Teacher:  Maria, go to the map and find North America. 

Maria(pointing):  Here it is!  

Teacher:  Correct!  Now class, who discovered America? 

Class:  Maria!

     I've always said that the Deer Valley District has the best Public Relations Department in Arizona - and it always proves to be true!  Recent 'rumors' at Anthem's Boulder Creek HS had racial tension about to erupt in violence, causing many parents to allow their children to be legally absent, this past Thursday.  After investigating, and apparently finding no provable substance to the 'rumors,' DV officials pronounced 'all is well' and that it must have been connected to 'Senior Ditch Day!'  Case closed?

     What is going on at the middle school level?  My former colleagues tell me that there have been several threats against teachers - by students - involving obscenities and physical harm!  Some teachers have filed charges, but are evidently not up to the task of obtaining Restraining Orders, and school administrators are allowing these thugs back into school!  Some of these threats are coming from female students.  My, how the world has changed!  Who to blame?  Parents - for improperly raising their children;  school administrators - for allowing these incidents to continue to occur;  teachers - for not demanding that their own rights and safety be assured!

     The Cave Creek District is wondering how they should proceed with legal cases involving sexual misconduct among middle school students.  Again, they should use the same PR as DV officials - deny it ever happened!  An 'alleged' sexual misconduct is being 'swept under the carpet,' as a parent 'allegedly' threatens legal action against the district and the parents of the several student witnesses.  It's always good to have parental involvement! 

Teacher:  Howie, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer listening?

Howie:  A teacher!