David Safier

Obama, merit pay, and Reading First

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by David SafierThis from an AP article in the Star about some of Obama's spending plans: • Plowing $2 billion more into merit-based teacher pay to help failing schools turn around. He would spend $370 million on a successor to the Reading First literacy program, a key element of Bush's No Child Left Behind law. … Read more

Shameless self promotion

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by David SafierEvery Friday before noon, I turn in a 650 word column to The Explorer, which appears in the weekly the next Wednesday. I figure I should advertise the columns here, right? The tone I use in the columns is a bit different from the one I use for y'all. Consider your audience, my … Read more

Pima Dems add their voice to the “immigrants in schools” controversy

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by David SafierA slew of prominent Democratic elected officials spoke out in a letter against Sheriff Dupnik's statement that we should check the legal status of children in our public schools. Now the Pima County Democratic Party has joined in. This week its Executive Council voted unanimously for a formal Resolution Supporting the Protection of … Read more

Melvin: “Let them eat charters.”

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by David SafierThis morning's Star placed one of its dreaded thorns in the backside of Al Melvin. As Steve Farley mentioned in his latest email, Melvin took it upon himself to lecture a group of Sierra Vista area businessmen about why we don't need more money for schools. These people told the legislators in attendance … Read more

Give him liberty and taxes?

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by David Safier (TASL)Colin Powell saying "Americans do want to pay taxes for services" is one thing. But North Carolina's Patrick McHenry, the Deputy Republican Whip? Before I launch into his quote, here are a few items from his biography on his official website. Recognized as a leader of the conservative movement in America, Patrick … Read more