Friday, November 30, 2012
Swim pool attendance data from Summer 2012. We more than doubled the volume of use!
How Libertarianism Can Help to Solve the Homelessness Problem in Pittsburgh
Guest posting by Eve Pearce epearce -at- andalemono.com
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According to the charity Pittsburgh Cares, there are over two thousand homeless people in the Pittsburgh region. Seventy-eight percent of them are adults and twenty-eight percent are children. Of the adult homeless population, seventeen percent are veterans. Over one hundred homeless people have died on the city’s streets since 1989. What can be done to help alleviate this problem? According to award-winning libertarian author and social commentator Dr Mary Ruwart, the situation would not be anywhere near as bad as it is today if libertarians were running the country as opposed to the current leaders, who are stifling American society with far too many rules and regulations.
Stop the Government from MeddlingRuwart highlights the fact that towards the end of the 1990s, Mother Theresa’s church order the Missionaries of Charity purchased two abandoned buildings in New York City for a dollar each and managed to raise the sum of five hundred thousand dollars to fund the repair work that was necessary in order for them to be usable as homeless shelters. City officials initially stated that they were fine with the order’s plans to create shelters for the homeless but after work had begun, inspectors broke the news that a hundred-thousand-dollar elevator needed to be installed so that disabled people would have easy access to the accommodation. The nuns responded that the religious vows that they had taken meant that they weren’t allowed to routinely utilise modern conveniences. They suggested that they could carry disabled residents into the shelters manually and applied for a waiver from the regulations governing handicapped access, stating religious reasons. However they had their application rejected and as a result of this, the project was cancelled and the homeless people remained without a place to live. In a libertarian society, the regulations and restrictions that forced these individuals to carry on sleeping on the streets would not exist.
License to Sleep RoughThe USA is becoming a nation where the people are left desperately struggling to remain afloat within a sea of rules that dictate every element of their lives. The problem is that the authorities don’t know when to stop sticking their noses in to matters that don’t concern them. Over the course of the last few years, they have been inflicting unnecessary regulations upon the credit industry, encroaching more and more upon the constitutional rights of the public and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Officials in Nevada City, California, are even pushing for a law that will prohibit individuals from being homeless until they are given a license. Only a small number of these licenses would be handed out, effectively making it a criminal offence to have nowhere to go. What would become of the city’s homeless people if this law came into effect? They would be constantly on the lookout for policemen looking to arrest them simply for being homeless, which would push them even further into the margins of society.
Ruwart’s Solution
Ruwart states that by removing some of the regulations that the government places upon the US, the economy would improve and less people would lack a fixed abode. There would also be no laws in place that persecute the homeless. She is however realistic and admits that some people would still have nowhere to live. The difference is that more Americans would be wealthy so the homeless would receive more donations.
She claims that seventy-five percent of every tax dollar goes towards administration costs rather than those who really need it. This means that the main form of help that homeless people receive is from volunteers working in soup kitchens, kindhearted health workers who provide medical care free of charge and people dishing out spare change. In a society where people were wealthier, they would be in a better position to help other people, meaning that the best way to aid the homeless would be to adopt libertarian principles, which would also be extremely beneficial to society as a whole. Perhaps once those without a place to live were financially better off than they are at the moment, they could finally begin to address the issues that had led them to become homeless in the first place and get their lives back on track.
Fwd: KidsVoice Resolves School Segregation Case For Abused and Neglected Children
From: Scott Hollander [mailto:shollander@kidsvoice.org]
JUSTICE FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN AS SCHOOL SEGREGATION CASE SETTLED
Resolution of Lawsuit will Improve Educational Opportunities
for Abused, Neglected and At-Risk YouthOn the same day that the Governor's Task Force on Child Protection released its recommendations in response to the Sandusky scandal, abused and neglected children right here in Allegheny County benefitted from the settlement of a lawsuit ending educational discrimination against children living in one of our county's largest group homes. Yesterday the remaining details were finalized by the McKeesport School District in settling a class action lawsuit brought by KidsVoice to enforce the educational rights of our clients and other abused, neglected and at-risk children living in the Auberle group home in McKeesport.
KidsVoice filed the lawsuit jointly with the Education Law Center because children from Auberle were not allowed to attend the McKeesport Area Schools. Instead they were segregated in a separate building where 7th- 12th grade children from Auberle were educated together in the same classrooms, despite various ages and grade levels, and were not afforded the same opportunities, resources and extracurricular activities as other McKeesport students. The Auberle children did not receive textbooks, only worksheets, had almost no computer access, and were not provided access to the library, AP courses or science labs.
Within 60 days of filing the lawsuit, the District agreed to discontinue segregating the children and worked to develop new policies and procedures to guarantee the educational rights and meet the needs of the Auberle students.
Scott Hollander, KidsVoice Executive Director, pointed to the progress that children residing at Auberle already are making because of the District's changes. "McKeesport deserves credit for closing the separate classrooms and implementing procedures and policies which are a model for other school districts to follow for how to successfully enroll, support and educate children in foster and group homes. One of the greatest outcomes of this case is that once the Auberle students attended the regular classrooms, more than 30% of the students residing at Auberle made the honor roll, which is higher than the overall district percentage."
One of our clients, Jeffrey,* was an honor student at Pine-Richland High School until his father passed away and his mother struggled with addiction. When he enrolled in the McKeesport School District, he no longer had access to the types of course work and teaching he previously had and instead had to bide his time in a segregated classroom without advancing his education or being challenged academically. As he said, the biggest difference was that in his old school, "the students wanted to learn and the teachers wanted to teach."
Some of the Auberle children were deprived of their education for more than two years. While they cannot get that back, the settlement approved by Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge R. Stanton Wettick provides for compensatory educational services and funding for tutoring, educational software, post-secondary education and job training, and compensatory educational services for children with disabilities.
Sadly, this continues to be a problem in other districts where children in foster and group homes are discriminated against in violation of federal and state law. KidsVoice, along with K&L Gates and the Education Law Center is in the midst of negotiating what hopefully will resolve similar issues in one of those other districts.
Your support helps to make outcomes like this possible for Jeffrey and other children. Every year, KidsVoice advocates in court and in the community to ensure a safe and permanent home for 3,000 of our most vulnerable citizens-abused and neglected children. Please consider supporting KidsVoice in your year-end giving to help us end these practices in the several remaining school districts where they continue. Abused and neglected children deserve to have the opportunity to heal and to succeed in school -- not be further abused and stigmatized by those who should be helping them. You can donate through our website, www.kidsvoice.org, or through United Way Contributor Choice #78.
Also, if you know of or are someone who resided at Auberle, please know that Class members include all children and youth who resided at the Auberle Group Home at any time from October 14, 2008 to the present and were educated in classrooms designed exclusively or predominantly for students who resided in the Auberle Group Home, known as transition rooms or Auberle-student classrooms. If you believe you may be a Class Member please contact Jennifer Fox Rabold, Settlement Administrator at (800) 543-8921 or email MASDFund@fedex.com. Notice of the class action settlement is available here .
View the recommendations of the Governor's Task Force on Child Protection here.
*The child's name has been changed to protect his identity and maintain client confidentiality. KidsVoice does not disclose the names of clients.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Obama Academy salutes record number of students taking IB Diploma and Certificate tests
The Eagle
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Posted: 27 Nov 2012 04:56 PM PST
The registration is complete, the names are in, the seats are set, and it's time to celebrate! Celebrate what, you ask? Well, the number of students who are have chosen to take tests for the IB Diploma or Certificate, that is.
This year had such a great turnout that we just had to sit down with Mr. Ehman to get his view on things. We asked him why we [as a school] take this test so seriously. He went on to explain how it "is the highest level of high school" and that "it will be interesting to see where we stack up against the world." Naturally, because there's always more to Mr. Ehman, we had to ask at least one more question. How did he feel about the huge turnout of testers this year? Of course he, like any other person would have said, that "It's amazing how they [the numbers] have grown over the years, and it will be even more amazing to see the benefit that the students will this eventually gain from this experience." As this year goes further and further along, you learn many things that will better you in the long run. So, why not take a test that can help you truly reach that goal of yours down the road. Just wait and keep an eye out because next year could be your testing year.
The International Baccalaureate Candidates
Of 2013
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
One man's fall from the bottom. A battle ground candidate gets 34,000 votes and zingers from various directions, including self.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Fwd: Swarthmore College Men's Swimming Suffers First Loss of the Season to Rowan, 145-108
From: "Swarthmore Athletics" <manskis1@swarthmore.edu>
Date: Nov 17, 2012 10:11 PM
Subject: Swarthmore College Men's Swimming Suffers First Loss of the Season to Rowan, 145-108
To: "mark@rauterkus.com" <mark@rauterkus.com>
November 17, 2012 The Swarthmore men's swim team suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, falling in non-Conference action to Rowan University by a 145-108 score. |
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Terror
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
PPS shrinks by about 1,000 students every year
When 1,000 students exit PPS every year, I figure that is very much like a loss of the following from the ranks of PPS student body:
2 x 75 member football teams (Freshmen, JV, Varsity) (+150)
2 x 50 member swim teams (+ 100=250)
4 x 20 member waterpolo teams (+80=330)
3 x 15 member tennis squads (+45=375)
2 x 25 member soccer teams (+50=425)
1 x 25 member hockey squad {+25=475)
1 x 40 cast musical (=515)
1 x 100 marching band with dancers, cheer, flags, colorguard (=615)
6 x 10 member chess and debate squads (=675)
1 x 25 member (insert favorite) club sport (=700)
+ 300 siblings = 1,000 students.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Fwd: Invitation: Tackling make or break issues on our watch! Dec.13 Smart Growth Conference
From: Sustainable Pittsburgh
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Monday, November 12, 2012
Fwd: FREE Cultural Competency Training THIS THURSDAY!
From: Neighborhood Learning Alliance
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Friday, November 09, 2012
Fwd: USO won
University Prep 47, Somerset 38
Somerset - 0 - 22 - 8 - 8 - -- - 38
University Prep - 6 - 20 - 7 - 14 - -- - 47
UP -- Clay Moorefield 26 pass from Akil Young (kick failed)
UP -- Marcus Johnson 82 pass from Young (Michael Wright pass from Ryan Daniels)
S -- Matt Boyer 74 run (pass failed)
UP -- Nicholas Stallworth 45 pass from Young (run failed)
S -- Blake Faulkner 3 run (Tanner Stull run)
UP -- Wright 5 pass from Young (pass failed)
S -- Stull 25 run (Stull run)
S -- Jordan Wilkow 25 pass from Stull (Stull run)
UP -- A.J. Roberts 14 pass from Young (Dan Denlinger kick)
UP -- Johnson 22 pass from Young (Denlinger kick)
S -- Wilkow 26 pass from Stull (Stull run)
UP -- Daniels 3 run (Denlingher kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
Somerset - - University Prep
15 - First Downs - 14
259 - Rushing Yards - 62
205 - Passing Yards - 462
464 - Total Yards - 524
15-29-1 - Comp-Att-Int - 30-46-0
1-1 - Fumbles-Lost - 0-0
7-65 - Penalties-Yards - 10-108
1-37 - Punts-Average - 2-35.5
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Soccer for the girls team, Obama Eagle Article
"Junior year and senior years have been very challenging," Ryann says, "Entering into the WPIAL was different." She also added that things were more difficult in the preseason when there were no coaches; they lacked preparation, and had hardly any motivation, mentality, within the team.
In the past years, the "spirit" within the team has been constant, but changes in coaches can be a very crucial change. According to Renée, "In the first two years the coach was bonding in a way; [in] our second and last coach [it] was not apparent."
Ryann adds that this year was very different. There was more detachment within the team, less motivation or dedication, and more "slacking off", compared to freshman and sophomore years. Their first years in Obama soccer started off on a good tempo with various wins and team motivation, and because of a "steady pace with leadership".
Both the girls have agreed that their transition in soccer did not go as anticipated. Once, the entire team was very close. But as years passed, players started to separate and a number of "disappointments" started to develop. The soccer team recently lost to Alderdice High School, who they had beaten three times before.
In the future, they plan to be more involved in soccer, such as watching and following the games through television and playing it for fun; however, they feel as though this is the last year they will be in a formal team. In college, neither of them intends to play for a team. Both agree that they would love to have a team reunion in later years.
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Letter to Linda Lane, PPS Superintendent, concerning some age-old issues at Obama Swimming
Friday, November 02, 2012
Sports in New York now.
There had been some nice hype and props given to the three pro teams in town, #Steelers, #Pirates, #Penguins, as well as the #Pitt basketball teams.
I said, "The pro teams are great, but the Pittsburgh Marathon people are fantastic, and to me, with the Liberty Mile have helped as a resource 100-times more than the others."
Mark Rauterkus Should the NYC Marathon be held this Sunday? I think it should turn into a fitness run for any interested. Stopping an unofficial jog is impossible and would take more resources to stop than holding it for real. But the masses should be asked to come back for the official race in 3 weeks. Lend a hand until then, or at least get out if the way.
Mark Rauterkus Likewise, the Steelers at NY Giants NFL game presents a big problem. If possible, I'd have been trying to move that game to State College, Syracuse, or perhaps to Pittsburgh.
Fwd: Get Out The Vote Rally and Concert
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Black Political Empowerment Project(B-PEP)
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Fwd: Three Positions Have Opened
From: <RFlanag@aol.com>
Three Positions Have Opened Up
PLEASE SHARE OUT
1) Employment Outreach Coordinator
2) After School Site Coordinator
3) After School Support Staff
* Job Descriptions Attached
Employment Outreach Coordinator
EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD EMPLOYMENT CENTER
Pittsburgh CONNECTS, 5321 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 – 412-362-8580
Title: Employment Outreach Coordinator
Reports to: Managing Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employment Status: Full-time
Salary: $30,000 to $34,000
To Apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to Rflanag@aol.com.
Job Summary
Eastside Neighborhood Employment Center (ENEC) serves as a regional
resource center for job seekers that primarily reside or work in the
Garfield, East Liberty and Lawrenceville communities, and manages the
employment component of the Garfield Pittsburgh CONNECTS Computer Lab.
Pittsburgh CONNECTS serves to expand broadband access across
Pittsburgh, and has a four-fold focus on technology, health,
education, and employment. Both ENEC and Pittsburgh CONNECTS labs host
multiple programs each month, and operate as drop-in centers for the
community. On average over 250 people utilize our services each month.
The Employment Outreach Coordinator role is a dynamic and diverse
position providing support for the ENEC to implement the employment
component of the Pittsburgh CONNECTS lab. Working primarily in the
ENEC employment lab, the associate will assist clients with computer
use and employment resources. Additionally, this position includes
managing and organizing recruitment and marketing efforts for each of
the initiatives. In participation with the East End Works, the
associate will also assist clients in three satellite employment/tech
center sites located in the Pittsburgh area. Recruitment efforts
include both social media and outreach work in the community.
The Employment Outreach Associate must be a highly motivated,
independent person who has a passion for community engagement, the
will to push an agenda, and the expertise to effectively perform this
multi-faceted position. The associate will be responsible for the
following:
• Manage recruiting and marketing campaigns for ENEC and
Lab events and classes, including planning and developing recruitment
strategies in the community.
• Provide daily assistance with clients utilizing the
drop-in lab around employment resources and computer literacy;
• Assist clients with resume building, online job search
and online applications
• Network with regional leaders and local businesses to
secure new employment opportunities
• Utilize and update our powerful database system for
clients and employers ;
• Performs any and all other duties assigned for which
the employee is qualified and physically able to perform, with or
without reasonable accommodation.
What it takes to be a Community Outreach Associate:
• Must have at least a bachelor's degree and be
comfortable using computer and internet technology; experience with
marketing preferred;
• Proven experience with grassroots organizing and
recruitment preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with ever
shifting priorities.
• Excellent writing skills, highly organized, and the
ability to easily maintain paper and electronic files;
• Strong listening and verbal communication skills,
exceptional interpersonal skills and a customer service background;
• 3-5 years experience in social services or employment services;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (including Microsoft
Word, PowerPoint, and Excel); Strong internet navigation skills;
• Current (or ability to quickly receive) Act 33/34 clearances
• Valid Driver's License and proof of car insurance.
________________________________________________________________________
Bloomfield Garfield Corporation
5321 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(Office 412-441-9833)
21st Century Community Learning Center--Pittsburgh LEARNS Afterschool Program
Title: Afterschool Site Coordinator
Status: Part-time
Compensation: $13- !5/hour, varies with experience
Location: Pittsburgh Woolslair and Pittsburgh Arsenal K-5
Application Process: Send resume and cover letter to Rflanag@aol.com
Job Summary:
This position will implement age and grade appropriate Language Arts
and Math lessons for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
The Coordinator will ensure successful implementation of all
objectives and ensure that outcomes are achieved and reported back in
a timely manner. This will require staff, among other duties, to
collect and be accountable for daily, weekly, quarterly, and yearly
student data. Staff will also attend weekly meetings with Education
Director of Neighborhood Learning Alliance, as well as state, national
and quarterly conferences or trainings deemed necessary by the PA
Department of Education and/or Neighborhood Learning Alliance.
Responsibilities:
· Supervise staff, ensuring appropriate practices in child
guidance, supervision and teaching
· Implement afterschool lessons plans aligned with school day;
remediate identified needs
· Develop/maintain relations with school principal/teachers;
Ensure continuity between school and program
· Develop/implement weekly program schedule, including
enrichment activities
· Monitor and report on overall program performance
· Play an active role in promoting parental engagement
· Ensure academic software and websites are being utilized to
enhance student academic lessons
· Maintain database of student information
· Administer and score pre, mid, and post student assessments
· Track daily attendance
· Collect student report cards and standardized assessments
from school district
· Attend Advisory Committee and PSCC meetings
Qualifications:
· Bachelor's Degree in Education or related field preferred
· Teaching experience
· Experience in a community based afterschool program setting
· Act 33, 34 and FBI clearances (or ability to obtain them)
· Technology skills
· Willingness to work during afterschool hours
· Personal transportation
· Must be available – 2:30PM to 6:30PM, Monday through Friday,
and some school day hours.
· Commitment – 20-25 hours per week
_______________________________________________________________________
Bloomfield Garfield Corporation
5321 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(Office 412-441-9833)
21st Century Community Learning Center--Pittsburgh LEARNS Afterschool Program
Title: Afterschool Program Support Staff
Status: Part-time
Compensation: $8 to $10/hour, varies with experience
Location: Pittsburgh Woolslair and Pittsburgh Arsenal K-5
Application Process: Send resume and cover letter to Rflanag@aoL.com
Job Description:
During scheduled work time, all afterschool program staff are responsible for:
· Assisting in delivery of reading, math and character
education for kindergarten through fifth grade students
· Helping Pittsburgh LEARNS participants improve their grades
and become proficient in reading and math
· Understanding and supporting school day curriculum
· Continuously attending to children's academic and social
needs during scheduled work hours
· Assisting with homework, snack, and recreational periods
· Attending and supervising students on field trips as scheduled
· Meeting with parents as instructed
· Maintaining a clean, safe program space
· Additional duties as assigned
Ideal Candidate will have:
· Experience in tutoring elementary age students
· High expectations for struggling learners
· Genuine love of children
· Good record keeping
· Previous experience leading groups
· Computer skills (Microsoft Office and the Internet)
· An education degree or currently pursuing an education
degree, preferred
· Some experience preparing and delivering academic lessons, preferred
Requirements:
· Act 33, 34 and FBI clearances (or ability to obtain them),
preference given to those with active clearances
· Participation in continuous professional development
opportunities, some of which fall on mornings, evenings and/or
weekends, throughout the year
· Availability Monday through Friday, 3pm – 6: 30 pm