BB Guns, Cupcakes, and Toy Soldiers Oh My

A mom in Michigan made 30 chocolate cupcakes for her son Hunter's class birthday party.  She brought the cupcakes to the office so that they could bring them to the classroom, which they accepted.  Within 15 minutes of dropping off her cupcakes, she received a phone call about said cupcakes to tell her that they couldn't be served.

You see Hunter helped his mom decorate the cupcakes and used toy soldiers to do so.  These soldiers were replicas of those who served in WWII.  The school, in their infinite wisdom, decided that those soldiers were upsetting to the children and "insensitive".    The school has doubled down and defended this action:

“These are toys that were commonplace in the past,” she wrote. “However, some parents prohibit all guns as toys. In light of that difference, the school offered to replace the soldiers with another item and the soldiers were returned home with the student.”

“Living in a democratic society entails respect for opposing opinions,” she stated. “In the climate of recent events in schools we walk a delicate balance in teaching non-violence in our buildings and trying to ensure a safe, peaceful atmosphere.”

First, one would think that someone with the education she must have she would understand that do not live in a democracy, we live in a Constitutional Republic.  Look, I understand that there are many parents who do not give their children guns to play with, I respect that.  But I don't see how exposing our children to WWII soldiers is really giving them guns to play with.  These soldiers have been rightly labeled "The Greatest Generation", have we forgotten how much they sacrificed in order to keep the American way of life?  This isn't hyperbole, fascism and totalitarism was on the march and those soldiers gave their lives so it wouldn't reach our shores.

Hunter's dad has had this to say:

Fountain said it was beyond outrageous to compare American soldiers to deranged mass murderers.

“In our politically correct society they can’t separate the good from the bad,” he said. ”I’m sure hammers are allowed in schools — although a lot of people are killed by hammers.”

We have become so politically correct in our society that we can't see the forest thru the trees.

Another similar incident is making some news as well.

Do you remember the Denise's husband Martin from the Cosby Show?  His real name is Joseph C. Phillips, he is married with children and living in the Los Angeles area.  His son is 15 years old.  He used his own money to buy himself one of those air BB  guns.  He was very proud of his purchase, I am sure that he used money he earned at his dad's restaurant was part of that pride.  His son was showing a picture (yes, you read that correctly) on his phone to his friends.  A teacher happened to be walking by.  The teacher not only confiscated the phone, he also questioned the boy's mental state.  To make matters worse, his parents were not contacted by the school.  His son finally told him about the incident days after it happened.  Phillips (a Facebook friend of mine) was furious.  Part of the letter he sent to the school:

It may come as a shock to Mr. DeLarme, It may even be news to you, but my son is not the only boy in Woodland Hills with a BB gun. There are quite a few boys attending your school who not only own BB guns, but own real guns as well. (Some of them play air soft with my son!) Their fathers, mothers, and brothers also own guns and shoot regularly. Owning a gun is NOT a sign of mental illness. Owning a BB gun is NOT an indication of mental instability! Certainly, showing friends a photograph of a gun is NOT a warning sign that a student is a potential danger to his classmates! I object, in the strongest of terms, to my son being treated as a potential danger and to his being threatened with law enforcement. I further object to not being notified! If Mr. DeLarme truly believed my son presented a danger, both my wife and I should have been notified immediately!

Turns out this teacher is a strong advocate of gun control.  Shocker!!!

 "…our country's position on gun control and violence is what makes such situations probable."

It is not only acceptable, but preferable, that a teacher reach out about a student that they feel is mentally unstable and who could potentially cause harm to others.  But that doesn't mean that every 15-year-old who shoots air guns is that danger.  Plenty of children play with air guns or paint guns.  My nephew used to love to play with paint guns when he was younger.  It was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  He is all grown and has never shot anyone.  As far as I know, he doesn't even own a gun today.  But the most reprehensible part of this story is that they were threatening this child with law enforcement without contacting his parents.  This is a minor we are talking about here.  A parent has the right to know that his child is being looked at as a danger to others.

We have gone way too far.  Schools have a responsibility to protect their students to the best of their abilities.  That doesn't give them the right to treat children who are interested in WWII soldiers and BB Guns as criminals and a danger to society. 

Teacher Locks Child in Closet - Then Leaves Him to go Home for the Day

yep, our public schools are working "just fine".

  Watch More News Videos at ABC
  |
  2012 Presidential Election
  |
  Entertainment & Celebrity News

You Have a Headache? Too Bad. Oh, You Need Morning After Pill, No Problem. - NYC City Schools Give out Plan B Without Parental Consent

As unbelievable as this sounds, it is true.  If you a high school student in New York City you will be given nothing to help you with a headache, but you can be given the morning after pill.  Your daughter can also get an injection of birth control that will last for three months.  New York City also does hand out free condoms as well.

Birth control pills can cause hypertension and stroke.  Are these girls being given a full exam before these are administered?  Are they being monitored by an actual doctor?

About 28 percent of city students entering ninth grade have already had sex, and more than half are sexually active before completing high school, according to city data.

My heart just breaks for these girls.  I remember when I was that age I knew only girl who was sexually active and nearly everyone had a name for her.   I was 13 when I started high school.  It is heartbreaking to me that girls that young are already engaging in an activity that they do not have the maturity to understand.  They are looking for love in all the wrong places.

One teacher says:

Teacher Rosa Chavez applauded CATCH, saying she had two pregnant students last year. Getting knocked up, she said, “is not cool and not accepted among peers.”
But Chavez worries that giving girls Plan B emergency contraception might encourage careless sex.

Gee, ya think?  Of course it gives girls the idea that they don't have to be responsible for their actions, someone else will help them take care of it later.

“We can’t give out a Tylenol without a doctor’ s order,” said a school staffer. “Why should we give out hormonal preparations with far more serious possible side effects, such as blood clots and hypertension?”

Here we are America, the public school system has decided that they can give your children hormones without your consent.  While they do offer an opt-out plan:

But sophomore Annette Palacios, 15, outside the school with her mom, said parents should give consent in case their children are “allergic” to the drugs.
“Girls shouldn’t be sexually active at that age,” she added.
Her mom, Pania, complained that she got no opt-out letter — and does not want Annette to secretly get Plan B or birth-control pills from the nurse.

You want your food cooked with salt?  Nope.  You want to eat something that contains trans fats?  Nope.  You want a Big Gulp?  Forgetaboutit.  Birth control and Plan B pills without parental consent?  Perfectly acceptable.

It is a brave new world, America.

Student Who Recorded Ms. Dixon-Neely Speaks

I almost feel sorry for Ms. Dixon-Neely.  I mean how embarrassing is that the entire country knows that she doesn't even speak with good grammar and she is a teacher?

And to mom, you did a good job raising your boy.  He stood his ground when he could have easily let that teacher bully him.  He spoke up.

The woman is basically on vacay.  She has been suspended with pay.  Gotta love tenure.

Homeschooling Reaching the Black Community

A dirty little secret that you won't find out about from the U.S. media (shocker, I know) is that more and more black families are turning to home schooling in an attempt to give their children the education that they deserve.  While I am sure it is very difficult in the more urban areas where the public schools are especially atrocious, it is still a growing trend.  Another thing many are probably not aware of the existence of is a homeschool cooperative dedicated to the black community.

 Monica Utsey, who runs a home schooling co-operative for African American children in Washington DC, says: "African-American mothers, especially those who have boys, have a lot of trouble in the school system. The way the classroom is designed is more conducive for girls."
For her, though, the main motivation was cultural - she wanted her sons to learn about their African roots and not "to believe that their history begins with slavery"

Another words, she doesn't want her sons to be taught that they are victims who have no real chance of succeeding because of a racist society that is America.  Derrick Bell will be rolling over in his grave.  How will the left indoctrinate these young sons who are taught they are equal human beings and have the same opportunities that their white counterparts have, they just have to work for it? Oh Al Sharpton, watch out, you may not be able to make a living peddling fear anymore.

It is true that homeschooling is not something that will work for every family.  Some parents don't have the discipline, the qualifications, and some children do well in a public school environment.  I know someone who has one child in public school and homeschools the other.  Her son was just not doing well in school and his teachers were not communicating that to them.  They pulled him out and have him at home.  She works full-time, but works from home most of the time.  He does much of his school work online and if she happens to be away from home she can log in and watch his progress.  She told me the difference is night and day; he is learning --eager even--and is much happier.  Her daughter has excelled in the public school and is a very social young lady, homeschooling wouldn't suit her personality.  It is a situation that works for their family.  It is the essence of choice.  Not every parent who has that choice will pull their children out of public school.

Of course that destroys the narrative that the public school system will crumble.  More homeschooling will make the public school system better.  Competition is a good thing.  If they need to compete for the dollars they make sure that they are giving an added benefit to the parents who are making that choice.  One of the things you hear unions complain about all the time is the fact that the class sizes are too large (they are right, they are in most cases) this will also help with this problem.  The teachers will have smaller classes and will be able to give more attention to the individual students.

Another topic that has come up with these homeschoolers is how they resent that teachers now are only teaching to the test (Thanks Sen. Kennedy and President Bush).  The evil of No Child Left Behind has left children behind.  The school systems are under so much financial pressure to keep and/or improve test scores that the joy of learning has been taken out of the equation.  I am sure it is no joy for the teachers either.  But students are suffering because of this piece of lousy legislation.  Parents are seeing for themselves that their kids are losing motivation:

It was not the violence, or even the fact that he was being bullied, that finally led to the decision to remove Copeland from his public school in what she describes as a "really bad area" of Washington DC, but the fact that he was "losing his love of learning".

Of course this little boy was learning his love of learning - which by the way, is innate in a child - if he is being bullied, seeing violence, and being taught only to a standardized test.

The shift to homeschooling has been much slower for the black community than for the white.  They are under even more pressure to keep pretending that the public school system has their child's best interests at heart:

"For the African-American community there was a huge amount of pressure against it, because in America, the grandparents of today's home-schooled children fought for desegregation of schools. They thought, 'The public schools are going to save us,'" he says.

But Dr Ray, who regularly interviews black home-schoolers as part of his research, says attitudes are changing fast - and it's also a lot easier today for black families to try it than it was 20 years ago, he points out.
Joyce Burges, co-founder of National Black Home Educators, who home-schooled all five of her children, aged 16 to 35, says the practice is growing "exponentially" in the African American community.
"The failings of public schools have caused all of us, whether we are white or black, to come up with creative ideas about how we can educate children.

It is way past time that the black community push back and stop accepting the failing status quo that has become our public school system and take matters into their own hands.  Stop listening to the stories of the past generation that believed that it was going to be public schools that solved the ills of the black community.  Access is meaningless if the school is failing.  Your children will be much better off for it.

H/T Jammie Wearing Fool

Reason 12,834 to Home School

Virginia just can't seem to keep out of the news lately.  The latest outrage is a bunch of third graders wrote a little diddy they performed in October.  Now, if I am not mistaken a third grader is about 8 or so.  The school says the kids came up with these lyrics totally on their own:

Some people have it all
But they still don’t think they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes — they’re the 1 percent

I used to be one of the 1 percent
I worked all the time
Never saw my family
Couldn’t make life rhyme
Then the bubble burst
It really, really hurt
I lost my money
Lost my pride
Lost my home
Now I’m part of the 99

Some people have it all
But they still don’t think they have enough
They want more money
A faster ride
They’re not content
Never satisfied
Yes — they’re the 1 percent

I used to be sad, now I’m satisfied
’Cause I really have enough
Though I lost my yacht and plane
Didn’t need that extra stuff
Could have been much worse
You don’t need to be first
’Cause I’ve got my friends
Here by my side
Don’t need it all
I’m so happy to be part of the 99

Yeah, I really buy that a group of eight-year-olds came up with this, all by their lonesomes.  On their website, Kid Pan Alley has songs from previous engagements that they have had around the country, some of the songs are named, Christmas in Tennessee, Stinky Socks, Bouncing of the Bottom, and Whispering in Spanish.  So normally these songs take on the silliness and innocence of childhood, yet this particular class wanted to write about the 99%.  

Our public school system should not be a place to push a political agenda.  No matter who is pushing it.  At the age of eight children should be learning how to think and at this point basic information about math, science, improving their reading and writing skills.  Instead the public schools have become a place where parents are forced to entrust their children to people who have an agenda, and to heck with the fact that some parents may not agree with that agenda.  Why are they teaching young children about class warfare?  There is a time and place for these discussions with young children, and a public school is neither that place nor the time in which to engage young, impressionable children about concepts they can't possibly understand at such a tender age.  

Values should be taught at home.  The fact that the school is defending this is reason enough to home school if at all possible.  

Reason #14,965 to Home School

It seems that New York City has decided it needs to do something about the levels of sexually transmitted disease and unwanted pregnancies.  While the horse has long left that barn, in their infinite wisdom, they have decided to require sex ed to all public school students.  Students will get one semester in six or seventh grade and again at nine or tenth grade.  While I feel that it is important to talk to your children about sex and the dangers of pregnancy and STD's, it is the graphic nature of these discussions that are very objectionable.

* Kids ages 11 and 12 sort “risk cards” to rate the safety of various activities, including “intercourse using a condom and an oil-based lubricant,’’ mutual masturbation, French kissing, oral sex and anal sex

.
We are going to be teaching 11 year olds about anal sex?  That is considered a good idea?  While I fully understand kids are by nature curious, this is not something that a stranger should be talking to our children about.  


But, it gets better.  The high schoolers will be involved in pseudo field trips that include:

* High-school students go to stores and jot down condom brands, prices and features such as lubrication.
* Teens research a route from school to a clinic that provides birth control and STD tests, and write down its confidentiality policy.

Just what I want, my teen being ordered to shop for condoms and a good route to a clinic that will give my child birth control pills without my consent.  But I would have to say the topper is:

* Teens are referred to resources such as Columbia University’s Web site Go Ask Alice, which explores topics like “doggie-style” and other positions, “sadomasochistic sex play,” phone sex, oral sex with braces, fetishes, porn stars, vibrators and bestiality

.Today on Go Ask Alice, the topics include oral sex and non latex condoms and easing orgasms for women.  Just the things I would want my teenager daughter to learn from someone who doesn't love her or know her as well as her mom does.  The department of Ed says that they are stressing that abstinence is the only way to avoid STD's pregnancy.  That seems pretty obvious to me from the workbooks!!  A Child psychologist is concerned about the teaching methods that are going to be used:

“Kids are being told to either abstain or use condoms -- that both are responsible, healthy choices,” said child and adolescent psychiatrist Miriam Grossman, author of “You’re Teaching My Child What?”
The DOE “relies on latex,” she said.
But Grossman argues that the books minimize the dangers that pregnancy can still occur with condom use, and that viruses such as herpes and HPV live on body parts not covered by a condom.

Parents will be allowed to opt their child out on the prevention part of the course, but the part that they learn what "doggie style" is, is mandatory.  Well yee ha, ride 'em cowboy.  


Lovely.
H/T to The Other McCain

While We Were Sleeping

“Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.”

Albert Herlong Jr., Florida Congressman, 1963


The next time you are at the ballot box and see names for the school boards - don't think that your vote doesn't matter.

Just once I would like to hear a moderate dem (they do exist) come out and admit that their party has been taken over by an element that doesn't have America's best interest at heart. 

To Curtis Johnson - Online & Social Media Specialist for the NAACP

You may remember that I did a post a few weeks ago on the NAACP siding with the unions and filing a lawsuit to stop New York City from closing down some of the worse schools in the entire country.  As many of you know I am a contributor to the blog PotLuck bloggers.  A group of diverse conservative women who are trying to get their ideals out into the blogosphere. 

I got a reply from Curtis Johnson from the NAACP inviting me to participate in the Twitterview that they would be doing regarding the lawsuit.  I received the message too late and was unable to participate.  He then invited me to send him questions directly.  So here it goes:

1. It is very obvious that our public school system is broken in this country.  Why is an organization such as yours raising objections to using innovative ideas such as vouchers and charters to help the children get a better education?

2. Can you honestly tell me that you don't accept the reality that unions are part of the problem of school reform in this country?  If so, why?

3.  How long do these families have to wait before we close a school that performs in lowest 1% of the entire country?  Is it 1 year, 2 years, or simply as long as it takes? 

4. Can you look the families of these children who have been in this failing school for years and honestly say that you care about their child's education? 

5.  Are you willing to send your child (or niece, nephew, friend's kid) to this same school why they are waiting for it to "improve"?  If not, how do you justify telling another family that they must? 

6. What do have to say about the report that came out after the DC voucher program ended showing that this program also helped to improve the public schools, by making them compete with the private schools for the money?  This report seems to indicate that vouchers/charters do help all students not just the students that are attending the other schools.  ***

7. Do you think that the result would be different in the public school system in New York than it was in D.C.?  ***

***While the DC officials and many within the democratic party have disputed it, the results for DC have been positive.  I have back-up of this if you need it.  I am very passionate about education reform and have kept a close eye on the voucher program in DC. 

I look forward to your answers. 

Sincerly,

just a conservative girl

The NAACP Chooses Unions over Education

Not this comes as a surprise to me.  The public school system in this country is broken.  Of course there are some very good public schools in this country, but we also have far too many that are failing our communities and our children.  One such community is Harlem. 

The City of New York has a plan to close 22 failing public schools and to open 19 charter schools using the same properties to do so.  It is no surprise that the unions are fighting this, as they always do.  But, what should come as a surprise the NAACP has joined with the unions to force the city to keep these schools open.  These schools that serve a mainly minority population. 

One of the schools that they are trying to save is PS 332 Charles H. Houston.  PS 332 finished in the bottom 1% of public schools last year.  The combination of the schools that the city is planning on closing is as follows:

Average English/Language proficiency is 16%.  (Citywide average is 42%, still dismal, but much better)
Average Math proficiency is 19%.  (Citywide average is 53%, again dismal but much better)

One of the most frustrating things for the parents in this community is that this suit was filed so late into the school year that it is putting the parents in a position that they don't know what is going to happen to their children for the new school year that is only a few short months away.  The parents that fought to get their kids into the open slots in the better schools are left not knowing if they will still be able to send their children for the September school year.  At a rally last week in Harlem a parent said:

"My child cannot be told that she's not going to get to go to her school in September.  I cannot look her in the eye, as a parent, and tell her, 'Well, the problem is that this group of people that Mommy told you about during  Black History Month, that did all those great things a long time ago - they want to stop you from doing great things." 

The main point from this woman's statement is "a long time ago".  The NAACP has shown it's true colors.  They are no longer fighting for the rights of minorities and has become nothing more than a shill group for far left policies and the unions.  This action smacks of a organization that has lost it's true mission.  Fighting for equality for the black community.  Why should a poor black child be stuck in a failing school because the unions are refusing to accept the changes that are necessary to in order to improve our public school system?  Why should these 7,000 students give up the chance at a better education so that union teachers can save their jobs?  These parents are fighting for the future of their children.  Having a substandard education is one sure way to keep a person living on public assistance, denying them a chance to get a higher education.  We live in a world that is becoming more and more competitive.  While having a college education is no guarantee for a brighter future is certainly helps. 

The statement from the NAACP:

Charter Schools serve only a tiny number of students and that the NAACP is fighting for equality for all students

How, by throwing good money after bad to a school that is one of the worst public schools in the City of New York?    The teacher's unions have proven over and over again that they are not student centered.  The union is more concerned about the pay scales and job security of the teachers than they are of the students.  Remember this?



The fact that NAACP has chosen to side with an organization that is more concerned with paychecks and benefits than they are with student achievement is just more proof that the NAACP no longer has the minority community best interests at heart. 

School Chancellor of New York Dennis Walcott says:

"These figures are nothing to brag about, the unions should be with us.  That's probably too much to expect, considering the union's past intransigence.  Surely, though, it's not too much to hope for from an organization with a history of fighting for civil rights."

It is high time that the people who give money to the NAACP to ask themselves if they are getting their what they pay for.  The NAACP is no longer an organization that fights for minorities it is an organization that is intent on keeping the minority community on the far left plantation.  They pretend to be about the black community being able to have the same opportunities as everyone else in this country.  Except when it comes to getting a good education.  

There is nothing more fundamental than an education.  These parents have the right to choose a good education for their children.  The City of New York has not only the right, but the responsibility to close failing schools.  The unions and The NAACP should have nothing but shame for trying to force these kids into one of the worst schools in the country.  

Read Ben Jealous, the CEO of the NAACP defense here.  My question to Mr. Jealous is how long do these parents have to wait?  How long do they try and fix a failing school?  How much money do we waste before we decide that the school can't be saved?  None of those of questions are answered in his defense. 

Cross posted at PotLuck

DC Scholarship Program One Step Closer to Reinstatement

Today the house passed a bill to reinstate the DC Voucher program.  It gained very little democratic support.  Shocker, I know.  The dems actually had the nerve to say:

Democrats opposed it as an inappropriate use of federal funds and an unwelcome intrusion into local affairs.

If the dems really felt that education was a local affair why do we still have the Department of Education.  That is an intrusion into local affairs.  They then go into the mantra that it will adversely affect public school funding.  The problem is that is wrong.  This funding will only give 1/3 of the funding for the bill to go to the voucher program.  $100 Million going to vouchers and $200 Million to the public/charter school system.  For those that are not aware, the school system in DC is federally funded.  The reality is that the vouchers for high school students is 12K per year as opposed to the 28K that is paid for the public school system.  It is actually cheaper to send the kids to private school and the graduation rates are significantly higher and does have higher rates for reading comprehension.  Read an additional report here.  You can also read a letter from a parent who talks about the change not only in her daughter's life but her own. 

Its lead author, Patrick J. Wolf, told a Senate committee last month that the program was good for students

But, why would the democrats let facts get in the way when they have the unions to protect? 

Here is Speaker Boehner on the topic today on the floor of the house.  There is hope in the house.  Sen. Lieberman is a sponsor of the bill and there has been Dem support for vouchers when it passed several years ago.  It then falls onto to President Obama.  Will he veto a bill that will give under privileged students access to the same school his two daughters attend.  I have said this before, Obama knows that vouchers is part of the solution, does he have the backbone to stand up to the unions?   

And here is one of my favorite congressman.

Reason #10897 Why You Should Homeschool - Public School Systems Ridding Sytem of Failing Grades

Our public school systems are failing our children in a myriad of ways.  The new trend in public education in the greater DC area is to rid the system of failing grades.  Instead of the failing students receiving an F, they now will receive a I(ncomplete).  The grade of I will allow the students to then go back and finish up projects and to receive a grade.

Call me crazy, but I thought one of the purposes of an education is to prepare our young for the real world.  I don't know about you, but I have never had a job that told me "don't worry about the fact that you didn't finish your work, just get back to it when you feel like it."  Or, better yet; "Oh, you did this assignment completely wrong, but hey just take the weekend to do it again, don't worry about the fact that we just lost our biggest client."  This is the lesson that these kids are learning.  

I have heard many, like Glenn Beck, say that we shouldn't be giving out prizes to all kids.  That I don't really have a problem with when they are very young.  I don't see an issue giving four year-olds on a T-Ball team a ribbon at the end of the season.  But, we have to draw the line long before they get to high school.  I guess this the part of the slippery slope. 

"It more or less says all the hard work I'm doing isn't going to be worth anything," 16 year old student at West Potomac High. 

The liberals of the world talk about "fairness" all the time.  How exactly is rewarding a student who cannot be bothered to do the work on time fair?  Now, I am not one to throw out the concept of fairness easily.  I don't think that the world is fair, nor do I believe that it can be made so.  But, I do think that adults showing children that they can be rewarded for being irresponsible is very wrong, indeed.  It is also a very poor lesson for the children who work hard and do the assignments on time.  They are being given a backhanded lesson that they skim on their work and it just won't matter. 

These kids are going to have to go out into the real world at some point.  In the real world we don't have bosses that don't care if you are not doing your assigned responsibilities in a timely fashion.  This also is not preparing for them for the college level either.  It is time that we stop babysitting these kids and start teaching them how the real world works.  You will be required to do your work correctly and on time.  If you are unable to you have to step up and take responsibility for your mistakes and your tardiness.  The real world isn't interested in your excuses.  They simply are not going to care that you went to some high school that decided coddling students is an effective way of getting them passing grades. 

The one bright spot in the article that I read is that the teachers are mostly against this policy.  Now, the plan is that the teachers will be offering additional hours to work with the kids who have the I's to help them learn the curriculum.  So the administrators have basically added additional work hours to these teachers.  Can we guess how long it takes the unions to get involved in this matter?  Which in this case I would have to say that I agree with them.  The teachers shouldn't be forced to work additional hours or weekends because of some boneheaded idea that administrators have put into place.  Let them work on weekends if they feel so strongly that this system will work.  This system was originally put into place at the lower level grades.  Even the "grading expert" who put this into place says this program being done at the high school level is unusual. 

This is just one more example of how we are dumbing down our society and teaching our children that they do not need to be responsible for themselves and that their actions don't have consequences.  We need to teach our kids that setting the bar high is a good thing.  Striving for something is a good thing.  We also need to teach our kids that world is a competitive place.  Instead, in the greater DC area, we are teaching our kids that laziness will be rewarded.  Not a lesson that I want a school system teaching kids. 

One of the worst things about this policy is that the parents were not even notified of the change until the end of October.  Many of the parents are very opposed to the changes.  A group has been formed to combat this policy; Real World, Real Grades.  One of the questions that must be asked is what happens when these kids that took the same test four times to get a better grade get to college?  What this system is really doing is setting them up to fail.  It is time that we let go of the "feel good" policies that are taking over our school systems and teach our children that hard work has its own rewards. 

American Flag and Racial Tensions?

A young man named Cody rides his bike to school everyday.  On the back of his bike he flies the American flag.  Cody was told that the flag was not welcome on school grounds due to "racial" tensions.  Racial tensions?  How can American flag cause racial tensions?  If someone is insulted by the American flag in America needs to go back to where ever it is that they come from. 

 

This went viral so the school has backed down, but has yet to give a good explanation of what type of racial tensions an American flag causes. 

Waiting for Superwoman - Michelle Rhee To Resign as DC School Chancellor - UPDATES

Michelle Rhee,  the tenacious chancellor of the DC public school system, is reported to announce her resignation today.  Rhee is at the frontier of public school reform.  As such, she has made many enemies; especially of the teachers unions. 


Rhee was featured in the documentary "Waiting for Superman" a scathing and honest look at the crisis that our public school system is in.  DC has one of the worst public school systems in the country.  By no means is it due to a lack of funds; as they spend more per student than any other school system in the country.  Which by the way, mainly comes from federal funding to the tune of almost $30,000 per student.


Rhee has stood up to the unions, which has been the cause of her downfall.  Soon to be former Mayor Fenty hired her three years ago and the when the re-election battle began, the unions went into overdrive to get him out of office. 


Rhee has also closed schools that were failing and didn't have enough students to justify the costs of keeping them open.  She realized that the funds would be better utilized if they went more directly to the classrooms and the students.  Under Rhee, the test scores and achievement levels have increased, yet the teacher unions saw fit to spend more than $1 million to help elect Grey.  They went into overdrive to convince the residents of DC that Rhee was not the answer to school system that is keeping many of the poor residents in DC in poverty. 


DC has lost big today and it is a shame.  But, I have to believe that someone that is as committed to improving failing school systems as she is, will be a great pick up for another school system.  I am hoping that she can go and work in Newark.  The gift of $100 million and both a mayor and governor who are both willing to stand up to the unions will have her back and give the residents of that city a chance to get a good education that will help lift their families out of the generational poverty that they have had the sad luck to find themselves in. 


Rhee has the ability and desire to present a road map for other school systems to follow.  We cannot be competitive on the world stage if we can't even educate our children.  It is time to think outside of the box and break the failing mold that we have created for ourselves.  The federal government spends almost $70 billion on the department of education.  For that not one single child is educated.  That money would be better spent by individual school systems that understand the needs of their own community. 

Michelle Rhee did indeed step down today.  It doesn't look like she has decided where she is going to end up, and says she wants to try and work in the private sector. 






Look carefully at the improvement that they call modest!!!  Shameful

Talk About Economic Stimulus

I can't really tell you why, but school choice is an issue I have a great deal of passion about.  I firmly believe that every child in this country deserves a good education.  This is actually something that government money is well spent on.  If we educate our children properly it will do nothing but lift our country up.  We are falling further and further behind on the world stage in math and science.  We cannot possibly stay competitive on the world stage at this rate. 

Many people outside of the tea party movement make fun of the people who say they want to get rid of the federal involvement in schools.  Especially if anyone says to close down the department of education.  The department of education became a cabinet level department in 1979 under President Carter.  The current budget is almost $70 billion per year.  Under President Bush, the DoED was strengthened with No Child Left Behind. 

In math, only four countries had average scores lower than the United States. Students in 23 countries had a higher average score, and those in two countries did about the same as the Americans.


The ranking of U.S. students in math and science is about the same as it was in 2003.

What exactly are getting for the $70 billion?  I don't think all that much.  We spending good money after bad and the test scores are not improving.  There are a variety of reasons for this; one of which is the lack of parental involvement in some cases.  There have been many studies to back up the assertion that children who have parents that take an active involvement in the education of their kids, they have higher grade point averages, higher levels of graduation and will go onto to college.  The government can do nothing to help with this.  People will involve themselves with their children or they will not. 

School Choice is one answer that the democrats has been totally unwilling to use as a tool to help this country improve it's education system.  The DC program was very successful, yet the funding has been pulled and many parents are left with no choice but to send their children to failing schools as they just don't have the money to move to a neighborhood that put them in a better school, let alone afford a private one.

Not only is this an issue about government waste, it is an issue about the tenth amendment and federal overreach.  While it may seem that the tea party has bigger fish to fry, this is an issue that can rally people.  As it does affect all of us, even if you don't have children.  You are paying to educate every public school student in the country.  We need to educate our children to keep the country competitive.

Seriously, talk about economic stimulus; if we can get a good education to every child from the welfare system and give them the opportunity to get a college education or a good trade how much money will we save on the welfare system in this country?  It could potentially be billions.  That is what I call stimulus.

We need to think about what direction we want to take the tea party movement to in the future.  The mid term elections are just about over, but the work to get our country on a more financially stable footing is just beginning.  Start looking into things in your local area or state that need serious addressing and rally around that cause.  Our financial future certainly will not be improved until we involve ourselves in how the money is being spent.  For me this cause is education.  Find out what your cause will be. 

Quote of the Day - President Obama Edition Part 3

“I’ll be blunt with you, The answer is no right now.” He went on to say that despite making great strides over the past several years, “The D.C. public school systems are struggling.”

They are “terrific individual schools” in the city, but the larger problem remains for parents who can’t choose to send their children to school where they please, he said. “They should be getting the same quality education for their kids as everybody else, and we don’t have that yet.”

President Obama on why he doesn't send his children to DC public schools.  Now, personally, I don't have a problem with the children of a sitting president attending private schools.  The safety issues alone is reason enough.  I also think that as young children who didn't run for any political office, they deserve privacy and that will be better attained at a private school than at a public school. 

What I have a real problem with is him allowing the sucessful voucher program to be terminated. 

Gov. Christie Not Waiting for Superman

Governor Christie gives a short speech after the watching the documentary Waiting for Superman; a film made by the same film maker who made An Inconvenient Truth. 

I think Christie is not waiting for Superman, he is going to roll up his sleeves and work with Mayor of Newark who just received $100 Million from the founder of Facebook to come up with innovative ideas to increase the quality of our children's education.  We cannot continue on the path of falling further and further behind the developed world and still stay competitive on the world stage.  This is one of the major issues of our time.  Christie will not allow the unions to stand in the way of the reforms that are necessary. 

Where Has the Sanity Gone? Fenty and Rhee Out in DC

Adrian Fenty, Mayor of Washington D.C., lost his re-election bid to Vincent Gray quite convincingly; by 10% points.  Fenty, a man that most describe as aloof, has been an effective mayor.  During the Fenty administration the murder rate decreased and the public school system test scores increased.

Fenty hired both the police commissioner and the school Chancellor; Michelle Rhee.  Rhee figures prominently in the new documentary "Waiting for Superman".  The documentary shows the trials and tribulations of the average American trying to get a good education for their child.  Sadly, all too many are unsuccessful. 

This is especially true if you live in a poorer, more urban environment; such as Washington, DC.  The district has a great deal of problems.  Poverty, gangs, homelessness, drugs, AIDS infections, and on it goes.  One of the biggest problems that DC has had over the years is a broken school system.  It certainly is not for a lack of funds.  DC spends a great deal of money per student in public school.  The number is somewhere around $17,000 per student one of the highest in country.  The results for that money is less than stellar.  Some of the lowest test rates in the country.  Obviously, the problems go much deeper than the finances. 

Some of the schools are in major disrepair and are in horrible neighborhoods, where I certainly wouldn't be comfortable to have my small child walk to and fro.  The district recently lost the federal funds for school vouchers; even though the program was wildly successful.  In walks Michelle Rhee.  Rhee who has a reputation as bringing a no nonsense take no prisoners approach to fixing the broken system that Americans have created for themselves. 

Rhee has fired teachers who were shown to be incompetent and unable to raise the level of education in their classrooms.  She also has closed entire schools that were just failing the students in every way.  This has been none too popular with the local and national teachers unions.  Nor did it sit well in a majority black city when many of the teachers were black themselves. 

Fenty who has been not just a defender of Rhee, he is one of her biggest fans.  He also has not played the political games that everyone in DC has become accustomed to.  He hired the best people for the job.  He ran the city in a way to lower costs and improve services.  He wasn't always successful, but he did the job that so many have no desire to perform.  And by no means did escape his own scandals.  He did hire some of his fraternity brothers to perform some services that caused an uproar, and I am sure helped in his defeat. 

Rhee is almost certain to lose her job after Gray is officially elected; and he will be as no Republican is running in the race.  The unions spent millions to get Gray elected and the payback will be her head on a platter. 

While I doubt that Michelle Rhee and I agree on anything politically, we both agree that every child in this country deserves a good education; and that ain't happen now.  She is willing to make some difficult choices that Americans have yet to accept that we are going to have to make to straighten this ship. 

I find it quite sad that the teachers unions could buy the opinions of the very people that Rhee was trying to help.  We are all going to have to make some sacrifices to get this country heading in the right direction again.  Improving public education is a vital if we are truly going to get that done.  Rhee's innovative and tough love ideas may be just what we need; and sadly it will be some other city that will benefit. 

Mr. President, Why Don't You Want to Help the Poor?

So who is that really doesn't want the poor and needy in DC to succeed?  I would say the evidence can hardly be denied that would be the democrats.  The Department of Education has released a report on the school voucher program in the District has been very successful. 

“…students who were randomly selected to receive vouchers had an 82% graduation rate. That’s 12 percentage points higher than the students who didn’t receive vouchers. Students who actually used their vouchers had graduation rates that were 21% higher. Even better, the subgroup of students who received vouchers and came from designated Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI schools) had graduation rates that were 13 percentage points higher than the same subgroup of students who weren’t offered vouchers–and the effect was 20 percentage points higher for the SINI students who used their vouchers!”

This has been the most successful government educational program in history.  So, what did congress and Uncle Obammy do?  They stopped funding the program.  That's right, no more educational opportunities for you.  This is nothing more than a payback to the unions that stuff millions upon millions into the coffers of the democratic party and did the same for the election of President Barack Obama.  The first black president, who went to private schools, denying the minority children of Washington, DC the same educational opportunities that he is giving his own daughters.  Two students from this program attend the same school as Malia and Sasha. 

The same Uncle Obammy that is more willing to say that building bridges for turtles is economic stimulus.  You want real economic stimulus, then education our young.  Especially the ones that are coming from strained economic backgrounds.  These kids will go onto college and lift their families out of poverty.  What can be more better for our economy than that? 

This program has been cut off effective at the end of this coming school year.  That means that parents that have younger children will have to send those children to the crummy schools while the older child will be able to go a better and safer school.  That is decision that no parent should have to make.  How do they explain to the younger child that they are not meaningful enough to go to the a better school? 

Sorry, Bobby, I wanted to send you to a good school, but Pelosi and Obama cut off the funds.  Just be careful while you are walking through the slums and stay away from anyone who has a gun. 

That may seem like an exaggeration, but it really isn't.  Some of these children live in horrible neighborhoods that I would never walk around in on my own.  I have gotten lost in bad sections of DC and have been very scared.  Gang violence is the norm in these neighborhoods.  That is just the reality. 

Another very interesting development to this program is how the public schools reacted: 

• 28% made changes to retain students.
• 24% encouraged more parental involvement in school
• 22% added parent orientation programs
• 21% did building improvements
• 20% did advertising to public
• 20% added tutoring and programs designed to help children improve achievement
• 17% made additional provisions to improve school safety
• 15% made adjustments to disciplinary issues within the school
• 14% added more achievement orientated classes i.e. computer technology
• 8% altered class sizes

Hmm, sounds to me like free market competition helped improve the public schools. 

This program has the potential to change lives of low income people.  It should have been continued.  Especially when you consider it more expensive to send a DC student to the public school than to give the voucher.  If you want to donate to this wonderful program please go here.

The Public Schools and Christmas

Over the summer I went to a fundraiser that was hosted by Jim DeMint for his Pac Senate Conservatives Fund. I had the honor to meet a teacher from the Boston Area. A conservative teacher from Boston, who knew they existed. She was just starting up her blog at that point. She doesn't blog every day, but when she does, it is worth the read.

She is on the front lines of the public school system and the liberal bias that exists. Here is her take on the young boy who ordered to have psychological testing for drawing a picture of Jesus on the cross. This child who has never been in trouble was assigned to draw a picture of Christmas. What exactly did this teacher think that Christmas was? Isn't Christmas the celebration of the birth of Christ? That is what I have always understood it to be. While I understand that it has evolved into a cultural thing as well, the ultimate reason for the season is the birth of Christ.

The young boy in question had recently been taken to some shrine before being given this assignment. His parents have every right to teach their child what the meaning of Christmas is according to their belief system. That is a fundamental right to every citizen in this country. How dare a public school system tell a young boy that drawing a picture of Jesus on a cross is a sign that he may potentially be a danger to himself or to others? Luckily for this little boy, his parents are standing up and saying no. Conservative Teacher also includes two stories of things that have happened in her own middle school. These two stories only go to show that the people in this country who feel that Christianity is under attack have a very real reason to feel this way.