Education Secretary Arnie Duncan is reminding parents in America “that all your children belong to them”. In a not-so-very veiled threat Secretary Duncan states the Federal Government will step in if parents continue to opt their children out of Common Core testing.

(Via Doug Ross Journal) Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued a veiled threat to the parents and students who choose to opt out of Common Core testing – The Feds “have an obligation to step in.”
Federal law, under No Child Left Behind, requires 95 percent of students in a state to take the annual standardized tests in reading and math from grades 3-8. It is a requirement which until now has never needed enforcement or consideration.
With as many as 184,000 students in New York choosing to opt out, the 95 percent threshold will not only be in jeopardy, it will be an easily missed mark.
When asked what would happen in states with such a high opt out rate, whether they would have to force consequences upon schools, parents, and students, Duncan responded “We think most states will do that.”
He added, “If states don’t do that, then we have an obligation to step in.” (more…)

One of the Atlanta Public School officials who was convicted in the largest national school cheating scandal in U.S. history – appeared before a Judge today: 

(Via AJS) Convicted APS educator Donald Bullock, a former test coordinator with the school system, asked the judge to show leniency and not sentence him to jail time.

Bullock – who was the second convicted APS educator to address Judge Jerry Baxter at Monday’s sentencing hearing — asked if he could instead provide community service and be placed on probation.

“I’m appealing to the compassionate side of you,” Bullock said. “I know you’re a man of compassion.”  “I ask you to grant leniency to me… My livelihood is gone.” (link)

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The reluctance of Continetti to give the label of “establishment” candidate to Jeb Bush is a strategy. A strategy not of Continetti’s construction, but more of Jeb’s team.

This is one of the central nuances we find annoyingly not outlined. Jeb is the “establishment” BIG GOP pick – however, Team Jeb also recognize that such an openly discussed self-evident truth is also a barrier to their victory plan.

Team Jeb’s path is brutally obvious to those willing to accept it. It is not far away from the Romney path, and therefore considered a successful strategy in the GOP primary. (more…)

In 2009 President Obama’s Education Department named Atlanta’s Beverly Hall “School Superintendent of The Year”, the educational equivalent of the Nobel Prize.

Ironically, that same year it was discovered that Mrs. Hall led the largest cheating scandal in public education history in order to achieve the remarkable educational results.

In 2011, facing a growing investigation, Mrs. Hall retired – and throughout 2011, 2012 and 2013 a Georgia Bureau of Investigation criminal inquiry took place. After two years 36 educators under the leadership of Beverly Hall were indicted for a massive institutional race-based cheating scandal.

Today the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Mrs. Hall died – her legacy, her illegal legacy, her cheating legacy, remaining: (more…)

The outlaw parents told by the STATE if they allow their children, 10 and 6-years-old, to be outside the home -unattended by adult supervision- their children will be taken by Child Protective Services and the parents will be arrested.

(Via Daily Signal) Two parents in Silver Spring, Md. are under investigation after authorities picked up their 6-year-old daughter and 10-year old son walking by themselves back from Woodside Park, which is a located a mile from their house.

Danielle and Alexander Meitiv say after after the Dec. 20 apprehension of their kids, they have been unfairly targeted by authorities as neglectful parents, according to The Washington Post. The Meitvs are advocates of “free-range” parenting, generally requiring their children to carry cards stating, “I am not lost. I am a free-range kid.”
“The world is actually even safer than when I was a child, and I just want to give them the same freedom and independence that I had — basically an old-fashioned childhood,” Danielle Meitv told the Post. (more…)

It’s a forgone conclusion that Jeb Bush will be the GOP candidate for the 2016 Republican GOP Presidential ticket.  The only possible roadblock was eliminated on May 11th 2014.  Jeb’s anticipated pathway is essentially the same as Mitt Romney in 2012. 
Hold breath, don’t make any fabulous gaffes => Blow off Iowa, place 2nd or better in New Hampshire, show face in South Carolina, then begin to pull away by taking Florida.  The roadmap of The Romney 2.0.  
The Tom Donohue approved bilingual Chamber candidate committed to three essential principles: ¹Maintain ObamaCare, ²advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, and ³support Federal Common Core education standards.
IOWA – Former Florida governor Jeb Bush has declined an invitation to speak at a political event organized by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron.
A Bush aide said Wednesday that the former Florida governor appreciated the invite from Republican congressman Steve King but would not be able to attend the Iowa Freedom Summit on Jan. 24 because of a scheduling conflict.
More than a half-dozen potential Republican presidential contenders are set to appear, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Bush’s absence is notable because of King’s status as a conservative power broker in Iowa, home of the nation’s first presidential caucuses. (read more)

This is a follow-up to the earlier story.   The Duncanville Texas School District has suspended Vinita Hegwood, without pay, pending discharge:

Early this morning district officials met with Ms. Hegwood, the teacher who stated reprehensible personal opinions on her personal social media account. The district took swift action and exercised the fullest disciplinary action allowed under district policy. Ms. Hegwood was placed on suspension without pay pending discharge. Under state law, a school district’s Board of Trustees “fires” staff members, and the district will pursue that action with the board soon. In the meantime, the teacher has been placed on suspension without pay pending discharge.

The district wants the community to know that the actions of this one individual does not and should not represent the school district. Every day, two hundred and forty Duncanville High School teachers provide a school environment that fosters academic excellence, good citizenship and respect for others. Teachers give their life’s work to shaping the future, and this one individual does not represent our staff or our district.  (link)

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The Peoples Cube has bravely identified Chicago District #214’s rebellion. The revolt is a danger to the collective, therefore the message must not reach surrounding districts. Be a good citizen – you have a duty. Good citizens support healthy compliance.

Apparently it was the banishment of Hummus, Hard-Boiled Eggs, and the brutally dangerous Freedom Yogurt which finally pushed the Chicago school district into open rebellion. District #214 is the second largest school district in state of Illinois.
CHICAGO (CBS) – The state’s second largest school district has started the school year with a new look for its lunch menu, after opting out of the National School Lunch Program and forfeiting nearly $1 million in federal funding, to gain more freedom in the food it serves students.  (more)
(EAG NEWS) – CHICAGO – Hummus is too fatty, pretzels are too salty. Even hard-boiled eggs and yogurt don’t make the cut. Those restrictions and others imposed on schools through the revamped “healthier” National School Lunch Program convinced officials in Illinois’ second largest school district to forfeit nearly $1 million in federal lunch aid to serve students food they want to eat, rather than what the government tells them to, CBS reports. (more)

Last night in Georgia Tea Party favored David Perdue won a hotly contested primary race against GOP establishment favorite, and U.S. Chamber supported, Jack Kingston.

(Via Politico) Businessman David Perdue upset 11-term Rep. Jack Kingston in Georgia’s Republican Senate runoff Tuesday by a narrow, two-point margin — setting up a general-election race featuring two first-time candidates vying for one of the nation’s most hotly-contested Senate seats.
Kingston delivered a concession speech shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern time. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Perdue led Kingston, 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent — outside the margin needed to trigger an automatic recount.  (continue reading)

How he did it, and what issue Perdue used to push himself over the edge affirms the anxiety within the majority about illegal immigration. (more…)

That headline might sound ridiculous, but at the core of this story – that’s what’s going on.  And before you dismiss it, it’s far more common than you would think…

Happy Fathers Day from the New Jersey Politburo:

BACKSTORY – A 13-year-old New Jersey middleschooler was twirling a pencil in class.  Another student said he made it look like a gun and reported it to the teacher.

The teacher over-reacted, the school’s initial response compounded the stupidity.

Dad went public.

The community and media ridiculed the school heavily.  The School District Superintendent had no choice but to side with Dad – the entire incident was insufferably silly.

Embarrassed, and feeling pressure from both district administration and the media as well as the broader public, the school backed down, way down, even sending Dad an apology.

However, either for spite -or because they are constitutionally stupid- I’d guess the former, the administration of the school filed an “incident report” with Child Protection and Permanency, a division within the New Jersey CFS (Child Family Services).

That kicked 13-year-old junior and Dad into the New Jersey CFS system.

Dad was now demanded by the state to send junior to a psychologist for an evaluation.  That’s when things went downhill….. quickly. (more…)