No, I was equating holidays with time off. I agree it's a stretch regarding the persons (?) being memorialized in this fashion. But they are federal holidays all the same and, thus, fair game.

Surprise, but I'm with bubbat on this. Todd opines, "*Just because something has been done for a while doesn't mean it's the right thing to continue doing.*" Well, howdy, what other holidays can we get rid of or substitute for a more politically-correct version? Howzabout...oh, let's see... Valentine's Day? We already have to celebrate Black History Month in February so what do we need Valentine's Day for? Or are we just confining our discussion to Federal holidays? Hmm...we don't really need Christmas, do we? Let's make the some odd days of Kwanzaa the national holiday. Never mind that we've been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Let's elevate this trumped up new holiday to replace it. Columbus day isn't celebrated federally, so let's get rid of it and put, oh...Bobby Seale day instead! Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays aren't celebrated anymore. Why don't we get Miss Myrlie a day for herself? (tongue in both cheeks...)

Todd suggests that putting King and Lee in the same sentence is fraught. I agree. Lee would never willingly submit himself to be in the company of a misogynist.

An increase in the number of children coming from parents with poor parenting skills and broken homes has led to this downward spiral, yes. And to compare JPS with its surrounding districts, the main differences would be in demographics, economics and education/employment. Is this a brain-drain or a consequence of the "white flight" that plagues Jackson, who knows. But your six year-old just entering school is likely oblivious to his future. Until he/she advances far enough in school to require assistance with their school work and can't get it at home. Success at school doesn't equate to survival, as Mamma and Granny keep getting checks for not working. Might as well start taking the easy way out and learn to steal and deal.

Now, that's a pretty narrow and specific instance that I believe is not rare. The result overall is an education system that is so hamstrung and top-heavy, having to pander to this lowest common denominator that those children wishing to succeed in school are not challenged. But, "money fixes everything" so why don't we inject more money, hire more "assistants" and commission more studies to identify the problem...

Personally, I think we need two separate school systems, beginning at around the sixth or seventh grade. One system is for those intellectually suited for college. The other system is for those who are not. That system would push the basics and develop a suitable trade.

Personally, I believe the reason behind it to be a decrease in the quality of the individuals we are asking our schools to educate. That's a generalization, of course. I believe more kids are going to school unprepared to work and strive. I believe kids attending school suffer from a lack of respect for themselves and others. I believe that kids, especially in JPS, see no reason to better themselves as the government will provide for them.

And I believe JPS is bloated from the middle up.

I stand corrected O'exalted JFP leader. According to the last report care of the Mississippi Department of Education, JPS only graded as a D. And while JPS spends ~$1,000 more per student than the state average its average ACT scores are a full point below state average. I *guess* that over the last 20 years, increasingly more JPS schools than previous are grading out as D/F. Haven't had time to sift through all of the charts to *verify* but as I graduated from JPS, I *believe* it to be accurate.

No, Donna, you just like her opinion better than mine. That's okay with me!

Donna, did you ask justjess if he/she factchecks her posts?

It's been a sad day for years for parents who send their children to public schools. Failing districts, like JPS, have consistently demonstrated the inability to "fix the problem(s)" despite ever increasing amounts of money being thrown down the hole.
*To date, there has not been a ligitamate argument for giving private owned and operated schools our public dollars.*
Well, there's one.
And as for PERS, for our legislators to receive life-long benefits for as few as two years of service is a travesty that needs to end.

At the end of each college football season, I am saddened because I know that all that is left until baseball resumes is basketball...and the opening salvos of the idiots within our state legislature. Here's a fervent prayer to members of our legislature reading this - please do not agree to anything at all that Mr. Gipson and his ilk promulgate.

Donna, I agree. This is Mississippi after all and cronyism, white and black, happen all over the place. But, as this is the capitol of our state and the most populated county within said state, it is a shame that it exists to this degree of buffoonery. Outside of Kingfish, there is very little coverage of the surrounding areas. I would also hope that with the increased media coverage of the surrounding populace, they would be more up on their "P's and Q's" than Jackson/Hinds. They believe that they are above public scrutiny - and they are because they keep getting elected...