The following post was written by Larry Lee, who lives in Alabama and writes often about education and politics. He describes the passage of a bill to create tax credits for students to go to private and religious schools.
School kids make a poor rope in a political tug of war.
Anyone in Alabama who doesn’t believe this should’ve been in Montgomery Feb. 28 when the Republican controlled legislature voted to approve what some reporters called “a legislative bombshell.” The Senate approved what is officially known as the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013 on a vote of 22-11. The House of Representatives vote was 51-26.
It’s hard to tell if opponents were more upset about the contents of the bill or the tactics used to get it approved.
But one thing is certain, in spite of protestations by those on the prevailing side; this battle was not about school kids. If it was about education, why did Dr. Tommy Bice, the state’s superintendent of education, not know about it? After all he is the one person most accountable for the education of 735,000 public school students.
Why did the State Board of Education, with six elected Republican members and two elected Democratic members not know about it? After all, they are the only elected body in the state whose sole responsibility is overseeing education policy.
If this was really about education, why did the Republican leader of the Senate, who says he’d worked on this for a week, tell reporters that he worked hard to keep what he was doing a secret from even those who had signed on in good faith to support the original bill?
“We knew they would oppose what we were trying to do,” he said.
Interpretation: Since we had hatched up a scheme to fundamentally change public education in this state, the last thing we wanted was input from professional educators.
Yep, makes sense to me. Maybe next time the legislature will tackle a healthcare issue. I sure hope they make sure no doctors or nurses know what they are doing.
What was the scheme used to pass the bill?
Go to a conference committee composed of three House members and three Senators (Four Republicans and two Democrats) where each body is supposed to iron out their differences and report the compromises back to their respective bodies. But instead of doing this, an eight page bill went into the committee and morphed into one of 28 pages that was much different than the original bill.
This is when the fur hit the fan because the rules of both bodies prevent a conference committee from reporting out a bill that is substantially different than the original one. But obviously when you are doing something for school kids, why pay attention to rules? After all, isn’t that what we all teach our own kids to do, just ignore the rules you don’t like.
As I think of all of this I keep thinking back to the night of Feb. 19 when the State Department of Education recognized 20 high-poverty schools (the very kind of schools the backers of this legislation say they are so concerned about) as Torchbearer Schools.
All 140 members of the House and Senate were invited to attend this event by Governor Bentley. Only one Senator came. It was not the majority leader. Maybe he was hidden away somewhere working on legislation to benefit education and didn’t have time to visit with 20 of the top principals in Alabama and ask for their input.
Time after time we hear legislative leaders talk about “Alabama values.” Is this what we saw in practice this week? I was born in Alabama. Mother and Daddy were born in Alabama. Grandma and Grandpa were born in Alabama. So I’m about as qualified to know our “values” as anyone. And what was on display in Montgomery Feb. 28 bore no resemblance to the Alabama values I was taught.
But the only value any of us really need to heed is on page 1,414 of my King James Version of the Bible. Matthew 7:12—Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
It’s a sad day for all of us when our political leadership tramples on such a simple truth.
Larry Lee led the study, “Lessons Learned from Rural Schools”, and is a long-time advocate for public education and frequently writes about education issues.
Such fundamental hypocrisy. These tactics are used because everyone knows that NO Democrat will ever compromise on anything in their agenda, just as your leader, President Obama is totally insincere about compromise. We conservatives have learned the hard way that process as employed by Democrats is only at the service of winning your position. If you had any respect for conservatives, there might be a chance. You guys fight dirty. Expect what you get. And oh, the piety of alluding to the Golden Rule! Your halos are muddy.
Great job not reading the article, Harlan. Had you read it, you would have noticed that it was one man, a rethuglican, who violated the rules that all had agreed to work by, who violated the rule of law. The outrage came from those excluded from that process which includes the state superintendent of ed and the republican members of the state board of ed who are in the majority. Dems opposed it when they and all others were not given time to actually read the greatly revised bill before it was rushed through by rethuglicans blindly following the party line.
Harlan, I hope you are not a teacher because you are probably poisoning your students with your conservative bull. You just gave an ok to the same kind of underhanded opaque governance that Bobby Jindal pulls, that Boenher did in pretending to want to cooperate with our quality Christian president and that your boy Romney tried to pull until he got caught with his pants down by the grandson of our most transparent president with his 47% remark. So, you say any crooked dealing is ok as long as it is a conservative crooked dealing, huh? Why would a Democrat compromise on what is right, good, and Christian? When you are right you are right. Jesus never compromised his message, not even to save his own life.
“with our quality Christian president ” Yep the high quality “Christian” president who ordered the drone assassination of a 16 year old American boy (you know the one who could have gone to court to find out the details of his father’s murder by drone by same “Christian” president). What the hell does supposedly being christian have anything to do with determining the supposed righteousness of the president?
“. . . right, good, and Christian” What does being christian have to do with being right and good. Oh, I know, those who don’t believe in a certain 2,000 year old Near East desert myth obviously can’t be “right and good”. Spare me!!
It’s easy to expound when you don’t know the facts.
FACT: The Republicans in the Alabama Legislature have a super-majority in both the House and the Senate. They don’t need Democratic support to pass any bill.
FACT: We have a Republican governor.
FACT: Alabama’s governor is almost totally powerless. Even if he/she vetoes a bill, the Legislature can override it with a simple majority.
FACT: These changes were made with no input from the public. No public hearings and no chance for anyone of any party to provide input to their representatives.
FACT: Many of the legislators cheerfully admit that they “didn’t read” the bill they voted to approve.
IF this bill is so great for Alabama students and schools, then why keep the plot a secret? The elected Alabama school board is majority Republican: why did the GOP leadership shut them out?
We’ll find out when all of this shakes out and we follow the money, I’m sure.
I grew up in Alabama having moved there when I was 7. Went to Berry and Shades Valley High (Jefferson County) and University of Alabama. Alabama people, including politicians have always tended to say what they think even if it is racist and dead wrong. Remember George C. Wallace. At least you always knew where he stood. Bet he is flipping over! The GOP is destroying itself with its own dishonesty and even bragging about it, like when Bobby Jindal said they don’t really want to change their beliefs, just put a new face on it.
This is really sad. What happened to democracy in this country?
President Obama a “quality Christian president”? Give me a break. He’s about as Christian as Louis Farrakhan.
March 4, 2012
An Open Letter to Alabama Legislators,
The Common Core Initiative debate is far from over. If Common Core is not stopped by your vote to repeal on March 6th, this liberally biased education reform will haunt Alabama students for years to come. How simple it will be to stop it now. Once it is understood by parents, they will take the State House by storm. When parents realize that it’s their children who are at stake, they will not be very forgiving knowing that you had an opportunity to stop it and protect their children.
It is your constitutional duty to rise above the rhetoric and bring assurances to the people of Alabama through the passage of this bill that no program, no reform measure, no attempt to use children for any kind of gain is allowed in our state. Our children are not for sale. You are the elected body that makes sure our children are never used in the market place of ideas to promote progressive, liberal, socialist ideology or practices.
You may ask why this initiative is considered so extreme. Below are examples of Common Core aligned readings and assignments for high school students. Publishers are pushing these type publications across the nation.
86: Deer Hunting With Jesus: Dispatches From America’s Class War by Joe Bageant (clearly states a position for class warfare)
93: quote from Richard Todd: How much success, how many billionaires, how large and prosperous a “mass elite” can it (the American dream) survive? Among many suggestion for additional reading: World Bank, “Where is the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century” (Washington: World Bank, 2006) (undertones that being rich is wrong)
207: “There can be little question that unchecked population growth is the most critical social problem in the modern world, with potential consequences in terms of sheer human misery that are almost unimaginable.” Ian Robertson, Sociology (I’ve never seen research to support this opinion.)
IG – 1 (photo and questions) Terrorism: What feelings does it evoke in you? What stereotype of terrorism does the photo suggest? How would you feel if you were a Muslim? Write an essay in which you point out the perils of a religious sect that calls for the elimination of innocent citizens believed to be “infidels”. (The author is asking students to “feel” like a Muslim.)
IG-2: (photo) writing assignment: After researching the case of the Washington, D.C., sniper, write an essay in which you describe the two snipers, their relationship, and what the law meted out to each. (I wonder what is gained by students describing ‘snipers’?)
IG-6: (photo) Obesity in public places: three people on a bench, and a young male strolling in black shorts “What is the visual impact made on you by either the people on the bench or the young man strolling along in public? How would you describe them to a close friend. (Overweight students and their parents may see this in a negative light, bordering on bullying.)
IG-10: (photo) Medical Marijuana assignment. Find three expert opinions to support an argument for or against legalizing the use of marijuana. (Recreational drugs are illegal in our country. I don’t understand why students should be discussing this in a literature/writing class.)
IG-13 (photo) Illegal immigrants climbing over a wall at sunset to get into the US…Question 4: Aside from providing the United States with a source of manual labor, what other good do illegal immigrants contribute to American society? Think of the intangibles they bring….(I am curious as to what intangibles the author means?)
154: Flannery O’Connor, A Good Man is Hard to Find (criminals murder a family) (This is a story that has been seen as inappropriate for students in other publications.)
264 – 271: My Accidental Jihad by Krista Bremer: (Ramadan) “page 267, paragraph 8: “My God would never be so demanding. My God is a flamboyant and fickle friend with a biting wit who likes a good party. My God is transgendered and tolerant to a fault; he/she shows up unexpectantly during peak moments, when life feels glorious and synchronous, then disappears for long stretches of time.”
345: Hitler’s Workday by William Shirer Questions asked to students: 1. What time does Hitler eat his breakfast? 2. How many breakfasts does Hitler eat? 3. With whom does Hitler usually eat lunch? 4. What kind of entertainment is Hitler fond of? (I wonder why students are not being asked questions about American heroes?)
386 – 389 ” Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…” by John Leo (word usage and imagery speaks often of women’s breasts and what men are attracted to)
399 – 402: “Drugs” by Gore Vidal: Write an essay in which you use critical thinking skills to attack or defend Vidal’s opinions concerning the legalization of drugs.
439 – 447: All articles are about illegal immigration with bias toward the immigrant.
441 – 444 Illegal Immigrants Are Bolstering Social Security with Billions by Eduardo Porter
443: Question 4…………….Does this fact change your views on illegal immigration? (The information in this story is not factual and is misleading.)
542: Incidents with White People by Delany
545. #2. What kind of diet made Bessie gain weight? What kinds of foods should be blamed today for making so many youngsters obese?
#3. What was your reaction to……that she wished more rich white people had sunk with the Titanic?
560: A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun by Hasselstrom “Embedded in the story line is the issue of who, if anyone, should have legal access to a gun.”
585 The Storm by Kate Chopin: purpose: argues for a life of sexual freedom picturing a spontaneous sexual affair. (The following are only a few of the questions inappropriate for teenagers.)
590: Question 2. How does the storm contribute to the love tryst that takes place? 3. What caused the lovers to act so impetiously
594: The New Feminism by Kate Gubata for the Brown University student newspaper.
paragraph 1:”Jane is pro-choice. …………
paragraph 7: Feminism is a movement of action. The causes of feminism are about action; choice, pay inequity, legal battles over homosexual marriage, the abortion drug…young people can use their ideas and energies to fuel united action.
You heard a very stilted side of pro-Common Core superintendents and teachers at the public hearing. They all spoke to the standards and how wonderful they are. What they did not say is how vague and nebulous these standards are to the point of being hollow begging for practitioners to fill the gaps so that learning can transpire. I find that quite interesting. Because of that vagueness, now, the above examples of Common Core publications come to life filling the gaps with informational texts that bear heavily on the soul and minds of students.
The other matter is the privacy issue of students and their families. Much investigation has been done to uncover exactly what privacy issues are at stake. There are many. I didn’t realize just how many entries were made on students until I began looking into the documents themselves and information from STI (Alabama’s previous data collecting company) and presently iNOW. All that has to happen is a click on a student’s picture and identifying markers are immediately viewable and accessible for the user.
You have heard that Alabama does not share this data with the federal government. That is simply not true. All school data is shared with the USDOE. This has been done for years in applying for federal and private grants and funding sources. You have heard that the information is benign and sterile. That will soon stop. Through the application process for federal Race to the Top funding, Alabama, along with every other state that did so, bought into the total package of the Common Core Initiative longitudinal data sharing. Make no mistake, this will occur. We applied for RTTT and accepted the standards, now we will be required to accept the rest of the package which includes data sharing.
The repeal of Common Core will assure parents and their children that Alabama respects privacy and will not share information with entities such as Google, Parchment, and The Bill Gates Foundation.
Please take the time to go to this website and see where the invasion of privacy is a major concern and IS an intrusion of the federal government. http://auee.org/invasion-of-privacy.html
I taught school for 32 years. I have seen reform measures come and go. I have never seen one as far reaching and aggressive as this one. The reformers behind this program will go to any length to deceive and appease until the time for appeasement is no more. Alabamians do not want to believe that such things as what I have written will ever happen in our state with and to our children and families. I don’t want to believe it. I have been retired for one year and have spent more hours studying CCSSI than I ever spent studying one particular subject in college. As God is my witness, I have done everything in my power to stop this. You, the committee members are now responsible for the future of children in our state. You have received information and instruction. Now it is your time to act with courage, without regret.
You were created for such a time as this. Do not let this go without repeal. The responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders. You are now accountable for the future of Alabama’s children. The ALSDE BOE has failed to respond not once, not twice, but three times. They are not going to act on this.
Sincerely,
sharon c sewell
Alabamians United for Excellence in Education
http://www.auee.org
Concerned Grandmother
Retired Educator (March 1, 2012 with 32 years experience Pre K – Adult)(Special Ed Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, Parent/Infant Trainer for Talledega Institute for the Deaf and Blind, ALSDE Special Services Teacher for School Improvement, MPS Central Office Admin, Reading Coach 4 – 6, Community College Instructor AUM; Faculty member Mississippi University for Women; Faculty Member Livingston University (UWA); Florida, Mississippi, and 25 years in Alabama) (ALSDE Textbook Committee Member for English Language Arts as appointed by Governor Bentley 2012)
“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth.” As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
TOO BAD Sharon that the Common Core bill has NOTHING to do with the School Accountability Act HB84. Go bark up a different tree and find a blog complaining about SB190 or HB254.
Actually I thought I had posted to Diane’s Common Core blog. oops