tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post3960450664053028050..comments2023-11-07T06:56:59.563-05:00Comments on Ann Arbor Schools Musings: State Board of Ed Roadshow Gives (A Lot of) Food for ThoughtRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10531344380743742801noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-87625594385340263492013-03-13T19:46:13.909-04:002013-03-13T19:46:13.909-04:00Kathleen, just read your blog comments, they are s...Kathleen, just read your blog comments, they are so telling, such real-time examples of the errors of all this so-called reform. The problem is, I really think that the "reformers" honestly don't care. I think they want to de-fund public education until it fails, then use that failure as an excuse to further dismantle it. In fact, that's exactly what they are doing. I have no idea how to stop them, since they control all branches of government in this state despite our Blue population due to gerrymandering. If they want to dismantle it, what can stop them? I don't hear them listening to reason, because I think they aren't interested in improving public education. Just replacing it.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-66312957870424506822013-03-13T18:34:04.330-04:002013-03-13T18:34:04.330-04:00The overhaul proposed for school finance, aka &quo...The overhaul proposed for school finance, aka "Oxford Plan", is most prominently an inequitable plan. It assumes that all parents are equally capable of taking advantage of all choices. My biggest take-away from the panel was that none of them have first-hand experience with the fundamentally discriminatory consequences of the plan. <br /><br />People who have no cars have fewer choices. People with no access to technology have fewer choices. People whose children have special educational needs have fewer choices. Under the Oxford Plan, people whose children are considered "hard to teach" have fewer choices, since schools have the right of refusal to take these children. I harbor no illusions that this makes for educational equity--it further solidifies inequity based on ability, income and need.<br /><br />My own comments, to be shared with the entire MI SBOE are at backburner-nkk.blogspot.comKathy (Kathleen) Kosobudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15691399423647170614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-65772210643790832792013-03-13T18:32:40.736-04:002013-03-13T18:32:40.736-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kathy (Kathleen) Kosobudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15691399423647170614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-87916928580821259122013-03-13T13:38:59.656-04:002013-03-13T13:38:59.656-04:00From another non-union, non teacher parent stakeho...From another non-union, non teacher parent stakeholder in MI thanks for getting involved. The more that get a sense of what is going on (which in almost unbelievable once you first get a sense of it) the worse you will feel. You ask, of course, the right questions but you see Mr. Ruddell is not interested in answering those questions, nor is he qualified to do by training or experience. Yet, every parent in MI public schools and, frankly, every taxpayer who sees their local schools as a value needs to follow what he does. If you haven't had a chance read the McLellan letter on the PEFA update page.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04561628214183846719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-22197855453629172542013-03-13T12:45:17.260-04:002013-03-13T12:45:17.260-04:00Thank you for this posting. Yes, David Arsen'...Thank you for this posting. Yes, David Arsen's letter to the govenor was more in depth, but for us parents that are just now getting involved in all this political business, you explained the issues clearly, and let people know that the decisions made will in fact eventually affect us all.Alexisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2790809561264810693.post-40786078391621438702013-03-13T09:26:43.309-04:002013-03-13T09:26:43.309-04:00Here is a list of email addresses for the state BO...Here is a list of email addresses for the state BOE. Add your own legislators, and tell them what you think! If we don't speak out, we have no room to complain.... <br /><br />jcaustin@umich.edu; mfecteau@aaupaft.org; ramos-montignyl@michigan.gov; strausk@michigan.gov; ulbrichc@michigan.gov; varnerdan@comcast.net; eileen_weiser@msn.com; drzeile@juno.com; Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov ; flanaganm@michigan.gov; schneiderm@michigan.gov<br /><br />JulieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com