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TOM CORBETT MUST RESIGN

I'm fine with a Corbett resignation. I'd also like to see the Orie folks resign as well as Dan Onorato. If you are running for office, step down and run. Or, step down and defend yourself from charges. Then if you win, run again, if you must.

To many think it takes life-long politicians to govern in our democracy. That's a load of crap. Good people can step into office and do the job for a term or two -- and then move back into the private sector.

Friend:
The Office of Attorney General is one of the most important offices in all of government. The Attorney General, as the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, is responsible for the safety and security of all of the residents of Pennsylvania. The Attorney General has the power to file criminal and civil charges that can end a person's life, lock someone in prison away from family and friends, and impose penalties that can eradicate a life's savings.
It is therefore incumbent upon the Attorney General to not only impartially prosecute the laws of the Commonwealth, it is vital that he avoid even the appearance of bias.
In the last few weeks Attorney General Tom Corbett has come under almost daily criticism for appearing to be using the Office of Attorney General for political gain. Among the criticism are the following:
Corbett has politicized the Office of Attorney General by joining in a highly partisan lawsuit to repeal the recently passed federal healthcare reform legislation. Corbett agreed to join the lawsuit before the bill was even written, meaning he made his decision before reading the legislation.
Questions have been raised about the appearance of selective prosecution of legislators who may have used their legislative staff and offices to run political campaigns. Corbett has pursued the prosecution of mostly Democrats in what has become known as the "Bonusgate Scandal." Recently, it has been reported that Corbett's office did not investigate allegations against Republican State Senator Jane Orie.
Corbett's campaign staff has admitted that they had been planning to file their suit against the healthcare reform legislation even before he had read the bill, sending out a fundraising mailing in February saying that he is "leading the fight" against "government-run socialized medicine."1,2
Corbett has been accused of using his office and staff for his campaign for governor-the same charges he has brought against mostly Democratic lawmakers. 3
Keystone Progress filed a Right to Know request on March 26 seeking correspondence between the Office of Attorney General and outside entities, seeking to determine if there were political motives behind the Corbett's decision to join the lawsuit against healthcare reform. To date the AG's office has not provided that information. 4
When there are so many concerns being raised it puts the integrity of the Office of Attorney General in serious question. The Attorney General's judgment and actions cannot be doubted. His performance must be beyond reproach. That is why so many attorneys general, including Virginia Republican Bob McDonnell and New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte, have resigned when seeking a higher office.
After taking all of these factors into consideration, we have come to the conclusion that it is time for Mr. Corbett to resign as Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The people of the Commonwealth need to trust that the justice system will work impartially, but the clouds of doubt and suspicion that are engulfing Mr. Corbett are raising too many doubts.
We therefore urge Mr. Corbett to resign immediately. Click here to sign our petition, telling Attorney General Corbett to resign. www.corbettmustresign.com
Signed,
Michael Morrill
for Keystone Progress

We are not alone in our questions about the recent actions of Attorney General Corbett.
The DuBois, PA Courier-Express has called Corbett's anti-healthcare suit "grandstanding," "specious," and "showboating with taxpayer money."5
The Chambersburg Public Opinion said that the "accusations of hypocrisy warrant investigation."6
The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board says his lawsuit "clearly looks like a political ploy and a waste of state tax dollars."7
The York Daily Record said "his [Corbett's] decision to join a lawsuit seeking to undo the recently passed health care reform package looks a lot like using state resources to make political hay."8
The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News editorial board declared that "Corbett has gone too far" by joining the anti-reform lawsuit.9
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that even some Corbett loyalists are questioning his motives. "'He's not representing the people of Pennsylvania, he's representing the Republican Party," said Ruth Kahn of Warminster." Kahn is described as a "former Corbett supporter."10

1 Philadelphia Daily News, April 2, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/Election_2010_Serendipity_In_The_Mail_For_Tom_Corbett.html
2Philadelphia Daily News, March 31, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/89580282.html
3York Daily Record, March 27, 2010 http://www.ydr.com/ci_14770694
4PA2010.com, March 26, 2010 http://www.pa2010.com/2010/03/liberal-group-wants-information-on-corbett-health-care-suit-rendell-says-drop-it/?utm_source=PA2010.com+First+Read+Opt-In+List&utm_campaign=364b81ed86-The+First+Read+3/29&utm_medium=email
5Courier-Express, March 27, 2010 http://www.leader-vindicator.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20419132&BRD=2758&PAG=461&dept_id=572980&rfi=6
6Chambersburg Public Opinion, http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_14773094?source=most_viewed
7Philadelphia Inquirer, March 25, 2010 http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/89095067.html
8York Daily Record, March 26, 2010 http://www.ydr.com/ci_14764186
9Patriot-News, March 26, 2010 http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2010/03/out_of_bounds_attorney_general.html
10Philadelphia Inquirer, March 28, 2010 http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/89343487.html

Robert Morris to cut its Downtown location. For sale.

Robert Morris is expanding on its Moon campus. Blasting off its downtown satalite building.

Robert Morris puts its center Downtown up for sale Robert Morris puts its center Downtown up for sale
Thursday, April 15, 2010
By Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Robert Morris University plans to sell its signature but under-utilized Downtown classroom center so it can devote more resources to its residential Moon campus and develop online programs and new locations more attractive to nontraditional students.
The eight-story building at 600 Fifth Ave. that has carried the Robert Morris name for half a century will be listed on the market as soon as this week, university President Gregory G. Dell'Omo confirmed late Wednesday.

So, who can buy that building?

Duquesne University is the first natural buyer. It could take the building and turn it into a sports dorm for the baseball team. Woops. Duquesne just cut the baseball team.

A charter school, such as City High, could buy the building.

A Pittsburgh Public School could open up downtown in that building. We don't have any elementary schools downtown.

A CTE (Career and Technical Education) school is needed. Perhaps it could go there. CTE is the modern lingo for Vo Tech. But, we've already got Connelley just up the hill. A downtown based CTE would be much easier to get to than the others being proposed in different sections of the city. The present PPS plan being hatched has CTE students spending half the day in their regular high schools for the reading and writting parts. Then the specialized classes would be in other schools. That requires a mid-day bus trip from one location to the other.

Mid-day bussing of high school students isn't ideal in the slightest. But, if you must move them -- send them to a central location, such as Downtown.

PPS still needs a home for its public prep school so kids have an option to attend a 13th grade. But, before the public prep school option can find it home, it needs to find other supporters about the overall concept. But I could see this as a great use. Rather than going to RMU or CCAC and needing to take remedial classes as a freshmen, some of the PPS kids could opt to take a 'gap year-ish' course of study at the downtown campus. They'd get hard academic classes, (AP or IB), and really prepare so that the next year they'd hit college with some credits and a much better chance of success. But the real value of the 13th year was to include it as part of the IB High School so that advanced kids in 11th and 12 grades could also sit in class with those in the 13th grade option. Doing a different 13th year, or public prep building would be expensive. Having an infusion of kids in existing courses with existing students and teachers would be without much cost at all.

Or, Google could buy the building. Google Pittsburgh's headquarters could be there. We'll put a lawn chair out for you to save the parking spot.

Call to action: For All Patriots and Liberty Loving Pennsylvanians,

I’ve been informed by a very reliable individual that if we want to prohibit Real ID in Pennsylvania, and protect our privacy from an intrusive Federal government, we need to send hundreds if not thousands of letters to our individual Representatives and Senators and to the leadership in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in our Commonwealth Capitol. Otherwise, the bills may very likely die in committee.

Therefore, I am writing this correspondence asking for your assistance in mailing a letter, sending an e-mail and making phone calls to Harrisburg to the Leadership in both the House and the Senate. I’ll provide a link to the key Senators and Representatives which contain their e-mails, mailing addresses and phone numbers. Time is running out. The legislature will again be engrossed in the budget process in the near future.

In addition, I’m providing (6) short letters/emails for both Senators and Representatives from which you can pick and choose to include in your letter and e-mail to our elected officials. Or, you may write you own, or cut and paste as you wish. Please copy your own Senator or Representative on your correspondence.

I’ll include this email as an attachment. Let’s spread it far and wide.

If you remember last year, our legislators passed the puppy-mill statute. The bill flew through both the House and Senate when the emails, letters, and calls flooded the Capitol. I hate to say it, but that’s what it will take to prohibit Real ID in Pennsylvania and stop PennDOT from capturing biometric data on us.

I know you are onboard and will take action.

Yours in Liberty,

Jim Compton

P.S. The Pennsylvania Legislature will return to Harrisburg on 19 April 2010, the same day citizens will delivered the Articles of Freedom to their elected officials.

*********************************************************************

The Senate leadership includes:

Senator Jake Corman - Chair of the Appropriations Committee where Senate Bills 621, 622, and 623 sit.

Senate Box 203034
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3034
Phone: (717) 787-1377
E-mail address: jcorman@pasen.gov
Senator Dominic Pileggi - Appropriations Committee, ex-officio Address:

Senate Box 203009
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3009
Phone: (717) 787-4712
E-mail: dpileggi@pasen.gov

Senator Joseph B. Scarnati III - President Pro Tempore and Member ex-officio of all Standing Committees

Senate Box 203025
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3025
Phone: (717) 787-7084
E-Mail: jscarnati@pasen.gov

The House Leadership includes:

Representative Lawrence H. Curry – Chair of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee where House Bills 1443 and 1752 sit. (Prohibits Real ID and prevents government agencies from collecting biometric data when we have done nothing wrong)

26B East Wing
PO Box 202154
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2154
Phone: (717) 783-1079
E-mail: http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=154


Representative Joseph F. Markoesek - Chair of the Transportation Committee where House Bill 1867 which protects privacy of data on our driver’s license.

314 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202025
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2025
Phone: (717) 783-1012
E-mail: http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=25

Representative Todd E. Eachus – Majority Leader

110 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202116
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2116
Phone: (717) 787-2229
E-mail: http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=116

Representative Mark B. Cohen - Majority Whip

6001 North 5th Street
Second Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19120
Phone: (215) 924-0895
E-mail: http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=202

*******************************************************

Dear Senator _____________,

I understand the Senate Bills 621, 622, and 623 are in the Appropriations Committee and expect those bills to be sent to the Senator Floor for passage. Passage of these bills will ensure our right to privacy.

The Real ID Act of 20005 is unconstitutional. It violates our right to privacy, subjects us to identity thief, and violates the religious freedom clause of our Declaration of Rights. PennDOT has been implementing benchmarks of Real ID and it must stop. Protect our privacy!

*******************************************************

Dear Senator _________________

Let’s pass Senate Bills 621, 622, and 623. Our federal government is out of control and we expect our state elected officials to stand up to the federal government and just say NO, not in Pennsylvania. We also expect our privacy to be upheld.

The Real ID Act violates the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In Printz v. United States (95-1478), 521 U.S. 898 (1997), the Supreme Court stated: “We held in New York that Congress cannot compel the States to enact or enforce a federal regulatory program. Today we hold that Congress cannot circumvent that prohibition by conscripting the State's officers directly. The Federal Government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems, nor command the States' officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program. It matters not whether policymaking is involved, and no case by case weighing of the burdens or benefits is necessary; such commands are fundamentally incompatible with our constitutional system of dual sovereignty.

The federal government cannot compel PennDOT officials to implement Real ID and capture biometric data on citizens who have done nothing worthy of being treated as criminals.
*********************************************************

Dear Senator _________________

The Real ID Act of 2005 violates our right to privacy. It is a slap in the face of freedom. It was concocted the same time as the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America published its report to Leaders in 2005. In the reported section titled, Biometrics and secure documentation vision, they stated, “We will devise a single, integrated global enrollment program for North American trusted traveler programs within the next 36 months.”

That program for the US is the Real ID Act of 2005. Real ID was to be fully implemented by May 2008, but was delayed until December 2009, and has now been extended until May of 2011. However, PennDOT is implementing benchmarks of Real ID to include capturing biometric data for facial recognition software and including our Social Security Numbers in their unsecured database along with our name, address, and date of birth.

Let’s get Senate Bills 621, 622, and 623 out to the Appropriation Committee and passed on the Senate Floor.

*********************************************************

Dear Senator _________________,

Fourteen states have passed statutes prohibiting implementation of the Real ID Act of 2005 in their states. Why haven’t we joined them? We all know that Real ID is a violation of the United States and the Pennsylvania Constitutions.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…. [First Amendment United States Constitution].

The right of the people to be secure in their persons … against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated… [Fourth Amendment United States Constitution].

The people shall be secure in their persons… [Article I, Section8, Pennsylvania Constitution].

No human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience… [Article I, Section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution].

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. [Tenth Amendment, United States Constitution]

Let’s get Senate Bills 621, 622, and 623 out of the Appropriations Committee and to the Senate Floor to protect our rights to privacy. PennDOT is currently subjecting us to identity theft and that needs to stop now.

****************************************************

Dear Senator _____________________

We, the citizens of this Commonwealth, expect our elected officials to uphold their oath of office. Our Declaration of Rights as described in Article I of the Pennsylvania Constitution is to be protected at all cost. [Section 25]

The Real ID Act of 2005, along with PennDOT, violates our God given Rights to privacy and religious freedoms.

Let’s get Senate Bills 621, 622, and 623 out of the Appropriations Committee. These bills cost the state nothing, in fact, the result in passing these bills will reduce PennDOT’s operating expenses.

In addition, just because PennDOT thinks implementing benchmarks of Real ID will make their job easier, it does not give them the right to violate our rights. They must work within the limits addressed in the Declaration of Rights.
**************************************************************
Dear Senator ________________________

The Real ID Act of 2005 is a violation of fundamental law, i.e., the US and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Constitutions. It violates our religious freedom, our right to privacy, the Tenth Amendment, and subjects us to identity theft.

In the very first Supreme Court Decision, Marbury v. Madison, Judge Marshall stated as the opinion of the Court,

“It is also not entirely unworthy of observation that, in declaring what shall be the supreme law of the land, the Constitution itself is first mentioned, and not the laws of the United States generally, but those only which shall be made in pursuance of the Constitution, have that rank.”

“Thus, the particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written Constitutions, that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void, and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument.”

Fourteen states have already passed statutes prohibiting Real ID in their states due to its unconstitutional mandates.

Any argument that the Legislature has to have someone determine if the Real ID Act of 2005 is constitutional is absurd. As the first Supreme Court stated”, … that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void, and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument.”, it becomes clear that everyone is responsible for reading the Constitution and ensuring that statutes adhere to it. The Real ID Act of 2005 does not.

Let’s get Senate Bills, 621, 623, and 623 out of the Appropriations Committee and passed to stop Homeland Security and PennDOT from violating our God given rights.



Dear Representative ________________________

The Real ID Act of 2005 is a violation of fundamental law, i.e., the US and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Constitutions. It violates our religious freedom, our right to privacy, the Tenth Amendment, and subjects us to identity theft.

In the very first Supreme Court Decision, Marbury v. Madison, Judge Marshall stated as the opinion of the Court,

“It is also not entirely unworthy of observation that, in declaring what shall be the supreme law of the land, the Constitution itself is first mentioned, and not the laws of the United States generally, but those only which shall be made in pursuance of the Constitution, have that rank.”

“Thus, the particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written Constitutions, that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void, and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument.”

Fourteen states have already passed statutes prohibiting Real ID in their states due to its unconstitutional mandates.

Any argument that the Legislature has to have someone determine whether or not the Real ID Act of 2005 is constitutional is absurd. As the first Supreme Court stated”, … that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void, and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument,” it becomes clear that everyone is responsible for reading the Constitution and ensuring that statutes adhere to it. The Real ID Act of 2005 does not.

Let’s get House Bills 1443 and 1752 out of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee and House Bill 1867 out of the Transportation Committee and onto the House Floor and passed to stop Homeland Security and PennDOT from violating our God given rights to privacy.

Election 2012: Barack Obama 42%, Ron Paul 41% - Rasmussen Reports™

Election 2012: Barack Obama 42%, Ron Paul 41% - Rasmussen Reports™: "Pit maverick Republican Congressman Ron Paul against President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up, and the race is – virtually dead even.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely voters finds Obama with 42% support and Paul with 41% of the vote. Eleven percent (11%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided."

Title IX report from the consultant to Pittsburgh Public Schools

Click To Play

My comments have NOT yet been shared. I've got a ton to say about this. First thing first, let's get this out into public view.

What do you say?

Same thing as above but in Quicktime format.


Click to play

Policy Brief from A.I.: GreatSchools Ranking of Schools Flawed and Misleading

Policy Brief, An electronic publication of The Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, April 14, 2010 Volume 10, Number 20

GreatSchools, a San Francisco non-profit organization, recently ranked cities according to school performance and city affordability. According to GreatSchools the rankings were done to assist parents who might be looking for a new city for their kids’ education. Among cities with more than 300,000 people Pittsburgh ranked seventh. As usual, a more in-depth look at the city school rankings shows Pittsburgh’s high ranking reflects deep flaws in the GreatSchools methodology.

First of all, the rankings are misleading because they are purportedly about the city schools but in fact include many suburban schools with much better academic results than the core city. Second, part of the ranking is based on housing prices and unemployment rates. And third, of the top ten cities in the large city category, four scored 7 of 10 on the GreatSchools school evaluation scale while six scored only 6 out of 10. In other words, the large city ranking is a selection of the best of not very good school systems.

And what’s worse, in the case of Pittsburgh, inclusion of non-Pittsburgh Public Schools severely distorts the GreatSchools Pittsburgh evaluation which is put at 6 out of 10. Any school district with a “Pittsburgh” mailing address—21 of the 43 school districts in Allegheny County—was counted as a Pittsburgh school.

The academic rating scale used by GreatSchools is based primarily on state standardized test scores and for students in Pennsylvania that means the Pennsylvania System for School Assessment (PSSA). As we have noted many times in our Policy Briefs, Pittsburgh Public School students on average have performed relatively poorly on the PSSA and for some of the District’s high schools the results are nothing short of disgraceful. Only one Pittsburgh Public high school scored a perfect 10—the Creative and Performing Arts High School. The next highest scoring high school is Allderdice (5). Three District high schools scored a one (Oliver, Peabody, and Westinghouse) while two more managed a score of 2 (Langley and Perry). Overall, including elementary and middle schools, the Pittsburgh Public School District scored a seriously inadequate 4 out of 10.

The suburban school districts ranked much higher. Three suburban high schools scored a perfect ten (Fox Chapel, Mt. Lebanon, and Upper St. Clair) and North Hills came in with a nine. The lowest score was a 3 (Penn Hills and Woodland Hills). The study provided the overall scores for three suburban districts: North Allegheny (10), Mt. Lebanon (10) and North Hills (8).

The final educational score given to Pittsburgh (including all suburban districts that use the Pittsburgh mailing address) is 6 out of 10. Not exactly a strong score worthy of a national ranking and remember that Pittsburgh City schools had a GreatSchools an education score of only 4 out of 10. And this is supposed to induce people with school-aged children to move to the City?

Obviously, Pittsburgh’s seventh best ranking depends heavily on other factors. The median home price in Pittsburgh, according to the study, is just under $80,000. This is the lowest price for any city in ranked in the top ten. Only three others had median prices under $200,000 (Colorado Springs ($192,320), Mesa, AZ ($174,810) and Tampa ($151,340)). Clearly the low median home price helped Pittsburgh in the rankings of affordability. The other factors that went well for Pittsburgh included cost of living (88 percent of the national average) and the unemployment rate (7 percent vs. the national rate of 10 percent—numbers used by GreatSchools. Note here that the City of Pittsburgh’s unemployment rate reached nearly 9 percent in the first quarter of 2010).

Purportedly, the city school rankings scheme is to provide families who might be contemplating a move to find good education for their children. Clearly, the premise of the study is a bit odd. How many families contemplate a move to another city, possibly across country, to look for educational opportunities for their children? People make long distance moves for many reasons, but merely to find better schools is not likely to rank high on that list. They would look first at other residential and school options within the area where they currently reside, including private and charter schools and possibly home schooling.

Families are far more likely to move for employment opportunities for a parent or parents or to be closer to relatives. Once a decision is made to move to a new city then the decision about where to live will be, for some families, heavily dependent on school quality. To be sure, a city or region with uniformly bad schools could cause parents to turn down job offers. Having good schools is a plus for a city trying to attract families but it is unlikely to be more important than having an abundance of high quality jobs available.

In sum, like so many other city rankings we have seen recently from organizations seeking press attention, the GreatSchools rankings are short on substance and usefulness and long on fluff.

Jake Haulk, Ph.D., President Frank Gamrat, Ph.D., Sr. Research Assoc

For updates and commentary on daily issues please visit our blog at alleghenyinstitute.org/blog.


If you have enjoyed reading this Policy Brief and would like to send it to a friend, please feel free to forward it to them.
For more information on this and other topics, please visit our web site: http://alleghenyinstitute.org
If you wish to support our efforts please consider becoming a donor to the Allegheny Institute. The Allegheny Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please mail your contribution to:
The Allegheny Institute 305 Mt. Lebanon Boulevard Suite 208 Pittsburgh, PA 15234


Thank you for your support.

Report: Teacher pension plans shaky

The sky is falling.

Report: Teacher pension plans shaky Pennsylvania and its school districts face a daunting enough task meeting significant hikes in teacher pension contributions.
Now a Manhattan Institute report says the situation in Pennsylvania -- and across the country -- may be worse than it appears.

Keystone Oaks board discusses possible closures

Keystone Oaks board discusses possible closures: "Keystone Oaks board discusses possible closures"

Rather than contract, expand. Go to Carlynton and seek their students to join yours. Merge and grow. Why not entertain a merger with Brentwood too?

Biz leader of Brazil want Government there to monitor spending for Rio 2016, a future Olympic Host

Here in the USA, we'd be most happy if the Biz leaders would monitor the government, not the other way around. We know that the gov people can spend more than they have.

BRASILIA, Brazil -- A top business leader in Brazil is urging the government to make sure building projects for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics are completed on time.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/olympics/04/14/rio.2016.ap/index.html

Woops. I had it wrong. The biz leaders don't care about the amount of the spending, they care that the luxery boxes are built on time. They must be members of the Allegheny Conference.

When asked how much the World Cup and Olympics are going to cost them, the clever business leader said, "A Brazilion Dollars."

My aims with this little light of mine.

I'm most interested in fixing things. Less interested in getting a job for myself.

I'd rather make a discussion and spread ideas and less worried about showing up in the newspaper. When something is news worthy, a press conference should be called and all the media should be invited. Feeding one reporter or one outlet is too easy and unfair. That needs to happen as the news occurs, not days and weeks later.

If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the mornings. If I had a song, I'd sing it all day long. There is no time like the present.

Paterno believes Big Ten expansion is coming

Paterno believes Big Ten expansion is coming: "Paterno believes Big Ten expansion is coming"

Okay, to get to 14, now with 11, three get to join. How about Pitt, Mizzu and Texas. If Texas says no, pick up Syracuse, but insist that they pick up men's swimming. Then there is Notre Dame.

Fw: Education Policy Forum Breakfast - Pittsburgh - Thursday, April 29,2010

EPLC Invites You to a Thursday, April 29, Education Policy Forum Breakfast in Pittsburgh

The next PA Education Policy Forum on THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2010 in Pittsburgh (Holiday Inn Select - University Center) will feature a discussion about “Govern for Kids” and its work to impress upon the Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates about the most important issues facing children. 

More information is in the letter below.  There is no fee for the forum, but please RSVP as soon as possible since seating is limited.

You may RSVP for the April 29 Forum by using our easy on-line reservation system which is available by clicking on http://www.eplc.org/forum_westernpa.html. 

 

Please feel free to share this information with your colleagues, but everyone must RSVP to attend.

Dear Colleague:

The Education Policy and Leadership Center invites you to attend the next Pennsylvania Education Policy Forum on Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Select - University Center at 100 Lytton Avenue in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh.

This Forum, the third in our 2010 Western Pennsylvania Breakfast Series, will feature a panel of guest speakers to discuss “Govern for Kids” and its work to impress upon the Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates about the most important issues facing children.  Govern for Kids has focused on seven critical issues: Early Childcare and Education; K-12 Education; Children’s Health; After School; Drop-out Reengagement; College Access; and Child Welfare.

Convened by United Way of Allegheny County, Govern for Kids is a growing coalition of parents, community organizers, concerned citizens and advocates united in their focus on asking the candidates for governor in Pennsylvania to be active champions for Pennsylvania’s future.

Our speakers will include Bob Nelkin, Executive Director of the United Way of Allegheny County, and representatives of several key organizations helping to build this coalition.

A continental breakfast will be available at 8:00 a.m.  The 90-minute program will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Please accept this invitation to join other policymakers, educators and community leaders for this important education policy discussion.  There is no registration fee for the program, but seating space is limited. 

Please RSVP as soon as possible by faxing the enclosed form to EPLC at 717-260-9903.  As an alternative, you may RSVP for the Forum by using our easy on-line reservation system that is available at http://www.eplc.org/forum_westernpa.html.

Sincerely,

Ronald Cowell, President

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!

The School Finance Project of The Education Policy and Leadership Center is currently supported by generous grants from:

The Falk Foundation

Fulfilling the Dream Fund

William Penn Foundation      

The Western Pennsylvania Breakfast Series of the Pennsylvania Education Policy Forum is also supported by additional financial support from the following organizations:

A+ Schools    

Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties     

Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators     

Pennsylvania School Boards Association     

Pennsylvania State Education Association     

AFT Pennsylvania     

Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals

Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units      

PA Association of Rural and Small Schools  

Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development                         

Center for Educational Leadership - University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education   

Educational Testing Service (ETS)        

Greater Pittsburgh Suzuki Institute

Musical?

The dates are: Saturday, July to Sunday August 8, 2010.

The Suzuki Camp / Institute is located just outside the city of Pittsburgh at the Upper St. Clair High School. There is a state-of-the-art theatre facility, many large classrooms and several practice rooms available.

The Greater Pittsburgh Suzuki Institute is all in one building making it easier for families with multiple children to attend.

We also offer on sight child care.

Accommodations are available at special rates at two nearby hotels: Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, 164 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 412-833-5300

Knights Inn (at I79 & S.R. 50), 111 Hickory Grade Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017, 412-221-8110

Teacher Institute courses are as follows:

Every Child Can!© with Katherine Monsour Barley

Violin

Unit 1 with Carrie Reuning-Hummel

Unit 3 with Marilyn O’Boyle

Cello

Units 2 & 3 with Nancy Hair

Flute

Units 2 & 3 with David Gerry

Guitar

Units 2 & 3 with Andrea Cannon

Piano

Unit 1 with Patricia Schaefer Pavlack

Changes and Additions to the Suzuki Piano Repertoire with Katherine Monsour Barley

Piano Plus with Jacqueline Herbein

Student Institute runs from August 1st – August 6th. We teach violin, viola, cello, flute, guitar and piano. The courses are as follows:

Pre-Twinkle Program  (age 5 and under) The fee is $200.00 for the week. The Pre-Twinkle program is for children who have begun lessons, but have not yet mastered the Twinkle variations. Parents must be present during all classes.

Book 1 Program  (age 5 and under) The fee is $240.00 for the week. The Book 1 program is for students already taking lessons in books 1 or 2 and includes: a one-hour master class, a one-hour group class and one elective.

Books 1 & 2 Program  (age 6 +) The fee is $255.00 for the week. The Books 1 & 2 program is for students age 6 and older who are already taking lessons in books 1 or 2 and includes: a one-hour master class, a one-hour group class and one elective.

Books 3 & Up Program  The fee is $285.00 for the week. The Books 3 & Up program is for students who are already taking lessons in books 3 and beyond and includes: a one-hour master class, a one-hour group class, a one-hour ensemble class, and one elective.

Parent Education These programs will be offered daily from 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Under the direction of Enid Wood, these lectures by faculty members will enhance the institute experience for families.

The electives and ensembles include:

Music Together ®

Music Games

Musicianship

Choir

Musical Theatre

Folk Dancing

Piano for Other Instrumentalists

Guitar for Other Instrumentalists

Viola for Violinists

Sight Reading

Music and Movement

Chamber Music

Jazz and Fiddling Orchestra

Piano Ensemble

Guitar Ensemble

Flute Choir

Police dog that bit girl relieved of duties

From Mark Rauterkus & Running Mates ponder current events

It is a dog-eat-dog world.

Police dog that bit girl relieved of duties: "Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's charitable foundation had helped pay for the dog."

Who let the dogs out?

I hope the 9 year old girl (under age) is okay.

This could be an endless rant with lots of silly puns and jokes for latenight comedians.

Do you think the NFL lawyers will begin its investigation before the weekend?

	This dog is NOT the one in trouble. But, it is (or was) a work dog and part of the police force with Pgh Public Schools.
From PPS Safety

Burgess proposes GPS devices for most Pittsburgh vehicles

He knows if you've been sleeping. He knows if you're awake. You better be good for goodness sake. Oh, you better watch out. You better not putt around town.

Burgess proposes GPS devices for most Pittsburgh vehicles Among other benefits, Mr. Burgess' bill said, the devices will make workers more productive and cut down on speeding and improper use of vehicles.

Good management would also take the place of GPS devices.

If we put a video camera on every public employee, especially the elected ones, then we'd need fewer GPS devices.

What about a bunch of bumper stickers, "How am I driving? Call Rev Burgess at 412 255 2137." And we could switch up the text to say, "Where an I driving?"

We could put the city's 3-1-1 phone number on the bumper stickers, but, people don't want to call that and be put on hold for 25 minutes.

Schenley International Baccalaureate's language program honored

Sweet: Schenley International Baccalaureate's language program honored. Schenley International Baccalaureate's language program honored: "Schenley International Baccalaureate's language program honored"

The long-heralded International Baccalaureate at Pittsburgh Schenley High School gained a notch of distinction when it was named as one of five exemplary high school foreign language programs in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association on Friday awarded Schenley High its 2010 Golden Globe -- the top award given to a high school for its foreign languages curriculum and a recognition of Schenley's outstanding world languages department, said Thekla Fall, chairwoman of the association's Exemplary Program.

"This is special recognition of the long and proud history of Schenley's foreign languages department," said Dr. Fall, a retired German teacher and curriculum supervisor in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Schenley's language department, which offers French, German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese, was the only program in Pennsylvania to receive the Golden Globe award this year.

The award program established in 2005 gives out four kinds of awards -- the Golden Globe, Silver Globe, Bronze Globe and Globe.

Schenley, which moved from its expansive Oakland campus to the Reizenstein building in Shadyside in 2008, joins Pittsburgh Allderdice High School and three others-- Academy of Notre Dame in Villanova, Germantown Academy in Fort Washington and Upper Moreland High School in Willow Grove -- in the Golden Globe club.

The award covers a two-year period and is given to schools that excel in at least eight of 11 aspects of foreign language instruction.

Among the criteria judges consider is the number of languages offered to students, given the size of the school; the percentage of students in the school that are learning a foreign language; the percentage of students who go on to higher levels of language learning and whether the school district administers a standards-based performance test of languages.

Allderdice, which offers French, Spanish, German, Japanese and Mandarin, first received the Golden Globe in 2005, and it was renewed in 2007 and 2009.

"We are very thrilled to be recognized in this manner, especially because the award will cover the last two years of our existence," said Devin Browne, a French and Russian teacher at Schenley.

Mr. Browne credited the school's long-standing commitment to foreign languages and cultural exchange programs as part of the reason the school's foreign languages department continues to flourish.

In 2008, for example, 15 of his students had a private audience -- conversing in French -- with Ambassador Pierre Vimont when he visited the University of Pittsburgh, said Mr. Browne, who arranged the meeting.

"We often have traditional Russian dance, Japanese cuisine events and an exchange program with Germany that has done wonders for our students," Mr. Browne added. "This is a place where the students often leave with an exceptional command of the foreign languages they are studying."

Schenley, which was moved from Oakland amid stiff resistance from parents and community members, will cease to exist after the class of 2011 graduates. The district has already implemented a new International Baccalaureate program, which will be known as the Barack Obama International Studies Academy.

"This is a very high honor for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, especially because we are now the only district that has two schools which have received the Golden Globe," said Marsha Plotkin, supervisor of foreign languages curriculum at district headquarters.

Other area high schools that were recognized include Gateway in Monroeville, Greensburg Salem in Westmoreland County and Moon Area, which all received a Globe Award.

No Silver Globe or Bronze Globe was awarded this year. Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale received a Silver Globe award last year and Shaler Area High School received a Globe award the same year.

What both Schenley and Allderdice have achieved in foreign languages instruction over the years, Ms. Plotkin said, is a model of what the school district hopes to replicate in all its schools.

"We have a number of schools like Perry, Carrick and CAPA, which are well on track to receiving this award sometime soon," Ms. Plotkin said.

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10102/1049677-298.stm?cmpid=education.xm#ixzz0kzl3saAc

All the kids in the IB progam take a foreign language every year. My sons have had Spanish since grade K.

I agree that we are blessed with a good number of foreign visitors, even overlooking the G-20, as well as foreign exchange students. Plus, a good number of the kids at Schenley go abroad from time to time. One of the swimmers, a senior now, is going to go to Brazil for part of the summer with a church mission effort. Travel abroad is not that unusual.

Wicked problem = Dealing with a Sports Overhaul in Pittsburgh Public Schools

Wicked problem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Wicked problem"

Check out what is meant with a wicked problem and then how it fits in our struggle to overhaul sports opportunities at Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Sports as a topic is interesting to me, and nearly everyone else. We all have a concept of and reaction to sports. But, these emotions are often unlike the others. Sports can be hard to make into a definitive state: Football, cheerleading, special events, training, games, out-of-season, recruitment, retirement, and so on.

1.There is no definitive formulation of a wicked problem.

2.Wicked problems have no stopping rule.

I like to tell the swimmers on the team that the swim season ends only when one dies. Once you are a swimmer, you are always a swimmer. There are no 'seasons' to stop us from swimming and staying healthy. We need to talk and think in lifestyle manners, not stop and go seasons.

3.Solutions to wicked problems are not true-or-false, but better or worse.

Likewise, playing the game isn't about winning-or-not, but rather, improvement, effort, learning, and excitement.

4.There is no immediate and no ultimate test of a solution to a wicked problem.

Sports are filled with many tests -- but these can't be easily measured. Sports scholarships, next level participation, coaches made, evaluations, and strength gains are factors. My ultimate test and yours might be very different.

5.Every solution to a wicked problem is a "one-shot operation"; because there is no opportunity to learn by trial-and-error, every attempt counts significantly.

I crave the shots that are more of the lay-up type, and I favor less the full-court buzzer beater shots.

6.Wicked problems do not have an enumerable (or an exhaustively describable) set of potential solutions, nor is there a well-described set of permissible operations that may be incorporated into the plan.

The PPS Sports and Athletics efforts have lots of moving parts: Students, coaches, schools, principals, partnerships, competitors, facilities, and so on.

7.Every wicked problem is essentially unique.
District VIII = the City League. It isn't VII = WPIAL.

8.Every wicked problem can be considered to be a symptom of another problem.

How many times do we hear that it is the teachers fault, or the parents fault, or the middle-school sports development fault. Plus there are economic, racial, gender and other big ass (role model) hurdles to navigate.

9.The existence of a discrepancy representing a wicked problem can be explained in numerous ways. The choice of explanation determines the nature of the problem's resolution.

The victors get to write the history. But, they don't get to control the rule book.

10.The planner has no right to be wrong (planners are liable for the consequences of the actions they generate).

Heavy.

Seeking to generalize the concept of problem wickedness to areas other than planning and policy, Conklin identifies the following as defining characteristics of wicked problems:

1. The problem is not understood until after the formulation of a solution.
2. Wicked problems have no stopping rule.
3. Solutions to wicked problems are not right or wrong.
4. Every wicked problem is essentially novel and unique.
5. Every solution to a wicked problem is a 'one shot operation'.
6. Wicked problems have no given alternative solutions.

TaxFree15th.com - Welcome To The Constitutionally Backed Tax Holiday! > Home

Three important questions:

TaxFree15th.com - Welcome To The Constitutionally Backed Tax Holiday! > Home: "WHY ARE WE ALLOWING OUR CONSTITUTION TO BE IGNORED?

WHY DO OUR CHILDREN HAVE TO SACRIFICE FOR BANKING SCAMS?

WHY ARE WE SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT DON'T SUPPORT US?"

A new movement for the 15th of every month.

Pine-Richland votes for $41.7 million cap on expansion project

Sorry, but this smells bad. I don't approve of phantom budgets and pie in the sky numbers that are not real, only to pass the board. When votes don't mean diddly, nor does democracy.

Pine-Richland votes for $41.7 million cap on expansion project Vice President Richard Herko cast the lone dissenting vote. He said he realized the number was 'imaginary,' in that the board has no intention of spending that amount for construction, 'but it feels like a real one.'

More power to them for fixing up the schools and even moving along on the acceptance of a very large and healthy grant to build an indoor 50-meter swim pool. But, be square with numbers and votes and the process of self government.

Accountability matters.