Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

I'm more scared of the dedication it takes to come up with that much stupid.

Bill Ayers is part of your religion (the DNC), so you should know how stupid he is.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

You thought No Child Left Behind was bad... http://www.aim.org/special-report/te...ol-curriculum/

You always have to dump an article when its author heads up an organization to designed to fight 'anti Americanism'.

Lets take a look at this program...and boy does it look bad...from that horribly biased wikipedia:

Race to the Top, abbreviated R2T, RTTT or RTT, is a $4.35 billion United States Department of Education contest created to spur innovation and reforms in state and local district K-12 education.

State applications for funding were scored on selection criteria worth a total of 500 points. In order of weight, the criteria were[1]:

Great Teachers and Leaders (138 total points) Improving teacher and principal effectiveness based on performance (58 points)
Ensuring equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals (25 points)
Providing high-quality pathways for aspiring teachers and principals (21 points)
Providing effective support to teachers and principals (20 points)
Improving the effectiveness of teacher and principal preparation programs (14 points)

State Success Factors (125 total points) Articulating State's education reform agenda and LEAs' participation in it (65 points)
Building strong statewide capacity to implement, scale up, and sustain proposed plans (30 points)
Demonstrating significant progress in raising achievement and closing gaps (30 points)

Standards and Assessments (70 total points) Developing and adopting common standards (from the Common Core State Standards Initiative) (40 points)
Supporting the transition to enhanced standards and high-quality assessments (20 points)
Developing and implementing common, high-quality assessments (10 points)

General Selection Criteria (55 total points) Ensuring successful conditions for high-performing charters and other innovative schools (40 points)
Making education funding a priority (10 points)
Demonstrating other significant reform conditions (5 points)

Turning Around the Lowest-Achieving Schools (50 total points) Turning around the lowest-achieving schools (40 points)
Intervening in the lowest-achieving schools and LEAs (10 points)

Data Systems to Support Instruction (47 total points) Fully implementing a statewide longitudinal data system (24 points)
Using data to improve instruction (18 points)
Accessing and using State data (5 points)

[joecct]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Sounds nice, but should the federal government make decisions on the effectiveness of local education?

I know, it's for the children!

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Sounds nice, but should the federal government make decisions on the effectiveness of local education?

I know, it's for the children!

The federal government making any decision like that is a step towards socialism. It failed in Russia. It's failing in Europe. Those who do not learn from their history are doomed to repeat it.

[Foxton]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Bill Ayers is part of your religion (the DNC), so you should know how stupid he is.

Since you actually believe that, it shows how stupid you are.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Sounds nice, but should the federal government make decisions on the effectiveness of local education?

I know, it's for the children!

The operative word is...contest. It rewards schools for achievement and taking the right actions. Just as with other federal funding, Maryland can choose to turn it down.

[joecct]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

The operative word is...contest. It rewards schools for achievement and taking the right actions. Just as with other federal funding, Maryland can choose to turn it down.

But the feds are deciding the rules for the awards. Its a nice debate to have on the level of involvement of the national government in what was, for most of this country's history, purely a local matter.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

But the feds are deciding the rules for the awards. Its a nice debate to have on the level of involvement of the national government in what was, for most of this country's history, purely a local matter.

I could see that, but its not a huge deal as its just a contest. The criteria only talks about outcomes such as improving teacher effectiveness based on performance...and not about how that's achieved. The states eliminate unions if they think it will help.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

I could see that, but its not a huge deal as its just a contest. The criteria only talks about outcomes such as improving teacher effectiveness based on performance...and not about how that's achieved. The states eliminate unions if they think it will help.

...at least until the federal government threatens to remove Dept. of Education funding.

[joecct]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

I could see that, but its not a huge deal as its just a contest. The criteria only talks about outcomes such as improving teacher effectiveness based on performance...and not about how that's achieved. The states eliminate unions if they think it will help.

The camel's nose is way past from just being under the tent flap. The feds are, in my opinion, way too intrusive at the state level, not only in education, but in just about everything.

It seemed like a good idea at the time...... but......

Edit: It seemed like a good idea, but -->http://townhall.com/columnists/kyleo...new_lunch_menu

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

The camel's nose is way past from just being under the tent flap. The feds are, in my opinion, way too intrusive at the state level, not only in education, but in just about everything.

I think states should get alot of say in how they operate. And if you believe the concept of capitalism and markets creates the greatest benefits for customers (as I do) then you have to support states rights to a large extent. In the end, they're competing for citizens. Having said that...

Education standards have always played a huge factor in the success of our workforce (including productivity and unemployment). If Alabama truly blows at education, the rest of the country has to pay for that by them contributing far lower tax contributions...as well as taking government benefits of all types. And why should innocent kids of Alabama pay the price just because they were born there?

So my favorable views of states rights where they're best suited (ie, cultural issues) should remain. But education is one area where I would think twice.

[joecct]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

I think states should get alot of say in how they operate. And if you believe the concept of capitalism and markets creates the greatest benefits for customers (as I do) then you have to support states rights to a large extent. In the end, they're competing for citizens. Having said that...

Education standards have always played a huge factor in the success of our workforce (including productivity and unemployment). If Alabama truly blows at education, the rest of the country has to pay for that by them contributing far lower tax contributions...as well as taking government benefits of all types. And why should innocent kids of Alabama pay the price just because they were born there?

So my favorable views of states rights where they're best suited (ie, cultural issues) should remain. But education is one area where I would think twice.

(1) try lowering the drinking age without losing highway dollars
(2) try implementing a voter ID without DoJ coming down on you
(3) try not having a speed limit on the interstate without losing highway dollars

There's many instances where the federal "suggestion" is accompanied by a fiscal fist. The states, wanting or needing the federal dollars, easily acquiesce to the federal demands. Sad. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

(1) try lowering the drinking age without losing highway dollars
(2) try implementing a voter ID without DoJ coming down on you
(3) try not having a speed limit on the interstate without losing highway dollars

There's many instances where the federal "suggestion" is accompanied by a fiscal fist. The states, wanting or needing the federal dollars, easily acquiesce to the federal demands. Sad. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.

IMO there are many bad laws and your point is largely valid (restrictions on voter participation is of national concern).

Having said that, I still don't think I'm a full-stop buyer on education.

[joecct]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Chicago makes the news again: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...,5585573.story

As for the cause of the negotiation breakdown, Lester said, “It was the final economic proposal (from the association), which still required us to take a decrease in compensation and exorbitant increases in the cost of health care. We’re hopeful that we will continue negotiating soon."

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Obama XXIV: Forward ... pause ... rewind ... play

Chicago makes the news again: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...,5585573.story

They just want it all, eh?

To all libstains, I recommend watching the Simpsons episode "Trash of the Titans". It'll put what we're saying into perspective.