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Early tomorrow morning, the Senate will kick off their final effort to confirm Betsy DeVos as our next Secretary of Education. Two brave and principled souls, Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have indicated that they will vote no on the DeVos nomination. But that’s not enough. By Senate rules, a 50/50 tie leads to a tie breaking vote by the Vice President which will certainly be a vote for confirmation. What can we do at this late date? First, every teacher in America needs to call in sick this Monday. Every parent in America needs to keep their kids home on Monday. Shutting down our public schools on Monday and perhaps Tuesday is the only message that will convince our elected Senators that Mrs. Devos is not fit to serve as Secretary of Education. Please post this to your Facebook wall, share on Twitter, plant a sign in your yard – whatever it takes to stop this nomination. The continuation of almost 400 years of public school education in America depends on your protest of this poor choice of a nominee. Back to Top akroncat General User Member Since: 7/23/2010 Location: Akron, OH Post Count: 189 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/2/2017 9:54:19 PM  It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,016 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/2/2017 10:09:13 PM  akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,022 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/2/2017 10:20:47 PM  akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. I graduated from East and am in those schools on a regular basis. Since Akron went to open enrollment, the sense of community schools went downhill quickly. In 1970, Akron had 58,000 students. Today it's roughly 21,000. Serious case of white flight and an aging population. The central administration is severely bloated. Garfield and Kenmore are about to combine which will bring a bunch of additional problems. Like many urban districts, Akron is a mess That said, this nominee will bring nothing to the table to change that. Last Edited: 2/2/2017 10:21:42 PM by Alan Swank Back to Top Alan Swank General User Member Since: 12/11/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 7,022 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/2/2017 10:23:30 PM  OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. Back to Top mid70sbobcat General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 655 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/2/2017 11:20:39 PM  Alan Swank wrote: Desperate times often require desperate measures. Today is one of those times. Early tomorrow morning, the Senate will kick off their final effort to confirm Betsy DeVos as our next Secretary of Education. Two brave and principled souls, Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have indicated that they will vote no on the DeVos nomination. But that’s not enough. By Senate rules, a 50/50 tie leads to a tie breaking vote by the Vice President which will certainly be a vote for confirmation. What can we do at this late date? First, every teacher in America needs to call in sick this Monday. Every parent in America needs to keep their kids home on Monday. Shutting down our public schools on Monday and perhaps Tuesday is the only message that will convince our elected Senators that Mrs. Devos is not fit to serve as Secretary of Education. Please post this to your Facebook wall, share on Twitter, plant a sign in your yard – whatever it takes to stop this nomination. The continuation of almost 400 years of public school education in America depends on your protest of this poor choice of a nominee. I lived in Michigan a number of years where DeVos is from. The jury is out on DeVos. At the same time I've volunteered the past 15 years in public schools and seen how poorly they do in educating students. I've dealt with mainly Title I students, those living in poverty. I've also seen some great Charter schools. The damn teacher unions are the ones up in arms. And having worked in the auto industry I've seen what a typical union does. Whether auto or teachers it's the same crap. No accountability. And a perfect example is this year. As a volunteer and having 3 math oriented degrees I was working with grade 5 students. The assistant principal decided to move me out of that class. Never mind that the students told me I was a better 'math teacher' than the guy who was a 23 year employee of the school district who intervened in the same class. I was pushed out in favor of a guy who goes through the motions. And this happens all over. Every school needs to prove itself .. whether public, charter or parochial. And there is room for all of them. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,016 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/2/2017 11:24:50 PM  Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. No it's not, but it is a union problem. The teachers' unions are in business to perpetuate their own existence. That means supporting teachers, regardless of their classroom effectiveness, and supporting the schools within which they teach. It's a strange irony that the teachers' unions are now in bed with the administration of schools to the determent of the clients of those schools (the students and their parents). It's the way of all human flesh, give a person or a group of people too much power over too long a period of time and they will abuse it. It's way past time for major reform of our public school system. Tweaking here and there is getting us nowhere. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top OrlandoCat General User Member Since: 3/15/2005 Location: United States Post Count: 355 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 1:46:47 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. No it's not, but it is a union problem. The teachers' unions are in business to perpetuate their own existence. That means supporting teachers, regardless of their classroom effectiveness, and supporting the schools within which they teach. It's a strange irony that the teachers' unions are now in bed with the administration of schools to the determent of the clients of those schools (the students and their parents). It's the way of all human flesh, give a person or a group of people too much power over too long a period of time and they will abuse it. It's way past time for major reform of our public school system. Tweaking here and there is getting us nowhere. There are several ways to reform the public school system that don't include taking money away from them and giving it to charters that do not have to follow the same guidelines that the public schools do. Back to Top rpbobcat General User Member Since: 4/28/2006 Location: Rochelle Park, NJ Post Count: 3,503 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 6:39:44 AM  OrlandoCat wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. No it's not, but it is a union problem. The teachers' unions are in business to perpetuate their own existence. That means supporting teachers, regardless of their classroom effectiveness, and supporting the schools within which they teach. It's a strange irony that the teachers' unions are now in bed with the administration of schools to the determent of the clients of those schools (the students and their parents). It's the way of all human flesh, give a person or a group of people too much power over too long a period of time and they will abuse it. It's way past time for major reform of our public school system. Tweaking here and there is getting us nowhere. There are several ways to reform the public school system that don't include taking money away from them and giving it to charters that do not have to follow the same guidelines that the public schools do. I live in suburban N.J. for the past 10-15 years,our school budgets,including teachers' salaries go up,but test scores go down. With tenure,its the only profession where poor quality work is rewarded. Back to Top Deciduous Forest Cat General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Ohio Post Count: 4,304 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 9:00:48 AM  OrlandoCat wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. No it's not, but it is a union problem. The teachers' unions are in business to perpetuate their own existence. That means supporting teachers, regardless of their classroom effectiveness, and supporting the schools within which they teach. It's a strange irony that the teachers' unions are now in bed with the administration of schools to the determent of the clients of those schools (the students and their parents). It's the way of all human flesh, give a person or a group of people too much power over too long a period of time and they will abuse it. It's way past time for major reform of our public school system. Tweaking here and there is getting us nowhere. There are several ways to reform the public school system that don't include taking money away from them and giving it to charters that do not have to follow the same guidelines that the public schools do. And while there are some good, effective charter schools, there are many that are complete disasters and complete frauds. And appointing someone with no knowledge of the public education system is not the way to improve things. Back to Top rpbobcat General User Member Since: 4/28/2006 Location: Rochelle Park, NJ Post Count: 3,503 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 10:15:48 AM  Deciduous Forest Cat wrote: And appointing someone with no knowledge of the public education system is not the way to improve things. I'm curious,what constitutes "knowledge of the public education system". Looking at her background it would seem she has accumulated a lot of knowledge about the public education system,including its problems and failures,which is why she took the path she did. Or,are you saying that only an "insider" in the public education system has knowledge of it ? Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,016 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 10:47:30 AM  An interesting interview germane to this topic: https://tinyurl.com/hkj8qwt The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Monroe Slavin General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Oxnard, CA Post Count: 9,121 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 10:52:02 AM  Admitting that I don't have facts to support this, putting money to charter schools seems sure to flight leave only the poorest and least able in the public school system. I thought that we were one country, that we looked out for each other to some extent. Wasn't widespread public education part of the genius and development that made America great? Where's the band?! WHERE"S THE BAND?! DesignspiritUSA.com The Pets On The Go Collection of pet gear travel bags The Holiday Tote Bigg Bagg Collection--over-sized, reversible, extra pockets; now love carrying packages as much as you love shopping! Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,016 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 10:58:34 AM  Monroe Slavin wrote: Admitting that I don't have facts to support this, putting money to charter schools seems sure to flight leave only the poorest and least able in the public school system. I thought that we were one country, that we looked out for each other to some extent. Wasn't widespread public education part of the genius and development that made America great? It's not just charter schools, but private schools and parochial schools. It's giving parents the chance to put their children where they think best. Yes, your history is correct. The only problem is that that the historic solution now no longer works. You are being too conservative, my man. Look to new solutions in the 21st century to our current problems as they exist, not as you think they might be. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top OUPride General User Member Since: 9/21/2010 Post Count: 562 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 11:39:34 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. No it's not, but it is a union problem. The teachers' unions are in business to perpetuate their own existence. That means supporting teachers, regardless of their classroom effectiveness, and supporting the schools within which they teach. It's a strange irony that the teachers' unions are now in bed with the administration of schools to the determent of the clients of those schools (the students and their parents). It's the way of all human flesh, give a person or a group of people too much power over too long a period of time and they will abuse it. It's way past time for major reform of our public school system. Tweaking here and there is getting us nowhere. While I oppose DeVos for other reasons, I don't disagree with this statement. However, I also feel the same dynamic is at play with cop unions, and their power also needs to be broken for the good of those who employ them. Back to Top BillyTheCat General User Member Since: 10/6/2012 Post Count: 9,454 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 12:23:52 PM  akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. She has worked wonders in Detroit!!! NOT!!! And change is one thing, but the privatization of public services are wrong, they offer ZERO results outside of enriching the political machine and donors. And this woman does NOT believe that these schools should be held accountable to the same standards as public schools. I mean really? How can you even attempt to justify that? Back to Top BillyTheCat General User Member Since: 10/6/2012 Post Count: 9,454 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 12:25:45 PM  OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Vouchers are one thing, and I know no teachers who are against that choice. However, the privatization is a problem and and a big one! The for profit education model is a simply corrupt and wrong! The lack of accountability and holding to the same standards is equally wrong. If you want better education, we could probably start with better parents and home life. Back to Top BillyTheCat General User Member Since: 10/6/2012 Post Count: 9,454 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 12:27:53 PM  mid70sbobcat wrote: Alan Swank wrote: Desperate times often require desperate measures. Today is one of those times. Early tomorrow morning, the Senate will kick off their final effort to confirm Betsy DeVos as our next Secretary of Education. Two brave and principled souls, Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have indicated that they will vote no on the DeVos nomination. But that’s not enough. By Senate rules, a 50/50 tie leads to a tie breaking vote by the Vice President which will certainly be a vote for confirmation. What can we do at this late date? First, every teacher in America needs to call in sick this Monday. Every parent in America needs to keep their kids home on Monday. Shutting down our public schools on Monday and perhaps Tuesday is the only message that will convince our elected Senators that Mrs. Devos is not fit to serve as Secretary of Education. Please post this to your Facebook wall, share on Twitter, plant a sign in your yard – whatever it takes to stop this nomination. The continuation of almost 400 years of public school education in America depends on your protest of this poor choice of a nominee. I lived in Michigan a number of years where DeVos is from. The jury is out on DeVos. At the same time I've volunteered the past 15 years in public schools and seen how poorly they do in educating students. I've dealt with mainly Title I students, those living in poverty. I've also seen some great Charter schools. The damn teacher unions are the ones up in arms. And having worked in the auto industry I've seen what a typical union does. Whether auto or teachers it's the same crap. No accountability. And a perfect example is this year. As a volunteer and having 3 math oriented degrees I was working with grade 5 students. The assistant principal decided to move me out of that class. Never mind that the students told me I was a better 'math teacher' than the guy who was a 23 year employee of the school district who intervened in the same class. I was pushed out in favor of a guy who goes through the motions. And this happens all over. Every school needs to prove itself .. whether public, charter or parochial. And there is room for all of them. And how many of these kids in those schools lacked basic essentials that suburban kids do not deal with? housing, food, support? How many of those parents were un-engaged in their students education and development. Real education starts and ends at home. When a teacher spends 45-60 min with a kid (most grades switch classes), how are they overcoming the basic shortfalls of the support system that spends the vast majority of time with kids? Back to Top BillyTheCat General User Member Since: 10/6/2012 Post Count: 9,454 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 12:31:06 PM  Deciduous Forest Cat wrote: OrlandoCat wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Alan Swank wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: akroncat wrote: It might surprise you Alan, but some of us in Akron would like to see a change. If you think Akron and Cleveland public schools are acceptable you have your head in the sand. They already spend more than all the suburban schools so don't say they just need more money. My children went to Catholic schools so you can argue that I know nothing. I do know that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. +1 The only GOP senators against this nomination are those who fear the wrath of the teachers' unions. School vouchers put the power in the hands of the people not the bureaucrats who run our failing schools. With a little more power in the hands of parents, these inner city and other failing schools would have to either improve or be cast into the dust bin of history. I suspect the former would happen because of the threat of the latter. Half the schools in the 27 Appalachian counties could be considered failing. What do you do about them? This is not just an intercity problem. No it's not, but it is a union problem. The teachers' unions are in business to perpetuate their own existence. That means supporting teachers, regardless of their classroom effectiveness, and supporting the schools within which they teach. It's a strange irony that the teachers' unions are now in bed with the administration of schools to the determent of the clients of those schools (the students and their parents). It's the way of all human flesh, give a person or a group of people too much power over too long a period of time and they will abuse it. It's way past time for major reform of our public school system. Tweaking here and there is getting us nowhere. There are several ways to reform the public school system that don't include taking money away from them and giving it to charters that do not have to follow the same guidelines that the public schools do. And while there are some good, effective charter schools, there are many that are complete disasters and complete frauds. And appointing someone with no knowledge of the public education system is not the way to improve things. +1 One need look no farther than the state of Ohio and Ecot, and the scam that has reaped millions of dollars in profit for its founder, while having the worst results in the nation, zero accountability, and uses public tax dollars to lobby the legislature and governor for more money and protections. Let us not forget that DeVos and her group owe the state of Ohio $5.3 million dollars. Why is it all the sudden those people who spent 8 years screaming about accountability and fiscal austerity seem to no longer care? Back to Top Kevin Finnegan General User Member Since: 2/4/2005 Location: Rockton, IL Post Count: 1,084 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 12:41:45 PM  I have a former superintendent that once said, "Everyone feels like they're an expert on schools because they went to one." Everybody has a thousand answers on how to fix 'failing public schools' but don't notice that there are a number of successes currently. If you look at HS graduation rates, the numbers are higher than they have ever been (82% in 2012-2013). That's not perfect (and Ohio as a state is embarrassingly poor in the difference b/w black students--63% and white students--87%). These are real statistics, nothing cooked here: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_coi.asp There are amazing improvements being made at public schools across the country. I have had the great fortune of mentoring a number of schools in their desire to change, and it is frustrating to see somebody take the lead who has no clue about the advancements being made in public education. Is there room for more improvement? Absolutely. No question. But as somebody who sometimes butts heads with the teacher unions, I don't feel that they're the villain they're often made out to be. Sure, you hear anecdotal stories of the teachers in New York in the rubber room, and they color your vision. But I work with professional educators daily and guarantee that is not a representative sample. On-line learning, charter schools, and parochial schools are not the answers to many of our underlying education problems. There's a paradigm shift occurring in public education that is something remarkable. The discussion is not about what is taught, it is about what is learned. The public education revolution is being driven by some fantastic minds such as Robert Marzano, Richard DuFour, Tom Schimmer, Thomas Guskey, John Hattie, and so many other brilliant leaders. My dream would be to see somebody who has revolutionary ideas lead education, not somebody with an agenda. My desire as an education leader is to see Ms. DeVos rejected by the senate. This is not a political desire, it is a professional one. I know that I would have no ability to lead the National Intelligence Agency because I have no experience in that world. The Secretary of Education is the thought leader for all public education in this country, and to select somebody who is opposed to it is quite demoralizing to the profession. Back to Top rpbobcat General User Member Since: 4/28/2006 Location: Rochelle Park, NJ Post Count: 3,503 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 1:38:25 PM  finnOhio wrote: If you look at HS graduation rates, the numbers are higher than they have ever been (82% in 2012-2013). That's not perfect (and Ohio as a state is embarrassingly poor in the difference b/w black students--63% and white students--87%). These are real statistics, nothing cooked here: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_coi.asp I don't know about Ohio,but the issue of high school graduation has been a hot topic in New Jersey. In N.J.,there are so many "alternate paths" for students to get a high school diploma when they don't pass what are,from what I've seen,relatively easy standardized tests,that saying there is a high graduation rate really doesn't mean anything. Back to Top Monroe Slavin General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Oxnard, CA Post Count: 9,121 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/3/2017 2:14:40 PM  Accountability of the private options is definitely a good point. See it in regard to some of the for-profit colleges. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-05-05/corinth... I'm not saying private is all bad or that public is all good. But I'll bet ya that this Trump administation with its doesn't-apply-to-me ethos engenders massive corruption, some real landmarks in greed. Again, in America do we care for each other? Or do we care for only certain people....ourselves. Where's the band?! WHERE"S THE BAND?! DesignspiritUSA.com The Pets On The Go Collection of pet gear travel bags The Holiday Tote Bigg Bagg Collection--over-sized, reversible, extra pockets; now love carrying packages as much as you love shopping! Back to Top cbus cat fan General User Member Since: 12/2/2011 Post Count: 1,169 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/4/2017 11:31:53 AM  For the life of me, I can't get how some liberals like Alan agree on how ridiculous the OU faculty has been acting and not see how ridiculous the powers that be in Washington have been treating kids, parents and educators for decades. Why do we have so many poor parents, white, black, Hispanic in the inner city sending their kids to Catholic, Christian and private schools that accept vouchers? It isn't because the public school teachers are bad, it is because it is rotten from the top. Rich, white, liberal egg head theorists with no idea of how people live and think. Incessant testing and social engineering instituted by people whose only true goal is to control society and rid the traditional nature of the cultures that exist in those communities. In fairness President George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind was a bureaucratic disaster as well. I realize some charter schools are a money making scheme concocted by charlatans. However, these charlatans know the need is great in communities whose children and parents have been short changed by an elitist, leftist cabal in DC, whose only goal is to control people and not educate or help them. Education needs to be in the hands of local communities and away from the social engineering aspect of leftist cultural elites in Washington. I would wholeheartedly recommend everyone read any work by the renown conservative, African-American Education expert Thomas Sowell Ph.D. Dr. Sowell points out that in 1900 in the earliest of tests ever given, African-American children scored higher on tests in Washington DC than did white children. Why, they had concerned parents and little bureaucratic nonsense to deal with unlike Athens High in the 1970s and early 1980s. The open classroom concept that left those students needing the most help aimless and and adrift, that is when they weren't in officially designated smoking rooms. What a travesty for those who needed the help the most. The best Education prof I ever had at OU was a no nonsense African-American professor from the south who had little use for the egg headed liberal nonsense. He had actually taught in the schools whose later teachers he would influence. If only we had more of him in Education colleges today. I have no idea how Betsy DeVos will do as Education Secretary, but it couldn't be worse than what has been shoved down our throats for 50+years. Back to Top Deciduous Forest Cat General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Ohio Post Count: 4,304 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/4/2017 2:38:50 PM  cbus cat fan wrote: ...been short changed by an elitist, leftist cabal in DC, whose only goal is to control people and not educate or help them. Are you out of your f***ing mind? Really? If republicans put half as much energy into actual education as they do trying to shove the Bible into public education, we might be in a better spot. The education issues definitely deserve blame from both sides, but the idea that liberals are trying to control people? Yeah, that's rich. If republicans ever had an alternate name it would be "thought police". Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 14,016 Status: Offline     RE: An assault on old OU    Posted: 2/4/2017 3:54:08 PM  Deciduous Forest Cat wrote: cbus cat fan wrote: ...been short changed by an elitist, leftist cabal in DC, whose only goal is to control people and not educate or help them. Are you out of your f***ing mind? Really? If republicans put half as much energy into actual education as they do trying to shove the Bible into public education, we might be in a better spot. The education issues definitely deserve blame from both sides, but the idea that liberals are trying to control people? Yeah, that's rich. If republicans ever had an alternate name it would be "thought police". You seem to be lost in the 1960s, or even earlier. The thought police today are clearly on the left. Look what just happened at UC-Beserkley. If you don't toe the liberal line you have no right to speak. The leftist thugs didn't want to attend his talk and then engage in questions and try to show intellectually the superiority of their arguments. They wanted to silence his speech. This on the campus that was once the birthplace of the free-speech movement. We are very much in danger of fascism of the left in this country. As you may recall from political science classes, the far-right and far-left have much in common and occupy close to the same space on the political spectrum. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Showing Replies:   1 - 25  of 170 Posts Jump to Page:   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7    Next > View Other 'General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events' Topics                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               WHO'S ONLINE There are 138 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com 138 Guests 0 Registered Users There are no other users looking at this page.

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