This is a loaded question for most people right now. Everyone should know my opinion by now so I’ll defer to the statements of Ralph Matire and Jeff Mays . Ralph says YES and Jeff says NO. Thanks to the Heartland Institute for this.
The Daily Herald is covering the story of Dr. Anderson’s ethics violations charges. Read the full article.
Members of an ethics commission began hearing evidence Thursday as to whether Grayslake Elementary District 46’s superintendent violated the school board’s ethics rules by allowing fliers to go home with students promoting a tax increase.
…..
“I definitely saw them [...]
The Daily Herald had an article yesterday showing why voters voters do not trust school referendums. (Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom) Palatine Township Elementary District 15 claimed they would have to shorten the school day by 40 minutes for the Junior High if the referendum failed. The referendum failed, but the new board voted [...]
State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) introduced SB 409 that would force children as young as 5 to be in school. The current age is 7. This change would only affect about 5% of 5 and 6 year olds and would cost the schools $17 million. This is a bad idea on multiple [...]
Here is another great article from Hillsdale College. This one is entitled K-12 Establishment is Putting America’s Industrial Leadership at Risk and was given by Robert J. Herbold, a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. In it, he shares multiple stats about how the U.S. [...]
The Daily Southtown has an update on Supt. Thomas Ryan. He’s the one who was using district funds to pay for his daughters’ tuition. After these reports came out he has decided to drop out of race for state president of the Illinois Association of School Administrators. You can read the details [...]
This article appeared in the Chicago Tribune today. I was not able to attend the meeting Monday night, but I have gotten details since then. I heard there was cheering when they were told all the committee members had resigned after the election. I’m sorry, but that is kind of childish. Mr. [...]
This flyer is from Extreme Wisdom. Please print as many off as you want and distribute them.
Download and print this flyer
David McCullough, Historian, gave the speech entitled “Knowing History and Knowing Who We Are” February 15, 2005, in Phoenix, Arizona, at Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar. (Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom)
I will excerpt several passages below, but it talks about how we are failing to teach the next generation the history of our nation. [...]
The Daily Southtown has a article today showing corruption in another school district. This time the school chief used district funds to pay his daughters’ tuition.
Thomas E. Ryan, longtime head of Community Consolidated School District 168, ordered a total of $68,580 paid to three universities during the past eight years to cover his daughters’ [...]
This was a letter to the editor and appeared in the Daily Herald saturday.
Nice parting gift:
Much criticism for the failure of that tax-increase proposal is being directed at District 87 Superintendent Timothy Hyland, and perhaps that is the reason for his “resignation and retirement†announced this week. But it can’t be too hard taking the [...]
Michigan did a tax swap 10 years ago. The Daily Herald has an article on their experience. It’s entitled “Renewing school tax swap plan“. Read this an see if you still support HB 750.
(Hat tip: Extreme Wisdom)
The Illinois Policy Institute has agreat article entitled “The Education Black Box“. Please read it. It is well done. (Hat Tip: Extreme Wisdom for this article and the quote below.) Below is an excerpt:
You put in money and out pops an educated child. Want more educated children? Simply put in more [...]
With all the rumors flying around the D46 Info website about the new District Superintendent looking for a way out of her contract, someone emailed her. Here is an excerpt from her response.
Please let it be known that I fully intend to begin my job in Grayslake as of July 1. [...removed...] I [...]
Here are some more articles from the Trib and Herald. They do a good job of explaining how school district get more money than they claim from a referendum. Here is a excerpt form the Trib article talking about so-called “tort immunity” tax dollars are being spent on teachers salaries among other things.
Hundreds [...]
I have tried to put together a list of all the HB 750 related articles I could find. If you know of any more please email me the links please.
For Our Children’s Future Links
HB 750 Tax Increase Analysis
Testimony to House Committee about HB 750
Heartland Institute
Illinois Governor Rejects Income Tax Hike for Education
Family Taxpayers Network
Family [...]
I received an update from Extreme Wisdom today about these bills. The bill’s deadline has been moved back to May 31st giving us more time.
This is a request for help. If you know of any companies or individuals willing to donate money to help stop this massive tax increase please visit Extreme [...]
SB1484 is the Senate version of HB 750. This bill will be coming up for a vote this week or next according to Extreme Wisdom. Please contact your State Senator and let them know you don’t want this tax increase. You want Education Reform not Funding reform. Look up your [...]
The Daily Herald has an update to a previous story that I discussed entitled “Schools rake in more than voters OK.” The story generated attention in Springfield. Now “Lawmakers aim to close tax cap hole.” Why is it politicians don’t seem to do what’s right until after the story hits [...]
In the post Seeing Red Over School Funding, Carl commented with the sources for some valuable data. While researching each of the sites I found this common thread, the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Here is an excerpt about them:
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as “the Nation’s Report Card,” [...]
I received this letter from my State Legislature, Bob Churchill, a couple of days ago. The stats that back this up have been requested as well. In it shows the truth of funding in Illinois and its actual ranking. Below are some of the highlights:
49th if only look at state component
3rd if [...]
I have heard the comment that Homeschoolers do not need public schools and should not get involved in referendums. I wanted to respond to this because it is absolutely wrong.
We all have the right to vote and participate in the process. As a homeschooler, I also have the right to use [...]
Here is an interesting take on education by Lenny Palmer, afternoon talk show host on WKRS AM1220 in Waukegan. His article is entitled “The Little Red Schoolhouse“. Give it a read and then give me your reactions. Here are a couple of paragraphs:
[...]
Real estate values are a function of location, not education spending. People buy in desirable areas because social factors, and they believe that education spending is one of those factors. The truth is that the education “outcomes” (which are nowhere near as good as people think they are) are far more a function [...]
Here is more testimony on HB 750.
“Seeing red over school funding” is an article in the Chicago Tribune about teachers going to Springfield to lobby for more money for schools.
Below are a coupld of pertinent excerpts:
One big reason: Many voters don’t trust the state and the schools to spend the money wisely.
Now consider this: Many of those red-clad educators demanding more [...]
I have several questions to ponder. Please answer them honestly in relation to last week’s election. Only answer them to yourself. I do not want them answered here. The answers are between you and God. These questions are from Peacemaker Ministries website, Heart of the Conflict link. I have [...]
I found these suggestions on Extreme Wisdom. I pulled out these because I agree with them.
1. Bring back ability grouping. Let the horses run and the others catch up. Get the droning boredom out of the classroom.
2. Abolish Special Education Mainstreaming. It is a foul experiment devoid of reason and rationality. (The extent to [...]
Illinois Policy Institute Education Policy Analyst, Michael Van Winkle, gave testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Education Funding Reform. His testimony can be read here.
State Senator Peter Roskam is asking for people to sign his online petition to stop this new tax. Please consider joining in this fight to stop the state [...]
For the dads out there who want to be involved with their kids here is progam a friend of mine told me about. It’s called All Pro Dads. It was started by Tony Dungee, Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. You can sign up for email updates and information on how to [...]
