"They don't realize"

[The Straight Story]

Sometimes "We didn't realize" is more serious. Take for example, No Child Left Behind. One of the rules says that all school teachers must be highly qualified. Sounds like a great thing, right? But what if you have a rural school with two teachers? Many schools in Alaska fit that description.

Those two teachers must be "highly qualified" in math, science, reading, social studies, etc., because they teach them all. It's hard enough to be "highly qualified" in one subject, much less five. NCLB also says that instructional aides must have an associate degree. Do you think they were able to find people with associate degrees willing to work for $12 to $14 an hour in villages like Kivalina, Igiugig, Allakaket, and Tuntutuliak? Um, no. It wasn't until the bill was passed and all hell broke loose that anyone in Washington saw what NCLB meant for Alaska. They didn't realize.

People don't realize a lot of things about Alaska. It's not dark six months of the year. No, Eskimos do not live in houses made out of ice. The place is not infested with polar bears. No, there are no penguins here. Yes, we use American money.

I guess my point is that it is interesting how as Alaskans, we often feel that we are under the radar. This, depending on the situation, is not always a bad thing. I know most of us take pride in our uniqueness, but there are times when it can be a major inconvenience.

No one really thinks much about us when it comes time to make decisions. That leaves us to suffer with the consequences until they get things sorted out ... if they ever do. People kind of forget that we exist ... either that or they believe we are an island in the ocean due south of San Diego and west of Hawaii.

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/voices/tundra-talk/3384-they-dont-realize

They wrote it about Alaska, but I think it could apply other places just as well.

People sometimes complain that smaller states have 2 senators - probably a good thing they do else those with a higher population might try and fix problems that exist for them but don't exist for others (and may have adverse consequences).

[WT Fuheck]

1. I think we need a rule at DU requiring all posts to be "highly intelligent"

[The Straight Story]

2. If that was the case your reply would be gone (nt)

[NYC_SKP]

3. Can you believe it?

Of all the OPs to call unintelligent, yours is far from qualifying.

:shrug:

[WT Fuheck]

4. dude, I meant like yours.

ouch!

We never know how things turn out. The proof is in the pudding and the devil is in the details.

[The Straight Story]

5. LOL NP

Was joking as well :) Late night humor...

[WT Fuheck]

6. Long ago, I lived in rural New Mexico and southwestern Texas.

Many government programs and requirements were as ludicrous on the ground as your Alaska examples.

[The Straight Story]

7. I think that is one reason we hear about northern CA wanting to split from southern every year

I wrote an op about it all once - Our country is the body, and a cut on the knee does not mean we have to apply band aids to the arms....

[Cleita]

8. No child left behind was a racket for Neil Bush to sell his learning aids. n/t

[WT Fuheck]

9. what kind of aids was he selling after the defense of marriage act?