Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Grading The Kentucky Education Reform Act
Education bureaucrats take to the stage and the airwaves tomorrow to answer charges of exaggerating Kentucky's educational improvement under KERA.
Click here and here for the dueling reports at the heart of the controversy.
Click here and here for the dueling reports at the heart of the controversy.
Ringling Brothers And Barnum & Bailey Was Never This Much Fun To Watch
The lawyers marching into the Fayette County Detention Center today were there to rake jail employees over the coals for various misdeeds. Must have been a treat for the inmates to see the guards running around crying like babies.
Mayor Jim Newberry's office, of course, had no comment.
Mayor Jim Newberry's office, of course, had no comment.
Dems Loaded For Bear, Right About Ed Commish
Exactly how many headlines do future Republican candidates want about GOP intransigence in favor of a mediocre education commissioner?
Governor Fletcher can call off the hiring process now. He should.
Governor Fletcher can call off the hiring process now. He should.
The Soft Underbelly Of Mediocrity In Kentucky
If Governor-elect Steve Beshear really wants to improve efficiency in Kentucky's government, he will rip school accountability out of the hands of the Kentucky Department of Education.
The Bluegrass Institute today proves that our school assessment program, CATS, has been systematically manipulated to show phony educational improvement since 1999.
There is no more important issue for the future of our state than getting a handle on how we manage the education of our children. This battle is not one for the faint of heart.
The Bluegrass Institute today proves that our school assessment program, CATS, has been systematically manipulated to show phony educational improvement since 1999.
As an unreliable gauge of progress, the CATS assessment needs to be replaced by more credible tests. In hindsight, it was a mistake to charge the Kentucky Department of Education to both assist school systems in making improvements and be the sole administrator of the assessment system to determine if that effort was successful. A separate agency should be created to manage the assessment of educational progress in Kentucky’s schools.
There is no more important issue for the future of our state than getting a handle on how we manage the education of our children. This battle is not one for the faint of heart.
A Teacher Says It
Gary Yaden, a teacher at North Laurel High School, said a mouthful in a Lexington Herald Leader column:
We are, instead, hung up on artificially lowering dropout rates by either trying to force the least interested students to stay in school or by actually faking the dropout statistics.
And nothing will change as long as people don't realize that it is possible to educate only part of the public. The rest are dead weight, placing a huge burden on the schools and preventing other students from achieving their full potential.
We are, instead, hung up on artificially lowering dropout rates by either trying to force the least interested students to stay in school or by actually faking the dropout statistics.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Cowardly Blogger, Go Home
Some anonymous pinhead keeps pushing Larry Forgy to run for the U.S. Senate against Mitch McConnell. That's fine as far as wasting time goes, but while he is busily speaking for himself (and, until we hear differently, Larry) he should leave the Club for Growth out of it.
The half-hearted effort to shoot the wounded Ernie Fletcher in this year's primary should serve as somewhat of a cautionary tale for those who now want to shoot McConnell. Mitch has his flaws, certainly, but a state that just elected Steve Beshear its governor isn't going to do better than McConnell next year.
The half-hearted effort to shoot the wounded Ernie Fletcher in this year's primary should serve as somewhat of a cautionary tale for those who now want to shoot McConnell. Mitch has his flaws, certainly, but a state that just elected Steve Beshear its governor isn't going to do better than McConnell next year.
Let The Senate President Decide
The Louisville Courier-Journal went to the trouble of surveying all the state Senators about a casino gambling bill when they really only needed to talk to one.
That really is the end of the story, except to point out how misleading the headline is. "Beshear has shot at casinos in Senate" does not an accurately assess the situation. Besides the "let the people decide" slogan could be more accurately stated "let the Las Vegas casino owners decide." Hardly a populist slogan worthy of a Kentucky governor.
A casino bill in the House would force Speaker Jody Richards to weigh in on the issue against Governor Beshear as well.
David Williams, R-Burkesville: "I'm not going to vote for a bill that will put the casino gaming issue on the ballot."
That really is the end of the story, except to point out how misleading the headline is. "Beshear has shot at casinos in Senate" does not an accurately assess the situation. Besides the "let the people decide" slogan could be more accurately stated "let the Las Vegas casino owners decide." Hardly a populist slogan worthy of a Kentucky governor.
A casino bill in the House would force Speaker Jody Richards to weigh in on the issue against Governor Beshear as well.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
School Board Burning, Fletcher Can Put Out Fire
Just when Kentucky's education commissioner hiring debacle looked like it couldn't get any worse, it did.
There is no reason for the outgoing Republican administration to die on this hill. The four finalists in the current search have a combined state leadership experience of exactly zero days. Backing a school board who is now being dragged into court for botching their previous candidate search is not something that is going to benefit the conservative movement in any way.
The Kentucky Department of Education has made a huge mess of our assessment program. That is the battle we should be fighting now and will still be the battle we should be fighting six months from now. The commissioner search can wait. Sticking our necks out now for an under-qualified education commissioner serves no valid purpose whatsoever.
Governor Fletcher, please ask the school board to suspend the hiring process right now.
There is no reason for the outgoing Republican administration to die on this hill. The four finalists in the current search have a combined state leadership experience of exactly zero days. Backing a school board who is now being dragged into court for botching their previous candidate search is not something that is going to benefit the conservative movement in any way.
The Kentucky Department of Education has made a huge mess of our assessment program. That is the battle we should be fighting now and will still be the battle we should be fighting six months from now. The commissioner search can wait. Sticking our necks out now for an under-qualified education commissioner serves no valid purpose whatsoever.
Governor Fletcher, please ask the school board to suspend the hiring process right now.
McConnell: What Fails In Paris, Stays In Paris
Speaking to the Republican State Central Committee meeting this morning, Sen. Mitch McConnell spoke about French President Nicolas Sarkozy. McConnell described him as a French-speaking Ronald Reagan.
McConnell quipped that Sarkozy is now trying to convince the French people that working is good.
And then he said the French are now rejecting the policies American Democrats are trying to implement.
Did I mention the U.S. House just passed a big tax increase yesterday?
McConnell quipped that Sarkozy is now trying to convince the French people that working is good.
And then he said the French are now rejecting the policies American Democrats are trying to implement.
Did I mention the U.S. House just passed a big tax increase yesterday?
Fletcher: Larry, Don't Run
Speaking to the Republican State Central Committee meeting this morning in Lexington, Governor Fletcher publicly stated that no one should run in a primary against Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Good.
Good.
Where Was Bill While Hillary Ate "Loose-Meat?"
An Ohio waitress says Hillary Clinton stiffed her and Hillary says she left a tip.
Who do you believe?
Who do you believe?
Friday, November 09, 2007
ATR: Ben Chandler A Three Time Liar
Ben Chandler promised on January 8, 2004 never to vote for a tax increase if central Kentuckians sent him to represent them in Congress.
Today, Americans for Tax Reform called Rep. Chandler out after breaking his promise the third time.
Today, Americans for Tax Reform called Rep. Chandler out after breaking his promise the third time.
"I Shoulda Been A Tax Lawyer"
If this Congresswoman from Ohio were a tax lawyer, she would be able to tell you the House just passed an enormous tax increase in the name of "fairness."
And yes, Rep. Ben Chandler and Rep. John Yarmuth voted for it.
Pretend This Is The Back Of A Milk Carton
That's right, embattled Fayette County Detention Center director Ron Bishop is missing. He wasn't at work yesterday while the grand jury was meeting in Covington and he's not there today.
Ronnie, where are you?
Steve Pence Leads The Way
Steve Pence's stock goes way up after the announcement yesterday he will serve on the Beshear transition team.
With the real remaining problems that have festered in Kentucky government for decades, there is no need to wish Governor Beshear ill will. He has his hands full.
Might as well support his efforts, at least in the early going. The crashing sound you will hear soon enough will be his policy wish list smashing up against reality.
What we really need now is a solution to the public employee benefits mess Governor Fletcher tried to address years ago, but got crammed back in his face. Maybe it will take a Democratic governor to get it done.
With the real remaining problems that have festered in Kentucky government for decades, there is no need to wish Governor Beshear ill will. He has his hands full.
Might as well support his efforts, at least in the early going. The crashing sound you will hear soon enough will be his policy wish list smashing up against reality.
What we really need now is a solution to the public employee benefits mess Governor Fletcher tried to address years ago, but got crammed back in his face. Maybe it will take a Democratic governor to get it done.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Fayette Jail Abusers, Call Your Lawyers
A federal grand jury in Covington indicted several people this afternoon, but won't say whose number got called. Is your name on the list?
The Effeminate Men Unemployment Act of 2007
(Advance warning: There is no "gay-bashing" in this post. It is about economics.)
The U.S. House passed a bill last night which would criminalize employment discrimination based on "actual or perceived sexual orientation."
Rather than risk lawsuits, employers will simply avoid hiring anyone whose sexual orientation might be in question. It is much easier to come up with a reason for not hiring an individual than it is to get rid of a problem employee who may then sue under anti-discrimination laws.
But don't ask me, ask a black economist.
Rep. Barney Frank sponsored the bill and, in a blow to Kentuckians of various sexual orientations some will fail to recognize, Rep. Ben Chandler and Rep. John Yarmuth voted for it.
The U.S. House passed a bill last night which would criminalize employment discrimination based on "actual or perceived sexual orientation."
Rather than risk lawsuits, employers will simply avoid hiring anyone whose sexual orientation might be in question. It is much easier to come up with a reason for not hiring an individual than it is to get rid of a problem employee who may then sue under anti-discrimination laws.
But don't ask me, ask a black economist.
Rep. Barney Frank sponsored the bill and, in a blow to Kentuckians of various sexual orientations some will fail to recognize, Rep. Ben Chandler and Rep. John Yarmuth voted for it.
Governor Fletcher, Call Off Ed Comm. Hiring
Governor Fletcher would do his political legacy some good if he were to join Governor-elect Beshear in successfully encouraging the state school board to call off hiring one of the current four finalists for the education commissioner job.
We can do better.
We can do better.
The Next Education President
Found an interesting search tool that allows you to see some of the education proposals of each of the presidential candidates.
A couple of interesting points I hadn't seen before:
Mitt Romney supports English-only education and proposes a federal program waiving in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for top students.
Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, and Tom Tancredo are all on-record supporting some form of parental choice in schools.
Barack Obama wants students at high schools without AP courses to apply for grants to pay for college courses.
Hillary Clinton wants to spend $10 billion on universal pre-kindergarten and increase the tuition tax credit from $1650 to $3500.
A couple of interesting points I hadn't seen before:
Mitt Romney supports English-only education and proposes a federal program waiving in-state tuition at public colleges and universities for top students.
Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, and Tom Tancredo are all on-record supporting some form of parental choice in schools.
Barack Obama wants students at high schools without AP courses to apply for grants to pay for college courses.
Hillary Clinton wants to spend $10 billion on universal pre-kindergarten and increase the tuition tax credit from $1650 to $3500.
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