Dear Mr. John Freshwater,
We servants of God here at X Bible University were impressed with your righteous display of Christian spirit as described in the Dispatch. Teaching creationism in public school, insisting on keeping a Bible on your desk, leading a "healing session" for Christian athletes, and -- did we read this correctly? -- burning crosses on the forearms of students. Glory be!
You sound like just the kind of youth leader we're looking for here at XBU. As a designated Holy Man, you too could enjoy the fruits of your Christian labors here on our lovely campus -- tax free!
As a like-minded Christian, we're sure you'll appreciate our Bible-literal code of conduct (no female teachers, ritual stonings for the sin of blasphemy, no sports on Sundays, etc.) Here at XBU we go the extra mile to protect our boys from Jezebels and other harmful influences of females. For example, all classroom chairs are labeled with helpful "A Menstruating Virgin Sat Here" time-stamped placards [Leviticus 15:20].
We feel confident that you will see the light, Mr. Freshwater, and join our Bible-based academic community. You'll be impressed with the dioramas in our Creationist Science "lab," featuring Noah loading dinosaurs into the Ark. Like you, we reject all this Natural Selection phooey. If it's too complex to explain, God must have done it -- no questions asked!
Given your righteous beliefs and superior values, it's difficult to understand why you have chosen a career as a science teacher in a public school in the first place, Mr. Freshwater. However, we hope it's not too late for you to join our crusade to train Christian soldiers for battle (and the inevitable Apocalypse, of course). Besides, it's only a matter of time before some liberal nutcases have you thrown out of the public school system and replaced with some Mohammedan who wants to keep a Koran on his desk. Imagine that!
I'll pray with you, Brother, that the burn marks you left on students don't leave lasting scars. Amen,
--Pastor Rev. Jim Bob, Chancellor, X Bible University & "Mr. Muscular Christianity" 1976
The words "Extra Judicial Procedures","Extraordinary Rendition," the loss of our Habeas Corpus and Magna Carta expectations were enabled by multiple passages of The American Patriot Act.
The alledged victims of the alledged sexual harrassment are adults who can figure out on their own that The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is the agency available - should THEY wish to avail themselves of the legal system without a lynchmob mentality.
On April 3, 2008 several news stories broke centering on a serious fine imposed by The Ohio Elections Commission on David Brennan, a Charter school corporate heavy, known as The White Hat Managment. The fine imposed was to the tune of $5.2 million dollars. Jennifer Brunner AND Mark Dann AND The Ohio Election Commission have been credited with identifying the sleazy money problem in August of 2007. Mark Dann has taken on other well - heeled Charter schools that have devasted our public monies and our children. The above heavy, David Brennan can be found on the list of G.W. Bush campaign contributors at one of the following levels: "Bush Pioneers" or "Bush Rangers." Sorry I can't recall which category Brennan falls under. Please remember that fine can be appealed by David Brenner and his army of attorneys.
Parasitic subprime lenders that plunge our college kids into wallet crushing debt. Mark Dann was on them like a pit bull. I'm positive they wouldn't miss his fangs.
Pathological subprime lenders that are "partying hardily" in spirit in the rubble of our foreclosed homes. They also desire Mark Dann to be gone.
Payday Lenders as shown by their pathetic protests with their hapless victims supporting their antics - I guarantee there will be vile celebrations of the worst kind, should Mark Dann leave office or be put out of office.
The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati would probably want a national holiday in celebration of the day should Mark Dann leaving office or being put out of office. Mark Dann put in many hours of grueling work negotiating and legitimizing the departure of The Christ Hospital from the clutches of The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.
Casinos - Mark Dann has had a critical role to play in nailing the criminals who lead "Coingate." Do we really think that the Native American casino owners who were burned financially by compadres of Bob Ney, one of the creators of The Help America Vote Act want to rehire Jack Abramhoff or his associates? What about the victims of Coingate who were devastated by the pillaging of The Bureau Of The Workers' Compensation Fund? If Mark Dann leaves for any reason - I'm fairly certain it's "open season" on us little people.
How many dedicated public servants are we prepared to give up and write off like Don Siegelman and Elliot Spitzer?
Just remember - Big Business doesn't put food on the table, doesn't provide basic innoculations and other medical care nor provides quality education for those of us struggling to find daily busfare. Big Business doesn't provide hand - counted Election Ballots.
Neither do Superdelegates, Delegates, The Green Party, The Democratic Party, The Republicans nor Independent Candidates.
Big Business guarantees that our Vice - President and President and others won't be spending their twilight years as residents of The Hague. Only Impeachment Proceedings for our Vice - President and our President will create an atmosphere of hope and TRUST that our global trading partners and others need so we can all prosper.
Not only do we need to retain Mark Dann, but we need to STEP BACK AND LET LADY JUSTICE DO WHAT SHE DOES BEST.
Mark Dann requires our appreciation and gratitude in order to assist us, the citizens of Ohio in our fight against hopelessness. Mark Dann, if you read this - please stay right where you are and continue your activism.
Jane Schiff,
May 8, 2008
NEA celebrates National Teacher Day each year on Tuesday of the first full week of May.
The day celebrates the outstanding work and lifelong dedication of teachers nationwide.
National Teacher Day came into being through the leadership and persistence of Eleanor Roosevelt. In 1953, she persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim May 7 that year as National Teacher Day. PTA took Roosevelt's idea and dedicated a whole week to celebrate the accomplishments of educators.
PTA's annual Teacher Appreciation Week honors the dedicated men and women who lend their passion and skills to educating children.
A Big Project with a Simple MessageThe Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You project was created in response to an NEA poll revealing that the gift nearly half of all teachers would most like to receive is a simple "thank you."
The Nation's Largest Teacher Thank-You Card project is an effort to collect thousands of thank-you messages to teachers from individuals across the nation.
The message is simple: Thank a Teacher!
On Friday hear the keynote address by Jim Merkel, author of Read More »
and it's not Bob Hagan
April 17, 2008
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported last week that a state lawmaker wants Ohio to put solar panels on 2,000 school rooftops - about half of the public school buildings in the state - a move he says would create jobs and combat rate spikes.
State Rep Lou Blessing, a Cincinnati Republican, wants to start the program in Northeast Ohio in school districts served by First Energy Corp's Illuminating Co. and Ohio Edison. Ohio Edison provides much of the electrical services to school districts in the 60th district.
Blessing figures the project would rescue districts from skyrocketing electric bills if First Energy and Ohio Edison ends discounted school rates next year, as it has told the state it intends to. School districts here are bracing for 40 percent higher utility bills if the discounts end.
During the school year, Blessing says, districts could use the solar power generated on their roofs rather than buy it from First Energy and Ohio Edison.
On hot summer days, when school was out, the power would flow into the utility's local distribution grid, just as demand peaks.
A First Energy spokeswoman said the Akron-based utility would be interested in buying the power. The utility already takes power from homeowners who have installed solar panels.
Blessing wants to use Ohio-made solar panels - and eventually roofing materials with built-in solar modules. The plan, he said, would jump-start solar manufacturing in the Buckeye state.
He estimates the project would cost $6 billion dollars.
"A project of this size would literally turn Ohio's economy around," Blessing said in an interview. "It's a $6 billion jobs and progress plan. And the state doesn't have to spend anything."
Because Ohio would place the largest order in U.S. history, the cost of solar panels would fall, Blessing argues.
"The beauty of this is that panels could become inexpensive enough for homeowners to buy them."
The solar-equipped school buildings also could lower overall summer power prices by generating up to a billion watts of extra electricity, about as much as one of First Energy's nuclear reactors produces. But in this case, there would be no fuel bills.
Blessing is a member of the Public Utilities Committee of the Ohio House and has sat through weeks of hearings over Gov. Ted Strickland's comprehensive energy bill aimed at restructuring the state's utility regulations and creating a renewable energy-manufacturing base in Ohio.
Blessing said he got the idea after reading a Plain Dealer article airing the complaints of Northeast Ohio school officials at a hearing about First Energy and Ohio Edison rates.
The utility has offered all schools a lower rate and included an extra discount for districts that paid three years ahead. But First Energy wants to base its electric rates on wholesale power markets beginning in 2009; a move it says would require it to end all discounts.
"I read that story and thought it would be absolutely insane not to do this," Blessing said.
Ken Clicking, business manager of the Euclid schools, welcomed the idea.
"Anything that will help us save energy in the future sounds like a good thing," he said. "It's a great idea. I would not restrict it just to solar. What about fuel cells or geothermal systems?"
Blessing said he submitted an amendment to Strickland's bill last week and also gave the proposal to the governor's office.
Mark Shanahan, Strickland's energy adviser, said: "I think it is a really interesting proposition. If his numbers work out to be right, it is a good project."
The amendment would require the School Facilities Commission and the Ohio Department of Development to work together to create the solar program, if Congress extends the 30 percent federal tax credits.
The state would be required to negotiate with manufacturers for discounted prices for the huge orders of solar equipment needed.
Blessing has already talked to one company, the Sunlight Corp., a Toledo-based spin-off from tax-funded research at the University of Toledo.
He said he planned to sit down today with representatives of First Solar Inc., an established thin-film solar panel producer in Perrysburg. The 9-year-old company exports most of its current production.
Xunlight,(pronounced Sunlight) plans to begin limited production in the next couple of months of thin-film solar modules printed on flexible stainless steel. Commercial production is planned for the fall, with a ramp-up next year.
"When you are talking about 100 million square feet of solar modules, as a solar manufacturer we are very interested," said Matthew Longhorn, vice president of development at Sunlight.
"One of the advantages that we believe we have is that our product is lightweight and flexible," he said. "We would like to have that module integrated into the roofing membrane and go down on a flat roof. It would be perfect for schools."
Sunlight has contacted Garland Company, a Cleveland-based, century-old roofing manufacturer that just weeks ago won a $1 million Ohio Third Frontier grant to commercialize a process to meld solar modules into roofing membranes.
"We are already putting solar on school building roofs, just not in Ohio," said Brian Lambert, a director at Garland.
"We've done it in California. We'd love to do it in Ohio. We'd love to work with Sunlight."
Once again we see Bob Hagan missing the train when it comes to investigating and bringing renewable energy manufacturing jobs to the valley as well as working to reduce energy costs to school districts. If school districts cannot reduce energy costs in the near future, these costs will be passed on to property owners with more school levy requests. Why is a state representative from Southwest Ohio pushing for solar power schools in our part of the state? Why not Bob Hagan? Why are renewable energy companies springing up in Toledo and Cleveland? Why not Youngstown?
As a current Board of Education member for the Struthers City Schools, I have seen our district electric rates rise over $300,000 in three years.
As the Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative for the 60th district, I will work with all politicians, investors, and companies to bring renewable energy companies to the valley as well as lower electric costs to our school districts and property owners. I have made this a major issue in my campaign, while Bob Hagan has remained silent on this issue. Bob Hagan does not have the vision or the ambition to get such programs started in the 60th district.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign Web site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
"In 2006, Bob was elected to serve the citizens of the 60th State House district. This district, situated in Mahoning County, covers the Youngstown area. He currently sits on five standing committees: Economic Development and Environment; Finance and Appropriations; Health; Ways and Means and the Transportation and Justice Subcommittee, where he is the Ranking Minority Member."
Since Bob sits on 5 standing committees, what has Bob accomplished for the 60th district for the past two years other than collecting over 100 political contributions from lobbyists and PACS in 2007?
That is why I am running for state representative because I believe we must sent a representative to Columbus who will address the issues facing regular citizens.
My campaign will focus on the issues that Ohioans care about: affordable health care, economic fairness, quality public education, and bringing renewable energy manufacturing jobs to the valley. I am not afraid to call for Health Care for All Ohioans, economic justice, and nothing less than a renewal of America's sense of community and promise of equal opportunity for all citizens.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
campaign site: [ Http://votespisak.tripod.com]
I have been asked many times how a Green-Collar Energy Jobs Program could benefit the 60th district. Having studied various similar projects from across the country over the past year here is how a program could help rebuild Youngstown and the valley.
A Mahoning Valley Green Jobs Corps would provide job training to prepare young adults in the valley for green-collar careers. The program will have a special focus on providing "green pathways out of poverty" by recruiting and training people with barriers to employment to become gainfully employed.
The Mahoning Valley Green Jobs Corps would address two critical issues with one comprehensive approach. The global warming crisis requires that everyone work towards improving energy efficiency and generating energy through renewable, alternative sources. The program will engage young adults who otherwise may not have an opportunity to acquire the skills needed to earn a real living wage through the emerging Green Energy sector.
The intent of the Green Jobs Corps will be to prepare young adults to install energy efficiency features and renewable energy systems, as well as to do other work related to increasing energy efficiency in the Mahoning Valley. Helping to create a qualified, trained workforce in the valley could support the growth and success of local green businesses and contractors.
The Mahoning Valley Jobs Corps will focus on providing pathways out of poverty for young adults in the valley who may not otherwise have opportunities for jobs and careers in the green economy. The goals of the pilot project are summarized as follows:
• TO REDUCE POVERTY AND PROMOTE SOCIAL EQUITY: Enable young adults in the valley to have green-collar careers, and thus provide pathways out of poverty for people with barriers to employment.
• TO RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENT: Supply a trained workforce that can make the valley more energy efficient, more environmentally sustainable and cleaner, healthier city in which to live.
• TO SUPPORT GREEN BUSINESS: Support the growth of green businesses in the valley, with a focus on those businesses that provide high-quality, stable jobs.
• TO ADVANCE The Valley's GREEN ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP: Promote the valley's position as a leading region in green economic development.
Research shows that green businesses in the valley could provide high-quality jobs with good pay, good benefits, and good working conditions and that these firms have many dignified manual labor jobs that are ideally suited for entry-level job-seekers.However, there is very little infrastructure for job training to support these businesses as they grow. Like cities across the nation, Youngstown faces a shortage of programs providing "green-collar" workforce development. This shortage will worsen as the green economy grows. Youngstown must develop with YSU or a community college excellent job training programs that should linked to green employers. These programs need the right incentives and infrastructure in order to retool for green-collar job training. The Mahoning Valley Jobs Corps will create partnerships between job training programs and green employers. It will also provide key links to educational institutions, labor unions, and community-based organizations.
These are the programs the 60th district needs for the future. These are the programs Bob Hagan has failed to bring or even thought up to bring to our valley. That is why a change in leadership is needed in the Ohio House this November.
Sincerely,
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign wedsite: http://votespisak.tripod.com Please visit our Healthcare and Progressive Jobs Programs Link.
Press Release-March 24, 2008
Last month Governor Strickland announced that the Ohio Department of Education had to cut 50 million dollars out of their budget.....most cuts concerning state money going to the County Educational Service Centers. Today I received the ESC bill for 2009 for ESC services for the Struthers City Schools....last year the bill was $419,000.....next year the bill is $553,000. So because state reps and state senators can't work together to fix state funding for schools, something mandated by the Ohio Supreme Court 10 years ago, the bills get pushed down to the local boards of education...which means we must pay the increase, cut costs in other services, or ask the local taxpayers to ante up with more money for local levies. Your school board is receiving the same fee increase this month as well.
That's why we need independent state representatives to speak for the people and quit playing political football regarding state funding of education. The 2 major parties will not fix this program before the November election. Last week saw the lowest percentage of school levies passed in the state for the last couple of years.
Let's send a state representative to Columbus who will do what's right for the taxpayers and poor and working class in the valley, not the over 100 lobbyists and PACS who contributed to Bob Hagan's political campaign fund last year.
Sincerely,
Dennis Spisak- State Rep Candidate Green Party- 60th district
Memeber- Struthers City Schools Board of Education
campaign website: http://votespisak.tripod.com
Ohio Election Justice Campaign (OEJC) Announces Pension Divestment Plan from United Technologies Corporation (UTX)
Members of pension funds in ten states and in Canada, including five teacher pension plans, urged to immediately contact plan to divest from military-industrial conglomerate UTX and all derivative holdings in UTX (mutual funds and hedge funds) due to likely takeover of Diebold (DBD), maker of voting machines.
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) March 19, 2008 -- The Ohio Election Justice Campaign (OEJC) announces its pension divestment plan from United Technologies Corporation (UTX), a military-industrial conglomerate. Read More »
Suprise Suprise . . . the report is . . .
The Pentagon study which shows Saddam Hussein had no links to Al Qaeda.
Yesterday the Pentagon canceled plans to send out a press release announcing the report's availability and didn't make the report available via email or online.
Based on the analysis of some 600,000 official Iraqi documents seized by US forces after the invasion and thousands of hours of interrogations of former officials in Saddam's government now in US custody, the government report is the first official acknowledgment from the US military that there is no evidence Saddam had ties to al Qaeda.
The Bush administration apparently didn't want the study to get any attention. The report was to be posted on the Joint Forces Command website yesterday, followed by a background briefing with the authors. No more. The report was made available to those who asked for it, and was sent via overnight mail from Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia.
Asked yesterday why the report would not be posted online and could not be emailed, the spokesman for Joint Forces Command said: "We're making the report available to anyone who wishes to have it, and we'll send it out via CD in the mail."
Obama is ready to be the next President of the United States:
In the advertisement, a phone rings incessantly as video shows children asleep. "Your vote will decide who answers the call," a narrator says. "Whether it's someone who already knows the world's leaders, knows the military, someone tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world. It's 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?"
But the truth is that:
"It was almost 2 a.m. on October 11, 2002, and that's when we were called on to vote as to whether to authorize President Bush to invade Iraq,", Senator Durbin said in the interview on Sunday!
While voters always say that education is among their top concerns, they generally don't vote like it. I think that's because candidates on both the right and the left have had a tough time coming up with a message on education that really provides much traction with voters.
The fact is that Americans are highly conflicted on education. Culturally, we detest snobs and intellectuals. Many of the greatest figures of our national folklore are self-made women and men who rose despite their humble beginnings--not those who took advantage of a great education.
These days, only about 20% of households have children in school, and a study I read some years ago estimated that about 25% of parents have never entered their children's schools. We Americans say that education is key thing that we can do for our children, but we don't vote like it, and sometime I think that because we don't really believe it.
On education, here's where the candidates stand.
Righter: Clinton
Just how bad is the 2002 ESEA reauthorization, commonly--and obscenely--referred to by the Bush campaign slogan "No Child Left Behind"?
The answer to that question is best reserved for another column. Suffice it to say that I believe what's wrong with it cannot be fixed. It is profoundly anti-education and anti-child, substituting shallow testing skills for true learning and ignoring what we know is best for children. I believe that tomorrow's parents will hate learning and disrespect schools in ways we can only dimly imagine today. NCLB should have been strangled in its crib.
On NCLB, Clinton's issue statement on education says it simplest and best: "As president, she will . . . [e]nd the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind."
Notice that she doesn't say she'll fund it, which admittedly would be better than what the present administration has done. She says she'll end it. One can only hope.
You can see parts of Clinton's speech at the NEA Annual Meeting by clicking here.
Surprisingly right: Huckabee
Give him credit. Mike Huckabee, whose issue statement on education proudly proclaims that he has "been a strong, consistent supporter of the rights of parents to home school their children, of creating more charter schools, and of public school choice," spoke to delegates to NEA's Representative Assembly in July. Delegates aren't used to seeing Republicans, because Republican candidates generally don't even seek dialogue with NEA. He was warmly received, as he should have been.
The distinction between "public school choice" and "school choice" couldn't be greater. "Public school choice" refers to the ability of parents to choose the public school best suited to their children's needs. "School choice" is simply a euphemism for school privatization, including school vouchers.
For my taste, Huckabee's a little too enthusiastic about charter schools: "As Governor, I fought hard for more charter schools, with their strong parental involvement and their unique ability to serve as laboratories for education reform, and for the rights of parents to home school their children." But his statements can coexist with public education: I'm a pretty rabid supporter of public education, but even I would agree that parents have the right to home-school their children. And many public educators were interested in charter schools back when the idea was to use them to try out new techniques, not to bust unions, teach wacky curricula, and resegregate students.
I'm most concerned about what Huckabee's statement doesn't say. I wish it condemned voucher schools, but it doesn't mention them. And I've heard that he says that he doesn't believe in the theory of evolution, but his Web site doesn't take a position on the movement to teach creationism along with evolution--a movement that in my mind is just nuts.
His statement does say, "I am proud that my three children attended public schools from K through twelve, as did my wife and I"--which is something even the Clintons can't say.
You can see parts of Huckabee's speech at the NEA Annual Meeting by clicking here.
Wrong: Obama
Barack Obama supports merit pay.
His issue statement on education says, "Obama will promote new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. Districts will be able to design programs that reward accomplished educators who serve as a mentor to new teachers with a salary increase. Districts can reward teachers who work in underserved places like rural areas and inner cities. " These are generally good ideas, although as usual federal education proposals ignore the overwhelming role that state and local funding play in public education.
But he saves the most troublesome item for last: "[I]f teachers consistently excel in the classroom, that work can be valued and rewarded as well." This is merit pay.
Teachers I know are divided on just how troublesome merit pay is, but virtually all have problems with it. At its worst, it sets up two tiers of teachers: those who are are favored and those who aren't. It rewards teachers who teach the best and brightest and punishes those who work with students who require the most intervention. And it turns schools, which ought to be learning communities in which educators work collegially to help improve the performance of all, into competitive enterprises in which anybody with a good idea is actually discouraged from sharing it.
You can see parts of Obama's speech at the NEA Annual Meeting by clicking here.
Wrongest: McCain
Like most Republican candidates, John McCain refused to appear at July's annual meeting of the National Education Association. So much for "straight talk."
John McCain's issue statement on education says that "Public education should be defined as one in which our public support for a child's education follows that child into the school the parent chooses." So despite all the talk about his being less conservative than many Republicans would like, he still supports the privatization movement, which would eventually, inexorably dismantle America's system of public schools.
You can see parts of McCain's speech at the NEA Annual Meeting by--oh, that's right, you can't: he stayed away.
When I looked for the issues section, what I mainly found where speech quotes and brief summary paragraphs of his overview statements about each issue (not exactly, specifically, what he would do nor any detailed plans for how he would do it.
By contrast, I was impressed with Hillary Clinton's home website, where a full list of issues was highly specific both in cause and in detailed plans for execution. Specific issues, for example, (notably absent from Obama's) were a crucial program of credit reform and a detailed plan for nutrition improvement requirements for schools that receive federal funding along with a much needed expansion of pre-kindergarden care (with details of how it will be funded).
Reviewing Hillary Clinton's website info on her policy plans and means of executing many needed reforms (economy, energy, lending, the foreclosure crisis, education reform, etc.) not only excited my enthusiasm for the breadth and depth of her vision, it gave me a real education and inspiration on the improvements possible for us all if she becomes President. Read More »
My wife and I are purchasing a piece of land in the hopes of building our dream home and raising our 3 young children. Our oldest child will begin kindergarten in the Fall of 2008.
My wife, who is not from the area, on her first visit to see only the exterior and locations of the schools was shocked at the condition and the age of the building and facilities.
I was born and rasied in Jersey, Ohio just outside of Johnstown. We are members of Jersey Baptist Church. I am self employed and a C-130 Pilot in the Ohio Air National Guard. My wife is a Registered Nurse.
I am a 1991 Graduate of Licking Heights HS and my wife a 1987 graudate of Wintersville HS near Steubenville, Ohio.
Johnstown has always been a good community and the people of the area make it a good place to live. Look at any city, village, town, burg, and what makes those communities such a GREAT place not just GOOD?
SCHOOLS,COMMUNITY,FAMILY LIFE!, All the things,ask anyone, they would tell you are most important to them and make for a prosperous community and a GREAT place to live.
Look at the communities around Central, Ohio that have grown and prospered and have become very desireable places to live, Dublin, Worthington, Westerville, Upper Arlington,New Albany, Granville. What is the one single thing their residents and council members have invested in that has made those communities grow strong and become great? Yes, The School System. It's facilities, programs, teachers, students.
2008 is the year that Johnstown, Ohio MUST put itself back on the map. This year is critical to the survival of the school system.
The SR 161 bypass is in progress and nearing completion. Growth and progress is coming. However, it must start with the existing residents to support the schools and support the village.
Growth does not have to mean overcrowding, HUGE tax hikes, or unwanted development or nuisances. It means investing in your community, your children, your property, your town, YOUR FUTURE!
Please share this information with your neighbors, your friends, families, and support the school levy's that are approaching in March 2008!
Not only your future, but most importantly OUR CHILDRENS future depends on it!
Sure, everyone likes to eat, but the only way to ensure that you won't get fat is to stop chewing and swallowing. There's no other way, kids. Trust me.
Resist the temptation of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Just say "no" to snacks. It's the only surefire way to keep from getting obese.
And, if you don't eat, you don't have to worry about nasty food-borne diseases such as e-coli and salmonella poisoning that could affect you for the rest of your life. Isn't that a relief?
Don't listen to those veggie-hugging Nutritionistas, kids. God forbid we teach science in the dining room! Nutrition information can only lead to obesity before marriage.
I figure I'll need at least a couple million dollars to get my "don't eat" message across to Ohio youngsters. (Why it costs so much to convey just one simple fact, I'll never know. That's just how it works in public education.)
Governor Strickland has already rejected my line of thinking, so I plan on appealing directly to the Bush administration for funding of fasting-only education. Maybe Dubya could get it pass those "healthy eating" liberals in Congress, as long as we give it a "no pork" spin.
Schools that never were got millionsCharter startup audit tracks costs
Would-be Ohio charter-school operators received a total of $2.55 million in state and federal "planning grants" to start 33 schools that never opened, state records show.
That's nearly 10 percent of the 352 grants issued and doesn't include planning money for schools that have opened and closed.
The Ohio Department of Education is trying to recoup $1.56 million from 19 schools that either misspent startup grants or could not document how the money was spent. About $3,600 has been repaid.
The department is halfway through an audit of every startup grant recipient that has received federal planning and implementation money in the past three years. The audit will be completed next summer, said Todd Hanes, executive director of the department's Office of Community Schools.
Hanes said he doesn't think anyone took grants not intending to open a school.
"There are some people who have some very good intentions," he said, adding that the work required to open charter schools likely overwhelmed some operators.
But spending education money that never reaches children is just more evidence that Ohio's charter-school program is broken, said Sue Taylor, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers.
"I hold the state of Ohio accountable for this very lax system," said Taylor, whose union represents teachers who work in traditional school systems.
"This is a huge, huge abuse of taxpayer dollars."
Well, somebody got millions, but it wasn't the kids or the charter schools.
Although many educators have resisted military recruiters, it remains federal law under Bush's No Child Left Behind Act that recruiters be given the names and personal information of students at schools which receive federal funding.
Although parents can opt-out by filling out a form, this private contact information is invaluable to recruiters and more comprehensive than the Selective Service database. For one thing, high schools have phone numbers. Or, at least, parents' phone numbers.
I know because for awhile when my oldest son was living at home and not enrolled in college, we received 2-3 calls from military recruiters per week. At first, he politely declined to meet with them. Later I encouraged him to "just say no" more firmly. Finally, I called my phone company and made a formal complaint about their repeated hang-ups when I answered the phone. It took about 20 minutes to make the complaint, but it was worth it. The hang-up calls stopped.
Thank goodness he never gave the recruiters his cell phone number or fell for the dozens of enticements we received in the mail: offers of free CDs, video games, dog tags, t-shirts and --my favorite -- an Army monocular, a half-binocular for spying on Al Qaeda bad guys, apparently. One flyer from "D.O.N." featured an attractive blond wearing a casual pantsuit, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a laptop computer. Turns out, it's not Don's girlfriend, but the Department of Navy who wants to sign you up for an extended tour. Yeah, the Navy is a great place to pick up chicks, I'm sure.
Most of the recruitment marketing materials emphasize "money for college," "real world experience" and "serving your country." Those are all good reasons to join the military. But the fact is, today's military isn't looking for careerists, it needs people to go to war -- NOW.
Aggressive as the recruiters are, they are falling way short on new recruits. Soldiers already stationed in Iraq are unfairly having their commissions extended to make up for the deficit. Mercenary privatized troops such as Blackwater, costing up to ten times as much, are being used to fill in military gaps.
If you insist on prolonging this war, Clueless Leader, you're gonna have to pay big.
Winter break for many colleges is upon us, and the recruiters are cruising for drop-outs. In the last week, I've received three military recruitment calls. This time, they wanted to talk to son #2 who is away at college. I told all three of these polite female voices that he was not interested, but that I would give him their phone number. When I told two of these callers that someone had already called that seemed to surprise them both.
I was wondering...Do you or your daughters get these kind of calls? If not, why not?
Dear friend of public education,
A few weeks ago we asked you to vote on a slogan as part of the "We Support Public Education Billboard Contest" to promote the positive aspects of Ohio's public education system.
Click here to find out more about the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign.
The votes are in and we have a winning slogan!
Public Schools: The Heart of Ohio's Future
submitted by Deb S. of Glouster, OHNow that we have a slogan that shows our support for Ohio's public schools, it's time to turn it into a billboard design.
What do you see when you read the slogan "Public Schools: The Heart of Ohio's Future"?
Send us a billboard design using this slogan and your work could end up on billboards across the state.
We encourage students, parents, teachers and anyone who supports public schools to submit a design.
- Designs must measure 5 by 11 inches.
- All entries must include your name and phone number with each entry.
- The deadline to enter is Monday November 12.
- You can send entries via one of the following methods:
Email: billboard@ohiofairschools.org. (JPG or PDF format)
US Mail: Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, 94 Columbus Rd, Athens OH 45701
The "We Support Public Education" billboard campaign is part of our effort to promote the positive aspects of Ohio's public education system. Public schools are the best economic investment we can make for the future. They are working to prepare our students to be the leaders of the 21st Century.
Click here to find out more about the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign.
Please help us recognize our great public schools!
Sincerely,
Debbie, Steve, Amy, Brian, Lorraine & Dave
The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign and ProgressOhio Staff
This public expression of acceptance or rejection is the one act that we do for the common good. This is when we all have to decide what will be a part of our total experience as a community. This is when we select the individuals who will be responsible for our entire population. No matter where you reside. If it is voting day, that is the reason for the opportunity. To collectively decide who will be in charge. To express the type of style that will be used for our respective places of residence.
We are really not without reasons that validate staying away. The problems that we have encountered at the polls. The lack of real interest that has come from those problems. That is enough to deter the best voter into avoiding a repeat. When it appears that there is no one who represents our interests. When it appears that there has been an attempt to keep us from voting. It really taints the process with discouragement. It makes what has power to seem lesser in impact but that is not the true characteristic of a vote. We should not be willing to tolerate any attempt to hinder that exercise of power. That is how our society handles business. By allowing a say so about the business of government.
Staying away from the polls only continues to support the ideas of exclusion. By not participating in this process there is a message that is being generated. It is one that says, I cannot decide what to do. That is the message that projects. No matter what you think about any particular party line or candidate, if you do not express that opinion in a vote. What way of expression do you have that will be productive? Saying nothing is an answer. That is also the opening for whatever the majority says, to be the policies that govern your life.
By not voting, you are saying in essence, I am not aware enough to be involved in the process. But in reality, that statement is not true. You are a resident in your community. You live there. You work there. You have reasons to speak up about what happens. Just by virtue of your presence. Because what does or does not occur will effect you also. Read More »
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