On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa" <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain >>>> simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing
suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence >>>> seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But >>>> when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even >>>> if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time >>>> you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if >>>> you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the >>>> fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000
college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'.
So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only >>> the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by
someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously"
has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained such gems as:
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing
suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence >>>>> seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >>>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But >>>>> when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even >>>>> if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time >>>>> you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if >>>>> you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the >>>>> fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000
college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >>>> So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only >>>> the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by
someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously"
has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics
on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to
death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing >>>>>> suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >>>>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But >>>>>> when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even >>>>>> if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time >>>>>> you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if >>>>>> you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the >>>>>> fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >>>>> college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >>>>> So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only >>>>> the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by >>>> someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously"
has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
such gems as:
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my
suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main
lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song
structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics
on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to
death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
rCLCut loose like a douche you know the runner in the nightrCY
Yeah, they tell you itrCOs supposed to be rCLgooserCY but thererCOs no way thatrCOs
what they say.
Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained >> such gems as:
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing >>>>>> suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >>>>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But
when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was >>>>>> 'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even
if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time >>>>>> you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if
you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the
fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also. >>>>>>
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >>>>> college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >>>>> So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only >>>>> the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by >>>> someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously" >>>> has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my
suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main
lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song
structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics
on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to
death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
rCLCut loose like a douche you know the runner in the nightrCY
Yeah, they tell you itrCOs supposed to be rCLgooserCY but thererCOs no way thatrCOs
what they say.
Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained such gems as:
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing >>>>> suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >>>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But
when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even
if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time >>>>> you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if
you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the
fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >>>> college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >>>> So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only >>>> the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by >>> someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously"
has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics
on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
?Cut loose like a douche you know the runner in the night?
Yeah, they tell you it?s supposed to be ?goose? but there?s no way that?s what they say.
Verily, in article <158948720.799959111.265004.anim8rfsk- >cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us this >message:
Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained >> > such gems as:
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing
suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >> >>>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But
when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even
if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time
you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if
you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the
fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >> >>>> college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >> >>>> So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only
the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by >> >>> someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously"
has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my
suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main
lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song
structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics >> > on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to
death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
?Cut loose like a douche you know the runner in the night?
Yeah, they tell you it?s supposed to be ?goose? but there?s no way that?s
what they say.
It's supposed to be "cut loose like a deuce," whatever that means. To me
it sounds like "loosh like a douche."
On Fri, 8 May 2026 17:01:46 -0400, The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <158948720.799959111.265004.anim8rfsk- >cox.net@news.easynews.com>, did anim8rfsk@cox.net deliver unto us this >message:
Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing >> >>>>> suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat
gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But
when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even
if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time
you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if
you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the
fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >> >>>> college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'.
So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only
the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by
someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously" >> >>> has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
such gems as:
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my
suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main
lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song >> > structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics >> > on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to >> > death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
?Cut loose like a douche you know the runner in the night?
Yeah, they tell you it?s supposed to be ?goose? but there?s no way that?s >> what they say.
It's supposed to be "cut loose like a deuce," whatever that means. To me >it sounds like "loosh like a douche."
Never heard "She's my little deuce coupe. You don't know what I got."
On Fri, 8 May 2026 12:22:37 -0700, anim8rfsk <anim8rfsk@cox.net>
wrote:
Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
On 2026-05-06 12:04 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 3:14:46 AM PDT, "The True Melissa"One of my favourite bands for many years was Yes, whose lyrics contained >>> such gems as:
<thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing >>>>>>> suspension,
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat >>>>>>> gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But
when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was >>>>>>> 'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even
if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time >>>>>>> you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if
you
expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the
fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also. >>>>>>>
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >>>>>> college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >>>>>> So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only >>>>>> the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
"Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by >>>>> someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously" >>>>> has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
Exactly. Hell, a lot of poetry and music lyrics are nonsensical:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
"Shining flying purple wolfhound that's just where you are"
I always wondered what these lyrics were supposed to mean and had my
suspicions confirmed a couple of years ago when lead singer and main
lyricist Jon Anderson said they were using a LOT of drugs when they
wrote those songs back in the early 70s.
As it happens though, I'm not a lyrics guy: I listen for melody, song
structure, ear-catching playing but I couldn't tell you the full lyrics >>> on almost ANY song I've ever heard, including songs that got played to
death so the meanings of lyrics never much concerned me.
rCLCut loose like a douche you know the runner in the nightrCY
Yeah, they tell you itrCOs supposed to be rCLgooserCY but thererCOs no way thatrCOs
what they say.
To me I always thought of it as saying "Cut loose like a deuce, you
know the runner in the night". That fits in well with Little Deuce
Coupe from the Beach Boys.
On 5/6/2026 1:04 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
On May 6, 2026 at 8:59:38 AM PDT, "moviePig" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote:
On 5/6/2026 6:14 AM, The True Melissa wrote:
-a Verily, in article <10te8rb$scq7$1@dont-email.me>, did
-a nobody@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
-a It wasn't supposed to make sense. Nonsense can still be read.
-a On 5/5/2026 6:18 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
-a A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain
-a simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing >>>>>> suspension,
-a possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
-a I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
-a seemed to make no sense:
-a "She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat
-a gauche."
-a After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But
when
-a I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was >>>>>> -a 'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. But even
if it
-a was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time
you're
-a a senior in high school.
-a The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if you
-a expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the
fall.
-a Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also. >>>>>>
-a ------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
-a ...
-a I dare say that neither the video-maker nor you and I nor 999 of 1000 >>>>> -a college graduates would, unprepared, grasp that sense of 'silhouette'. >>>>> -a So, it seems legitimate, from this distance anyway, to question not only
-a the video's methodology but also its underlying intent.
-a "Jabberwocky" uses entire fake words, and it can still be read aloud by >>>> -a someone who knows how to read English. "Green clouds sleep furiously" >>>> -a has also been read aloud many times, despite making no sense.
The NYPost article says 'comprehend', which *I* would have failed at if
it required me to intuit that meaning of 'silhouette'.-a I'm certainly
not defending *any* public school system, but indicting one with such a
recondite example text seems an odd choice.
It turns out that the 'silhouette' sentence was just a reading test. The
comprehension test was the sentence about the governor's schedule and the
choir.
So regardless of the archaic use of 'silhouette', a high school student should
absolutely be able to easily read the words, whether they made sense or not. >> *I* had no problem reading them, despite not knowing the meaning of the word >> in that context.
I'm trying to think where a h.s. senior today would have encountered 'silhouette' enough to enter his vocabulary.-a It was a song in the '50s, but I suspect is rare on contemporary radio/TV.-a Same for 'gauche'.
On 5/6/26 11:39 AM, moviePig wrote:
On 5/6/2026 1:04 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
It turns out that the 'silhouette' sentence was just a reading test. The >>> comprehension test was the sentence about the governor's schedule and the >>> choir.
So regardless of the archaic use of 'silhouette', a high school student >>> should
absolutely be able to easily read the words, whether they made sense or not.
*I* had no problem reading them, despite not knowing the meaning of the word
in that context.
I'm trying to think where a h.s. senior today would have encountered
'silhouette' enough to enter his vocabulary.-a It was a song in the '50s, but
I suspect is rare on contemporary radio/TV.-a Same for 'gauche'.
I heard "silhouette" early, but I don't recall hearing
"gauche" spoken out loud. If I mispronounce "gauche"
does that mean I am incapable of reading the sentence?
Spoken language tends to be much more shallow than
written language. So reading out loud the sentence is
not a litmus test of whether someone can read or not.
This is a typical gimmicky video, taking real issues
but treating it in a trivial manner.
The point of my post wasn't the reading test the kid gave his classmates, but rather the fact that the school authorities suspended him and banned him from his prom and graduation for exposing their failures.
This is why we have a 1st Amendment.
Verily, in article <10tqhca$ig1u$1@dont-email.me>, did atropos@mac.com deliver unto us this message:
The point of my post wasn't the reading test the kid gave his classmates, >> but
rather the fact that the school authorities suspended him and banned him
from
his prom and graduation for exposing their failures.
This is why we have a 1st Amendment.
It was probably categorized as bullying, since we could see the faces of
the illiterate kids.
It's been established that kids in school (allegedly) don't have First Amendment rights.
On May 10, 2026 at 11:29:14 AM PDT, "The True Melissa" <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> wrote:
Verily, in article <10tqhca$ig1u$1@dont-email.me>, did atropos@mac.com deliver unto us this message:
The point of my post wasn't the reading test the kid gave his classmates, >> but
rather the fact that the school authorities suspended him and banned him >> from
his prom and graduation for exposing their failures.
This is why we have a 1st Amendment.
It was probably categorized as bullying, since we could see the faces of the illiterate kids.
It's been established that kids in school (allegedly) don't have First Amendment rights.
As far as I know, Tinker v. Des Moines School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969) is
still good law: "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed
their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."
May 10, 2026 11:29:14 AM PDT, The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com>: >>did atropos@mac.com deliver unto us this message:
The point of my post wasn't the reading test the kid gave his
classmates, but rather the fact that the school authorities suspended
him and banned him from his prom and graduation for exposing their >>>failures.
This is why we have a 1st Amendment.
It was probably categorized as bullying, since we could see the faces of >>the illiterate kids.
It's been established that kids in school (allegedly) don't have First >>Amendment rights.
As far as I know, Tinker v. Des Moines School District, 393 U.S. 503
(1969) is still good law: "It can hardly be argued that either students
or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or >expression at the schoolhouse gate."
did atropos@mac.com deliver unto us this message:
The point of my post wasn't the reading test the kid gave his classmates, >>but rather the fact that the school authorities suspended him and banned >>him from his prom and graduation for exposing their failures.
This is why we have a 1st Amendment.
It was probably categorized as bullying, since we could see the faces of
the illiterate kids.
It's been established that kids in school (allegedly) don't have First >Amendment rights.
did atropos@mac.com deliver unto us this message:
. . .
As far as I know, Tinker v. Des Moines School District, 393 U.S. 503
(1969) is still good law: "It can hardly be argued that either students
or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or >>expression at the schoolhouse gate."
Unfortunately, it's been modified a lot. Any number of student
newsletters are distributed just outside the gate, because the >administrators ban them.
That's a few decades in the past, I suppose. These days, such
newsletters would be electronic.
1. Have the parent read something to the child - the livelier the better
- and at a critical point in the story, step away to do something
"urgent" (like emptying the dishwasher) so the kid, who is dying to know >what happens to the hero, becomes determined to try to puzzle it out
himself with the words he already knows because he can't bear waiting
until the parent comes back.
2. Have a strict bedtime for the child and insist the lights be turned
off BUT allow one exception: they can stay up as late as they want if >they're reading.
Robinson learned to read via Method 1; he and his wife used the second >method on his daughter and she was hooked like a trout as he described it.
Back when my firstborn was 4 I was regularly on Usenet (pre-internet
days) . . .
The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> wrote:
Back when my firstborn was 4 I was regularly on Usenet (pre-internet
days) . . .
Were you using UUCP?
On May 9, 2026 at 10:55:52 PM PDT, "Pluted Pup" <plutedpup@outlook.com> wrote:
On 5/6/26 11:39 AM, moviePig wrote:
On 5/6/2026 1:04 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
It turns out that the 'silhouette' sentence was just a reading test. The >>>> comprehension test was the sentence about the governor's schedule and the
choir.
So regardless of the archaic use of 'silhouette', a high school student >>>> should
absolutely be able to easily read the words, whether they made sense or not.
*I* had no problem reading them, despite not knowing the meaning of the word
in that context.
I'm trying to think where a h.s. senior today would have encountered
'silhouette' enough to enter his vocabulary.-a It was a song in the '50s, but
I suspect is rare on contemporary radio/TV.-a Same for 'gauche'.
I heard "silhouette" early, but I don't recall hearing
"gauche" spoken out loud. If I mispronounce "gauche"
does that mean I am incapable of reading the sentence?
Spoken language tends to be much more shallow than
written language. So reading out loud the sentence is
not a litmus test of whether someone can read or not.
This is a typical gimmicky video, taking real issues
but treating it in a trivial manner.
The point of my post wasn't the reading test the kid gave his classmates, but rather the fact that the school authorities suspended him and banned him from his prom and graduation for exposing their failures.
This is why we have a 1st Amendment.
On 2026-05-05 6:18 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
A kid who made videos where he asked his fellow classmates to read/explain >> simple sentences and documented their inability to do so is facing suspension,I remember a part of a John Stossel segment (back when he was on one of those network magazine shows - Nightline maybe?) and he had footage of a senior student trying to read a first grade reader and man, was he struggling! "See Tom.... rrrun. See Dick ... whatever". It was horrifying to watch. I'll bet this was a good 20 years ago now and it may well have been a lot longer; I can find Stossel on YouTube now so I'm guessing he's not on the broadcast nets any more.
possible expulsion, and denial of his prom and graduation.
I was going to cut some of them a little slack because the first sentence
seemed to make no sense:
"She wore a silhouette of clothes that were extraordinary but somewhat
gauche."
After all, what is a silhouette of clothes and how does one wear it? But when
I looked up 'silhouette', one of the more obscure definitions was
'configuration', so in that sense the sentence does make sense. And even if it
was nonsensical, you should still be able to read the words by the time you're
a senior in high school.
The main lesson this kid will take from his high school years is that if you >> expose the powers-that-be and their grift, you'll be the one to take the fall.
Something Nick Shirley is well familiar with at this point, also.
------------------------------------
https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/us-news/high-school-student-exposes-classmates-abysmal-reading-skills/
A high school student in Philadelphia exposed how his classmates are
struggling to read easy words and comprehend relatively simple sentences in a
viral series of videos and he may have gotten in hot water for his trouble. >>
The videos, posted on TikTok, show the teenagers failing to read a sentence on
a piece of paper while being filmed at the city's Preparatory Charter School >> of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Careers. In the clip, made by user >> "whatthevek" earlier this week, not a single high school-aged student was able
to read the sentence, "She wore a silhouette of clothes that were
extraordinary but somewhat gauche."
He made a follow-up video a day later in which the students were apparently >> unable to make sense of the sentence, "The colonel asked the choir to
accommodate the governor's schedule."
The two videos racked up a combined 1.7 million likes and thousands of
comments, but "whatthevek" later claimed he wouldn't be making a third due to
threats from authorities at Prep Charter. "I would post a part three, but the
school board is trying to expel me, stop me from going to prom, and stop me >> from walking at graduation. I don't know chat," he wrote in an Instagram story
on Friday.
South Philly-based Prep Charter, one of the most diverse schools in the state,
did not respond immediately to requests for comment. State test scores show >> that just 53% of students at the school tested proficient in reading and just
19% were proficient in math.
The video has sparked outrage, with many calling out the parents as well as >> the school.
"Yo late Gen Xers and older Millennials have failed their kids so badly. How >> can you neglect your child so badly, you don't make sure they can read?!" one
X user wrote.
"Them charter schools are shit. I had my son in one for 6th grade, and had to
pull him out. They'll hire anybody. I couldn't believe the things my son would
tell me and the conversations I had with the teachers. It's a scam," added a >> second X user.
"1. Not surprised this is in Philly lmao. 2. I knew Prep Charter wasn't
preparing nobody for shit," a third wrote.
[NOTE: It's hilarious how these people are criticizing the parents and the >> school for their children's illiteracy, yet they're using language like, "Them
charter schools..." and "...Prep Charter wasn't preparing nobody".]
A local social media group shared a message that it had written to the school,
slamming it for allegedly threatening a student with expulsion. "From what has
been shared, the content appears harmless in nature and does not promote
violence, bullying, or any form of serious misconduct. To jeopardize his
future at such a critical point over an activity that seems intended for
lighthearted engagement raises questions about fairness and proportionality in
disciplinary action."
Roughly 71% of Philadelphia's fourth-graders cannot read at grade level,
according to statistics from Philadelphia-based social justice group Achieve >> Now. The same group found that just over half of all adults in Philadelphia >> are functionally illiterate, one of the highest rates among large US cities. >>
Heck, I remember Robert Heinlein - who died in 1988 - commenting in one essay that he always noted the letters he got from Commonwealth countries always had better spelling and grammar. I don't remember when the essay was written but it could have been anywhere from the 50s to the 80s.
A whole lot of kids have been failed by the American school system for a VERY long time!
David Simon may have put his finger on the problem in The Neighborhood, the miniseries he did on PBS after H:LOTS ended and before The Wire started. The book upon which the series was based describes a group of inner city youth in Baltimore who don't take their education terribly seriously; they're truant quite a bit and don't do well on their tests but teachers give them so-called "social promotions" (passing them despite failing their exams) so that they stay in school - however sporadically - rather than drifting away from school entirely and getting into street life (drug dealing!). That probably doesn't explain ALL of the problems with literacy but it may hit a good share of them.
I've also heard that some academics have become very skeptical of the reading methods taught in recent years and are pushing for a return to phonics rather than the newer methodologies.
Personally, I'm a huge fan of the two methods advocated by SF writer Spider Robinson:
1. Have the parent read something to the child - the livelier the better - and at a critical point in the story, step away to do something "urgent" (like emptying the dishwasher) so the kid, who is dying to know what happens to the hero, becomes determined to try to puzzle it out himself with the words he already knows because he can't bear waiting until the parent comes back.
2. Have a strict bedtime for the child and insist the lights be turned off BUT allow one exception: they can stay up as late as they want if they're reading.
Robinson learned to read via Method 1; he and his wife used the second method on his daughter and she was hooked like a trout as he described it.
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