RHawk68

I would like to see either Westbrook or PA Memorial play Cathedral Christian... But then again, I am a huge fan of lopsided beat downs.

Just thought I'd share with this forum some of my thoughts. I've also included links to the article and letter I reference. I assume since you're reaing this, you've probably seen and read Nederland CARE's mailings... [Hidden Content] [Hidden Content] Plenty has been said about the Nederland ISD Bond Issue and early voting numbers have been steady. The vote has enflamed passions on both sides and even strained some friendships. For my part, my feet are firmly planted on the “for†side. I am a district employee but I live in the PN-G school zone. I see the future of NISD everyday in my classrooms and understand their need for an improved learning environment. Meanwhile, on my drive to work I occasionally pass new school construction in my neighborhood and am proud to have voted in favor of the PN-G Bond. Yes, my taxes did increase a little bit, but my house is still affordable, I still enjoy a modestly comfortable life and the sky above my world did not fall Chicken Little. I know that I and my neighbors in Mid and in South County (it’s great to see new school construction in Port Arthur too!) made a commitment to the children of our communities. But my reason for writing today has less to do with supporting the NISD Bond and more to do with finding the answers to some nagging questions. To the members of Nederland CARE (Citizens Acting for Responsible Education) and to those supporting Nederland CARE: Do you support the future of Nederland schools or not? I am not trying to be facetious. I have no problem recognizing that an anti-bond stance and a pro-child stance can certainly be held together. And while I disagree with the stance of Nederland CARE, I certainly respect their right to hold any opinion – it’s the American way. The issue with which I am dealing is in regards to Nederland Schools themselves, the old Black and Gold, and the faculties and staffs employed therein. Nederland CARE: Do you support the future of Nederland Schools or not? And I ask from a place of love and open-mindedness, because I want to believe that Nederland CARE and its supporters do not share the agenda of their architect: Paul Dorr. Let me explain what I mean. In the Nederland CARE four page mailing received throughout the district, my eyebrows were first raised when I read their rhetoric. Under the heading How Did We Get Here In The First Place?, the mailing attacks the composition of the Bond Committee. The assault is based on the fact that many of the committee’s members were or are employed by NISD. It says, “The total employment of NISD less than (sic) 5% of all NISD voters, yet they represented 74% or more of this committee? How can we trust the recommendations of this committee whose membership is naturally biased?†Wait, did I read that right? Did Nederland CARE just insinuate in their own publication that NISD employees are untrustworthy and biased? This doesn’t seem to mesh with their claim on the same page – page one by the way – that they “commend our teachers for the great job they do.†Which is it Nederland CARE? Are NISD employees untrustworthy or commendable? This contradiction was the first of many that led me to one of my favorite hobbies: Research! That’s when the name Paul Dorr kept surfacing. In a letter dated March 2009 that was distributed to local businesses and leaders, local businessman Charles Vaughn announced that he had, “been in touch with a specialist-consultant who helps Midwest taxpayers organize political campaigns to defeat… (bond) proposals. This hired gunslinger? This Iowa-based outsider? None other than Mr. Paul Dorr. In a letter dated November 9, 2002, Dorr wrote all we need to know about him in the title: Why I Defeat Government School Bond Levies At The Ballot Box And Do It For A Profit. That’s right folks, “For A Profitâ€. In an article dated April 9, 2008, Dorr says, “Pretty soon I started realizing, I can put this stuff in a can, develop all the arguments once, and just customize it for each campaign and maybe begin to grow a business.†Mr. Dorr does not hide the fact that his campaigns are fabricated, so why does Nederland CARE? This is the man Nederland CARE turned to? A man who comes in to a community that he is not a part of and orchestrates a campaign that he has no stake in? How disappointing. But I apologize for being disingenuous. The truth is that Dorr does have a stake in the Nederland School Bond election: a financial stake. My research turned up Dorr’s fingerprints on these kinds of anti-school bond campaigns all over the nation. And ours is no exception, right down to the name: CARE is an acronym used in Mr. Dorr’s campaigns quite often. This man does not “care†about Nederland or our surrounding communities. This man does not “care†about the families serviced by NISD. This man does not “care†until there is a profit to be made. Remember, he was sought out. He did not come to Mid-County because he thought we had proposed a bad bond and felt empathy for the beleaguered taxpayers. He came when he was called and brought along his canned product. And when that can was opened, what a mess appeared inside! It turns out that to his credit Paul Dorr does not only fight these battles for profit. He has another agenda – an agenda kept out of the spotlight by Nederland CARE. Paul Dorr is an adversary of all public schools. In the same April 2008 article, Dorr tells of a time when he won a home schooling case in the courts. He said, “That started us on a further journey towards recognizing that government schools are the enemy of the Christian faith.†This is surprising to me. This is surprising to me especially in the light of the tremendous support NISD gets from local churches and pastors including those who are regulars at Nederland school events. Do local pastors and church goers in Nederland really feel that NISD is the enemy of the Christian faith? Is it Nederland CARE’s position that NISD is an enemy of the Christian faith? And if so, why don’t they come out and say it? I’d wager that the vast majority of Nederland CARE does not feel this way, but I then have to ask – why would you follow a plan designed by an architect that feels this way? Paul Dorr tells education groups, “Ours is not to try to reform this stuff, ours is to call upon the Christians to get outâ€. Does Nederland CARE advocate pulling students out of NISD schools because of their faith? Dorr continues, “And once we’re out, and have our children protected and our own houses in order and our churches in order, then we are to go back and go after them… let’s go on the offensive against them.†Go on the offensive against Nederland schools? Dorr says, “Don’t adopt a defensive posture in an attempt to appease the state. A more effective strategy is to go on the offensive and prosecute their miserable system…†Wow. Does Nederland CARE agree that the Nederland Independent School District, a school district that many of its members grew up in, is a “miserable systemâ€? Nederland CARE speaks about preserving our rich traditions and history. Their campaign’s architect wants to shut it all down. Nederland CARE, do you support the future of Nederland schools or not? It’s Dorr’s agenda to attack public schools by attacking their funding. Because if school districts cannot afford to continue to serve the students in the area, then Dorr wins by shutting down an entity he sees as an “enemyâ€. Does that mean that the Nederland CARE campaign, designed by Dorr, is actually attacking Nederland schools with the goal of financial ruin and eventual shut down of the district? Nederland CARE, do you support the future of Nederland schools or not? Dorr even brags in his November 2002 letter that people who successfully work with him on his orchestrated mayhem have, “earned a new position of respect in the eyes of many voters†and then continues by pointing out how working with him has helped people get elected to local positions. Which brings up another question: does Nederland CARE support any of the candidates vying for election in the upcoming Board of Trustees election? And if so, does he or she want to see Nederland schools close like Paul Dorr does? I cannot imagine a successful School Board candidate platform that includes shuttering the schools, but stranger things have happened. If Nederland CARE is supporting any candidate, I would challenge that candidate to make his or her position on Paul Dorr’s anti-public school agenda clear. I will say this for Mr. Dorr – he knows how he feels and is not afraid to put his ideas and agenda out there. I respect that. I vehemently disagree with his stances, but I respect his willingness to come right out and say that he makes a living out of attacking public schools by defeating school bond issues. But we do not hear this from Nederland CARE. Are they trying to hide this? Do they agree with Paul Dorr? When the stands are full and the black-and-gold clad crowd cheers for the Bulldogs, is there a contention in the crowd that secretly wants this all to go away? When the Performing Arts Center is full of community residents listening to a student concert, watching a student play, enjoying the tremendous talent we have on display in Nederland schools, are there people in their seats secretly wishing there was no place for this to go on? Are there residents in Nederland who want Nederland schools to close? Paul Dorr does. And he is the draftsman behind Nederland CARE’s campaign. Does Nederland CARE share these values? Nederland CARE: do you support the future of Nederland schools or not?

I second that! At Nederland, we serve Mazzio's pizza. I love it, but it gets a little old. I could use some variety...

I'll be in my concrete bunker under Bulldog Stadium running replays and graphics on our Jumbotron. Come out and watch the Dogs light up the Scoreboard! [move][glow=red,2,300]Go Dogs![/glow][/move]

My upset pick for this week is the Texas A&M Aggies over the Sooners from Okla.... oh man, I couldn't even type that without breaking out in laughter... [move][glow=red,2,300]GO DOGS! Beat the Broncos![/glow][/move]

Oh Yeah! How could I have forgotten this one? i own their shirt! There's an intramural basketball team at the University of Northern Colorado that calls themselves "The Fightin' Whites" and even has a logo design of a guy in a business suit with the slogan "Every thang's Gonna Be All White!" It's a social critique on all the schools around the nation using Native Americans as a mascot. It's great! Plus, the proceeds from their internet sales go to benefit a scholarship set up for Native American students going to that college. Check it out for yourself: [Hidden Content] Go Fightin' Whites!

Is it here?!? Is it Friday Yet?!? WELL?!? IS IT?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Go Jags!

Austin College Kangaroos or the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. I did play against the El Campo Ricebirds in my high school career as well.

I think the best football team in the area is the Lamar University Cardin... oh wait. never mind! ;D

Is it just me, or is the chorus of high pitched grandma voices that yell, "Get Him!" - whenever an opposing player makes a run - funny to you too? I mean, do they really think they help the kids on the field by yelling, "Get Him"? ??? Can you imagine a defense standing around, not knowing what to do until Granny Smith jumps up from her stadium-back seat with the team's logo from the 80's faded and cracked but still clinging onto the back and yells, "Get Him!"? "Oh!", thinks the 6'2" 230lbs. Div-I prospect Middle Linebacker who spent all summer in two-a-days watching the offensive backs score point after point. "Get Him! Now I know what I should do!"... tackle. And as a former SETX grid iron player, I can attest that while crowd noise is rarely in your head, you can hear the occassional, "Get Him!" : Maybe it's just me, but it always makes me laugh. [glow=yellow,2,300]Go Dogs![/glow]

So... how long do you think it'll take for until other stadiums around the area start popping up with their own jumbotrons?