Tag Archives: public schools

Monday, May 22, 2017 – Global Update and Texas Public School News

Monday, May 22, 2017 – Global Update and Texas Public School News

Good Morning Civics Class.

Our vocabulary word for the day is: ultracrepidarian. (uhl-truh-krep-i-DAIR- ee-uh-n) It is an adjective noting or pertaining to a person, who criticizes, judges or gives advice outside the area of his or her expertise.

Let us explore some examples of persons who might be described as ultracrepidarian.

At the global level The United States’ ultracrepidarian Potus is sword fighting with Saudi royalty. Talk about sabre rattling. They all went to the Toby Keith Testosterone Concert, part of the Hand Maiden’s Tale Tour. Meanwhile, Malaria the Silent and Blondie Anorexia are showing a great deal of leg for an Arab country that covers their women in sheets.

I really do not know what to think about that glowing orb thing. It is creepy. I think it is three billionaires contacting the Mother Ship for further details. It is also possible the sheiks told POTUS it was the newest thing for penile dysfunction and is available for only $19.95 (easily converted to rubles) via the Internet.

Today Trumpet is to visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Fake New, Inc. reports he is exploring moving the wall to Laredo, Texas or somewhere in Arizona. FYI – Do not even think about putting the words “wall” and “Big Bend” in the same sentence.

“But in Texas the talk turned to outlaws, like Willie, Waylon and me.” (David Allen Coe. 1976) Other outlaws now include, but are not limited to: the entire Texas Legislature. What is happening in The Lone Star State of Texas?

There is one week of public schools left in the year and one week left in the Texas Legislature. Of course that fat lady is not warming up to sing and Saint Dan, The Evangelical can still hold bills in the Senate hostage and call special sessions until he gets his way. But he might be content to throw the entire public school system and its children under the big yellow legislative bus.

First, the bathroom bill. Am I reading this correctly? This now only applies to K-12 public schools? And the lower chamber pot (The House) stuck this in the bill as amendment for the requirements for an ISD’s for emergency preparations?

The Texas House passed bathroom restrictions for transgender students.

…An amendment was added to school districts’ emergency plans and added language requiring K-12 schools provide single-stall restrooms and other public areas to a student “who does not wish” to use facilities designated by “biological sex.”

What happened to “local control?” or as we say in Texas, “by God Independent School District.” Is there funding in the school finance bill to make these accommodations or is this an “unfunded mandate?” Why not add an amendment to make the “other bathroom” a pay toilet and name it the Dan Patrick Potty ? If you are going to discriminate, then go all out. This might pay for the required upgrades the school has to make or at least increase custodial pay for those who have to clean up when everyone pees on the floor.

School Finance. The upper chamber pot did approve the school finance bill. But only if it included Voucher Language. Let me translate. If your child is disabled you can use my tax dollars that take away from the public school system and can be used for private schooling. It also reads as though my tax dollars can go to parents educating their children at home.

The Senate put a voucher-like program in House Bill 21, the school finance bill.

The upper chamber early Monday morning approved a bill that would simplify the formulas for funding public schools and allow parents of kids with disabilities to take state money to leave the public system for private schools or homeschooling. HB 21 now includes a provision the House hates and Patrick wants: state subsidies for parents who want to send their children with disabilities to private schools or need money for services to educate them at home.

In summary, here’s what I’m thinking. Please protect the public school system from ultracrepidarian politicians. And please protect all Texas children and especially those in foster care, who are transgendered, and with disabilities from the Texas Legislature.

https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/22/brief-may-22/?utm_campaign=trib-social-buttons&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 – WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

Wednesday, May 17, 2017 – WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

To ensure I do not plagiarize the Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, I hereby give her credit for the following question she asked during a recent TV interview:

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

Unless you just crawled from under a rock you know the nation is under siege with Blabbergate. Channeling in my first period J. L. McCullough 9th Grade American History Class this morning from 1978 (I think – or any of my history classes), they would have reminded me that the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution could be a faster court house road to removal from office. You can read it for yourself, but the 25th Amendment is the “Removal from office because you are an idiot” Amendment.

Meanwhile back in Texas, the Lt. Governor and self-appointed Evangelical Saint of Bathroom Protection, Dan Patrick is holding the Texas Senate, certain state agencies and even the Governor’s office HOSTAGES. Here are his two of demands:

  • Public school funding bills will be held hostage and not passed in the Texas Senate in exchange for a special needs voucher legislation.
  • Governor Abbot will call as many special sessions as it takes to pass property tax and transgender bathroom bills.

What does this mean? Here’s what I’m thinking.

Public school administrators will not be able to set local budgets because they will not know how much money they will receive.

Under proposed legislation parents of special education students would be forced to give up their child’s IDEA protections. IDEA protections are guaranteed under law passed in 1975 – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

School voucher legislation are repeated attempts to remove Federal involvement in schools and it promotes segregation based on race, economic status, and special needs of students.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Statute The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/osep-idea.html

Moving on. How much will my property taxes go up when there are “as many special legislative sessions as needed” called to determine where to pee? Sorry, I have doctorate degree – where to urinate.

Help me understand, Paddy the Evangelical. You do not want the Federal government telling parents of special needs children what to do, but you are OK with the State government telling people where to go to the bathroom?

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?

God Bless, Texas and keep your voter registration card current!

Friday, May 15, 2015 – “Are We There Yet?” said the Snark

Friday, May 15, 2015 – “Are We There Yet?” said the Snark

To all my friends and colleagues’ who were and especially those who bravely continue to be in the institution commonly called – K-12 Public Education:

Remember when we used to say “The Legislature wants schools to do more with less. However, someday they will ask us to do it all with nothing.”

Are we there yet?  I believe so. Once again the boys and girls of Texas get one of the simple machines from the Texas Legislature.

For your daily assessment, select from the following which simple machine the public schools were given by the Texas Legislature.

(a) Lever

(b) Wedge

(c) Wheel and Axle

(d) Pulley

(e) Inclined plane

(f) Screw