gasp
Patricia Swanson of the Evansville Courier and Press has a nice, objective FAQ on the EVSC cuts: wow
Patricia Swanson of the Evansville Courier and Press has a nice, objective FAQ on the EVSC cuts: wow
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
post-SotU
Wow, on CNN right now, there's a broadcast by some Chinese Democrat. His speech is horrible, and his message is blatantly partisan. He is just looking dumb, giving Democrats and other Chinese a bad image.
Wow, on CNN right now, there's a broadcast by some Chinese Democrat. His speech is horrible, and his message is blatantly partisan. He is just looking dumb, giving Democrats and other Chinese a bad image.
whew
I have a scholarship thing I have to mail in by Jan 31. Now I gotta read up on Chinese politics and listen to the State of the Union address. I can hear it on the TV already. Lots of applauding.
Where's the one clap rule when you need it?
I have a scholarship thing I have to mail in by Jan 31. Now I gotta read up on Chinese politics and listen to the State of the Union address. I can hear it on the TV already. Lots of applauding.
Where's the one clap rule when you need it?
EVSC cuts
Ok, here's commentaries on the cuts, point-by-point:
1) As a student, I have to admit I never used the school libraries extensively. Good cut.
2) Middle school counselor aides? What? It's only a $48,000 cut, but I don't think this position was vital either. Good cut.
3) I never used the school nursing facilities often, but I acknowledge their necessity, to some degree. Maybe a $700,000 cut is too drastic, but cuts had to be made somewhere. Yet to be seen.
4) This is undoubtedly an unpopular move. But when identifying the root problem of the EVSC as having too many non-education related programs, this cut makes perfect sense. Good cut.
5) I don't think elementary music cuts will be a serious problem. My elementary school's instrumental music teacher only worked part-time at the school--she was busy with giving private lessons anyway. There were only two grades of music in K-5 anyway. Yeah, "The Tonette Band" will be sorely missed at This is Our Story. But, good cut.
6) Stanley Hall and Christa McAuliffe were established for a valid reason--to have a secure environment for at-risk students to concentrate on learning. Bosse and Glenwood don't have the resources to deal with this influx of students, who do best in small-sized classes. BAD cut.
7) I'm not qualified to speak on raising insurance premiums or whatnot, so my only reponse is, "$1,750,000 is mucho dinero."
8) I don't know what "Special Education savings" are used for, thus no comment.
9) High schoolers can wash their own clothes. Good cut.
10) Field trips should either be funded by the students or through fundraisers; giving out free field trips to uninteresting sites (I distinctly remember visiting a site of Indiana heritage in first grade: a dairy farm) is unproductive, even if not costly. Good cut.
11) The EVSC isn't exactly high-tech enough to require more than a handful of Systems analysts. An idea: Signature lets some students who earn the trust of the staff to maintain Signature's network and website. Good cut.
12) I assume "Supportive Services" means receptionists? I don't think that the EVSC needs THAT many secretaries, but they do play a critical role in keeping the faculty, staff, and students connected. Schools probably don't need more than one secretary per school. Yet to be seen.
13) No comment. I'm not sure what "specialists" are.
14) Why not curb secretarial spending? Good cut.
15) The office assistants are being paid on average a yearly salary of $11,135. They really ought to aspire to a better job anyhow. Good cut.
16) I'm not sure what the "instructional supervisor" is, but it's part of the extensive school bureaucracy that is a large part of the budget crisis. Good cut.
17) I looked all over the EVSC website and I can't find what the "coordinators, psychologists and counselors" are paid right now. So I don't know if this was a good or bad cut.
18) Part-time employees have time to work at a different job, where they could have a better insurance. Limiting part-time employees to employee-only insurance as opposed to spouse-and-children insurance is a good cut.
19) I don't think education is based on supplies...good textbooks are the core essentials. Don't have money to make copies of worksheets for the kids? Make them read the info out of their books and work the problems with pencil and paper.
20) 1 work day reduction...one of the few accepted cuts, I'm sure. Although it sounds superfluous, this cut saves $407,000!
21) Yeah, what exactly does a supervisor of athletics do that the individual schools couldn't coordinate by themselves? Good cut.
22) ECA stipend cuts--I thought at first this meant ECA pep rallies, but it means extracurricular stipends--ok here's where the controversy lies. Most ECA directors are paid very little right now...so cutting all pay may seem like a slap in their faces. But the fact is that it saves $1,100,000. Many teachers run their activity for "love of the game" (football) or "the pursuit of knowledge"(academic teams) or other sources of joy. Additionally, the School Board set up a corporate fund where companies can donate stipends to the directors. Many have demonized the School Board's decision to cut stipends, but beyond causing a lot of anger this cut could have little impact on ECAs. Unfortunate but good cut. Bad PR-wise.
23) Summer band contracts? Yeah, good cut.
In writing these reviews, I was tempted to rate some of the "good cuts" as merely "prudent cuts" in order to be more PC. But the blunt truth is that the EVSC needed to cut its budget, so a prudent cut is a good cut. So I apologize if I offended any EVSC employees in my reviews; please write me an email and explain to me how your position is crucial to the functioning of the public school system and I'll rewrite my review of your position.
So I rated the majority of those cuts as good, with only one solidly bad cut. But it's key to realize that while some of these cuts were prudent, there are many other cuts which were not approved, or even addressed, at the Board meeting. The fact that the Board members get paid $5000 yearly even though they were all wealthy enough to run and win a campaign needs to be dealt with. The superintendent gets a car with fuel, maintenance and insurance all paid for by the EVSC. Talk about extracurricular! These issues will be addressed in the future.
The rapid-paced, virtually closed-door, meetings of the Board will see lots of protest--as was becoming clear in the last meeting. I don't mean to be a revolutionary, importing the French hyper-pluralism and spreading the populist flames of the Evansville Courier and Press. I realize the necessity and rationality of these cuts, but the Board's PR is shot, and this will lead to revolt.
I'm only the messenger.
Ok, here's commentaries on the cuts, point-by-point:
1) As a student, I have to admit I never used the school libraries extensively. Good cut.
2) Middle school counselor aides? What? It's only a $48,000 cut, but I don't think this position was vital either. Good cut.
3) I never used the school nursing facilities often, but I acknowledge their necessity, to some degree. Maybe a $700,000 cut is too drastic, but cuts had to be made somewhere. Yet to be seen.
4) This is undoubtedly an unpopular move. But when identifying the root problem of the EVSC as having too many non-education related programs, this cut makes perfect sense. Good cut.
5) I don't think elementary music cuts will be a serious problem. My elementary school's instrumental music teacher only worked part-time at the school--she was busy with giving private lessons anyway. There were only two grades of music in K-5 anyway. Yeah, "The Tonette Band" will be sorely missed at This is Our Story. But, good cut.
6) Stanley Hall and Christa McAuliffe were established for a valid reason--to have a secure environment for at-risk students to concentrate on learning. Bosse and Glenwood don't have the resources to deal with this influx of students, who do best in small-sized classes. BAD cut.
7) I'm not qualified to speak on raising insurance premiums or whatnot, so my only reponse is, "$1,750,000 is mucho dinero."
8) I don't know what "Special Education savings" are used for, thus no comment.
9) High schoolers can wash their own clothes. Good cut.
10) Field trips should either be funded by the students or through fundraisers; giving out free field trips to uninteresting sites (I distinctly remember visiting a site of Indiana heritage in first grade: a dairy farm) is unproductive, even if not costly. Good cut.
11) The EVSC isn't exactly high-tech enough to require more than a handful of Systems analysts. An idea: Signature lets some students who earn the trust of the staff to maintain Signature's network and website. Good cut.
12) I assume "Supportive Services" means receptionists? I don't think that the EVSC needs THAT many secretaries, but they do play a critical role in keeping the faculty, staff, and students connected. Schools probably don't need more than one secretary per school. Yet to be seen.
13) No comment. I'm not sure what "specialists" are.
14) Why not curb secretarial spending? Good cut.
15) The office assistants are being paid on average a yearly salary of $11,135. They really ought to aspire to a better job anyhow. Good cut.
16) I'm not sure what the "instructional supervisor" is, but it's part of the extensive school bureaucracy that is a large part of the budget crisis. Good cut.
17) I looked all over the EVSC website and I can't find what the "coordinators, psychologists and counselors" are paid right now. So I don't know if this was a good or bad cut.
18) Part-time employees have time to work at a different job, where they could have a better insurance. Limiting part-time employees to employee-only insurance as opposed to spouse-and-children insurance is a good cut.
19) I don't think education is based on supplies...good textbooks are the core essentials. Don't have money to make copies of worksheets for the kids? Make them read the info out of their books and work the problems with pencil and paper.
20) 1 work day reduction...one of the few accepted cuts, I'm sure. Although it sounds superfluous, this cut saves $407,000!
21) Yeah, what exactly does a supervisor of athletics do that the individual schools couldn't coordinate by themselves? Good cut.
22) ECA stipend cuts--I thought at first this meant ECA pep rallies, but it means extracurricular stipends--ok here's where the controversy lies. Most ECA directors are paid very little right now...so cutting all pay may seem like a slap in their faces. But the fact is that it saves $1,100,000. Many teachers run their activity for "love of the game" (football) or "the pursuit of knowledge"(academic teams) or other sources of joy. Additionally, the School Board set up a corporate fund where companies can donate stipends to the directors. Many have demonized the School Board's decision to cut stipends, but beyond causing a lot of anger this cut could have little impact on ECAs. Unfortunate but good cut. Bad PR-wise.
23) Summer band contracts? Yeah, good cut.
In writing these reviews, I was tempted to rate some of the "good cuts" as merely "prudent cuts" in order to be more PC. But the blunt truth is that the EVSC needed to cut its budget, so a prudent cut is a good cut. So I apologize if I offended any EVSC employees in my reviews; please write me an email and explain to me how your position is crucial to the functioning of the public school system and I'll rewrite my review of your position.
So I rated the majority of those cuts as good, with only one solidly bad cut. But it's key to realize that while some of these cuts were prudent, there are many other cuts which were not approved, or even addressed, at the Board meeting. The fact that the Board members get paid $5000 yearly even though they were all wealthy enough to run and win a campaign needs to be dealt with. The superintendent gets a car with fuel, maintenance and insurance all paid for by the EVSC. Talk about extracurricular! These issues will be addressed in the future.
The rapid-paced, virtually closed-door, meetings of the Board will see lots of protest--as was becoming clear in the last meeting. I don't mean to be a revolutionary, importing the French hyper-pluralism and spreading the populist flames of the Evansville Courier and Press. I realize the necessity and rationality of these cuts, but the Board's PR is shot, and this will lead to revolt.
I'm only the messenger.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
as requested: EVSC cuts
Reported by WFIE's site, the EVSC Board Makes Quick Work of Budget Cuts:
Initial observations: although many parents attended the open meeting to lobby for specific programs to be spared from budget cuts, the board surprisingly approved these cuts unanimously in 12 minutes. The brutal efficiency of democratic centralism in action.
More commentary to come later. Right now, I have a test to prepare for, a lab to write up, a new chapter in Chemistry to read, and other stuff I don't have time to list. I promise an update later tonight.
Reported by WFIE's site, the EVSC Board Makes Quick Work of Budget Cuts:
1) Eliminating media specialists in grades K-8
(22 positions affected)
$650,000
2) Eliminate middle school counselor aides
(4 positions affected)
$48,000
3) Cuts in nursing program put together by administration
$700,000
4) Eliminate driver's education program
(11 positions affected)
$527,000
5) Eliminate instrumental programs in grades K-5
(9 positions affected)
$378,000
6) Consolidate Stanley Hall to Bosse High School and Christa McAuliffe to Glenwood Middle School
$300,000
7) Insurance committee's recommendations
$1,750,000
8) Special Education savings
$160,000
9) Eliminate high school laundry aides
(5 positions affected)
$104,000
10) Eliminate all field trips that are paid for out of General Fund
$10,000
11) Savings in Information Systems area
(5 positions affected)
$150,000
12) Reduction in personnel in Supportive Services area
(30 positions affected)
$1,500,000
13) Elimination of specialists in grades 5-12
(5 positions affected)
$200,000
14) Savings in secretarial expenditures
$50,000
15) Elimination of clerical aides in grades 4,5
(8 positions affected)
$89,000
16) Reduction of instructional supervisor by half day
$21,000
17) Elimination of responsibility stipend for coordinators, psychologists and counselors
$148,000
18) Part-time employees and paraprofessionals will be provided with employee-only health insurance
$634,000
19) Reduction in supply budget
$52,000
20) 1 work day reduction
$407,000
21) Eliminate supervisor of athletics
$40,000
22) Eliminate all ECA stipends
$1,100,000
23) Eliminate summer band extended contracts
$27,000
Revenue Enhancements:
1) $20 service fee for each student
(pending referendum to be determined)
2) Request board to consider reducing board expenditures
(to be determined)
3) $60 a week for full-day kindergarten
(pending referendum to lower to $20 per week)
$2,000,000
GRAND TOTAL: $11,045,000
Initial observations: although many parents attended the open meeting to lobby for specific programs to be spared from budget cuts, the board surprisingly approved these cuts unanimously in 12 minutes. The brutal efficiency of democratic centralism in action.
More commentary to come later. Right now, I have a test to prepare for, a lab to write up, a new chapter in Chemistry to read, and other stuff I don't have time to list. I promise an update later tonight.
problem
If the Internet worm is cultured in a petri dish, and its population at any given time can be given by the function P(t) = 3t^4 + ln t then what is the rate of growth of the worm population at t = 2?
If the Internet worm is cultured in a petri dish, and its population at any given time can be given by the function P(t) = 3t^4 + ln t then what is the rate of growth of the worm population at t = 2?
A lesson in politics
If you ever find yourself in the position of needing to build an international coalition to oust Saddam Hussein, just follow Bush's example: Don't give any proof in your most widely-covered speech. It works, trust me. Or better yet, trust Bush.
If you ever find yourself in the position of needing to build an international coalition to oust Saddam Hussein, just follow Bush's example: Don't give any proof in your most widely-covered speech. It works, trust me. Or better yet, trust Bush.
oops
Sorry for misspelling Sarah Waninger's name without the second 'n'. Please report any othre typoes.
thands, sibo.
Sorry for misspelling Sarah Waninger's name without the second 'n'. Please report any othre typoes.
thands, sibo.
Saturday, January 25, 2003
North HS Speech Round Robin
FX:
1st- Amy Reitz
3rd- Sibo Lin
DX:
2nd- Nirav Shah
4th- Emilie Wasserman
Poetry:
2nd- Phuc Nguyen
3rd- Rachel Goldman
5th- Lisa White
Prose:
6th- Rachel Goldman
7th- Emily Fleetwood
Duo:
4th- Phuc Nguyen/Emily Ballard
OO:
2nd- Ashley Frary
OI:
4th- Yabtsega Moges
DI:
6th- Maggie Trible
Overall, Sig placed third in sweeps, with 68 points. Mater Dei was second with 98 points. And Reitz won with 128ish points. Congrats to Reitz, especially Sara Hertweck who won DI.
FX:
1st- Amy Reitz
3rd- Sibo Lin
DX:
2nd- Nirav Shah
4th- Emilie Wasserman
Poetry:
2nd- Phuc Nguyen
3rd- Rachel Goldman
5th- Lisa White
Prose:
6th- Rachel Goldman
7th- Emily Fleetwood
Duo:
4th- Phuc Nguyen/Emily Ballard
OO:
2nd- Ashley Frary
OI:
4th- Yabtsega Moges
DI:
6th- Maggie Trible
Overall, Sig placed third in sweeps, with 68 points. Mater Dei was second with 98 points. And Reitz won with 128ish points. Congrats to Reitz, especially Sara Hertweck who won DI.
EVSC/Signature FAQ
Several people have found Signature Monitor through searching on Google for "EVSC teacher salaries," "EVSC budget," etc. In hopes of providing sought information, here is an unofficial FAQ on Signature School and its relationship to the EVSC:
Several people have found Signature Monitor through searching on Google for "EVSC teacher salaries," "EVSC budget," etc. In hopes of providing sought information, here is an unofficial FAQ on Signature School and its relationship to the EVSC:
- Is Sig a school for the gifted and talented? No, anyone is allowed to attend Signature School. The devoted teachers take it upon themselves to teach you how to learn, so even if you enter Sig academically behind, you'll graduate a better student.
- I heard the classes are difficult. Won't my grades drop if I go to Sig? If you don't put some effort into studying and you aren't a genius, then probably. But Sig's percentage of students on the A and B honor rolls is much higher than most schools--at least part of this can be attributed, not to grade inflation, but improved learning habits.
- The EVSC is planning deep budget cuts. Why not cut Signature? Contrary to the popular belief, the EVSC's budget crisis is not a result of Signature School or Sig going to charter status! Sure, if Signature were to vanish overnight and all its students were to attend EVSC schools, the EVSC would receive more money from the state; but it would also have to hire more teachers (fyiEVSC teacher salaries average $41,800 ), resulting in a zero-sum game. Looking just at the charterization of Signature, it actually SAVED the EVSC money! Not only did the EVSC not need to hire as many teachers at the home schools, but also the EVSC no longer has to pay for operational costs of Sig--bussing, teachers, administrators, heating, plumbing, etc.
- I heard Signature gets the same amount of money per student as any other high school. If so, why isn't Sig in financial trouble? As just a student, I don't know how tight Sig's budget is. But it's clear to see that Sig spends frugally: Sig has no full-time nurse (the health teacher has a nursing certificate, though), no regular janitorial staff (the students don't trash the school and everyone helps clean up to some degree), or school-funded extracurriculars (all sports are funded by the students, the musical MAKES money, and the yearbook was funded through early sales and teacher support). If the EVSC schools could feasibly cut their budgets down to the barebones, like Sig, they wouldn't have such a financial strain.
Thursday, January 23, 2003
ACK!
We've been had! Now www.14wfie.com says, "Evansville Signature School REGULAR SCHEDULE."
So off to school...
We've been had! Now www.14wfie.com says, "Evansville Signature School REGULAR SCHEDULE."
So off to school...
Snow Day
It's COLD out there and there's 1" of snow and gaining here on the West Side. The snow isn't melting anytime soon, though I guess they could undergo disposition.
According to www.14wfie.com, "Evansville Signature School 2 HR DELAY" so yay for that.
It's COLD out there and there's 1" of snow and gaining here on the West Side. The snow isn't melting anytime soon, though I guess they could undergo disposition.
According to www.14wfie.com, "Evansville Signature School 2 HR DELAY" so yay for that.
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
Unexpected
A poll by ABC News and the Washington Post found that Public Caution on Iraq:
Ok, I wouldn't be surprised if you have a trump card waiting to play Mr. Bush. Now's the time to play it.
A poll by ABC News and the Washington Post found that Public Caution on Iraq:
A majority of Americans, 54 percent, say they fear the Bush administration will move too quickly to take military action against Iraq, according to a poll taken at a time administration officials are giving strong signals that war will be necessary to disarm Iraq.
Nearly four in 10, 39 percent, said they are
concerned the Bush administration will not move quickly enough, the poll by ABC News and The Washington Post found. Half said they are willing to give United Nations weapons inspectors at least a few more months to do their work.
Ok, I wouldn't be surprised if you have a trump card waiting to play Mr. Bush. Now's the time to play it.
whoa
Ms. Manicke has a website? Check it out here.
Apparently lots of teachers have websites now. Don't go to Mr. Thread's; it's useless.
Ms. Manicke has a website? Check it out here.
Apparently lots of teachers have websites now. Don't go to Mr. Thread's; it's useless.
Man if Only I Could Do This...
*to any police: this does not imply I would break the law if I had the power*
From Yahoo News: Police Not Amused by Drunk Driver's Smiley
*to any police: this does not imply I would break the law if I had the power*
From Yahoo News: Police Not Amused by Drunk Driver's Smiley
BESANCON, France (Reuters) - A man who erased his drunk-driving record from a police computer and replaced it with a winking "smiley face" graphic ended up with a suspended license and a fine when police failed to see the funny side.
The 19-year-old computer whiz had been arrested for drunk driving and summoned to appear in court in Besancon, in eastern France, the French daily Liberation reported Tuesday. Finding an unmanned computer as he arrived at the police station for his hearing, the man decided to test the good humor of the court by sneaking into the database.
He deleted his file from the computer's hard drive and inserted ";)" -- the text message shorthand for a winking smiley face -- in its place.
But rather than smiling at the prank, the judge handed the man a three-month suspended prison sentence, a $425 fine and suspended his driving license for three months.
Sunday, January 19, 2003
Debate
RESULTS ARE IN! AMY AND NIRAV QUALIFIED TO NATIONALS FOR DEBATE! Coming in first in our district, Amy/Nirav beat out three other West Lafayette teams. One other WL team managed to qualify for nationals as well.
In LD, Melody Berry from Reitz qualified to nationals!!! WOW! There's not much more to say.
In a different district, Evansville North swept the top four spots, qualifying two teams to nationals and two alternates. Drew/Mike, Kassie/Nhat, Sunil/Suzanne, Seth/Partner in that order.
Congrats everyone.
RESULTS ARE IN! AMY AND NIRAV QUALIFIED TO NATIONALS FOR DEBATE! Coming in first in our district, Amy/Nirav beat out three other West Lafayette teams. One other WL team managed to qualify for nationals as well.
In LD, Melody Berry from Reitz qualified to nationals!!! WOW! There's not much more to say.
In a different district, Evansville North swept the top four spots, qualifying two teams to nationals and two alternates. Drew/Mike, Kassie/Nhat, Sunil/Suzanne, Seth/Partner in that order.
Congrats everyone.
Good Stuff
So earlier today I decided I had nothing to do...so why not boost my English grade to astronomical proportions through extra credit so that I can have nothing to do later in the school year?
Reading "The Once and Future King" (T.H. White) exempts me from doing a major grade project and attending Signature's "A Thurber Carnival" gives me a +0.75 bonus percentage on my grade.
So after I bought "The Once and Future King" at Barnes and read a little bit...it's a really good book! Not just because it'll help my grade!!! So at 7:00 when I realized I had to go to USI to watch "A Thurber Carnival", I was hesitant. But now, I'm glad I saw the play.
ATC was fresh and kept me wide awake the whole time, something no other play has achieved since when I actually performed in a Chinese play on Chinese New Years in 4th grade or so. One of the skits that really stands out in my mind is Josh/Rachel/Kensington's TV Veterinarian scene--those of you who've seen ATC know what I'm talking about. Those of you who didn't, you guys missed out.
All the actors and actresses were phenomenal--some plays have a few lead roles where stars really shine--but Sig's ATC had countless good actors. Lisa White, Josh Crouch, and Emily Nejad really stand out in my mind. Congrats to all the cast and crew.
Anyway, after a great play, I'm back home, and restarting The Once and Future King. Sure, I've blown my English grade into orbit already--but if I get recommended more extra credit activities, I'll be sure to look into them, just for the enjoyment.
So earlier today I decided I had nothing to do...so why not boost my English grade to astronomical proportions through extra credit so that I can have nothing to do later in the school year?
Reading "The Once and Future King" (T.H. White) exempts me from doing a major grade project and attending Signature's "A Thurber Carnival" gives me a +0.75 bonus percentage on my grade.
So after I bought "The Once and Future King" at Barnes and read a little bit...it's a really good book! Not just because it'll help my grade!!! So at 7:00 when I realized I had to go to USI to watch "A Thurber Carnival", I was hesitant. But now, I'm glad I saw the play.
ATC was fresh and kept me wide awake the whole time, something no other play has achieved since when I actually performed in a Chinese play on Chinese New Years in 4th grade or so. One of the skits that really stands out in my mind is Josh/Rachel/Kensington's TV Veterinarian scene--those of you who've seen ATC know what I'm talking about. Those of you who didn't, you guys missed out.
All the actors and actresses were phenomenal--some plays have a few lead roles where stars really shine--but Sig's ATC had countless good actors. Lisa White, Josh Crouch, and Emily Nejad really stand out in my mind. Congrats to all the cast and crew.
Anyway, after a great play, I'm back home, and restarting The Once and Future King. Sure, I've blown my English grade into orbit already--but if I get recommended more extra credit activities, I'll be sure to look into them, just for the enjoyment.
Saturday, January 18, 2003
Sig's Weather Policy
We didn't miss any school this week, but here's the policy anyway: Weather Policy
We didn't miss any school this week, but here's the policy anyway: Weather Policy
Sig's Play
From signature.edu:
From signature.edu:
A Thurber Carnival - January 17 and 18 at the Mallette Studio Theatre on the USI Campus. Ticket prices are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for Students.
Thursday, January 16, 2003
Bushisms: not just a fad
In other Bush news today, Bush fights Michagan University's Affirmative Action program. I find myself agreeing with Bush for once on this issue, though he takes a more extreme approach toward 'reverse-discrimination' than I do. The only thing I don't like about this:
Somehow I doubt Bush's academics got him into Yale, where classmates and frat brothers recall Dubya as a true leader--when setting up keggers.
Ah well, that's all in the past. Bush's stance against A.A. strikes true with me. I just don't like his stances on Iraq, North Korea, education, corporate fraud, tax cuts, NMD, and the environment.
Don't Misunderestimate Bushisms; They Resignate
They may have started out as verbal slip-ups but several of President Bush (news - web sites)'s mangled phrases found their way on Tuesday to a list of the top words of 2002.
The list of most important words of 2002 was drawn up with help from visitors to the yourDictionary.com Web site and from the site's group of linguists, who monitor the use of the English language around the world.
They include the so-called Bushisms; misunderestimate (to seriously underestimate), embetter (to make emotionally better -- the opposite of embitter), resignate (as in "They said this issue wouldn't resignate with the people") and foreign-handed (as in "I have a foreign-handed foreign policy").
"There are already 11,000 instances of 'misunderestimate' on the Web. The more people use words, whether jocularly or seriously, the more likely they are to enter the language and last for generations," said Paul J.J. Payack, chairman of yourDictionary.com, which compiled the list. (Full Text)
In other Bush news today, Bush fights Michagan University's Affirmative Action program. I find myself agreeing with Bush for once on this issue, though he takes a more extreme approach toward 'reverse-discrimination' than I do. The only thing I don't like about this:
Bush got into Yale University in part because the school gives credit to the sons of alumni, Jackson said, comparing that advantage to the University of Michigan point system denounced by Bush.
Somehow I doubt Bush's academics got him into Yale, where classmates and frat brothers recall Dubya as a true leader--when setting up keggers.
Ah well, that's all in the past. Bush's stance against A.A. strikes true with me. I just don't like his stances on Iraq, North Korea, education, corporate fraud, tax cuts, NMD, and the environment.
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
HAHA! Dave Barry:
Full Text
Boy, am I in trouble with the Hoosiers.
''Hoosiers,'' of course, is what people from Indiana proudly call themselves, and for an excellent reason, which I will explain shortly. Unfortunately, I managed to get a batch of Hoosiers very upset recently, when I wrote a column about which is the stupidest state.
For the record, I did NOT say that Indiana is the stupidest state. I believe that many states, including mine, are stupider than Indiana. What I did say -- and I now realize that I was wrong -- was that ''Hoosier'' is a stupid nickname. My argument was that nobody seemed to know what a ''Hoosier'' is, so why would you go around calling yourself one? I stated that, for all we know, ''Hoosier'' could be a Native American word for ``has sex with caribou.''
Many people wrote in to object, strongly, to that statement, including one Hoosier who pointed out that -- and it is hard to argue with this logic -- ''Indiana has no caribou.'' Several Native Americans were also quite upset, so let me first apologize to them, and state for the record that ''Hoosier'' is NOT a Native American word for ''has sex with caribou.'' I am sure there IS no Native American word for ''has sex with caribou,'' at least not referring to residents of Indiana, although I imagine there might be a Native American term to describe caribou having sex with other caribou, and I think we can all agree that this is perfectly proper...
Full Text
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
I thought we've been through this...
Yeah I already discussed it. But EVSC superintendent Bart McCandless did it again.
Please stop trying to blame Sig for the EVSC's problems, please. But this story has deeper implications...
If $5.5m are going to be cut from the EVSC's budget, there will likely be a torrent of new enrollment. Signature could be jammed with new faces next school year. If anyone out there plans on attending Sig next year *cough*cough*youknowwhoyouare*cough*cough* they should apply ASAP to ensure that they get accepted.
You know, I find myself not really wanting an uncontrolled influx of new students next year. No more EVSC malcontents, please. But then again, that policy sounds chillling similar to Pat Buchanan's "Mexicans and Asians are stealing our jobs!" spiel. I dunno.
Yeah I already discussed it. But EVSC superintendent Bart McCandless did it again.
About 130 people came to Monday night's informational meeting, a repeat of Thursday's program at Harrison High School.
The message was the same: Anything not required by the state is on the chopping block.
Whatever is decided, Superintendent Bart McCandless said, "It will not be popular. It may be your favorite program; it may be your favorite activity; it may be your favorite person."
After the basic presentation of how the budget crisis erupted (shortfall in expected state money, more programs offered than the state requires), people in the audience asked questions.
"Did the Signature Charter School cost the school corporation $1.2 million?" asked one person.
Yes, McCandless said. That's how the law is written. The money it received is the same per student as what EVSC receives.
But, he quickly added, Signature also is getting the same cuts per-student as EVSC.
"Their funding is not adequate for what they want to do, either," McCandless said. "We are both hurting." Full Text
Please stop trying to blame Sig for the EVSC's problems, please. But this story has deeper implications...
If $5.5m are going to be cut from the EVSC's budget, there will likely be a torrent of new enrollment. Signature could be jammed with new faces next school year. If anyone out there plans on attending Sig next year *cough*cough*youknowwhoyouare*cough*cough* they should apply ASAP to ensure that they get accepted.
You know, I find myself not really wanting an uncontrolled influx of new students next year. No more EVSC malcontents, please. But then again, that policy sounds chillling similar to Pat Buchanan's "Mexicans and Asians are stealing our jobs!" spiel. I dunno.
And you though Hamlet: The Rehearsal was bad...
The AP English Language classes at Sig attended
Full Text.
At least I wouldn't fall asleep in the arctic chill.
The AP English Language classes at Sig attended
- Hamlet: The Rehearsal
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - "The air bites shrewdly, it is very cold" -- in the original setting in Elsinore castle in Denmark, Shakespeare's Hamlet would have good reason to complain about the winter weather.
But with temperatures dropping toward minus 40, Hamlet is likely to freeze when the tragedy opens in the new Ice Globe Theater in Jukkasjrvi far above the Arctic circle in Sweden.
The drama, featuring a Sami cast with Nils Henrik Buljo in the leading role, will be shorter than the original.
"We have been forced to cut the play to one hour and 15 minutes. At minus 38 it is impossible to stand outside for four hours," said Rolf Degerlund, who calls himself the world's only ice theater manager.
Full Text.
At least I wouldn't fall asleep in the arctic chill.
Finally: An Update
Sorry for not updating for 8 days...but last week I was busy preparing for the IU High School Speech Invitational, and when I tried to get on the Internet, my Juno accounts were not working....Anyhow I fixed Juno last night and I have Internet access again, yay. So on to recent happenings.
This week the Sig Speech team went to IU. Phuc Nguyen finaled in Poetry and got 6th. But in his semi-final round, he beat the eventual first and second place winners. Also, Reitz's Sarah Waniger kicked butt, winning novice FX and OO. I wonder how long the Reitz cycle of analytical greatness will continue.
For District Debate--Amy and Nirav are going to debate for a chance to qualify to Nationals this coming weekend at Ben Davis....Alex and I can't come because of an unfortunate mistake that you can read more about on my personal blog because...it wouldn't be appropriate for this site.
Key Club is planning to sponsor an art design contest by grade level. Winners from each grade level will have their design painted onto the Loft walls. They might get a cookie too.
Today President Bush offered to engage North Korea, marking a significant break with traditional NK policy.
Signature had phenomenal PSAT scores, with a school average Selection Index around 167. An Index of roughly 200 will get a student a National Merit Commendation Letter. In Indiana, roughly a 209 or higher will qualify a student for semi-finals for National Merit. Far as I know, Shanky Surana, Cari Tuna, Adam Grimm, and I all have good chances of qualifying.
Sorry for not updating for 8 days...but last week I was busy preparing for the IU High School Speech Invitational, and when I tried to get on the Internet, my Juno accounts were not working....Anyhow I fixed Juno last night and I have Internet access again, yay. So on to recent happenings.
This week the Sig Speech team went to IU. Phuc Nguyen finaled in Poetry and got 6th. But in his semi-final round, he beat the eventual first and second place winners. Also, Reitz's Sarah Waniger kicked butt, winning novice FX and OO. I wonder how long the Reitz cycle of analytical greatness will continue.
For District Debate--Amy and Nirav are going to debate for a chance to qualify to Nationals this coming weekend at Ben Davis....Alex and I can't come because of an unfortunate mistake that you can read more about on my personal blog because...it wouldn't be appropriate for this site.
Key Club is planning to sponsor an art design contest by grade level. Winners from each grade level will have their design painted onto the Loft walls. They might get a cookie too.
Today President Bush offered to engage North Korea, marking a significant break with traditional NK policy.
Signature had phenomenal PSAT scores, with a school average Selection Index around 167. An Index of roughly 200 will get a student a National Merit Commendation Letter. In Indiana, roughly a 209 or higher will qualify a student for semi-finals for National Merit. Far as I know, Shanky Surana, Cari Tuna, Adam Grimm, and I all have good chances of qualifying.
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Charter Schools
The Christian Science Monitor just published a report on charter schools, much more positive than the Brookings Institute report last year which declared that charter schools performed worse than their peers. Here are some interesting excerpts:
Full Text
Muy interesante indeed.
The Christian Science Monitor just published a report on charter schools, much more positive than the Brookings Institute report last year which declared that charter schools performed worse than their peers. Here are some interesting excerpts:
...But despite a wide variety in charter schools' degrees of success, some experts say the changes they'll make to public education in the long run may be far more dramatic than can yet be imagined.
...
The movement began with a burst of energetic growth, with the number of charter schools jumping from zero to almost 3,000 in just 10 years. But growth appears to be slowing now, and many say the number is still hardly noticeable among the 92,000 traditional public schools in the United States.
"There just aren't enough charter schools right now to make a difference," says Terry Moe, professor of political science and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in California. Most districts that have them, he points out, have just one.
And yet, despite small numbers and wide swings in quality, other experts who follow charters say the contribution they are making to US education should not be overlooked.
...
For one thing, charter schools and their hiring practices are benefiting the teaching profession, says Caroline Hoxby, an economics professor at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
"A slightly different kind of person is being drawn to and staying in charter schools," Professor Hoxby says. Her research shows that charter schools are more likely than traditional public schools to hire teachers from selective colleges, and also more apt to attract teaching candidates with better-than-average academic records.
In addition, charter-school teachers tend to work differently. A survey that Hoxby administered shows that charter-school instructors spend more hours on academics - tutoring, preparing lessons, grading homework - than their peers in regular public schools.
Charter schools also have more flexible pay scales. Traditional schools must adhere strictly to pay schedules that honor length of service. But a charter is free to simply offer more to the teachers it most wants to keep.
...
In a few districts where charter schools have clustered, there have been signs that the surrounding schools have suddenly begun listening more to parental requests.
One Minnesota district opened a public Montessori grade school. Officials had long said that would be impossible, but they made it happen after a group proposed opening a charter school using the Montessori method.
In a Michigan district, the public elementary school trimmed the size of its classes and began offering Spanish, art, and computer science - all innovations parents had clamored for - when local charters began draining enrollment.
And a Connecticut district, also threatened by new charters, began writing to parents, asking for feedback on how to better meet their needs.
This new eagerness to please may be limited so far, but its potential to change the system in broader ways, says Christie, "is huge."
Full Text
Muy interesante indeed.
Sunday, January 05, 2003
Not Me
Full Text
BEIJING (Reuters) - Police in northwest China have made a rare apology to a man they surprised at home and dragged to jail for watching pornographic videos with his wife, state newspapers said Friday.
Full Text
The Public Libraries
The EVPL is instituting a radical new policy starting tomorrow: all overdue materials will be fined. Insane. $.50 per day for overdue feature videos or DVDs and all other materials will be $.05 per day. If you aren't a habitually late returner, like me, and think you can avoid all these costs, think again. This year whenever you have to do your annual reapplication for your library card they will charge you $25. INSANE!
I dunno bout you, but I'm never going to borrow a book from the public library again. I might go in the libraries to read a book inside it, but I won't check out any books. And if I really need a book I'll go find it at the USI library.
The EVPL is instituting a radical new policy starting tomorrow: all overdue materials will be fined. Insane. $.50 per day for overdue feature videos or DVDs and all other materials will be $.05 per day. If you aren't a habitually late returner, like me, and think you can avoid all these costs, think again. This year whenever you have to do your annual reapplication for your library card they will charge you $25. INSANE!
I dunno bout you, but I'm never going to borrow a book from the public library again. I might go in the libraries to read a book inside it, but I won't check out any books. And if I really need a book I'll go find it at the USI library.
Moving on up...
The controversy surrounding the proposed downtown baseball stadium has just spawned its first website, advocating a new Evansville baseball stadium.
Check it out at http://www.evvbaseball.com/
The controversy surrounding the proposed downtown baseball stadium has just spawned its first website, advocating a new Evansville baseball stadium.
Check it out at http://www.evvbaseball.com/
Debate @ Ben Davis, Results
Novice Congress:
Emily Ballard- 6th
Varsity Congress:
Chrissi Gentry- 6th
Novice Policy Speaker:
Emilie Wasserman- 7th
JV Policy Speaker:
Alex Reising- 6th
JV Policy Team:
Sibo Lin/Alex Reising- 5th
Varsity Policy Speaker:
Nirav Shah- 9th
Amy Reitz- 2nd
Varsity Policy Team:
Amy Reitz/Nirav Shah
Small School Award:
Signature School
Overall Team Sweeps:
Signature- 5th
Emilie and Elliot were jipped out of a place...Alex and I were jipped out of a 2nd/1st place...we managed to win over a doctor who judged us though haha....Amy and Nirav rock....Nirav is faster than Amy (in running)...Chesterton won the Large School Award and Overall Sweeps--what a surprise, haha. Congrats to Chesterton again, I'm still stupified at how well you guys do...and congrats to Sunil/Suzanne, Drew/Kassie, Ashley, and Adam, fellow award winners from the Deep South.
Novice Congress:
Emily Ballard- 6th
Varsity Congress:
Chrissi Gentry- 6th
Novice Policy Speaker:
Emilie Wasserman- 7th
JV Policy Speaker:
Alex Reising- 6th
JV Policy Team:
Sibo Lin/Alex Reising- 5th
Varsity Policy Speaker:
Nirav Shah- 9th
Amy Reitz- 2nd
Varsity Policy Team:
Amy Reitz/Nirav Shah
Small School Award:
Signature School
Overall Team Sweeps:
Signature- 5th
Emilie and Elliot were jipped out of a place...Alex and I were jipped out of a 2nd/1st place...we managed to win over a doctor who judged us though haha....Amy and Nirav rock....Nirav is faster than Amy (in running)...Chesterton won the Large School Award and Overall Sweeps--what a surprise, haha. Congrats to Chesterton again, I'm still stupified at how well you guys do...and congrats to Sunil/Suzanne, Drew/Kassie, Ashley, and Adam, fellow award winners from the Deep South.
Signature Updates
With Signature open for Friday and Thursday this week, some new things happened round the school. Just for clarification, the reason why Sig was open the day afer New Years was because according to our charter we have to follow the EVSC's schedule for the next two years. Or so I hear.
The Loft has been completely redone into the Commons, and its nice, albeit very crowded at the end of lunch time. The Speech Room has moved out of the fourth floor closet and now has its own room on the first floor of the Loft building.
With Signature open for Friday and Thursday this week, some new things happened round the school. Just for clarification, the reason why Sig was open the day afer New Years was because according to our charter we have to follow the EVSC's schedule for the next two years. Or so I hear.
The Loft has been completely redone into the Commons, and its nice, albeit very crowded at the end of lunch time. The Speech Room has moved out of the fourth floor closet and now has its own room on the first floor of the Loft building.
Friday, January 03, 2003
Signature Calendar
Signature has posted its calendar up for the 2nd semester at http://signature.edu/calendar/index.html Looks good right now, we'll have a long weekend every other weekend until Spring Break can relieve us, sweetness.
Reminder: snow days will be announced by Ms. Snyder through the media. As a clarification of the last Signature "snow day", the media thought that Signature School followed the EVSC's command and just wanted its own announcement to be special. They had no idea that Ms. Synder wanted to call snow days independently from the EVSC. So the media were the ones mistaken for saying that Signature was cancelled that one day in December.
Signature has posted its calendar up for the 2nd semester at http://signature.edu/calendar/index.html Looks good right now, we'll have a long weekend every other weekend until Spring Break can relieve us, sweetness.
Reminder: snow days will be announced by Ms. Snyder through the media. As a clarification of the last Signature "snow day", the media thought that Signature School followed the EVSC's command and just wanted its own announcement to be special. They had no idea that Ms. Synder wanted to call snow days independently from the EVSC. So the media were the ones mistaken for saying that Signature was cancelled that one day in December.
Wednesday, January 01, 2003
Wake Up!
Christmas Break is all but over now...school starts back up tomorrow, 8:30. I personally don't expect myself to be able to wake up early enough. Today in preparation for waking up early tomorrow, I set the alarm clock to 9:00. I ended up waking up around 1 in the afternoon. Good lucking waking up everyone.
Christmas Break is all but over now...school starts back up tomorrow, 8:30. I personally don't expect myself to be able to wake up early enough. Today in preparation for waking up early tomorrow, I set the alarm clock to 9:00. I ended up waking up around 1 in the afternoon. Good lucking waking up everyone.
Confused
Yahoo reports that:
While Bush is a horrible public servant for being more evasive in his answering than even a policy debater, I'm not clear on what RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent means by:
Did Bush really try to justify an attack on Iraq with that comment? I don't think he intended to anyhow. But if Bush did, or tries to justify war with Iraq through economic means that would be one of the most horrible moves he could make. Talk about a devastating PR move. "The US is justified in attacking Iraq because a war will help its economy." I'm sure France will be thrilled.
It's not too late Mr. Bush. Take a week at the ranch, reassess the US's priorities. Peace or Domination? Attacking Iraq or defusing North Korea?
Yahoo reports that:
"This is not a military showdown. This is a diplomatic showdown," Bush said of the North Korean situation.
By contrast, when asked whether the high cost of war would cripple the U.S. economy, Bush tersely replied: "An attack from Saddam Hussein or a surrogate of Saddam Hussein would cripple our economy." (Full Text)
While Bush is a horrible public servant for being more evasive in his answering than even a policy debater, I'm not clear on what RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent means by:
It marked the first time Bush has used potential damage to the U.S. economy as justification for military action.
Did Bush really try to justify an attack on Iraq with that comment? I don't think he intended to anyhow. But if Bush did, or tries to justify war with Iraq through economic means that would be one of the most horrible moves he could make. Talk about a devastating PR move. "The US is justified in attacking Iraq because a war will help its economy." I'm sure France will be thrilled.
It's not too late Mr. Bush. Take a week at the ranch, reassess the US's priorities. Peace or Domination? Attacking Iraq or defusing North Korea?