WEAC - Another Milestone Initiative

Today's Wisconsin State Journal had an interesting article related to Wisconsin's Frankenstein veto. This priviledge is currently held by none other than our governor, "Diamond" Jim Doyle. The WI state assembly and senate have said "enough is enough" and it's time to remove the priviledge of the Frankenstein veto.

Who is the lone supporter of Diamond Jim and his Frankenpen? WEAC. After all, they got what they wanted in this state budget. Oh, that's right...According to Ma Bell, WEAC prez, WEAC wants to set politics aside. Yea, right.

Put it on the April ballot through a state referendum and we'll just see how much pull WEAC has.

Hiss...

In case you are considering voting for "the smartest woman in the world" for president (and no, Oprah isn't running), watch this first.

Doyle Vetoes Virtual Schools

Governor "Diamond" Jim Doyle and his WEAC supporters were handed a victory December 5. WEAC professes, "Every child deserves a great school." Truth is, they want to indoctrinate our kids in person. (ie: We need more union due payers) WEAC used its most expensive political thug to maintain the stranglehold on school choice through Diamond Jim's veto pen last month. Educational options for kids who need them have taken a back seat to union thuggery.

So much for Ma Bell separating education from politics.

What was presented at the Capitol anyway?

There were 62 people at last month's meeting on government education funding, and the BNR did an article stating that all but one spoke in favor of throwing more tax dollars at government schools.

Here is the one who spoke against. The link is well worth the read.

In summary: "Funding public education is not a revenue problem, it a local expenditure problem."

Mandatory Union Education for Kids?

Read a more complete article than printed in the BNR here.

Ma Bell, head of WEAC, supports the bill. But why? After all, she stated she wanted to separate education from politics in a 9/15/07 feature article in the BNR. "Kids deserve great schools. Let's keep politics out of it." Bell went on, "In this spirit of renewal, let's decide that this new school year is the time to set politics aside when it comes to public education."

A textbook example of hypocracy in action.

School Board to Engage in Critical Thinking?

Baraboo News Republic - Dec. 7, 2007
Dateline: Baraboo
Superintendent's contract on docket for February

Baraboo School Board members will discuss Superintendent Lance Alwin's contract in February after voting against automatically extending his contract for another year earlier this week.

The standard contract between a district administrator and the board provides for an automatic one-year extension if no action is taken on the renewal of the contract, said Kevin Vodak, president of the board.

This does not mean that the Alwin will not be rehired at the end of his term, Vodak said.

The contract between the school board and the present administrator was signed in May 2007 and will expire June 30, 2009.

The board will be discussing this issue again in early February, said School Board member Patricia Spragg. - News Republic
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You heard it here first – before this week’s meeting! It was time for board members to find their kahonas and bring common sense to a board meeting. It’s a baby step – singular, lone, and atypical. They finally did it (TOOK YA LONG ENOUGH) and I respectfully give them credit for doing so. The brakes to the mindless head-bobbing of board members have been tapped. Hopefully the board doesn’t blow the opportunity to purge the district of a bad apple.

What is the motive behind board members not auto-blessing Alwin’s contract for an additional year? Could it be that they’ve finally seen the light? Possible, but doubt it.

Is the move a political ploy for board members preparing to run again? More likely. There’s a lot of community sentiment that the district administration is out of control and lacks leadership. By making community members perceive that Alwin is in danger of not having his contract auto-renewed, it may make some community members think board members have had a change of heart - just long enough and just in time for the election. After all, “perception is everything.” So is timing.

Why wait until February to take up the matter again? If board members want a snowball’s chance of being re-elected, this is one way to pull the wool over the eyes of the community long enough to get through the election. And, IF (a big IF) some actually get re-elected, all bets are off and God help us all.

Board members have proven time and again they’re clueless “working with” the government school system they’re supposed to be in charge of. It would be a shocker if the existing board members actually let Alwin’s contract lapse. It's being done now to get the bang for the political buck come elction time. Otherwise, it would have been a higher priority sooner. I don’t think all four incumbents will make it through the election process and be in office to have the chance to see it through. It’s doubtful the board will take further action of non-renewal until a few weeks prior to the election - just for suspense. Remember, timing is everything.

Bottom line: If by some miracle all the stars align at a board meeting and the board allows Alwin’s contract to lapse, the board will reserve the right to renege and Alwin would be a lame duck. Taxpayers would have a $200,000 paperweight for the next year and a half and Alwin would ultimately laugh his way all the way to the bank. An expensive lesson learned (and hopefully not repeated), but it beats the alternative of retaining a bad apple and it’s cheaper than buying Alwin out of a contract that never should have been renewed in the first place. DUH!

Baby steps…

By the way, what’s the deal with the BNR regarding this article? “Earlier this week,” buried on page three below the fold with the byline “News Republic”. Doesn’t anybody want to take credit for their hard work any more? Or, does the newspaper want to distance itself and not admit they made a mistake enabling Alwin and his “visions”?

UPDATE: This is an excellent description of critical thinking. I hope I didn't credit the school board prematurely in the headline! H/T - Chris.

The Lowering of the Bar/Boondoggle

Courtesy of EdWeek.org

U.S. Students Fall Short in Math and Science

Teenagers in a majority of industrialized nations far surpassed their American peers in mathematics in results that seem likely to add to recent consternation over U.S. students’ core academic skills.

• America Idles on International Reading Test
(December 4, 2007)

Here's one take on the subject, supported by several different responses:

Time will tell if the "flavor of the day" teaching methods really work. The initial report is: it's not looking good. Time to get back to basics before our educational system can't educate anyone past the equivalent of fourth grade in 1969. Remember, today's kids are the folks that will be caring for us when we get old. Don't they (and we) deserve better than what's on the horizon?

Boondoggle (def.): to do work of little or no practical value merely to keep or look busy.

Yep. Shoe fits.

Do we have cooties?

US News and World Report came out today with the best high schools in the country. See the Wisconsin schools listed here.

The following counties are adjacent to Sauk County: Adams, Columbia, Dane, Iowa, Juneau, Richland, and Vernon. While I'm not sure how many high schools are in this geographic area, there are well over 500,000 people (maybe 750,000?) within it.

Think of all the tax dollars spent on government schools in this same geographic area. My guess is that it would be well over $500,000,000 and is probably closer to $1 Billion (that's with a B, Billion) dollars.

How many high schools in this geographic and reasonably well populated area passed muster to be ranked as the best high schools in the country? The answer is four:
- Necedah High School, Juneau County - Bronze award
- Kickapoo High School, Vernon County - Silver award
- LaFarge High School, Vernon County - Bronze award
- Viroqua High School, Vernon County - Bronze award

First of all, congratulations to those schools and sincere best wishes for continued success. They are obviously doing something right.

Besides these being rural high schools, what do they all have in common? Each of the award winners are an hour or more away from here and close to two hours from Madison. I didn't notice Dane county on the list...and where in the H-E double toothpicks is Baraboo? I keep being told Baraboo has great schools! Ovbiously, this is propoganda to make people feel good. After all, "perception is reality!"

The montra needs to be changed. Baraboo HAD great schools.

Without leadership by the school board
(some kahonas and common sense would help, seeing as they're either in short supply or being saved for a rainy day - because neither are exhibited with great frequency)
and changes in the administration
(lack of leadership, egomaniacal, condescending - It's time to can the few bad apples),
we'll never make the list.

Consider all of the "great schools" within the geographic area that didn't make the list either. It just goes to show no matter how much money is thrown at Baraboo government schools, no matter how "great" they are talked up, it will never be enough without changes to the school board and administration.

It's time to can (terminate the employment of) the bad apples.

School board pre-meeting check list:
- Show up (on time, if possible) - check.
- Carry on innocuous pre-meeting chatter - check.
- Observe pompus person enter one minute prior to meeting - check, CHECK!

All set?

School board: It's Monday night, 7PM. It's time to can the bad apples.

Now, did you remember to bring your kahonas and common sense? You don't typically bring them with you, and you're gonna need them for this meeting. Please find them and add them to your pre-meeting check list.

If you can't find your common sense or don't know what kahonas are, graciously step aside.

...and the beat goes on...

According to today's BNR, Mr. Mering is a committee member on Baraboo Community Ed, "an organization that advocates for public education."

Further into the article, readers can get the school district's administrative spin from Ritzenthaler and Schwarz, the same two administrators that tried peddling the last referendum at town hall meetings. More doom and gloom about "reduced or eliminated programs and reduced staff", but no specifics. Why no specifics? The number of teachers increased from 220 in the 2006/07 school year to 226 in the 2007/08 school year, so "reduced staff" didn't include the number of teachers.

It's more selective disclosure - like the "failing" reading scores they tried peddling at the town hall meetings. Next thing we'll hear about is the shrinking toilets at South school (again), crumbling infrastructure, and that we can't afford to pay all of the district staff because the district has negotiated everything away in labor contracts. The excuse will be inflation, but the result will be the same.

Generally speaking, public (government) education has failed us as a nation. Government education wastes too much, sets its own standards, is not held accountable for results, and quality erodes over time because there's no incentive to improve. Baraboo is no exception. For these reasons, it is shameful that Baraboo has "an organization that advocates for public education".

Instead of complaining at the capitol that the funding formula needs to be changed, Mering could have come forth with a solution. He missed this opportunity - had it and blew it, big time. But, maybe he doesn't have a solution at all. Just send in your $ and the government education system will do the rest. Like the saying goes, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." For the love of God, please stop "helping". We can't afford your "help" any more!

I have been working on a solution to the school funding issue. There are some unknowns, but the general concept is sound. Most people would view the idea as an amenable solution - as long as they valued quality education for kids higher than their personal interests. Reader, let me know if you're interested.

For those traveling this holiday week

Occasionally, humor is in order...Safe and happy travels to all.

The Analysis of a Job Description

From the Wisconsin State Journal 11/11/07:

Superintendent – LAKELAND UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT POSITION AVAILABLE
The Lakeland Union High School District has a vacancy for a Superintendent beginning July 1, 2008. This is a full time 12 month position. Candidates must hold, or be eligible for, a Wisconsin District Administrator License. The successful candidate will have demonstrated collaborative leadership skills in current and former administrative positions; have a track record of research-based decision making; have a high level of integrity; and the vision to take a successful school district to the next level. Prior administrative experience is desired. An application packet is available from the district by contacting Mr. Michael Dailey, District Administrator at 715-358-8480. Materials should be received by Nov. 30, 2007. More information is located on the "Employment in Wisconsin" website at www.Wisconsin.gov

Analysis:
When does it start? Nearly eight months from now.
Is it a full-time position? Yes. It’s a full time 12 month position.
Licensure? Yes. Candidates must hold, or be eligible to hold, a WI District Administrator license.
Prior administrative experience? Desired.

I know someone who may be qualified! Let’s analyze it further…

What is this district looking for?
A candidate that has demonstrated collaborative leadership skills in current and former administrative positions. Ooooh. Strike one. The so far qualified candidate I’m thinking of is an arrogant autocrat. You can’t tell autocrats anything. Autocrats may hear, but can’t listen worth a hill of beans. Autocrats know it all and are about as far from collaborative as one can get. Who would want to collaborate with an arrogant autocrat anyway? Leadership skills for this so far qualified candidate have not been demonstrated. In fact, the “skills” they have demonstrated were not leadership skills and were not conducive to collaboration.

Have a high level of integrity. Integrity – noun: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. Ooooh. Strike two for the person I’m thinking of. They want to win at all costs. The outcome supposedly justifies their means.

A vision to take a successful school district to the next level. The WI licensed candidate I’m thinking of was advertised as being a visionary. Thus far, their visions have wreaked havoc on a community as a whole, dividing it. I don’t see this as a positive – Strike three.

Best of luck to Lakeland. I hope they find someone better than who I’m thinking of.

Happy Veteran's Day

A sincere thank you to all who served.

Wanted: Common Sense in Public Schools

Illinois Middle School Student Gets Detention for Hugging Friends
Tuesday , November 06, 2007 MASCOUTAH, Ill. —

Two hugs equals two days of detention for 13-year-old Megan Coulter. The eighth-grader was punished for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection when she hugged two friends Friday.

"I feel it is crazy," said Megan, who was to serve her second detention Tuesday after classes at Mascoutah Middle School. "I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend," she said. Megan's mother, Melissa Coulter, said the embraces weren't even real hugs — just an arm around the shoulder and slight squeeze. "It's hilarious to the point of ridicule," Coulter said. "I'm still dumbfounded that she's having to do this."

District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook. It states: "Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved."

Coulter said she and her husband told their daughter to go ahead and serve her detentions because the only other option was a day of suspension for each skipped detention. "We don't agree with it, but I certainly don't want her to get in more trouble," Coulter said. The couple plan to attend the next school board meeting to ask board members to consider rewording the policy or be more specific in what is considered a display of affection. "I'm just hoping the school board will open their eyes and just realize that maybe they shouldn't be punishing us for hugs," Megan said.
==========================================================
Wanted: Common sense in public schools
Reward: First born to attend public school and my tax dollars. Freeloaders, autocrats, and those not open to reason need not apply.

The bar to measure the success of public education has been lowered - again.

World Bank and Iran

The World Bank is moving forward in approving a $900 million loan to Iran. Apparently, they're open to the idea of loaning money to anybody for any purpose - including terrorism. If they were naive enough to go through with the loan, what are the odds it would actually be repaid?

Open WIDE

With the state budget resolved, the school district has come in with their budget. Never mind the fact that it's about $300,000 MORE in taxes levied than what was approved at the district's annual meeting. Never mind the fact that at that annual meeting, THE VOTERS approved a mill rate of $7.29 (a very generous 9.75% increase in levied tax dollars).

Monday night, the school board decided they knew better than all those at the annual meeting, better than those who TRUSTED them in their advertising of a 9.75% increase in the amount of funds extracted from local taxpayers.

Yup, they knew better. Open your wallet WIDE for a mill rate of $7.45.

Oh yea, don't be shocked if the district comes in with a SURPLUS at year end, according to the district's financial mouthpiece.

Enough is never enough for irresponsible people with the chance to blow money on the latest way to raise self-esteem. They still want more. It helps THEIR self-esteem. Far be it for them to actually set expectations and goals on THE COMMUNITY'S INVESTMENT in its public educational system.

Exit questions:
1) If the district could function successfully without a referendum on $7.29/$1,000 value, why did they screw the taxpayers at $7.45?
2) What should taxpayers expect from the extra $300,000 of previously unadvertised revenue?

NASCARGOT

Somehow, I don't think Sunday's race in Atlanta will look like this.

No expectations = No accountability

The Baraboo School board had the passage of the district's annual budget on last night's agenda. With the media coverage of the school district's position on the state budget on October 6 "Local Officials Clamoring..." this writer expected to see a widely promoted board meeting with the total of how much the district planned to legally extract from our wallets. Seeing as it was important to get the local taxpayer-funded talking head take on state politics, it is not an unreasonable expectation for the school district financial mouthpiece to boast wildly of how big of a cut the district will take from community taxpayers.

As long as the board was to be discussing the budget, one must wonder how much time they spent talking about how the district was going to increase its reading and math scores. Nothing like setting all your expectations at once. For example, with the hundreds of thousands of dollars the district is sinking into a new reading program including six elementary reading specialists and another for the middle school, what is the expectation for reading scores to increase? Maybe a 5% improvement? 10%?

How about setting the expectation that 100% of Baraboo students achieve 100% proficiency in reading and math in the next three years? According to numerous news sources, earlier this month it was reported that Wisconsin's definition of proficient is significantly lower than the national average. Nothing like keeping the bar low to make sure everybody feels good.(everybody: WEAC, administators, board members). If our youth get such a great public education in Baraboo, why aren't they surpassing the state standards instead of meeting them? Should the state lower the bar even more? After all, we wouldn't want to leave anyone behind.

My guess...there were no expectations set for student achievement at the meeting last night, or ever for that matter. Setting such goals would be too confining. The district must continue promoting generalities, else they may actually be held accountable for failing our community and youth - again.

And to think I wondered why so many colleges offer remedial coursework in reading and math.

School Choice candidates

Rudy Giuliani

Mitt Romney

Fred Thompson
Click on: “Education”

Duncan Hunter
See item #16 – Education

Any would do a fine job by giving Americans economically feasable alternatives to the woefully inadequate public education system we're strapped with. More money for public education does not mean increased efficiency or productivity. Just look at your tax bill.

With no accountability, it just means public education costs more.

Sometimes union actions can be good for society

The Hollyweird writers guild has announced they'll strike at the end of the month if their contractual demands are not met. Seeing as there hasn't been a decent film produced in Hollyweird since I was a kid, having them strike would only benefit society. Less garbage polluting the airwaves.

Hollyweird writers unite!

Intolerance is closer than you think

UW-LaCrosse. It's okay to be protected by the campus climate, as long as you don't hold conservative views. Unbelievable.

Indoctrinate U

There's a new documentary coming out soon.

It's called: Indoctrinate U. Click here for the trailer.

For those that choose to celebrate diversity, try celebrating (or at least respecting) the diversity of ideas.

HT: Chris - OTB

Rally at the Capitol

The Americans for Prosperity (AFP) held a rally at the capitol in Madison today. Having never been to a political rally of any sort, I went with an open mind yet expected the worst from an uninvited pro-tax group.

The purpose of the rally was to show support for Republican Assembly members. So far, they have successfully prevented billions from being included in the state's overdue budget. We encourage them to continue the good fight. Citizens are unwilling to cough up more without accountability.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the hypocracy of our governor when I heard his voice utter the following from his 1/30/03 State of the State address, "Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution -- except one. We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes."

AFP rally members were middle-class folks and civil. The hecklers from the pro-tax group looked middle-class too, except they were ignorant and intolerant, yelling profanities and trying to intimidate the couple ahead of me and behind me as I exited the rally area.

As taxes go up, costs for everything go up...including expenditures made by the folks in the green shirts at today's rally.

"Nemo me impune lacesset"

Too good to pass up...

It's been a wonderful summer. Nothing like the great outdoors!

Here's an example of the shining benefits of socialized, government sponsored education. Be sure to check out how the audience votes when asked. It's the French version (with subtitles) of "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire."

Just think, our kids could have this type of education here with enough money.

What? Bias in our media?

With the national spelling bee last week and all of its media coverage, one would think the media would do an in-depth reporting of at least the top few finishers. As usual, they come through with the following: http://newsbusters.org/node/13148

Yes, while it is mentioned that the champion, Evan O'Dorney, enjoyed eating fish before each round, the media focused on another competitor that was eliminated in the second round. This competitor's family was from India and it was hoped that the competitor's success could lead to his family gaining legal status in the good ol' US of A.

Don't get me wrong...each of the competitors did a fine job and each should be proud. While the media's focus was on the plight of legal status, they lost sight of what the competition was all about: a spelling bee.

To take things one step further, the media failed miserably in informing the public that Mr. O'Dorney was homeschooled by his mother. Congratulations to Evan, his Mom, and their family.

Just goes to show: public schools are no longer the end all to beat all after all.

Lake Stevens teacher suspended for shooting remark

Associated Press - May 16, 2007 12:05 PM ET

A Lake Stevens (Washington) high school teacher is on leave while the district investigates a remark he made to a class. A parent complained that the teacher, Gary McDonald, told students Monday he would take anyone talking in class and line them up against a wall and shoot them. District spokeswoman Arlene Hulten says if the complaint is substantiated, McDonald could face a range of discipline from a verbal reprimand to suspension. She says the 60-year-old McDonald already plans to retire next month. In February he was reprimanded for including a biblical account of creation in an assignment on myths.
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So much for tax dollars wasted on professional development.

Algore's Carbon Credits Hit A Snag

What better way to offset Algore's carbon credits than with carbon debits! Here's how you can do your part. Enjoy!

Baraboo School Board Picks New Athletic Supporter

The Baraboo School Board annointed its new Athletic Supporter, and it isn't Judd Maxwell, the former board member who resigned to apply for the position. Board member Patricia Spragg had the lone vote of "no" to the appointment, citing flaws in the hiring process. She also had reservations about creating a new administrative position for the district.

District Administrator Lance Alwin narrowed the field of closely qualified candidates from three to one and recommended Aaron Andres, Baraboo teacher of advanced placement statistics and coach for the BHS golf team. Read the entire article here. Still no word on how much the Athletic $upporter will co$t.

Using Google, I searched for any individual, business, or governmental entity that spent its way to prosperity. After my computer ran for 15 minutes, it started smoldering and sparking. Then it crashed. Could this have been a harbinger of doom for our Baraboo School District?

Kids on field trip subjected to "fake" gun attack

Another "learning" experience for elementary school kids. Is this the type of thing teachers are learning at teacher school nowadays?

At least the district reacted with a show-stopping two weeks without pay for those responsible. Way too small a price to pay for irresponsibility with kids.

To those considering entering the teaching profession: Don't drink the kool-aid.

In pursuit of the well-rounded curriculum

Chicago Board of Ed Sued for Teacher Allegedly Showing 'Brokeback Mountain' in Class

Sunday, May 13, 2007 Associated Press

CHICAGO — A girl and her grandparents have sued the Chicago Board of Education, alleging that a substitute teacher showed the R-rated film "Brokeback Mountain" in class. The lawsuit claims that Jessica Turner, 12, suffered psychological distress after viewing the movie in her 8th grade class at Ashburn Community Elementary School last year.

The film, which won three Oscars, depicts two cowboys who conceal their homosexual affair.
Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking around $500,000 in damages.

"It is very important to me that my children not be exposed to this," said Kenneth Richardson, Turner's guardian. "The teacher knew she was not supposed to do this." According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, the video was shown without permission from the students' parents and guardians. The lawsuit also names Ashburn Principal Jewel Diaz and a substitute teacher, referred to as "Ms. Buford."

The substitute asked a student to shut the classroom door at the West Side school, saying: "What happens in Ms. Buford's class stays in Ms. Buford's class," according to the lawsuit.
Richardson said his granddaughter was traumatized by the movie and had to undergo psychological treatment and counseling. In 2005, Richardson complained to school administrators about reading material that he said included curse words.

"This was the last straw," he said. "I feel the lawsuit was necessary because of the warning I had already given them on the literature they were giving out to children to read. I told them it was against our faith." Messages left over the weekend with CPS officials were not immediately returned.
===================================================
Congratulations to the student and her guardian for taking a stand against the attempted brainwashing of an 8th grade class. While the movie viewed is controversial, ANY rated "R" movie has no place in public schools.

How can anyone support a public education system where things like this are acceptable, disregarded, or conveniently overlooked? How eroded have the values of public education gotten? Shameful.

It wouldn't be so bad if this were an isolated type of story, but looking through the other postings on this blog proves a point. BTW - I don't even look for these types of articles...they simply present themselves as headlines on various popular news websites.

There is a problem with our public education system. The problem has nothing to do with not enough money.

Nuts & Bolts

With today's announcement of Judd Maxwell's resignation from the Baraboo School Board, I thought it would be nice to get back to basics. 10 Differences between Conservatives And Liberals is a great read. Well written and pretty much sums up how things work when it comes to government, be it federal, state, or local.

Now we have a former school board member vying for a taxpayer funded job as an athletic supporter where the position has no job description, the board doesn't know how much they're willing to pay the additional administrative position nor how much taxpayer money they'll need to cover all the benefits, and nobody at the school district will disclose how many people applied for the job that wasn't widely advertised. Where do you suppose the Baraboo School Board falls on the political spectrum? Are they representative of a cross-section of our community or are they just out for themselves?

I wonder who will get the job as the new school administrative athletic supporter...My guess is Maxwell. What are the odds of me going two for two?

PS: Bye Bye Bobby. Your damage here is done.

School Board VP steps down

By Christina Beam, Baraboo News Republic 5/1/07

Baraboo School Board Vice President Judd Maxwell resigned from office Friday, just three weeks after winning re-election. Then Monday, he turned in an application for the district's newly created activities director position.

Maxwell, a longtime WIAA football official and former teacher, said in his resignation letter to the board and administrators that he was "preparing to chase a long sought-after dream … one that would still allow me to keep my focus on children and their achievements."

Maxwell advocated for creation of the position as a School Board member but abstained from the April 9 vote that made it official. On Monday, he said that at the time of the vote, he hadn't decided whether he would apply, but wanted to keep his options open and avoid a possible conflict of interest.

"This is an opportunity that is not only right for me on a personal level in terms of pursuing a meaningful life of being of service to others, but it has come about at a time when I have been giving a great deal of thought about my career and professional pathways in life," he said. "I think I can have an even greater impact working at a level where I'm down in the trenches."

The application period for the position ended Monday, and an interview panel of administrators and community members will make a recommendation on the position in the coming weeks. Baraboo High School Principal Machell Schwarz did not return calls for comment Monday on how many applications the school had received or the hiring timeline, but School Board President Kevin Vodak said quite a few people had applied.

"There is no preconceived notion from me or anybody on the board that Mr. Maxwell's applying for the position leaves the foregone conclusion that he's going to get it, and I know Mr. Maxwell feels the same way," Vodak said. "He's going to have to stand on his own and he's going to have to go through the process. … His application will be given the same consideration as everyone else who applies."

Maxwell's resignation, which was effective immediately Friday, leaves the six remaining members to find a replacement in the next 60 days. Board policy states the vacancy will be advertised in the newspaper at least three times with a set deadline. Anyone interested can submit a letter of application to the board, then go through an interview process during a special board meeting. The board chooses an appointee and an alternate by simple majority. The new board member will finish out the remainder of Maxwell's three-year term.

Read the rest of the article here.
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Remember, you read it here first... over two weeks ago.

Essay arrest baffles experts

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/360827,CST-NWS-essay27.article
April 27, 2007
BY DAN ROZEK, ROSALIND ROSSI AND ABDON M. PALLASCH Staff Reporters

Police Thursday released portions of an essay used to charge a Cary-Grove High School student with disorderly conduct, leaving several experts puzzled at an arrest based on such schoolwork.
Asked to write about whatever he wanted in a creative writing class, would-be Marine and honors student Allen Lee, 18, described a violent dream in which he shot people and then "had sex with the dead bodies.''

But then he immediately dismissed the idea as a mere joke, writing, "not really, but it would be funny if I did.''

A second disorderly count accuses Lee of alarming first-year teacher Nora Capron by writing that "as a teacher, don't be surprised on [sic] inspiring the first CG shooting,'' an apparent reference to Cary-Grove High.

Lee said Thursday he was "completely shocked'' to be arrested Tuesday for his essay, especially because written instructions told kids not to "censor'' what they wrote.

"In creative writing, you're told to exaggerate,'' said Lee. "It was supposed to be just junk. . . .
"There definitely is violent content, but they're taking it out of context and making it something it isn't.''

"I have no intention of harming anyone,'' said Lee, who has been transferred to an alternative school setting. "I miss school.''

Lee's father, Albert Lee, who emigrated from China 32 years ago, said his son has a clean academic and police record. He, too, insisted his son's essay was not threatening but authorities "drew a conclusion before the investigation. They didn't want to do the investigation.''
However, the father would not comment on whether he believed authorities acted quickly because his son is of Asian heritage, as was the Virginia Tech campus shooter.

Family therapist Michael Gurian, author of The Minds of Boys, said Allen Lee needs at least good counseling, but "If he was arrested solely based on those words, I don't see that as the most helpful course.''

Bernardine Dohrn, director of Northwestern University's Children and Family Justice Center, laughed when she heard the charge.

"You might want to talk to him, talk to his parents, but the criminal justice system seems to be the last thing you'd want,'' said Dohrn, a former Weatherman leader who lived for years as a fugitive.

Mike McInerney, former head of the Cook County Public Defender's Juvenile Court office, said he "wouldn't be happy'' if his son wrote such words but "I wouldn't criminalize free expression. . . . I don't think it's going to hold up criminally.''

Write or wrong
Excerpts from Allen Lee’s essay• “As a teacher, don’t be surprised on inspiring the first CG [Cary-Grove High School] shooting.”• “Blood, sex, booze. Drugs, drugs, drugs are fun. Stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, s..t..a..b...puke.”• “So I had this dream last night where I went into a building, pulled out two P 90s [submachine guns] and started shooting everyone, then had sex with the dead bodies. Well, not really, but it would be funny if I did.”
=================================================
This report from the Chicago Sun-Times is very disturbing. On one hand, the school is trying to bring attention to a potential issue. On the other hand, the students were explicitly told NOT to censor their writing.

I disagree with the students' writing as it is over the top disturbing.

Where are the students' rights to freedom of speech/expression in all of this? Where are Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and the ACLU, who turn a blind eye to rap music as freedom of speech/expression?

Selective intervention.

Sensitive to community wishes or pandering?

The following poll ran in the Baraboo News Republic earlier this month:
=============================================
Should the Baraboo schools hire an activities director?
Results:
Yes- 70 votes or 28 percent
No -180 votes or 72 percent
=============================================
WOW! Less than 30% of respondents didn't think buying our school district an athletic supporter was a good idea. Was the school board serving our community, caving to the vocal minority, or pandering to the parents of the "rich" kids?

Is this the first of many steps our board will take to mend our divided community as they promised they would, or just another bad decision to add to the pile?

Doomed.

Hmmm...

The outcome of Monday night's vote is no big surprise, but it is peculiar to say the least. Let's review: When the school board approved a community activities director position and several reading specialist positions a few weeks ago, the job postings were up on the school district's website within a day or two. Makes sense to me...they were actively recruiting.

For the new athletic supporter position, the administration admits they didn't know how much the position would cost district taxpayers, there's been no website posting, and when we last read about the position in the BNR, the district didn't have a job description either. Add to the mix the fact that one of the board members abstained from voting on the new position "for personal reasons."

Mysteriously, the following information has appeared:
===================================================

Job Posting
Baraboo School District
April 10, 2007

Baraboo School District has an opening beginning in the 2007-2008 school year for a full-time activities director. This position will serve as the district leader in the planning and supervision of district activities, including athletic and extra-curricular activities. Specific functions of the position include leadership, planning, supervision, staff development, public relations, communication, budget development, staff relations, facilities scheduling, and record keeping. Candidates should possess or be willing to work toward WI certification 51 (administrative). The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to the community of Baraboo and to the Baraboo School District through proactive efforts to build channels of communication and relationships with student participants, coaches, advisors, parents, and the community. Candidates willing to obtain residency in the school district of Baraboo will be given preference. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, resume, references, and credentials to: Machell Schwarz, Baraboo High School, 1201 Draper Street, Baraboo, WI 53913. Materials should be received by April 30, 2007.

===============================================

Is it payback time for the one school board member that holds a teaching license, sits on the personnel committee for the school district, and abstained from voting? Like I said, it looks peculiar...We'll see.

Baraboo principal offered Portage post

By Christina Beam - Baraboo News Republic 4/11/07

Jack Young Middle School Principal Bob Meicher will be offered the top job at Portage Junior High School with a salary of $85,000, the Portage School Board decided Monday. Meicher was one of two finalists for the principal position, along with Jeff Mastin, assistant principal at Stoughton River Bluff Middle School.

"I will spend my first year as your principal building relationships," Meicher, 38, told a Portage forum crowd April 4. "That is the most critical thing, and I knew my predecessor (Wayne Bartels), and he was great at that." Bartels was planning on retiring before being killed in an accident on his Marquette County farm last October.

During the interview process, Meicher said community support for education was one of the primary reasons educators flock to the Portage School District. "It's a precious commodity, believe me," he said.

Portage passed its second consecutive school referendum last year, while Baraboo voters narrowly defeated two divisive referenda in 2006 and the board made cuts to teaching staff, maintenance and co-curriculars.

When an audience member at the meet-and-greet asked Meicher why he was prepared to move from Baraboo to Portage, he said, "It's really about being a part of something great. This sounds selfish, but if I can give that to my kids, then I can give it to other kids, too."

Baraboo Director of Curriculum and Instruction Crystal Ritzenthaler said the district has not received Meicher's resignation, but administrators won't delay in posting the position once they do. "It will leave a huge gap in our district in terms of leadership at the middle school level. Bob is a very people-oriented person, and I think he interacted well with parents and staff and students," she said. "Although we will post the position as soon as possible and search to fill the position, we are not replacing Bob."

The district is also in the process of filling associate principal and newly-created activities director positions at the high school, as well as a director of pupil services and special ed and director of community education. "Baraboo has a lot to offer, in terms of our community, our environment, and it's a wonderful place to raise a family," Ritzenthaler said. "I still believe we have a wonderful school system… and the board is very focused on student achievement, so I'm optimistic that we're still going to attract quality candidates, whether we're looking for administrators or teachers."

Department of Public Instruction records show Meicher's salary for the 2005-06 school year was $69,170, plus $29,826 in benefits. Bartels' salary in Portage for last year was $82,898, plus $14,465 in benefits. Baraboo District Administrator Lance Alwin was out of the state Tuesday and Meicher, who is on family leave until May 7, did not return calls at home for comment.
- Jen McCoy contributed to this story.
================================================
There goes another fine Baraboo School District administrator. The "A-team" is starting to break apart. Maybe Meicher got tired of covering up for employee harassment by his teacher buddy, student harassment by his staff, the district administrator's "visions", school board members and their dereliction of duty to our community, as well as his own missteps and outright lies to school district staff, parents, and the people of Baraboo.

I'm still not convinced it's all about the kids. Note the higher pay where he's going. I said it before and I'll say it again...it's all about the MONEY. Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.

Board approves athletic director position

By Christina Beam-Baraboo News Republic 4/10/06

The search is on for a full-time activities director after the Baraboo School Board approved adding the controversial position in a 5-0 vote Monday, with Judd Maxwell abstaining and Patty Spragg absent.

"It's a sensitive issue to bring something back that's been cut… but the main thing is it's a positive step forward," said baseball coach Paul Kujak after the meeting. The director will be able to "develop trust and friendships and the kids will realize the commitment to helping them develop," Kujak said.

Several members of the DREAMS music fundraising group again turned out to oppose the position, including Milissa Hintz, who said administrators' explanation of it as the leader in planning and supervising district activities gave her some reassurance. "I feel it's a warranted position," she said. "I'm just not so convinced it's good timing because of some of the cuts made just last year."

Opponents of last year's referenda and fine arts supporters found common ground standing against the activities director position, and the board tabled it at its March 26 meeting amid heated discussion. Monday they came back with a unified message.

"Two weeks ago I said the timing wasn't right," board member Kevin Bartol said. "I've changed my mind. The timing was late." Bartol said the position is necessary to increase student achievement and free up other administrators to be leaders in staff development. He suggested an assessment to track how effective the position is on those fronts.

Enrollment increased by 71 students this year, bringing in more revenue for some new expenditures, Director of Business Services Jim Long said. He did not have an estimate of the new position's cost Monday night.

High School Principal Machell Schwarz said the district has been reinvesting new revenue into programs that will in turn increase enrollment even more, such as online learning. "It is about providing the structure (and) the support to the students and staff in this district," board member Jill Ellinwood said. Maxwell said he abstained from voting for personal reasons.
The last full-time athletic director, Mike Devine, left in 2003, and Associate Principal Dave Hedgepath has covered those duties on a part-time basis since then.
=========================================================
Let's review: The Baraboo School Board created a full-time Athletic Supporter position for which there is no job description and no estimate of how much the position will cost. The reasons given by the Administration include because everybody else has one, it will increase enrollment in online learning, and provide structure and support for district staff and students. No wonder it passed unanimously. Just goes to show how out of touch with reality and misprioritized our school board members are. Lemmings, all.

A School in South Carolina-REVIEW & OUTLOOK

Our readers come through with support, but the Legislature doesn't.Sunday, April 8, 2007 12:01 a.m.Last month our Brendan Miniter spotlighted the story of Faye Brown, a former public-school teacher who four years ago opened a private school to give low-income families an alternative to failing public schools. Most of them are African-American students in rural Johns Island, South Carolina. The article also featured 16-year-old Rontrell Matthews, who is working to pay his own tuition.
Two things have happened since the article appeared: an outpouring of financial support from Journal readers and a vote by the state Legislature that would undermine the school.
Like Rontrell Matthews, Ms. Brown's little school--Capers Preparatory Christian Academy--was scraping to get by. Even as her students outperformed their public-school peers on the SATs by nearly 400 points, she dipped into her own retirement savings to keep the lights on.
That may change now. To date our readers have donated some $32,000. One couple in Austria sent $10,000; another person sent money asking that it be used to get each of the nearly 50 students something for Easter. Mr. Matthews now has his tuition paid through next year. And several people have already made a second donation to the school. There is also a gentleman who wants to use $100,000 he recently inherited as seed money for an endowment.
For the first time in the school's history, it has all of its bills paid in full and it has $26,000 in reserve--not a small sum for a school with an annual budget of about $160,000. Ms. Brown told us she was often up late worrying where her students would end up if she were forced to close her doors. Now she knows she's not the only one worried about her students.
Late last month the state Legislature voted against giving school vouchers to tens of thousands of poor kids in failing public schools. The bill would have helped many of the Capers kids pay their tuition. (original article)
======================================================
It's amazing and wonderful that a community of strangers (most without a vested interest) can come together to support private education, but a community where everybody knows your name can become so divided when it comes to public education. Must be that private schools invest in our kids more responsibly, with greater accountability, and therefore are more trustworthy. Wise people recognize this.

Thank you, those in history who impacted the formation of the United States of America and our free market economic system. Shame to those who try time and again to undermine your work.

School District Investigates Porn Bill

Apr 7 10:49 PM US/Eastern

UNION CITY, N.J. (AP) - School district officials are trying to identify who watched $250 worth of pay-per-view pornographic movies using a school cable television box, officials said.

Someone after business hours used one of the five cable boxes in the Board of Education building to order the films, priced between $4.95 and $9.95. The cable provider, Cablevision, has refunded the school district the money, and is helping to investigate the purchases. School officials have since gotten rid of three of the cable boxes. A board official said the building had cable in case there was an emergency.
=======================================================
Tax dollars at work!

Principal admits throwing excrement

Dateline: Toronto April 02, 2007 Peter Small, Courts Bureau

A suspended Toronto elementary school principal has pleaded guilty to throwing feces (excrement) on a child. Maria Pantalone, 49, was charged with two counts of assault - one against that child and one against another – but only admitted to one of the charges today. “I couldn’t take it any more,” she testified, in describing the provocative circumstances leading up to the incident last June 30. But she agreed it wasn't in any way justified.

Pantalone, who is the sister of Toronto Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, was principal of Keele Street Junior Public School and Mountview Alternative, which collectively have 500 students and operate out of the same building near Keele St. and Humberside Ave. The names of the victims cannot be published owing to a ban imposed by provincial court Justice Howard Borenstein. Neither were students at her school.

Since being charged last summer, she has been suspended with pay and ordered to stay away from anyone under the age of 16, unless under supervision. Both Crown prosecutor John Ball and defence lawyer Michael Caroline jointly recommended that she receive an absolute discharge, which will leave her without a criminal record, and enter into a peace bond not to have contact with the two children. Caroline submitted some 20 letters of support for his client, including one signed by 19 staff members at her school.
http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/198600
=================================================
It's nice to know in Canada they are sensitive enough to keep someone like this on the payroll for nearly a year AND have the staff stand behind their leader. I guess it's better than standing in front of them where they could get a better aim...

Emotion in motion

Fri Mar 30, 5:28 PM ET
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York reacts to seeing and old friend during a campaign (courtesy of Associated Press)

==================================================

Priceless.

The Rosie Rant Civil Defense System

Louisiana 5th graders go at it during assembly

While other students were attending a school assembly to talk about an incident last weekend where a 15 year old student stabbed another student to death, some fifth graders were mistakenly left alone for 30 minutes. See the entire article here.

One teacher commented that the students run the school. Cussing and throwing things at teachers...One kid even grabbed a teacher by the backside - and nothing was done. The first year teacher sounds genuinely concerned that there is no discipline in their school.

The principal (whose job it is to maintain order) said, "This is one incident and everyone is making a big deal out of it. I never had a teacher complain to me, but I have heard them complain to each other." What a guy...he must be the monkey that hears no evil.

Now I know why when parents complain to principals at Baraboo schools, nothing changes. Some don't even listen to their teachers. I guess it depends WHO provides the principal the feedback whether or not they get off their dead a** and do anything about a problem. More sensitive people might call it "selective enforcement of the rules."

How bad do things need to get before our school board sees the incompetence of some Baraboo School District administrators - and when are they going to make changes? I thought the school board worked for the community, not the administration.

A good explanation of why Libs are the way they are

Evan Sayet is the former writer for Bill Baher. After 9/11, he went through a transition of "getting it". While his presentation is 45 minutes long, it's well worth watching. He covers diversity, critical moral judgement, the indoctrination of our kids to be non-judgmental, discrimination and the result of not discriminating, and provides a detailed insight into the Liberal (capital L) mindset.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24942_Evan_Sayet_at_the_Heritage_Foundation&only

School Administrator, Board out of touch with community's DREAMS

At the Baraboo School Board meeting last night, it has been reported there was a disagreement with district administrator Alwin and board members against members of the DREAMS team regarding the board's consideration of a new full-time athletic director position.

Alwin and the board are still hallucinating there's money in the pot to do anything they want, and having a full-time athletic supporter position in the district is more important than a music aide. This didn't sit well with the DREAMS team, which is supportive of arts, drama, and music.

Alwin's reason for adding the administrative position of athletic supporter was because other schools have one, so we should have one too. The more well rounded our students are, the better the educational experience - and the addition of an athletic supporter to serve an entire school district is THE top priority.

I recall Baraboo Junior High School principal Jack Young (whom I knew and respected greatly) made an announcement over the PA system at school one day that sticks with me. While it was somewhat of a faupaux at the time and everyone in the building got a chuckle out of it, it fits with this topic well. He was talking about an upcoming track meet that evening and closed his remarks with, "So come on down to the Mary Roundtree Athletic Field and be an athletic supporter."

It was also reported that the job description for the new administrative position was not completed for last night's board meeting. Can't imagine why...the district doesn't have job descriptions for anyone, so why start now? Can you say accountability?

With the matter of job responsibilities set aside, board members agreed on the dress code for the new administrative position. Requirements include Hawaiian shirt, polka-dot tie, shorts, and yes - an athletic supporter. I'm just waiting for the sex discrimination proceedings to start.

In other news, board action was tabled regarding the addition of handball as an extra-curricular activity due to the lack of an athletic supporter.

"The planet has a fever"

The Great Goracle spoke to Congress today.

"There is a sense of hope in this country that this United States Congress will rise to the occasion and present meaningful solutions to this crisis," Gore said. "Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination." Read the fascinating article here.

With Slick Willy out of the White House, may as well invent another crisis.

Not so fast...

Study Finds One-Third in D.C. Illiterate

Monday, March 19, 2007

WASHINGTON — About one-third of the people living in the national's capital are functionally illiterate, compared with about one-fifth nationally, according to a report on the District of Columbia.

Adults are considered functionally illiterate if they have trouble doing such things as comprehending bus schedules, reading maps and filling out job applications.

The study by the State Education Agency, a quasi-governmental office created by the U.S. Department of Education to distribute federal funds for literacy services, was ordered by Mayor Anthony A. Williams in 2003 as part of his four-year, $4 million adult literacy initiative.

The growing number of Hispanic and Ethiopian immigrants who aren't proficient in English contributed to the city's high functional illiteracy level, which translated to 170,000 people, said Connie Spinner, director of the State Education Agency. The report says the district's functional illiteracy rate is 36 percent and the nation's 21 percent.

Adults age 65 and older had the lowest literacy score of any group, the report found.
The District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, which contributed to the report, said the city lost up to $107 million in taxes annually between 2000 and 2005 because of a lack of qualified job applicants.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
===============================================
I wonder if things are as good out East as they used to be...

Maybe if we throw more money at the problem. Hmmmm, let's try a Community Education Director. At least some people would feel good that we tried something, and that's what counts! It's not about success, it's about self-esteem.

Getting back to basics has a price

With the Spring election just over three weeks away, I expected to be inundated with political ads and mailings for the Baraboo School Board candidates by now. Remember last year? Haven't heard a peep from any of them on how they're going to mend fences in the community nor what plans candidates have to change the current misdirection of our school district. (even though the district was the beneficiary of a speaker that cost $6,000)

What I have heard is that the district has mysteriously found over $300,000 (probably from the district enrollment INCREASE we all heard was NOT going to happen because the last two referenda failed). To that end, our school board decided UNANIMOUSLY to spend those funds on six new reading specialists in the elementary schools and one reading specialist in the middle school. What they forgot to mention was that the Baraboo School District is also advertising for one reading specialist at the high school. Where did the money come from for that position? Did the board decide to cut the "Teen Cuisine" or "Horse of Course" classes to pay for it? Other expenditures include a new reading program for $200,000 and a "Community Education Director" position.

Now for some really dumb questions:

• If we hire all these reading specialists, when their jobs get eliminated because of the declining enrollment we heard so much about a year ago, will the change be portrayed as a cut?
• Why are teachers not held accountable for the reading skills of the children now? Don't they have an obligation to make sure their students know how to read anymore? Nope. There's no requirement for the teachers to hold kids back if they can't read. They can just pass them to the next grade...Problem solved! (for that teacher) It's tough luck for the student.
• What are the qualifications for applying for the "Community Education Director" position? Just go to the BSD website. You'll see it doesn't require candidates to be licensed or to even have a high school diploma, let alone any college. If you're good at sucking up to the community and well-connected, then BSD wants you! (Have your friends bring their wallets with them to the interview - you'll do fine.) They need a buffer between their holistic vision and the school haters that want the district to produce unintelligent graduates. They no longer have time to listen to the real world, not that they listened anyway. Our school board has minds to sculpt!

There's discussion of increasing the math and science requirements for high school graduation. At least one person in the community is already upset because the district doesn't have enough science or math teachers to go that direction. Their solution: Hire more math and science teachers - we have a shortage. Buzzzzzz! Wrong answer.

The correct answer needs some background. Over the past several years, the BSD has been hiring "generalist" teachers (my term). They are not expert teachers in science, math, etc. Rather, they know a little about everything and could teach a variety of courses. The district went this direction in their hiring practice because "generalist" teachers are more flexible and can be moved around if needed. You know what's coming next: another dumb question....

Why not have the instructors for Horse of Course, Teen Cuisine, Teen Clothing, and Ceramics 1 & 2 teach math and science courses? You're right. I must keep in mind that it's all about the kids. Far be it for anyone to squelch any opportunity for them to be all they can be.

Could someone please direct me to the college that offers a four-year degree in ceramics? If you can, what is the career outlook and what are the chances they'll return to good ol' Baraboo after college and bring some high paying jobs with them?

Indiana kids made it in shop class

Where's the sensitivity from Warren Township's school-age parents and their community? Why are they outraged? Are their expectations too high for their schools? Don't they understand that a school district sweeping any and all dirt under a rug is commonplace?

The Baraboo School District Administration is a leader in the sport/art of curling. Most play second position where the player throws their one stone, then sweeps for all other players.

Perhaps BSD Administators should consider taking their show on the road.

Teens smoking pot in CA "high" school

For those that want to legalize the use of pot, what say you about this?

WI Rep. Obey grinds on Libs

A proud Wisconsin moment thanks to U.S. House of Representatives' David Obey (D)-WI

Nutroots get an earful.

What type of constituent supports Obey? Sounds like he's proposing a sneaky legal way to impede the success of our troops.

Eco-friendly

We've heard by now that Algore is the biggest hypocrite of them all. With his $30k annual utility bills and toxic carbon jet-setting around the country, for him to receive ANY award from the Hollywould left for environmentalism is abomitable. Any conservative would have been drawn and quartered. Algore gets hugs, kisses, and a gold trophy for his "efforts" of being greener than the rest of us.

Well, I've had enough. I'm enrolling in Iowahawk's therapy program for ecologically insensitive people. That being said, it is with great pride that I post the following advertisements:

Now, I have some snow to plow with my 8.1L big block that gets 10 miles to the gallon that goes anywhere and beats the snot out of my rented Pirus in the quarter-mile.

Hillary unhappy :(

Any chance Hillary just finished reading David Geffen's column in the New York Times?

Senator Slick Willy?

IF (and it's a BIG IF) we would be unfortunate enough to have Hillary Clinton elected as president, there would be a vacancy in the Senate for the state of New York. Seeing as the governor appoints senators unable to finish their term, it is possible that "der schlickmeister" Slick Willy could replace her.

The likes of Harold Ickes, Paul Begala, et. al. think it's a wonderful idea.

Eliot Spitzer, the latest left-winger to move into the New York governor's mansion will ultimately make the call. Having an outside chance would be Mario Cuomo.

Read the whole story here.

And all we have to worry about is a flock of moonbats 45 minutes south of here. I'm glad I don't live in New York!

School Fundraisers

The great state of Texas has come up with an innovative way to increase school revenue. Parental attendance at parent-teacher meetings will be mandatory under a law before the state legislature (unless the district excuses the parent). Failure to respond to the school districts' request for your presence or attendance at a meeting could cost you $500 and a criminal record.

For local fundraisers, we have the DREAMS group. A local self-proclaimed savior of everything that is good (and optional) in the Baraboo School District (drama, art, and music). The chairpersons wrote an article in the daily fishwrap as a letter to the editor suggesting someone should become "more educated" as to what DREAMS is attempting to accomplish in our community. Seeing as I don't turn down an opportunity to become educated myself, I took them up on the challenge and off I went to research the DREAMS group.

First stop: the BNR archives. No luck. Their archives haven't been as good since going to the new format. Next stop: Google. After reviewing the first 200 items, I gave up. Then, I went to the source of truth about the Baraboo School District and found this:

Looks to me like DREAMS is supportive of unhinged choir teachers in Baraboo.

I wonder if instead of going for a fourth referendum, the school district would back WEAC to bail out financially failing schools by proposing a law similar to the one in Texas. Anything for a buck. Remember, it's all about money...I mean, the kids.

Now I can rest soundly, knowing I have become educated in DREAMS.

Democrats: Diversity made 'first 100 hours' work

The democrats and the MSM celebrate the hardest 100 hours of work ever done in the House of Representatives. Because of their diversity and ambition, the dems were able to pass six bills in 100 hours. If you think about it, that's an average of about 16 hours per bill. Has anybody heard what the six bills were? With such a celebration, you'd think we would have heard all about the details of the bills by now!

How did they do it in so little time with distractions like Sen. Joseph Biden's comments about Sen. Barak Obama, as well as the Houses' own Rep. Joe Baca's sexist remarks about his fellow Hispanic Caucus member. Must be the democratic ambition, sensitivity, morals, and diversity.

The hypocracy of the dems ceases to amaze me, and the MSM follows like a wet puppy.

Sen. Kerry Blasts U.S. Foreign Policy

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) -
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry slammed the foreign policy of the Bush administration on Friday, saying it has caused the United States to become "a sort of international pariah."
The statement came as the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee responded to a question about whether the U.S. government had failed to adequately engage Iran's government before the election of hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005.

Kerry said the Bush administration has failed to adequately address a number of foreign policy issues.

"When we walk away from global warming, Kyoto, when we are irresponsibly slow in moving toward AIDS in Africa, when we don't advance and live up to our own rhetoric and standards, we set a terrible message of duplicity and hypocrisy," Kerry said.

"So we have a crisis of confidence in the Middle East - in the world, really. I've never seen our country as isolated, as much as a sort of international pariah for a number of reasons as it is today."

For readers that don't know, pariah = outcast.
BTW - I haven't seen Kerry's criticism of China's non-compliance with Kyoto. Did I miss something?

Maybe it's just another bad joke by Kerry. Somebody was watching over us when this guy was defeated in his run for the presidency.

Updated: H/T Hot Air for the video. Treasonous.

Sen. Clinton: 'I Take Responsibility' for Giving President Bush Power to Act in Iraq

Saturday, January 27, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa — New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton blamed President Bush on Saturday for misusing authority given him by Congress to act in Iraq, but conceded "I take responsibility" for her role in allowing that to happen.

"I have said clearly and consistently for quite some time that I regret the way the president misused the authority," said Clinton. "He misled Congress and the country on what he was seeking and what he intended to do."

"I take responsibility for having voted to give him that authority," she said. "My focus is on what we do now. That is the proper debate."

"When you are attacked, you have to deck your opponent," Clinton said. "I have been through the political wars longer than some of you have been alive. We've got to be prepared to hold our ground and fight back."

See the entire article at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,247578,00.html

Of course, we need to hold our ground and fight back and when we're attacked, we should go after our opponent. That's exactly what President Bush did, with Hillary's blessing. Now she doesn't think things are going well in Iraq. Her solution? Cut and run, abandon her support of the President and indirectly, our troops.

Hillary is in dire need of an education in duty, honor, and loyalty to country.

Carter apologizes for 'stupid' book passage

There's nothing more honorable than admitting a mistake and taking action so it isn't repeated.

The libs should follow Jimmy's lead.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20070125-112710-7481r.htm

Baraboo "USA" chant

The following was a letter to the Baraboo News Republic mailbag today:

Baraboo administrators, students deserve scorn
Sounds to me like all sports and other activities at Baraboo High School need to be banned so they can completely educate their students to understand one has no love of country or respect. This school is so politically correct they are off the wall. Our younger generation will be the downfall of our country and the administration at Baraboo High School is definitely helping them along. The once proud USA is slowly decaying into a morass of degenerates thanks to our liberal educational system.

Carolyn Hinkle,
Lehighton, Pa.

Amen.

Hillary announces, says she'll restore America's leadership & respect around world

It's official. Hillary wants in. She says she wants to have a conversation with America. Maybe that's so we can get our points of view off our chests so she can dismiss them as being too extreme or being part of the "vast right wing conspiracy." Maybe it's to get the headbobbers all lined up so she can separate $50 million from other people. Calling George Soros!

The MSM (mainstream media) is already swooning for the former First Lady who said:
'"It was a thorough review for me about the problems we confront in the country, the particular strengths and talents I would bring both to the race and the White House," Clinton said. "I concluded, based on the work of my lifetime and my experience and my understanding of what our country has to confront in order to continue to make opportunity available to all of our citizens here and to restore our leadership and respect of America around the world, that I would be able to do that — to bring our country together to meet those tough challenges," she said.'

Well, let's see...we have Whitewatergate, Vince Foster's mysterious death, the honorable McDougal's as good friends and business partners, Travelgate, Hillarycare, Webster Hubbellgate, missing records from the Rose Law firm and their mysterious reappearance two years later in the White House, a woman called "a congenital liar" by William Saphire, wrongly collected background checks of Republicans by the FBI in 1993 (requested by the White House), Governor Jim Guy Tucker of Arkansas-gate, Corporal cueball James Carville defending, Monica-gate...Need I go on??

Sen. Clinton has an extensive resume' yet no accomplishments. The carpetbagger from Arkansas does, however, bring with her an extensive history of controversey, lies, coverups, and associates of questionable integrity.

It's time to get back to basics. Let's start with the ABC's: Anybody But the Clintons.

Are ad hominem arguments convincing?

We've seen Sen. Barbara Boxer from California present an ad hominem argument to Condi Rice. Condi responded politely and professionally. We've seen Rosie O'Donnell present an ad hominem argument to Donald Trump - and he responded with his own directed at O'Donnell. The quagmire of corrosive communication has even come to Baraboo with school district administrator Lance Alwin's ad hominem argument directed toward a specific member of an anti-referendum group, as well as group members and the community in general that voted against the same referendum twice.

How credible are the presenters of ad hominem arguments? Did it add to the credibility of Boxer, O'Donnell, or Trump? Did their personal attacks on someone else convince people to think differently about the position they were promoting?

Baraboo school district administrator Lance Alwin's ad hominem attack sets a couple of new precedents compared to the others noted above:

• Neither the east coast (Trump/Condi) nor the left coast (Boxer/O'Donnell): Alwin hits in the midwest.
• Face to face? No. Televised exchange? No. Alwin uses cold correspondence, allowing him to attack without response.

What do you think of our school district leader now? He's setting a bad example for our kids and district employees. Disgraceful.

Benny Parsons 1941-2007

Thank you Benny. You were a true sportsman.

http://www.nascar.com/special/parsons/

Madison City Council oath

The Madison City Council recently voted in support of a supplemental statement that could be added to council members oath of office they'll take in April. The misdirected majority of city council members wish to state their opposition to the successful state referendum last November regarding the protection of marriage. The article can be viewed at:

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=115160&ntpid=1

There are any number of outlets for frustration by those who are upset about the outcome. Making a farce of the oath of office should not have been one of them.

UPDATE: I'm not the only one that thinks the majority of the council members are misguided...
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/index.php?ntid=115310&ntpid=1

More "Selective Disclosure" by Baraboo School District

Here's another example of selective disclosure by the Baraboo School District.
=============================================================
Baraboo News Republic 1/15/07
School worker files grievance
By Brian Bridgeford

BARABOO - A longtime Baraboo schools employee is asking for arbitration after district officials offered her a new position her attorney claims was a sham.

The district's legal representative counters that the matter was dropped when the employee declined the offer, and she suffered no harm.

Jack Young Middle School administrative assistant Johann W. Mortimer has filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. She has been employed by the district for about 11 years.

According to a statement prepared by her attorney, Jim Schernecker of Reedsburg, she was approached by District Administrator Lance Alwin on Oct. 20 and asked if she would make a voluntary transfer to secretary of the district's Buildings and Grounds Department.

Schernecker told the WERC that no such opening existed and the offer was a sham, not made in good faith and was a violation of the labor agreement between the district and its clerical staff.
The district is harassing Mortimer because her husband was an opponent of the recent school district referendum, Schernecker said in an interview. He is asking the school district to cease further harassment of Mortimer and for a WERC arbitrator to help settle the dispute. The grievance does not ask for any other compensation.

Mortimer said she did not want to comment on the grievance on the advice of her attorney.
The district's attorney in the action, David Rohrer of Madison, said the complaint is without merit because nothing happened to Mortimer.

"It was simply an inquiry," he said. "Since she did not express an interest, it was not pursued further."

The parties haven't yet selected a WERC staff member to act as arbitrator, the agency reported. Alwin said he could not comment on the grievance because it is a personnel matter and confidential.
=========================================================
It's too bad Alwin refused to comment. It would be interesting to hear his perspective of how his "inquiry" was presented to Mortimer (ie: his tone, demeanor, body language, etc.), or did he send a cold letter by mail?

Why would Alwin "offer" a position to anyone where no vacancy existed? What about the person whose position Mortimer would have taken? How was Alwin going to address it? Did they receive a similar "offer" too? Was Alwin just trying to shuffle people around so he didn't have to address other labor issues?

Sounds like a desparate sham to avoid addressing other issues beyond the mere "offer" of a transfer. Have there been (Are there) other instances of this type of management in the district?

Where is the leadership?

This all points to desparation, vengence, and avoidance by Alwin. So, nothing new.