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KEOM parent comments about downgrading students

B

bonteeb

Guest
I have continually read postings here and in other places in regards to making fun of and bashing so to speak of a community, educational station in Mesquite, KEOM. I have a daughter that went through the program at KEOM. It was one of the best learning experiences of her life. She came from being a very shy and timid girl to a very confident young lady. She attributes a large marjority of that to KEOM. Judging from some of the rantings and postings here and other places, there are some of you people that enjoy making fun of kids that are learning. Shame on all of you. That really serves the community!

What's hard to understand is why you people put so much stock in what Robert Bass has to say. When my my daughter was there and I listened regularly, he sounded awful! When I listen now, he sounds worse than what he did before. He stumbles and mumbles and can't eununciate properly. Half the time he says K - ME O-M. I've heard some of you people knock the students and put this drunk sounding person on a pedestal. I think you should be ashamed of yourselves for talking bad about students. Robert Bass is an adult and should be improving as time goes on. Instead he worsens. If you happen to listen to the students at KEOM at the beginning of a school year to the last day of school, you definitely notice a marked improvement.

From what my daughter has told me, Robert Bass doesn't even appear to be team player. She witnessed several "loud discussions" between him and other staff members.

Also, I went to their KEOM's open house to meet all the teachers and staff there. Mr. Bass was there that evening and couldn't interact because of his limited hearing ability. Everybody was yelling trying to make him hear them! I found out he doesn't have anything to do with the students like he leads all of you to believe.

It appears that if those of you that speak against students would offer your "perfected" skills (ha!) your services if you think they're so bad. Volunteer! It sounds like you love to complain and downgrade, but don't really care about your "communities." Do any of you complainers and downgraders have children? Well if you do, I hope you support their efforts because you sure don't support anyone else's children.

How many of you were the "perfect" radio personalities that you think you are when you first went on the air?
I suppose you were all born with microphones in your mouths!
 
In response to all of the above.....

I think it is positive that KEOM gives kids a place to learn the basics of broadcasting. My opinion is that while it is positive for the kids, that KEOM's management could do a much better job running the station and teaching. The kids are just kids and anyone who criticizes the kids is an idiot. The kids have no experience and are there to learn. The more important issue is that KEOM could be run much better and sound better as a radio station.
If they did, the kids would be better prepared to go into broadcasting, if they chose to do it. The way the station sounds now, I don't think the kids get enough education and structure to go to the next level. I think it is great that your daughter gained some confidence by the entire experience but, again this station could be much much better for the kids and in general. As far as what you said about Robert Bass, I have read some of the things that he has written here and nobody with an IQ over 50 should take anything he writes seriously. If this station and broadcast education program were run to their full potential, your daughter's and other kids experiences could have been even better.
 
Did I miss something? Robert has stated a number of times here, that he isn't personally involved with the students.

And you said it yourself, he does have some hearing difficulty. Maybe the so-called shouting, is actually just speaking loudly so he can hear the person talking to him?

Andy
 
I find it repugnant that either one of you criticizes Robert Bass. He places considrable hours into making sure your son, your daughter has the finest equipment with budget constraints, to work well in teaching your child. He makes no excuses and never brags upon himself as to his talent of any degree in announcing. Darn, could it possibly be that a student didn't come in for their assigned shift, were not making good enough grades for this "extracuricular"activity,were sick that day,and HE WAS THE ONLY ONE LEFT TO DO THE ON AIR WORK? Nah that would be too logical, so yeah go ahead and bash the guy and mention his physical disabilities,that's certainly the ticket. While you're at it,go buy a ladder so one day you may climb up and rejoin the rest of civilization from your lower depth. Robert has NEVER worked at another radio station, not because of his skills, but because of his devotion to KEOM to see that your daughter actually learned something and had the facillities to learn from. Many Many students who have moved on credit Robert for his hard work and helping them gain a step up over other broadcast stidents at Broadcast schools, or colleges. He helped them Prepare!! DR.James Griffin isn't an exciting air personality either and is very nasal, BUT he got the program started and underway PLUS needed Robert to stay to make it work and worked it DID!! So now go huff and puff at me for defending him, after all its what you seem to do best and if thats representative of the talent you have, try to find another line of work such as writng liners,berating those who have a physical impairment for parking in a handicap zone, or maybe you would like to visit the Denton state school and tell the residents how stupid they are.
 
Have you ever defended your young? I'm a mother defending her babies. What's more, I'm a Mesquite taxpayer? Are you? My money helps support that program.

People here are attacking children with disabilities at times. By the way, my daughter is legally blind. I could consider some of the negative comments made here as a deragatory statement against her disabilities. The staff at KEOM modified their program so she could be a part of it. They made sure she had the best experience possible. No absences.....perfect attendance..so you're wrong there. You might know radio, but it's obvious that you don't know about the Texas Education Agency and teaching credentials. I'm sure there are many elements that go into the program other than radio basics. I could only imagine trying to stay within state guidelines and FCC guidelines.

For those of you that criticize their staff.......again I ask, have you offered to volunteer your services? Those of you that criticize are missing a very important point. Check out the program thoroughly.....they are teachers first, not professional broadcasters. If you check it out, you'll find out it propels the arena of communications, not specifically radio. Those of you that mention budget.....I bet being part of a public school system that their money is tighter than commercial stations.

By the way, did you read that I'm a parent. How am I going to change my job as a radio talent when I just listen to radio. So you're comments about me getting another job are ?????? I haven't said what I do, other than being a parent. Have you read the history of the station posted on their website. There you go giving people credit for things they do not do. Go to the station or call them. You'll actually find out what Mr. Bass's responsibilities are. I don't know where you pulled your information from. Being a Mesquite resident, I attend school and community functions, school board meetings, and the like. Unless you reside here and really know what you speak of, you've been misguided.

Hopefully, lbates.......I hope you're not the person where I saw the posting downgrading the way a student said KEOM. I'll check back and see. I know Mr. Bass even commented on that particular thread. So he just as guilty as some of you. In your words, "that's the ticket" he has too. Like the pot calling the kettle black.
 
to Andyf101.... I'll clarify. In some of Robert Bass's comments he downgrades the students' work just like some others do here. In return, some of the comments that others make in response to items that he's posted give the impression that he has some sort of control or input about them.
 
What a bunch of blather here. As a listener of KEOM's since their earliest days, I think I can speak with some level of objectivity and knowledge and certainty here. One constant over the years is that Dr. Griffin refuses to let the students have ANY level of creativity or to truly develop a "craft"...he's raised them all to be liner card readers, and that goes back to the days when liner readers were not the "preferred" applicants for 'real' radio jobs. (Maybe Griffy was actually ahead of his time.) I've seen the operation before, several times, met the people involved, got the chip clip and the coffee cup and the ballcap, and there's one constant there: Dr. Griffin maintains supreme control, and everyone else works within that framework. Shifting the blame for the program's shortcomings to Robert is asinine. Robert has been a constant there since 1986. He, like "bonteeb"s daughter, works with and around his handicap the best he possibly can. Tearing into someone because of the limitations their handicap presents is really pitiful...but yet "bonteeb"s daughter has her own handicap to deal with. Why not apply some of that understanding and empathy to Robert's condition?

To the best of my knowledge, Robert was/is exclusively a jock, in a paid position, from 1986 to date. Within the last four years, "Music Manager" was added to his responsibilities. Using basic common sense and my knowledge of radio operations, I don't see where either position would require interaction with anyone beyond management, and I can't seem to find the words "educator" or "teacher" within either job description.

BTW, since when has KEOM ever extended opportunities for volunteers? The only volunteer I've EVER heard on the air is "Trish" on Sunday mornings, many years back now...and she supposedly was the building janitor. I would guess that Dr. G doesn't want the interference or hassle. The excess of students on staff provide assistance at the football games and at the few events the station participates in...and voicetracking (defined as prerecorded, computer-fed breaks and liners) during most non-school hours severely limits any chance for volunteers to hold on-air positions.

Oh, and yes, I am indeed a Mesquite taxpayer. I'm not a parent, but a person who's run multiple businesses, and works in the radio biz today. And I even do a radio show that, at times, makes the KEOM student staff all sound like seasoned professionals. (And I gladly take the criticism that goes along with it...thin skin doesn't work in this biz, and coddling students in the KEOM program does them a disservice that doesn't prep them for the business.)

All I see is someone here with an ax to grind against Robert, who found a forum to do so. If you're really that involved in the Mesquite community, you'd know that there are lots of civic problems that could sure stand your attention and dedication...instead of your waste of time ranting about someone who is part of a program that your daughter once participated in.
 
It's pretty common knowledge that KEOM is in need of a facelift. It's also common knowledge that there is intense inertia to leave things as they are over there. But I agree more with bonteeb, the MISD patron and what she has to say on this matter. Obviously Robert does a his job well enough to have become part of the KEOM fabric, but Robert does have a tendency to engage send button before using brain. We've all seen his sarcasm here and on Radio Insight, a lot of it from being egged on by other posters. And those musings can leave someone like bonteeb who don't understand the dark side of this business a bit bewildered. So folks, let's take a couple of steps back and a couple deep breaths. In the last decade media has become insipid beyond belief. The generation of kids that get their first taste of it at KEOM should at least be spared the negativity we as working professionals have seemed to gleefully create about our business.

And Mike....you should know better. I don't care what you're opinion is of the guy, but a degreed professional educator deserves a bit more respect than "Griffy" in a public forum. I guess you thought it was funny.
 
bonteeb,

I went to the KEOM website, and looked at the "our staff" section. The page shows the name and position of everyone who is employeed there. According to the site, Robert is the Music Manager. It does not state he is an instructor, so therefor I find some of your accusations don't hold much merit.

I do not see any posts by Robert here, that show he is being critical of the students. Would you care to give us some examples?

I would suggest you practice what you preach here, and call KEOM yourself. I would agree that your ripping of Robert here, serves no real purpose. What are you trying to accomplish with your posts?

Andy
 
I find it highly inappropriate for people here to be criticizing Mr. Bass when he is not a member of the forum any longer, and cannot defend himself. This is gossip - and last time I checked - it was still a SIN. I've had a disagreement or two with Mr. Bass here, especially over HD radio and KEOM's plans that would jam KTCU. But I respect him as a broadcast professional, and anybody with a hearing impairment that has the courage to be involved as a broadcaster is an inspiration.
 
Since I left the business, Ive been looking for a volunteer opportunity to get airtime. The problem with KEOM is, of course, Old Dr. Griffin and his lack of serious forethought when it comes to developing the station for the community at large, why they havent tried to go head to head with KNON when it comes to community programming is beyond me(i.e. volunteer jocks playing an eclectic mix (classics daytime, modern on evenings/weekends)). I know of school districts and colleges that would KILL for a setup like this for their students, instead Dr. Griffin, or as I call him, grandpa, is wasting his resource.

On Bonteeb, The last time I checked, noone was going off on the kids in here. In fact, I think theres been a certain level of praise for the work thats been done. Im sorry your daughter is blind, but that doesnt give you the right to cast dispersions on someone such as robert, who actually has earned his position in the station.
 
That really is the truth. There have been MANY posts that are complimentary of KEOM's efforts, including the students' contributions. I don't recall many, if any, ones that cast disparaging remarks about the staff. I've made comments about pronunciations before, particularly on their traffic reports, but it's all in jest, and to perhaps prod a faculty member to work with students on those issues. That's not the student's fault if they pronounce "Kiest Blvd" as if it rhymes with "Christ." Sometimes the little gaffes are a source of humor, but I've yet to see anyone here (including me) label a mistake-maker as "stupid" or anything degrading. I think most folks DO understand that these teens are learning as they go. Either way, it indeed makes for interesting radio. Anyone is welcome to tune into my shortcomings every week and say what they please...I consider criticism to be a useful, learning tool.

"Griffy"? Sure, I thought it was a little humorous, and I've certainly called folks in much higher standing much worse things! So does my B.A. entitle me to automatic, unearned respect from those "beneath" me? Sorry, you threw me a curve there...I'm not one to put anyone above or below me, so I never considered that to be offensive.
 
Bonteeb is soooo way off. I am glad she is a good parent to her daughter,and proud of her accomplishments, and I'll support her there. but as brought up in regard to disabilities, she sees only a corner of the portrait, and refuses to acknowledge the art. It reminds me of someone living in the Prk Cities or Southlake who are too invested in"ME" and doesn't care about what effort goes into making the community great as a whole. To bash someone of their disabilities shows absolute arrogance,and shallowness. Dr. Griffin will be retiring soon, and Robert has been trying his best to convince Dr. Griffin to "modernize" KEOM to fit the needs of the community, change the music to reflect the parents of today,not 15 years ago. Bonteeb in your first post your first sentences said your daughter did very well,but you over look who made it possible besides your own support: Robert and the KEOM staff. The students audition,they are encouraged,etc. HE was part of that. I am curious as to you posting here unless you of course work in radio or broadcasting. Surely if you do,you have a better understanding than the diatribe you have unleashed. So just chill, set your ego aside,you've embarassed yourself enough,however I am certain you will be back,becasue you got to have the last word.
 
RADIO TRUTH said:
I have read some of the things that he has written here and nobody with an IQ over 50 should take anything he writes seriously. If this station and broadcast education program were run to their full potential, your daughter's and other kids experiences could have been even better.
Click to expand...

It is very easy to assume things about an operation, when you are on the outside looking in. Just as you have read Robert's posts, I've read a number of yours. I don't believe you are in a position to make disparaging remarks about a person's IQ.

Andy
 
Radio Truth is a crank, I just ignore him pretty much in anything he says.
 
First of all, I didn’t know it was a stipulation that you needed to work in radio to be able to post on this site. I’ve seen several posting from other parents on here where there son or daughter has been involved or wants to be involved with KEOM. So the comment made about my posting here is kind of out of line.

I apologize for offending anyone in regards to Robert. But it sort of illustrates a point. It’s obvious he has many friends and supporters. I find that very heart-warming. I’m not the vicious monster that you are picturing me as. By your postings, you should understand that KEOM was a big part of my daughter’s growth and development. So anything, IN MY OPINION, that’s considered negative should be viewed with a similar approach. I realize that I may have mis-worded what I was feeling and trying to put in into words. I wasn’t meaning to hurt or offend.

I can back up what I say. Again, IN MY OPINION. In a posting on

12/11/07 1:00:09 a.m. Muzzled.. the entire thread. Starts with how a student eununciates. Just so all of you that have come after me will know, the female student that the posts are referring to is a friend of my daughter’s. She has had speech problems her entire life. This was a MAJOR accomplishment for her. Do you think that the KEOM staff members were aware of it? In case you don’t know, each student that has a disability has a 504 plan or an ARD plan that teachers receive stating what their modifications to learning must be and what the "grading" criteria will include. With a handicapped daughter myself, I am very aware of this. Everyone that posted in this thread did not give that particular student the same respect and consideration that you give Mr. Bass. All of you may know radio, but do you know kids and everything that it takes to instruct them?


Where are your comments of inspiration now? Both of these girls should also be applauded.

Someone said it in this thread. It’s easy to assume when you’re on the outside looking in. I ask, how many of you have a TRUE personal and educational connection with KEOM. I have been on the inside through my daughter’s high school years.

Here’s more:

11/15/07 at 7:14:13 p.m…….a post to Robert from Radio Truth…..I was under the impression that you ran the station. I ask all of you, if not from postings on this sight, where did he get that impression?

11/16/07 12:54:47 Robert himself posted a comment about Andrea Galindo, a former teacher, and that was not in a positive light.

8/24/07 12:32:52 p.m. from Talktalk ……….talking about KEOM stating poorly read, poorly written…

8/25/07 5:47:48 p.m. post from DFWPT……really raking KEOM over the coals….it’s too much to repeat, but begins with brand new …..talking about Your Community Leader and then posts LOL and it gets worse from there.

Another from DFWPT 12:45:00 a.m. ----speaking against the way KEOM is involved in the community

8/25/07 12:39:27 a.m. Klifhanger …….glad of Dr. Griffin’s retirement…

There were some there to defend KEOM also on these postings and more.

If I need to post more of what I construe as being negative, let me know. It’s ALL on this site and the other one.

If you think that I need to have the last word, you’re wrong. And if I’m guilty of sinning, then so are all of you. Yes, you may have thought you were having great and innocent fun! You all didn’t think my original posting was funny. Just like I don’t think some of the things that have been posted are amusing. It is a matter of interpretation, and it doesn’t matter how many of your cute little emoticons you put by your words.
 
So let me know if my arrogance and shallowness matches others. At least I can say I've really seen the inside.
 
Bonteeb,

I'm still having a hard time trying to figure out what it is about Robert that upsets you. You're somewhat fixated on old posts, with your examples above. I mean really... Late August of 2007? That's been 6 to 7 months ago, for crying out loud.

I can understand you are concerned about your daughter. But I don't see Robert singling out your daughter by name. The only thing I do see, is a parent making assumptions based on what internet trolls say. I would also point out that your actions here put yourself in a position where you're not being a positive role model for your daughter. Think about that for a moment.

I'm not saying I believe Robert is squeaky clean perfect. After all, none of us are perfect. But I also believe you are making wild accusations from out of nowhere, and not looking in to what KEOM does, from your own eyes. You're doing it through your daughter, and realistically that's second-hand information.

I would again suggest you call KEOM, and talk to them about whatever your beef with Robert is. I highly doubt Robert would still be employed with KEOM, if he's critisizing the students.

Andy
 
Bonteeb my last comment on this matter. Yes YOU do have to get the last word in. I shall pass this thread up after my post,because frankly you're missing the points,and your point has already been made.
Take pride in your daughters accomplishments, that is being a good parent. You accused others of heavily criticizing student announcers without knowing if they had a disability, are you not doing the same about Robert? Please don't say no. Again your daughter has done well there and boosted her self esteem, she may not have gotten there without Robert working behind the scenes to make it happen. I don't mind non broadcasters posting and if its about program quality, the better ,but when its about the inner workings of staff, studio conditions, management,etc. then you're painting a picture without a brush or pallette. Yes you did come across insensitive.How about if a family member of Robert's read what you said about him,and blasted you? Would you smile? I wish your daughter well. I wish you would work better on your diplomacy. There are good reasons to be protective of one's child,but there are dangers of also being over protective. By mentioning other sources of opinion,that displays "preying" in order to undrmine an individual. Perhaps you should swallow your dignity and go up and meet Robert at Keom,and discuss your feelings in a calm respectful manner, perhaps the points made against your argument will become clearer.
 
I'm sure there's some things that can be improved on KEOM. I bet this board could find some "improvements" to be made for every #(* station in the marketplace. The fact is you, the fine people of Texas have something to be actually proud of. KEOM is one of the few actual TRAINING stations left, and actually a damn good one in many ways. I'm sure it's not perfect, but damn folks! It's a TRAINING station. Be happy the school district hasn't sold the students down the river by selling the channel off to K-Love or one of the other fine quasi-commercial non-comms out there. If you want to go pick on stations, let's go give the God channels some hell or possibly you're local college that's nothing more than a NPR repeater. How much training goes on there.. seriously? If I lived down there in the Metroplex and I had a kid that really wanted to get into the industry I think I'd try really damn hard to get them into the school district just so they could be a part of KEOM. It's a gem folks.
 
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