Now don't get me wrong: I am a major fan of reading articles on less-than-newsworthy topics. It's the summer so I'm off, and already today (it's 10 am) I've read articles about which Olympic athletes are the hottest (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hottest-olympic-athletes-2012-london-olympics-gallery-1.1123460), old people getting it on (http://nymag.com/news/features/sex/2012/retirement-home-sex/), and the awesomeness of Mexican food (http://www.saveur.com/article/hub/Mexico-Issue-149?cmpid=teaser).
So why does the NY Times continued coverage of the whitest non-problems in the country annoy me so much? Just: What the HELL? There is fun brainlessness, and then there is neurotic, uptight, over-ANALysis of nothing. For instance, here are two titles recently that made me want to take a dump in a J. Crew:
"Vacation Sabotage: Don't Let it Happen to You!"
http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/travel/vacation-sabotage-dont-let-it-happen-to-you.html?pagewanted=all
From the title, you picture waiters at Sandals poisoning umbrella drinks. Actually, it's about the apparent problem of checking your work email too much on vacation. Or, feeling so guilty about being on vacation that it ruins your vacation. WTF. And this was the top emailed article for about three days. ????? This actually offered a step-by-step plan to being able to relax of vacation.
I am a teacher, and it's summer--I haven't worked in over two months. And IT'S AWESOME. Yesterday I watched The Wedding Planner then Maid in Manhattan, both before noon. Then I went for a run, and drank Moscow Mules while reading 50 Shades of Grey. That was my whole day.know full well I'll be back to working 13 hour days in mere days--so I am making hay while the lazy sun shines. And so is every teacher I know.
"Less Homework, More Yoga, from a Principal who Hates Stress"
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/29/education/29stress.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Oh my fucking god. There is a major motif in the NYT lately revealing their complete lack of understanding of what's actually going on in public schools. I think every time they plan to do an education story, they Skype with the student government of Scarsdale High or ask their own nieces. Education articles tend to fall into two categories: Stop the Unfair Persecution of Teachers, or Are High Expectations Damaging Our Students' Spirits?
Maybe the Scarsdale students are stressed. Boo hoo. Trying to get 5's on AP tests is NOT a problem in the spectrum of damages being inflicted on American students via the school system. Wah, white students. Wah.
Know who isn't stressed? The vast, vast majority of students in the country. Most of my students did zero homework all through middle school. The Times should actually walk around in an under-performing public school and see the bullshit going down--kids watching movies and making posters, teachers not assigning homework because "they won't do it anyway," reading programs instead of books, coloring worksheets instead of science labs. And no pressure anywhere. At the high school where I began my teaching career, there was no real pressure even to attend class.
It's ridiculous that this "innovative" principal was review positively, rather than mocked. He should be running the homeschool on a commune in Northern California, not a real public school.
OK, that's enough ranting for today. Excuse me while watch Sweet Home Alabama, again.
---Kathleen
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