I've found a new summer job at a grocery store, which is why I haven't been on line for a while. I am also still looking for a fall job, because halling boxes around at my age just isn't all the fun. It is better than last summer when I went almost two months without a job.
I am now focussing on jobs outside the Wichita area, because I strongly beleive I've been blacklisted from getting a teaching job around here. This blog, and a few others like it may be the reason. I have had experience, praise from my bosses, letters of recomendation and this year I was told they are always looking for special ed teachers, which I've tried to get into since the competition for social studies jobs is staggering.
I have no doubt I could sub again, but I have a teachers license and in three years I have not been able to get a real job. Last year I had two interviews set up and they suddenly called me and called them off. That didn't seem right. I also have contacted the special ed department of more than one area school and I've heard nothing.
My son told me that he put my name and the town I actually live in and this and all my other blogs showed up. Despite taking my name and picture off this blog, I still suspect I'm being blacklisted and I've had more than one person suggest that is happing. So next fall, I may move, to Kansas City, eastern Kansas, such as Topeka and if that doesn't work I'll keep moving till I find some place in this country where teachers aren't pushed out because of their political opinions. (Or what ever else offends these people.)
For those of you who crave a nestalga for the 1950s, everything old is new again, such as blacklisting people from various jobs.
Here is an excerp from my latest book Can You Pass the Acid Test?:
The HUAC and the "Red Scare"
In 1938, Congressman Martin Dies persuaded Congress to create the
HUAC, which conducted closed hearings until October 1947. In that year,
Congressman J. Parnell Thomas took over and began subpoenaing people
to appear before the committee.84
In the 1930s, during the depression, the Communist Party rank and file
swelled to an all-time high. At the same time, there were demonstrations
by those wanting food, housing and unemployment insurance. There was
labor unrest. By the end of the 1930s, U.S. labor violence surpassed all
other industrialized nations. The motion picture industry also saw the rise
of various trade and craft unions. Many in the film industry were working
with new ideas and ideologies. By the beginning of World War II, the US
had established friendly relations with the Soviet Union and a few
movies, such as Mission to Moscow, even presented Joe Stalin in a
favorable light.
The film industry wasn't alone when it came to the "red scare." The
workers of the late '40s and '50s were forced to sign loyalty oaths when
getting certain jobs or joining unions. Many unions were locked into an
intense struggle pitting anti-Communists against all left-leaning union
officials and rank and file.85 The Taft-Hartley Act forced unions to require
a "non-communist affidavit" for rank-and-file members.86 People
working for the US government were at risk of losing their job any time
they were suspected of disloyalty. In October of 1947 the State
Department explained why they had fired ten employees and let three
others resign without prejudice. Newsweek reported: "It (State
Department) would have to fire any employee of doubtful loyalty and
character, even if that meant denying him rights which other government
workers had and even if the evidence was inconclusive."87 Altogether,
President Harry Truman fired 308 federal employees thought to be
security risks.88
The Hollywood Ten were a group of writers and directors who were
cited for contempt of Congress and jailed for not cooperating with the
HUAC.
John Howard Lawson was one of the Hollywood Ten who argued for
his rights at the HUAC. On October 27, 1947, Lawson was asked the
standard question "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
communist party?"
He replied:
"The question of communism is in no way related to this inquiry,
which is an attempt to get control of the screen and to invade the basic
rights of American citizens in all fields."
Much of the investigation went the same way, with Lawson comparing
the investigators to Hitler. He refused to answer any of the questions and
when ordered to step down, he refused. He was then removed by six
police. Other actors called on to testify followed his example, used
disruptive tactics and refused answering questions.89
Hollywood was divided as to whether these people's rights should be
supported or whether the government's which hunts were justified.
Humphrey Bogart and his wife Lauren Bacall headed a group called the
"Hollywood Committee for the First Amendment." They watched the
hearings and complained the HUAC was violating civil rights.90 Others,
such as Gary Cooper and Robert Taylor, joined on the anti-communist
bandwagon. While testifying before the HUAC, Taylor said communists
should be "deported to Russia or some other unpleasant place."91
Blacklisted writers could not even count on their unions to back them
up during this scandal. Most cooperated with the government. The
Editors Actors Equity Association was one of the few unions that stood its
ground against the HUAC's accusations and defended their black-listed
members.92
Lardner, who spoke at a HUAC commemoration, in 1997, said the
political situation today is different:
"But it is important for people to realize the importance of holding up
the First Amendment. The threat today is in the form of censorship—This
whole thing from the Christian Right is a form of censorship."93
In the 1990s, many workers have been forced to take a drug test to get
work. As with the loyalty oaths of the late '40s and '50s, a drug test is
proof of a worker's loyalty to the system. There are many similarities to
the anti-Communist hysteria of the '50s and the anti-drug hysteria of the
1980s and '90s. The film industry has taken many years to get over the
purges of the '50s. They know better than to let that happen again under
the "war on drugs."
I am now focussing on jobs outside the Wichita area, because I strongly beleive I've been blacklisted from getting a teaching job around here. This blog, and a few others like it may be the reason. I have had experience, praise from my bosses, letters of recomendation and this year I was told they are always looking for special ed teachers, which I've tried to get into since the competition for social studies jobs is staggering.
I have no doubt I could sub again, but I have a teachers license and in three years I have not been able to get a real job. Last year I had two interviews set up and they suddenly called me and called them off. That didn't seem right. I also have contacted the special ed department of more than one area school and I've heard nothing.
My son told me that he put my name and the town I actually live in and this and all my other blogs showed up. Despite taking my name and picture off this blog, I still suspect I'm being blacklisted and I've had more than one person suggest that is happing. So next fall, I may move, to Kansas City, eastern Kansas, such as Topeka and if that doesn't work I'll keep moving till I find some place in this country where teachers aren't pushed out because of their political opinions. (Or what ever else offends these people.)
For those of you who crave a nestalga for the 1950s, everything old is new again, such as blacklisting people from various jobs.
Here is an excerp from my latest book Can You Pass the Acid Test?:
The HUAC and the "Red Scare"
In 1938, Congressman Martin Dies persuaded Congress to create the
HUAC, which conducted closed hearings until October 1947. In that year,
Congressman J. Parnell Thomas took over and began subpoenaing people
to appear before the committee.84
In the 1930s, during the depression, the Communist Party rank and file
swelled to an all-time high. At the same time, there were demonstrations
by those wanting food, housing and unemployment insurance. There was
labor unrest. By the end of the 1930s, U.S. labor violence surpassed all
other industrialized nations. The motion picture industry also saw the rise
of various trade and craft unions. Many in the film industry were working
with new ideas and ideologies. By the beginning of World War II, the US
had established friendly relations with the Soviet Union and a few
movies, such as Mission to Moscow, even presented Joe Stalin in a
favorable light.
The film industry wasn't alone when it came to the "red scare." The
workers of the late '40s and '50s were forced to sign loyalty oaths when
getting certain jobs or joining unions. Many unions were locked into an
intense struggle pitting anti-Communists against all left-leaning union
officials and rank and file.85 The Taft-Hartley Act forced unions to require
a "non-communist affidavit" for rank-and-file members.86 People
working for the US government were at risk of losing their job any time
they were suspected of disloyalty. In October of 1947 the State
Department explained why they had fired ten employees and let three
others resign without prejudice. Newsweek reported: "It (State
Department) would have to fire any employee of doubtful loyalty and
character, even if that meant denying him rights which other government
workers had and even if the evidence was inconclusive."87 Altogether,
President Harry Truman fired 308 federal employees thought to be
security risks.88
The Hollywood Ten were a group of writers and directors who were
cited for contempt of Congress and jailed for not cooperating with the
HUAC.
John Howard Lawson was one of the Hollywood Ten who argued for
his rights at the HUAC. On October 27, 1947, Lawson was asked the
standard question "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the
communist party?"
He replied:
"The question of communism is in no way related to this inquiry,
which is an attempt to get control of the screen and to invade the basic
rights of American citizens in all fields."
Much of the investigation went the same way, with Lawson comparing
the investigators to Hitler. He refused to answer any of the questions and
when ordered to step down, he refused. He was then removed by six
police. Other actors called on to testify followed his example, used
disruptive tactics and refused answering questions.89
Hollywood was divided as to whether these people's rights should be
supported or whether the government's which hunts were justified.
Humphrey Bogart and his wife Lauren Bacall headed a group called the
"Hollywood Committee for the First Amendment." They watched the
hearings and complained the HUAC was violating civil rights.90 Others,
such as Gary Cooper and Robert Taylor, joined on the anti-communist
bandwagon. While testifying before the HUAC, Taylor said communists
should be "deported to Russia or some other unpleasant place."91
Blacklisted writers could not even count on their unions to back them
up during this scandal. Most cooperated with the government. The
Editors Actors Equity Association was one of the few unions that stood its
ground against the HUAC's accusations and defended their black-listed
members.92
Lardner, who spoke at a HUAC commemoration, in 1997, said the
political situation today is different:
"But it is important for people to realize the importance of holding up
the First Amendment. The threat today is in the form of censorship—This
whole thing from the Christian Right is a form of censorship."93
In the 1990s, many workers have been forced to take a drug test to get
work. As with the loyalty oaths of the late '40s and '50s, a drug test is
proof of a worker's loyalty to the system. There are many similarities to
the anti-Communist hysteria of the '50s and the anti-drug hysteria of the
1980s and '90s. The film industry has taken many years to get over the
purges of the '50s. They know better than to let that happen again under
the "war on drugs."
Hey Salamander Steve!!!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND ENCOURAGEMENT WITH THIS BLOG THINGY--you knooooow I just luv bloggin'! I am one bloggin' MANIAC now, because now I have more "paper" to write on, and that's what the internet is for, this and for Department of Defense mutual assured destruction--but isn't the internet, invented by Al Gore, forever????
Thank you for your nice comment and come back, you know...
And it just occurred to me, waaaay back in Summer of the last century
I had a pretty good gig as an english language tutor/arabic language researcher in the
Arabic Studies dept.
in Lawrence, and I know there's just got to be something for you there--even if it's in the Library on campus, or driving the little bus around town during the summer and fall--also overland park is a place I know where even my mainland Chinese illegal immigrant friends got jobs in about a day or so....You should try that--or just go to Manhatten. But stay out of Kansas and Kansas City--it is way to dangerous, lots of strong young toughs looking for an easy mark and the cops ain't cool at all when you get in trouble!!!!
Listen, I wish you the best with Dillons and maybe if you just keep writing and blogging and stuff, something, Herr Steve Otto, is just bound to happen for you, when you least expect it!!!!
Aukun Chlanh=thank you.
O! By the Way, I was able to "unlock" one of my better old pages--it's on myspace.cn=myspace in China....If you want to be my friend there, as I am your friend everywhere( You got to get "Steve Otto" to click on me, too, to add as friend, if you wish) anyway, go down to the bottom of my "top friends" thingy, look for a smiling guy with a black leather jacket next to T.O.M. and please click on me THERE, then once the new page loads on your screen, click on "add as friend" thingy"--I know it's all in Chinese, but that "thingy" is in the same location as on all myspace pages. Please figure it out and if you have any problem, please get back to me!!!
Aukun Chlanh=thank you in Khmer!!!
Most Cordially your Friend 4 good!
just lil ole me
Kim-Ha Albert