Featured Stories
Sinema Reveals Hypocrisy of GOP on Gay Marriage
April 5, 2008
Link: Same-sex marriage measure dealt blow. Rep. Krysten Sinema managed to maneuver an amendment onto the GOP proposed anti-gay marriage referendum that would have granted certain legal rights to domestic partners. The amendment is widely seen as effectively killing the bill because many GOP lawmakers have now withdrawn their support as a result of the
McCain Hasn’t Examined 21st Century G.I. Bill
April 4, 2008
by David Safier Democratic Senator Jim Webb and Republican Senator Chuck Hagel are cosponsoring a bill that would update the G.I. Bill so its educational benefits cover today’s tuition and living expenses. More than 50 Senators have signed on, Democrats and Republicans. Both Obama and Clinton are among them. But Arizona’s own war hero John
Do Schools Improve When States Take Them Over?
April 3, 2008
by David Safier Yesterday I wrote about a bill in the legislature to have the state take over Phoenix’s Roosevelt School District for 3 years. Is it a good idea? I asked. Has it been done elsewhere? I did some research. Yes, it has been done elsewhere. Sometimes the state takes over a school district,
In Education, Make Peace With Uncertainty
April 3, 2008
by David Safier This is a longer follow-up to yesterday’s short, “I needed to get this off my chest,” post, For the Record. That whole post read: 1.Teaching is tough; 2.Teaching children who grow up in poverty is tougher; 3.Test scores are not a reliable indicator of whether a teacher or a school is effective;
Drinking Liberally Welcomes Mark Stegeman
April 3, 2008
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
RenziGate Roundup 4/3
April 3, 2008
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
For the Record
April 2, 2008
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
Should the State Take Over a “Failing” School District?
April 2, 2008
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
