tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.comments2024-03-18T13:27:42.621-04:00CURMUDGUCATIONPeter Greenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comBlogger13475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-32161047829482296292024-03-12T11:33:03.251-04:002024-03-12T11:33:03.251-04:00Hardly an issue, as the vast majority of voucher u...Hardly an issue, as the vast majority of voucher users were already enrolled in a non-public school option. Perhaps you would be happier if we did away with compulsory attendance laws.<br /><br />My tired advocacy has often described the parameters I'd like to see in a choice system, starting with accountability and oversight for the private school taking public tax dollars, and including requirements not to discriminate. But whenever these sorts of topics come up, it seems as if some tired advocates of vouchers are more interested in being able to escape oversight and accountability and instead get taxpayer financing for their personal land of do-as-you-please. Peter Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-35264195103768205332024-03-08T14:46:50.848-05:002024-03-08T14:46:50.848-05:00You should say, in writing, clearly, that you thin...You should say, in writing, clearly, that you think anyone using a voucher anywhere should be forcibly integrated back into schools they don’t want to go to against their will because vouchers shouldn’t exist, as is the logical conclusion of your tired advocacy against them. You should describe the legal use of force via the law you would use to enforce compulsory education laws on those families. Be very specific about the punishments families would face under your regime as the natural and logical conclusion of your views. Until then, tilt awayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-55823232631409717222024-03-07T12:04:33.678-05:002024-03-07T12:04:33.678-05:00I have a Sophomore in college. He texted me last ...I have a Sophomore in college. He texted me last semester raving mad that the college was allowed to use ChatGPD grading, but that if students were caught using the same kinds of applications to write papers, those assignments would be given a "0". I told him that I thought the use of these types of applications were wrong on both sides! All the $$$ that parents are paying for college educations and computers are getting to run the system....and yes, there are still MANY a-synch and online classes for full time students.edblisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792046029260177146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-9328054922666679182024-03-05T09:29:28.975-05:002024-03-05T09:29:28.975-05:00Back in 2021, Dr. Angela Denise Birdwell of the Hi...Back in 2021, Dr. Angela Denise Birdwell of the Higley school district in Gilbert, Arizona, was indicted on 18 counts of fraud for accepting kickbacks from building contractors. In that same year, both a superintendent and an employee of the Arizona Department of Education were indicted on felony charges for stealing federal grant money. In 2022, the former superintendent and another employee of the Toltec school district were indicted on a host of charges including falsely inflating their benefits from the state retirement system and fronting unauthorized loans to themselves. And remember, this is just in Arizona and in the past few years.<br /><br />There are other examples. A superintendent in Mississippi inflated student enrollment numbers to get more state funding. A group of Alabama superintendents were indicted for creating “ghost students” of their own in the state’s public virtual schools program and skimming off the funding that they received. The former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools did serious jail time for directing $22.5 million in no bid deals to friends and associates, hilariously emailing “I have tuition to pay and casinos to visit (:” to describe her motivations. The HBO movie Bad Education dramatizes the embezzlement scandal that rocked the Roslyn Union school district in New York and was uncovered by a student journalist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-63941450933701597042024-03-04T23:09:23.055-05:002024-03-04T23:09:23.055-05:00Just came back to re-read--I really loved this.Just came back to re-read--I really loved this.anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18022268578715902612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-8769197248053838532024-03-04T22:15:07.354-05:002024-03-04T22:15:07.354-05:00I'm all for parents and staff reading books to...I'm all for parents and staff reading books together and all, BUT it is a LOT of time invested. I mean, just say no, we are keeping these books on the shelves that professional librarians and educators selected using our board approved selection policy. Bellevue reader-teacher-librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517493929844019360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-5305046201523011492024-03-04T20:54:18.574-05:002024-03-04T20:54:18.574-05:00Losing so much must be exhausting Losing so much must be exhausting Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-14067494455041609512024-03-04T20:40:22.573-05:002024-03-04T20:40:22.573-05:00Thanks for your commentary and the link to the 60 ...Thanks for your commentary and the link to the 60 Minutes story. Nannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239289676429380866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-41373710183734187422024-03-04T16:06:01.121-05:002024-03-04T16:06:01.121-05:00Really excellent piece. Sharing with my group.Really excellent piece. Sharing with my group.Donvilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08690633305929048255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-46007119302542344682024-02-29T17:17:22.038-05:002024-02-29T17:17:22.038-05:00Give it a rest, grifter Give it a rest, grifter Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-27949968608632846292024-02-28T13:18:56.110-05:002024-02-28T13:18:56.110-05:00Thanks for sharing that transcript.
I've hear...Thanks for sharing that transcript.<br /><br />I've heard several recordings, edited in different ways. This one misses a bit of the beginning, but includes some stuff often left out:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCDQUtWO9KgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-41234730711759636572024-02-25T15:21:27.247-05:002024-02-25T15:21:27.247-05:00Thank you Sam Bommarito. Exactly. One thing more, ...Thank you Sam Bommarito. Exactly. One thing more, as a Speech Language Pathologist, I think we need to include a hard look at a child's listening comprehension and oral language. Even a mild language deficit negatively impacts acquisition of literacy and can predict which children may be dyslexic. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-45454680559310603822024-02-23T12:47:08.927-05:002024-02-23T12:47:08.927-05:00Will Happy Valley become Holy Valley?Will Happy Valley become Holy Valley?edblisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01792046029260177146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-6256688025296546222024-02-21T06:48:16.400-05:002024-02-21T06:48:16.400-05:00The very idea of gender identity is based on a bel...The very idea of gender identity is based on a belief system that a people are free to choose their identity, express it in any manner they choose and that they can change it at will, and nobody should question it or deny it. They believe in the idea of a sexed soul, but it is not something that has to be consistent, so I’m not even sure how that makes sense. People can have their gender identity as they choose, but they can’t expect society and its laws to bow to their whims.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-41750033360539112382024-02-19T10:09:39.452-05:002024-02-19T10:09:39.452-05:00I personally know two of the three teachers in my ...I personally know two of the three teachers in my district on leave for “iffy” social media comments or classroom discussions and yes, it’s a minefield for sure. I believe the three of them are planning to sue the district but there’s so much else going on here what with Bethany Mandel running for school board that I’ve lost track.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-57625616635560534932024-02-18T13:19:35.793-05:002024-02-18T13:19:35.793-05:00I've discussed both in my own classes. They ex...I've discussed both in my own classes. They exist. Why shouldn't they be discussed? I would object to a teacher trying to convince students that certain ideas or attitudes are the only correct way to view the world, but that's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about parents, lawmakers and administrators who are afraid to even mention certain topics. Peter Greenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-64033778411168382412024-02-17T20:33:57.824-05:002024-02-17T20:33:57.824-05:00I understand (though maybe disagree) with the view...I understand (though maybe disagree) with the view Greene has previously expressed - that what a school teaches should reflect the whole community represented by a school board. And that this view may supercede the parent. But that's not necessarily what we're talking about here. Why should the views of one teacher take priority over a parent ? I anticipate that the response would say that the teacher is just discussing a topic not expressing a view. Or that a teacher has the same 1st amendment rights as anyone else. But I'm curious. Would Greene be as sanguine if the teacher wanted to "discuss" creationism or Ayn Rand's objectivism ? Somehow I don't think so. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-61102328727291752692024-02-14T18:55:24.513-05:002024-02-14T18:55:24.513-05:00Thanks for sharing. It’s depressing, but people ne...Thanks for sharing. It’s depressing, but people need to know about this sort of #*^%.<br /><br />While it’s sometimes hard to stay positive, I appreciate your voice for public education. Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15854925612517206979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-18702870977972200242024-02-13T18:58:38.663-05:002024-02-13T18:58:38.663-05:00Brad is scum Brad is scum Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-18071325721699388972024-02-13T12:45:00.261-05:002024-02-13T12:45:00.261-05:00Great piece. I was entertained and impressed with ...Great piece. I was entertained and impressed with the comparisons…and I say this as a retired teacher and former musician! Well done. Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15854925612517206979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-71291107394483212982024-02-09T14:00:01.335-05:002024-02-09T14:00:01.335-05:00"Meanwhile, I'm not satisfied with the co..."Meanwhile, I'm not satisfied with the coverage I'm getting from my local police department, so I would like to hire private security and bill the taxpayers. Also, the local park isn't quite nice enough, so I'd like to join an exclusive club with beautiful grounds, and I will be billing the taxpayers for that as well, because after all, why should I have to pay for those things twice?" Excellent points. <br /><br />Rebecca deCocaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-18812337330985594152024-02-07T11:48:36.697-05:002024-02-07T11:48:36.697-05:00Spanish, Mexico: "toca la musica, la guita...Spanish, Mexico: "toca la musica, la guitarra, el piano..."<br /><br />"Touch the music, touch the guitar, touch the piano"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-88578212254803452772024-02-03T22:15:19.244-05:002024-02-03T22:15:19.244-05:00Having witnessed the detrimental effects of a test...Having witnessed the detrimental effects of a test-focused education system firsthand, I couldn't agree more with the sentiment that there are far more important priorities for students, teachers, and schools, especially in the wake of a global crisis like the pandemic. The passion and urgency conveyed here are palpable, serving as a poignant reminder of the need to shift our educational focus towards what truly matters for the holistic development and well-being of our students.http://www.fullertonelectricpros.com/https://fullertonelectricpros.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-24531242758982770102024-02-03T07:56:16.553-05:002024-02-03T07:56:16.553-05:00Amen! Yesterday I was in a data meeting for an ho...Amen! Yesterday I was in a data meeting for an hour and half. Luckily the testing did have a purpose because we have Title 1 teachers now for my grade and kids who need extra help can get it. But there was still a lot of bs using “growth” models.Annienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-64950249438223738172024-02-02T12:51:40.118-05:002024-02-02T12:51:40.118-05:00Well said. I share your frustration. Even though...Well said. I share your frustration. Even though there remains zero evidence that testing and privatization improve education, both march ahead because they are supported by the wealthy that can buy political will.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com