Opt Out, Cursive, Educator Licensure, Abuse Training & “The Wahl Bill” To Be Heard In Committees Tomorrow

Big, big day in the House and Senate Education Committee meetings tomorrow.  While I don’t expect the crowd from 2015, the opt out bill should be interesting.  The surprise bill of the season, House Bill 70, dealing with mandatory cursive has generated a lot of discussion.  While not listed below, House Bill 176, which I like to call “The Wahl Bill”, will be heard in the House Homeland Safety & Security Committee.  This bill was inspired by the case against the Brandywine School District and recently settled.  The bill deals with zero tolerance and weapons in schools.

House Bill 142, which deals with School Resource Officer training, passed the House today and was sent to the Senate Education Committee.

Delaware Republicans Release Anti-Prevailing Wage Legislation, Let The Labor Wars Begin!

Senate Bill 116, introduced today, would require a three-year exemption on prevailing wages for school construction.  It would also require public schools to give a cost study to the Controller General’s Office.

Sponsored by Senator Gary Simpson along with Senator Greg Lavelle and State Reps Danny Short and Deb Hudson.  Co-sponsors include six GOP Senators and six GOP State Reps.

I find it very interesting they chose school construction for this given the audit that came out last week against Sussex Technical School District.  If there is some secret deal or compromise to pass the state budget, this would be the key legislation the Delaware Republicans have been looking for.  Don’t count it out until everyone goes home on July 1st.  Strange things happen the night of June 30th and the early hours of July 1st.  A bill could be dead, and presto, it has a suspension of rules.

I would have to image the unions are already opposing this bill.  Call me crazy, but I would guess they aren’t strong supporters.

Season Four On Exceptional Delaware Just Got Very Interesting, Time To Reboot The Mission

Every year, on June 13th, Exceptional Delaware celebrates its anniversary.  This year is, pardon the pun, no exception.  You won’t see what the mission is until you read about it.  But it is definitely time to reboot the mission and go back to basics.  It’s about the kids.  It’s about families.  It’s about what is covered up and hidden.  In ALL facets of education, people want quiet.  They didn’t want the dirty skeletons coming out of the closet.  But they are there.  Like an ostrich with a head buried in the sand, so it is with Delaware education. 

National Education Association Seems to Endorse Replacing Teachers With Computers

The National Education Association leadership has sold out their membership and the students of America by endorsing this. Myself, along with several other bloggers, have been warning about this for years. We are at a crossroads, at this very moment. Wanting a seat at the table isn’t good. Because you are ON the table and the hedge fund investors are going to eat you alive.

gadflyonthewallblog

 

When all the teachers are gone, will America’s iPads pay union dues?

It’s a question educators across the country are beginning to ask after yet another move by our national unions that seems to undercut the profession they’re supposed to be supporting.

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the U.S., published a shortsighted puff piece on its Website that seemingly applauds doing away with human beings working as teachers.

In their place would be computers, iPads, Web applications and a host of “devices” that at best would need human beings to serve as merely lightly trained facilitators while children are placed in front of endless screens.

The article is called, “As More Schools Look to Personalized Learning, Teaching May Be About to Change,” by Tim Walker.

Teacher-blogger Emily Talmage lead the charge with a counter article on her site called “Anatomy of…

View original post 882 more words