Giving credit where credit is due:
Thanks to then-Austin American-
Statesman editor Rich Oppel for
suggesting five years ago that school
districts put all of their records online.
And thank you also to Texas Watchdog
for the nice story this week.
Wishing you all -- more sunshine!
-- Peyton
Thanks to then-Austin American-
Statesman editor Rich Oppel for
suggesting five years ago that school
districts put all of their records online.
And thank you also to Texas Watchdog
for the nice story this week.
Wishing you all -- more sunshine!
-- Peyton
| Despite being a lead story for Fox News (the only network to provide daily live coverage) all last week, by Thursday night -- when key amendments to the social studies curriculum were proposed, debated and voted on -- the crowd at the Texas State Board of Education was sparse. At right are panoramic views of the SBOE board room Thursday night (March 11, 2010), the first at approximately 8:30 p.m.; at a time when matters of great importance were being decided on the board's preliminary pass through the social studies curriculum standards adoption process, very few people were in the room. Absent entirely from the meeting by then were board members Rene Nunez, Rick Agosto and Mary Helen Berlanga. Absent often from the board room was Lawrence Allen. All four were elected as Democrats. |
If there's a single moment that clarifies why the Texas State Board of Education needs to carefully review what the academic experts
recommend in the way of curriculum standards, it was SBOE member Pat Hardy's recommendation last Thursday night that the following
recommend in the way of curriculum standards, it was SBOE member Pat Hardy's recommendation last Thursday night that the following
| After the last gavel, just before 10 pm, from left: SBOE members Don McLeroy, Terri Leo and Barbara Cargill with SBOE chair Gail Lowe. Middle, SBOE member Ken Mercer just to the right of the blue recyle bin where we last saw Texas Freedom Network's Dan Quinn; next is Texas Eagle Forum's MerryLynn Gerstenschlager (photo courtesy of the Eagle Forum). Top right, the night in 2007 when I met Jonathan; it was very late at the Texas Senate; our friends at Texas Public Policy Foundation had given up on their check register bill and gone home to celebrate the holiday weekend -- but not Jonathan and Houston constitutional lawyer Kelly Coghlan (in white shirt) who, despite discouraging news, persisted in getting HB 3678 passed. The School Children's Religious Liberties Act, also known as the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, guarantees that Texas public schoolchildren can pray at school if they wish. In signing the bill into law, Gov. Perry said, "Though the United States Supreme Court holds religious discussion in schools permissible, some Texas schools have been misapplying the law and restricting student’s legal expression. This may be due to outdated school policy or an unintended consequence of efforts to promote a neutral learning environment." This was not a casual bill Kelly threw against a wall along with several others in an attempt to please a board of directors and donors; its original genesis was in 1994. His and Jonathan's energy and determination were something to behold. I learned a lot that night about the importance of only committing to do what we believe in so much that we are willing to persist, no matter what. Read Kelly's "prayer that stopped a riot." At far right, from top, TFN's Dan Quinn with amendment; next, TEA staffers providing backup; bottom right, Mavis Knight (in pink hat) returning to her seat. |
Congratulations, America! What a way to introduce Sunshine Week, March 14-20! The check
register rosters are now updated, and at least 810 school districts in the United States are posting their
check registers online. Given that when we started this grassroots movement in October 2006 it
consisted of all of a few names in a few states--back when the list was more roots than grass--our great
nation's embrace of school district transparency in just over three years is encouraging: At least 36
states have at least one district posting, including all of Alabama and Delaware; Miami, the nation's 4th
largest district whose budget is larger than that of all Iowa public schools, is online as are the two largest
here in Texas, Houston and Dallas. With 408 districts participating, Texas still has the greatest number
of school district check registers online, and more than the other 49 states combined.
Peyton
register rosters are now updated, and at least 810 school districts in the United States are posting their
check registers online. Given that when we started this grassroots movement in October 2006 it
consisted of all of a few names in a few states--back when the list was more roots than grass--our great
nation's embrace of school district transparency in just over three years is encouraging: At least 36
states have at least one district posting, including all of Alabama and Delaware; Miami, the nation's 4th
largest district whose budget is larger than that of all Iowa public schools, is online as are the two largest
here in Texas, Houston and Dallas. With 408 districts participating, Texas still has the greatest number
of school district check registers online, and more than the other 49 states combined.
Peyton
Yesterday TEA offered some facts in the form of a press release (below); hopefully Fox
will want to read them.In the interests of fair and balanced reporting:
| Texas Education Agency, Austin |
What's so surprising is that on so many issues Fox News has been a lone beacon offering fair and balanced news and in many
cases the only national coverage at all, as with last year's Tea Party movement. And remember the study earlier this year showing
with hard facts -- not just your daddy's opinions -- that the major networks gave President Obama more flattering early-on coverage
than they gave Presidents Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush, all of whom received roughly three times more bad press than
good from those same broadcast networks.
This episode with the Texas State Board highlights the general lack of investigative reporting in public education by news outlets,
driven as they are by the need for those rock 'em/sock 'em 20-second sound bytes. For example, look at the reporting of last
night's historic vote by the Kansas City, Missouri school board to close half of their schools. Is anyone going to mention detailed
coverage of their decades of court-mandated Spend-O-Rama practices. Things do not occur in a vacuum. Seldom if ever does an
event spring from nowhere.
cases the only national coverage at all, as with last year's Tea Party movement. And remember the study earlier this year showing
with hard facts -- not just your daddy's opinions -- that the major networks gave President Obama more flattering early-on coverage
than they gave Presidents Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush, all of whom received roughly three times more bad press than
good from those same broadcast networks.
This episode with the Texas State Board highlights the general lack of investigative reporting in public education by news outlets,
driven as they are by the need for those rock 'em/sock 'em 20-second sound bytes. For example, look at the reporting of last
night's historic vote by the Kansas City, Missouri school board to close half of their schools. Is anyone going to mention detailed
coverage of their decades of court-mandated Spend-O-Rama practices. Things do not occur in a vacuum. Seldom if ever does an
event spring from nowhere.
| Here's this morning's Kansas City Star's lead photo (above) and its caption today: "After the meeting ended, Christine Taylor-Butler (left), a district parent, gives Nancy Haynes, a teacher at Faxon Montessori, a hug. Faxon's program will no longer exist, as the students will be split into two different schools and other students will move into the building. In a 5-4 split, the Kansas City School Board voted to approve the largest school closing in the district's history. The Right-sizing plan, recommended by Superintendent of Schools John Covington Wednesday, Mar. 10, 2010, at the Board of Education Building in Kansas City, resulted in the closure of 26 district schools. JILL TOYOSHIBA/The Kansas City Star." |
| Transparency history Llano ISD FOIA conviction Edgewood ISD PD re FOIA Progress by March 2007 1st year ann'y: Oct. 2007 Gov.Perry & Comm.Scott |
| WHO'S ATTENDING YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS? Follow the money in our vendor-driven schools: 15 vendors & special interests to look for at your next board meeting. |
| P E Y T O N W O L C O T T |
How we take back our children's education: one person, one question, one school at a time. |
| FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of education issues vital to a republic. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Section 107 which states: the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright," the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use" you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. |
| ATTENTION EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS: Every attempt possible has been made to verify all sources and information. In the event you feel an error has been made, please contact us immediately. Thank you. NOTICE: All individuals mentioned on this site are presumed innocent unless they have been found guilty in a court of law. |
| Copyright 1999-2010 Peyton Wolcott |
"Walk softly and carry a big stick." -- Teddy Roosevelt "Trust but verify." -- Ronald Reagan |
| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n : o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e . |
| AZ CA KS MD MO OH OK KeyWest CreditCards SLAPP TX Senator John Cornyn Edgewood 1 2345 CleburneISD KatyISD BremondISD LlanoISD |
| Check Registers US TX Flyer Ask your district Set goals/organize Ask lots of questions School Board Ethics Pledges Watchdogs: AngryActivist Alert PR |
| PEYTON WOLCOTT'S 6 SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT S: How you can rebuild public trust and save at least $75 per student this next year. 1. End discretionary spending. Set an example for your staff; let them know you mean business about running a tighter ship: No trips, no conferences, no meals, no credit cards. If you want to learn more about something, use Google. Do a webinar. Read a newsletter. No golf games with vendors, ever. No chauffeurs, no rental cars. Stay home, do your work and keep your nose clean. 2. Reduce administrative costs. Go through your administrative staff roster and cut every other job, starting with getting rid of all PR and marketing. No advisors, no consultants. Learn how to really read a budget. Put your check register and all wire transfers online. 3. Ethics. No nepotism. Let your wife and kids earn a living in a field other than education. No board members' spouses working in the district. Conduct all discussions with vendors and potential vendors in the open; invite your public to watch and ask questions. Throw away your contract and work year by year. Move your chair off the dais at board meetings. You're not a team member with your elected trustees. You're not equal to them. They're your boss. 4. No construction. If you're the rare district truly experiencing sufficient growth to justify building new schools, splinter off that population and let them start their own new school district or charter school. They might be able to take over an abandoned church or office building for much less than the Taj Mahal you had in mind. 5. Back-to-basics curriculum. Math table (1st grade: add, 2nd grade: subtract, 3rd grade multiply, 4th grade divide) daily drill. You made sure your own kids learned the basics at home or with tutors; why shouldn't all children have that same opportunity? Ditto for phonics. Classical literature. History, not social studies. No more block scheduling. Daily P.E. for all. Emphasize individual effort and accomplishment. 6. Attitude. You're a public servant, not a Third World dictator. Practice humility and gratitude. Remember when your employees laugh at your jokes or tell you you're cool or vendors marvel at your every utterance that they're all sucking up to you. Remember why you got into education to begin with. Sell your house in the gated community and buy one in the middle of a real subdivision like your average parents and taxpayers can afford. Let yourself be driven not by the latest platitude you picked up at the latest education conference but by the same wonderful noble desire to educate kids that got you into this field. |
| Ethics pledges Corruption Team of 8 Nationalization NCLB/Pearson $1.4 B (TX) Transparency 2006 Lax oversight Lobbyists 1 2 3 PassTheTrash 1 2 |
| Edu-Monopoly EduInc Internal Controls Tech Audits ERDI Financial Exigency Laptops Credit cards Supes travel/meals Edu-Conferences TASA MidWinter GORGE-ous Supes/Golf/Vendors 1 |
| Terms & Conditions: Sorry to have to include this; some groups--God bless them--have copied my research and published it as their own. |
| Robin Hood & 22 'equity' failures: MALDEF's 22 Edgewood districts cost Texans billions in failed academics & extravagance. |
| How to persuade your district: Friendly works best-- take the Golden Rule with you when asking your schools to post checks. Testimonials: issues & concerns solved. |
| Welcome, America -- glad you're finding this no-ads website useful! #1 on Google & Yahoo of 256,000,000! |
| Texas Hill Country - Mesquite and Wildflowers Boerne |
| WELCOME, Washington state! Public school checks now online in 34 states, 600+ school districts, in 3 years! |
05.29.09
Questions reporters
& others ask most:
Q1: When did this grass-
roots check register
project start, and why?
A1: We compiled the first
national roster on October
1, 2009. There were
several precipitating
incidents, including this; it
was clear that
administrators, lobbyists
and vendors didn't like
public records requests.
Q2: How many school
districts are now online
in how many states?
A2: As of March 2010
there are over 800 in 36
states.
Q3: How quickly has this
grown?
A3: When we first started
asking districts to
voluntarily post, there
were only a handful in a
handful of states posting.
Q4: How can I find out if
my district is online? Are
any in my state online?
A4: You can look them up
on these rosters:
o Alabama
o Alaska-Louisiana
o Maine-Tennessee
o Texas
o Texas financials
o Utah-Wyoming
Q5: How do I make my
district put its checks
online?
A5: Unless we're
dictators we can't make
anybody do anything -- but
we can persuade. Here
are some easy to follow
directions based on
treating your schools as
you'd like them to treat
you. (The Golden Rule
really does work.) Just
like in baking or anything
else involving special
skills or plans, the steps
we've found that work are
successful 100% of the
time when followed as
scripted; as with making
pastry, shortcuts lead to
failure.
Q6: Why don't you just
pass a law?
Q6: Have you ever tried
getting a law passed? As
the Texas Public Policy
Foundation and similar
groups elsewhere have
learned, the folks who
stand to benefit the least
from public ed financial
transparency are a very
active lobbying force,
especially in larger states
where more money is
involved in public
education. (With just 17
school districts, only
Delaware has a state law
requiring schools to post
their checks online.)
& others ask most:
Q1: When did this grass-
roots check register
project start, and why?
A1: We compiled the first
national roster on October
1, 2009. There were
several precipitating
incidents, including this; it
was clear that
administrators, lobbyists
and vendors didn't like
public records requests.
Q2: How many school
districts are now online
in how many states?
A2: As of March 2010
there are over 800 in 36
states.
Q3: How quickly has this
grown?
A3: When we first started
asking districts to
voluntarily post, there
were only a handful in a
handful of states posting.
Q4: How can I find out if
my district is online? Are
any in my state online?
A4: You can look them up
on these rosters:
o Alabama
o Alaska-Louisiana
o Maine-Tennessee
o Texas
o Texas financials
o Utah-Wyoming
Q5: How do I make my
district put its checks
online?
A5: Unless we're
dictators we can't make
anybody do anything -- but
we can persuade. Here
are some easy to follow
directions based on
treating your schools as
you'd like them to treat
you. (The Golden Rule
really does work.) Just
like in baking or anything
else involving special
skills or plans, the steps
we've found that work are
successful 100% of the
time when followed as
scripted; as with making
pastry, shortcuts lead to
failure.
Q6: Why don't you just
pass a law?
Q6: Have you ever tried
getting a law passed? As
the Texas Public Policy
Foundation and similar
groups elsewhere have
learned, the folks who
stand to benefit the least
from public ed financial
transparency are a very
active lobbying force,
especially in larger states
where more money is
involved in public
education. (With just 17
school districts, only
Delaware has a state law
requiring schools to post
their checks online.)
| Fox News mention |
| Texas Education Service Centers posting check registers |
Most of Texas' 20
Regional Education
Service Centers are
now posting their
check registers online.
Hats off to the
following for being
among the first:
Regional Education
Service Centers are
now posting their
check registers online.
Hats off to the
following for being
among the first:
Region 10 - Richardson
Choose your month here:
www.region10.org/administrators/C
heckRegisterPosting.html
Choose your month here:
www.region10.org/administrators/C
heckRegisterPosting.html
Region 1 - Edinburg
Pick a month here
www.esc1.net/1293108141351379
20/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMD
RN=2000&BCOB=0&C=55565&129
3Nav=|&NodeID=1450
Pick a month here
www.esc1.net/1293108141351379
20/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMD
RN=2000&BCOB=0&C=55565&129
3Nav=|&NodeID=1450
Region 9 - Wichita Falls
Pick a month here:
www.esc9.net/vnews/display.v/SEC/
Public%20Information%3E%3EChe
ck%20Register
Pick a month here:
www.esc9.net/vnews/display.v/SEC/
Public%20Information%3E%3EChe
ck%20Register
Region 8 - Mt. Pleasant
Choose a month here:
www.reg8.net/default.aspx?name=a
dmin.checkregister
Choose a month here:
www.reg8.net/default.aspx?name=a
dmin.checkregister
| CONSERVATIVE: ABOUT EMAIL ARCHIVES FOLLOW THE MONEY NATIONALIZATION INTERNAL CONTROLS PR FOR THE ANGRY & THE POSITIVE STATES SCHOOL DISTRICTS |
Public Ed Commentary
Here they are: the
updated US rosters!
updated US rosters!
- Beyond FOIA: Why it's
more effective to
persuade your local
school district than to
demand; why it's better
for schools to post on
their sites than for you
to FOIA check registers
then put them on your
private or 501c website.
- Is 'equity' equitable?
More about MALDEF &
Robin Hood
- Printable flyer to share
with your board; print at
100%. Testimonials
from school leaders
who have already
successfully posted
their districts' checks
online countering all
usual opposition points
(cost, technology, etc.).
- Special interests in your
district and at your
board meetings: Do
you know who they are
and what they have to
do with spending?
- If there was a major
precipitating incident
behind the check
registers, this was it.
| CHECK REGISTERS |
| Are your district's checks on their website? If not, why not? More than 818 are, in 37 states, in just 3 years. Simple how-to.here works 100% of the time--if no shortcuts. |
| Friday March 19, 2010 |
| Click here for former IBM chair Lou Gerstner's Let's nationalize our schools, Mr. Obama WSJ 2008 manifesto |
| ED PHOTO OF THE WEEK: 2 PRESIDENTIAL TELEPROMPTERS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM (VA) |
| President Barack Obama, accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, speaks to the media after a discussion with 6th grade students at Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church (VA), Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010. (AP) |
| Only Texas -- thanks to Governor Rick Perry, Education Commissioner Robert Scott, and our State Board of Education -- all supported by those who cherish individual freedoms and local control of our school districts -- has had the courage among the 50 states to stand firm against the power grab by the United States Department of Education, the school equivalent of what Mr. Obama's crew is trying to do with healthcare. As with healthcare, Race to the Top's national curriculum standards have less to do with education and more to do with being a vehicle for increasing federal control. |
| Bringing you the information and tools you need in order to improve public education and lower taxes and spending; during the past two decades of the voucher debate an entire generation has grown up in the public school system. If you don't think this is important look at the Nov. 2008 election where folks voted based on emotions and hope rather than facts. Let's put a stop to the school-to-prison pipeline -- and keep our public schools locally run, strong and free.. |
Region 7 - Kilgore
Public Information
www.esc7.net/default.aspx?n
ame=pub_info
Public Information
www.esc7.net/default.aspx?n
ame=pub_info
P.S. Here are some of the leaders in U.S. school district check register transparency; you can find out
more about them by going to each of the state links--that's Texas Gov. RickPerry and Commissioner
of Education Robert Scott at top left.
more about them by going to each of the state links--that's Texas Gov. RickPerry and Commissioner
of Education Robert Scott at top left.
| For names, right click on images, choose "Properties." |
Updated Wednesday, March 3, 2010 / 8:33 a.m
Quick: You've got 20 seconds to tell us about
the Kansas City closings, the Texas SBOE and
the feds' race to nationalize our schools -- and
don't leave anything out
By Peyton Wolcott
Thursday, March 11, 2010 / 12:07 a.m. - Updated Thursday, March 11, 2010 / 8:01 a.m.
The misreporting earlier this week of the current social studies curriculum
standards cycle in Texas' elected State Board of Education's textbook
adoption process by Fox News (and every other network) highlights the fact
that such reporting is from the news business, not from the news hobby.
And the TV news business is driven by 20-second sound bytes which feed
the stream of fast food, erectile dysfunction and other ads.
The need for speed results in an emphasis is on the easy quick hit, the
emotional 'human' aspects of stories -- at the expense of facts. For example,
the Kansas City Star's coverage of last night's Kansas City, Missouri school
board vote to close half of their schools focuses on a sense of loss as with the
photo at right. Fox this morning hasn't yet mentioned that it was Judge
Russell Clark who ordered Kansas City taxpayers in 1985 to open their wallets
to the schools and let the schools take as much as they wanted. Predic.
the Kansas City closings, the Texas SBOE and
the feds' race to nationalize our schools -- and
don't leave anything out
By Peyton Wolcott
Thursday, March 11, 2010 / 12:07 a.m. - Updated Thursday, March 11, 2010 / 8:01 a.m.
The misreporting earlier this week of the current social studies curriculum
standards cycle in Texas' elected State Board of Education's textbook
adoption process by Fox News (and every other network) highlights the fact
that such reporting is from the news business, not from the news hobby.
And the TV news business is driven by 20-second sound bytes which feed
the stream of fast food, erectile dysfunction and other ads.
The need for speed results in an emphasis is on the easy quick hit, the
emotional 'human' aspects of stories -- at the expense of facts. For example,
the Kansas City Star's coverage of last night's Kansas City, Missouri school
board vote to close half of their schools focuses on a sense of loss as with the
photo at right. Fox this morning hasn't yet mentioned that it was Judge
Russell Clark who ordered Kansas City taxpayers in 1985 to open their wallets
to the schools and let the schools take as much as they wanted. Predic.
| Texas Education Agency Press Release / March 10, 2010 Fox inaccurately reporting State Board of Education action AUSTIN – AUSTIN – The Fox Network in recent days has repeatedly broadcast highly inaccurate information about the State Board of Education’s efforts to adopt the new social studies curriculum standards. Here are the facts. The direct quotes come from the March 10 broadcast of Fox & Friends. Fox: “Texas board of education begins hearings today on proposed changes to textbooks…” The truth: The State Board of Education today is expected to take a preliminary vote on updated social studies curriculum standards. The standards detail what teachers are to teach in each class. New social studies textbooks are not scheduled to be selected until 2011. Fox: “So one of the proposed changes is to start history class in the year 1877.” The truth: Texas has and always will teach U.S. History from the beginning until present day. U.S. History through Reconstruction is taught in the eighth grade and those standards can be found in the middle school standards, which are called Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Here is a link to the middle school standards: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/teks/social/MS_TEKS_amended.pdf. U.S. History since 1877 is taught in 11th grade. Fox: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington have been removed from the textbooks. The truth: The standards, not textbook, are before the board this week. Lincoln is required to be included in the first and eighth grade history classes, as well as in the U.S. government class. Washington is required to be taught in kindergarten, first grade, fifth grade and eighth grade. Here is a link to a document detailing those historical figures, including Lincoln and Washington, who are required to be taught as part of the standards: http://ritter.tea.state.tx. us/teks/social/AlphabetizedList_including.pdf. There is another list of individuals who are suggested for inclusion and it can be found here: http://ritter.tea.state.tx. us/teks/social/AlphabetizedList_such_as.pdf. Additional modifications are still possible to both lists as the board debates the standards during its March and May meeting. Fox: Independence Day and Veteran’s Day are being deleted from the textbooks. The truth: Again, the new history textbooks have not been written yet but they will be based on the curriculum standards adopted by the board. The standards currently under consideration cover Independence Day in kindergarten, second and fifth grades. Veteran’s Day is included in kindergarten, first, second and fifth grades. Fox: References to Christmas have been deleted. The truth: A TEKS review committee briefly recommended removing Christmas from a list that mentioned one major holiday for each of the world’s religions. The committee recommended leaving Easter in the document. The State Board immediately rejected this idea and a reference to Christmas was restored in the standards months ago and can be found in sixth grade in standard 19(b). Fox: Textbooks adopted in Texas will be used classrooms across the country. The truth: Each state has its own textbook selection process. Publishers may offer other states the Texas edition of a book but they are not required to select it. Citizens can read the standards for themselves at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=3643. A live webcast of the meeting, which begins at 11 a.m. today, can be viewed at http://www.texasadmin.com/cgi-bin/tea.cgi. |
| Fox and Friends |
BEYOND SOUND BYTES & HEADLINES
Let's take another look at education 'experts'
Why it's important that elected State Board of Education members approve curriculum standards
Let's take another look at education 'experts'
Why it's important that elected State Board of Education members approve curriculum standards
| At left, SBOE member Mary Helen Berlanga (in black) of Corpus Christi chats with the press in the Texas Education Agency lobby after her "in a huff" exit from the still-ongoing SBOE meeting; that's Fox News' tall Peter Doocy at far right. |
Why was SBOE member Pat Hardy,
described as an "instructional
generalist" in the Weatherford ISD
2009-2010 Employee Handbook, and
who recently ran for reelection to the
State Board of Education in the
Republican primary -- spending so
much time conferring with Dan
Quinn (right), of the Texas Freedom
Network last week?
described as an "instructional
generalist" in the Weatherford ISD
2009-2010 Employee Handbook, and
who recently ran for reelection to the
State Board of Education in the
Republican primary -- spending so
much time conferring with Dan
Quinn (right), of the Texas Freedom
Network last week?
Oh, this is interesting. GuideStar, based on the Form 990 Texas Freedom Network Education Fund filed
with the Internal Revenue Service, categorizes TFNEF as: Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy / (Civil
Liberties Advocacy). Does that sound "mainstream" to you?
with the Internal Revenue Service, categorizes TFNEF as: Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy / (Civil
Liberties Advocacy). Does that sound "mainstream" to you?
| Left: Texas Education staffers providing back-up for the meeting. Above, SBOE members Bob Craig and Geraldine 'Tincy' Miller stretch their legs. |
| At right, empty chairs of SBOE members Rene Nunez, Rick Agosto and Mary Helen Berlanga. |
| Above, SBOE members Don McLeroy and Barbara Cargill. |
| Above, the SBOE board room at about 5:30 on Thursday, March 11, 2010. That's the board in the large burgundy wing-back swivels in the center of the room; below, at far left is the TEA backup (general counsel David Anderson and the parliamentarian against the rear wall. To the left of the door to the SBOE break room (to the left of the American flag) are the TEA staffers taking minutes and providing other support. To their immediate right is general seating, often reserved for testifiers. |
A few hours earlier, about 5:30 p.m.:
| By 8:30 not many people were left; for example, the only folks occupying the empty folding chairs in the center were Jonathan Saenz of the Liberty Institute and Texas Eagle Forum's MerryLynn Gerstenschlager (and me). |
| What the Texas SBOE board room looked like at 8:30 p.m. (March 11, 2020) |
| At the press table from left, Terrence Stutz of the Dallas Morning News and TEA communications director Debbie Ratcliffe; behind her, Brian Thevenot of the TX Tribune. |
| All 15 SBOE member bios here. |
Questions for & about SBOE
member Pat Hardy & her ties to
Texas Freedom Network
member Pat Hardy & her ties to
Texas Freedom Network
|
Linebarger Goggan
founder, attorney Dale
Linebarger, occupies
the post of treasurer on
TFN's board of
directors.
founder, attorney Dale
Linebarger, occupies
the post of treasurer on
TFN's board of
directors.
| Cecile Richards |
| Liberty Institute's Jonathan Saenz (at right) interviewed by Fox News' Griff Jenkins. |
After the last gavel, just before 10 p.m.:
studies in Texas; although her
employment at Weatherford ISD
raises the question of whether SBOE
members should be allowed to work
for the school districts they are
charged with oversight of -- which in
turn raises the issue of how appro-
priate it is for professional lobbyist
Thomas Ratlife whose client Micro-
soft sells a great deal of product to
Texas public schools -- should sit on
the State Board, the fact remains that
if anyone on the SBOE could be
described as a social studies
education expert, it is Pat Hardy.
A quick check of disparate sources
establishes that women were indeed a
major presence on 19th century
factory floors. According to Arthur
W. Calhoun's A Social History of the
American Family from Colonial
Times to the Present, "Women
formed, roughly speaking, two-thirds
to three-fourths, and in some places
as much as nine-tenths, of the total
number of factory operatives in the
first half of the century."
Explanatory note: Because Dr.
Calhoun's book was published in
1919, the period to which he is
referring is 1800-1850.
employment at Weatherford ISD
raises the question of whether SBOE
members should be allowed to work
for the school districts they are
charged with oversight of -- which in
turn raises the issue of how appro-
priate it is for professional lobbyist
Thomas Ratlife whose client Micro-
soft sells a great deal of product to
Texas public schools -- should sit on
the State Board, the fact remains that
if anyone on the SBOE could be
described as a social studies
education expert, it is Pat Hardy.
A quick check of disparate sources
establishes that women were indeed a
major presence on 19th century
factory floors. According to Arthur
W. Calhoun's A Social History of the
American Family from Colonial
Times to the Present, "Women
formed, roughly speaking, two-thirds
to three-fourths, and in some places
as much as nine-tenths, of the total
number of factory operatives in the
first half of the century."
Explanatory note: Because Dr.
Calhoun's book was published in
1919, the period to which he is
referring is 1800-1850.
| SBOE member Pat Hardy (left) with Texas Freedom Network's Dan Quinn; out of camera range at right is TFN executive director Kathy Miller. |
| According to the National Women's History Museum, by the end of the 19th century, "Across the nation, anywhere from 25% to 40% of the labor force was female." Above, 19th century factory workers in Indianapolis. Below, 19th century Johnson & Johnson factory workers. |
| Examples of women working in factories in great numbers during the 19th century |
such as the end of the Great Depression,
rationing, and women and minority
employment." Mentioning the example
of Rosie the Riveter in making her point,
Pat said that one of the results of WWII
was that for the first time women
worked in factories in great numbers.
Where did Pat, or the Texas Freedom
Network with whom she appeared to be
working closely, get this bit of
information -- or misinformation?
rationing, and women and minority
employment." Mentioning the example
of Rosie the Riveter in making her point,
Pat said that one of the results of WWII
was that for the first time women
worked in factories in great numbers.
Where did Pat, or the Texas Freedom
Network with whom she appeared to be
working closely, get this bit of
information -- or misinformation?
Were Pat Hardy an accountant or a plumber or a factory worker,
getting the facts wrong could be more easily understood. But Pat is a
long-time award-winning educator certified since 1970 to teach social
getting the facts wrong could be more easily understood. But Pat is a
long-time award-winning educator certified since 1970 to teach social
be included as written by the social studies academic experts: "(A)
describe the economic effects of World War II on the Home Front,
describe the economic effects of World War II on the Home Front,
| PAT HARDY, NOW & THEN Above: I took this shot above last Thursday because Pat had just conferred with someone in the audience and I was curious whom; it turned out to be Sharon Pope, past president-TCSS, editor/The Texan, retired director-secondary social studies/Spring Branch ISD. Below: On July 19, 2007, Pat sits at far left with audience members Nancy Hester (curriculum liaison/ Texas Council for the Social Studies, SS coordinator/Georgetown ISD), Betty Barringer (curriculum liaison & past president/TCSS, teacher/Dallas ISD)--and, at far right, Sharon Pope. |
| Below, more 19th century women in factories, from the film Hard Work.. |
| Above, the press table. To the right of the camera is Fox's Brian Wilson; Terrence Stutz (grey hair) sits in the middle, and at far right is Debbie Ratcliffe, a former reporter. |
| Two volumes of Calhoun's "A Social History" with Goodwill and Texas State Library tags--plus my post-its. |
Talk about serendipity; I'd just found this book, long a resource at the Texas State Library in Austin, a
few hours earlier at a small town Goodwill Store where I bought it even though the purchase
didn'tmake much sense at the time. Calhoun's work is also on the shelves of many other significant
libraries; here's Harvard University's copy. (More here about Calhoun.)
few hours earlier at a small town Goodwill Store where I bought it even though the purchase
didn'tmake much sense at the time. Calhoun's work is also on the shelves of many other significant
libraries; here's Harvard University's copy. (More here about Calhoun.)
SBOE members made the point Thursday night that the study team experts who had drafted the
original amendments and to whom Pat Hardy referred frequently were academic experts. As we can
original amendments and to whom Pat Hardy referred frequently were academic experts. As we can
| Above, the right side of the room was slightly less spotty; Texas Freedom Network's Dan Quinn (far right) anchored a spot to the right of the entrance and the blue recycling bin; the arm to his right belongs to TFN executive director Kathy Miller. You know you're well-connected politically when Jason Embry of the Austin American-Statesman wishes you a happy birthday on March 8. |
clearly see with just this one amendment, the academic experts don't always
get it right, especially when there's an ideological filter. Although I don't
always agree with some personal viewpoints of some of the conservatives on
the State Board of Education -- I do not believe for example that the Earth
was created 4,000 years ago -- on the social studies curriculum standards
they're getting it about right. And unlike Mr. Obama's new national standards,
it's been a process completely open to the public, with all the participants'
names published. Anyone who wanted to could have been in the SBOE
boardroom to watch -- just wish there'd been more of us.
get it right, especially when there's an ideological filter. Although I don't
always agree with some personal viewpoints of some of the conservatives on
the State Board of Education -- I do not believe for example that the Earth
was created 4,000 years ago -- on the social studies curriculum standards
they're getting it about right. And unlike Mr. Obama's new national standards,
it's been a process completely open to the public, with all the participants'
names published. Anyone who wanted to could have been in the SBOE
boardroom to watch -- just wish there'd been more of us.
Developing . . . . |
SCHOOL NEWS QUICK LINKS
With 818 school districts with check
registers online in 37 states in just over
three years, we have much to celebrate
during this Sunshine Week, America.
For parents and taxpayers on the one
hand who are concerned about out-of-
control government spending, and on the
other those administrators wanting to
shore up solid community support in a
stormy economy, there is no quicker,
easier and cheaper meeting ground than
for schools to put their checks online.
With the feds trying to nationalize our
public schools via the next step, Race to
With 818 school districts with check
registers online in 37 states in just over
three years, we have much to celebrate
during this Sunshine Week, America.
For parents and taxpayers on the one
hand who are concerned about out-of-
control government spending, and on the
other those administrators wanting to
shore up solid community support in a
stormy economy, there is no quicker,
easier and cheaper meeting ground than
for schools to put their checks online.
With the feds trying to nationalize our
public schools via the next step, Race to
By Peyton Wolcott + Updated Wednesday - March 17, 2010 / 9:37 a.m.
Here are more photos of Pat Hardy
with Dan Quinn and
the wall. At right is
TFN's Kathy Miller
at an SBOE meeting
last fall; Kathy is
whom Pat and Dan
are interacting with.
with Dan Quinn and
the wall. At right is
TFN's Kathy Miller
at an SBOE meeting
last fall; Kathy is
whom Pat and Dan
are interacting with.
| LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: The real "Rosie the Riveter" is Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post cover below, not the iconic J. Howard Miller "We Can Do It!" poster above. |
TFN calls itself "a mainstream voice
to counter the religious right" -- but
is it? Dan turned down a previous
request for information regarding the
source(s) of TFN's monies; we note
that TFN was founded by Planned
Parenthood president Cecile
Richards, daughter of late Texas
Democrat Governor Ann Richards;
according to the White House, Cecile
has abeen a frequent visitor since Mr.
Obama's election; more here.
to counter the religious right" -- but
is it? Dan turned down a previous
request for information regarding the
source(s) of TFN's monies; we note
that TFN was founded by Planned
Parenthood president Cecile
Richards, daughter of late Texas
Democrat Governor Ann Richards;
according to the White House, Cecile
has abeen a frequent visitor since Mr.
Obama's election; more here.
going to be forced to intervene in order
to protect your students and
community!" -- fiscal solvency will
continue to be a cornerstone of strength
and community support.
to protect your students and
community!" -- fiscal solvency will
continue to be a cornerstone of strength
and community support.
the Top (NCLB and the
Title I, eRate and similar
grants were the
predecessors), for those
seeking to retain local
control there is no
quicker or surer way to
keep local schools strong
enough that the feds have
no pretext for taking
them over -- "Oh, your
scores are so low! Plus,
you're bankrupt! We're
Title I, eRate and similar
grants were the
predecessors), for those
seeking to retain local
control there is no
quicker or surer way to
keep local schools strong
enough that the feds have
no pretext for taking
them over -- "Oh, your
scores are so low! Plus,
you're bankrupt! We're
| A cozy moment: US DE Secretary Arne Duncan (R) with Eli Broad at Broad's Obama inaugural party. |
Why check numbers are
important to transparency:
Although Texas Association of School
Business Officials executive director
Gwen Santiago expressed her concerns
to the state Lege education committee in
2007 that if check numbers were
published school districts' bank accounts'
safety might be compromised, the largest
important to transparency:
Although Texas Association of School
Business Officials executive director
Gwen Santiago expressed her concerns
to the state Lege education committee in
2007 that if check numbers were
published school districts' bank accounts'
safety might be compromised, the largest
- NY: Roslyn's $11.2 million
loss was an inside job; had
checks and receipts been
posted the community
would have caught on years
before an alert Home Depot
clerk questioned use of a
district card 50 miles away. - MA: Online checks would
have let Lawrence residents
know about the running
boards for the supe's SUV
& the LEXISNEXIS
searches for enemies list,
menus for son's restaurant. - ME: Could a school closure
have been prevented? Likely. - VA: Auditors finally looked
at Colonial Beach's checks,
found acting supe/CFO's
embezzlement; $600,000?
| Roslyn execs Frank Tassone & PamGluckin |
| Lawrence supe Wilfredo Laboy & assistant |
and, as with a Virginia district's CFO
(above), most common thefts in public
schools are by insiders, and in every case
those thefts could have been caught far
sooner by public watchdogs with access to
their district's online checks.
Examples:
(above), most common thefts in public
schools are by insiders, and in every case
those thefts could have been caught far
sooner by public watchdogs with access to
their district's online checks.
Examples:
| The home of Virginia's Colonial Beach Schools' CFO Barbara J. Worrell was raided; at right Worrell in shackles en route to court. |
Wahoo, America! New York City
schools checks online soon!
By Peyton Wolcott
Friday, March 19, 2010 / 4:11 p.m.
schools checks online soon!
By Peyton Wolcott
Friday, March 19, 2010 / 4:11 p.m.
Given that with annual actual expenditures in the $17.9 billion range New York City
schools are the largest spenders in the nation, this is enormous news, and hats off to
NYC Comptroller John Liu for announcing it during National Sunshine Week. According
to Liu, this is "an unprecedented effort that will allow users to search a database and
download City expenditures made by check or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) which,
in the FY2010 estimated budget, totaled nearly $60 billion. Users will be able to search
for expenditures in a number of different ways including by vendor or payee name,
agency, check amount and check/ EFT number."
schools are the largest spenders in the nation, this is enormous news, and hats off to
NYC Comptroller John Liu for announcing it during National Sunshine Week. According
to Liu, this is "an unprecedented effort that will allow users to search a database and
download City expenditures made by check or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) which,
in the FY2010 estimated budget, totaled nearly $60 billion. Users will be able to search
for expenditures in a number of different ways including by vendor or payee name,
agency, check amount and check/ EFT number."
| Ground Zero in New York City on 9/11 in 2003. That's the Hudson River at the right; the tiny speck is the Statue of Liberty. |
| A personal and very appreciative hats off to Marc LaVorgna in Mayor Bloomberg's press office and to Ebony in Deputy Comptroller Alan Van Capelle's office for helping verify this information, and to Sharon Lee in the Comptroller's press office. |