Here's an interesting article that goes into quite a lot of detail about education spending, and unions. He makes some interesting points about current efforts to curb collective bargaining won't strike at the heart of the matter. At the end of the article, he makes a proposal--one that, were I running, I would make a central issue in my campaign: tax incentives for people who educate their own children. He goes one step further, and proposes tax breaks for people who provide scholarships for families who can't afford to leave the public school system.
Ultimately, I don't believe government should be involved in education at all. It is a conflict of interest, and the government can't do anything efficiently. However, I don't see this changing because it is too sacred a cow for politicians to touch. Too few are afraid to think outside the box in answering the question, "How do we provide the best education for our children?" But the above ideas--tax breaks--would point us in the right direction.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Getting to Know Michele Bachmann
The WSJ featured this interview about Michele Bachmann. This is the best article I've read in which I feel like I can understand exactly what this possible candidate represents.
I hope to see similar interviews with the rest of the prospective field.
I hope to see similar interviews with the rest of the prospective field.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Letter I want to write to my son's school, but am afraid to send for fear of being labled a "kook"
Dear Principal,
For Mother's Day, my son presented me with a card that depicted me jumping on a baby tree, while Darth Vader stood by, sword in hand, ready to punish me with his light saber for abusing nature. Jeff's tender message was, "Happy Muthers day Love Jeff and the Earth Mom."
To me, this card represents the indoctrination of our children for political purposes, and points to the reasons children throughout the country are falling behind in reading, writing, math and science. I toured another school in the valley during "Earth Month," and found posters plastered all over the walls admonishing us to recycle and take care of the Earth. Besides noting the irony that all of these posters were a waste of paper, I saw that every single one of them contained multiple spelling and grammatical errors. The teachers did not only fail to correct the errors on these posters, they put them on display!
Global warming is far from settled science. If we want our children to grow up to save the Earth, as we claim, we will teach them the tools that will help them to make their own scientific discoveries. They should be equipped with the ability to reason, hypothesize, calculate, come to their own conclusions based on objective research, and be able to publish their findings free of spelling errors--not be manipulated with propaganda.
Not only did my seven-year-old son's card reflect the alarmist rhetoric he's been hearing in school (which frankly, has him absolutely terrified), it represents those who seek to undermine traditional values by pitting children against their own parents. On Mother's Day, no less!
Sincerely,
Jeff's Mom
For Mother's Day, my son presented me with a card that depicted me jumping on a baby tree, while Darth Vader stood by, sword in hand, ready to punish me with his light saber for abusing nature. Jeff's tender message was, "Happy Muthers day Love Jeff and the Earth Mom."
To me, this card represents the indoctrination of our children for political purposes, and points to the reasons children throughout the country are falling behind in reading, writing, math and science. I toured another school in the valley during "Earth Month," and found posters plastered all over the walls admonishing us to recycle and take care of the Earth. Besides noting the irony that all of these posters were a waste of paper, I saw that every single one of them contained multiple spelling and grammatical errors. The teachers did not only fail to correct the errors on these posters, they put them on display!
Global warming is far from settled science. If we want our children to grow up to save the Earth, as we claim, we will teach them the tools that will help them to make their own scientific discoveries. They should be equipped with the ability to reason, hypothesize, calculate, come to their own conclusions based on objective research, and be able to publish their findings free of spelling errors--not be manipulated with propaganda.
Not only did my seven-year-old son's card reflect the alarmist rhetoric he's been hearing in school (which frankly, has him absolutely terrified), it represents those who seek to undermine traditional values by pitting children against their own parents. On Mother's Day, no less!
Sincerely,
Jeff's Mom
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Your thoughts?
A homeless woman is arrested for enrolling her son in a school outside of her boundaries. She is being accused of stealing the price of her son's education. See article here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/25/arrest-homeless-connecticut-woman-enrolling-son-school-illegally-sparks-debate/
Apparently, Connecticut doesn't have an open-enrollment policy? Also, notice the price tag for one child's education--$15,686! Here's another example of "waste, fraud and abuse" that our leaders are so fond of touting.
Apparently, Connecticut doesn't have an open-enrollment policy? Also, notice the price tag for one child's education--$15,686! Here's another example of "waste, fraud and abuse" that our leaders are so fond of touting.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Lack of Poetry
I haven't posted poetry in some time. I haven't been in the mood. Plus, I realized I was breaking copyright laws by posting some of them.
My mom should be published, and technically, I should still ask her permission even though she hasn't been (as far as I know!), but here's a poem she wrote:
Obscurity
There is something to be said for fame–
that glittered glory that excites the senses to heights of ecstasy.
I am content to capture bits of color here below
and silently wait to shower some unsuspecting soul
with my rainbow.
My mom should be published, and technically, I should still ask her permission even though she hasn't been (as far as I know!), but here's a poem she wrote:
Obscurity
There is something to be said for fame–
that glittered glory that excites the senses to heights of ecstasy.
I am content to capture bits of color here below
and silently wait to shower some unsuspecting soul
with my rainbow.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
"tough decisions"
President Obama said it was time to make some "tough decisions" in his most recent speech, but in the same speech, proceeded to tear apart Paul Ryan for doing exactly that. When Obama talks "tough," it's awfully one-sided.
His idea of a responsible decision is to raise taxes on the "wealthy." Nearly half of all Americans do not pay taxes at all. Is nearly half of America poor? And is the other half "wealthy?"
Before we go attacking our "rich" neighbors, consider the following:
Were we to confiscate 100% of the income of the well-off, it would not cover the national debt. Wouldn't even come close.
Secondly, history has shown time and time again that when tax rates go up, tax revenue goes down. If Obama were serious about bringing down the deficit and debt, he would not be threatening tax increases.
On a somewhat related note, a facebook friend of mine in one post wrote about the injustice of our tax code. He subsequently posted a "recall Tom Luna" post. Here we have the same thing--someone talking about "tough choices" and necessary reform, but rebelling against the elected official who has made some very tough calls which will serve to alleviate the financial strain on our state's budget.
I just wanted to point that out.
His idea of a responsible decision is to raise taxes on the "wealthy." Nearly half of all Americans do not pay taxes at all. Is nearly half of America poor? And is the other half "wealthy?"
Before we go attacking our "rich" neighbors, consider the following:
Were we to confiscate 100% of the income of the well-off, it would not cover the national debt. Wouldn't even come close.
Secondly, history has shown time and time again that when tax rates go up, tax revenue goes down. If Obama were serious about bringing down the deficit and debt, he would not be threatening tax increases.
On a somewhat related note, a facebook friend of mine in one post wrote about the injustice of our tax code. He subsequently posted a "recall Tom Luna" post. Here we have the same thing--someone talking about "tough choices" and necessary reform, but rebelling against the elected official who has made some very tough calls which will serve to alleviate the financial strain on our state's budget.
I just wanted to point that out.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Government Shutdown?
One of my favorite books is George Eliot's Middlemarch. If you haven't read it, do! (Or at least watch the TV version.) One of central characters is Dr. Lydgate, an ambitious man with dreams of making important scientific discoveries. His plans are destroyed after he falls in love and marries the beautiful (and vain) Rosamund Vincy as she spends, and spends, and spends, money they don't have so that she can live like a fine lady; ruining his credit, and forcing him into bankruptcy. Every one of Lydgate's gentle attempts to rein in her spending leads to accusations of his abuse and neglect.
Sound familiar?
Check out this article summarizing the Government budget showdown.
Sound familiar?
Check out this article summarizing the Government budget showdown.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
More Food for Thought on Digital Learning Courses
http://biggovernment.com/bmattox/2011/03/29/will-public-schools-co-opt-digital-education/#more-244744
Something that every school board member/trustee/teacher/superintendent/principal/parent should consider when re-vamping education to include technological advances. It doesn't make sense to fit a square peg into a round hole.
On one hand, I can see the need for some kind of deadline. After all, you're looking at (well, just reading) a gal who just got an incomplete on her landscaping course. Actually, maybe that proves the other point--I did have a deadline, I just didn't have time to accommodate the homework. I have kept the reading material, and I WILL learn something about landscaping, but my records are tarnished with an "I".
On the other hand, which turns out to be the same hand after all, as a (former) private violin instructor, I saw first-hand the beauty of "independent" study. Each child can learn the violin, whether or not they are "gifted" or "talented." Some will learn more quickly than others, and the end results will not be the same, but each child can learn to be proficient at anything.
Maybe the one concern that we need to address is motivation and discipline. I was obviously not motivated or disciplined enough to complete my landscaping course in a timely manner. And I have had students who made little progress in spite of their potential because they didn't practice. So, how do we help our kids stay motivated, if they aren't internally motivated?
Something that every school board member/trustee/teacher/superintendent/principal/parent should consider when re-vamping education to include technological advances. It doesn't make sense to fit a square peg into a round hole.
On one hand, I can see the need for some kind of deadline. After all, you're looking at (well, just reading) a gal who just got an incomplete on her landscaping course. Actually, maybe that proves the other point--I did have a deadline, I just didn't have time to accommodate the homework. I have kept the reading material, and I WILL learn something about landscaping, but my records are tarnished with an "I".
On the other hand, which turns out to be the same hand after all, as a (former) private violin instructor, I saw first-hand the beauty of "independent" study. Each child can learn the violin, whether or not they are "gifted" or "talented." Some will learn more quickly than others, and the end results will not be the same, but each child can learn to be proficient at anything.
Maybe the one concern that we need to address is motivation and discipline. I was obviously not motivated or disciplined enough to complete my landscaping course in a timely manner. And I have had students who made little progress in spite of their potential because they didn't practice. So, how do we help our kids stay motivated, if they aren't internally motivated?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I don't get it
KTVB on the passing of 2 out of 3 Luna bills
from the article:"This is the pay for performance bill. More specifically, this is the bill that gives teachers bonuses when their students do well on tests."
Why are teachers protesting a bill which would reward them when they do a good job? This bill says nothing about punishing teachers whose students don't do a good job.
I understand teachers feeling a little angst about the first bill passed, which perhaps does punish teachers by: not allowing teachers who have received court orders to stay away from minors to get paid, giving more control to local school officers, allowing a teensy-tiny bit more parent input in teacher evaluation, and limiting tenure. It means that they have less job security. But it's no worse than the job security of anyone else who has to maintain a level of performance that justifies the paycheck they receive.
S1113 (Modernization & Reform) increases the student-teacher divisor to pay for a 1:1 ratio of computers to high school students while requiring four on-line classes during high school. Expressed public sentiment was overwhelmingly against this proposal as written. More public and stakeholder consultation and collaboration are necessary so that an improved plan can be crafted and consensus reached.
• Principal has discretion in new hires;
• Parents have some input for performance evaluations (could be as little as 1%);
• Employees ordered by court to stay away from minors put on unpaid leave. This protects kids and frees up more money for education;
• During reductions in force, needs of the students take priority over seniority;
• Courts will review school board action for propriety, but will not hear cases from scratch. Less court costs mean more money for education.
• Master contract limitations of one year allow school board to respond to citizens rather than having their hands tied by past boards that are no longer in office;
• Public negotiations and open records ensure transparency and a more accountable government.
I hope that the information above is helpful to you. If my reply to your message was not immediate, I apologize. I read every message as it arrived and considered its contents carefully. The proposed changes to education have resulted in a flood of correspondence that I have tended to personally with the help of one part-time volunteer. Your message helped shaped my opinion of these proposals. I will keep your message and this reply on file for future reference.
Kindly,
Senator Mitch Toryanski
from the article:"This is the pay for performance bill. More specifically, this is the bill that gives teachers bonuses when their students do well on tests."
Why are teachers protesting a bill which would reward them when they do a good job? This bill says nothing about punishing teachers whose students don't do a good job.
I understand teachers feeling a little angst about the first bill passed, which perhaps does punish teachers by: not allowing teachers who have received court orders to stay away from minors to get paid, giving more control to local school officers, allowing a teensy-tiny bit more parent input in teacher evaluation, and limiting tenure. It means that they have less job security. But it's no worse than the job security of anyone else who has to maintain a level of performance that justifies the paycheck they receive.
UPDATE: This article just appeared in Fox news. Note the last line which reads:
"The biggest piece of Luna's reform package remains stalled in the Senate. That legislation would boost technology in the classroom, require online courses and increase the minimum teacher pay from $29,655 to $30,000..."
Again, I don't understand--griping about an increase of minimum wage? OK, to be fair, the bill also included increasing class size.
I know a lot of great teachers, and I had a lot of great teachers. My guess is that those great teachers' jobs won't be on the chopping block if cuts need to be made.
p.s. A few weeks ago, I wrote to my state senator, and he wrote the following explanation of the bills that are in question:
S1113 (Modernization & Reform) increases the student-teacher divisor to pay for a 1:1 ratio of computers to high school students while requiring four on-line classes during high school. Expressed public sentiment was overwhelmingly against this proposal as written. More public and stakeholder consultation and collaboration are necessary so that an improved plan can be crafted and consensus reached.
• Principal has discretion in new hires;
• Parents have some input for performance evaluations (could be as little as 1%);
• Employees ordered by court to stay away from minors put on unpaid leave. This protects kids and frees up more money for education;
• During reductions in force, needs of the students take priority over seniority;
• Courts will review school board action for propriety, but will not hear cases from scratch. Less court costs mean more money for education.
• Master contract limitations of one year allow school board to respond to citizens rather than having their hands tied by past boards that are no longer in office;
• Public negotiations and open records ensure transparency and a more accountable government.
I hope that the information above is helpful to you. If my reply to your message was not immediate, I apologize. I read every message as it arrived and considered its contents carefully. The proposed changes to education have resulted in a flood of correspondence that I have tended to personally with the help of one part-time volunteer. Your message helped shaped my opinion of these proposals. I will keep your message and this reply on file for future reference.
Kindly,
Senator Mitch Toryanski
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