By SOL STERN
AND JOEL KLEIN, Wall Street Journal, May 13, 2013 - Although the two of us have disagreed about several school-reform issues, we strongly believe that the Common Core State Standards, voluntarily adopted by 45 states, is one of the most promising education initiatives of the past half century. If implemented properly, they can better prepare students for college-level work and to gain the civic knowledge that is essential for democracy to prosper.
All Americans, including conservatives, should applaud these standards, which celebrate the country's foundational documents and enable students to share the heritage of Americans.
Unsurprisingly, the adoption of common educational standards is opposed by some hard-liners on the educational left. ........ Progressives tend to favor pedagogical approaches in the classroom such as "child-centered" instruction and "teaching for social justice," rather than rigorous academic content.
Much more puzzling has been the fervid opposition to the Common Core by some conservatives, including tea party activists,......
The Common Core Standards were not written by the federal government, but by a committee selected by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The committee's efforts were backed financially by several private foundations, including ........(link)
My Comment:
Unless you subscribe to the WSJ, the link will not let you read the story. I was tempted to repost the whole piece but wanted to respect the private property rights of the WSJ and abide by Fair Use rules.
The article points out that Common Core helps student get an understanding of our American heritage by requiring reading of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Federalist Papers. They say that Common Core is an advance in rigor and academic content. From what I have read about common core, I think it is a valuable educational reform. Please, before you jump on the anti-Common Core bandwagon, carefully consider the issue. There are many conservatives who think Common Core is a significant reform and others who may not be as enthusiastic but see nothing to fear in Common Core.
Mike Huckabee and former Michigan governor John Engler, who is now president of The Business
Roundtable, talk extensively about the history of Common Core and the
states' role in creating the new standards on Mike Huckabee's
radio show. This is informative. I know that some conservatives have criticism of Common Core. Some of the criticism is minor and may have merit and some verges on irrational hysteria. The tinfoil hat brigade conservatives have been attacking common core and even tying it to the Muslim Brotherhood and Agenda 21. Before you jump on the anti-Common Core bandwagon, please carefully consider the issue. I tend to think Common Core is a positive development.
With the Obamacare shakedown scandal, the Bengazi scandal, and the IRS scandal, and the AP phone tapping scandal, you may have missed this one. This is an outrage, and it may go all of the way back to the Bush administration. Have we given million of dollars in unaccounted for cash to Afghan
President Hamid Karzai? That certainly is no way to combat corruption and build a democracy. This is another scandal that needs to be fully investigated. We need answers.
In an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN this week, Senator
Corker discussed his letter to President Obama
seeking answers to reports alleging the CIA has been
delivering millions of dollars in secret cash payments to Afghan
President Hamid Karzai over the past decade.
"Bag fulls of
cash...for the last decade, there is no accountability. And again it
breeds the kind of thing that we're really trying to keep from
happening there," said Corker. "One of our big efforts...has been to try to
get the government from being corrupt, but yet it appears we are
participating in that process ourselves."
(FACT) is seeking a mature, experienced Director of Communications to manage and carry out its communications needs. It is a full-time position that comes with paid vacation, holidays, and
some personal days. Very competitive compensation, dependent upon
experience. For more information follow this link.
The theme is "Opportunity for Everyone." It is 33 minutes long and is delivered from the new Music City Center. It praises the show "Nashville," Nashville recoginition in catergoreis from job creation to culinary offerings. He promotes Bus Rapid Transit. He announces the creation of a new $3 million affordable housng trust fund. He says we have a lot of work to do, especially in improving education. He quots Bob Dylan. He says diversity is important in making cities vibrant and strong. He advocates for the new small business incentive program.
Thanks to Ken Jakes for uncovering more Metro malfeasance.
For Metro to award a $4 million dollar contract to Bell Construction without a
bid is outrageous. It violates Metro procurement policy. It smells of cronyism and corruption. A $4 million dollar change order? For a completely different building never intended to be part of the new Convention Center? Give me a break!
If you want
to follow along with the agenda, the council staff analysis, and my analysis
follow this link where you can find them.
This meeting
is only one hour and thirty-eight minutes long, which considering that is the
night of the public hearing on the city budget is not that long of a meeting.
Confirmation of Mayor's appointees to Boards and Commissions:
Hundreds of
people serve our city by serving as members of boards and commissions.These entities include everything from the Board of Zoning
appeal, the Historical Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Beer Board to
the SexuallyOriented Business LicensingBoard. These
citizens serve without pay and often without recognition, simply because they
care about our city. In most cases the Mayor appoints the members and the Council
confirms them.These commissions can be
quite powerful. The Council really is a pretty weak body. One ofthe few powers they have is the power of the
budget and the power to approve the Mayor's appointeesto these unelected bodies. The Council almost
never rejects a mayor's appointee.
Tonight
seven of the members of the seventeen member Human Relations Commission are up for confirmation of their appointment
or reappointment. The HRC is a commission that served no useful purpose.
Anything they do that is worth doing could be done by other agencies or private
entities. They are essentially Metro's agency for political indoctrination.
They serve to promote political correctness. I do not think there has ever been
a conservative or traditionalist appointed to this commission. One of the
things they do is sponsor a youth pavilion at Nashville's Gay Pride Festival.
In my view Metro government should not be in the business of normalizing a gay
lifestyle among our city's youth. Tonight the Council had an opportunity to take
a stand against Nashville sponsorship of the youth pavilion at the Gay Pride
Festival. I had hoped that members of the council would question the Mayor's
appointees to the HRC and reject those appointees who support this. I don't
know that if in Committee anyone was questioned about their position on the appropriateness
of Metro's sponsorship of this youth pavilion at the gay pride event or not. If anyone council member or member of the
public was at the committee, I would appreciate knowing what happened. Among
those appointees to the HRC:
Mr. Richard
Kennedy's nominations was withdrawn.
Reappointment
of Ms. Sharon Kay was deferred one meeting.
Reappointment
of Mr. Don Peterson was deferred one meeting.
Other
appointments to the HRC were the following and they were all approved by the Rules
committee 7-0 and were approved by the council:
Reappointment
of Ms. Debra Palmer George for a term expiring April 18, 2016.
Appointment of Mr. Richard Kennedy for a term expiring April 18, 2016.
Appointment of Ms. Tasha French Lemley for a term expiring April 18, 2016.
Reappointment of Mr. Avi Poster for a term expiring April 18, 2016.
Appointment of Mr. Frank Trew for a term expiring April 18, 2016.
Budget Hearing:
The budget
hearing starts at 15:13 and ends at 45:20
in the video. Only a few people speak on
the budget. Several metro employees speak in favor of a pay increase.
At 27:19 in
the video Rick Williams, Director of Save Our Fairgrounds, speaks in opposition
to the budget making a plea to fund the fairgrounds. While I usually take a
position that those entities which could operate off of their own revenue
should do so, this time I make an exception for the fairgrounds. In my view,
there has been a cynical effort on the part of the administration to destroy
the financial viability of the fairgrounds by creating uncertainty in order to
justify selling off the property. I
support subsidizing it for one year and then bringing about a process that ensures
stability so it can return to profitability. George Gruhn of Gruhn Guitar also
speaks in favor of the fairgrounds. Over a million people attend the over 500
events a year at the fairgrounds he says.
I am surprised that there was no
speakers in favor of fully funding the school budget request.
Usually you
can count on several people speaking in favor of greater school funding. None
do this time. The budget passes second reading and is rereferred to Budget and
Finance Committee. The budget is amendable on third reading.
Resolutions on the Consent agenda:
All except
three resolutions were on the consent agenda. A resolution is put on the
consent agenda if it is likely to be non-controversial and it stays on the
consent agenda if it passes the committees to which it was assigned
unanimously. Bills on the consent agenda are usually not controversial and tend
to be routine matters, such as accepting grants from the Federal or State
Government or authorizing the Department of Law to settle claims against the
city or appropriating money from the 4% fund. Resolutions on the consent agenda
are passed by a single vote of the Council rather than being considered
individually. Any member of the body however may have a bill pulled off of the
consent agenda.
Other Resolutions:
RESOLUTION NO. RS2012-522
authorizing the purchase of property on Smith Springs Rd to build a public
school.This location been controversial
in the effected community and Councilman Duvall ask for a two meeting deferral.
By a vote of 10 "yes," 23 "no" and 2 abstentions, the deferral
fails. He then moves to defeat the bill and that motion fails with a vote of 4
in favor of a defeat and 29 against and 4 abstentions. The bill then passes
31-1-2. (see 50:27-59)
RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-670which establishes the certified tax rate in
both the General Services District and the Urban Services District is deferred
to track with the budget.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-700
which establishing the the Metropolitan Animal Care and Control fee schedule is
deferred.
All bills on First Reading pass.
Bills on Second Reading:
BILL NO. BL2012-291 amends the definition of
“recycling facility” to clarify that it does not include the conversion of
material into a fuel product or asphalt. Public works says this bill is not
necessary since state regulations do not permit a C & D landfill to have an
incineratoranyway.This bill is disapproved.
Bill NO. BL2013-360 requires that there be a compensation and benefits
study for the mayor, vice mayor, and members of council. Included in this will
be a review of the lifetime health insurance benefit provided to former council
member who served at least two terms. This generous and costly benefit was up
for repeal or reduction twice before in this council and failed. This bill calling
for a study passes.
BILL NO. BL2013-420 creates a small business economic
development incentive grant program.As
you are probably aware, Metro Council has been picking winner and looser by
bribing big companies not to leave metro and "enticing" big companies
to expand or relocate to Davidson County. Some have argued that this is wrong
and the same enticements should be offered to small businesses. I do see this
policy as a problem. By paying companies to locate or not to leave we create an
incentive whereby a company would be foolish to move here unless they get their
pay-off and we have created an incentive for companies to threaten to leave
unless we pay them to stay.Unfortunately, it is hard to stop playing this game since other cities
are also playing it.Cities have created
an environment to where they have to pay the incentive or another city that
does pay the incentive will get the big corporate headquarter relocations and
manufacturing plants. I don't think the way to fix this problem is to expand it
to small businesses. This bill was deferred last meeting to track with the
budget ordinance. It passes by voice vote. If no one asks to be recorded as
voting no, then it is assumed they voted for it.
BILL NO. BL2013-422 pertains to the procedure to be
followed in designating residential permit parking areas.I live not far from the popular 12th South
Ave area and see the need for residential permit parking.Residents off of 12th sometimes must park
blocks from their homes because patrons of the popular restaurants on 12th take
the parking spaces.Two restaurants have recently sued Metro for approving
permit-only parking in the 12 South neighborhood. This bill is deferred indefinitely.
BILL NO. BL2013-423 would swap some Metro land for
some State land. The land that the School for the Arts sits on and the land
that will be the site of the future STEM charter school located on the old
Tennessee Preparatory School site on Foster Ave, would be swapped for the old
Ben West Library site downtown at Eighth and Union Ave . Metro now owns the
library and the State owns the TPS site. There is some opposition to tearing
down the old Ben West library because some preservationist consider the
building architecturally significant.The most persuasive argument against the deal is that there is a deed
restriction that requires the site to be used as a library or revert to the
heirs of those who gave the land to Metro to be used as a library. I think deed
restrictions should be honored as a matter of principle but as a matter of
practicality we should not move forward with this deal until the title issues
have been resolved. It is again deferred one meeting.
BILLNO. BL2013-432which establishes the tax
levy for the fiscal year 2013-2014 passes and is rereferred to Budget and
Finance.
Bills on Third Reading:
BILL NO. BL2013-348 is a
massive rezoning increasing the density in midtown. The rezoning will likely impact
the probability of getting funding for federal funding for the proposed Bus
Rapid Transit development. It passes by a vote of 34-1-1.
By Steven Hale, City Paper, May 21, 2013 -
It was a familiar scene at the Metro Courthouse Tuesday night, as
red-clad fairgrounds supporters turned out for a public hearing on Mayor
Karl Dean’s proposed $1.8 billion budget.
Their numbers did not approach the unprecedented crowd that showed up
for a hearing on the property’s fate in 2011, but members of the Save
Our Fairgrounds group arrived Tuesday intent on reminding Metro Council
members of that night as well as of a referendum on the century-old
fairgrounds later that year.(link)Below
is the video. It you haven't watched it, wait and I will watch if for
you and tell you where in the video is the good stuff and also give you
my opinions of what happened. check back.
Tennesseans
really like Gov. Bill Haslam. Vandy's May poll shows a 63 percent
approval. Sen. Lamar Alexander also polls well with a 53 percent
approval. Both Republicans are up for re-election state-wide in 2014. Is
either likely to be "primary-ed" by a more conservative Tea Party
candidate? Not likely. Alexander has a 62 percent approval from […]
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
There is a lot of demolition and construction going on in
Nashville these days, but there are serious concerns about the city's
plan of action for getting rid of an old building with troublesome
things inside.
The city wants to bury the materials, including arsenic and PCBs - a
mixture of individual chemicals so toxic to the environment, they're no
longer produced - right where they lie, just 300 yards from the
Cumberland River. (link)
Thanks to Ken Jakes for yet again exposing government wrong doings. This again demonstrates how government plays by different rules than those they regulate. Whether it is violating their own rules by selling wine at farmers market, allowing a nasty dumpster to block a public sidewalk, allowing lots to be overgrown, or as in this case by violating their own rules regarding land fills and environmental hazards, government does not follow the same rules they impose on others.
Channel 2, May 21, 2013.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Employees of Metro Nashville government rallied in front of
the Metro Courthouse Tuesday night as city council members prepared to
hear public comments on their proposed pay raises.
The group of
roughly 100 police, fire, service union members and supporters gathered
to cheer the efforts to get Metro employees more pay following years of
budget cuts and layoffs.
On Monday, the Civil Service Commission
approved a pay plan put forth by Mayor Karl Dean. The plan includes a
1.5% pay raise for all Metro employees and restores so-called increment
raises. (link)
I joined about three hundred other protesters today on the sidewalk in front of the Federal Court House to protest the IRS's targeting of conservative groups. Earlier this month, the IRS admitted that the IRS had targeted groups that had the words “tea party” or “patriots”
in their names for additional scrutiny. Such additional scrutiny included asking questions such as the names of members and contributors and asking groups to explain any association with other named individuals, and asked groups to explain their activities, and online presence. There was not an equal scrutiny of liberal groups. Some groups had a delay of as much as two years before having their tax except status approved and some never did get an approval, but never did get a denial. This caused some groups to miss fundraising and grant opportunities.
This campaign of intimidation and delay in approving tax except status for conservative groups has been blamed on low-level staffers by IRS officials, although that claim is being challenged. Few believe that low-level staffers undertook this campaign without any direction. Many believe this campaign of intimidation may be a scandal on a scale equal to the Nixon "enemies list" and may reach all of the way to the White House.
Today's events was emceed by Ken Marrero, a blogger at Blue Collar Muse and well know activist. Speakers included radio talk show host Steve Gill, Phil Valentine, and Ralph Bristol. Other speakers were Bobbie Patray of Tennessee Eagle Forum and anti-tax activist Ben Cunningham of Nashville Tea Party. Speakers called for an in-depth investigation to get to the bottom (or top) of the scandal.
Given that the protest only had a couple days of planning and advance notice, that it was in the middle of the day, that it was downtown where weekday parking is expensive and hard to find, and that there was a threat of sever thunder storms, I was impressed that so many people turned out on short notice. The bad weather held off until the conclusion of the protest and then there was a downpour.
