Achievements of African-Americans celebrated at 2011 Trumpet Awards

Many years ago I was personally tapped and groomed by Xernona Clayton to be a hostess for the Trumpet Awards, I was honored and humbled. I am thrilled to see the Trumpet Awards grow to be what it is today...
Created in 1993, the Trumpet Awards celebrate and honor African-American achievers and those who support the African-American experience. The award honors achievement in many diverse fields including medicine, business, law, politics, community service, civil rights, sports and entertainment. The event is televised annually and is shown over 185 countries across the globe.
The 2011 Trumpet Awards was held on Saturday, January 29, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. The 19th Annual Trumpet Awards was a black-tie ceremony, sponsored by the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. and was hosted by Boris Kodjoe, Nicole Ari Parker, and Niecy Nash.

Educators must enable parents to be accountable

I’m sick of hearing people say “hold parents accountable” for children not being prepared for school. When it comes to discipline, of course you expect a certain level of home schooling about civility. But understanding the business of getting your child an education is a special skill.

You see Tiger Mom all over television these days nervously chattering about her superior method of helping her children succeed. Then locally you have folks like Frustrated and/or Jon, have you read some of their comments? These people are knowledgeable about the system of education and have tapped into how to help their students succeed.

Here I sit – probably the average parent and I have picked up on what works as I go along. I have tried to work with teachers, Administration and the BOE to help make school better for my student and for the students whose parents don’t know the difference.

But there is so much that we have to know. NWEA, IEP, Tungsten, benchmarks, looping, Title I, IB, Acuity, AYP, DOL, NAEP and the educational jargon goes on and on. This jargon alienates parents; and you can just imagine what it does to our students.

It's painful going to parent teacher conferences to watch teachers pull out all the test data and speak in edu-speak. What questions should I ask, when I have no idea what she is talking about.

~ Your Average Parent ~

This is the stuff that our students are dealing with everyday, the crap that is actually happening in the classroom. How the hell is the average parent expected to know all of this stuff and the time frame in which they need to help their child be prepared - let alone succeed?

Exactly what does holding a parent accountable mean? To ask a question about NWEA, one must understand NWEA. To help a child with DOL, one must understand DOL. To reinforce Accelerated Reader (or should I say AR) at home, one must know what AR is.

I’m not an expert on education, yet my students are successful. However, I sometimes wonder if they are as successful as they may have been, had I known more about the intricacies of a system that sometimes make you feel like they are hiding information from you, or playing tricks with your child’s future.

The landscape is changing daily, both nationally and locally; compound that with what parents already don’t know and failure is imminent. At what point will somebody take on the responsibility of educating parents on helping their child succeed? What are we afraid of?

Could segregated homerooms help black students?

Only about a third of McCaskey's African-Americans scored proficient or advanced in reading on last year's Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), compared with 60 percent of white students and 42 percent of all students.

Pennsylvania's McCaskey East High School has come up with a controversial plan to help the school's black students: to segregate them.

The idea originated with Angela Tilghman, a McCaskey East instructional coach who was alarmed at the poor academic performance of the school's black students. Tilghman suggested that the school separate black students and pair them with black homeroom teachers of the same gender. She offered to work with a group of black female students.

WGAL News reports the school started the practice in December, dividing its junior class into their homerooms by race and gender.

The policy applies only to homeroom, which meets each day for six minutes and once a week for 20 minutes, and was intended to help close the school's racial achievement gap.

The plan was proposed to help black students, and bring their test scores up to those of their white peers, but it's sparked a debate about the pros and cons of separating students.

Responding to cries of racism, school employees have defended the policy using research which shows that having mentors of the same race and gender can help inspire young people to have better self-esteem and perform better in school.

Homeroom mentors will be keeping close tabs on their students' grades and test scores to track how the program affects them.

Politics a segue to being famous

First it was Congressman Aaron Schock in Gentleman's Quarterly...

Recently, State Representative, Jehan Gordon, who is engaged to be married to Derrick Booth (Manual High School Basketball Coach), submitted her engagement story to Munaluchi Bridal and was chosen to be featured on their blog. Munaluchi Bridal is a new, upscale bridal magazine, geared towards the upwardly mobile African-American woman.

"We were just STUNNED when we got this submission from Jehan Gordon with these gorgeous images from her engagement session. The trendy couple was photographed by the amazing husband and wife duo, Jarod and Julia, of Schilling Photography. Jehan and Derrick are such a striking pair, and through these images you can just see the divine love they have for each other. Enjoy this love story of Jehan and Derrick…"



More photos here.

The juggling has begun

We know that Steve Ptacek (Richwoods' Principal) took the position in Joppa, Richwoods is officially up in the air. We know that Susan Malahy (formerly a teacher at Von Stueben School) as of 1/18/11, is now Assistant Principal of the new Glen Oak Community Learning Center; which opens up the question what will happen with Doug Atkins, Glen Oak's current Assistant Principal (they probably could use two assistants).

"We're talking about strategic planning. . . . We need to make some decisions in reference to curricular programs, we need to make some decisions in reference to facilities, and in order to make those decisions - the first recommendations will be presented to you in March - we're trying to give notification," "If there are not administrative positions available after the consolidation or closing of particular programs, the current principals would need to be reassigned to administrative positions," By reassigning assistant principals, deans and academy leaders, "it frees up possible positions for principals that might need those positions in the future,"

Superintendent Grenita Lathan

District 150 lost 804 students in 2010

However, for some reason last fall, enrollment climbed by nearly 300 students compared with the 2009-10 year. Hmmm... wonder what that's attributable to?

New school data reveal worrisome trends
Chicago Tribune - School District 150 in Peoria has grappled with declining numbers for decades. The industrial city in the heart of Illinois served 20,000 students in the 1960s. Caterpillar Inc., the hometown manufacturing behemoth, drew families to the region.

But the district lost 2,113 students in the last decade, including 804 in 2010.

Hoping to draw families back, the district opened a science and technology charter school. Last fall, enrollment climbed by nearly 300 students compared with the 2009-10 year, said Bryan Chumbley, director of accountability and research for the district.

Oprah's secret revealed... spoiler alert

We all know that Oprah Winfrey lost a baby when she was fourteen (14) years young. Today, it will be revealed that Oprah has a long lost sister.

Oprah Winfrey has a half-sister named Patricia who was given up for adoption by Winfrey's mother, Vernita Lee, shortly after her birth in 1963. That's the big secret.

"Patricia is my half-sister who I never knew existed," Oprah said on Monday's show.

USA TODAY's Judy Keen reports from Chicago that Patricia - whose last name was not revealed - was given up by Oprah's mom because wanted to get off welfare and knew that if she had another child, that might be impossible. Lee said she "wasn't able to take care of" her new daughter.

Patricia lived in foster homes until she was 7, including some that were "not so good," she said Monday. Patricia said she always hoped her birth mother would return for her.

By 17, Patricia was a single mother. She has two grown children, a daughter and son.

Patricia is several inches shorter than Winfrey, but the half-sisters are similar in appearance, with round faces and the same smile. Winfrey said she had no idea her mother had given up a baby when she was 9 and living with her father Vernon Winfrey in Nashville.

How did the reunion happen? Patricia said she saw Lee in a TV interview discussing her three acknowledged children and began to put the pieces together. Her son, Andre, went online and found the birthdates of Patricia's siblings, including Winfrey. "We realized that Oprah could be my sister," Patricia said. That was in 2007. Lee and Patricia both still live in Milwaukee.

In a taped segment, Lee said she was "so shocked" to know that Patricia had been trying to reach her. "I thought it was a terrible thing for me to do, that I had done – gave up my daughter when she was born," Lee said. Lee said she tried to find her baby soon after Patricia's birth and was told "she had left."

Asked how that made her feel, Patricia wept and said, "I always had a feeling that she didn't need to give me up, and her saying that she came back to get me, it means a lot."

Winfrey said her mother "is still stuck in 1963" and still carries "the shame" of Patricia's birth, making her reluctant to welcome her daughter into her life now.

"You can let the shame go," Winfrey said to the camera, addressing her mother. "You can let that go." Source

Disintegration

The Colbert Report

North Carolina Tea Partiers want to reverse socially engineered progress until things get so bad for the poor that they can't be ignored.

dis·in·te·grate (ds-nt-grt)
v. dis·in·te·grat·ed, dis·in·te·grat·ing, dis·in·te·grates
v.intr.
1. To become reduced to components, fragments, or particles.
2. To lose cohesion or unity: pressures that cause families to disintegrate
3. Physics & Chemistry To decompose, decay, or undergo a nuclear transformation.
v.tr.
To cause to disintegrate. See Synonyms at decay. Source

WCBU reports security camera footage CONFIRMS STUDENT'S ACCOUNT of Wenger altercation

As a parent of a student in a District 150 school, I hope they are looking at measures to institute that will protect ALL students from irate family members and spouses coming on to school property.

I understand wanting your family member to be paid well and respected for the hard work they put in. There are some people down at my husband's office I have a few choice words for and maybe even a couple I would like to get my hands on, but that would be considered highly unprofessional.

Wenger charged with battery

WCBU Classical Music Host Lee Wenger was arrested on a battery charge Tuesday night at Peoria High School. Wenger 57, is charged with allegedly shoving and threatening a female student. The Peoria Police Report says he pushed the student into a row of lockers and began to scream at her for disrespecting his wife. The student says Wenger then raised his fist to her face and she thought he was going to hit her. The police report says school security camera video footage confirms the student’s account of the altercation. The incident happened during play practice for Peoria High’s dinner theatre production of “The Mikado.” Wenger’s wife directs the annual production. The shows that were scheduled for last night and tonight have been canceled. A statement from District 150 says the production was cancelled for circumstances beyond its control. Pre-paid ticket holders will receive a full refund. Wenger was released at the scene on a notice to appear. Source

The Remarkable Times show is ready to go on CAPtions

Peoria Public Schools District 150 is partnering with CAPtions, Peoria’s longest running TV talk show, to begin a new segment, “Remarkable Times.”.

Hosted by Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan, “Remarkable Times’ will highlight various activities in the District and promotes the positive learning occurring everyday.

The debut segment will air as part of CAPtions on Sunday, January 23rd at 5 pm, and again Wednesday, January 26th at 7 pm, and later at Midnight, on Comcast Cable 22.

During the first segment, Dr. Lathan interviews the principals of the three high schools, Dr. Sharon Kherat, Randy Simmons, and Steve Ptacek. This 30 minute segment will also include video clips of classrooms.

“Remarkable Times” is scheduled to be a feature every other month on CAPtions.

The rest of the CAPtions show will feature an interview with Engin Blackstone, principal of the Quest Charter Academy. Host of that segment is Andre Bohannon. Source

Just keeping it "classy" in the River City

A local classical radio personality was arrested for allegedly battering a 14 year old GIRL at a rehearsal for a school play.

The 14 year old GIRL allegedly "disrespected" his wife.

No one likes to be disrespected, however, if one is, the classy thing to do would be to remove oneself from the situation. One should not become embroiled in an incident that could possibly be misinterpreted as battering a minor - a 14 year old GIRL.

Sidebar: People on classical radio have "personality"? Hmmph - now that's news.

Local Radio Personality Arrested
Classical radio personality, Lee Wenger, was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly battering a minor at Peoria High School.

Peoria Police confirmed that 57 year old Wenger was issued a notice to appear on a battery charge after the incident. Wenger was at the school where his wife, Denise Adams, is the music director.

Apparently Adams was involved in an argument with a student during a play rehearsal. Wenger allegedly shoved the female student into a row of lockers while screaming not to disrespect his wife.

The girl later told police she thought he was going to hit her because he shoved his fist in her face. Source

Still chalking up the deuces

On Friday, January 14, 2011
Anonymous said...
"Ptacek is leaving. He told his staff he was taking a job in Paducah, Kentucky."

Today, Thursday, January 20, 2011, the pjstar reports...

Richwoods principal may break contract
Ptacek in the running to be superintendent at another district.

After just three years, Richwoods High School Principal Steve Ptacek may be moving on and up.

Ptacek, 43, is a finalist for the superintendent post of a tiny southern Illinois school district of about 300 students. The Joppa Maple Grove School Board meets Monday and is expected to vote to hire a superintendent. The school district's current superintendent, Catherin Trampe, said she is retiring.

Ptacek, who came to Peoria in 2008, said he recently sent an e-mail to teachers and staff to quell rumors. Ptacek said, "I can't say what is happening," but noted in the e-mail he was not being fired and that he would remain at the school through the end of the school year.

"That's not healthy to have those kinds of rumors going around," Ptacek said. When asked about the job prospect, he replied, "I can't say anything officially right now . . . I'm not in that position, probably next week."

Ptacek originally signed a four-year contract with District 150 in 2008 and is paid $110,000 annually. Before coming to Peoria, he was principal at Centralia High School in southern Illinois. Prior to that, the Navy veteran was assistant principal at Cahokia High School, also in southern Illinois. He is from Lebanon.

Last year, Ptacek completed the necessary courses at Western Illinois University to hold a Type 26 certificate, which upon activation would allow him to hold a superintendent position for up to one year as an internship. Provided he showed the necessary skills during that time, he said a superintendent's endorsement would be granted by the state.

Is District 150 saying to Peoria... "bring it"?

I think that many of us would agree that Kavanagh Scully et al is partially responsible for the legal quagmire that District 150 is in today. Instead of dealing with issues head on and with transparency, they made it possible to push the issues under the rug. The bad behavior at the District continued until people began to take them to task for the bad legal decisions they made(see Knapp v Whitaker, et al).

Forty some years later, a new superintendent who actually understands the challenges that an urban school district faces is hiring a law firm because of what they know and not who they know. The fact that she went outside of Peoria for legal council is a testament to her being from someplace else and not being a part of the current "group think" that is permeating our city.

Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP, is the new law firm and they appear to be capable of handling any of the many issues that the District is currently facing and/or may face in the future. Whatever fight the District may be gearing up for - they NOW have knowledgeable attorneys to deal with the issues, attorneys that can teach them some things about the business of running a school district along the way.

partners at Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP

corporate
We work with our clients so that their school districts are governed in accordance with the School Code and legally sound and practical policies; their board meetings are run properly under the Open Meetings Act; their administrators respond to inquiries for information in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act; and their board members are confident that their conduct does not violate the conflict of interest statutes, the Governmental Ethics Act, or the Election Code.

finance
We work closely with our clients during the budgeting process to reduce tax objections and during the levy process to ensure compliance with the Truth in Taxation Act and the tax cap laws. During the fiscal year, we advise our clients in the making of interfund loans and transfers and using the working cash fund and tax anticipation warrants to cope with cash flow needs of their school districts. When a tax rate or bond referendum is necessary, we draft the required resolution and ballot proposition; advise clients on compliance with the Election Interference Act; and act as issuer's counsel on every type of bond transaction.

labor
We provide our clients with day-to-day advice on personnel decision-making strategies, compliance with employment laws and administration of their collective bargaining agreements. We negotiate our clients' collective bargaining agreements to successful conclusion for the school district, advise our clients regarding formation of bargaining units and the proper methods to respond to a union organizing campaign, provide on-going advice on contract administration to avoid unnecessary grievances and, when necessary, represent our clients at grievance meetings and arbitrations or in hearings on unfair labor practice charges.

personnel
We provide handbook development, training, day-to-day advice and litigation services on any employment matter including employee benefits, discipline and discharge, wage and hour issues, hiring, evaluation and remediation, sexual harassment, Family Medical Leave Act, employment discrimination, drug testing, civil rights and free speech issues and FLSA compliance.

litigation
We have protected our clients' interests before both the United States Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court and in all Appellate Court Districts and Federal District Courts in Illinois. We have litigated in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and before all of the administrative agencies that affect schools including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Illinois Department of Human Rights, Office for Civil Rights and Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

We have defended or prosecuted cases on behalf of our clients on virtually any issue affecting school districts including commercial transactions, real estate, validity of bonds, elections, open meetings act, special education, student and teacher rights and employment discrimination.

students
We work with our clients on such diverse student matters as admissions and graduation requirements, discipline, student constitutional rights from free speech and religious freedom to search and seizures, grading, sexual harassment, student records, immunization, busing, student clubs, drug testing and reciprocal reporting agreements with local law enforcement.

special education
We develop policies as required by IDEA, conduct in-service training on IDEA issues, participate, when necessary, in IEP conferences and represent our clients in due process hearings and in any subsequent appeal of a due process decision.

real estate & school construction
We handle all legal matters involved in the purchase or sale of real estate including environmental report issues, condemnation, negotiations of the purchase of the property and any other due diligence issue. We also work with bond counsel as issuer's counsel on any bond issue needed for the financing of the construction project; advise our clients on all aspects of the bidding process from developing the specification to determining the lowest responsible bidder; negotiate all contracts between the school district and its architect, construction manager and/or general contractor; advise our clients during the construction project concerning any process that may arise; and handle any litigation arising out of the construction project.

Read about the reinstitution of the moment of silence

Mrs. Jenkins - is she in - or is she out...

UPDATE... on speculation about Richwoods' Principal, Steve Ptacek in the comments.

To say that Mrs. Taunya Jenkins (Assistant Principal, Manual High School, a/k/a Principal of Roosevelt Magnet School) is one of the most disliked Principals in District 150 would probably be an understatement.

Anti-Pundit's current post talks about what the infamous Mrs. Jenkins has been up to lately (something about a pregnant girl, McDonald's, chocolate milk, cereal and Jenkins being black). Out of the post about Mrs. Jenkins and her special management style, came a rumor.

Are we surprised? No, we are not.

Anyhow, the rumor is that the "incompetent", "evil", "racist", "arrogant", "power monger", "bitch", with "fake fingernails", "needs a mint" and will be "returning to the classroom as a teacher".

Can anybody confirm?

If you attend a Title 1 school and have free and/or reduced lunch are you more susceptible to getting pregnant as a teenager

Ninety students who attend Frayser High School in Memphis are currently pregnant or have already had a baby this year. The stunning number means nearly 11 percent of the school's approximately 800 students are already experiencing the trials of parenthood.

A Title One school, Frayser receives federal dollars based on the number of students from low income families who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Nearly 100 percent of the students who attend the school qualify.

Such a high rate of pregnancy at one school is dire, but sources tell Action News 5 there is a massive initiative in the works dedicated to preventing teen pregnancy in the Frayser community.

The initiative will include:
- After-school and in-school programs funded with grant money, operated by a local non-profit that already does some work for city schools.

- A $250,000 advertising campaign targeted at the Frayser community that is based on research done in focus groups at the school.

- A federally funded component that emphasizes the responsibility of young men, operated through a Memphis hospital

The city of Memphis is also a partner in the initiative, and could offer some support, possibly through the Social Innovation Fund.

While those 90 students will not benefit from such a highly targeted pregnancy prevention initiative, it could truly give future generations of Frayser High School students an expectation of excellence, no excuses, and no worries about parenting.

Some details on the initiative are still being hammered out, but the partners in the massive effort are expected to roll out the plan on January 20th.

I am a Sagittarius not an 'o-few-cus'

After a of lifetime of being somewhat the epitome of a Sagittarius, now you want to tell me that I am an Ophiuchus! Exactly what is an Ophiuchus? What are it's strengths; what are it's weaknesses. I married a Sagittarius not an Ophicuchus and I will continue to be a Sagittarius until I receive more complete information!

Is Ophiuchus the 13th Zodiac Sign?

What are the new Zodiac Sign dates? According to Astronomer Parke Kunkle the zodiac signs are changing and your Zodiac sign may be wrong!

Huffington Post reports that Astronomer Parke Kunkle says that “due to changes in the Earth’s alignment the dates of many zodiac signs have changed.”

But the big bomb that Kunkle has dropped is that there is a 13th Zodiac sign, Ophiuchus. HUH?

The 12 signs of the Zodiac were created almost 3,000 years ago, when astrology began. The Earth’s position to the sun has changed so it makes sense that the 12 signs of the Zodiac would change but who the heck is Parke Kunkle and why are we just finding out about Ophiuchus?

According to Parke Kunkle, here’s the new Zodiac Signs.

Here are the new Zodiac Sign Dates:Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 – Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 – Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 – Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 – Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 – Dec. 17Sagittarius: Dec. 17 – Jan. 20

I'm so confused am I the tenth or the thirteenth!Ophiuchus is not the 13th sign of the zodiac but the 10th sign and interestingly it's symbol of two snakes entwined around a staff is still associated with the medical profession today via the cadeucus or rod of Hermes (Mercury). There is also a version with a single snake known as the rod of Asclepios - a famous Greek physician who in mythology discovered the secret of immortality and was punished by being placed in the constellation of Ophiuchus - which today is the astrological glyph that represents this 10th zodiac sign!

OPHIUCHUS (THE SERPENT BEARER)
Pronounced 'o-few-cus', this is one of 13 constellations that both our sun and moon pass through during the year yet mysteriously, having originally been identified by Ptolemy, it does not feature in either the tropical or sidereal zodiacs that are used by astrologers today!!

Considering that this constellation is at the centre of both the divine cross in the heavens, formed by the galactic equator and the ecliptic, and the terrestial mundane cross formed by the equinoxes this is quite a serious omission especially since these two crosses align every 13,000 years and are about to do so once more in 2012.

The table below compares the different zodiacs and illustrates how, like our calendar, modern day astrology is out of synchronisation with the universe because it has been 'homogenised' - divided into 12 equal 30 degree segments when in fact the sun occupies each sign for considerably varying lengths:

Source

Amazing what you can purchase out of the back room of the ghetto quick marts

Quick marts are a blight on Peoria's inner city. They are frequented by all of the neighborhood losers and most sell paraphernalia that can be used for doing drugs. I heard that at the quick mart/gas station across the street from shady Sheridan Liquors, you can purchase Nikes and "stuff" out of the back room using your LINK card.



Store owner pleads guilty to selling Viagra pills
The owner of a South Peoria grocery store pleaded guilty Wednesday to misdemeanor drug charges in connection with the sale of Viagra pills from his store in 2009.

Vasant K. Patel, 39, was arrested after a Nov. 5, 2009, search of Shop-Rite Supermarket, 1823 W. Lincoln Ave., uncovered loose Viagra pills inside small plastic bags stuffed inside boxes. His store didn't have a license to sell the drug and as a result lost its liquor license as well. Source

Spare the rod spoil the child... or is this abuse?

DISCLAIMER: I am opposed to whipping children with belts (or anything else for that matter).

However, the children we are dealing with today, are a certain level of knucklehead and in many instances "tough love" may be warranted. The uncle in the video below found out his nephew was perpetrating a thug on Facebook, so he gave him a message for all of his Facebook friends.

Apparently, the boy made some statements on Facebook along the lines that he was out on the block dropping bodies. This beating was the uncle's attempt to prevent the boy from pulling a stunt like this ever again. The uncle has a serious sag busting, but I think it's only because he took his belt off to administer some love. In that case - I give him a pass.

explicit language

TRANSLATION:

"This for all of y'all people on Facebook," the man with his shirt off and a belt in his hand starts the video by saying. "Y'all parents, you need to stop this senseless f---ing crimes, all this gang bang sh-t."

"This is my f---ing nephew right here," he says as he points the belt at the boy. "He ain't no gang member, we don't come from that sh-t."

He then tells the boy to speak to the camera and tell everyone that his gangster lifestyle on Facebook is nothing more than a facade.

"All that is fake," the boy says.

But then the golden words spill out of his uncle's mouth.

"...but this ass whoopin' isn't going to be fake!"

And at that point, this man goes to whip his nephew on video to not only embarrass him but to also show him that being a fake thug gets you nothing but a raw butt whoopin'.

What makes this video classic -- aside from the fact that a parental figure is handling his kid for potentially endangering his own life by acting like something he's not on the Internet -- is how every lash of the belt comes with a powerful (and hilarious) catch phrase.

"Whap, whap, whap" - "Get that on Facebook!"

"Whap, whap, whap" - "Facebook that!"

"Whap, whap, whap" - "And if I catch you on Facebook saying anything -- I don't give a f--k if it's happy birthday -- I'm whooping your ass!" he says.

As the kid probably realizes that he truly screwed up, his uncle leaves the room with the statement of the year.

"Now put that on your f---ing wall!"

Hope for parents whose children are tracked into special education

If this case sets a precedent for similar cases around the country, maybe it will highlight the problem of black students that are placed in special education and remedial courses without merit - sometimes students that are significantly ahead of their peers but are misunderstood for cultural differences.

Landmark Trial Could Set Precedent for Black Students Tracked to Special Education

Black parents are often skeptical when their children are placed on a special education track.

Sometimes students legitimately need extra attention, but other times students have been misplaced, often just mischievous and acting out because they are not being challenged academically.

Eight parents in Lower Merion County in suburban Philadelphia have decided to fight on behalf of their children and other African American children they felt were improperly classified as special education or placed in "low-expectation" courses. They filed a class-action lawsuit against their school district three years ago and the trial will begin November 1, 2011.

It is a major achievement because prior to setting a trial date, a judge ruled that each case should be handled individually. But Jennifer R. Clarke, executive director of the Public Interest Law Center, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, had bigger objectives:

"We want to establish a more objective method of identifying children for special education and also a different way in which children are being tracked into different courses..particularly so early on and particularly in math but also in other courses. We want parents to understand more about the process. And the changes we seek also have to do with how teachers and administrators treat African American kids. We know that if they have high expectations, the students will live up to them, and if they have low expectations, the students will live down to them."

The district defended itself saying that no students have been placed in special education that were not found eligible to receive services and whose parents that did not approve in writing that the services be provided. They also argue they have adopted measures to address the achievement gap, including a Minority Achievement Program that has yielded significant gains in achievement.

But parents say while they are pleased with some of the achievements, they have only provided a band-aid solution to the problem.

If this case sets a precedent for similar cases around the country, maybe it will highlight the problem of black students that are placed in special education and remedial courses without merit - sometimes students that are significantly ahead of their peers but are misunderstood for cultural differences. Source

The rejection of a rescission of a resignation

I am not surprised that Valda Ship has decided to fight. She is hardly the only Principal in District 150 who has given out errouneous information; or not followed District policies; or not returned parents calls and e-mails; or violated student rights; or not inform parents about rights to appeal. I don't see where anybody else has been fired.


Ex-principal suing District 150Valda Shipp files lawsuit to get Glen Oak School job back or be reinstated as a teacher.
A former Peoria District 150 principal is suing to get her job back or be reinstated as a teacher, claiming her job status at the district is in limbo. Shipp, a 34-year employee of the district, spent the last 10 years as a principal, with the three most recent years at Glen Oak, 2100 N. Wisconsin Ave.

In the suit filed in December, former Glen Oak Primary School Principal Valda Shipp said the district did not terminate her, that she never did anything that would merit being fired and she rescinded a decision to retire.

The suit notes Shipp had been reprimanded on some issues in February but none serious enough that would lead to her dismissal. But later, she was placed on administrative leave and Superintendent Grenita Lathan came to Shipp in June with two options: the district could terminate her contract with just cause or terminate her without cause and pay her $5,000 and her salary through the end of the month, provided she resign as a teacher and sign a full release, the suit states and copies of various letters from the district show.

Shipp did neither but on June 29 tendured a letter of resignation to the district. The following day, though, she issued a second letter rescinding her intention to retire. Another letter contained in the suit from Lathan, dated July 2, "rejects" Shipp's July 1 letter to rescind her retirement.

"I received your letter, in which you attempted to rescind the letter of retirement submitted to District 150 on June 29. I reject you rescinding your notice of retirement," Lathan said in the brief letter to Shipp.

Shipp's suit maintains that her resignation letter did not constitute actual resignation because she rescinded it and claims never to have received retirement benefits through the state's Teacher Retirement System.

The suit also maintains Shipp still has a valid contract with the district and seeks to be reinstated and to receive any salary and/or benefits owed to her since July.

Also noted was her unavailability and not returning calls to parents as well as being blamed for poor customer service, including incorrect information that went to a second- and third-grade student, leading them to attempt to walk to their grandparents' home in Pekin. Both children were found along Interstate 74 by a truck driver and authorities were called. Source

Snoop Dogg commanded to perform before the Royals

When it comes to the subjugation of women...










the propagation of gang lifestyle...










and the consumption of addictive intoxicants...

Snoop Dogg is the best that America has to offer. Snoop Dogg, he has taught our youth so much and is held in such high esteem in this "post racial" America, that of course, he would be called upon to perform before the future King of England (see court jester).

Snoop Dogg Writes Song for Prince William's Bachelor Party
As promised, Snoop Dogg released a new song called "Wet" on Tuesday in honor of Prince William's upcoming wedding. In the tune, a heavily Autotuned Snoop delivers some characteristically sexed-up lyrics that don't mention William or the wedding directly — but are certainly appropriate for a strip club or a bachelor party.

sexually explicit content

Snoop said of the song, "When I heard the royal family wanted to have me perform in celebration of Prince William's marriage, I knew I had to give them a little something. 'Wet' is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin'."

He also tweeted on Wednesday, "UK twizzles, just heard BBC Radio 1 gonna be playing tha new single #WET soon!! Tune in! This song is tha one for Prince William's stag do!" Source

What was/is your vision of a "post racial" America?

In post racial America, black men with beautiful voices will be plucked from relative obsecurity and become our brightest stars.

Antoine Dodson is a former resident of the Lincoln Park housing project in Huntsville, Alabma. His interview on local television became an Internet sensation, after it was auto-tuned by the Gregory Brothers. The “Bed Intruder Song” sold thousands of copies on ITunes and made the Billboard Hot 100 List. The interview that propelled Dodson into fame was prompted by the report of a house intrusion and attempted rape of Dodson's sister.

Ted Williams, just a few days ago, the Brooklyn native and recovering alcoholic had been homeless, panhandling on the streets of Columbus, Ohio. But since the 53-year-old and his velvet voice became an overnight sensation, Williams has received a flurry of job offers. He signed a contract with Kraft, voiced an MSNBC promo and is even being pursued by the Cleveland Cavaliers for work.

What do you think about Dr. King's NOH8 campaign pose?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's youngest daughter, Bernice King is known for being a polarizing figure on gay rights issues, I wonder what she thinks about this use of her father's image.

Education reform is popping off in the House

The clash of education reform proposals in the Illinois House and Senate appears unlikely to be resolved by January 11, but it’s likely to be a hot item throughout the spring legislative session after the new 97th General Assembly convenes with a clean slate on January 12.

Teachers unions unveil plan for tenure reform, but stand firm on strike rights

As the clash heats up, teachers’ unions have crafted their own reform plan, which was discussed by union representatives at a four-hour hearing of the Senate Education Reform Committee on Monday.

The issue erupted in December when two education reform committees were created in the House and Senate and draft legislation called “Performance Counts” – designed by reform advocacy groups Advance Illinois and Stand for Children Illinois – was debated for two days in the House committee.

That proposal would dramatically alter current law on teacher tenure and dismissal, and would virtually eliminate teachers’ right to strike. Advance Illinois said the proposal was in the works for a year, but the teachers’ unions saw it for the first time about a week before Christmas.

The Union proposal

Given just about two weeks to draft an alternative proposal, lawyers for the Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association worked through the holidays and came up with a plan they call “Accountability for All.”

Although they differ in the details, the proposals have similar elements. Both would link a teacher’s classroom performance to the granting of tenure, recertification and decisions on dismissal for incompetence, filling job vacancies or reductions in force.

Performance would be measured in part by student achievement. Both proposals would streamline dismissal, but the union version would require better support for teachers in such areas as professional development and remediation.

The unions also want induction and mentoring programs to help new teachers succeed, and propose similar “accountability” processes for principals and district administrators, plus four hours of required training for school board members, among other things.

Also included in the union proposal is a “Students’ Bill of Rights,” including requirements that all classrooms begin each school year with a qualified teacher (not a substitute), and that art, music and other subjects that are often dropped in a fiscal crunch be included in the curriculum.

The right to strike
For the unions, eliminating the right to strike is a non-starter. Although Advance Illinois claims its plan does not do that, any rational reading of it would suggest in fact that it does.

The unions’ position is that the Illinois Education Labor Relations Act is working well in this regard, as evidenced by the fact that the Chicago Public Schools hasn’t had a strike in 23 years and only about two strikes occur annually among Illinois’ other 868 districts.

The reform advocacy groups, and supporting organizations such as the Illinois Business Roundtable, have testified that the “threat of a strike” is sufficient to force school boards to bow to teachers’ demands to avoid the community disturbance caused by a shutdown of the schools.

The unions reject that argument out of hand, asserting that school teachers are under great pressure to avoid voting to strike, also because they will be held accountable – by their friends and neighbors and people in the stores where they shop – as a cause of community disruption.

“There is pressure on both sides to avert a strike,” IFT President Dan Montgomery told the senators.

Both proposals are complicated and involve major revisions to laws that have been tweaked occasionally over the years, usually after months of give-and-take negotiations.

The tone of the current hearings suggests reform of some significance is likely – but that it will not come on a fast track.

Senate Education Reform Committee Co-Chair Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) noted on Monday the need to move cautiously, signaling an intention to take “subject matter” testimony but not to try to enact legislation on this issue in January.

Word circulated Tuesday that Senate President John Cullerton has taken education reform off his chamber’s agenda through the end of the 96th General Assembly, with the expectation that it will be a major target for legislation in the legislative session from January 12 through May 30.
Reaction from the GOP could reload the education reform issue, of course, but at this time it appears legislators of both parties trust the teachers’ unions to participate in meaningful negotiations through the spring session.

It all started when Ginny called ANITA!

A former girlfriend of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas has a deal for a “sexually driven” memoir. Lillian McEwen, who dated Thomas in the 1980s, has signed with TitleTown Publishing, a Green Bay, Wis.-based publisher specializing in true crime and “inspirational” survivor stories. “D.C. Unmasked and Undressed” is scheduled to come out in early February, TitleTown announced Tuesday, adding that the book was “sexually driven.” McEwen, a retired administrative law judge, broke a long public silence last fall when she told The Washington Post that Thomas often made inappropriate comments and was “obsessed with porn,” allegations made by former Thomas colleague Anita Hill during his 1991 confirmation hearings. Thomas vehemently denied such behavior. Source

District 150 school bus involved in accident

Last night, while prepping to head over to Wisconsin Avenue for meetings, I had my spiffy, new police scanner playing in the background. At about 5:25, just as I was running out the door, I heard that over on Brons Avenue a District 150 school bus was involved in an accident, with injuries, with children on board.

I relayed the info to the Superintendent's secretary when I got to Wisconsin Avenue at about 5:30. She made phone calls to confirm, because she had not heard about it. She checked to see if Security was on the scene and turned the info over to the Superintendent.

I checked this morning with a school board member to see if any children were injured. She told me she hadn't checked her District e-mail yet and didn't know about the accident. I find the fact that she didn't know somewhat odd, considering the full Board was in the building when the accident happened and they didn't leave until well after 8:00.

Interesting that I have yet to hear a report on the news.

District 150 fills Rachael Pakers's seat

After meeting with all four candidates last night, this morning, Debbie Wolfmeyer made calls to inform all applicants seeking appointment, that the BOE will appoint Mya Lynn Costic, owner of Mya's Just 4 Kids as the replacement to fill Racheal Parker's 2nd District seat. Ms. Costic, who just recently joined the District's Parental Advisory Committee, will finish out Mrs. Parkers term, which ends in 2012.

As we all know, Jim Stowell, whose term ends this year, has decided to run for City council. Debbie Wolfmeyer, current BOE President, is up for reelection this year. With the potential of a new person in Wolfmeyer's chair and in Stowell's chair, will the BOE be able to maintain the course they are currently charting with Dr. Lathan?

The District has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars hiring a new Superintendent and her administrative team and relocating them to Peoria. As the weight of the BOE is changing, it will be interesting to see if all the money and time spent bringing in a new administrative team will be supported by the new members of the BOE.

Activists need your help to stay active

It was interesting watching the Block the Bonds group mount their campaign against building the museum Block. From what I was reading on the Peoria Chronicle, it looked like they really stood a chance of making a difference. However, when it came time for a vote, despite all of the cries for change and the words of support, folks went with the status quo. At the end of the day, the Block the Bonds actitivists were left crying for help.

Many Peoria bloggers and commenters could be considered activists. They are obviously passionate about the city in which they live, otherwise they wouldn't care enough to put together blog posts (or comments). While some blogger activists are being challenged to contribute more, others are actually putting their names on ballots in local elections and seeking board positions in the hopes of helping to make a difference in their community.

Laura Pettele is one blogger activist whose election to the school board was buoyed by the people who read her blog. Here's to hoping that other local activist bloggers and commenters can receive the same level of support in upcoming elections.

Can We Do a Better Job Taking Care of Our Activists?
Can someone be helped if they don’t meet you half way? I had a very intriguing conversation with a close friend the other day and she said that she supported President Obama. I asked, “How did you support him?” She stated, “I supported him by my approval of his campaign.” This really piqued my curiosity to dig further. After a few minutes of badgering her, I learned that she actually believed she supported the president just because she said she supported him.

The more alarming part of this revelation is there are millions of people in our community who feel the very same way. They feel that they support someone simply because they say they do. My friend never held campaign signs, voted, contributed to President Obama’s campaign, or participated in a phone bank; yet she confidently believed she supported him. How can we really believe we support someone (or something) if we never translate that endorsement into an action?

We have community activists that commit their efforts, finances, risk their freedom and reputation, and sometimes willing to lay down their lives to help others. But if we do not convert our moral support into tangible actions, we are as opposing to them as those who openly contest their ideology. When the possibility of failure emerges and a plea for actionable support is needed, the volume of the vocals reduces to a whisper.

Some of us continually pay for what we want but beg for what we need! What we need is self-efficacy, equality, and invasive education that roots out the cosmetic coverings of knowledge we have carried for generations. Activism is tough work. It frequently means working for people who don’t understand the real help they need. But as we witness activism, whether on large or small levels, we must give true support of progressive and effective movements or we can expect that at the end of the day, the activist will be the one crying for help. Source

Teaching the intricacies of Black History

image from "From Slave Ship to Freedom Road"

Back in November 2010, I read an article about a father who sued the school district over a fifth grade teacher's reading about slavery. The teacher read excerpts from a book by Julius Lester, entitled "From Slave Ship to Freedom Road" The book contained racial epithets and racist characterizations.

How do you think that father would react if his fifth grade student came home and told him this:

"Today we learned about slave ships. The teacher made all of the boys lay on the floor to demonstrate how the slaves were packed into the ships."

What are your thoughts on such a demonstration? Would you be concerned if your child was one of the students taking part in the demonstration?