Missy's Upshot

Is Public Education a Right?

Our Supreme Court has declared that we have a right to acquire useful knowledge. This right, they aver, derives from our right to liberty, as referenced in the due process clause of the 14th amendment. However, the Court concluded that public education is not a right provided by our Federal Constitution.

Interestingly, however, the States have made up their own minds: Some state constitutions have been interpreted as providing for a fundamental right to an education, while other state constitutions are said not to provide such a fundamental right.

Nevertheless, despite the absence of language referencing a public school education, our Federal Constitution, is not silent on the issue of education. In fact, the 14th amendment provides the right to parents and guardians to direct the upbringing and education of children under their control.

It is noteworthy, however, that although public education is not a fundamental right under the Federal Constitution, education is the very foundation of good citizenship; therefore, to deny a child of such is a very serious matter which requires significant procedural safeguards. And yet, the Supreme Court has also held that it is violation of this very same right, “liberty”, to require all children between the ages of 8 and 16 years to attend the public schools.

Why? Maybe I'll tell you later.

Interesting, huh? Well, let me know if you like it and if you'd like me to keep sending little jewels of research. :)

-Missy

Which Ben will Win the Super Bowl?

Big Ben has got a lot on the line. I’m sure that he’s counting the minutes to the big game because it’s more than a big game to him. It’s redemption! Irrefutably, he’s a top five quarterback. Yes, his size, power, agility and speed torment his opponents. Let’s not even talk about his completion percentage, his third down play victories and of course, that smile that engenders public adulation. So why does he have a lot on the line? Why is the tension palpable? Why do I presume that, for him, this game is bigger than the Cardinals?

Well, Big Ben is facing a bigger opponent. This opponent matches Big Ben’s physical capabilities, his successes, and has that same winsome smile. In fact, the only difference between Big Ben and this opponent is that this opponent is about 3 years younger.

Big Ben is competing against the Ben Roethlisberger of 2006, “06Ben”. The “06 Ben” that endured the crushing blows of completing merely nine passes in his first Super Bowl and yet-- here is the kicker-- Pittsburgh still defeated Seattle, and “06 Ben” became the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl crown.

And so, it’s clear that for Big Ben, it’s not just about winning the big game. He’s been there and done that. Sure he wants to win again but it more than that. It’s about destroying the memory of that 23 year old “06Ben”. It’s about disarming all of those who may pull from their holsters this opponent, “06Ben”, seeking to blast away our confidence in our Star quarterback, Big Ben.

Unequivocally, I aver that Big Ben will not only defeat “06 Ben” but also crush the Cardinals. But who cares what I think? The resounding question is: What does Ben think?

Learn the following words: redemption, irrefutably torment, engenders, adulation, palpable, winsome, unequivocally, aver, and resounding. http://www.vocabteacher.com/

Is Obama a Socialist?

Barack Obama repudiates the socialistic paradigm. Without a doubt, he espouses free enterprise and its corollaries. In spite of this fervent conviction, he has a few glaring peccadilloes: he is compassionate, humane and pragmatic. He has the audacity to believe that everyone should have access to affordable healthcare.

Moreover, this facile and eloquent orator is the proponent of quality education for every American child because he realizes that education is the key that opens the metaphorical doors of opportunity. He also has the nerve to criticize the American public school system, which is based on a socialistic model.

This prepossessing leader of the free world is flummoxed because the American public school system is floundering: our students are not exemplary in math and science. How could this be? America is the greatest nation in the world. How could we be failing to educate an entire generation of children simply because their parents are less than rich? He is incredulous!

And then, BOOM! He had an epiphany: affluent people send their children to private schools, and, consequently, their children can confidently stroll through the doors of opportunity unimpeded. Because America’s greatest resource is its citizen, it is not only humane but also reasonable to give all American children the opportunity to fulfill their potential and thereby make America an even greater nation.

Obama's belief that all American children should have an equal opportunity to education does not make him a socialist. This just makes him a prodigiously intelligent, compassionate and valiant human being.



Learn the following words: repudiate, socialistic, paradigm, espouse, corollaries, fervent peccadilloes, compassionate, humane, pragmatic, audacity, facile, eloquent, orator, proponent, criticize, prepossessing, flummoxed, floundering, exemplary, incredulous, epiphany, affluent, and unimpeded. . Go to www.vocabteacher.com now.

Can Senator George Mitchell Convince Israel and Palestine to Come to a Truce?

Can Senator George Mitchell inveigle two intractable adversaries (Israel and Palestine) into agreeing to a protracted cease-fire? Can he induce them to decry wanton violence? This prodigious task will require the skills of an adroit negotiator and perspicacious listener. Meanwhile, more children live poignant lives and their anguished cries are nugatory commentaries.





Learn the following words: inveigle, intractable, protracted, induce, decry, wanton, prodigious, adroit, perspicacious, poignant, anguished, nugatory, commentary. Go to http://www.vocabteacher.com/ now. Also, come and discuss the topic on February 6, 2009 with "Great Conversations in Pittsburgh" http://www.meetup.com/greatconversations/calendar/9627798/
Questions: maryam@vocabteacher.com

Serena Williams trounces Kuznetsova

Serena Williams trounced the formidable Russian opponent, Svetlana Kuznetsova 5-7, 7-5, 6-1. In the unrelenting heat, Serena summoned her indomitable will and vanquished her seething and demoralized adversary. In the third set, it was evident Serena was impregnable and resolute. No one can gainsay Serena’s resilience and tenacity in the unforgiving heat. Certainly, her implacable opponent and the ruthless heat joined forces to test her mettle. In spite of this fraught day, she did not succumb to fatigue and enervation. Undoubtedly, she prevailed. The emotive American champion will play Elena Dementieva next.

Learn the following words: trounce, formidable, unrelenting, summon, indomitable, vanquish, seething, demoralize, adversary, impregnable, resolute, gainsay, resilience, unforgiving, tenacity, implacable, ruthless, mettle, fraught, succumb, enervation, prevail, and emotive. Go to http://www.vocabteacher.com/ now.

Questions: maryam@vocabteacher.com

The Nadal Denouement Happened Again at the Australian Open.

The Nadal denouement happened again at the Australian Open. His success is and unstoppable and inexorable. He has eviscerated the resolve of every opponent with his athletic precision and unflagging stamina. This redoubtable champion lets no ball elude him. Although he is emotive, he faces every adversary with impressive equanimity. He is unflappable and invulnerable even when the heat is merciless. How do you vanquish an impregnable champion? You pray to the heavens above that his resolve dissipates and his energy wanes before you collapse.

Learn the following words: denouement, inexorable, eviscerate, resolve, unflagging, stamina, redoubtable, elude, emotive, adversary, equanimity, unflappable, invulnerable, vanquish, impregnable, resolve, dissipates, wane, collapse. Go to http://www.vocabteacher.com/ now.

Questions: maryam@vocabteacher.com

Rod Blagojevich breach of the law and propriety has cost him dearly.

Rod Blagojevich breach of the law and propriety has cost him dearly. The Senate of the state of Illinois is conducting an impeachment trial while the peripatetic and contumacious governor inveighs against the proceedings. The governor was formally indicted and castigated for trying to sell President Obama’s senate seat. Despite compelling tape recordings of the egregious malfeasance, the beleaguered and discredited governor repudiates the allegations against him and likens his plight to the plights of Mandela, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King. Most pundits opine that Blagojevich is delusional and his hopes of exoneration are chimerical. In spite of the irrefutable evidence, the mendacious and intractable governor of Illinois continues to disclaim all responsibility. No one can gainsay that he is the master of obfuscation.


Learn the following words: breach, propriety, impeachment, peripatetic, contumacious, inveighs against, proceedings, indict, castigate, compelling, egregious, malfeasance, beleaguered, discredit, repudiates, allegation, plight, pundit, opine, delusional, exoneration, chimerical, irrefutable, mendacious, intractable, disclaim, and obfuscation.

Go to http://www.vocabteacher.com/ now.

Questions? Maryam@vocabteacher.com