The State of Our Schools and Society, Etc.

School buses line up outside Woodrow Wilson Senior High School in Los Angeles, Calif., on August 30, 2021. (Mike Blake / Reuters)

On schools, drugs, Donald Trump, John Boehner, George Santos, John Smoltz, and more

It is a big country, from sea to shining sea (as Bill Buckley would say), and a million things happen in it, good and bad, every day. But I have the impression that the condition of Charlottesville High School, in Virginia, is emblematic.

Have the first few paragraphs of a report from the Daily Progress, in Charlottesville:

Students roaming the hallways during class. Brawls in the common areas. Intruders let onto school premises. Teachers afraid for their own safety. Administrators unwilling or unable to discipline.

Things are not OK at Charlottesville High School.

On Friday, classes were abruptly canceled when teachers did not show up to work.

You know the expression “That’s not what I signed up for”? Teachers sign up for great challenges. The job of teaching is one of the most challenging there are, and one of the most rewarding. But teachers do not sign up — should not sign up — for fear: fear for their safety.

More in Public Schools

I have had conversations with policemen and police officials: “Would you want your children to go into this line of work?” (I ask). Some of them say no. I wonder about teaching, too.

God bless, and keep, the teachers. And without safety, without order, there can be no learning, no teaching — nothing good.

• You may have seen this story: “8 teenagers arrested on murder charges after Las Vegas boy, 17, beaten by mob.” The subheading: “Las Vegas police on Tuesday arrested eight teenagers on murder charges in connection with the death of Jonathan Lewis, a 17-year-old who was pummeled by a mob of his classmates in an alley outside their high school, authorities said.” That article is from USA Today, here.

For generations, people have said, “You know what this country needs?” And then they give their answer. Well, you know what this country needs, in my opinion? A spiritual revival, or re-moralization, as Gertrude Himmelfarb might say. A great rediscovery of right and wrong.

• Of interest, from the Wall Street Journal: “Oregon Decriminalized Hard Drugs. It Isn’t Working.” And the subheading: “Majority of voters now want to undo a pioneering change as public drug use has become rampant.” (Article here.)

In the main, I am against decriminalization, and always have been. But I am also practical, and open to experiment. I believe that decriminalizers should be open to evidence. Should be willing to look at how things are working out. I believe the same of anti-decriminalizers like me.

You try a course, perhaps, and then you adjust.

• A report from Reuters is headed, “Trump vows to kill Asia trade deal being pursued by Biden if elected.” That is one campaign promise I believe he would keep. Trump has always been hostile to trade. And such a stance is bad news for prosperity.

• Trump has promised to “root out” the “vermin” among us. (Who knows? Could include you.) Some people thought this was language reminiscent of dictators past. A Trump spokesman would have none of it.

“Those who try to make that ridiculous assertion,” he said, “are clearly snowflakes grasping for anything because they are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome and their entire existence will be crushed when President Trump returns to the White House.”

Perfect. Impossible to make up.

• I often hear, “Republican politicians are afraid of Trump.” No, that’s not true. Or rather, it is imprecise. They are afraid of Republican voters — who adore Trump. If the voters ever turned on Trump, the politicians would drop him like a hot rock — with glee and relief.

• Not since William F. Buckley Jr. dined alone . . .

• Have you heard of First Amendment–related events? This was a new one on me:

Due to First Amendment-related events, customers are encouraged to allow extra time to get to Washington Union Station to board their train.

— Amtrak Northeast (@AmtrakNECAlerts) November 17, 2023

• Several years ago, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and I were talking about John Boehner. I think she was still in Congress. He had retired. She said, “I think he’s living his best life.” Lordy, so do I:

Was a pleasure meeting you, @nicolekidman. I know you can’t tell from the picture, but I’m actually blushing. pic.twitter.com/LHGBEufyW0

— John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) November 16, 2023

• Speaking of Congress, a word about George Santos (R., N.Y.). He’s got issues. We all have issues. All God’s chillen got issues. I hope Santos works his out. I hope the rest of us work out ours. But I don’t think he needs to be in Congress.

• Maybe a touch of sports: John Smoltz is one of the greatest pitchers of all time (Cy Young Award, Hall of Fame, etc.). He is also an excellent golfer — and is on the cusp of making the Senior Tour. To read about this, go here.

Remember John Brodie, the quarterback from the 49ers? He played on the Senior Tour for 13 years.

When it comes to talent, some people have a double portion. A triple portion.

• A little music? For a review of the New York Philharmonic, go here. The conductor: Stéphane Denève. The soloist (in the Beethoven Violin Concerto): Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider.

• “Karel Schwarzenberg, Renegade Czech Prince and Politician, Dies at 85.” For that obit, go here. He was an amazing gent. The obit’s subheading reads as follows: “Popular with the Czech public for quietly subverting the aristocracy, he served twice as foreign minister and ran for president in 2013.”

I was lucky to encounter him, in 2011. I was in Prague, to take part in Reagan centennial activities. There were seminars. There was the unveiling of a statue, as I recall. The renaming of a street.

In my journal, I made a note of Schwarzenberg, who was then foreign minister. He said that statues of Reagan and streets named after him were great. Better, however, would be imitating him — standing for economic freedom and freedom in general.

I can remember the look of mirth — of pleasure in life — on Schwarzenberg’s face. (Pleasure in life, I should say, coupled with seriousness of purpose.)

• Peter Seidler has died at 63. For an obit, go here. He was the owner of the San Diego Padres. He was also a pillar of the community — of San Diego. This city has a bad problem with homelessness. Seidler was a leader in trying to address this problem. I traveled to San Diego last spring to do some reporting. (For the resulting piece, go here.) In my book, Peter Seidler was a model citizen, a well-nigh heroic one. Grateful for him.

• Have you ever been to Chelsea, Mich.? Let me take you there, in a fashion. Chelsea is about 15 miles west of Ann Arbor (my hometown). It is the home of Jeff Daniels, the actor. He established his Purple Rose Theatre Company there.

Start with a rock: