The Chicago Tribune has been doing a lot of "Home Town" coverage on President Elect Obama's picks for cabinet positions. Just recently (yestereday), they've devoted significant coverage to our President Elect's pick of Arne Duncan, C.E.O. of Chicago Public Schools as his Secretary of Education.
This story from the December 16th Tribune provides a review of Duncan's personal background and carreer.
Duncan to join Obama Cabinet
Since that was published, both Senator Kennedy (AP Story, Dec. 16th) and Ben Smith (Tribune Blog) are tossing around the idea that Duncan is "pragmatic." Being "pragmatic" has multiple levels of meaning.
The popular meaning is someting like: "Being pragmatic means that you will do those things that suit you the best on a certain moment." That's something like being opportunistic. I don't think that's what either Senator Kennedy or Ben Smith meant.
Pragmatism is also a philosopy of education (attributed to the writings of John Dewey) and a philosopy of Science (attributed to C.S. Piece).
Duncan might be a Dewey-ian pragmatist. He attended the Lab School at the University of Chicago. It was founded by John Dewey (and his wife) in 1986. A good history can be found on the web here:
History: University of Chicago Lab School
Personally, I hope Duncan is a Peirce-ian pragmatist. In a rather controrted nutshell (because they're Peirce's own words), here's what that means:
"In order to ascertain the meaning of an intellectual conception one should consider what practical consequences might conceivably result by necessity from the truth of that conception, and the sum of these consequences will constitute the entire meaning of the conception." (Pragmatic Axiom, C.S. Pierce)
(If that looks familiar to anyone who's read my blog before, it should! It's in my "statement of purpose.")
If Duncan can sort out what NCLB "means," in terms of the actual sum of it's social consequences, I expect American Educational Policy is about to change in socially important and very positive ways.
Good choice!
BobBl
I just watched the Presdent Elect's weekly address and I like what I heard.
Unfortunately, I have a grave conven regarding the possible pending collapse funding for our nation's public schools, particularly in America's "Great Cities" like Chicago and Miami.
I submitted this response via the Change.cov site. Because I think this is a serious issue, I'm sharing it here too.
Please give what I have to say your serious consideration and support out President Elect to do what needs to be done to save America's public schools.
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These are good first steps. I will pray the citizens from "both sides of the isle" and both Houses of our Congress will understand all the reasons it should be immediately supported.
Speaking as an educator, one who has been a "vociferous" public advocate during the primaries and the run-up to the election for supporting our nation's schools and improving our educational system, I am RELIVED and VERY GLAD to see evidence that President Elect Obama is making the remodeling and improvement of America's "bricks & mortar" schools a part of his "Economic Recovery" plan.
There are a lot of schools in this country that are in really bad shape. Bringing them more into line with acceptable standards for public buildings (much less up to being truly "state of the art" 21st Century Schools) will put a lot of construction workers, electricians, and plumbers BACK TO WORK in every city and town in our great nation. That's the way to do it!!
But don't forget that even if we remodel the school buildings, and wire every classroom for high-speed internet access while we're at it, if we don't have qualified teachers who are willing to work in those newly remodeled classrooms, it would make the difference we need to move our country forward.
Because of my business I am in daily contact with curriculum administrators in school districts all across out great nation.
Yesterday, I spoke with district officials in Chicago (CPS) and in Miami Dade who both told me the same story, and here's how it goes:
------------------Start fictionalized recreation---------------------
As much as we'd like to offer more professional development for our teachers, last month we already laid off 200 staff members, and thi8s summer we're going to have to lay off as many as 400 teachers. The drops in tax revenues are forcing budget reductions that are nearly eliminating all funds that are available to support professional development.
If things keep going the way the are right now, over the summer we'll have to let go even more classroom teachers and increase all our class sizes to levels none of us will be comfortable with!
----------------------------------End---------
We've known for years that the Federal and State contribution to operating our schools don't cover enough of the total costs to offer a high quality education to America's children. As long as the economy was healthy, the tax revenues in America's Great Cities have provided the revenues necessary to provide schools and teachers for all of our nation's children.
There's been a wide gap in per-capita spending on education between Urban, Suburban and Rural communities. But the bottom line has been that enough seats in classroom were generally available and more more often than not there was at least a minimally qualified "teacher" available to assign to that room, even when it meant using l "permanent subs" who weren't always teaching within their certification, or who were occasionally "uncertified."
Next year, unless something is done pretty soon to augment the operating budgets of America's schools for the next school year, hundreds and hundreds of teachers are going to be laid off in the Great City School Districts and class sizes are going to spiral upwards to a point that we'll be lucky if ANYONE can stand to be in those classrooms for a 50 minute period!
The Federal Education Budget needs to be radically restructured so that the available funding goes DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS so they can use it to pay the salaries of their teachers and keep out Nation's Public School system from FINANCIALLY IMPLODING!!
What I think about NCLB is a matter of record. If you want to know about that, you can read my blogs on the My.BarackObama.com website and the Democratic PartyBuilder websites. That's old news.
But this new threat the downward spiral of America's economy poses for school district budgets is potentially more devastating to the American public educational system than anything the "de-schooling" ideologues in the GOP could have ever intentionally cooked up and pawned off on the American people under the guise of "Educational Choice."
Unless funding support can be provided to keep America's teachers working in those bricks and mortar school buildings, within the year absenteeism will spiral and there will be lots more kids on the streets looking for gangs to join and guns to use to make a living the only way that's available to them.
If that happens in America's "Great Cities" like Chicago by the time the 2010 Olympics is supposed to be held there, the streets won't be a safe place for Olympic visitors - PERIOD!
Something needs to be done and it needs to be done quickly. The situation isn't good in our urban schools and it could get worse faster than anyone can imagine if urban districts start laying off massive numbers of teachers.
It's happening already!!!
Bob Blomeyer (BobBl)
My son in Seattle found this today in the BBC online:
Page last updated at 10:49 GMT, Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Cheney charged over jail 'abuses'
A Texas grand jury has charged US Vice-President Dick Cheney for "organised criminal activity" related to alleged abuse of private prison inmates.
Here's a link to a bog on Education Week that is edited by David Hoff, who is an associate editor at Education Week.
It is titled: NCLB: Act II
The current topic is: The latest news on the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.
After looking over the new draft rules in the Federal Register, I commented on that story. You can read my comment here:
BobBl - October 28, 2008 2:47 PM
Here's what I said there:
Isn't there some way to stop Spellings and the Department of Education from going any further with these rule changes? Most of this will be unacceptable under the subsequent administration's agenda for education.When there's a "regime change," the classified civil service USDOE employees (the dedicated few who haven't been driven off) will stop doing anything substantial (besides administering entitlement programs) until there's a new Secretary appointed and new political appointees put into the leadership positions in all the program offices.This is an obvious continuation of the same old "top down" essentialist education agenda that the Bush administration has pushed over almost eight years.Going any further with these "rule changes," which are nothing more than an "interpretation" of what this Secretary and her politically appointed staff interpret the legislation to mean, is a waste of time and $$ that the education community in this country can't afford.
Isn't there some way to stop Spellings and the Department of Education from going any further with these rule changes?
Most of this will be unacceptable under the subsequent administration's agenda for education.
When there's a "regime change," the classified civil service USDOE employees (the dedicated few who haven't been driven off) will stop doing anything substantial (besides administering entitlement programs) until there's a new Secretary appointed and new political appointees put into the leadership positions in all the program offices.
This is an obvious continuation of the same old "top down" essentialist education agenda that the Bush administration has pushed over almost eight years.
Going any further with these "rule changes," which are nothing more than an "interpretation" of what this Secretary and her politically appointed staff interpret the legislation to mean, is a waste of time and $$ that the education community in this country can't afford.
Going any further with these new rules would be a horrible, costly mistake. Everyone who cares about the future of America's public educational system should write to their Representatives and call for them to do everything in their power to block the implementation of these new rules.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 34 CFR Part 200 Docket ID ED-2008-OESE-0003 Title I--Improving The Academic Achievement Of The Disadvantaged
This quote from the introductory section perfectly summarizes why I believe so very strongly that these rules must be stopped immediately:
"In the absence of reauthorization, we believe these final regulations are necessary to further the interests of parents and children and to improve the implementation of NCLB in order to continue progress toward the goal of 100 percent student proficiency in reading and mathematics by 2014." (New Rules, pgs. 5-6)
For the same reasons that the Congress tabled the reauthorization of NCLB, these rule changes nust be stopped too.
These new rule's would be a terribly expensive mis-step backwards that our schools just can't afford.
To the Obama campaign staff:
There was an AP story in the Sunday Chi Tribune today about 6 former DOJ lawyers approaching the AG with concerns the present situation in some states puts minority voters in jeopardy of being discriminated against under Voting Rights provisions of the Civil Rights Act.
http://www.chicagotribune.c...
By chance (?) there was an NPR "reflective" story this AM about the ordeals our great nation went through after LPJ signed the "Voting Rights Act" into law. I think it might have been a repeat of this 2003 piece by Debbie Elliot at NPR:
http://www.npr.org/template...
Given everything, those pieces probably suggest a publicly convincing line of defense that's consistent with everything our candidate stands for.
I sincerely hope the campaign staff will work in the ensuing days to keep the focus of the public's perception on on absolutely egregious, illegal and unconstitutional nature of the GOP's actions that seek to deprive American citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.
Recent attempts in Michigan to use public information about mortgage foreclosures to keep minority group members Michigan from voting is a perfect example. I think I head something about that on NPR this morning, but I found a piece written up in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008...
The lengths the GOP operatives are going to are getting more desperate. The more light the campaign can shine on this disgusting, illegal darkness, the brighter that "new day" will look to us all when the sun rises.
It's going to get even even nastier and more heinous over the next days before the election.
God bless Senator Obama, his family and the entire campaign staff. I hope his grandmother lives to see the sun finally rise.
Keep your eyes on the prize!
Out here on Main Street we’re all pretty sure that McCain’s operatives will escalate next to accusations (again) about Rev. Wright & other predictable gambits. (Like tying Senator Obama to Rezko and to the Standing Illinois Governor who’s under investigation.)
McCain’s people (Rovians) going to keep escalating. Are you ready too?
Here’s a little peek in my personal “crystal ball” about what the next economic shoe will be to drop.
My brother-in-law is a psychiatrist (M.D.) in Ohio. He’s in private practice and has been for a couple of years now.
This summer we spent time with our family near Columbus. I learned from my brother-in-law then that his private practice is going under because the health care providers in Ohio are all holding back on paying their legitimate claims in anything resembling a “timely” or “legal” manner.
According to my brother, M.D.’s in almost every private practice in Ohio are going through the same thing, despite numerous complaints filed with the Ohio commission that’s supposed to regulate and police such things are prompt payment of claims by health insurance providers to physicians.
What this is eventually going to cause is the wholesale collapse of thses private medical practices. Depending on how widespread this situation really is (whether it stretches into other States besides Ohio), this could potentially compromise our nation’s ability to provide health care to it’s citizens; with or without a national health insurance plan like the one supported by Senator Obama.
Not only that, it raises a really ugly question about what’s up with these Health Insurance providers? Did the Health Insurance providers put their holdings into bonds backed by bad mortgages like some of the life insurance providers did? (Re: AIG Bailout) Are the health insurance providers the next domino to fall in the collapse of America’s financial institutions?
I don’t know the answers to these questions. But if there’s any remote chance I’m right about the very ugly specter I’m raising. Then Obama researchers should probably look into it.
Knowing where the next booby-trap may be that the GOP operatives have hidden out there for Senator Obama and the Democratic Party to trip over sounds like it might be worth a few phone calls to Ohio physicians with private practices.
God bless you Senator Obama. Keep you, your family and your dedicated staff strong, healthy and able to respond "in kind" for the next 50 days.
Friends:
I CAN'T WAIT till Thursday night. Joe Biden is going to embarrass S. Palin. I predict that she’ll resign afterwards and McCain’s “visionary pick” will leave the GOP with big egg on their faces. That should just about sink McCain’s hopes.
In that case, the only thing that Bush/Cheney & their “backers would be able to do to stop the pending landslide would be to use the “crisis on Wall Street” as an excuse to invoke “National Security” and postpone the elections. (!!)
Rather than denying that it could ever happen, my colleagues in the Obama Campaign should be asking themselves: “How would we react if this really happened? What would we do about it?”
The cabal behind this administration is capable of it. Don’t ever doubt whether or not they’re capable of it. The real question is how would the American people react? Would fear of a global economic melt-down (and another Depression on Main Street) make American’s docile and compliant like 9/11 did?
I believe the same people that have used fear as a tool to mould public compliance over the last eight years probably think it would work. It has every time they’ve tried it. Why should they think differently now?
You folks out there can think I’m a paranoid kook if you want to. But just watch what happens over the next two weeks and think about it. How WOULD the Obama Campaign handle "doomsday."
Much stranger things have happened over the last eight years to sell this Administration's lies and unprecedented redistribution of wealth orchestrated by the few, and to the detriment of the MANY.
Do we really think they’ll stop now?
I don't. The GOP derailed an election with a vote from the Supreme Court. Why not ?
They're got EVERYTHING to lose.
I thought of this tonight, while listening to NPR's coverage about the Republican strategy and that damn made up "pig" everyone seems to get so excited about.
First... I applaud Senator Obama's rhetoric from Ohio about EDUCATIONAL POLICY ISSUES. He hit the nail on the head!! He brought his speech back around to the REAL ISSUES.
And I also enjoyed his shot about the "proverbial pig." It was just vague enough, but just juicy enough, that Senator McCain just couldn't resist crying "fowl."
If he'd vetted that come-back first with his speech writers, they'd never have let him say it. Because they know much better than he does how many times different politicians have used that same image... including Senator McCain himself!
OK... you've had your fun and John put his foot in the noose. But that's enough loose and colorful metaphors.
TAKE THE HIGH GROUND BACK!! McCain used his speeches (and all the media-bashing Sarah Barracuda stirred up) to try and grab the HIGH GROUND. Here's how you can grab it and back McCain & his new Alaskan "consort" into a public corner.
Come out in a nationally televised speech challenging Senator McCain and Governor Palin to cut the crap and get back to the REAL ISSUES!
You wouldn't want to put it QUITE that bluntly. Maybe something more like this:
OK Senator McCain... we've all had some fun and a few laughs at one another's expense. But now the time has come for both Political Parties, and both of us to quit distracting the American public from the REAL ISSUES with homilies and rhetorical distractions, and begin again to address the real issues!My Campaign Staff, Joe Biden and myself challenge the GOP, you and your new VP candidate to change the tone of this election and redirect the American Public to consideration of the REAL ISSUES. AND, FURTHERMORE, we challenge all the NETWORKS AND REPORTERS COVERING THE CAMPAIGNS to from today, STOPE CONDUCTING AND REPORTING ALL THESE EXPENSIVE AND DISTRACTING OPINION POLLS!All this opinion polling just emphasizes "personality cults," and detracts from us both trying to articulate our positions on issues of national and INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE!!We call for both campaigns and all the media to entirely cease all reporting on polls and personalities for the next 60 days and renew our determination to shift the national dialogue BACK TO THE REAL ISSUES!
OK Senator McCain... we've all had some fun and a few laughs at one another's expense. But now the time has come for both Political Parties, and both of us to quit distracting the American public from the REAL ISSUES with homilies and rhetorical distractions, and begin again to address the real issues!
My Campaign Staff, Joe Biden and myself challenge the GOP, you and your new VP candidate to change the tone of this election and redirect the American Public to consideration of the REAL ISSUES.
AND, FURTHERMORE, we challenge all the NETWORKS AND REPORTERS COVERING THE CAMPAIGNS to from today, STOPE CONDUCTING AND REPORTING ALL THESE EXPENSIVE AND DISTRACTING OPINION POLLS!
All this opinion polling just emphasizes "personality cults," and detracts from us both trying to articulate our positions on issues of national and INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE!!
We call for both campaigns and all the media to entirely cease all reporting on polls and personalities for the next 60 days and renew our determination to shift the national dialogue BACK TO THE REAL ISSUES!
OK... I know lots of your "political advisors" are going to probably react by saying I've been (as Bob Dylan says in his ballad Desolation Row): "... off sniffing drainpipes, And reciting the alphabet."
See: Desolation Row Lyrics, by Bob Dylan
But here's the thing: There's a segment of American Voters out here who are sick and tired of these networks and news services endlessly spinning public opinion with their incessant polling. I swear! They come out three times a week. If it's not Gallop, it's Roper. If it's not the Hew York Times, it's the Wall-street Journal!
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
If you make a big enough deal about it, and challenge John and Sarah to bring things back around to the REAL ISSUES, what you'll accomplish is to strike a cord with a large segment of the American public and channel all that dissatisfaction that Sarah managed to stir up against the media (notice she didn't have to try very hard...) and throw down a gauntlet that McCain will be too embarrassed to ignore.
If he doesn't respond to the challenge, he'll look like a wimp that's afraid to accept a challenge, AND LOOSE THE HIGH GROUD.
If he accepts the challenge, he'll have to come out on the issues AND HE"LL LOOSE THE ELECTION POST HASTE.
Hell... I can predict THAT outcome EVEN WITHOUT ALL THOSE DAMN ANNOYING POLLS!
OK... there it is guys. Take it or leave it.
Again... you and your staff did a GREAT JOB on your "education" speech in Ohio. America was listening. I may not be the mythical "everyman," but I sure would like to hear more Obama speeches like that one.
And... tomorrow I'm making another modest donation to your campaign. It's all I can afford, but it's time for the tough and the dedicated TO GET DOWN AND GET GOING!
Very sincerely yours,
P.S. I can't wait for the press to dig up some more dirt on Sarah Palin's pork. When they they do, one of the pacs should throw out this one: "Sarah Paola." Anyone out there old enough to remember what paola was??
I'm an educational researcher. One of the area's of research I've worked in is Applied Linguistics. Being able to analyze transcribed minutes of school board meetings, federal and state educational laws & regulations, and speeches by politicians about their real or promised "educational programs" is a genuinely useful skill.
I've done an analysis of George Bush's First nomination acceptance speech which was given originally at First Union Center, in Philadelphia, PA on August 3, 2000. That transcript is here... somewhere at Georgetown University:
First Bush Nomination Acceptance Speech: http://www.gwu.edu/~action/bush080300.html
I have compared it with an identical word frequency analysis of Senator Obama's inspiring acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver on August 26, 2008. The version I used is the one that was published here by the New York Times on August 28th:
Senator Barak Obama Acceptance Speech: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28text-obama.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Interested Obama Staffers and supporters can find pdf's showing my detailed corpus analysis of both speeches here on my "consulting" web page:
Frequency Analysis of Bush and Obama Nomination Acceptance Speeches: http://blomeyerandclemente.com/BushObamaSpeechs.aspx
As soon as Senator McCain gives his acceptance speech in the Twin Cities, I'll crunch his and compare it to the other two. (What fun!)
That's it for tonight. Tomorrow I'll come back an add a narrative summary of what I interpret all this "word frequency comparison and contrast" to mean.
If you're not used to thinking about "meaning" in terms of word frequencies, the underlying assumption is that people tend to use words more often that are more "meaningful" or "significant" to them. This type of "lexico-semantic" analysis has been used historically (hysterically?) by literacy scholars to do nifty things like try and figure our who William Shakespeare REALLY was.
Sophisticated corpus analysis is also used by U.S. intelligence agencies that intercept global (and internal) telecommunications, in order to try and figure out what the authors or speakers "mean" by what they say or publish on the web. Maybe Senators Obama & Biden will put a stop to some of that illegal internal surveillance. I'm a bit tired of it. Aren't you?
Tomorrow I'll post my summary interpretation of what the similarities and differences between these two acceptance speeches "means." There are similarities and there are some interesting differences. If you can't wait till tomorrow, go read the analyzed data and decide for yourselves what it means.
Another good reason to visit my web site and check out the analyzed data is that I've posted a link to the Excel 2003 Macro that runs the analysis. Go download it and you guys can start analyzing your OWN TRANSCRIPTS.
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...
P.S. The "Gaia" (The Earth personified as the "great mother") is just about to give the GOP a wake-up call. I don't think she want's them back in Washington for another four years.
Look for the GOP and McCain to change the convention plans to try and make it appear more like they actually care about what happens in the City of New Orleans. If they cared, why didn't they spend mo $$ patching up the cities infrastructure after Katrina? (That was a very rhetorical question.)
I mean the good citizens of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast no offense. I'll be praying for the safety of everyone who lives there and I hope Hugo veers Eastward into Texas. I wish Houston no harm either. But they have a better chance of riding it out than N.O. LA does.
According to an Education Week new story by Michele McNeil, entitled "Darling-Hammond highlights differences between presidential candidates" (July 24, 2008) there is an apparent flaw in Senator McCain's announced plans to support educational programs.
McCain wants to "hold the line" on additional $$ for the schools, but he wants to invest 250 million more in R&D to create more virtual schools, probably with most of the $$ going to the private sector.
"John McCain Will Allocate $250 Million Through A Competitive Grant Program To Support States That Commit To Expanding Online Education Opportunities. States can use these funds to build virtual math and science academies to help expand the availability of AP Math, Science, and Computer Sciences courses, online tutoring support for students in traditional schools, and foreign language courses." (From McCain web aite, as above.)
What's wrong with this picture? Is this is what we all have to look forward to from McCain's educational policy?
McCain wants to build more "virtual academies" when most of the "virtual schools" created as "choice alternatives" under the Bush administration's education programs can't make Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) NCLB requires to remain in good standing.
About cyber-school programs in Ohio, see: http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED477870 and http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED477871
About Colorado, see: http://www.districtadministration.com/newssummary.aspx?news=yes&postid=17946 and http://www.leg.state.co.us/OSA/coauditor1.nsf/All/6D2762978BB1D6DF8725723E005ED7D4/$FILE/1768%20Online%20Ed%20Perf%20rel%20Dec%202006.pdf
(There are other similar horror stories from other states. These are probably the best documented cases. Colorado has made some real progress since the Dec. 2006 State Auditor's Report. Ohio is still a mess.)
If that same 250 million were made available for specialized training to help America's teachers become more effective teachers online, and support institutionalizing and replicating the successful statewide supplementary programs like THE Virtual High School, the Michigan Virtual School, The Georgia Virtual School and the Florida Virtual High School. That same $$ supporting programs in our state's public schools (as opposed to the private sector) would take us a lot farther toward improving our schools and national educaitonal system.
Online teaching and learning is an important educational improvement and reform strategy with particular power for improving the quality of instruction in our nation's high schools.
If McCain's education programs support creation of more fully online "cyber-school" programs, the only individuals who will profit from it are the owners and shareholders in the private companies that own and operate fully online cyber-schools. That won't do anything good for American public education.
Today a very interesting interpretation of Senator Obama's "Education Policy" came to my attention. I learned about it from a pro-McCain posting in the North American Council of Online Learning's discussion forum. That's a private forum and I'll probably get kicked off for the response I posted. (It's way to lengthy to repost here.)
But here's the gist of it::
Susan Patrick - Posted: Aug 6 2008, 02:13 PM
Many NACOL Members have asked me about Obama's position on K-12 online education after I posted the link and story about McCain's $750 million proposal supporting K-12 online education. Until today, I had not seen a position from Obama's campaign. In a recent memo made public on July 30, Obama's campaign opposes public funding of K-12 online education.Remember: NACOL does not support or endorse any candidate, and seeks to provide information as it becomes available to members on important policy issues . . . This is the first posting I have seen related, so I am posting for your information.Here's the posting on GuidetoOnlineSchools' blog): http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/blog/2...line-education/
====================
Susan Patrick's line about about how "NACOL does not support or endorse any candidate." rings hollow since she as previously a high level GOP appointee in the US Department of Education duing the current administration and is a native of Arizona, where she also enjoyed an appointment in the State Government.
I read the GuidetoOnlineSchools blog cites, and it in turn cited an EdWeekly article. Both the EdWeekly article and the GuidetoOnlineSchools blog cite an internal "Obama campaign memo." I checked the Education Weekly piece against the text of the blog piece and discovered as serious difference between the facts and how they are being spun:GuidetoOnlineSchools blog:
The July 30 edition of Education Weekly reveals a troubling Obama campaign memo that maligns publicly-funded online learning solutions. The memo reflects an unsophisticated perspective on online education, referring to most online schools as “for-profit” organizations that would squander taxpayer money.
The Obama campaign contends that it might be difficult for states and districts to provide oversight of virtual schools. “Many online schools are for-profit ventures and may siphon money away from public schools,” the Obama campaign memo said. Published Online: July 25, 2008 Published in Print: July 30, 2008 Candidates’ K-12 Views Take Shape McCain and Obama Tussle On Choice, Teacher Issues By Alyson Klein (Available to Subscribers Only)
The Obama campaign contends that it might be difficult for states and districts to provide oversight of virtual schools.
“Many online schools are for-profit ventures and may siphon money away from public schools,” the Obama campaign memo said.
I completely agree with what EdWeekly reports. It has been VERY DIFFICULT for many State Education Agencies to enforce the same NCLB mandated academic standards that public schools are held to with many (not all) for-profit cyber-school owners.
I know "gory details" about specific online schools in Ohio and other states) that would probably cause Senator Obama's hair to straighten abruptly and turn shock white! (LOL!) WELLLLL... maybe that's just a LITTLE exaggeration.
But the point is that the for-profit online learning industry (as represented by content and opinions in the GuidetoOnlineSchools blog) has enough constituents online who are VERY EXPERIENCED as using online media and synchronous telecommunications to "spread the word" about their work and their positions that they can become a potentially damaging source of Anti-Obama propaganda, at a time when our candidate needs all the support he can get to keep his polling numbers up.
For starters, I'd reeally appreciate it if the Obama Staffmembers working on the Education Platform and Positions would consider providing me with a copy of that mythical "campaign memo" that is probably misquoted by the GuidetoOnlineSchools blog and ALLUDED TO in Education Weekly.
I'd appreciate being able to post the literal facts from the mythical campaign memo in the NACOL forum. I'm already getting e-mail from forum readers thanking me for calling Susan Patrick on her little manuver. But I could still use "a little help from my friends" to finish the job right.
Please send me a message through the MyObama site's mail system and I'll get back to whoever is willing to share a copy of the memo with me using regular e-mail.
Thanks and keep up the good work. YES WE CAN!!!
To the Obama Campaign team:
Today McCain's campaign began what will probably escalate into a negative assault against our candidate that will last from today till November.
I've seen the e-mails coming out from headquarters signaling a counter offensive. If the Senator's campaign and truly "stay the course" and resist the temptations to be dragged down and "go negative," I strongly believe in the end our candidate will prevail and be elected our next President.
Stay focused on the real issues and confront the McCain camp with them. That's what will ultimately do the job and begin the process of rebuilding our citizens' faith in a representative government.
Our young men and women in the Military are citizen's and voters too. They are literally under a "gag order" from the upper eschelon's to never publiclty discuss "politics" or their preferences for either candidate or political party.
Despite this "gag order," occasionallty bits of information slip out that may mirror the feelings and dispositions of our troops in the field. Last week, my spouse was searching on MySpace for any evidence that my Son David is alive and well in Iraq.
She came accross this link to a National Guard website. It contains an interview with my son David and with his closes friend Jose. They are both from Indianapolis and without mentioning their last names you'll probably be able to pick out who they are from the interview.
My son David offers that he doesn't think EITHER candidate truly represets their views (an intelligent and resourceful response, under the circumstances) and Jose offers that he's too busy being a "medic" to follow American politics.
Interview - In-Iraq.org
Senator Obama needs to communicate somehow to these young men and women who are serving their country in Iraq that he DOES represent their views and their best interests.
He can do so by sticking with the ISSUES and by not permitting his campaign to dissolve into a mud-bath.
I hope that all of you on the campaigh staff have the STRENGTH needed to support Senator Obama and and stay the course!
YES WE CAN!
P.S. If anyone's interested, I sent Dave an e-mail containing the link to his interview and he replied. He's alive and well (somewhere in Iraq in an undisclosed location), and thinking about us when he's not fully consumed by his duties. He's a medic and has responsibility for the health and well being of his combat unit.
David:
Today I viewed the flash video presentation you sent out to Obama supporters explaining the campaign strategy. It's well designed, actionable, and we'll win. That's almost all there is to say.
I have two suggestions. They may already be under consideration. But if they're not they're food for thought.
First, I'm going to trot out a slogan that was popular with a lot of Unitarian Universalists I hung out around in Houston Texas: "Think globally but act locally."
When it comes to "grassroots organizing," voters who aren't initially inclinded to support our candiate (for any reason) will be more liable to listen to positions and information coming from a neighbor, or someone who lives in their community, than anyone who doesn't.
Next... about voter registration. Thus far, I've seen no evidence the Obama Campaign (or other Democratic campaigns at the local level in all 50 states) are making an effort to get onboard and work along with the League of Women Voters. I think this is a mistake and I can explain why susinctly.
When you're out registering voters on behalf of the League of Women Voters, lots more doors open to you and lots more people will take your non-partisan voter registration literature that if you go out thumping a candidate of either party.
The next time you go out canvassing on behelf of Barak Obama or local Dempcratic candidates, some of those same folks who opened their doors to you when you were out doing voter registration on behalf of the League of Women Voters are liable engage with you to discuss their views, whether they're comitted to your candidate yet or not.
Getting the door open the first time can be easier without the obvious partisan affiliation. Whatever it takes to open the door to dialogue with new or prospective voters that first crucial time, we should be doing it!
Later this afternoon, I'm going out to work for a local Democratic Congressional Candidate in DuPage County, Illinois - which is historically a GOP "stronghold."
If I have an opportunity, I'll ask the local campaign staff whether or not they've considered canvassing the first time on behalf of the League of Women Voters. If they have a well thought out rational for not doing so, or there's some good political reason why they can't do it, so be it.
One way or the other, I plan to "act locally" and support Democratic candidates.
God bless you David and all the campaign staff. Stay on the "high road," never waiver, and we'll win back our pride in American government TOGETHER.
This posting is about an application of educational technology to improving the teaching of Civics and American Government in America's high schools.
When I read it this morning in the N.Y Times, I could barely belive my eyes! You should all consider reading it too:
In it, retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner has this to say about NCLB:
“One unintended effect of the No Child Left Behind Act, which is intended to help fund teaching of science and math to young people, is that it has effectively squeezed out civics education because there is no testing for that anymore and no funding for that,” she said. “And at least half of the states no longer make the teaching of civics and government a requirement for high school graduation. This leaves a huge gap, and we can’t forget that the primary purpose of public schools in America has always been to help produce citizens who have the knowledge and the skills and the values to sustain our republic as a nation, our democratic form of government.”
I won’t comment here on her inference that the described effect was “unintentional.” It’s enough that she said what she did. Intent is irrelevant. It’s happened.
Colleagues:
I've railed in this and other forums about how NCLB sells out the American public educational system to "vested" buisness interests and corporations, that are determined to channel Federal funding for Education into the pocket-books of investors and corporate stakeholders. (I.e. their well paid CEO's)
I just ran accross another story in eSchool News that illustrates my point. It's ironic because in my last posting I accused eSchool news of "spinning" the views of the presidential candidates, to the benefit of the Technology Companies.
There's no contradiction here. The product in quesiton is "Reading First" and it's owned by Brooks Publishing,which is traditionally an "Early Childhood" publishing house. There's no hardware or software involved; only "peopleware." So since hardware & software vendors aren't involved, eSchool news probably feels free to take their best shot.
Here's the citation to the story online:
Thu, May 29, 2008 Study: Reading First program hasn't helped comprehension From eSchool News staff and wire service reports
Here's the good part... classical Rus Whitehurst doublespeak:-----------------------------------------------
This isn't the first time supporters of the program have been dealt bad news.
Congressional investigators and ED Inspector General John Higgins previously found that federal officials and contractors didn't adequately address potential conflicts of interest. For example, federal contractors that gave states advice on which teaching materials to buy had financial ties to publishers of Reading First materials, according to the investigations.
Higgins also testified to Congress that the department didn't comply with the law when setting up panels that would review grant applications and in establishing criteria for what teaching materials could be used.
Miller said those problems could be behind the findings of the latest ED report.
"Because of the corruption in the Reading First program, districts and schools were steered toward certain reading programs and products that may not have provided the most effective instruction for students," he said.
The new study examining Reading First's impact has itself been the subject of conflict-of-interest questions, because a contractor that worked on it also was among those that helped implement the Reading First program.
RMC Research Corp. was the contractor hired by the federal government to help with Reading First at the outset of the program under three contracts worth about $40 million. The contractor was subsequently criticized in an inspector general's report for failing to adequately address conflict-of-interest issues. For example, it did not sufficiently screen subcontractors for relationships with publishers of reading programs, the report said.
RMC also was involved in the study released May 1, developing ways of measuring what was taught in classrooms and training classroom observers. Critics have said the company was, in effect, involved in judging its own work.
Whitehurst said he didn't think the contractor's involvement in the study resulted in an actual conflict of interest but perhaps created the appearance of one.
"If we had to do it all over again," he said, "we would have avoided the appearance issue."
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I sincerely hope you all find that as amusing as I do.
(Adapted from "BobBl's Education Policy Blog" on Democratic Partybuilder )
Obama Staffers:
I, for one, am glad very that we finally have two "presumptive" Presidential nominees.
Now perhaps Senator Obama and his campaign staff can finally begin again at articulating and defining where our candidate's stands on important issues; like for instance... EDUCATION!
There is limited evidence today supporting the notion that "Education" is surfacing again as a national issue:
eSchool News (6/6/2008): McCain, Obama reps discuss education
the piece from eSchool News, some good ideas are attributed to Jeanne Century, director of science research at the University of Chicago's Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education,
her ideas are presented "third hand" and probably lost lots in translation. I'd like to hear more from Ms. Century, but in her own words!
Unfortunately, eSchool News is a venue supporting (and supported by) large, "corporate" interests, with much to gain financially from increasing broadband access to all the schools.
I don't and WOULDN'T EVER argue against increasing broadband access for the "have not" schools as a policy objective. The "Digital Divide" is alive and well; particularly in the "Great City Schools" in cities like Chicago.
However, the message needs to be spread through information channels that are less alligned with corporate "vested interests" than this one. Letting a source like eSchool News promote the message is functional equivalent to taking donations from an eLearning industy PAC!
I hope that in the future Senator Obama's staff does a more thorough job of selecting the venue s for information releases relating to Education and Educators.
Senator Obama & Staff members:
That last debate and the beating you've taken in the wake of Rev. Wright's latest public statements have been hard. Also Indiana is a hard state for you to be campaigning in.
I hope you fully understand some of the Indiana history that no one likes to remember or talk about. Just in case you don't, I'll share enough with you to get your researchers started.
And, I have a recommendations for how you can appeal to the not-so-latent GUILT that so many good non-racist, Anglo Hoosiers carry around with them every waking hour of every day. It's that GUILT good, liberal, Democratic Hoosiers carry that can become your secret weapon!
(Continued in Extended Posting)
Senator Obama & Staff:
Literally MILLIONS of us are out here pulling for you tonight.
You've probably got lots of people offering "advice" about how to handle Hillary. A thought just came to me and I'll share it in only a very few words:
For this encounter, maybe you should look for guidance to famous words of wisdom about prizefighting from the Champ himself: Muhammad Ali.
His most repeated quote about prizefighting technique is:
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali
Translated into strategy & tactics for a debate, that might work something like this:
Follow the pattern and keep hammering her with the REAL ISSUES. Every time she attacks you about "intent" or "experience," hammer her back with a GUT PUNCH that challenges her to stop wasting time with style and redirect to substance!
Above all, keep redirecting the floor back to her. Let her back herself into a corner and make it obvious to the American electorate just what kind of an American President she would really be.
I may be wrong about Hillary, but I think if you give her enough rope she'll hang herself on camera, in front of the Pope and EVERYBODY!
Go watch some videos of Ali's fights on UTube. It's the same fight strategy the Champ used to lure his opponents out into the center ring, just before he delivered the knockout punch.
You can do it Senator Obama. We're all counting on you to be the last Democrat standing!!
Senator Obama & campaign staff:
You're ALL doing a great job in Pennsylvania and Indiana. GOOD PROGRESS!
Today I was sent information about a recent OCR ruling in Washington State that has MAJOR implications for the online "cyber-schools" in Pennsylvania.
I'll cut to the chase and go back to provide the context needed to "frame" the issue for use supporting consideration given to using the issue as material in the Senator's speeches about "education" in Pennsylvania.
Here's the "abstract" from the Washington State OCR ruling dated November 16, 2007:
A Washington district's failure to monitor anonline high school's admissions procedures landed itin hot water with OCR. Finding that the schoolimproperly denied admission to students withdisabilities, OCR ordered the district to take the stepsset forth in a resolution agreement. The school'swritten admissions criteria stated that it would notprovide certain accommodations to students withdisabilities. In addition to limiting students to 40hours a week of specialized instruction, the schoolstated that it would not provide counseling,paraeducator support, tutoring, or a modifiedcurriculum. The school also excluded students whohad a "documented inability" to complete assignmentsindependently or were unable to read and write at asixth-grade level. It did not apply the same criteria tonondisabled students. Because there was no evidencethat the admissions criteria were necessary for theschool to achieve its goals, OCR determined that theschool violated Section 504 and the ADA. Thedistrict, as the school's operator, was also liable fordiscrimination.
I've "hidden" a pdf containing that brief on my "consulting website." The brief can be downloaded here:
http://blomeyerandclemente.com/Documents/Online%20Learning%20OCR%20(2).pdf
I'll explain the "political context" concerning "cyber-schools" (online charter schools) in Pennsylvania in the "extended posting. Read on if interested.
Today I was searching on the web for a map of Iraq and stumbled across maps and a discussion about those maps and their possible interpretations that's very disturbing.
I'm not going to editorialize about what this may all mean. But if anyone out there DOESN'T have a clear idea about why the U.S. Military is in Iraq, you should probably not only read over the postings here, but follow the links these bloggers have pasted into THEIR responses!
A disclaimer is in order before I post the link. I can't vouch for the accuracy of the information on this site, and I don't agree with all the positions presented by the individuals posting in this forum.
That being said, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE TAKE A GOOD LONG, CRITICAL LOOK, and decide for yourselves what it may mean.
From DEMOCRATICUNDERGROUND.COM: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3190892#3190947
So gentle readers, what do all of YOU think it means?
(See Extended Posting for a Rejoinder for Obama Staffers)
