Drinking Liberally Welcomes Mark Stegeman
Tonight, 4/2/8, Drinking Liberally’s Special Guest will be Mark Stegeman, a professor at the UofA’s Eller School who is running for TUSD school board. Mark was appointed to the audit committee of the Board last year, and has now decided to deepen his involvement with the financially troubled district. Come on down to the Shanty … Read more
RenziGate Roundup 4/3
In a rare nod to reality, Dick Renzi has shut down his leadership PAC; presumably because according to Congressional power rankings, he has absolutely no leadership capacity any longer. Also, the name of the PAC, The Patriot Fund, is an uncomfortable reminder of Patriot Insurance, his family insurance company Dick is accused of embezzling $400K … Read more
For the Record
by David Safier Teaching is tough. Teaching children who grow up in poverty is tougher. Test scores are not a reliable indicator of whether a teacher or a school is effective. Anyone who claims to know the “answers” to our school’s problems is a damn liar or a damn fool. There. It needed to be … Read more
Should the State Take Over a “Failing” School District?
by David Safier This is a tough one for me. Three Phoenix Democrats in the House have introduced a bill to have the State Board of Education take over Phoenix’s Roosevelt School District for 3 years. Half of the district’s 21 schools are failing, according to the state’s report card. Will the State Board do … Read more
Fine Napolitano Over ELL Funding?
by David Safier Fine the Governor if the Arizona legislature doesn’t meet the April 15 ELL funding deadline? That sounds grossly unfair. And yet . . . The attorney for the parents suing over ELL funding says Napolitano could do more to move this thing forward, even though the actual funding is the responsibility of … Read more
A Public Defender Passes
Pima County Public Defender Robert Hooker killed in crashI didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Bob very well personally. A few interactions, a dignified presence in the halls of Superior Court, and an enormously respectful reputation shared in all quarters the Arizona Bar are my only connections to him. But I’m feeling his passing greatly. … Read more
McCain Uses “Throw Money at Education” Line
by David Safier (TASL) I hold this truth to be self-evident. Anyone who uses the phrase, “government can’t just throw money at public education” is not in favor of increasing educational spending. Arizona’s own John McCain is the only presidential candidate left standing who uses the phrase. In a recent speech, he said, “Government can’t … Read more
