Thursday’s column: A school field trip — to Super Walmart
The new Super Walmart in Clearbrook that will open Tuesday. This picture was taken in November.
It has come to our attention that certain institutions of public education have lowered the bar on school field trips.
The latest evidence is a reminder e-mail from Clearbrook Elementary School.
“Hi parents, [a] field trip permission form for the Walmart opening was sent home on Thursday.
“Please return this form if you wish for your child to participate — 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be singing the national anthem at the Walmart opening on Jan 26.
“See the form for more information or contact ——.”
A field trip to Super Walmart?
I had reckoned Clearbrook Elementary was merely using an existing “field trip” form to comply with parental-permission red-tape for the jaunt across U.S. 220.
That was easier than the hassle of creating and sending out an all-new permission form, right?
Wrong. This actually is considered a field trip, and not necessarily in the most loosely construed sense.
The students will be performing, and “Performance is a form of learning,” Principal Karen Pendleton told me Tuesday. “It’s an experience form of field trip.”
Besides that, the students will learn how to act at community celebrations such as the one Walmart will stage Tuesday, she added.
“Those are skills we don’t think of sometimes,” Pendleton told me. “They’re part of what we try to teach kids, too.”
She neglected to mention that the distance students will travel is just barely more than across a field. So perhaps “field trip” fits in that sense, too.
I don’t mean to crack on the good principal. Her job is hard enough.
But really. This is not a exactly a visit to the Taubman Museum of Art.
Walmart can be a learning experience, though — a cheap and tawdry one that titillates the most base instincts of consumerism.
In that sense, the world’s largest retailer is to American commerce what pornography is to the romance film industry.
But Clearbrook Elementary School may be missing an opportunity here. Because there are other ways that a trip to Walmart can be used as a teaching moment.
Walmart can be a very convenient place to shop because of the breadth of goods it offers. And there’s a legitimate argument that price pressure Walmart put on suppliers in the 1990s and in the last decade played a role in low inflation.
Consumers saved some money, and most economists recognize that.
But those savings came at a cost to communities where those consumers live, and to many institutions they used to hold dear.
Mom-and-pop businesses all over the country have been run out of existence by Walmart. As a result, there are small-town centers that look like ghost towns.
Some workers from those closed businesses ended up employed by Walmart, at lower wages that left them eligible for food stamps and Medicaid benefits for their children. Another way to look at it is that taxpayers subsidize Walmart wages. (The company has since expanded employee health benefits.)
For the above reasons, it may not be quite right to treat the grand opening of a Super Walmart as if it was a presage to an Independence Day parade outside an American Legion hall.
Perhaps on Monday the school could show students the documentary: “Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price.” It is one side of an argument.
They’ll get a much rosier and close-up view of the other side at Tuesday’s grand opening.
That documentary would get some thinking gears turning in students’ heads. I guarantee it.
Finally, I took the liberty of tailoring our national anthem’s lyrics to the momentous occasion.
I doubt the music teachers at Clearbrook will approve this version. But why not? Their students already know the real first verse by heart.
Oh, say can you see,
The façade is a fright,
What a great asphalt plain,
And the morning dew steaming.
Parking stripes and bright cars,
Off the perilous road,
As those sawbucks roll in,
Shoppers eyes are gleaming.
At big yellow rollbacks,
Chinese goods in big stacks,
And you never have seen,
Dog food in such huge sacks.
The fistfuls of dollars
Flood in like a wave,
Walmart: There’s nothing free,
Just cheap junk that you crave.
January 20, 2011 - 6:00 AM
“I don’t mean to crack on the good principal. Her job is hard enough.”
And yet you did all the same.
Dan Dan Dan. I agree that a school “field” trip to Walmart is absurd; however, It’s an opportunity for the children to do something fun and they don’t get too much of that anymore. With SOLs, lost funding, and fewer places to go, there isn’t much else for the kids to do in Roanoke. Ask the kids getting to go sing today and see what they have to say about the opportunity.
As for Walmart, well you know I disagree with you on your position on Walmart. I’m still waiting for you to explain how 100 employeed and working people cost the taxpayers more than 100 unemployeed people regardless of how much they get paid. Concerning the cheap Chinese crap you refer to, they sell the exact same things you find in every other store just at better prices.
Just think Dan, if Sam Walton had been born in Moscow instead of Oklahoma he wouldn’t have had the freedom to start his company. Perhaps you would prefer we resrict our citizens from going into business and becoming successful.
Dan the Man, once again the only thing you have proven is how morally cheap you really are to beat up a group of school children for taking a field trip….god forbid the field trip at been schedule for this weekends gun show in Salem….in Salem of all places!
I lost a bet with myself.
I was sure “Spanky” Macher would be your lead thread today.
They would have been better served to astroturf a union-run rally for the Democrats. But the premier of China is in the country so I guess Walmart works pretty well.
“Please return this form if you wish for your child to participate — 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be singing the national anthem at the Walmart opening on Jan 26.”
“Besides that, the students will learn how to act at community celebrations such as the one Walmart will stage Tuesday, she added.”
So which day is the opening? January 26th, which is a Wednesday, or Tuesday, which would be, I’m assuming, January 25th????
I’m not a Walmart fan by any strecth of the imagination, however, pretty much any major new store opening in the valley has some sort of school children or band participation. Crass and Tacky, yes. Exclusive to Walmart, no.
So is Suzie Q volunteering to help supervise the school kids on the fieldtrip???
Dan, your Wal-Mart bashing grows tiresome. Go on up to DC and protest.
Those kids had better hang on to their belongings. The VV Walmart has been the site of numerous thefts from customers recently, most of them inside the store. Nice security, Walmart.
Now if you want a REAL fils trip, head to the Salem Walmart. Quite a curious-looking gathering of humanity there.
#8 I doubt suzie could tolerate a bunch of elementary school kids. Besides, how would she snap up all those special Walmart bargains?
Why does seeing a small family-owned business grow in size physically and financially makes communis…errr, liberals so upset??!?
I shop at walmart so I don’t have anything against walmart itself. And I guess since the kids are actually participating in the event it’s not THAT bad. BUT I sure do hope this isn’t their only field trip for the year…what a bummer that would be!! As a parent, I would be pretty disappointed for my child if that was her only field trip. I would be tempted to just keep her with me for the day and take her somewhere else…as you suggest, a museum or perhaps an age friendly theatre production..the zoo, the dixie caverns or ANYTHING other than a retail store.
I suspect she would use the kids as her shopping minions.
According to the Washington Post this morning, those kids are in good company:
“First lady Michelle Obama will join Wal-Mart executives at a Southeast Washington community center Thursday morning to announce a campaign by the low-priced retail giant to offer healthier foods and push its suppliers to do the same.”
If it’s good enough for the First Lady….
With cameras on cell phones, Dan, someone WILL get your picture inside a Walmart, sooner or later. The next picture then will be of you eating crow. Enough about Walmart – I think by now everyone in the Valley knows you are anti-Walmart. Find something else to beat to death.
Looks like Moochele has added about 10 or 15 recently. She’s a great one to be lecturing us on nutrition.
She’s a disgrace. The classic case of the ghetto girl getting herself in the right position to steal anything that’s not nailed down.
I am surprised by the criticism of this article. I guess it just reinforces how low education has become on the priority list of the American public. I agree wholeheartedly with Dan that the principal is stretching the “educational” benefits of this field trip. With our country falling further and further behind the rest of the world academically, is this really how our kids should be spending their educational time? Some have insinuated that our schools are too rigorous, and that events like these give kids a break from learning. I volunteer in my son’s first-grade class in the NRV, and although I have much respect for his teacher and school, I would by no means call the curriculum rigorous or too demanding. They have plenty of opportunity for non-academic activities. I would be furious if my son’s school wanted him to waste precious educational time helping Walmart sell their plastic crap.
Big fan of the Dan, but you’re getting a bit too negative, even for me. WalMart didn’t kill the mom and pop businesses, we did, as consumers who chose WalMart’s lower prices over supporting our local businesses. WalMart simply offered us a choice and we chose it. I’m sure the kids are super excited to perform in front of an audience, ANY audience, regardless if it’s at a WalMart opening or in the school gym, and it’s a positive, learning, growth experience for them.
We wonder why our kids are getting dumber? Because they’re going on “educational” “field trips” to MallWart parking lots.
It’s just embarrassing. What next, a “field trip” to a mall food court?
If I had a kid at that school I’d keep them home and let them watch Nova or somethng educational on TV. A far better use of their time.
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO!!!
for such a enlightening report. And yet, so many are so blind to what big business is doing to America. We have become a oligarchy folks – WAKE UP !!!
Commercialism, consumerism, Wall Street, Wal Mart, Exxon, Insurance companies, and so forth are NOT your friends
The funniest damn thing I heard yesterday was CNN falling all over itself apologizing for one of their talking heads using the term “in the crosshairs”.
It’s extremely gratifying watching these liberal fools having to scrutinize their every comment ALL because the bogus notion THEY instigated that Sarah Palin’s “target” map inspired violence. They’ve hamstrung themselves into having to abide by their own insane standards.
I guess they’ll have to get rid of “Crossfire” now. LOL. Beautiful!
How dare you insult the Church of Walmart!
Ata Boy!
gdad – you ain’t seen NOTHIN’ till you visit the Bonsack Walmart! I used to think Salem’s crowd was interesting til I moved to Botetourt.
With all of those wealthy SW Roanoke County parents of those white kids out there, you would think that they could all chip-in some bucks to at least send those kids on a field trip to Richmond or Williamsburg. Bet those Northcross kids don’t have to “slum-it” on a field trip to WallyWorld!
hcs – Most of the schools have cut out field trips because there isn’t any money for them. Last year our First Grade class got to go to the art museum but only after the PTA came up with the money to pay for the trip.
Dan – Why so quiet on this topic? I’m still waiting for you to explain to me how employed workers cost us more than unemployed.
Believe it or not, Wal-Mart has had a hand in the downturn of the American economy.
“….what almost no one outside the world of Wal-Mart and its 21,000 suppliers knows is the high cost of those low prices. Wal-Mart has the power to squeeze profit-killing concessions from vendors. To survive in the face of its pricing demands, makers of everything from bras to bicycles to blue jeans have had to lay off employees and close U.S. plants in favor of outsourcing products from overseas.”
There go your jobs…
Wow I can’t believe how many of you are so against our school children singing the National Anthem. Most of you probably don’t even know the words to our National Anthem. This is not an education field trip. Wake up you goof balls. The kids are going to sing and show off their talents. Get over it.
Kristen I suprised you would fall into the Wallmart bashing trap that Dan set. You’re normally better than that.
I was in Leesville, Louisiana, a tiny berg in the LA Panhandle whose primary industry is to support a major Army post (Fort Polk). A lady there told me that when the WalMart in Leesville opened long ago (many years), they closed the schools for the day to celebrate.
Get a grip Dan – These kid’s were probably asked to participate in the Grand Opening! Anytime that the kid’s LEAVE the school… ITS A FIELD TRIP and they need a permission slip. These kid’s are probably excited to have their talents showcased in this fashion. Then along comes Dan and turns it into some anti Walmart rant.
Who cares if it’s Walmart – this lets them represent their school(pride) and can show them how to conduct themselves at this type of event (social skills). I’m sure that they will have other educational trips throughout the year. This is the same as any school kid’s being invited to sing/perform at ANY kind of induction or opening, be it Walmart or a new Library. Do you have to #@!& on everything?
Greg, I’ve had my own opinion of Walmart before I even knew Dan existed. And I have a real problem with any corporate entity co-opting a bunch of kids for their own glorification – I wouldn’t be thrilled to see a group of school kids singing the anthem outside of a new defense contractor work site either, or a Chik-Fil-A.
Dan, congrats on hitting a nerve and creating this dialogue. You may pass Lindsey’s BBQ article on the number of comments.
Leftwingers simply do NOT like poor people paying the lowest possible prices for the food and goods they need. Why do leftwingers hate the poor?
I was ready to let go on the Central Administration of the Roanoke County Public $chool $ystem (NOT THE PRINCIPAL) for approving this field trip when there are many, many more learning appropriate and FUN field trips available locally. BTW: Were the children being transported by county buses or were they walking across the “field”? Approval for field trips because of $funding$ issues AND because of the stress-filled time lost to CRAMMING/TEACHING TO THE ALMIGHTY SOL TESTS has declined to the point that it takes something GREAT to get an approval. (Also, the timing must be causing a problem since the SOL Tests have not been given.)
The long and short of it: The children will have fun. Maybe, Walmart will $ponsor events at the $chool in the future.
NOW, the real reason that my ire was raised initially is: “Now if you want a REAL fils(oops-field) trip, head to the Salem Walmart. Quite a curious-looking gathering of humanity there.” Comment by gdad — January 20, 2011
IN MY OPINION, this comment along with all of the “hilarious” internet videos, emails, etc. about the “humanity” seen at Walmarts across the nation is ignorant and haughty. Class war?
Will the school get a donation from Walmart for singing? If so, shame on the school. If not, shame on Walmart.
They’ve also asked the CS & HV hs cheerleaders to be there, and I think the principals too. I don’t see the big deal about this, but I do think it pretty bizarre. Yes I’ve mainly lived in or near big cities, but I’ve also lived in a couple of very small towns in rural settings. None of them ever did something like this unless it was directly related to the school. Maybe Walmart is going to give some type of donation to each of those schools at the opening?
I think this is just sad. Our children singing at the grand opening of yet another nail in our coffin!
Original Greg says: “I’m still waiting for you to explain how 100 employeed and working people cost the taxpayers more than 100 unemployeed people regardless of how much they get paid.”
Greg, no one has said they cost us MORE, but they do STILL cost us and is that not the point of BEING gainfully employed? You are then NOT to cost taxpayers money? When you are working (almost) full time and get little wage and small benefits, you still have the same expenses as the rest of the free world and need to pay for them. If you work at Wal-Mart and we taxpayers still have to subsidize your medical care, day care, housing, heat, and food, how is that nearly as beneficial as a job that pays a living wage and has decent benefits? No, they do not cost us MORE, but they cost us and they are not jobs I can celebrate. The conga line to hell will be fun right up until we get there. Heading for a Plutocracy is bad enough, digging our own lowly place in it is quite another.
@ 17 – you are just a nasty person, aren’t you? If Michelle Obama found a cure for cancer, you’d have something nasty to say about it.
You comment repeatedly about all the fat lazy kids in this country, and Mrs. Obama is trying to do something about childhood obesity. Meanwhile, your hero Rush hasn’t missed any drive-thru’s lately, has he?
Let’s see…are you going to call me bimbo? Or idiot? Oooh, maybe I’ll get a**hat!
No, this isn’t their only “field trip” this year. Among others, the kids are having a pool party for their reading accomplishments. And I’d have to double-check, but I think they already visited the Taubman this year.
Dan, I enjoy your column, but perhaps instead of insulting schoolchildren and hardworking, underpaid teachers for singing the national anthem at a community event, maybe your column inches could be put to better use by looking at what is happening with the education budget and how that is negatively impacting the education of these kids. (Sorry if you’ve already spent time covering that issue and I’ve not noticed.) The fact is, schools have no money, and Walmart is giving them some. Is it worse to take money from Walmart than it is to take it from the lottery?
The Clearbrook area could definitely use the jobs Walmart is providing, and a job at Walmart is better than no job at all. I’m sure many parents with children at Clearbrook Elementary will find much-needed employment there. Their children will be singing the national anthem for the real people who work there and the people in the community, who are excited about getting groceries they can afford.
I’m no fan of box stores and would much prefer to do all my shopping at mom-and-pop stores. But let’s deal with reality, shall we? It’s what the children, their families, and their teachers (who probably won’t be getting a raise–again–next year, and so will probably appreciate being able to shop somewhere with low prices) deal with every day.
When I first saw this I could not believe it, maybe it was a joke. But if true then yes we are lowing the bar for our school kids. What is the point in showing kids a store that caterers to the lowest price type store?
We are surrounded by some of the most beautiful county and why not have the kids leaning something about our surrounding nature?
#29 I do not think Dan has any kind of intention as doing as you say. I think he is pointing out something that I find to be very strange. What are the teachers thinking?
The Wal-Mart You Don’t Know
“By selling a gallon of kosher dills for less than most grocers sell a quart, Wal-Mart may have provided a ser-vice for its customers. But what did it do for Vlasic?“…
“Steve Dobbins has been bearing the brunt of that switch. He’s president and CEO of Carolina Mills, a 75-year-old North Carolina company that supplies thread, yarn, and textile finishing to apparel makers–half of which supply Wal-Mart. Carolina Mills grew steadily until 2000. But in the past three years, as its customers have gone either overseas or out of business, it has shrunk from 17 factories to 7, and from 2,600 employees to 1,200. Dobbins’s customers have begun to face imported clothing sold so cheaply to Wal-Mart that they could not compete even if they paid their workers nothing.“
#17 & 21 Folks, suzie is making an even-more-naked-that-usual attempt to hijack a thread. Ignore that troll behind the curtain.
“Wal-Mart’s impact far-reaching”
http://www.globeadvisor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20040308/RRUBIN08
“Is Wal-Mart Good for America?”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/
When my older son was in elementary school, they went on a field trip to sing for a group of nursing home residents. My younger son’s group recently traveled to a newly renovated fire station to sing. That’s it. They sang. No tours or anything. They enjoyed it and so did those in the audience. Why does it matter that the performance is at a Walmart? Like Walker said, why do you have to hate absolutely everything, Dan? And like you said, you didn’t need to make the principal’s job more difficult.
Do you maroons (bugs bunny) REALLY think this is the only field trip they are going to take. Wow. Dan throws the slop and…. SUUUUUEEEEEEE here come his faithful dumb masses to swallow it up at the trough of ignorance.
You sure know how to choose your battles. Bad Wal-mart, bad.
My elementary school was a ‘partner in education’ with Sears. As a 3rd grader and again in 5th grade, we took field trips to Sears, before it opened for the day.
A group of us were pre-selected by the store manager and were told to try and steal something. Anything. If we didn’t get caught either on video or by a store detective, we could keep it.
With over 160 students in the store, all 8 of us were caught.
It was an invaluable field trip that made it easy to crush any desire to ever shop lift.
@39 – My guess would be they are thinking “Wouldn’t it be nice if the kids from the school could perform our National Anthem at the grand opening.”
“The kid’s would really enjoy it and it would bring the community together.”
I thought maybe someone that enjoys performing may understand the thrill that these kid’s will enjoy. Then again, you’d probably tell them not to do it as they aren’t getting paid. Right? i.e. festival in the park…
Hey all you whiners have the where the when. Why don’t you go supply the “educational” aspect that you wish the schools would really teach them.
You can pull each child aside and tell them,
“Billy – I know you believe that singing the anthem today would be fun and patriotic, but in all reality you are supporting big business and in the end..
THEY DONT CARE ABOUT YOU AND WILL KILL YOU AND OUR COUNTRY! AAAGGHHHH AGGGGHHH”
(my best Sam Kinison voice)
rich,
Thanks for posting the comment — interesting. Those students learned not to steal something lest they be caught. Surely that’s a useful lesson that might keep them out of a courtroom. But I would prefer they learn not to steal because stealing is wrong, and that they learn that at home.
#44 Honestly, walker, suzie’s posting style is not something to aspire to.
I like the example about the kids in Sears. I’m betting that the rights/wrongs of shoplifting were discussed before the field trip ever happened. The example of how they’d get caught, no matter how slick that they tried to be, was just reinforcement.
And also teach them at home to get jobs and work hard so you can earn your own money to do with whatever you will… give to charities and needy peole, save it, invest it, etc.
Don’t teach them that we should ‘spread the wealth’ or that others can take what is rightfully yours that you have worked to earn and keep.
“Concerning the cheap Chinese crap you refer to, they sell the exact same things you find in every other store just at better prices.”
No. They don’t. Have you ever price checked anything in your life? Or do you worship at the altar of Wal-Mart and question nothing?
Sandi you make a valid point but a single parent working fulltime at Burger King is being assisted by the government too. In fact most mom and pop stores don’t pay much salary if they hire anyone at all. Let’s face it, most mom and pop stores didn’t employee many people. Why? Because they did the work themselves to make more money. So essentially Walmart lessens the burden of the community because there are more jobs.
My point is that Dan continually brings up that point when discussing Walmart like it’s exclusively a Walmart problem and it isn’t. Dan also used this opportunity to bash Walmart and I have an issue with that. This is about the children and the schools. If Dan found out they were going to sing the National Anthem in front of a Joe’s Shoe Shack on Grandin Rd this would be a non-issue.
#44 It might very well be the only field trip they get to take. Because of the requirements of the SOL’s, the schools my kids go to only plan field trips AFTER SOL testing in the spring IF with budget cuts they can get money approved for the field trip. Every activity has to support a particular SOL or it has no “value”.
Dan,
My parents taught me that stealing was wrong, and I never have stolen. Did I resist because my parents taught me right from wrong? Well… honestly I didn’t do it because I knew that I would get into huge trouble if I were caught. And because I was a good kid I knew I would definitely get caught. (I realized early on that good kids almost always get caught, while the “bad” kids almost never did.) So this is my question. I behaved myself mainly because I didn’t want to get punished versus behaving myself because of right or wrong. Did that actually make me a bad kid? If so, I wish I had known that then! Kidding!
what a joke… but go to any macdonalds and you usually see a bunch of crayon drawings from the last class field trip there. no wonder kids are so dumb nowadays.
Put yourself in place of the children. Most kids I’ve known would be bored out of their gourds at an art museum, whereas they love the hustle and bustle of a Walmart.
Walmart is rapidly becoming a cultural institution; the go-to place for kids. 50 years ago, teens fondly remembered the drug store soda shoppe. Today Walmart has taken that role.
Original Greg,
I don’t know if you quite understand the amount of lives that walmart has ruined. They have really terrible factories over sea where they take advantage of their workers by forcing them to pay for the crummiest housing you have ever seen and take it out of their salary. They have no option to not live there, so if they don’t they are still forced to pay. It was alos mentioned how walmart goes into towns and destroys small business’. This is not just walmart winning by being the best company; they go in to the small town, lower all their prices extremely low and then raise them after most of the competition has gone out of business. They also told of their employees to go on welfare before and they raise the prices of kids toys at christmas every year. The only thing that matters to them is money and as long as you make more money than you did last year walmart will keep you in mgmt. They do this by taking lots of short cuts and just straight up screwing their employees over by firing them after they have been working there for a while and hiring them back later at minimum wage again.
“Walmart is rapidly becoming a cultural institution; the go-to place for kids. 50 years ago, teens fondly remembered the drug store soda shoppe. Today Walmart has taken that role.”
–Comment by Suzie
Comments like this one are the reason that many people, on many occasions, have accused me of “creating” Suzie and the provocative notions she posts here.
I swear folks, I’m not making her up. Nor have I put anyone else up to it.
Dan… I was one of those folks who once accused you of fabricating Suzie; but, honestly, I don’t think you have that much vile or stupidity in you.
Paragraphs: Learn what they are and how to use them.
Folks, you can thank me for driving loose screws Suz into an apoplectic rage this evening…
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/20/133085573/first-lady-lauds-walmarts-healthy-food-plan
Think I’ll mosey on down to Wal-Mart for a root beer float and a banana split
When a company does the right thing for their employees and the country, we need to acknowledge it.
http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/9238.aspx
Okay, one more link to make Suz’s head explode.
http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2009/07/walmart-2010-donations-swing-t.php
Oh, hell; what’s the harm in one more link?
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/19/obama-approval-numbers-surging-but-why/
For those complaining about the lack of legitimate field trips, here’s a sampling of the actual field trips the 5th graders at Clearbrook have taken or will take this year (thanks to the hard work and planning of their teachers):
Low ropes course/nature class at Apple Ridge Farms
A play at the Taubman
Hotel Roanoke to see the Christmas tree display
Lunch at an Indian restaurant
The Biltmore (and other Asheville sites)
Pool party (students have to have met rigorous reading goals to attend)–three of these a year
First Lady Michelle Obama Announces Collaboration with Walmart in Support of Let’s Move Campaign!
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/20/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-collaboration-walmart-support-let-s-
From the White House own website….now is Walmart really all that bad or has Michelle missed something that only the RT knows! Dan, maybe you need to give the First Lady a call!
Oh, and by the way…this was a completely voluntary affair. The school principal asked for volunteers, and the response from the students was overwhelming (from what I understand–I’m not a teacher there, but I know someone “on the inside”). The students were apparently really excited–hopefully none of them have seen this column. The music teacher has also worked very hard with the kids during regular music class. And every kid had to have permission from their parents to participate.
The teachers bust their asses every day to provide educational experiences for these kids, who themselves have to deal with all sorts of extreme circumstances personally and at home. Whoever thinks the Clearbrook area is full of only “wealthy SW Roanoke County…white kids” hasn’t gotten around much.
Really, Sam Walton really? Come on Dan, you shouldn’t post this useless drivel out here.
OG,
I didn’t write that post. The poster was obviously being satirical.
And for the record, on your question: Greg, Walmart is a brutally efficient retailer. The effect they have on other retail in a markets leads to a net loss in retail jobs, even counting the number of people they employ, in a market. How can that be good?
I agree it is sad that even our First Lady knows that most of America has no choice but to shop at Wal-Mart for their food. As the consolidation that is gaining ground continues, they might well be the only choice in many areas sooner than we think.
That’s a valid point Dan but why is it everywhere you see a Walmart there is always additional retail that opens up right next to it? If Walmart had the devistating impact you propose why is there a Target, Best Buy, Staples, K-mart, Dicks Sporting Goods, etc. thriving right next to or down the street from the Valley View Walmart? All of those stores except K-mart were built after Wal-mart.
I know that not everything Walmart does is perfect but they do no more or less harm to an area than any other retailer. And when they already have a store on 220 but open a bigger one and hire an additional 140 people, I fail to see where that’s bad.
All I know is, if I can pay $4.38 at Wally World for cat food that costs six bucks at Kroger or FL, guess where I’m going to shop? Thank God they’re not in the trades…yet.
Dan,
I don’t even know you or where you really are. I do know that “Your Right!” Walmart is generally the worst thing to happen to most communities. If the “Educators” where my child attended school were to call that a “field trip” I would be upset at how they had “lowered the bar”. No, its not a “learning experience” or “form of learning”, it’s “more free labor and publicity” for WalMart! Congrats on the song. As a “mom and pop” operator, I have some more lyrics to add to your song, but they probably would not be appropriate here. Keep up the good work!
#56 Yeah, I bet those Hunting Hills kids all hang out at Walmart.
I don’t think he was being satirical at all…
http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2003/3044wal-mart.html
“At the core of its policy, Wal-Mart demands of its suppliers that they sell goods to Wal-Mart at such a low price, that they can only do so by outsourcing their work to low-wage factories overseas. This causes the exodus of millions of production jobs from the United States and the setting up of slave-labor concentration camps around the globe. Wal-Mart’s policy includes crushing living standards in America, forbidding its workers from unionizing, bringing in workers illegally from abroad, and bankrupting tens of thousands of stores and outlets on Main Street, ripping apart communities and their tax bases.”
I am not a LaRouche fan, but many are.
Regarding the ‘worst’ lady michelle obama, I dont believe Sam Walton ever had to have his spouse earmark him a 200% raise because he obviously wasnt good enough at his job to earn one on his own… then talk about howwwwwww disappointed and ashaaaaaaaamed and how much he haaaaaaaates America.
I always kinda’ guessed Suz was a Foodlion girl, anyway.
So let me get this straight Dan. Your argument is that Wal-Mart should strive to be less efficient so it takes more people to perfrom the same job and those costs are passed on to the consumer through higher prices? Is that about right. So when this type of inefficiency occurs in government and is passed on to the taxpayers it is called waste, but when the same thing happens in the private sector it is good for the community?
Greg, I’ve had my own opinion of Walmart before I even knew Dan existed. And I have a real problem with any corporate entity co-opting a bunch of kids for their own glorification
I guess Krissy has never had a problem with school children, escorted by liberal NEA teachers, serving as props for countless leftwing functions. As I recall busloads of Roanoke City school children appeared at the 0bama campaign rally at the Roanoke Civic Center in 2008.
This is the most pathetic”field trip” Ive ever heard of..When I was a kid “field trips” meant the Symphony or museums.Poor kids today.
Suzie said: “Walmart is rapidly becoming a cultural institution; the go-to place for kids. 50 years ago, teens fondly remembered the drug store soda shoppe. Today Walmart has taken that role.”
This statement brings up two important questions. First, is it possible for you to ask the voices in your head to keep it down a little? They’re bothering the rest of us. Secondly, is the weather nicer in your alternate reality than the weather in the Roanoke valley the rest of us live in?
What kinda message are we sending kids with this feild trip? …and if you’re lucky enough kids in 20 yrs. you can be employed here.
Hi, Dan,
Provacative column. I wish you hadn’t beaten up on my friend Karen. Just seems a little harsh. I suspect the new store gave them an opportunity to participate and she thought “why not?” I’d certainly say that, wheter or not I was for or against Wal-Mart. It’s close and a good experience for the kids. And the kids are excited and getting a little experience at a ribbon cutting at perhaps the biggest store opening within 100 miles in any direction.
>> Greg, Walmart is a brutally efficient retailer. The effect they have on other retail in a markets leads to a net loss in retail jobs, even counting the number of people they employ, in a market. How can that be good? >>
Being efficient always frees up resources for other (better) things. That’s called productivity and it’s what’s raised the standard of living in this country more than anywhere else.
Back around 1900, perhaps 50% of the entire population (and I’m not sure of the exact numbers) was engaged in farming. Now, because of efficiency (call it “brutal” if you want to romantacize all the lost farm jobs), we produce way more food with maybe 2% of the population. How is that bad?
Another example: we used to have armies of people handling file clerk duties in rooms full of files. “Brutal efficiency” now allows all that stuff to be digitized (available instantly anywhere in the world, and saving trees) and all those poor file clerks have to find other work.
You could bemoan the loss of file clerk jobs or you could say “that’s not my definition of a good life, moving paper from room to file cabinet and back all day long. Let’s free up people’s time for something better.”
As a journalist, I’m sure you appreciate the opportunity to retrieve practically any file anywhere in the world, almost instantaneously, without having to wait for a file clerk to find it.
When Katrina hit New Orleans, the government couldn’t get supplies there. But Wal-Mart’s “brutally efficient” supply chain was able to get the job done.
Saying Walamrt to a liberal is like throwing gas on a fire. Drives you guys crazy, doesn’t it? That is because you see it as a real “problem” you can attack and solve, forget about all of the genuine real problems out there.
ANd comments like gdads belittling people who shop at Walmart- just more of that lovely, kind, all embracing love-speech you libs pride yourselves in?
When the new Walmart opens there will be huge crowds- kind of puts all of you uppity folks in the minority.
Oh, #16, you will never get a picture of Dan in a Walmart. He always wears a disguise. The same one he wears to gun shows and to the Texas Tavern.The RT Dan is merely a persona. Come on, if you believe anyone can be that outrageously liberal than you must also believe in Santa Claus.
Can it please be noted that this other “realist” with a small “r” is not me? Getchyer own damn clever nickname. Please and thank you.
@79
We’ll need a link for that, Butch. Or just another useless fart.
If you Google local schools and Walmart grand openings you’ll see that Walmart gives money at that time to the schools in their area. With the extreme funding cuts they’ve had to deal with, I don’t blame the principals for wanting their kids to take part in this if their school will benefit from it. Sure Walmart is mainly doing this for their own sake, most businesses do, but it would be dumb for the schools to turn it down. Especially with all the Governor’s cuts and his Peter to pay Paul schemes.
We’ll need a link for that, Butch. Or just another useless fart.
Nope, Poodle. Like I told Ron, get off your lazy ass and look it up for yourself if you want to know. I’m fairly satisfied with my recollection of events. And Girl is the only one I have to please on these boards. (hair toss)
This statement brings up two important questions. First, is it possible for you to ask the voices in your head to keep it down a little? They’re bothering the rest of us. Secondly, is the weather nicer in your alternate reality than the weather in the Roanoke valley the rest of us live in?
Just because your dried-up wrinkled old ass never gets out of the house and sees what’s going on, doesn’t mean it’s reality. As for your handle, it doesn’t apply to you so let someone else have it. I believe someone once called you “Surrealist”. Go with that. Or “Unrealist”. Or perhaps “Dumbass”.
Walmart is SuzieQ’s version of “culture”. Color me completely unsurprised.
#84 I sometimes shop at Walmart, which I freely and openly acknowledge, Rmac, so I’m part of the crowd. And what’s wrong with noting that a crowd in general is curious looking? Did I call them names in that post? Did I disparage them in any way? Comment on their intelligence? No, I didn’t.
Suzie, OTOH, does all of those things in every other post. Why aren’t you getting on her case, Rmac? We’ll wait for your comments on her loving attitude.
#79 Taking kids to be part of our political process in action and also to see the person who might be the next president of the U.S. is a heck of a lot more educational than singing at a Walmart.
You lose again, troll.
84 – “When the new Walmart opens there will be huge crowds- kind of puts all of you uppity folks in the minority.”
–umm… i would like to know where it was ever written that just because a group is the “majority” that means they are correct. cuz, uh, in the 60s, the majority had no desire to integrate schools… but in 2011, id say they were dead wrong.
It sounds to me like some folks think this is the only field trip (or perhaps the only kind of field trip) these students take all year. Above, I posted a partial list of field trips they actually take.
In this case, Walmart showed up with money for the teachers–money they used to purchase basic classroom supplies (things they otherwise would probably be purchasing at Walmart anyway–except with their own money). I know this is a complex issue and that Walmart is a mixed bag with questionable effects on local economies. But in this case, they came to help. And the kids volunteered to sing the national anthem (not a satirical version of it, and not a pro-Walmart chorus) at the opening.
Dan, I’m still really bothered by the tone of your original piece, in which you seem to be casting the blame on teachers and the school principal. I think you could have done a little more work on this one.
Hum?
Wal-Mart doesn’t show up here:
100 Best Companies to Work For @ http://tinyurl.com/6ad9yeb
Who’d have thought??
Also, there are a number of hospitals / health care systems / Medical Centers / Clinics but not … guess who?
Nice observation DaveH! I mean with all the other retail giants on the list like Target, Best Buy, Sears, K-Mart, Penney’s, Macy’s, etc, you would have thought Walmart would have been on there. Oh wait, none of them were on the list either. Hmmm.
Again Walmart is no different than any of the other giant retail organizations. No better no worse. Well actually, I’m always hearing about the money Walmart gives to schools and other needy organizations. Not so much other retailers so make of that what you will.
Off topic, I know, but it’s been bothering me why it seems like I’d seen Suzie somewhere before.
At first I presumed it was one of the Tea Partiers that show up to rallies in drag — err I mean in the powdered wigs.
Then it came to me! I think Suzie is sister #4 in this old Lawrence Welk episode: http://www.hulu.com/watch/73360/saturday-night-live-lawrence-welk
What’s wrong with a field trip to Wal-Mart?
Given the quality of a public school education these days since the liberals dominate the teaching profession, probably alot of those kids may end up working at one anyway…..
Walmart is a tremendous example of American capitalism. What better place for the kids to observe” I would like to see them get an overview of how this efficiency superstar serves the needs of millions. Who knows how many future businessmen this trip may inspire. Sure beats the hell out of looking at a few canvases with unintelligible splotches of paint smeared on them.
“since the liberals dominate the teaching profession”
I hear they’re looking for volunteers.
“I’m fairly satisfied with my recollection of events.”
Just as I thought, more unsubstantiated crap.
Finally she gets something right! “Walmart is a tremendous example of American capitalism“!
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DAN ARE YOU JEALOUS BECAUSE WALMART WANT INVITE YOU TO COME TO THE GRAND OPENING AND READ YOUR POETRY?
#104 don, buddy, quit yelling at us. It’s really annoying.
Just as I thought, more unsubstantiated crap.
Again, not my job, ass. Look it up for yourself.
It is definitely not Suzie’s job to back up her claims.
Now, everyone else here who isn’t playing with their own poop, you had better bring evidence for your stuff, but Suzie, nah she gets a pass.
By the time they don the tin foil hat and start drawing on the walls with crayons, we pretty much let them ignore the most basic principles of discussion, like not spouting lies and misinformation.
Just pat her on the head and say ‘there there’ while we wait for the orderly to bring the injection.
I remember a field trip to the (then) Rainbow Bakery which was at the corner of Liberty and Plantation roads. I was in the 2nd or maybe 3rd grade.
This was to a place of business. Rainbow was not a non profit and it was not very far away from where I wen to school either (Mountain View Elementary).
There was nothing wrong with that field trip then or this one. Not much difference either.
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This is type of writing that caused me to cancel my subscription to the RTWN. What a waste.
Thank you, Dan Casey! I was truly perplexed when I saw a photo of a crowd of children watching intently as the ribbon was being cut at the Clearbrook Walmart Supercenter grand opening today. My immediate reaction was, “What, children are actually interested in this? How can this be? What bizarre culture do we inhabit? ” My cynical mind began reeling with possible explanations that I dare not publicly admit. So, thank you again for your wonderful piece.
“What bizarre culture do we inhabit? ”
Still worth considering.
I’m trying to recall field trips from my grade school in North Pelham, NY. A long time ago. I believe the first was for just a few of us on the school paper, when I was in the sixth grade and had written some of the mimeographed paper. To the Waldorf Astoria for a dinner at which General Eisenhower spoke. The food was terrible, and I recall nothing of Ike’s speech, as it was well beyond the range of a 12 year old mind. The next time around was a couple years later, in junior high school, to Broadway to see No Time For Sergeants with Andy Griffith. Later that year, we came into the city for a museum tour that I wish I had the energy to take today.
I doubt very much many schools can afford that kind of effort these days, with tight budgets. I don’t see much wrong with letting children see the bits of pomp and circumstance that goes with the public face of business, as long as somewhere along the line they’re also taught that the public face is not the only face.
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