O Come, All Ye Faithful, to Methlehem

That's right folks. The community of Bethlehem, PA sticks to the fundamentals of education. Reading, Writing and Arrhythmia. Go ahead, sing it outloud, you know you want to. You'll never hear it the same again. Thank me later.

From CNN we get this update regarding the Decline of the Western Civilization.

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania (AP) -- A middle school principal was charged with dealing crystal methamphetamine after police found the drug in his school office.

John Acerra, 50, of Allentown, was arrested Tuesday in his office at Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, where police said they found meth on his desk.

Police said they began investigating Acerra in early February after an informant told them that the principal was using and distributing the drug, The Morning Call newspaper reported Wednesday. Acerra was arrested in his office after allegedly selling drugs to the informant, authorities said.

There was no indication that Acerra sold the drug to students, but Acerra did allegedly sell the drug from his school office after hours and on weekends, said Dennis Mihalopoulos, an agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Acerra has an unlisted phone number and it was not clear if he had an attorney. He was arraigned on felony drug charges and sent to county prison, with bail set at $200,000.

Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Lewis did not immediately return a phone call from on Wednesday.

Perhaps a demotion to the chemistry department is in order.

It's a matter of consistency.

Speaking of consistency, my children's elementary school within the PCSD has recently provided the kids with an opportunity to participate in a fundraiser for the HSA. Following the tradition of kicking 60% back up to the Sally Foster organization they have decided that the new Cookie Dough Fundraiser from Emily's Home Bakery, presented by Sally Foster, is an appropriate option. But wait a second, the PCSD recently instituted a Wellness Policy to address healthy choices for children. The policy creates guidlines particularily toward treats and snacks brought from home for parties, celebrations, etc. My son said he may like to bring some of the cookies to school for his birthday. Being ever so interested in the PCSD Wellness Policy I had difficulty finding any Nutritional Data for the Sally Foster products. A quick search of the web and a phone call to HQ provided the information I was seeking.

None of the products the children are being asked to hustle meet the guidelines of the PCSD Wellness Policy. What does that say about sending mixed messages. "Don't eat this or that and certainly don't bring it to school for your 10th Birthday Party, but please, please, go out and SELL SELL SELL. We desparately need the the money." My curiousity has been peaked. Another call, this one to the volunteer coordinator of the fundraiser, left me feeling anything but comfortable with the decision making process. When asked if the PCSD Wellness Policy was considered when chosing this type of fundraiser the answer, without hestiation, was NO.

That's just lovely.

If you need the money, just ask. Giving kids the opportunity to hustle that which is verboten with the lure of wonderful prizes for the Top Hustler (see Methlehem story) is hypocrisy at its finest.

No surfing here. No need to make waves.