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From the US Senate RESOLUTION Reaffirming the vital and
indispensable role the free press serves (adopted unanimously yesterday):
Whereas Benjamin Franklin in 1722 wrote, ‘‘Whoever would overthrow
the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the Freeness of Speech.’’;
Whereas Thomas Jefferson in 1786 wrote, ‘‘Our liberty depends on
the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.’’;
Whereas James Madison in 1789 introduced the freedom of the
press in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas James Madison based the freedom of the press on the
Declaration of Rights of the Commonwealth of Virginia, which in 1776 declared,
‘‘The freedom of the Press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can
never be restrained but by despotic Governments.’’;
Whereas President Ronald Reagan proclaimed August 4, 1985, as
Freedom of the Press Day, stating that ‘‘Freedom of the press is one of our
most important freedoms and also one of our oldest.’’;
US Senate unanimously adopts resolution declaring "the press is not the enemy of the people"
By KATHRYN WATSON CBS NEWS August 16, 2018, 2:37 PM
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution Thursday afternoon affirming that "the press is not the enemy of the people." President Trump has repeatedly declared that the "fake news" media is the "enemy of the people." The resolution, introduced by Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, passed without objection by a voice vote. "Resolved, that the Senate affirms that the press is not the enemy of the people; reaffirms the vital and indispensable role that the free press serves to inform the electorate, uncover the truth, act as a check on the inherent power of the government, further national discourse and debate, and otherwise advance the most basic and cherished democratic norms and freedoms of the United States; and condemns the attacks on the institution of the free press and views efforts to systematically undermine the credibility of the press as an attack on the democratic institutions of the United States...." the resolution reads.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-unanimously-passes-resolution-declaring-the-press-is-not-the-enemy-of-the-people/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=55642870
Here’s what 15 newspapers around America had to say about freedom of the press
by The Inquirer Editorial Board, Posted: 18 hours ago
On Thursday, American newspapers responded to the Boston Globe's call to defend a pillar of democracy: freedom of the press. The Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial board joined more than 350 newspapers in an effort coordinated by the Boston Globe Editorial Board. The Globe called for editorial boards to push back against Trump’s “dirty war on the free press.” They wrote, “The impact of Trump’s assault on journalism looks different in Boise than it does in Boston. Our words will differ. But at least we can agree that such attacks are alarming.” The editorials have been noticed. President Trump tweeted this morning that "the Globe is in COLLUSION with other papers on free press." Here's what newspapers in our region and beyond wrote about the importance of the press.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/editorials/editorial-free-press-donald-trump-20180816.html
Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr. President
Washington Post Opinion By William H. McRaven August 16 at 2:44 PM
William H. McRaven, a retired Navy admiral, was commander of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command from 2011 to 2014. He oversaw the 2011 Navy SEAL raid in Pakistan that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Dear Mr. President:
Former CIA director John Brennan, whose security clearance you revoked on Wednesday, is one of the finest public servants I have ever known. Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him.
Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.
Like most Americans, I had hoped that when you became president, you would rise to the occasion and become the leader this great nation needs.
A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or
Your leadership, however, has shown little of these qualities. Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.
If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken. The criticism will continue until you become the leader we prayed you would be.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/revoke-my-security-clearance-too-mr-president/2018/08/16/8b149b02-a178-11e8-93e3-24d1703d2a7a_story.html?utm_term=.dc4edb99670c
12 former top intelligence officials back Brennan, assail Trump's 'deeply regrettable' action
Trib Live by THE LOS ANGELES TIMES | Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, 1:45 a.m.
WASHINGTON — In a remarkable rebuke to President Trump, a dozen former U.S. intelligence chiefs signed a harshly worded letter Thursday in support of former CIA Director John Brennan after Trump abruptly revoked his security clearance. “We feel compelled to respond in the wake of the ill-considered and unprecedented remarks and actions by the White House,” reads the letter from the officials, who served both Democratic and Republican presidents. They called Trump’s action “inappropriate” and “deeply regrettable.” Signing the letter was a virtual who’s who of American spy chiefs dating back to the late 1980s, a striking show of solidarity from the top ranks of the national security establishment. They included former directors of central intelligence William Webster, George Tenet and Porter Goss; former CIA directors Michael Hayden, Leon Panetta and David Petraeus; former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper; and former deputy CIA directors John McLaughlin, Stephen Kappes, Avril Haines, David Cohen and Michael Morell. The letter followed an angry open letter to Trump from retired Adm. William McRaven, who headed U.S. Joint Special Operations Command and oversaw the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. In an op-ed published by The Washington Post, he excoriated Trump’s “McCarthy-era tactics” and said he would “consider it an honor” for Trump to revoke his security clearance in solidarity with Brennan.
https://triblive.com/usworld/world/13982490-74/12-former-top-intelligence-officials-back-brennan-assail-trumps-deeply-regrettable-action
New Pa. school safety funding on track for March 2019
WHYY By Brett Sholtis, WITF August 16, 2018
Pennsylvania state lawmakers say they’re awaiting feedback from the state’s 500 school districts and 300 private school entities before they can disburse the first wave of funding to improve school safety. They expect to distribute the money by March 2019. The funds are part of Act 44, a bipartisan bill signed into law in the months after the Parkland, Florida school shooting that killed 17 people. The bill allocates $60 million for school security funding. Each school district will get at least $25,000 during the 2018-2019 school year, said State Senator Wayne Langerholc, R-Bedford. Districts can apply for additional funding as needed. “I’m certain that a decent amount of that money will go to the mental health component, for guidance counselors [and] licensed social workers,” he said. Though improved mental health resources are a key part of the plan, needs will vary from one district to another, said State Senator Mike Regan, R-Cumberland. Deterrents like metal detectors, keycode devices and bulletproof glass are some of the security measures districts may request. It is possible firearms or firearms training for teachers could be approved for funding if schools seek it.
https://whyy.org/articles/new-pa-school-safety-funding-on-track-for-march-2019/
Bills and bulletproof backpacks: Safety measures for a new school year
WHYY/NPR By Alexis Arnold August 16, 2018
As students prepare to go back to school, more and more parents are thinking about school safety. A recent poll found 34 percent of parents fear for their child’s physical safety at school. That’s almost triple the number of parents from 2013. And yet schools are among the safest places for kids. According to one study, shootings involving students have actually gone down since the 1990s. But that hasn’t stopped parents, schools and lawmakers from acting on their concerns. They’re beefing up security and looking at ways to identify potential threats. Some parents are even investing in bulletproof school supplies. Across the country, at least 330 school safety bills were introduced to state legislatures in 2018, according to data from the Education Commission of the States. Of those bills, at least 53 were signed into law. The majority of the bills that passed focused on general safety measures, such as what to report to law enforcement and how to inform students and faculty of potential threats. Other bills touched on bullying, guns in schools and emergency preparedness.
https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/bills-and-bulletproof-backpacks-safety-measures-for-a-new-school-year/
North Penn educator: Teachers spend hundreds of dollars to be good at their jobs | Perspective
by Alan M. Malachowski, For the Inquirer, Posted: 7 hours ago
Alan M. Malachowski is president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Mideastern Region, and an elementary school music teacher in the North Penn School District.mutual13
Imagine if you walked into a new job and learned that you were expected to supply your own materials to do that job to the best of your ability. That's the conundrum faced by an overwhelming 94 percent of teachers, who spent $479 of their own money, on average, during the 2014–15 school year, according to a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics released in May. That same study showed that 9 percent of elementary school teachers spent even more, logging expenses in excess of $1,001 for the year. Locally, teachers in Bucks and Montgomery Counties weighed in on the question of personal spending for school supplies in a recent small and informal Facebook poll. The highest number of respondents spent between $251 and $500. Some reported that their expenses exceeded that number, with one individual tallying more than $1,001. One educator stated that she doesn't "get any budget as a special education teacher," and another indicated that it "depends on the year but last year I spent a lot when I did flexible seating." Teachers purchase not only basic supplies but also clothing, food, and personal hygiene items for students who would otherwise go without. Taken together, these expenditures can total more than $1 billion every year out of their pockets.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/commentary/teachers-school-supplies-out-of-pocket-costs-20180816.html
Jawn? Ocky? Philly kids school teachers with new handbook
Inquirer by Kristen A. Graham, Staff Writer @newskag | kgraham@phillynews.com Updated: AUGUST 16, 2018 — 5:23 PM EDT
Say you’re brand-new to teaching in Philadelphia, and a student drops a casual “sawty” into conversation, as in “I thought I was going to make the bus, but I was sawty.” Panic? Reveal yourself as an out-of-touch old? No way. The young bouls have you covered. (For the record, sawty is a word to express being wrong.) For the first time, the Philadelphia School District has presented its new teachers and counselors with a handbook written by high school students. It features sections on engaging students, equality vs. equity, and the all-important “Philly Slang” component, a glossary of terms designed to ground school staff in the language their students actually use. Philly students share excerpts of their handbook for new teachers. As in jawn: a noun to describe anything. A jawn can literally be any person, place or thing. Ex: “Can you pass me that jawn?” And ocky: fake or not authentic. Ex: “Ayo, ya Tims ocky!” See also — outta pocket: out of line or acting up. Ex: “My teacher gave me two hours of homework today, she outta pocket!” The handbook is the handiwork of Khalid Abogourin, Alfredo Praticò, and Horace Ryans III, three high school students interning in the district’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities this summer. When the trio heard about a Midwestern school district whose students wrote a similar manual, they knew they had to act.
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/philadelphia-school-district-students-handbook-new-teachers-20180816.html
What the DeVos-Led School Safety Commission Did This Summer
Education Week By Evie Blad and Alyson Klein August 16, 2018
It’s been a busy summer for the Federal School Safety Commission, set up by President Donald Trump in the wake of the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., which left 17 people dead. Headed by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, the commission is charged with coming up with recommendations by the end of this year on how to improve school safety and prevent future incidents of mass violence. In hearings and public comment sessions throughout the summer—some on the road and some in Washington—the commission has heard from a range of experts, educators, and the general public on issues including on the wisdom and value of arming school staff members, the importance of student mental health services, how to preserve student privacy rights while sharing information that may help identify risks of violence, and the roots of that violence. But the panel has drawn criticism for steering clear of the politically explosive topic of gun control, both in its witness lineup and in the thrust of the conversation so far. Here are highlights of some of the safety commission’s most-recent hearings:
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/08/16/what-the-devos-led-school-safety-commission-did.html?cmp=soc-tw-shr
Judging Choice
Court victory for charter schools in Louisiana
Education Next By Joshua Dunn FALL 2018 / VOL. 18, NO. 4
Charter schools have gained a substantial following in Louisiana, where 148 charters now serve more than 80,000 students. That amounts to nearly 1 in 9 students attending a charter school in the Pelican State. But charters have also attracted opposition from many school districts and teachers. In 2014, some of these opponents banded together and turned to the courts, claiming that state-authorized charter schools are not public schools under Louisiana’s constitution and therefore are not eligible to receive state funding. The end result was a decisive victory for charter schools. Charter schools in Louisiana are authorized primarily by either a local school board or the state board of education. Either way, charters receive a portion of per-pupil funding from both the state and the local district. Local school boards are often opposed to charter schools and may refuse to authorize them. Thus, allowing the state to authorize charters provides a way to circumvent local resistance. The plaintiffs in Iberville v. Louisiana included the Iberville Parish School Board and several teachers unions, including the state’s largest, the Louisiana Association of Educators. They challenged the constitutionality of state-authorized charter schools, basing their case on a clause in the state constitution that requires the state board of education to “annually develop and adopt a formula which shall be used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools as well as to equitably allocate the funds to parish and city school systems.” The plaintiffs contended that the clause implied that only parish and city schools could receive funding from the state education fund.
https://www.educationnext.org/judging-choice-court-victory-charter-schools-iberville-v-louisiana/
Don't divert taxpayer money to vouchers. It does much more good at public schools.
USA Today by Derek W. Black, Opinion contributor Published 3:15 a.m. ET Aug. 16, 2018
Ideologues are peddling a myth that private school vouchers will improve education. To really help students, vote to keep money in public schools.
Political leaders are asking the nation to double down on the bet that expanding school vouchers will improve educational outcomes. Arizona — ground zero in the Koch network's efforts to reshape education — is set to decide a voucher referendum this fall. A dozen other state legislatures have passed or are considering their own voucher expansions. And the Trump administration is cheering them on. It created a private school loophole in last year’s tax reform and is now asking Congress for new money to expand school choice further. These pushes rest on a false premise — that there is a private school advantage. Private schools’ higher average test scores drive this myth. The problem is that average test scores alone do not tell us anything worth knowing. Comparing the average scores of private and public schools is comparing apples to oranges. Public and private schools enroll students from very different backgrounds. Most important, more than half of public school students are low-income. Only about one in four private school students is low-income.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/08/16/spend-taxpayer-money-public-education-not-private-school-vouchers-column/976133002/
A United Front: Districts And Charters Collaborate For College Success
Forbes by Richard Barth Contributor Aug 9, 2018, 07:06am
As the leader of KIPP, a national charter network of 224 public charter schools educating nearly 100,000 students nationwide, I have the good fortune to spend my year traveling the country visiting the 20 states in which we work. When I meet individuals for the first time, I am often asked, “How come it seems that public charter schools and public school districts are often in conflict with one another?” From those who have studied our work more closely, I even get the question “Wasn’t the original idea of charter schools that they would develop innovations that would improve the broader public-school system?” The discussions that follow are often reduced to two perspectives. Many charter school supporters believe that large school districts are too bureaucratic to embrace new ideas. Charter school skeptics often express the view that charter school educators are only concerned with their own students and have little interest in having any impact on the broader system.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardbarth/2018/08/09/a-united-front-districts-and-charters-collaborate-for-college-success/#2e4594a827c8
Congress Stages A Sell-Job On Charter Schools And Ignores Complaints Of Black Parent
Education Opportunity Network by Jeff Bryant June 14, 2018
One of the more disturbing aspects of the push to create more charter schools was on full display during a Congressional hearing this week when charter proponents stacked the agenda with biased testimony and completely ignored the lone witness who could attest firsthand to the real impact these schools have on communities of color. The lone dissenting voice in the battery of speakers lined up to give glowing praise to these privately operated but publicly funded schools was Jonathon Phillip Clark, an Iraq War veteran and black Detroit parent with seven children in the public-school system. Clark is also an assistant director at Mission City, a nonprofit organization in Detroit that provides mentoring and tutoring throughout the school year and an arts camp during the summer, and he serves on the board of an organization called 482Forward, a group of parents and students that advocates for a high-quality, equitable education for Detroit children. Unlike most of the participants in this hearing – members of the House Education and Workforce Committee, CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Nina Rees, CEO of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers President Greg Richmond, and Harvard Professor Martin West – only Clark spoke from experience of having children educated in charter schools and a neighborhood affected by free-market “school choice” competition posed by these s http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/congress-stages-a-sell-job-on-charter-schools-and-ignores-complaints-of-black-parent/chools. Yet his remarks were mostly ignored.
http://educationopportunitynetwork.org/congress-stages-a-sell-job-on-charter-schools-and-ignores-complaints-of-black-parent/
Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 8 - 14, 2018
FairTest Submitted by fairtest on August 14, 2018 - 2:27pm
With classrooms opening -- or preparing to do so -- around the U.S., there's a seasonal uptick in the volume of stories about teachers, administrators, community activists, and policy makers questioning the value of standardized exam scores, which have long dominated education policy making. Clearly time to ratchet up grassroots pressure, which drives policy change.
http://www.fairtest.org/testing-resistance-reform-news-august-8-14-2018
PSBA Officer Elections: Slate of Candidates
PSBA members seeking election to office for the association were required to submit a nomination form no later than June 1, 2018, to be considered. All candidates who properly completed applications by the deadline are included on the slate of candidates below. In addition, the Leadership Development Committee met on June 17 at PSBA headquarters in Mechanicsburg to interview candidates. According to bylaws, the Leadership Development Committee may determine candidates highly qualified for the office they seek. This is noted next to each person's name with an asterisk (*). Voting procedure: Each school entity will have one vote for each officer. This will require boards of the various school entities to come to a consensus on each candidate and cast their vote electronically during the open voting period (Aug. 24-Oct. 11, 2018). Voting will be accomplished through a secure third-party, web-based voting site that will require a password login. One person from each member school entity will be authorized as the official person to register the vote on behalf of his or her school entity. In the case of school districts, it will be the board secretary who will cast votes on behalf of the school board. A full packet of instructions and a printed slate will be sent to authorized vote registrars the week of August 7. Special note: Boards should be sure to add discussion and voting on candidates to their agenda during one of their meetings in August, September or October before the open voting period ends.
https://www.psba.org/2018/07/psba-officer-elections-slate-candidates/
Apply Now for EPLC's 2018-2019 PA Education Policy Fellowship Program!
Applications are available now for the 2018-2019 Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). The Education Policy Fellowship Program is sponsored in Pennsylvania by The Education Policy and Leadership Center (EPLC).
With more than 500 graduates in its first eighteen years, this Program is a premier professional development opportunity for educators, state and local policymakers, advocates, and community leaders. State Board of Accountancy (SBA) credits are available to certified public accountants.
Past participants include state policymakers, district superintendents and principals, school business officers, school board members, education deans/chairs, statewide association leaders, parent leaders, education advocates, and other education and community leaders. Fellows are typically sponsored by their employer or another organization. The Fellowship Program begins with a two-day retreat on September 13-14, 2018 and continues to graduation in June 2019.
Applications are being accepted now.
Click here to read more about the Education Policy Fellowship Program.
The application may be copied from the EPLC web site, but must be submitted by mail or scanned and e-mailed, with the necessary signatures of applicant and sponsor.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Fellowship Program and its requirements, please contact EPLC Executive Director Ron Cowell at 717-260-9900 or cowell@eplc.org.
2nd Annual National Black Male Educators Convening, Oct. 12-14,
Philly
Teacher diversity works. Increasing the number of Black
male educators in our nation’s teacher corps will improve education for all our
students, especially for African-American boys.Today Black men represent only
two percent of teachers nationwide. This is a national problem that demands a
national response. Come participate in the 2nd National Black Male Educators
Convening to advance policy solutions, learn from one another, and fight for
social justice. All are welcome. Register to attend. Nominate a speaker.
Propose a workshop. Sponsor the event.
Save the Dates PASA/PSBA School Leadership Conference –
Hershey, Oct. 17-19, 2018
Mark your calendar! The Delegate Assembly will take place Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.
Housing now open!
Housing now open!
“Not only do we have a superstar lineup of keynote speakers including Diane Ravitch, Jesse Hagopian, Pasi Sahlberg, Derrick Johnson and Helen Gym, but there will be countless sessions to choose from on the issues you care about the most. We will cover all bases from testing, charters, vouchers and school funding, to issues of student privacy and social justice in schools.”
Our Public Schools Our Democracy: Our Fight for the Future
NPE / NPE Action 5th Annual National Conference
October 20th - 21st, 2018 Indianapolis, Indiana
We are delighted to let you know that you can purchase your discounted Early Bird ticket to register for our annual conference starting today. Purchase your ticket here.
Early Bird tickets will be on sale until May 30 or until all are sold out, so don't wait. These tickets are a great price--$135. Not only do they offer conference admission, they also include breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday. Please don't forget to register for your hotel room. We have secured discounted rates on a limited basis. You can find that link here. Finally, if you require additional financial support to attend, we do offer some scholarships based on need. Go here and fill in an application. We will get back to you as soon as we can. Please join us in Indianapolis as we fight for the public schools that our children and communities deserve. Don't forget to get your Early Bird ticket here. We can't wait to see you.
Any comments contained herein are my comments, alone, and
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any other person or organization
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