DDOE Tells Christina To Close Or Restructure (Charter/Privatize) Its Priority Schools

DDOE Tells Christina To Close Or Restructure (Charter/Privatize) Its Priority Schools

There are actually three choices on the table: Closure, Charter Conversion/Privatization... and handing all 5 of Christina's city schools to Red Clay. No matter what, Christina loses these schools.
The Christina school board must choose by Feb. 27 whether to close its three Priority Schools or hand them over to charter schools or other education management organizations, the Department of Education said in a letter to district staff Tuesday. The letter leaves one possible alternative: If Christina works with the state on the possibility of redistricting schools so that it no longer operates city schools, it could be removed from the Priority Schools saga altogether.
The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) is very good at closing down schools. Go speak with anyone at these six Priority Schools and ask them when DDOE showed up to "help" them. Surely DDOE has been in these schools for years - since these six schools have been struggling for a long, long time? Surely, DDOE can point to all the support they've given these schools over the years? I hear that DDOE didn't step foot in these schools or offer assistance prior to Governor Markell's Priority School announcement last fall. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe DDOE has been working with the six priority schools for years and drastic action was needed because they exhausted all other options?
Jon Stewart.

Jon Stewart.

The mocking sarcasm that laid bare much of the lies and hypocrisy and bias of the corporate media that was at the heart of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will not die with the retirement of Jon Stewart. It will go on because it has to go on, it is needed, and hopefully the Daily Show is enough of an established franchise to allow that to happen. But it will not be the same. But such is life. Things change and are not the same all the time. Remember how important Keith Olbermann was at a certain time? We and he moved on, and so will we now. Colbert will be back soon as the host of the Late Show on CBS. I hope Jon Stewart likewise doesn't disappear forever. But people come and go all the time, including politicians, newscasters, satirists, comedians, entertainers, and musicians. Still, damn am I going to miss Jon Stewart when he goes.
Tuesday Open Thread [2.10.15]

Tuesday Open Thread [2.10.15]

E.J. Dionne Jr. at The Washington Post writes Obama’s Christian humility:
President Obama’s speech to the crowd on Thursday did not seem terribly controversial when I first listened. […] Who knew that denouncing religious extremism and calling on people of all faiths to guard against “a tendency in us, a sinful tendency that can pervert and distort our faith” would prove to be so controversial?
Attention Christians, especially you American Evangelical Christians who should really call yourselves Evangelical Old Testamentians rather than Christians since your religion does not, in any way, at all, follow the teachings of Jesus Christ,the Son of God... even today, there are those who kill and terrorize others in the name of the Christian religion and Jesus Christ and his Father. And in our history, hundreds of thousands if not millions will killed in the name of the Christian religion and Jesus Christ. It is long past time you all grew up and realized that, like Jesus said, we are all sinners, and we are all guilty.
Legal Representation For Fetus Of Brain-Dead Women, Or The Next Step In “Personhood”

Legal Representation For Fetus Of Brain-Dead Women, Or The Next Step In “Personhood”

We've seen Personhood on the ballot, and we've seen it fail in some pretty conservative states. That doesn't mean it's going away. It just means the pro-Personhood contingent has switched tactics. They will chip away at the fringes of legalized abortion and they will use the most vulnerable among us.
The proposal by Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, would appoint a representative to speak on behalf of the fetus if a pregnant woman is declared brain-dead or otherwise permanently incapacitated. Krause is working with legislative bill-drafters and has yet to introduce a specific measure in the House. “You’ll hear what the family wants, and you’ll also give the pre-born child a chance to have a voice in court at that same time,” Krause said. “The judge weighs everything and he or she makes their decision based on that.”
Please notice how the pregnant, brain-dead and/or permanently incapacitated woman's wishes aren't considered.
Monday Open Thread [2.9.15]

Monday Open Thread [2.9.15]

Matt Yglesias looks at what isn’t in Obama’s budget:
There’s no entitlement reform. There’s no Obama negotiating with himself. There’s no bending over backwards to look reasonable to his adversaries or to centrist pundits. Every previous Obama budget has been about positioning himself for a legislative or electoral showdown. This one isn’t. And while It would be an overstatement to call it a liberal dream budget — left-wing Democrats could dream up plenty more — for the first time it’s really Obama’s dream budget. This is the end of the “grand bargain” era, and instead an opportunity for Obama to lay out his priorities for the long term — from transportation infrastructure to transforming child care. Rather than position himself in advance of a potential compromise, he wants to outline his vision for a future that will extend well beyond the life of his administration.
It’s A Soup Day!

It’s A Soup Day!

Looks like everyone is busy today, so I'll blog while I cook. The recipe inside is a little labor intensive, but worth it. I always double it! Creamy Potato, Bacon and Cheese Soup!