Lake Wobegone is the fictitious place where “all children are above average” in Garrison Keillor’s radio narratives. Educators now speak of the “Lake Wobegone Effect” as a combination of grade inflation and content deflation that drives down the value of a high school diploma or a college degree.

However, that academic erosion is picking up fast. I am fortunate in having a network of K-12 teachers who regularly feed me information on their classroom situation. Many were my student teachers—there are over 250 now—and they rely on me not divulging their identities. While some still can practice as professionals, the news from others is alarming.

One solid science teacher (with a track record of teaching students who succeed in college and often entered science fields) described her situation. She assigns homework and expects students to come prepared for classwork and labs. But one student never did his homework. Her school uses an online grade report system accessible to administrators. When it was evident this student was failing, this student was pulled from class the last week of the semester, put on a programmed learning computer and progressed through the question sets over and over until he had a high score. Thus, an F-student who might not graduate high school became a “good” student ready to go to college!

How widespread is this? Such “end runs” have been happening in a variety of ways across Kansas. -Not all schools nor even a majority of schools. But some are now overriding teachers’ grades. And such practices appear to be growing.

Now switch to our higher education institutions where you would expect that no one would dare lean on faculty to inflate grades or deflate requirements. Unfortunately, public universities across the country now operate under pressure to increase enrollment, retention and graduation. Their budgets are now tuition-driven.

Similar to the K-12 system, every college student is expected to succeed. If this does not happen, it is the now the professor’s fault—NCLB has finally arrived at college. The directive to increase retention and graduation rates comes straight from state capitols across America.  A university president’s job depends on growth at all costs. At more than one campus, chairpersons are directed to target courses with higher rates of D-W-F grades—and “do something about it.” To prevent any appearance of violating academic freedom, the caveat is added: “but don’t let standards drop.” For the growing number of adjunct faculty hires, there is no need to mention this. They know that if they give many D/F grades, they will not be hired back.

Adding more tutoring is perhaps a legitimate way to try to improve retention. But universities are now reducing the credit hours required to graduate. Some advise students into easy courses first, holding off rigorous courses until later—a tactic that can cost students another year of school. Others reduce their general education by reducing the more rigorous subjects (usually math and sciences).

Why do administrators feel empowered to coerce teachers into grade inflation and feel that having a school were everyone graduates is now a legitimate goal? Look at our political scene. Our President is  calling for a dramatic increase in college graduation rates (tech credentials included). Our Governor raises this goal to 85 percent (military included). That has given legitimacy for some K-18 system administrators to place student “success”-at-any-cost ahead of actual academic performance.

But ACT and SAT scores show that less than one-third of high school seniors are college-ready. That is half the number that our colleges are being ordered to turn out.

When people say that today’s college degree does what yesterday’s high school diploma used to do, they formerly meant access to a good job. That may soon come to mean the amount being learned. And with erosion of the K-12 grading, that high school diploma will mean even less tomorrow.

K-12 teachers and college faculty have a responsibility to our good students to resist pressure to water down the curriculum and drop our grading scales. Good students want a degree that means something. Faculty must fight to preserve the value of diplomas and degrees. A student who excelled in genuine course work should walk across the stage at commencement without being followed by students who receive the same degree but did little to earn it.

Our First Amendment freedoms have been put to use — and put to the test — in recent days.

In the U.S. Supreme Court chambers in Washington, D.C., an angry ex-husband sought to overturn his conviction for for making threats over the Internet, claiming the violence-laced language and the vile visions he conjured up on Facebook were just “therapeutic efforts to address traumatic events,” even akin to some song lyrics.

Some defenders of free speech say ideas are not actions and the speakers’ intent ought to rule here. But prosecutors who convicted Anthony Elonis say his posts would lead any “reasonable person” to feel threatened, including Elonis’ ex-wife and a female FBI agent. And, they say, moving away from that standard would open the floodgates to new levels of harassment and intimidation, particularly via new technology and social media.

In Kennesaw, Ga., northwest of Atlanta, the city council voted 4-1 to deny a request by a small group of Muslim residents to open a temporary mosque at a strip mall while they searched for a permanent location. The four opposing councilmen didn’t speak during the vote, but outside a gaggle of protesters did, waving American flags and displaying signs claiming “Islam wants no peace.”

City officials said the mosque would create traffic congestion, conflict with retail stores nearby during weekday religious gatherings, and that it’s the first time such a request for retail space has come up. But local news operations said a similar request by a Protestant Pentecostal group was approved in July, and the one council member who voted “yes” said the denial was rooted in discrimination against Muslims.

And in Ferguson, Mo., and now in New York City, we’re seeing the oldest form of public protest — marches, rallies and occasional civil disobedience — combine with the newest form of petition and assembly via the Web and social media, over the refusal of grand juries to indict white police officers involved in the deaths of unarmed black men.

Social media exploded with protest in August over the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown, including a Howard University-based photo that propelled the now-common “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” chants. Web images and commentary from the scene quickly took local protest to a worldwide audience.

On Wednesday evening, within moments of announcement of the decision not to bring an indictment in Eric Garner’s “chokehold” death, the “Twittersphere” was awash with comments: USA TODAY reported a tweet that said, “They can’t choke this mobilization, this movement, this furiousness over the injustice of years of impunity.” Celebrities also took to the Web over the Garner news: Comic Bill Maher tweeted: “I’d just like to know what a cop WOULD have to do to get indicted…” And talk show host Tavis Smiley tweeted: “Illegal chokehold, caught on tape, and still no indictment? Black life has little value.”

And even arenas where real-world concerns normally don’t intrude are caught up in these national conversations. Five St. Louis Rams players came onto the field Nov. 30 with their hands raised — drawing free expression support from team officials, but the ire of a police association spokesman who issued a vague warning of “I’ve got news for people who think that way.”

As different as these examples of our core freedoms-at-work are — and occasionally, as in Kennesaw, where one freedom is pitted against another — the value of those basic rights is abundantly clear: From raw emotion to measured discussion, from the street to the courtroom, in ways not seen since the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s, the nation is talking to itself about social challenges that range across old issues and new technology.

Talk is no guarantee of solution, and passion may not lead to progress. But the nation’s founders had the belief that an engaged, informed public, combined with an independent judiciary operating in the open, would enable the nation to arrive at both solutions and progress as long as those in power were not able to cut off discussion and debate. Hence, the strong language that starts out “Congress shall make no law…” and which extends to every level of government.

There are just 45 words in the First Amendment — but they prompt, protect and propel a good many more, and the nation is far better off for it.

Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Washington-based Newseum Institute and senior vice president of the Institute’s First Amendment Center. [email protected]

December is chock-full of holiday traditions. It seems every family has their own special way to celebrate. Some people drive around to look at Christmas lights, some people head to McDonald’s for a McRib or an eggnog shake, while others may light an advent wreath or Menorah. This is my third December at the library and I’ve begun a few annual traditions of my own.

No Christmas celebration is complete without cookies and I am offering not one, but two opportunities to get in on the fun. On Saturday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m., I’ll be hosting the third annual HPL Cookie Swap! Participating is easy. Just prepare a dozen or so of your favorite Christmas cookies and bring a copy of your recipe. Those who attend will swap cookies and recipes and end up with a variety of treats to take home. If you’re really in the holiday spirit, you can stick around because at 2 PM on the 13th, Crafternoon will feature DIY gifts and gift-wrap.

The second cookie program I’m hosting is a cooking class on how to make Spitzbuben. This class is part of my German cooking series. Spitzbuben are sandwich cookies with jam. If you like trying new recipes or if your grandmother used to make these cookies and you’ve always wondered how she did it, then this program is for you! In the class we’ll prepare the dough, roll and cut the cookies and bake them with a variety of jams. You’ll have some to take home for yourself as well! Space for this class is limited and registration is required. Please call me at 785-625-9014 or email at [email protected] to register.
Everyone has a holiday movie that they have to watch every year or it just doesn’t seem like Christmas.

One of these movies for me is “Meet Me in St. Louis” starring Judy Garland. This film captures a year in the life of the Smith family of St. Louis, who are anxiously awaiting the 1904 World’s Fair. The song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was actually written for and debuted in this film. The bright colors and festive music, make this movie a must-see for all generations. I’ll be screening this film at the library on Monday, December 22 at 6 PM. If you need to get away from the house and you want something the whole family can do together, then join us the library for popcorn, hot chocolate and a Christmas classic the whole family will be sure to enjoy.

Food For Fines is here again! From December 7 through December 20th, you can bring in non-perishable food items to pay off your fines. One dollar of late fines will be forgiven for every food item you bring to the library. Please note that this does not apply toward lost or damaged items. We will not accept expired food items, so please check dates on cans and boxes before you bring them in! All food items will be donated to the Community Assistance Center.

Submissions for the third annual Kansas Day Photo Contest will be accepted beginning December 8th. No matter your age or your skill level, the KS Day Photo Contest is open to anyone who’s ever taken a photo in this great state. Please stop by the library for a copy of the contest rules and entrance forms or download the forms at www.hayspublib.org (look under the Kansas Room tab). Photo entries are due on January 21st.

My sincerest wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Kansas Room is located in the basement of the Hays Public Library and is open from 9 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and by request.

Crime doesn’t pay – at least it shouldn’t. That’s one reason the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas worked hard in FY 2014 to collect more than $11.4 million in criminal and civil actions. That’s money we actually collected during the year.

Of that total, about $5 million was collected in criminal cases. Restitution ordered in criminal cases is based on the principle that wrongdoers ought to be required, as much as possible, to restore victims for their losses.

Here are some examples from among our recent cases:

An insurance agent in Marshall County who was convicted of stealing customers’ premiums is ordered to pay $160,000 in restitution.
The treasurer of a rural fire district in Jackson County convicted of embezzling from the fire district is ordered to pay $427,000 in restitution.
An Olathe man convicted of stealing 165 cases of global positioning devices from the factory where he worked is ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution.
An Overland Park man convicted of swindling banks and investors is ordered to pay $5.7 million in restitution.

Civil actions in the District of Kansas brought in even more than criminal actions — $6.4 million of the $11.4 million total for FY 2014.

Here are some examples of civil actions:

• An apartment management company in Kansas City, Kan., agrees to pay $640,000 to settle allegations it submitted false claims to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In a related criminal case, a former assistant property manager and nine former tenants plead guilty to criminal charges.
• A hospital in Hutchinson agrees to pay $853,000 to settle allegations it submitted false claims to the Medicare program.
• A cancer treatment facility in Kansas City, Kan., agrees to pay $2.9 million to settle allegations it billed for chemotherapy drugs that patients did not receive.

Recovering money on behalf of crime victims and federal agencies is often a difficult task that requires the work of skilled attorneys, investigators and legal staff. Sometimes it takes months or even years to track assets and deal with legal obstacles. Be assured that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is working hard to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money.

Barry Grissom is the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

The man from Beijing, China deftly steps forward. He swings and turns and throws his partner up into the air. Is this judo? Karate? Olympic gymnastics? None of the above. This is a performance of a country swing dance troupe which is honoring the heritage of rural Kansas.

Dr. Donita Whitney-Bammerlin is an instructor in the Department of Management in the K-State College of Business. She grew up on a farm near Manhattan, where she enjoyed music and dance. She learned to country swing dance with her brother and became a twirler at K-State. She even performed with a western dance troupe at Six Flags over Mid-America.

Donita went on to a career in education and academia, ultimately returning to a faculty position at K-State. Then she met a group of students who especially enjoyed country swing dancing.

In 2011, a young woman from Lyndon, Kansas organized some students into the K-State Country Swing and Two-Step Club. Soon after, the person they asked to be their faculty adviser was Donita Whitney-Bammerlin.

“They had a lot of fun and they had some great dancers,” Donita said. “When I watched them dancing, I said, `Wow, there is a lot of great student talent here. We should form a performance dance troupe.’”

The idea went over so well that auditions were held at the recreation center in September 2013. “I got three judges from the (K-State) dance program,” Donita said. Seven couples were selected.

The group got organized, selected a captain, and worked on plans for the future. After lots of discussion, they settled on a name which would reflect the country dancing nature of the group: Swingin Spurs.

“Just two weeks after we were formed, the College of Agriculture had its Barn Party in Weber Hall and our students were asked to perform,” Donita said. It was a trial by fire, but the group worked hard to perfect a routine. It went so well that the Swingin Spurs started to get lots more requests.

“The group probably averaged a performance once a month in 2013, but that doubled in 2014,” Donita said. Under her tutelage, these couples prepare and perform remarkable precision dances. They practice after the weekly dance club meetings. As director, Donita works closely with a choreographer who happens to be one of the former members of the original dance troupe.

The girls wear matching tops and the boys wear black shirts, blue jeans and cowboy boots. They perform unison floor routines as well as aerial moves, which means the boys fling those girls around in remarkable ways. (Kids, don’t try this at home without adult supervision.) Besides doing demonstrations, the Swingin Spurs will also do informal lessons for groups.

As students have graduated, additional tryouts have been held. Most members of the group are K-State students, but it has also included one Fort Riley soldier. The members have included an African-American and even an international student from China. “He’s a great dancer, and he’s arranged for us to perform for the Chinese student group,” Donita said.

The Swingin Spurs reflects the agricultural roots and relationships of rural Kansas. The group’s website states, “As part of a land grant institution, we believe that a portion of the heritage passed down through the agricultural generations and disseminated to a wide range of citizens was evident in the social aspect of dancing. Swingin Spurs sustains and advances country two-step and swing dance by providing performances at local, state, and national events.”

Many of the group members come from rural places such as Holcomb, Blaine, Weskan, Beloit, and Eureka. The group’s choreographer comes from Plevna, Kansas, population 98 people. Now, that’s rural.

For more information, go to www.swinginspurs.com.

The man from Beijing, China deftly steps forward. He swings and turns and throws his partner up into the air. No, this is not judo or gymnastics. It’s not a martial art, but it is a performance art. This is a performance of the Swingin Spurs, a precision country swing dance troupe which is making a difference by sustaining and advancing this element of rural culture. Let’s dance.

Farmers and ranchers have always adhered to sound principles of animal husbandry while providing the best care for their livestock. Society’s views on animal welfare, on the other hand, continue to evolve.

Today, people are becoming more concerned for the animal’s quality of life.

While there are extreme fringe groups, “activists” if you will, many people today have honest questions and concerns about the quality of life for animals while they are in the production environment.

Who are these people?

These people are average individuals. Some are like you. Others may be like me. Many are one, two, three or more generations removed from the farm and no longer understand what goes into the care and feeding of farm animals.

Most of these people are not opposed to eating meat. They believe it is OK for people to eat animals for food. They just want to know while that sow is going through the production cycle she has a reasonable quality of life.

Raising livestock on the farm or ranch is a dynamic, specialized profession that has proven one of the most successful in the world. Only in the United States can less than 2 percent of the population feed 100 percent of our population – and other people around the world – as efficiently as we do.

Today’s animal husbandry is no accident. Because our livestock are the best cared for, we can provide such efficiency.

Farmers and ranchers work hard, long hours to care for and nurture their livestock. Farmers and ranchers are neither cruel nor naive. A farmer would compromise his or her own welfare if animals were mistreated.

“We love our animals,” says Dana Pieper. “We want to produce healthy animals that will one day feed others. We produce beef animals that are destined to be food for all of us.”

Dana and David Pieper operate Pieper Land & Cattle Co. near Palco in northwestern Kansas. The land where they run cattle and farm has been in Dana’s family for more than 130 years. Her grandpa’s great-uncles settled this land on a timber claim from the Union Pacific Railroad.

Pieper is the 5th generation to farm and ranch in Rooks County. More than anything, she wants to carry on her family livestock operation and provide an opportunity for her children to continue this legacy.

“I’ve always known this is where I would one day end up,” Dana says. “I hope one day our children, Cody and Cady, will raise and care for cattle here.”

Dana is a hands-on producer and their family herd consists of approximately 40 fall calving cows, 150 registered Hereford spring calving cows and 150 commercial black and black baldie spring calving cows.

“Our cattle eat, sleep, drink, walk and reproduce,” Pieper says. “They’re living creatures. Caring for them gives us a chance to be in charge of each and every animal’s welfare.”

Many consumers are unaware of a farmer’s relationship with their animals. They don’t know how meat, milk, eggs and other food products wind up on their dinner table. Few know all that goes into caring, feeding and nurturing of livestock on farms and ranches across Kansas.

Kansas farmers and ranchers are committed to continuing the enhancement of animal well-being throughout the life cycle of their food-producing animals. Today’s producers remain dedicated to using all the scientific measures available to develop long-term management options and short-term production practices based on scientific research findings about animal well-being.

That said, today’s consumers will continue to regard the profession of farming and ranching highly, and embrace a quality, abundant food source they value second to none.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.

Ever heard of Bryan Sheffield? The baby-faced tycoon enjoyed a brief blast of fame a few months ago when he became one of those rare non-tech billionaires under 40.

What ignited his rise to the ranks of Americans with money to burn? He owns a company called Parsley Energy Inc. that extracts oil and natural gas using the highly polluting technique known as fracking. Sheffield’s fortune hit the billion-dollar milestone when Parsley went public in May.

But a sudden plunge in oil prices quickly spiked the young Texan’s newfound status, trimming Sheffield’s fortune to a more modest $750 million.

You see, domestic oil production could hit 9.4 million barrels a day next year. This 42-year high, sparked by a fracking bonanza, is feeding a global glut that’s pushing oil prices down to levels not seen since 2010.

As recently as 2013, energy experts were freaking out about how “expensive” gasoline at U.S. pumps had gotten as it crossed the $4-a-gallon mark. Even though Europeans are accustomed to prices at least twice as high as ours, that problem was supposedly going to choke U.S. economic growth.

Since then, oil prices have retreated — albeit to the historically high level of about $78 a barrel. The experts are now forecasting that “cheap” gasoline prices will slink along at under $3 a gallon next year.

That’s good news for U.S. consumers, right? Since we’re spending less on gas, can’t we splurge more on gifts for our loved ones this holiday season? Aren’t we more apt to hit the road to visit grandma?

Yes, but the experts aren’t happy.

Those low prices are imperiling oil fracking operations in Texas and North Dakota. Many companies may start losing money or even go broke.

High-flying bond investor Jeffrey Gundlach says he bets oil will decline to $70 a barrel soon. After that, “It’s bye, bye fracking.”

Green-minded people like me aren’t upset about the prospect of bidding farewell to fracking. But we do see a risk that “cheap oil” will speed the pace of climate change if more consumers opt to drive gas-guzzlers or refrain from steps that might reduce their carbon footprint.

Well, maybe that won’t happen this time around. Lower prices could mean that lots of companies in the fracking business will wind up defaulting on the mountains of junk bonds they’ve issued to finance their operations.

Those companies may go out of business before oil prices recover. While Sheffield has said he plans to snatch up lots of frackers who go broke, it’s likely that the overall industry will contract.

The outlook for natural gas, most of which doesn’t get burned by vehicles, is murky too.

Another domestic glut is crimping natural gas prices. They probably won’t rebound until a maze of planned pipelines starts pumping that fracked fuel to distant markets. Massive quantities of liquified natural gas could wind up being sold in overseas markets once the right facilities are built.

If the oil and gas gluts force the drill-baby-drillers to hit the brakes, everyone should cheer. It might encourage investors to waste less money on expensive projects that ought to be invested in the fossil-free future required to avert climate chaos.

Perhaps the oddest part of this strange conversation about “cheap gas” is that prices are plunging despite the rise of the so-called Islamic State and the havoc it’s wreaking throughout the Middle East. How low would oil prices go if peace unexpectedly broke out over there?

Poor Bryan Sheffield might have to find something else to do with his money, like investing in solar or wind power.

Emily Schwartz Greco is the managing editor of OtherWords.org, a nonprofit national editorial service run by the Institute for Policy Studies.

Good morning everyone!

Wow! I know it’s only Wednesday, but this week has already been CRAZY and I don’t see anything letting up for a while! I just don’t understand when folks say there’s nothing happening in Ellis, because check out THIS list…

Today: Well at least it’s Hump Day and we can feel like we are making progress. Anywho … I will again be out of the office, but Shauna will be in to take care of anything you need. At 3:30p, the Alliance Board will be meeting, the Good Sam residents will be enjoying Music with Leroy this afternoon at 2;30p along with a Flex & Stretch activity at 4:30p. They will also be savoring a Cheese Tasting this evening at 6:30p. That sounds yummy to me! Don’t forget, if you signed up for the Make and Take Wreath Class tonight through the Ellis Rec, it begins at 7pm at the Library.

Thursday: The EJH will be hosting Smith Center in Basketball at both the Old and New High School Gyms. The Good Sam residents will be creating Christmas Cards at 2pm and tapping their toes to the music of Paul Flax at 6:15. I’m out in the town getting things ready for the Polar Express and Follow the Star, but Shauna will be in the office to help with anything you need.

Friday: Again, I’m out and the office will be closed this day. However, if you need me call me on my cell at 785-635-1957 and I’ll be glad to help you in any way I can. EHS will be having their winter sports Pep Rally at 9:30am to get them fired up for their first basketball game of the season. They will travel to Phillipsburg with game time at 6pm. Good Luck Railers!

Saturday is the big day with Follow the Star Christmas Craft Fair opening from 9-2p. There are 31 spots and they are ALL FILLED!!! We have great variety of products and services offered that day and you will be able to get several things crossed off that Christmas list. Heck, you may find it all! One of our new vendors is a lady bringing custom dog treat and goodies. I’m thinking Junior will have a great Christmas this year! I’m so excited that FTS is FINALLY here and I can’t wait to see that gym floor filled to the gills! Saturday evening at 6pm, bring the kids to the ball field behind the Library for the Ellis Rec’s Candy Cane Hunt! This is a great kick off to Santa’s visit at the Ellis Public Library. Polar Express rides will begin at 6:15 and run to 9-ish or until everyone gets to ride that magical train! Santa will be in the Library to visit with all the kids and Mrs. Claus has been baking up a storm getting all those cookies and hot cocoa ready to go. Penny the Penguin, Reckless the Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman will be out and about talking with the kids as well.

On Sunday, you can breathe a little to prepare for the next round of “nothing to do in Ellis,” as next week’s list is already extensive! The new LED Sign is taking shape and will soon be delivered. The old sign has been sold and will soon be leaving downtown Ellis. We will have a short transition period without a sign, but never fear, as soon as the new one is up, I’ll be happy to add your events to it! Keep watching downtown for all the new sign excitement!

Have a great day and an awesome week!

Dena Patee is executive director of the Ellis Alliance.