JUST ANOTHER IN A LIST OF REASONS TO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOL

We live in an area which is generally considered top notch as far as public schools go in the state of Georgia. We have the best high schools in the state, academically. They don't tell you though that these high schools with the best SAT scores in the state also have gangs, drugs and who knows what else. Last year, the high school down the street got some press because the principal was charged with embezzlement. Nice.

By the way, you may have heard of our area of Georgia. It's Cobb County. Home of former speaker Newt Gingrich and that declaration passed back before the '96 Olympics which stated the county's disapproval of the homosexual lifestyle. That one got us in trouble with the folks at the Atlanta Organizing Committee so we were punished with no venues and a lot of bad press.

We've done it again. In 2002, some parents became outraged at the science textbooks that the county school board had purchased. Apparently it taught evolution as if it were a fact. These parents brought their concerns to the school board and waged a vigorous fight to get different textbooks. Well, they didn't exactly win. What they did get though was a sticker. Yes, I said a sticker. This sticker was placed inside every single textbook in the county. It featured a statement from the school board which said something like this, "This textbook teaches evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact. Please approach this material with an open mind and be willing to investigate." The parents were a little pleased but obviously they didn't get exactly what they wanted. Is that the end of the story? Nooooo, not by a longshot. I bet you can guess what happened next. Our friends from the ACLU promptly swooped down at the behest of some other parents and sued the school board to get the sticker removed. They said the sticker violated the establishment clause. Well, yesterday the ruling came down. The judge said that the sticker did violate the establishment clause (you know, separation of church and state) and it needs to be removed.

Now, obviously from a logic standpoint (as well as constitutional) this judge is wrong. The mere act of declaring that evolution is a theory and not a fact does nothing to establish a religion. But I don't even care about this aspect of the case. What I want to know is why are these parents continuing to put their kids in these government schools!!??!!



KWAN-AHOLIC

For those of you who understand the title of this post, you know what's happening this weekend in Portland. Michelle Kwan will try to defend her title at the US Figure Skating Championships for a record 8th year in a row and nine times total. The only year she hasn't won Nationals was in '97 when that little upstart Tara Lipinski stole the show. By the way, where is Tara these days anyway? While I certainly respect Tara's talent and the others who have come up in the ranks these past 12 years or so, no one compares to Kwan. She has it all in terms of skating and is a fiery competitor and a great sportswoman to boot. Unfortunately these Nationals have a dark cloud over them this year. On Wednesday Angela Nikodinov's mother died in a car accident on the way to the competition site. Her whole family and coach were in the car but only her mother was killed. The others had minor injuries. Lift up Angela if you would. She has gone through more than most in her short life. Her former coach, with whom she was very close, died of cancer several years ago. She's a beautiful skater but had yet to really break through to the top.

Anyway, I'll be up late tonight watching the short programs and be back tomorrow night for the long programs, LIVE. I'll definitely have the tissues handy. It's impossible for me to make it through a Kwan program without crying, especially when she does her spiral and footwork. Boy, if only I could live with the same passion I see in her face when she skates.

Oh yeah, I'll also be watching the Falcons game too. Why did they have to put that game on a Saturday night? Oh well.

Blessings.