Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Resolved: The Internet is a Vast Wasteland in Terms of Rhetorical Discourse
Posted by Roger Abramson on Tue, Sep 4, 2007 at 11:11 AM
I'm going to try a little experiment here. I want to see if it's possible to have reasoned discourse on a important policy matter in the comments section of a blog. Here's how it's going to work:
Once in a while, I will post a "resolution" in debate-style format (such as, "Resolved: Hannah Montana is a better singer than her father") along with, if applicable, a few relevant factoids (food for thought) added. It is my intention that the resolution in question be truly provocative. It might even make some people uncomfortable—even downright angry—when they read it. Good. That's sort of the whole point, though I should note that my writing the resolution does not mean I necessarily endorse the sentiment behind it. I want commenters to discuss the resolution. Take a position one way or the other. In other words, discuss. And think. And let's try to do it without name-calling or the sort of stupid generalizations (e.g.: "All (Republicans/Democrats/conservatives/liberals) are (idiots/selfish/wimps/pedophiles)" we tend to find here and elsewhere.
Today's resolution was inspired by the mayor's race. Turns out that both Bob Clement and Karl Dean are keen on public schools. Well, no kidding. I'll just bet they're all for safe streets too. And fluffy kittens. It's all platitudes. Some people think there's the proverbial elephant in the room.
So, here we go: **Resolved: The Metro public school system is demographically doomed, no matter who's elected Mayor of Nashville.**
Food for thought:
Students (2005-2006 school year)
White 37.8 percent
African American 46.5 percent
Hispanic 12.1 percent
Asian 3.4 percent
Native American 0.2 percent
Pacific Islander 0 percent
Limited English Proficient 11 percent
Students with Disabilities 13.7 percent
Economically Disadvantaged 69.6 percent
Title 1 47.5 percent
Suspensions/Expulsions
White 9.9 percent/0.3 percent
African American 23.4 percent/0.6 percent
Hispanic 10.9 percent/0.4 percent
Asian 5.6 percent/0.2 percent
Native American 7.7 percent/0.8 percent
Pacific Islander 10.8 percent/0 percent
Male 20.9 percent/0.7 percent
Female 11.1 percent/0.2 percent
All data obtained from here.
Now then, discuss.
Once in a while, I will post a "resolution" in debate-style format (such as, "Resolved: Hannah Montana is a better singer than her father") along with, if applicable, a few relevant factoids (food for thought) added. It is my intention that the resolution in question be truly provocative. It might even make some people uncomfortable—even downright angry—when they read it. Good. That's sort of the whole point, though I should note that my writing the resolution does not mean I necessarily endorse the sentiment behind it. I want commenters to discuss the resolution. Take a position one way or the other. In other words, discuss. And think. And let's try to do it without name-calling or the sort of stupid generalizations (e.g.: "All (Republicans/Democrats/conservatives/liberals) are (idiots/selfish/wimps/pedophiles)" we tend to find here and elsewhere.
Today's resolution was inspired by the mayor's race. Turns out that both Bob Clement and Karl Dean are keen on public schools. Well, no kidding. I'll just bet they're all for safe streets too. And fluffy kittens. It's all platitudes. Some people think there's the proverbial elephant in the room.
So, here we go: **Resolved: The Metro public school system is demographically doomed, no matter who's elected Mayor of Nashville.**
Food for thought:
Students (2005-2006 school year)
White 37.8 percent
African American 46.5 percent
Hispanic 12.1 percent
Asian 3.4 percent
Native American 0.2 percent
Pacific Islander 0 percent
Limited English Proficient 11 percent
Students with Disabilities 13.7 percent
Economically Disadvantaged 69.6 percent
Title 1 47.5 percent
Suspensions/Expulsions
White 9.9 percent/0.3 percent
African American 23.4 percent/0.6 percent
Hispanic 10.9 percent/0.4 percent
Asian 5.6 percent/0.2 percent
Native American 7.7 percent/0.8 percent
Pacific Islander 10.8 percent/0 percent
Male 20.9 percent/0.7 percent
Female 11.1 percent/0.2 percent
All data obtained from here.
Now then, discuss.
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