Listening to this episode… in the beginning with the first story “Rubber Room” I had this enormous sense of disbelief that anything like this would even exist, and if I had heard it in any other way I probably would not have believed it was true. How anybody could think this is a good way to deal with “problem” teachers is really beyond my grasp. Of course, we only really hear one side of it. The teacher’s mostly. I would like to hear from their students… learn how their conduct was really. Are some of them innocent? I am sure of it, but probably not nearly as many as claim innocence. Whether innocent or guilty though it is a terrible solution to the problem. I think what bothered me most in this story was the guy at the end, who said he had another job that in many ways was better. Better pay and more advancement opportunity, but it was not what he chose. He feels he could have done so much more teaching in the public schools like he wanted. If that is true, and he would have been a capable educator, there has been a great disservice done to not only him, but the community as well.

In the third section “Almost Human Resources” it made me laugh. I found it mostly to be a feel good type of program coming out of the second story. It was correct in stating that in an ideal world these chimps never would have been put into this position to begin with, but at the same time we are doing the best that we can (for the most part) to correct our bad decisions. I found it really interesting the one in particular with the “Bob Hope” type of retirement.

I saved the second segment “The Plan” for last because it elicited the most reaction out of me. At first, I did not feel much, but as the story went on and I realized entirely what it was about I felt outrage. And I realize I might get flamed for this, but that is okay. I felt outrage because I could not believe that these blacks were talking about… this “Plan” in such a way. I couldn’t believe it. My heart was just about beating out of my chest. Who are they to blame us for their problems? Could you blame any city that would want to get rid of the riff raff? That would want to “gentrify” the downtrodden areas? Get rid of crime, drugs, and gangs? Could you blame them for that? And who’s fault is it that the neighborhood goes to shit? It is the fault of the residents, that allow it to happen. That live on welfare and section 8 and don’t give a fuck about their property and what happens to it. That pop out babies and don’t pay any of them a single attention. Once again, it is blacks blaming whites for their own problems. Once again it is blacks playing the race cards. Once again it is blacks acting like this whole world is against them.

But then, I kept listening. I didn’t turn it off. I listened. Towards the end of the segment they got to it themselves, but I realized it was not about race for the most part. That happened to be a negative side affect. They are taking land from good schools and good neighborhoods. As for allowing it to go to shit… well, all communities need support. Money for the roads, money for the schools, money for the parks and other community things. If the money is not given; if there is no support any community will go to shit given enough time no matter what you do. Maybe the cities are aiming to move in white upper middle class professionals, but as it was stated I think it is more about money, and they are looking to get rid of the poor and unfortunately a lot of times the poor also equals the black communities.

I started off listening with a lot of outrage at the audacity of these people along with a lot of racial stereotypes and prejudices, but as I listened on it changed into empathy for the cities where this is going on. The level of frustration must be incredible to have them come in and take away your school and your parks, and nobody seems to be listening. With so many children in the system how could they close 23 schools? That number seems astounding, and it doesn’t even make sense.

What is going on in this country?