Michigan’s Third Grade Reading Law
Michigan’s third grade reading law is here and it will have an impact on early elementary students.
Pension Plan Deceptions and DeVos Diversions
Michigan’s Republican governor and its Republican legislature are at odds over finalizing the state budget for upcoming fiscal year. The main hangup for pols is the state teacher retirement system and whether the current system should be maintained or turned into a 401k styled plan. Politicians favoring the 401k system are falsely arguing that Michigan cannot maintain the current system. Taxpayers should not be fooled. Republican leaders are following the marching orders given to them …
Letters to Congressional Leadership
Democracy needs everyone’s participation. I wrote similar letters to Sen. McConnell and Speaker Ryan: Dear Senator McConnell, I am writing you today to call on you to fulfill your oath of office to protect and uphold our Constitution. The conflicts of interest on display by President Trump and members of his administration are flagrant, alarming, and dangerous to our nation and all of its citizens.
Implausible Solutions for Michigan Education
Ross Douthat of The New York Times has been presenting a series of articles that suggest ways of approaching difficult national challenges that he calls, “deliberately implausible ideas.” These particular columns approach topics with answers that are sure to irritate all sides of any selected issue. Today I am presenting solutions to Michigan’s education matters in a similar manner.
Your Taxes are Paying for Hobbies
The following article was written collaboratively with Craig Allen, who is the Superintendent of Breitung Schools. The opinions expressed here are our own. Our tax dollars are increasingly paying for boutique classes attended in segregated settings for homeschooled families. Homeschool parents, who do not want their children to attend school with children in their communities, are being catered to by public school districts who are finding workarounds and loopholes in Michigan’s school funding rules. The …
In Praise of Politicians
The disappointing, soul-crushing cynicism about politicians and politics has left no oxygen and no apparent energy for discussion of what a good politician is and the importance of politicians in general to a healthy democracy. If democracy is to survive, politicians are a necessary and required element of the system. The desire to serve the public good is a respectable and honorable goal which merits more credit than it receives. It is likely that there …
Mr. Trump Must Hold Russia Accountable
Our nation was founded in order to be free of foreign intervention in the affairs of its people and its political processes. In the Revolutionary War, patriots valiantly fought and died for the right to hold democratically determined elections. Our men and women have laid down their lives in wars since in order to preserve and protect our nation and our right to elect the citizens who will lead us. Russia’s intervention in our presidential …
Legislative End-Run around Wolf Hunting is a Dangerous Precedent
Before leaving Lansing during the recent Lame Duck session of Michigan’s congress, the Michigan House and Senate passed legislation permitting wolf hunting and sent the package to Gov. Snyder’s office for his signature. The governor should not sign the bill. Even though I did not agree with the outcome of the 2014 vote in which Michigan voters struck down wolf hunting in Michigan, I do not believe that legislators should then use their power to …
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Betsy DeVos and the Charter Truth
Stephen Henderson absolutely nails why Betsy DeVos should not be education secretary. Read the Detroit Free Press’ article, Betsy DeVos and the twilight of public education”, written by him.
Home Schooling and Child Neglect
One function of public schools is to assure the safety of children. The school choice movement, with its lack of oversight, makes a mockery of this aim. As a principal and now as superintendent I have seen the neglect unmonitored school choice makes possible. Public schools are responsible for tracking attendance and for reporting suspected abuse. One way for lousy parents to fly under the radar of intervention on behalf of kids is to pull …