Wellfleet

OMG, that's truly sad. I think that would have changed my teaching methods a bit too. On the first day of the next class I taught, I'd make it very clear that there will be questions on my exams that may not have been covered in the coursework. And they should be ready for that. No whining about it. Because kids, it's just possible that you may get one or two problems in your future careers, maybe even in Life itself, for which you are not prepared. Start getting used to the feeling - now.

Must wholeheartedly disagree. College can be very difficult for many students, especially those without the proper preparation. Students are often pressured by parents, friends, high school staff, even society - to go right on to college from high school, often in programs their parents think they should take. Even when they are not yet really ready for it. And many cannot keep up - so much so that most universities these days offer remedial programs that can help students to get or stay up to speed while still remaining eligible for Federal aid etc. At my school it was referred to as the College Restoration Program and I knew a good number of students who needed a year or more of it to stay in school. I knew a fair number who left school even after participating in the program, without completing a degree of any kind. When I started college in the mid 70s, the statistic was that only one in four students who began a bachelor's program actually finished it. I was so stunned to hear this figure at that time that I asked the Director of Admissions at my school if that could really be true. I had a work-study job in the Admissions Office at the time. And I was told yes, basically that was the situation. I've been out of the field for several years now, so I haven't any idea what the ratio is today. But suffice it to say that there are MANY students who find college diffcult, for many reasons. Lack of preparation, and in the case of any Duggars, lack of family support, are two of the big ones. Count me among those who think any Duggar child who wants a college education will find it tough-going. Not impossible but any stretch, but you do have to want it. And you do have to be willing to work hard in most cases.

Unlikely Jill's affection for "like" is due to the conversations of her friends however. In her case, it's just a poor and immature vocabulary.

To start, I think you probably had to be someone who was - without a doubt - physically abused as a child. Maybe abused in all sorts of other ways as well.

My preference would be for a Frontline documentary, but HBO would be the next best thing.

Good grief. How unutterably pathetic. That all these "rules" - for courtship, marriage & family life - were concocted by someone who was never married or raised children, who by his own admission never even kissed a woman - is absolutely, stupifyingly incredible!

Right. Come on, leghumpers, put your money where your mouths are. If you want the show back so badly, cough up the dough.

My school has a BS in Applied Arts & Sciences, a multidisciplinary program in which the student basically "designs his own" undergrad program with the help of an advisor. Certain requirements have to be met obviously. This program is most utilized by people who have been in the work force for a period of time, have or don't have some college already, but have advanced in their jobs enough, through their own spunk and hard work, to the point where they need to have credentials. In many cases these students use their work backgrounds and experience as a concentration point in their programs. It's rarely chosen by an 18-year old straight-out-of-high-school student but is very popular with late 20s, 30 and 40-somethings who often go on to our multidisciplinary MS program as well.

I don't think college is a part of Josh's future, even though it might have been a few weeks ago. I don't think he's got the drive to complete the years of work he'd face, which in his case would almost undoubtedly include remedial coursework. And of course the whole time, he'd be hearing a lot of negativity about it from Boob. I guess he'll answer "You'll have to ask my Dad..." when future employers wonder why he hasn't got a degree.

When I worked in university admissions, I was stunned by the number of mothers were still doing things for their grad school-age sons. Dropping off payments, transcripts, calling to check on status etc. In fifteen years, I took only one call from a parent on behalf of an applicant daughter, and that was because the daughter was still overseas on a Fulbright scholarship. Women of America - don't baby your boys. Teach them to be as independent and self-sufficient as your daughters! You'll be doing yourself, and your future daughters-in-law, a big favor...

Agree, and this is really clear when you compare the Duggar and Bates children. The Duggars say the same things over and over - and it's never very interesting or even little-kid amusing. Anna's kids at least seem happy as little kids. None of the smaller Duggars have ever seemed as charged as Michael or Mackenzie. It looks as though the Duggar kids have been stifled from talking much more than they've been encouraged. Very little spark of spontaneous language or thought - everything is trained, rehearsed, rote.

Yes. When you read or watch comments on the Josh scandal, in print and on TV, from the Washington Post to Gawker, from Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow, from Bill Maher and Larry Wilmore down through all the entertainment news shows, the primary thing nearly all have objected to the most, other than the acts of abuse themselves, is that the Duggars went ahead with the TV show after they learned what Josh had done. Most had other issues as well, but this is the common denominator in almost all of them. The Duggars were naive to do this and deliberately so, because they chose to live so isolated a life. This to me is one of the biggest problems with Gothard and all his rules - it is so shortsighted. They isolated themselves thinking it would protect them and their kids from all the world's evils, never considering for a minute that it would prevent "good knowledge" from reaching them as well.

Agree. Will is coming off severe malnutrition as a newborn, which very well could have resulted in temporary or permanent effects for him - and about three years of being partially deaf with the language acquisition problems inherent in that.

Actually learning disabilities were becoming a big part of teacher training starting in the mid-70s. I ended up getting dual certification for both "regular" N-6 education and for K-12 learning disabilities. Graduating in 1978, we were one of the first classes that could have opted for both certifications. Of course, it wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility that rural Arkansas school districts were not particularly up on the research and treatment for learning disabilities at the time Boob was in primary and intermediate grades, when mediation would have been the most effective.

Spot-on accurate post, IMO. Boob has seemed, from the very beginning, to be an extraordinarily-competitive individual. Like that skit on SNL.. he always seemed to be giving off a "You think you're better than me?" vibe.

No cameras - no giant family moving crew. Besides to help, they'd have to leave the TTH. And I don't think anyone's straying too far from home right at the moment. Agree. I doubt that Steve Whosis was Josh's choice.

Agree. IMO, Will did look like he could be on his way to being a bit of a difficult child. A little selfish, a little greedy with his things, very obstinate. But pre-schoolers are very changeable little creatures. So glad to see so much of a change in him. He's a delight right now. I'd love seeing him come through the door of my classroom every morning. Always happy and ready for anything. I really hope he retains such a bright personality!

Completely agree.

Yes, from your perspective I see that making sense. But I don't see Boob as fundie here, just as a guy. I don't even know if he was fundie as a child, maybe just conservatively Christian. I'm guessing though, based on things he's said on the show, that he was probably not one of the cool kids growing up, feeling unaccepted to a certain extent, some difficulties with his father etc. His insecurity stems from this. Then he finds Gothardism, where men are superior in all things and rule every aspect of family life, and can see himself as what he always to be as a kid - confident, in charge, respected, obeyed even. His external persona now is all an act based on the Gothardism, but stemming from childhood insecurities. IMO anyway.

I think he does too, occasionally. For instance, he was clearly insecure during the Fox interview - LOL. But before that, most of the time, he displayed a whole pile of controlling, confident-he-was-right behavior. "OK this is what we're going to do now because I, the man and the father, have decreed it..." I think in large part his anger issue stems from insecurity too. He doesn't respond well to challenges to his authority. I do agree he is massively-insecure. But just like most men, he hides behind the confident, competent and authoritative male stereotype. I don't think he has ever once, with regard to a serious issue, asked Me-chelle "What do you think we should do?"

Very much agree. So much in the Duggar world comes down to making an effort - or not. Lazy seems to be an especially big part of Me-chelle specifically. She'd be one of those mothers who volunteers quickly for every school committee and event, then stands around, artfully doing nothing while everyone else works hard. And back again front and center for the team photo afterward. But all the other parents, and teachers, know exactly who those types are.

The entitlement most likely stems from massive insecurity, but is displayed outwardly as entitled confidence. Boob does not come off as insecure, even though I would agree, he definitely is.

Yes, it's not difficult to picture Boob when things don't go as he thinks they should. I don't know where this colossal sense of entitlement and superiority of his comes from, although I do have a few ideas, but I'm guessing he is one disagreeable SOB when he doesn't win. And I bet it's always someone else's fault or failure. To put it in terms he might understand - that boy just ain't right...

Izz is one cute baby. ALL babies are cute. But it breaks my heart to look into that utterly trusting, innocent little face knowing what is likely ahead for this little pudder [our family's word for baby - rhymes with "gooder']. Watching his mother, aunts and uncles being subjected to such a narrow, fear-filled perspective of the world was bad enough. No Dillard spinoff, TLC.

So OK - new question. How much longer will TLC keep us waiting regarding the show? Will they officially cancel soon? In several months? Never officially cancel but just never bring it back? Or will they continue with it?