Delaware
QOD — How Can An Accountability Testing Scheme Produce Such Low SAT Scores?
We found out this week that approximately 25% of Delaware’s High school students are college-ready, in terms of their SAT scores. Leaving aside that SAT scoring is not the most reliable measure of college-readiness, what is the correlation between the SATs and the DCAS testing regime in Delaware’s schools? It seems to me that if DCAS measures what a kid is learning (yes, I know that is a BIG IF), and the kids are taking a curriculum that makes them ready for college, how can the SAT scores be so out of line with all of this testing? It is pretty remarkable to me that DCAS is used as an accountability test, but that it apparently all of that learning it measures doesn’t translate to better SAT scores.
What Creeping Sharia Law Looks Like
And this is right here in Millsboro and the Indian River School District, where one Shaun Fink is trying to impose his religious bigotries (beliefs masquerading as bigotry) on the high school students in the District. You can read the details of Mr. Fink’s attempt to impose this atrocious bit of Christian Sharia law in this NJ article. Mr. Fink is hiding behind his so-called Christianity to try to demonize and ostracize LGBT people, objecting to the teaching of differences in sexual orientation as against his beliefs. Unfortunately, Mr. Fink still thinks he is living in the last century where not only could you get away with that kind of bigotry, but there was little price to be paid for it. In this century, this kind of bigotry is simply not a survial skill or a leadership skill — two things you want your kids to have. An official demonization of LGBT people — objecting to making them normal (as if they aren’t already) not only does not serve these kids, but also tries to use the government to impose your bigotry on others. Even more, what Mr. Fink knows is that kids are more tolerant of differences among them, including LGBT differences. Trying to curb a basic course on sexuality to impart Mr. Fink’s message that LGBT people are not “normal” is about him imposing his beliefs on these kids — because he knows that they don’t prioritize these differences. And trying to control other people — their behavior and their beliefs is what Sharia Law is all about, right?
Sunday Open Thread [10.12.14]
![Sunday Open Thread [10.12.14]](http://delawareliberal.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/DL.Thumbnail.2.png "Sunday Open Thread [10.12.14]")
The affect of Obamacare in Delaware:
DHHS says that taken together, premiums for Medicare Part B and D will be more than $125 lower in 2015 than initially projected in 2009. That translates into a total of $2.9 million in savings in the First State.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell attributed the savings to a slower rise in healthcare costs since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. In a statement, Burwell said the ACA is “working to improve affordability and access to quality care for seniors and people with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, remember that Libertarian Propaganda Institute that gave Governor Markell an “F” for fiscal responsibility?
Moody’s Investor Services, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services all gave Delaware a AAA credit rating this week. The agencies noted the state’s significant financial reserves and the strength of its labor market in their analysis.
I may disagree with Governor Markell’s PRIORITIES when it comes to economic policy, and his tax policy, but you can’t say he has been irresponsible fiscally. If he was, then the credit ratings agencies would have downgraded Delaware long ago, which is what the Libertarian hit piece was pure bullshit.
![Sunday Daily Delawhere [10.12.14]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3923/14614219901_09f2afae55_z.jpg "Sunday Daily Delawhere [10.12.14]")
YWCA Delaware: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
FYI… Important info below. Please spread the word. YWCA Delaware Promotes Domestic Violence Awareness Month WILMINGTON, DE – YWCA Delaware commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month with free workshops and additional support group meetings during the month of October. YWCA will host workshops at high schools and community based organizations throughout Delaware to teach […]
![Saturday Daily Delawhere [10.11.14]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/15149737899_e9573a4f6d_z.jpg "Saturday Daily Delawhere [10.11.14]")
Wilmington City Council’s Meeting On Priority Schools
Last night I attended the City Council Meeting on Priority Schools.
I’ve stared at the above sentence for quite a while, not sure how to proceed. Mainly because I think last night was simply window dressing, a box checked off… the deal is done. These schools, imo, are headed for charter conversion, privatization or closure. The only question is when this will happen. Shortly after the December 31, 2014 Plan deadline? Or after the specified four year, approximately 6 million Plan doesn’t meet the standardized test bar?
![Friday Daily Delawhere [10.10.14]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3936/15460958732_316698ac62_z.jpg "Friday Daily Delawhere [10.10.14]")
The NJ Newsroom of the Future Begins
A memo from David Ledford to NJ reporters, editors and other staff went out with a list of the new job descriptions that NJ employees need to fit into (see below). You’ll recall that NJ employees are going to be required to re-apply for their jobs, re-interview I suppose, and convince whoever is in charge of this business that they should still be around. After reading the memo and the Job Descriptions (see below), this is just an odd thing. It certainly looks like they are using this exercise to orient themselves to the web and it looks like they are going to reduce positions. It isn’t immediately clear that some of the folks on the editorial page would fit into this order. Which (even though they make me mad sometimes) seems like a waste of knowledge. I understand that some of the NJ folks have already decided that they will not re-apply and are walking away. Over the past year, that’s quite the exodus of local knowledge.
Thursday Daily Delawhere [10.9.14]
![Thursday Daily Delawhere [10.9.14]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/15014388366_1a103ee553_z.jpg "Thursday Daily Delawhere [10.9.14]")
UD’s Sharp Hall lit in blue and gold, by the Flying Inn on Flickr.
Wilmington City Council To Hold Meeting On Priority Schools “Plan”
If you’re free on Thursday, you may want to attend this: WILMINGTON CITY COUNCIL NEWS AND INFORMATION News Release Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Wilmington City Council’s Education, Youth and Families Committee to Focus on the State’s Priority Schools Plan Public is Invited to the Thursday, October 9 at 6 p.m. Meeting Featuring a Priority […]
Wednesday Daily Delawhere [10.8.14]
![Wednesday Daily Delawhere [10.8.14]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/15076907788_0058bbbbee_z.jpg "Wednesday Daily Delawhere [10.8.14]")
The Stone Walled Hills of Brandywine, by the Flying Inn on Flickr.
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