition of "reasonable" do we rely upon, Aggie? The state says it is up to them to decide. Have you ever had to deal with some of the yutzes in the various state departments of justice or human welfare agencies? These guys see everyone as a target...including the person reporting the incident. You going to trust that they won't come after you because of a differing opinion of what reasonable is? Please. Not worth it, Aggie....on any level. I'm really not sure why you can't understand that issue. But whatever, it is what we are compelled to do regardless of the source of the allegation. OK?
  20. I think that's the key right there. Both Goodspeak and Alex are correct about a teacher's duty to report, but in this case I don't think the "allegation" rises to the level of credible. I mean, hell, if the psychic knew the girl's name and address I'd be damn impressed, but just referring to her by a single letter - well that's just foolish. Not our call to make, RDK. We are required to report on it regardless of the source of the allegations. And, if you will further note, Dan, Aggie and the rest are conveniently ignoring the "or" in front of the "reasonable suspicion" part of the law. The first part of that refers to any made known to us incident. To wit: California Penal Code Section 11166.5 "As a part of your official duties, you are required to report every instance of child abuse which becomes known to you or which you reasonably suspect to have occurred to a child with whom you have professional contact." "Your failure to report instances of child abuse known or reasonably suspected to you is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail or by fine of one thousand dollars or by both."
  21. Quite true. Educators are "mandated reporters." If we have ANY reason to suspect abuse, we have to report it. I agree that this story is absurd, but I think it's a mistake to blame the principal and other adminstrators. Here's the thing: If someone reports that they suspect a child is being abused and the teacher, the principal, and the district don't act on it, they can be sued if it turns out that the allegations are true. If a kid comes in with suspicious looking bruises, I have to report it, even if it turns out that the kid took a bad spill on his bike. It sucks, but if I don't report it, I can lose my job. Finally, the voice of reason. Thank you Alexander. Read this, Dan...OK?
  22. Big Purple Spaghetti Monster.....um, huh? No just the green midgets, Aggie. You know, like the one standing right behind you. What a ridiculous scenario. You are aware [i hope] that the public we serve pay a great deal of attention to psychics. You know, the same public whose kids we teach and the CPS folks have to follow up on....by law.
  23. "REASONABLY SUSPECTED". I think a psychic's word isn't reasonable suspicion in this case. In your opinion. I'm not willing to risk my credential on some over zealous case worker and their hyper-extended definition of what is or isn't considered reasonable, Aggie. If it means the difference between my staying out of jail and somebody else's happiness the choice is a nobrainer. Mess with the state on this one and you will be burned to the ground first before the truth of it comes out. I'd report it no matter who told me. It simply is not worth the risk, Aggie. Wow. Is the law - hell, the world - that black & white to you? Let's be clear why its so black & white to him. He's a state employee beaten down by the rules and regulations of an overbearing state. Yet he has internalized the mindset so thoroughly, he cannot see how ridiculous he is. Right. So what you are really saying we all need to be selective about which laws we follow and which laws we shouldn't, eh? Interesting concept. I wasn't aware we had a choice. So which ones are the laws you don't follow, Dan? Amazing.
  24. would you say the answer to this question should be "yes" in the present story? I'm guessing by "similar," he means the psychic has another vision which is shared with the teacher. I can only imagine how THAT conversation would go: CPS: Were you aware of any instances of child abuse before this one? Teacher: Yes. CPS: Can you elaborate. Teacher: Yes, my psychic told me. CPS: Your psychic told you? Teacher: Yes, my psychic told me. CPS: So your psychic witnessed the child being abused? Teacher: No, she just had another vision. CPS: So, your psychic had a vision of this child being abused. Teacher: Well, not exactly; it was a child whose name begins with the same letter as the child in question. CPS: So, let me get this straight: you see a psychic and this psychic tells you of a vision she had wherein an unidentified child is being abused. And this isn't the first time. Teacher: Well, yes... CPS: And you immediately drew the conclusion that the child in question was the child in the vision. Teacher: Um, well... CPS: Has the child said anything about being sexually abused? Teacher: Well, uhh... CPS: Has the child made any motions that would indicate sexual abuse of any kind? Teacher: Well, she makes these sexually-oriented gyrations.... CPS: You do know the child is autistic, right? And the child can barely control her own movements, right? Teacher: Well, yeah, but... my psychic told me! I hope this teacher is severely reprimanded for such a blatantly stupid act. Oh c'mon, Al. So in your world the only things which are similar are exact duplications? Not a teacher apparently, yes?
  25. Regrettably, you're right on that. Power and reason don't necessarily share the same bed. MG Thanks, MD. Now you see what we public educators are up against.
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