Why we need Ethnic Studies
by David SafierTom Horne's statement should be required reading in ethnic studies classes — in TUSD schools and at universities. It's a classic. "We should be teaching these students that this is the land of opportunity," Horne told the committee. "We should not be teaching them that they are oppressed." And we should be teaching … Read more
Greenwald on war supplemental
by David SafierI'm putting this up as information, not as an endorsement. Robert Greenwald made the video below to encourage people to call their Congress members and tell them to vote no on the War Supplemental legislation which continues funding for the military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. As someone whose default stance is anti … Read more
Arizona Citizens Clean Elections under attack again
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports that Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission is under attack again: On June 15, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony and vote on whether to further SCR1025 for a full Senate consideration. The referendum would allow Arizona voters to amend the state's Constitution to … Read more
Arizona Democratic Party launches “Bad Plan Jan” web page
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Democratic Party today launched a new web page complete with a “countdown to government shutdown” clock, entitled “Bad Plan Jan.” Here is the press release with a link to the web page: Brewer’s budget jeopardizes Arizona’s future, Democrats stand opposedArizona Democratic Party unveils webpage highlighting Brewer’s short-sighted budget Today the … Read more
Leader of Minutemen American Defense border watch group arrested for murder and robbery in Arizona
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: You may have seen on the evening news KOLD News 13 or read about in the newspaper 3 arrested in killings of dad, girl in Arivaca the arrest of Shawna Forde, the leader of Minutemen American Defense (a group out of Washington state that conducts operations along the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona) … Read more
National study: Charter schools a mixed bag
by David SafierStanford University just put out a nationwide study of charter schools. The overall conclusion is that students in charter schools do slightly worse than the same students would do in traditional public schools. But the results are so mixed that the conclusion doesn't mean much. Individual findings in the study are far more … Read more
Standards. Standardized. The same for everyone?
by David SafierI think Ed Sec Arne Duncan really, truly wants to improve education in this country, and I don't think he has a political agenda. He doesn't want to make education more liberal or more conservative. He wants to make it better. That doesn't mean he'll do a good job, but it does mean … Read more
