Recently 60 Minutes aired a segment on the economic problems facing state and local governments-NJ was emphasized but the problem is paramount for nearly every state. Unfunded public pensions will be stressing a lot of state budgets and, as a result, taxpayers need to wake up!
Given the current political climate, I don't know how the US can avoid hyper inflation from printing too much money while the real estate markets continue to crash. Elected officials pander rather than lead, so, although taxes need to rise, taxes will not go up but instead services will go down. Crime rates will then steadily increase as services are cut and the suffering, hopeless, poor start to use criminal options to offset poverty conditions. Urban cities that have been fighting urban decay for decades will once again become at-risk.
"At-risk" urban cities such as Perth Amboy, NJ; Yonkers, NY, Scranton, PA, and hundreds more like them, may be the first to suffer due to this perfect economic storm. Do residents of these at-risk urban cities, heavily reliant upon federal and state revenues, think they're immune from the economic disaster that previously destroyed Detroit, Buffalo, and Baltimore ? Their residents need to become actively involved in local governance to accurately judge the viability of the status quo compared to moving to towns that have a better economy and zero-tolerance toward crime. Residents of urban areas: do you have the ability to weather a two-decade economic recovery? No, I am not advocating urban flight from forthcoming urban blight. By contrast, I am encouraging proactive involvement in your local governance to prevent urban decay: demand political bi-partisanship, good schools, high public safety, fiscal accountability, and zero tolerance for corruption. Social progressivism grounded in fiscal responsibility should be the hallmark of every citizen and the requirements for every trustworthy leader!
The Obama Administration wants citizens to recognize the progress made since January 2009. By contrast, Republicans were rewarded for simply saying, "no" for two years and then demanding continuation of Bush-era tax cuts as a quid quo pro for extending unemployment benefits, recognizing civil rights, or passing an Arms Control Treaty. Even David Stockman, the architect of Reagan's "trickle-down economics plan" now recognizes as delusional the expectation that tax cuts will spur economic prosperity during times of extreme budgetary deficits.
I encourage everyone to become fiscally accountable and demand likewise of the government. We cannot "travel" ourselves out of these difficult economic times. It is time to finally recognize we are in a costly war, pay our bills, and then reap the prosperity from living for solutions rather than dwelling in problems.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Thursday, December 23, 2010
College and Career Readiness Survey
The New York State Board of Regents would like your feedback on a "College and Career Readiness Survey." As professional educators, parents, or stakeholders in the success of public education, your input matters! The survey focuses on three topics:
The "College and Career Readiness Survey" is one aspect of a series of meetings, presentations, and data collection processes conducted in 2010 by the NYS Board of Regents' College and Career Readiness Working Group. Results of the survey will be shared with the Board of Regents during the March 2011 meeting. The deadline for your input is January 31, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
Thank you in advance for your time and your continued support of all students in New York State.
- College and Career Readiness Frameworks,
- Necessary Skills and Knowledge for College and Workforce Success, and
- New York State Graduation Requirements (follow hyper-link to current requirements).
The "College and Career Readiness Survey" is one aspect of a series of meetings, presentations, and data collection processes conducted in 2010 by the NYS Board of Regents' College and Career Readiness Working Group. Results of the survey will be shared with the Board of Regents during the March 2011 meeting. The deadline for your input is January 31, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.
Thank you in advance for your time and your continued support of all students in New York State.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
New York State PreKindergarten Learning Standards
The Board of Regents would like your feedback on the final draft of the New York State PreK Learning Standards, which will be presented for discussion and adoption at their January 2011 meeting. As someone invested in the education of young children, your informed opinion is important to the finalization of this project.
Recall an earlier post alerting readers to Governor Paterson's suggestion that universal Pre-K in NYS could be cut due to the budget deficit. Proactive negative reaction stopped such thoughts!Adopting effective learning standards is the next step to ensuring effective NYS education begins with Pre-K!
Recall an earlier post alerting readers to Governor Paterson's suggestion that universal Pre-K in NYS could be cut due to the budget deficit. Proactive negative reaction stopped such thoughts!Adopting effective learning standards is the next step to ensuring effective NYS education begins with Pre-K!
Time is of the essence! Your input is valued! Thank you in advance for your time and your continued support of the young learners in New York State."The New York State PreKindergarten Learning Standards are arranged in five
developmental domains: Approaches to Learning; Physical Development and
Health; Social and Emotional Development; Communication, Language and Literacy;
and Cognition and Knowledge of the World. Each domain identifies clearly the
benchmarks that children should meet during their prekindergarten experience and
performance indicators that can be observed as children meet these
benchmarks.
A survey is posted on the Universal PreK website, http://www.p12.nysed.gov/upk , for you to share your comments and recommendations. Any questions about the survey may be sent to emsceeri@mail.nysed.gov.The deadline for your input is December 22, 2010."
Monday, October 18, 2010
With an Eye to the Future
Thomas Jefferson (1816) wrote, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Our Founding Fathers clearly saw the connection between freedom and education. Given this, the main purpose of United States’ public education has always been to develop an informed populace. Before writing "Light and liberty go together” (1795) Jefferson, in a letter to James Madison (1786), stated "Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to, convinced that on their good sense we may rely with the most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty."
For most of my adult academic life, politicians assured possible voters how badly our public schools were serving the populace. Starting with A Nation at Risk (1983) through the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, PL 98-10) known as No Child Left Behind (2001), education reform has been predicated on the need to fix a broken system. Yet, the more politics became involved in reform, the further the United States has fallen behind other industrialized nations-especially in science and math.
Currently, ESEA is past due for reauthorization. This can either mean another opportunity for true reform or simply another chance for politicians to use education as a means for power. The Obama Administration has developed a blueprint for reform and is actively seeking bipartisan support within a very partisan Congress . The American Association of School Administrators (2010) is very correct in its belief that “Now more than ever, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the law currently known as No Child Left Behind) must be rewritten to reflect its original purpose: success for all children, especially disadvantaged children.”
As part of the college’s International Teacher Training Institute, several times each year I am blessed with the wonderful opportunity to teach groups of mid-career educational professionals from Shenzhen China. They come to the College of Mount Saint Vincent for professional development with a focus on learning about the history of western educational practices and current initiatives. With each group, I become more aware of one fact: we have much to learn from them!
One of the greatest opportunities provided by the current ESEA reauthorization process is for our populace to become as informed as possible. As outlined in a previous post to this blog, we need to avoid the distractions politicians provide in an effort to avoid focusing upon what is truly important. Education that focuses upon the whole child while ensuring upward mobility for all Americans needs to regain focus as the primary mission of ESEA. Jefferson (1789 noted, "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government;... whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights."
My fellow Americans and lovers of truth, ever since that horrific September 11, 2001 day; before which Congress enjoyed a budget surplus and exhibited regular discourse about finally fully-funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and fixing Social Security; our great country has been on the wrong course! The last two years have been spent on triage for an economy utterly wrecked by the sins of corporate greed, personal avarice, and moral sloth. The reauthorization of ESEA can be the first step out of the triage stage and a return to health. We need to become well-informed so, as a united people, we can be trusted with our own government! Things have gotten so far wrong that we cannot ignore such self-evident truths any longer.
You are encouraged to learn as much as you can about public schools, charter schools, and our global economy. Become involved in the process of education reform by talking with educators, administrators, elected officials, children, and each other! It is the only way we may be relied on to set things right.
For most of my adult academic life, politicians assured possible voters how badly our public schools were serving the populace. Starting with A Nation at Risk (1983) through the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, PL 98-10) known as No Child Left Behind (2001), education reform has been predicated on the need to fix a broken system. Yet, the more politics became involved in reform, the further the United States has fallen behind other industrialized nations-especially in science and math.
Currently, ESEA is past due for reauthorization. This can either mean another opportunity for true reform or simply another chance for politicians to use education as a means for power. The Obama Administration has developed a blueprint for reform and is actively seeking bipartisan support within a very partisan Congress . The American Association of School Administrators (2010) is very correct in its belief that “Now more than ever, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the law currently known as No Child Left Behind) must be rewritten to reflect its original purpose: success for all children, especially disadvantaged children.”
As part of the college’s International Teacher Training Institute, several times each year I am blessed with the wonderful opportunity to teach groups of mid-career educational professionals from Shenzhen China. They come to the College of Mount Saint Vincent for professional development with a focus on learning about the history of western educational practices and current initiatives. With each group, I become more aware of one fact: we have much to learn from them!
One of the greatest opportunities provided by the current ESEA reauthorization process is for our populace to become as informed as possible. As outlined in a previous post to this blog, we need to avoid the distractions politicians provide in an effort to avoid focusing upon what is truly important. Education that focuses upon the whole child while ensuring upward mobility for all Americans needs to regain focus as the primary mission of ESEA. Jefferson (1789 noted, "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government;... whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights."
My fellow Americans and lovers of truth, ever since that horrific September 11, 2001 day; before which Congress enjoyed a budget surplus and exhibited regular discourse about finally fully-funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and fixing Social Security; our great country has been on the wrong course! The last two years have been spent on triage for an economy utterly wrecked by the sins of corporate greed, personal avarice, and moral sloth. The reauthorization of ESEA can be the first step out of the triage stage and a return to health. We need to become well-informed so, as a united people, we can be trusted with our own government! Things have gotten so far wrong that we cannot ignore such self-evident truths any longer.
You are encouraged to learn as much as you can about public schools, charter schools, and our global economy. Become involved in the process of education reform by talking with educators, administrators, elected officials, children, and each other! It is the only way we may be relied on to set things right.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Is an "English Only" Policy in America's Best Interest?
As a logical follow up to the previous post on "Fear and Prejudice," addressing the issue of linguistic diversity seems appropriate. What drives those believing we should only speak one language in the United States? Would our children REALLY be harmed by having the ability to speak multiple languages? Karl Fisch, a high school administrator from Littleton, Colorado, originally developed a powerpoint for teachers at his school involving shifting paradigms due to the impact of globalization and technology. Later, Scott Mcleod, a professor at Univ. of Minnesota, generalized the presentation. Three years and 20+ million online views later, the evolution (4.0) of the Did You Know? (Shift Happens) video continues to help raise awareness of the need to think critically upon the current policies and practices related to education and the economy. Comparing version 4.0 to the original 2007 Shift Happens video, exemplifies just how quickly technology is changing and its impact upon future education and economic choices.
The need to become a multilingual country should be central to any discussion related to educational reform. China has a plan in place for its 1.2 billion people to become proficient in both Mandarin and English within five years. More importantly, China is helping Mandarin replace English as the language of diplomacy and trade throughout Asia. We cannot confront such a challenging educational and economic reality with the usual partisan fear mongering. The United States should instead look upon this as an opportunity. Contrary to the belief of many motivational speakers, the Mandarin word for "crisis" is not truly comprised of two symbols individually meaning "danger" and "opportunity." However, it is apropos to hope the crisis imposed by a dangerous status quo regarding "English Only" will inspire the great American spirit to see the opportunity to become multilinguistic as a great benefit to its children.
An example of what is possible can be seen through the Patchworks Films documentary: "Speaking In Tongues." At a time when 31 states have passed "English Only" laws, four pioneering families put their children in public schools where, from the first day of kindergarten, their teachers speak mostly Chinese or Spanish. Speaking in Tongues follows four diverse kids on a journey to become bilingual. The film is a winner of the Audience Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. The story will challenge you to rethink the skills that Americans need in the 21st century.
A schedule of information follows: Watch Speaking in Tongues on PBS WNET, New York City on Saturday September 4, at 1:00 p.m. Tune to your local PBS affiliate for other viewing options.
From September 3 through September 17, PBS will stream the program in three different languages: English, Spanish and Chinese on the PBS website . Check its website during those dates for the direct URL.
Watch the trailer: http://www.speakingintonguesfilm.info/
AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST DOCUMENTARY
San Francisco International Film Festival
Find a screening near you : http://events.workingfilms.org/speakingintongues.
The need to become a multilingual country should be central to any discussion related to educational reform. China has a plan in place for its 1.2 billion people to become proficient in both Mandarin and English within five years. More importantly, China is helping Mandarin replace English as the language of diplomacy and trade throughout Asia. We cannot confront such a challenging educational and economic reality with the usual partisan fear mongering. The United States should instead look upon this as an opportunity. Contrary to the belief of many motivational speakers, the Mandarin word for "crisis" is not truly comprised of two symbols individually meaning "danger" and "opportunity." However, it is apropos to hope the crisis imposed by a dangerous status quo regarding "English Only" will inspire the great American spirit to see the opportunity to become multilinguistic as a great benefit to its children.
An example of what is possible can be seen through the Patchworks Films documentary: "Speaking In Tongues." At a time when 31 states have passed "English Only" laws, four pioneering families put their children in public schools where, from the first day of kindergarten, their teachers speak mostly Chinese or Spanish. Speaking in Tongues follows four diverse kids on a journey to become bilingual. The film is a winner of the Audience Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. The story will challenge you to rethink the skills that Americans need in the 21st century.
A schedule of information follows: Watch Speaking in Tongues on PBS WNET, New York City on Saturday September 4, at 1:00 p.m. Tune to your local PBS affiliate for other viewing options.
From September 3 through September 17, PBS will stream the program in three different languages: English, Spanish and Chinese on the PBS website . Check its website during those dates for the direct URL.
Watch the trailer: http://www.speakingintonguesfilm.info/
AUDIENCE AWARD for BEST DOCUMENTARY
San Francisco International Film Festival
Find a screening near you : http://events.workingfilms.org/speakingintongues.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Fear and Prejudice
With all due respect to Jane Austen’s choice of title and the thoughts of collective theologians, I believe self-centered fear rather than pride is the bane that continues to drive prejudice within the United States. Recently I saw the play “Race,” which provided a wonderful opportunity for discussion afterwards. Undoubtedly, this discussion, the ongoing media-induced melodrama concerning the proposed building of an Islamic mosque and cultural center within walking distance of the September 11, 2001 al-Queda terrorist attack upon the World Trade Center buildings and its innocent civilians, and the ongoing politically-based collective denigration of Mexicans as “illegal immigrants” inspired me to reflect upon the correlation between fear and prejudice .
For two hundred and nineteen years the United States has been a more perfect union because of Amendment One of the Constitution whereby "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Why doesn’t the press, which obviously embraces the freedom granted to it by the First Amendment, recognize the Amendment’s strength is based on protecting ALL the freedoms granted within? Could it be the desire to manipulate freedom of thought in order to maintain power is more inticing than the freedom ensured through a balanced education? If so, isn't regulation to increase equal access to balanced information in the public interest?
Since 2003, when the Bush Administration changed the FCC ownership rules, can anyone deny the increased partisanship of cable news broadcasts? Can Fox News or MSNBC really be considered true reporters of news rather than creators of news? On a daily basis, doesn't the partisanship exhibited in the media exemplify "yellow journalism"?
While the Constitution protects the freedom of the media, it does not guarantee its fairness. Based on the First Amendment, the Federal Government may not place a prior restraint on the news. Broadcast media, i.e., radio, television, have a special legal status that is more subject to regulation than print media (newspapers, magazines) because their assignment of a broadcasting frequency by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is regarded as a public trust. As noted above, until the 2003 regulation changes, the FCC prohibited a single individual or firm from owning both a leading television and newspaper in the same city so as to insure diversity. With the increase in cable and satellite channels the rule was unwisely deemed to be outdated. The result has been a single entity can now own nearly 50% of a region’s media. Although the FCC imposes an equal-time rule, which requires stations to give equal time to opposing candidates if free time is given to any candidate, or to offer opposing candidates air time at an equal price in the case of paid political commercials. However, the equal-time requirement does not apply to news, talk shows, or documentary coverage. This is just one loophole whereby partisanship is now allowed to freely create fear and distortion as a way to retain power.
The result of such media oligopoly and manipulation seems to be the promotion of prejudice rather than balanced education. The Fairness Doctrine, which once "enforced the FCC’s belief that broadcast licenses (required for both radio and terrestrial TV stations) were a form of public trust and, as such, licensees must provide balanced and fair coverage of controversial issues” was repealed in 1987. In the ensuing twenty-three years it should be very apparent to the three branches of government that the Fairness Doctrine truly did serve the public interest.
As the first step toward promoting education to ensure an informed populace, the Fairness Doctrine should be restored and include both quasi-news and talk shows for terrestial, cable, and satellite sources within the Doctrine's expectations. Since its accessibility and influence upon a given market has allowed the media to virtually become a fourth branch of our system of government, without FCC regulation ensuring an expectation of equal access and fairness, the very freedoms granted by the Constitution would continue to be eroded through partisan manipulation. Balanced education through bi-partisan access and presentation of information would be this great country’s best deterrent to the promotion of self-centered fear and the resultant continuation of prejudice.
For two hundred and nineteen years the United States has been a more perfect union because of Amendment One of the Constitution whereby "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Why doesn’t the press, which obviously embraces the freedom granted to it by the First Amendment, recognize the Amendment’s strength is based on protecting ALL the freedoms granted within? Could it be the desire to manipulate freedom of thought in order to maintain power is more inticing than the freedom ensured through a balanced education? If so, isn't regulation to increase equal access to balanced information in the public interest?
Since 2003, when the Bush Administration changed the FCC ownership rules, can anyone deny the increased partisanship of cable news broadcasts? Can Fox News or MSNBC really be considered true reporters of news rather than creators of news? On a daily basis, doesn't the partisanship exhibited in the media exemplify "yellow journalism"?
While the Constitution protects the freedom of the media, it does not guarantee its fairness. Based on the First Amendment, the Federal Government may not place a prior restraint on the news. Broadcast media, i.e., radio, television, have a special legal status that is more subject to regulation than print media (newspapers, magazines) because their assignment of a broadcasting frequency by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is regarded as a public trust. As noted above, until the 2003 regulation changes, the FCC prohibited a single individual or firm from owning both a leading television and newspaper in the same city so as to insure diversity. With the increase in cable and satellite channels the rule was unwisely deemed to be outdated. The result has been a single entity can now own nearly 50% of a region’s media. Although the FCC imposes an equal-time rule, which requires stations to give equal time to opposing candidates if free time is given to any candidate, or to offer opposing candidates air time at an equal price in the case of paid political commercials. However, the equal-time requirement does not apply to news, talk shows, or documentary coverage. This is just one loophole whereby partisanship is now allowed to freely create fear and distortion as a way to retain power.
The result of such media oligopoly and manipulation seems to be the promotion of prejudice rather than balanced education. The Fairness Doctrine, which once "enforced the FCC’s belief that broadcast licenses (required for both radio and terrestrial TV stations) were a form of public trust and, as such, licensees must provide balanced and fair coverage of controversial issues” was repealed in 1987. In the ensuing twenty-three years it should be very apparent to the three branches of government that the Fairness Doctrine truly did serve the public interest.
As the first step toward promoting education to ensure an informed populace, the Fairness Doctrine should be restored and include both quasi-news and talk shows for terrestial, cable, and satellite sources within the Doctrine's expectations. Since its accessibility and influence upon a given market has allowed the media to virtually become a fourth branch of our system of government, without FCC regulation ensuring an expectation of equal access and fairness, the very freedoms granted by the Constitution would continue to be eroded through partisan manipulation. Balanced education through bi-partisan access and presentation of information would be this great country’s best deterrent to the promotion of self-centered fear and the resultant continuation of prejudice.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Preliminary Draft of New York State Teaching Standards
The State Education Department has released the Preliminary Draft of New York State Teaching Standards for public review and comment. To view a letter from Deputy Commissioner Joseph Frey, the preliminary draft standards, and the web response form, click on this direct link http://www.highered.nysed.gov/memos/memo07162010.html .
The deadline for comment is August 16, 2010.
The deadline for comment is August 16, 2010.
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