I have to hand it to Bob Braun–the hits just keep coming. He has yet another great report up on how the Christie/Anderson plan of trashing public education via closing public schools and pushing children into charters may be illegal, according to New Jersey law.
I am so happy that at least someone is fighting for them. I wish we had them here….Indiana’s public schools will close before Hoosiers wake up to what is really happening…
**note that the 5 principals that were fired…er, put on indefinite layoff…were reinstated. Woot.
City Jackdaw has this up on a hellhole called Angel Meadow. And as I view it, I can’t help but think that America is headed back in that direction…
…but then I catch myself…we have always had a problem, but now it’s a bigger problem.
This from Mother Jones on poverty right on Silicon Valley’s doorstep. I think the folks featured here give the business workers/owners a little too much credit that they “would do something because they’re so smart” if they were only aware. Please. They’re aware. They don’t care because they have the attitude “I’ve got mine, screw you.” This, from people whom have sent tech jobs overseas and/or create nothing (F_cebook).
More here on a tent city in New Jersey where the mayor calls it “disgusting”….but the solution, before a lawyer showed up, was to…wait for it…fine them $1,000 for violations. Unreal.
As I read all of these, I have to shake my head at the lack of creativity to find a solution. In South Carolina, with the red clay Earth, why can’t one use that to create bricks and build a dwelling out of that? Perhaps a traditional Native American can show them how it’s done? And, of course, my favorite, Earthships, which are self-sufficient, and sustainable, could be a solution, too.
Note that many of these folks were made homeless circa 2008, after Wall Street caused the crash tumbling us into the Un-Depression. (are we calling it a Depression, yet?)
Diane Ravitch has this up on the destructive policies designed to push for charter schools that will ultimately mean the demise of public schools through siphoning funding away.
By the way, HB1320, has passed. By the legiscan link, it’s hard to tell whether it passed in the legislature or just the committee. Either way, it doesn’t look good.
Diane Ravitch has this up on Tennessee teacher Laura Hopson speaking out on what teachers really want–funny thing is they don’t want what the self-appointed education gurus say they want…
What a bombshell…the United States Department of Education is taking dirty money from Bill and Melinda Gates.
For a “collaboration conference” April 2012
Another “collaborative” effort to implement Common Core, December 2013
Note the “shared responsibility” white paper….and the focus is on labor collaboration…nothing about a well-rounded education as a robust part of democracy….the focus is on labor and business.
Note the paper states that the Dept. of Ed. is under “immense pressure” to implement labor-management collaborative…um, yeah, I don’t remember asking for more corporate involvement in public schools, have you…?
This sentence is telling:
To advance this collaborative theory of change the Department has been using both its convening and
grant making powers.
~~~~~~~~~~
(I have no idea why the font changed to smaller size…must be the pdf.)
…in other words, the Dept. of Ed. has been coercing schools to adopt the policy through grants and legislation…
n February 2012, the Department
announced the launch of the RESPECT Project.
RESPECT stands for Recognizing Educational Success, Professional Excellence, and Collaborative Teaching.
The project’s purpose is to directly engage with teachers across America in a national conversation about transforming the teaching profession by
dramatically changing the way teachers are recruited,
credentialed, supported, compensated, promoted,
and retained in the profession.
The near-term aim of the RESPECT Project is to elevate teachers’ voices in shaping federal,
state, and local policy, with a long-
term goal of making teaching one of America’s most respected professions.
~~~~~~~~~~
This is such a joke. Respect means you pay teachers a decent wage that reflects their professional education and their experience. Respect means you do not bash teachers and teacher’s unions.
“…the…aim of RESPECT Project is to elevate teachers’ voices…” Unless, of course, those voices are in passionate disagreement with you:
Finally, I found this wonderful video that takes on “Waiting for Superman” and all the false claims made by the education profiteers and their allies:
I remember hearing of Terry Kath’s death on the radio. He was a soulful vocalist and guitar player for the band Chicago, born January 31, 1946. The news announcer said he was playing “russian roullette” with a gun when it went off. That was not true–he didn’t realize the gun was loaded. What a terrible loss.
Someone put together a pretty decent video of Terry:
He touched so many lives and he lives on…
Want to know a surprising thing? Terry couldn’t read music.
If today’s education gurus were to judge little Terry Kath by his inability to read music, he would be forever labeled “stupid” and put into a black hole, never to realize his potential because some hedge fund manager/education profiteer decided he had no potential because he couldn’t identify musical notes on paper. And we all know how powerful his musical ability was—what a waste that would have been to deny him that by labeling him.
Terry’s daughter, Michelle, is putting together a documentary on her father.
She addresses the situation in Canada and how the indigenous’ rights outlined in the law have not been honorably enforced. She speaks with heartfelt passion towards the land. She sees this as a fight for her children.
We are all borrowing this land while we are here–no one owns the land, truly. One cannot own what one did not create…and one cannot take without giving equally in return…
What a stirring, beautiful song. (Now THIS is what I’m talking about when I talk about music stirring the soul!) (hat tip to Global News Canada)
Thank you to Neil Young for making this available. The video is just stunning…how beautiful the untouched Earth is when left alone…and how quickly it is destroyed by thoughtlessness and lack of vision of the future…
Young isn’t asking for any contributions, but I’m sure this song will be available for download. If you’re able, please support him and this effort. We are all connected.
Briefly, I shut off the TV after the President stated that natural gas extraction (fracking) should be pursued…if done cleanly…….(echos of “clean coal” and his push for nuclear renaissance before Fukushima)
I am not willing to sacrifice clean water and good health for the $$ gains for energy companies. My children deserve to have clean water, clean air, and soil suitable for growing healthy, organic food.
Even IF one could extract the gas without using horrible chemicals that poison water supplies…what about the earthquakes associated with fracking? What about the numerous sink holes appearing….are they, too, associated with fracking? I suspect so.
And Fred Klonsky captured my thoughts on his opening remarks on education. Three words: Don’t Patronize Me.
It appeared at one point that President Obama was going to listen to us…but I no longer have that opinion.
(As a side note~ someone just called into the radio station and said they spotted the first robins of Spring. Woot!! We’re all a little weather weary here. Yes, I’m whining…so sue me…even those of us who love winter have our limit…)
Eagle 
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