A lifelong dream comes one step closer to reality.
My mother was in the army when I was a child, and in the summer of 1974 I flew with grandma to Germany to visit her. I fell asleep shortly after we took off from Oakland. When I woke up I pulled up the window screen, and 35,000 feet below I saw the strangest, most beautiful, most wondrous place imaginable. I decided at that moment that I would have to go there some day--I'd have to go to Iceland.
Tonight I booked my flight and hotel. I'll be there 37 years after the first, and last, time I saw it.
Friday, November 05, 2010
Diversity in the District
I spent most of my school-aged years, and my first 4 years of teaching, in two of the districts that, a few years ago, merged into the Twin Rivers Unified School District in the greater Sacramento area. Let's see what's going on there:
One commenter has what might be a good fix on the issue:
My guess is that there are other issues at play, and the race argument is the one that some people know will get attention. But that's just my guess.
Strained relationships and feelings of mistrust are plaguing the Twin Rivers Unified School District, where many African American parents, community activists – and even two school board members – say the tensions stem from a lack of diversity among the district's top administrators...
Conflicts over how best to educate the children of the neighboring communities are not new. The districts that merged in 2008 are distinct, with Interstate 80 practically drawing a line between a northern rural area that includes Rio Linda, where most residents are white, and the southern urban end, such as Del Paso Heights, with a large minority population.
The merger was supposed to fix the fractured system.
One commenter has what might be a good fix on the issue:
Complaining about who is on a management team because their skin is not the right color sounds like racism on the part of the complainer to me.
My guess is that there are other issues at play, and the race argument is the one that some people know will get attention. But that's just my guess.
One Way To Improve Math Skills
Don't try this at home:
By applying electrical current to the brain, researchers reporting online on November 4 in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication, have shown that they could enhance a person's mathematical performance for up to 6 months without influencing their other cognitive functions. The findings may lead to treatments for the estimated 20 percent of the population with moderate to severe numerical disabilities (for example, dyscalculia) and for those who lose their skill with numbers as a result of stroke or degenerative disease, according to the researchers. "I am certainly not advising people to go around giving themselves electric shocks, but we are extremely excited by the potential of our findings," said Roi Cohen Kadosh of the University of Oxford. "We've shown before that we can temporarily induce dyscalculia [with another method of brain stimulation], and now it seems we might also be able to make someone better at maths. Electrical stimulation will most likely not turn you into Albert Einstein, but if we're successful, it might be able to help some people to cope better with maths."
Friday Trivia
The answer to yesterday's question is:
(Should the General Prologue count?) Knight, Miller, Reeve, Cook, Man of Law, Wife of Bath, Friar, Summoner, Clerk, Merchant, Squire, Franklin, Physician, Pardoner, Shipman, Prioress, Sir Thopas, Melibee, Monk, Nun's Priest, Second Nun, Canon's Yeoman, Manciple, Parson.
Today's question is:
Of the highest peak on each of the 7 continents, identify 4.
(Should the General Prologue count?) Knight, Miller, Reeve, Cook, Man of Law, Wife of Bath, Friar, Summoner, Clerk, Merchant, Squire, Franklin, Physician, Pardoner, Shipman, Prioress, Sir Thopas, Melibee, Monk, Nun's Priest, Second Nun, Canon's Yeoman, Manciple, Parson.
Today's question is:
Of the highest peak on each of the 7 continents, identify 4.
CTA President Thanks Teachers
His words, not mine:
From: David A. Sanchez [mailto:CTAPresidentDavidSanchez@cta.org]
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 6:20 AM
To: [deleted]
Subject: Thank You for All You Did this Election Season
We did it!
I want to thank everyone who turned out at the polls, who made phone calls, who talked to their neighbors, who attended rallies, who displayed window signs — everyone who voted for education in Tuesday’s election.
It’s been a long campaign season, but our schools, our colleges, and our students will come out ahead, thanks to your efforts.
We voted for education on Tuesday by electing Jerry Brown for governor and Tom Torlakson for superintendent of public instruction, and by re-electing Barbara Boxer to the U.S. Senate. These public servants have demonstrated their commitment to public education by what they’ve done in the past, and they will be advocates for our schools as we continue to face difficult challenges.
Don’t underestimate the part that you played in these victories.
Through our support, our volunteers, and our financial contributions, Jerry Brown was able to defeat an opponent who made this the most expensive non-presidential campaign in American history, spending $160 million. More importantly, Californians agreed that Jerry Brown will be the governor who can lead this state out of this fiscal crisis, bring collaboration back to Sacramento and help us improve our schools.
Thank you also for working and voting on behalf of Assembly Member Tom Torlakson for superintendent of public instruction. As a former educator, Tom Torlakson understands the needs of the classroom teacher, and as a legislator, he has consistently supported public education. He supports proven education reforms and will make sure educators are an integral part of the conversation.
The teacher-backed team of state leaders elected to these critical offices will help repair the damage done to our schools and to our state. Our public schools have been cut by $17 billion over the last two years, and the new state budget finally signed in October will mean our students will be shortchanged another $4 billion.
To ease the budget process in California, voters have wisely passed Proposition 25 to end the budget gridlock that has plagued California for far too long. It will end the budget uncertainty that has hung over every school year in recent memory
Unfortunately, California voters did not pass Proposition 24, the Tax Fairness Act, which would have prevented $1.3 billion in corporate tax breaks and restored that money to save the jobs of teachers, nurses and firefighters. We’re hopeful that we will be able to work with the new governor and the Legislature to look for other options to avoid the kind of serious budget cuts that have already taken place.
Although the election is over, our work on behalf of our students, our schools and our profession continues. Thank you again for all that you do in your schools and all that you gave to this campaign. I know that everything we’ve done over the past weeks and months will make a difference.
¡Sí Se Puede!
David Sanchez
CTA President
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Thursday Trivia
The answer to yesterday's question is:
Election results :-)
Today's question is:
Identify any two of the Canterbury Tales.
Election results :-)
Today's question is:
Identify any two of the Canterbury Tales.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Publicly-financed Education
If a single-payer health care system is such a good idea, why isn't a single-payer education system?
Taxes, religion and education -- this politically charged trifecta divided the Supreme Court on Wednesday in a case involving a state school choice program.
At issue is a lawsuit challenging Arizona's tax breaks for voluntary donations benefiting private school scholarships. The 13-year-old program provides dollar-for-dollar income tax breaks for money given to "school tuition organizations," or STOs.
Some Arizona taxpayers challenged the program as unconstitutional because, they say, not-for-profit religious organizations award most of the scholarships, and require children to enroll in religious schools. Those opponents say the state has effectively been funneling taxpayer money to religious schools through a third-party "front" group.
The justices appeared torn over whether that represented a de facto "endorsement" of religion by Arizona.
Democrats Are Clearly Racists
How else to explain this?
Perhaps, instead of being racists, they just have some philosophical differences with Republicans. Nah, couldn't be that. Definitely racists.
Of the 14 black GOP candidates on the ballot last night, only two - Allen West, Florida-22, and Tim Scott, South Carolina-01 - defeated their Democratic opponents.
Perhaps, instead of being racists, they just have some philosophical differences with Republicans. Nah, couldn't be that. Definitely racists.
How Did The Tea Party Do In This Election
CNN offers their take, which seems reasonable enough to me. I'd summarize the Tea Party results as "not bad", despite some big losses.
Wednesday Trivia
The answer to yesterday's question is:
The California Redwood, which includes the Giant Sequoia (bigger) and Coastal Redwood (smaller) varieties.
Today's question is:
What word or phrase can be made from the anagram “lies—let's recount”?
The California Redwood, which includes the Giant Sequoia (bigger) and Coastal Redwood (smaller) varieties.
Today's question is:
What word or phrase can be made from the anagram “lies—let's recount”?
Republicans to President Obama:
We won :-)
(Oh, allow me a little exhuberence! It's been a long 4 years.)
(Oh, allow me a little exhuberence! It's been a long 4 years.)
California? Not So Much.
"You lefties don't want to admit it, but I'm much closer to the center of American politics than you are."
I wrote that in my last post, and while it's true of America as a whole, it's not true of California in particular. As happy as I am with the rest of the country, the Pacific Coast stayed solidly Democratic. Here are California's results. I'll save you the time of looking them up and just tell you that for every single statewide office, including Attorney General, the Democratic candidate won.
Here's how the propositions fell out, with 93.8% of the vote counted (%Yes %No):
19 Legalize Marijuana in CA, Regulate and Tax 46.2% 53.8%
20 Redistricting of Congressional Districts 61.2% 38.8%
21 State Park Funding. Vehicle License Surcharge. 42.1% 57.9%
22 Prohibit State From Taking Some Local Funds 60.9% 39.1%
23 Suspend Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) 38.6% 61.4%
24 Repeal Allowance of Lower Business Tax Liability 41.6% 58.4%
25 Simple Majority Vote to Pass Budget 55.0% 45.0%
26 2/3 Vote for Some State/Local Fees 52.6% 47.4%
27 Eliminate State Redistricting Commission 40.5% 59.5%
How can California be so liberal as to reelect Barbara Boxer and elect Democrats to every single statewide office and most seats in the legislature, but not legalize marijuana or allow gay marriage? How does that happen?
As National Review says,“This election means two things for California: 1. It is now more likely to end up needing a federal bailout, and 2. It is less likely to find Congress receptive to that idea.” If nothing else, this should be a great laboratory for democracy. With Democrats running our entire state government and and Republicans running much of the rest of the country, we'll see if anyone notices any differences.
I'll be paying close attention, you can count on it.
Update: If you want to see why California should be split into two states--and even see the borders of these two states--click here and then click on each statewide office (governor, lt. governor, etc.) to see how each county voted. It's pretty obvious.
I wrote that in my last post, and while it's true of America as a whole, it's not true of California in particular. As happy as I am with the rest of the country, the Pacific Coast stayed solidly Democratic. Here are California's results. I'll save you the time of looking them up and just tell you that for every single statewide office, including Attorney General, the Democratic candidate won.
Here's how the propositions fell out, with 93.8% of the vote counted (%Yes %No):
19 Legalize Marijuana in CA, Regulate and Tax 46.2% 53.8%
20 Redistricting of Congressional Districts 61.2% 38.8%
21 State Park Funding. Vehicle License Surcharge. 42.1% 57.9%
22 Prohibit State From Taking Some Local Funds 60.9% 39.1%
23 Suspend Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) 38.6% 61.4%
24 Repeal Allowance of Lower Business Tax Liability 41.6% 58.4%
25 Simple Majority Vote to Pass Budget 55.0% 45.0%
26 2/3 Vote for Some State/Local Fees 52.6% 47.4%
27 Eliminate State Redistricting Commission 40.5% 59.5%
How can California be so liberal as to reelect Barbara Boxer and elect Democrats to every single statewide office and most seats in the legislature, but not legalize marijuana or allow gay marriage? How does that happen?
As National Review says,“This election means two things for California: 1. It is now more likely to end up needing a federal bailout, and 2. It is less likely to find Congress receptive to that idea.” If nothing else, this should be a great laboratory for democracy. With Democrats running our entire state government and and Republicans running much of the rest of the country, we'll see if anyone notices any differences.
I'll be paying close attention, you can count on it.
Update: If you want to see why California should be split into two states--and even see the borders of these two states--click here and then click on each statewide office (governor, lt. governor, etc.) to see how each county voted. It's pretty obvious.
Finally, Some CHANGE I've Been HOPING For
US Senate
US House of Representatives
State Governors
Disappointments:
Harry Reid reelected.
Barbara Boxer reelected.
McMahon not elected in Connecticut.
I'd like to congratulate fellow West Pointer Joe Miller, Class of '89, as the senator-elect from Alaska, but the vote there isn't completely counted yet. "Write-in" Murkowski might still win.
The Colorado Senate race is still too close to call.
Despite those, it was still a great night for Republicans. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans gained back in this one election more than the number of seats they lost in the last two elections--in other words, in 2011 there will be more Republicans in the House than there were in 2005. Not bad.
And while the Republicans didn't gain enough seats to take control of the Senate--and there was no polling data, just wishful thinking, to suggest they would--they did improve their numbers. As I write this, not all the ballots are counted, but so far the Democrats haven't picked up a single Republican seat and the Republicans have picked up 6 Democratic seats. Alaska, Colorado, and Washington counts have yet to be finalized.
The racist tea party supporters here at RotLC would like to congratulate the following:
Nikki Haley, governor-elect of South Carolina, a woman of Indian descent.
Tim Scott, representative-elect of South Carolina, an African-American man.
Marco Rubio, senator-elect from Florida, a man of Cuban descent.
Allen West, representative-elect of Florida, an African-American man.
Susana Martinez, governor-elect of New Mexico, a woman of Hispanic descent.
Brian Sandoval, governor-elect of Nevada, a Hispanic male.
Do you lefties get it yet? Can you hear me now? It isn't about sex or skin color, it's about governing philosophy. Someone who believes in limited government and economic/fiscal responsibility and sanity is going to get my vote over a socialist every. single. time. And despite the exhuberence of two years ago, that seems to be the case with the majority of Americans. You lefties don't want to admit it, but I'm much closer to the center of American politics than you are.
You know what last night was? It was a
Dem-olition!
US House of Representatives
State Governors
Disappointments:
Harry Reid reelected.
Barbara Boxer reelected.
McMahon not elected in Connecticut.
I'd like to congratulate fellow West Pointer Joe Miller, Class of '89, as the senator-elect from Alaska, but the vote there isn't completely counted yet. "Write-in" Murkowski might still win.
The Colorado Senate race is still too close to call.
Despite those, it was still a great night for Republicans. In the House of Representatives, the Republicans gained back in this one election more than the number of seats they lost in the last two elections--in other words, in 2011 there will be more Republicans in the House than there were in 2005. Not bad.
And while the Republicans didn't gain enough seats to take control of the Senate--and there was no polling data, just wishful thinking, to suggest they would--they did improve their numbers. As I write this, not all the ballots are counted, but so far the Democrats haven't picked up a single Republican seat and the Republicans have picked up 6 Democratic seats. Alaska, Colorado, and Washington counts have yet to be finalized.
The racist tea party supporters here at RotLC would like to congratulate the following:
Nikki Haley, governor-elect of South Carolina, a woman of Indian descent.
Tim Scott, representative-elect of South Carolina, an African-American man.
Marco Rubio, senator-elect from Florida, a man of Cuban descent.
Allen West, representative-elect of Florida, an African-American man.
Susana Martinez, governor-elect of New Mexico, a woman of Hispanic descent.
Brian Sandoval, governor-elect of Nevada, a Hispanic male.
Do you lefties get it yet? Can you hear me now? It isn't about sex or skin color, it's about governing philosophy. Someone who believes in limited government and economic/fiscal responsibility and sanity is going to get my vote over a socialist every. single. time. And despite the exhuberence of two years ago, that seems to be the case with the majority of Americans. You lefties don't want to admit it, but I'm much closer to the center of American politics than you are.
You know what last night was? It was a
Dem-olition!
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
It's Always A Cop, A Teacher, or a Preacher
Not this time, though. He's not a teacher, but he is a school employee:
A Sacramento elementary school employee has been arrested on felony charges of child pornography, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department said.
Tuesday Trivia
The answer to yesterday's question is:
France.
Today's question is:
What is California's state tree?
France.
Today's question is:
What is California's state tree?
Monday, November 01, 2010
Why Does This Bother Me?
This morning I got to my classroom and found the following note on my computer keyboard:
I admit, I was sort of taken aback by it. In fact, I felt a little bit offended, but I can't put my finger on exactly why. Heck, it's an atta-boy for doing what I'm supposed to be doing! (Some people got nasty-grams because they left their speakers or printers turned on, or something.)
Why does this bother me? Is it because I don't like someone coming into "my" classroom to check up on me? Honestly, I'm not sure why, but I know that getting this note definitely unsettles me.
I do know one plausible answer that is not correct: yes, I'm bothered by the fact that someone was paid to do this, and they probably got paid a lot more than the cost of a couple of watt-hours of electricity from a weekend of wasted speaker juice, but that is not why I'm so uncomfortable about finding this note this morning.
Any thoughts?
I admit, I was sort of taken aback by it. In fact, I felt a little bit offended, but I can't put my finger on exactly why. Heck, it's an atta-boy for doing what I'm supposed to be doing! (Some people got nasty-grams because they left their speakers or printers turned on, or something.)
Why does this bother me? Is it because I don't like someone coming into "my" classroom to check up on me? Honestly, I'm not sure why, but I know that getting this note definitely unsettles me.
I do know one plausible answer that is not correct: yes, I'm bothered by the fact that someone was paid to do this, and they probably got paid a lot more than the cost of a couple of watt-hours of electricity from a weekend of wasted speaker juice, but that is not why I'm so uncomfortable about finding this note this morning.
Any thoughts?
Blogs of Note
I just saw on my StatCounter page that a couple of readers were referred here from the San Francisco Young Republicans page. Clicking that page I find that Right On The Left Coast is a "blog of note" there. Thank you! And welcome, SFYR's!
Tiered Diplomas
Back in "the day", which is after "colonial times" and "yore" (for you Friends trivia nuts) but before "now", a high school diploma implied some minimal level of learning. People who didn't have that minimal level just didn't graduate; they went off and got a blue collar job somewhere and worked their way into the middle class.
Somewhere along the way too many people, including our president, have become convinced that the only path to success in this country goes through the gates of some university. High school diplomas don't signify anything anymore other than the ability to sit through 4 years of high school; Exhibit A for this statement is the number of college students, high school graduates all, who need remedial classes in college. Since high school diplomas don't mean anything anymore, companies use their acquisition as some minimum sorting device--no diploma, no job, no questions. Jobs that in the past would have been done by clerical staff now require a college degree just so the hiring company can have some justification for believing that the new hire has at least a basic level of knowledge and an ability to think. Thus, we continue to send more people to college in order to get a credential that a high school diploma used to confer. The cost of higher education makes this racket--what's the new popular buzzword?--unsustainable.
Rhode Island is going to try a tiered diploma system, long a staple in NYC:
It's a start, a step in the right direction. Or is it? Wouldn't the students capable of earning a Regents diploma be college-bound anyway?
We need to restore the value of a high school diploma. One thing we might consider doing, if we're serious about this, is to stop giving diplomas to everyone just for showing up. If we did that we perhaps might not need tiered diplomas.
Somewhere along the way too many people, including our president, have become convinced that the only path to success in this country goes through the gates of some university. High school diplomas don't signify anything anymore other than the ability to sit through 4 years of high school; Exhibit A for this statement is the number of college students, high school graduates all, who need remedial classes in college. Since high school diplomas don't mean anything anymore, companies use their acquisition as some minimum sorting device--no diploma, no job, no questions. Jobs that in the past would have been done by clerical staff now require a college degree just so the hiring company can have some justification for believing that the new hire has at least a basic level of knowledge and an ability to think. Thus, we continue to send more people to college in order to get a credential that a high school diploma used to confer. The cost of higher education makes this racket--what's the new popular buzzword?--unsustainable.
Rhode Island is going to try a tiered diploma system, long a staple in NYC:
The best students in Rhode Island’s most rigorous schools may get a Regents diploma showing they’ve met state standards, while most graduates would earn a local diploma, reports the Providence Journal...
The plan would give schools and students “incentives to work hard and improve during the last two years of high school,” regents said.
It's a start, a step in the right direction. Or is it? Wouldn't the students capable of earning a Regents diploma be college-bound anyway?
We need to restore the value of a high school diploma. One thing we might consider doing, if we're serious about this, is to stop giving diplomas to everyone just for showing up. If we did that we perhaps might not need tiered diplomas.
This Is The Reality-Based Community?
One NYT columnist blogger gives 5 reasons why Democrats could beat the polls and maintain a majority in the House, and the commenters all sing Hosannas and praise. It's funny and sad at the same time.
Update: How The Left Will Spin the Election Results.
Update: How The Left Will Spin the Election Results.
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