Category Archives: African American

The story behind Miriam Carey

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Miriam Carey was a dental hygienist.  And you all know what I’m going to ask–is she being autopsied?  and will they look for mercury poisoning?  Because her actions are textbook mercury poisoning—she had instances of delusions, she obviously had over the top aggression, and she was depressed.

I would want to know the history of where she grew up–was she in a neighborhood subject to toxins?  Were chemtrails being sprayed over her home in the days leading up to her doing this?  Was she eating GMO’s and undiagnosed Celiac?  Something tells me these questions won’t be asked…and they need to be.

One report said that friends who knew her before she became a dental hygienist said she had no mental issues at that time—so….if this occurred after becoming exposed to mercury in a dental practice—then it is a definite possibility.  Arsenic may also be a factor.

Also, the events surrounding pregnancy and giving birth need to be looked at since the sister says she was having issues afterward.  Did she have a Rho-Gam shot?  Even though mercury was supposed to have been removed in 2001, it reportedly still contains mercury.  And knowing what I know about the other vaccines, it probably has other issues.

During my research, it popped up that there were questions of a link between Rho-Gam and autism.  I found this disputing the biased research saying there was no link.   Others are bringing up the issue that the shot can sensitize a woman’s system.

Was she required to have annual flu shots to work in the dental practice?  They also contain mercury and other toxins.  This, plus accumulation from the mercury exposure in a dental practice, arsenic, and pesticide toxicity could have sent her over the edge.

Here’s the safeminds.org brochure on vaccines.

(And a side note here: current legislation regarding vaccination in different states.)

Here’s a paper disputing the value of the Rho-Gam shot.

 

Poverty and school performance

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Diane Ravitch mentions a link to Noel Hammitt’s blog on the correlation between poverty and how well a student does in school.  She taught Noel as a student undergrad.

Note:  Noel Hammitt has copyrighted this material, but kindly allows liberal use of it as long as copyright is noted.

The first chart is stunning in how the “F” grade corresponds with the kids in poverty.  Again–they are trying to blame teachers for something that is out of their control–and the biggest factor in how well a child does in school….poverty.

From this chart it appears that there is a powerful pattern in the relationship between the concentrations of poverty in schools and the assigned letter grades for schools. However, we should note that for four years Louisiana put out a report that highlighted High-Poverty High Performing Schools, which suggested that there are, perhaps, many schools that defy this pattern. After carefully examining the lists, which reported higher numbers of schools each succeeding year, with 56 schools in the 2011 release, we noted that many of the schools actually had a lower percentage of students qualifying for free meals than the state average. In addition, most of the schools were magnet schools or schools where Gifted/Talented programs were masking lower test scores for other groups of students in the schools.  Finally, there were schools like Lake Forest Elementary, in New Orleans, that had extensive application and testing procedures that eliminated low-scoring students from the schools.  We also noted that there were no schools that had been on the list every year. Not one school out of over 1300 schools in the state that had overcome the challenges of poverty every year.

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We note that although the private schools seem to have an advantage on the scores, they enroll very few special education students, and they get to select their students.

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NAEP scores can be useful checks against a natural tendency of states, districts, and schools to focus on teaching to the test, because NAEP assessments are much more difficult to game or teach to than state level tests. An example of this can be found in states where 90 percent or more of students receive passing scores in their state at the basic level, when only 20 or 30 percent of their students are passing NAEP at the Basic Level.

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I think this last quote is really important for the non-teacher to understand what is going on with testing.  As we have learned, tests can be manipulated in that the teacher is forced to teach so the children can pass the test so the schools will not be penalized either by closing them or denying them their federal tax dollars through programs such as Race to the Bottom…er, I mean, Top….so the assessment is muddied.  The national assessment appears to circumvent that and gives a true picture of how the children are doing.

Noel notes that a child in poverty can also make high grades–he emphasizes that one should understand this and not have low expectations of these children.  I agree.  The problem isn’t that the child is not capable….but they have so many obstacles to overcome every day that get in the way.

Finally, the biggest point of the paper is that just because a school is called “failing” doesn’t necessarily mean that the kids and teachers are stoopid.  Again, parents and the public need to  ask how that school was assessed, is poverty  a huge problem with the students?

More on Irish Slaves

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I went back to read the blog again, and this time clicked on the comments section.  I found the comment below about further study of the Irish slave trade.  It is amazing that this went on for 200 years, and nobody knows about it!

Stumbled upon this website doing Irish Genealogy and thought I’d post that I just finished the book To Hell or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland by Sean O’Callaghan and am starting White Cargo: The Forgotten History of Britain’s White Slaves in America by Don Jordan & Michael Walsh.

I highly recommend To Hell or Barbados. It reads a little like a history text but still fascinating none the less to learn about this little talked about portion of history even though it went on for almost 200 years!

-J

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I found this blog on Sean O’Callaghan’s book To Hell or Barbados.   She writes a powerful paragraph in which she asks:

What if this story of the Irish and Scots had been exposed and well known; would slavery have had a different complexion and perceived differently today? Would the legacy of slavery, the blight and scourge it has inflicted upon people of African descent in the Americas be the same? Or would slavery have been understood for what it is: a system based on the conrol and subjugation of those who have no power–for economic gain.

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There is a short documentary video on the site, as well, but it only covers the African slave trade, so no new information on the Irish/Scots slave trade there.

Something disturbing, though, as I’m trying to find other blogs reviewing the book–one had stamped on it “White Pride World Wide”.  That is the LAST thing I would want to come of this information—we don’t need the KKK (and cohorts) to use this to further its hate agenda.   Good God, it should cause them to pause and reflect on how it was done to the vulnerable whites, as well, and therefore, should be a learning moment on empathy and justice.  It should be a lesson on how once again, those in power create hatred towards a specific group to gain even more power (the Nazi’s flash in my mind as I write that).

Do unto others…

Slave life in Stagville

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Michael Twitty has a link up to epicurean’s post on the slaves and their food preparation and diet.   I love learning the stuff outside of the “normal” history (wars, wars, land grabs, oil, wars).

It’s interesting the note on slaves using herbs for medicinal purposes because they had no medical care..  I think perhaps that was the best medicine…if you compare it to the number of staggering deaths related to pharmaceuticals.

I was hoping that Michael was going to tell us that Paula Deen took him up on his offer to come visit and begin the conversation and healing…but alas…

Education News

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Nancy Carlsson-Paige has a guide for parents who wish to advocate for their kids and schools.  Note in the comments section how they are requiring a kindergartner to know the value of money, and won’t let them into kindergarten without that knowledge.

Are you kidding me??  A child that young has no need to know the value of money.  They are not likely to be in a store buying items requiring them to know correct change–so why is this something they need to know when they’re 5 or 6?  Absurd.

Next, we have the New York Times reporting on how “loud” Diane Ravitch is…how can one be LOUD on a computer keyboard?  And where are the facts to back up their claim of Ravitch’s name-calling?  And again with the “personal attacks”?  What personal attacks?  Attacking someone on their record is NOT a personal attack.  She pumps out “hundreds of barbed words” in her blog? Really? Well, if Motoko Rich considers Diane’s blog full of barbed words….she would surely find my blog worse than that.   haha.

So…Tony Bennett is in the news yet again.  This time for using State time for political activities….against State employee ethical guidelines.   It is drilled into you that you cannot use your job for political activities or accept anything of value from political campaigns.  (hat tip Diane Ravitch)

Lastly, Tennessee Superintendents speaking out against Kevin Huffman, former husband of Michelle Rhee.  One of the commenters stated that Rhee was now married to a pedophile.  I went looking for information and found this.  Wow. So…not only does Michelle Rhee put tape over young children’s mouths and then laugh when they peel the skin off removing it, she defends a sexual harasser.  Good God.

Details of violent history of George Zimmerman

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Center for Media and Democracy has this up on the details of Zimmerman’s history of violence against women and interfering with a friend’s arrest.  I know the legal reasons for not putting Zimmerman’s past history up–the law wants to prosecute for the offense at hand, not for past offenses.  I think it comes from two ideas–one being you can’t be prosecuted for the same crime twice (double jeopardy) and two, the country has the view that everyone should get a second chance to change their ways…and a person should be viewed with a clean slate.

However, if they are going to bring up Trayvon’s past, it would seem the fair thing to do would to allow for Zimmerman’s past to be explored, as well.  There needs to be balance.

More sobering news **edited

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I hope my readers understand why I’m continuing to talk about stories like this and this.

…because it doesn’t get talked about anywhere else.  If it is talked about on the major networks, it’s a blip on the screen…but treated as if an afterthought.  Women’s concerns don’t matter, if you gauge it by the attention and action that it receives.

Maybe instead of “Rape Culture” we should call it “Violence Against Women” culture, after seeing this.

Good God.  What exactly was the decal maker’s message in creating this decal?? An experiment, my arse.  And then he tries to play the “concerned citizen” schtick by feigning empathy towards abused women.  Give me a break.    I could hardly stand to watch the video in its entirety–it made me sick.  I would caution against giving this creep donations…probably won’t end up where it is supposed to go.

Would he have thought it okay to create a decal with an African American hanging from a noose? Or an African American hogtied in the back of a truck?

Sweet Jesus, where does it end?

**edited to add:  I went back this morning to read the comments, and others also made note that if this decal had been an African American hanging by a noose, people would be outraged.  I rather doubt this guy would have attempted that.  Someone put up a link for yet another violent decal….so this isn’t something new.  But this does strike home the continuing acceptance of media encouragement of violence against women.  And the commenter “mick” shows how great this ingrained acceptance of violence is….it’s just a joke, what’s your problem..?  (his sarcasm, not mine.)

How can you tell… **edited

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…when John Kerry is lying?  His lips are moving.   (Old joke, but unfortunately still works.)

From Global news in Canada.

Anytime anyone involves ego in a decision, you can bet it is a bad decision.  Going to war over a warped perception of credibility is wrong.  And America’s credibility was seriously damaged with going to war in Iraq.  We were perceived as bullies and liars.   The whole world rejoiced when Barack Obama was elected because the whole world disagreed with our invasion.

But the world’s perception of us didn’t seem to bother Congress before now, eh?

And what exactly does “protect our values” mean??  Because I don’t value war.

Kerry tries to shut up opposing voices by throwing out ” this is not the time for  armchair isolationists”….that’s you and me, folks, the American public that speaks out against war.  We’re sick of war and we’re sick of millionaire politicians telling us that our opinions don’t matter.

He asks if one would be comfortable if we don’t act and Assad gasses his people.  Hello? Are we alone in the world?  Israel and Saudi Arabia have a stake in this  and they should be expected to bear the brunt of it–skin in the game, as they say…they are both wealthy nations, and we are fast losing our wealth.  Well, it’s still there, technically, but in the hands of a few who don’t want to pay taxes….that… fund… wars.  So Saudi Arabia and Israel need to ante up.

Note how Kerry asserts that there will be no boots on the ground, but from what I was watching yesterday, he once again flip-flopped and stated that he did not want that put in writing because it may become necessary if things escalate.   Mighty suspicious….

Tell me again why Kerry was trying to interfere with U.N. gathering evidence on chemical weapons?  And why aren’t we waiting for the U.N. to get the results bacK?  The Syria situation is not new–this has been happening for over a year now….so why the rush, rush, rush to bomb?

And tell me why those pictures of the dead keep nagging at me–like I have seen them before…?  That they were from a chemical weapons attack, but not the current event with Syria?? I just can’t shake that feeling.

Here’s the view from emptywheel.  During the hearing, Kerry was drumming his fingers on the table with impatience that they were questioning him.   John McCain was caught playing computer games….on taxpayer’s dime.  If those same taxpayers were caught playing computer games during company time, they would be fired.

Another take here on it from the Israelis:

Note the sentiment if the U.S. doesn’t strike, Israel will.   Is that supposed to be a threat of some sort?

Lastly, John Kerry’s testimony as a Vietnam veteran before Congress, below.  He stated yesterday that no chemicals had been used since WWI…I was stunned that he chose to ignore Agent Orange used in Vietnam.  In this video, he acknowledges the horror of them and how we “destroyed villages in order to save them…”  Note also the reference to Nixon, who stated he “did not want to be the first president to lose a war…”  Doesn’t that sound eerily similar to “we have to go in to Syria to save our credibility…”??  The Communism threat was a lie, btw, as only 25% of the people in Vietnam were Communists.  The rest were peaceful Buddhists.  Pretty sad, eh?

**Edited to fix stupid link to Kerry’s Vietnam Testimony:

Geoffrey, can you spare a dime?

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A reader of Diane Ravitch wants to know if Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children’s Zone can spare some change from the $200 million in the bank?

“Held up my sign:

“Philadelphia, Mississippi: 1963 Black children not allowed in libraries

“Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 2013 No school libraries”

Barbara McDowell Dowdall English Department Head (Ret.) A, Philip Randolph Technical High School

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Education News

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A Chicago Alderman has proposed drones in Rahm Emanuel’s Safe Passage routes.  I kid you not.  If you continue with the next blog of Fred Klonsky, he questions the “none of your business” attitude of CPS on emergency preparedness plans.  At the end, there is another link “continuing the story” which has this:

In a written statement, CPS officials insisted that every school in the district does, in fact, have a plan but said they were limited to “management level staff within the Office of Safety and Security,” building principals and assistant principals, and officials of the Chicago Police and Fire Departments.

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This is ridiculous.  The schools that I have taught at had plans the teachers knew and the children went through drills so they would know what to do.  It is important because their teacher may be incapacitated, so the children all the way up to the principals need to know the plan.    I found it highly ironic one year when we had a small earthquake while I was teaching.  I asked the kids if they knew what to do in case of an earthquake, which they didn’t, so I told them to stay under their desks until the shaking stopped, and then we would leave the building in the usual emergency route.  One of the regular instructors thought that I had needlessly worried the children….all the while they have been  put in “lockdowns” for some terrorist going to attack the school.  <sigh>
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The Indignant Teacher has a post up on a petition to remove David Koch from the board of WGBH Boston’s PBS station.  I have always admired WGBH and WTTW PBS stations, and now that Kochs are trying to control the media, it is even more imperative to get them out.
More moneyed influence on campaigns of the anti-public school crowd.  Good God, this guy is a liar.  A bold-faced one at that.
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More here on John Pelto’s blog that Diane links to:
The evidence is clear that income inequality is a major factor in educational inequality. Children living in poverty experience prolonged stress that affects their brain development in the regions associated with learning. There is a strong correlation between socioeconomic status and standardized test scores. As proven by Stanford’s Sean Reardon, the widening of the achievement gap results from additional opportunities affluent parents provide their children out of the K-12 environment: high-quality pre-K, tutoring, and after-school and summer enrichment. Reardon demonstrated that the test score disparity between low-income and high-income children is not the result of schools.
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See, the pro-Charter $$ folks would prefer to ignore this important fact that impacts learning….it’s much more fun to blame unionized teachers…and watch them scramble to put out fires the Charter proponents deliberately set.
This is pretty powerful.  He puts it so well–that every child develops in different ways and at different speeds and those differences should be honored, not ridiculed by failure of a “skills” test.  (hat tip to Diane Ravitch)
Finally, a wonderful history lesson here by Diane.  She was there on the March on Washington.