Charles Riffle
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On the article Mentor-On-The-Lake Man Convicted Of Attempted Voyeurism
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On the Blog Post Is Dollar Dog Night Really Worth it?
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On the article Shiner: Harry Fishleigh Did Not Tell City About Conviction
Charles Riffle
7:06 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
ReplyI guess none of these people were reading the News Herald in May, huh?
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On the article Mentor Schools Superintendent Talks Shrinking Enrollment, Possible Staff Reductions
Charles Riffle
1:55 am on Monday, September 19, 2011
My apologies on using a straw man argument, I guess I really should have attacked the idea of who decides what the correct amount of faculty and staff is in the first place instead of trying to build an example that shows how these decision-makers may act.
But let me add that just because you have some anecdotal evidence that all people succeed just because it worked for you doesn't mean it's true. Not to be a jerk or anything, but thought that was an important thing to point out.
And as one quick reference to show the importance of teacher's being more involved with students, thereby showing that more teachers is better, here is an article about Finland: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/08/16/secrets-of-the-world-s-best-school-systems.html
Note that they also say teachers must be well trained. Teachers start out children, who mostly come from the same system. If we used a more personalized method with each child, they would theoretically become more successful in anything they do, including teaching, thereby leading to a continued cycle of success. -
On the article Mentor Schools Superintendent Talks Shrinking Enrollment, Possible Staff Reductions
Charles Riffle
1:42 am on Monday, September 19, 2011
ReplyMy numbers are made up, so it doesn't matter whether the 30+ student class size works. What isn't made up is that the concept of more teachers per students turns out a better quality of education. The issue is that we must look at who is deciding when teaching positions are not needed. If the people in control of the money/responsible for saving money are deciding this, then it is easy for them to say, "they can deal with X amount of students" instead of saying, "what will leave these students with the most amount of help/attention, and what will bring the greatest success?"
The fact that you've earned a Masters Degree is a sign that you've worked hard and must be somewhat naturally intelligent, or at least studious. Not all kids are (or have the ability or home life to study/work hard at school), and some do need extra help. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised (based on the fact that most people do not earn Masters Degrees) if most people fit into the "need extra help" category.
A major problem with a lot of U.S. high schools is that they have become diploma factories. The only goal a lot of them have is to keep graduation rates up, and for this reason, they will push a lot of kids through rather than giving them the attention they need in order to produce quality students. (If you want an example of poorly educated graduates, ask five college freshmen if you can read their first few papers after the Fall semester.) -
On the article Mentor School Board President Going to Columbus to Speak on HB 136
Charles Riffle
1:28 am on Monday, September 19, 2011
So you believe the solution/goal is to create a new system entirely that will overtake the public school system? The flaw in this concept is that even if charter schools do somehow take control, once adapted for a larger population, they become public schools, which are the exact same thing we already have. In the meantime, the kids who went to the abandoned schools suffer. A solution I could see would be to pump all resources into a single education system, one that will help the most people. See below for my thoughts on parents who don't like that system.
"Take away from the cash strapped parents?" Are you thinking that this will cause lower taxes? Or are you thinking that the parents who are spending money on private school will now not have to pay? Because I am one person who believes that they should. They should have the freedom to choose where they send their kids, but if they choose to pull them out of the public education system that is supplied, then it is their own responsibility to find the funds necessary to pay for it.
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On the Blog Post Noise, Loud Talking, Cigars and the Use of Tobacco Are Strictly Prohibited
Charles Riffle
4:30 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2011
Part 3: Trying To Keep It Short
So, all in all, I think your issue isn't with just the Mentor Library, but with the American Library Association, and to an extent, all American libraries who follow the idea that they must adapt to newer times/technology. Basically, it goes back to the concept of adapt or die. Would you rather the libraries fail and close due to lack of use? -
On the Blog Post Noise, Loud Talking, Cigars and the Use of Tobacco Are Strictly Prohibited
Charles Riffle
4:28 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2011
Part 2.
Literacy -- This doesn't have much to do with music and noise, but without the noise pulling in a larger crowd of people, there will be less who use the library in order to become literate (both with books and computers, as pointed out by the ALA website).
Organizational Excellence -- this is really an issue where the ALA says it will help its members, so I can't seem to tie this into our local library discussion. But I couldn't leave it out, and I had to get to the final "Key Action Area."
Transforming Libraries -- "ALA provides leadership in the transformation of libraries and library services in a dynamic and increasingly global digital information environment."
There you have it. Directly from the group that represents all of America's libraries. The library is supposed to evolve in order to keep up with the times. I truly hope that if you skipped over everything else I've put (I would), you have read this one area they are focusing on. Only because one person has deemed the "experiment" of noise in a library as a failure does not mean it is. I am unaware with your ties to the library, so I don't know if you've taken a survey of all patrons or have stats to show that circulation has dropped due to the noise in the library, but I would assume that since times have changed and it seems they have yet to remove this CD player you speak of, a majority of people do not mind. -
On the Blog Post Noise, Loud Talking, Cigars and the Use of Tobacco Are Strictly Prohibited
Charles Riffle
4:19 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2011
ReplyThis came up again?
You know, numerous libraries have had concerts/recitals for their patrons. It's a way to give people who haven't experienced live music a chance to experience it. Another form of exposing people to new ideas, a concept that is at the core of the American Library Association's goals. Here's a list of their "Key Action Areas" http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/missionhistory/keyactionareas/index.cfm, which I will now go over because I'm looking for something to do:
Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession -- raising awareness of the need for libraries, which would be done by putting on programs that pull in people, thereby showing that libraries are used, and therefore necessary.
Diversity -- "promotion and development of library collections and services for all people." All people. Now there's a concept!
Education and Lifelong Learning -- providing information for everyone, young to old. This would explain why they try to pull the attention of youthful people, which they must compete with many other things for. They hope to grab their attention now and hold it forever.
Equitable Access to Information and Library Services -- access for all to provide "the full range of information resources needed to live, learn, govern, and work." I assure you, Mr. Keach, music and noise are key in helping a person live and learn.
Intellectual Freedom -- for everyone. People can take in whatever information they want, and the library is there to provide it. -
On the article Court Denies Mentor Policeman's Appeal in Sabo Lawsuit (Updated)
Charles Riffle
2:31 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2011
I find issue with what you say, Pathfinder. I wholeheartedly agree that we must protect our police, but with the amount of people out there who do hold guns and assume that since they have a license, they can carry them no matter what, I fear we would get a hard-headed person who would say, "no, I will not drop my gun."
It is important to prove that this obviously unstable person did aim to shoot the police, and the police must have the skill to make that decision and prevent harm while still giving the gun-holder a chance to not shoot. How they can prove Sabo did take aim is beyond me, unless there is some sort of forensic/ballistic evidence that is far beyond my understanding, but we must question these things, especially in the case of a death.
If the officer didn't do anything wrong, we should have faith in our judicial system to come to that conclusion.
Charles Riffle
1:41 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
...peeking...peek...