I, at least, am on the side of the goddamn angels.

Yes you are!

Oh jeez, mac. But also, why hasn't the school reached out to you directly?

Oh, man. I agree with Jesse, though -- how come nobody at school is in touch? That's absurd.

I think this differs from the 95/96 showdown, though, because it's a minority of the Republican minority who's taking such a hard line. I don't see how the more vulnerable Republicans will be able to stick with it.

Yeah, last go-round the Repubs were united, they had an actual blueprint for governing (that "Contract with America" thing), they'd just won a genuine rather than gerrymandered majority; they were in a position of some strength. And the general consensus is still that they got roundly blamed by the electorate for the shutdown and it helped ensure Clintons's re-election in '96. I have no idea what the curent disunited, shambolic mob of crybabies with their irrational, unachievable demands think they're going to get out of this. (Actually, I'm pretty sure Boehner doesn't expect to get anything good out of this, he's just pandering to extremists to keep his job. Though why he wants it when this is what it entails is beyond me.)

I expect some politician spanking going on over the weekend, when the main focus of the media will be elsewhere.

For Mike Lee of Utah, this weekend is the big fall conference of the Mormon Church, so he may be in Salt Lake having meetings with the church bigwigs. It's an open secret around here that the LDS Church does have tight "advisory" links to Utah politicians.

Yeah, if US people can afford to donate to their local food banks, around now would be a good time. I believe most donations are tax deductible.

English has called me twice, homework wasn't done (call 1). Classwork wasn't getting done (call 2). Math called once, he was missing homework and never turned in one classwork.

English homework got done and I was told was fine (he made a 10!!!). Match homework got done and the classwork was excuse after excuse, then substitutes, leading up to me today telling him WHEN I DROPPED HIM OFF "go straight to Match class this morning before school starts and get the classwork done". He tells me tonight that the teacher says the 6 weeks are over and it is too late.

I am calling the English, TX History, and Math teachers tomorrow. He may need to be in afterschool tutoring for a while.

The schools are really focused on the kids learning to be responsible for their own work - a counter to the hovering parent syndrome, I think. The do not check that kids are writing assignments down. They do more stuff in class, so there is less homework. They have told the kids that they are responsible for going to teachers before or after school to make up or do work over. I get it and I should be looking at the online thing every few days I guess.

Ai yai yai. Sounds like you're going to have to ride him.

oh msbelle! Wow.

The government shutdowns (that were not over a weekend and thus incurred limited damage) was the '96 one and 3 in the 1970s. The 1970s ones were about 3 weeks each.

When this went on longer than 2 days, I figured we were in for a 3 week one this time. I'm worried that the extreme GOP don't take any of this seriously (the damage it can incur) and therefore are not really willing to raise the debt limit.

Well, emails were written to teachers, teacher webpages have been bookmarked, and the.punishment has been given. FML.

He did not manage to ever get the make-up classwork done in match class that we started a sag on over a week ago.

Not sure what a sag is, but I have a 17 year old with this issue.

He once again had no work brought home.

And this.

I made him come with me to check to parent online grade access

And this.

AND HE IS FAILING 3 CLASSES.

And this. It sucks mightily.

The schools are really focused on the kids learning to be responsible for their own work - a counter to the hovering parent syndrome, I think. The do not check that kids are writing assignments down. They do more stuff in class, so there is less homework. They have told the kids that they are responsible for going to teachers before or after school to make up or do work over. I get it and I should be looking at the online thing every few days I guess.

And this, this, this, and this.

I have told him I'm done. If he can't manage to get his work done and fails classes, I can't do a darned thing and if he has to repeat a year of high school...he made the bed.

But it is infuriating. I went to parent teacher night last week and two of those three teachers acted like there wasn't a real issue. The third teacher is a new chemistry teacher of Asian descent. And for her, the stereotypes hold true. Not that that excuses CJ not doing his work. At all. He is grounded from anything outside school and work (he teaches at the dojo).