October 7, 2012

I teach elementary:

I wipe tears.
I tie shoelaces.
I fix stuck zippers.
I negotiate truces.
I get lots of hugs.

October 6, 2012

The debate with O'Reilly.....

Does anyone have details? When is it and will it be televised?

Thanks!

September 24, 2012

Spoiler alert.....

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An Emmy for Best Variety Show!

September 21, 2012

Request of Pittsburgh-area DUers:

Cross-posted from the Lounge -- Help needed with parking availability downtown.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018196782

September 10, 2012

I am a teacher, too, but I don't quite understand why you have to buy food for students.

Are you supplying snacks or meals? Is this a public school?

All schools have free and reduced-lunch programs. I assume most have breakfast programs now, as well. Why aren't the parents taking advantage of these programs? They are completely confidential. Not even the lunch ladies know who is on free-or-reduced lunch. Only the administration knows in our district.

Children on free-or-reduced lunch receive the exact same lunch as those who buy. With the new nutrition guidelines, the menu has improved quite a bit.

Our athletes also receive a bagged meal after school!

September 2, 2012

Now it is OK in PA to hire your unqualified brother to be a school superintendent.

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board on Thursday will decide whether to hire former state Rep. John Pallone as the district’s new superintendent.

Hiring Pallone, 52, of New Kensington is the main item on the agenda for Thursday’s special meeting. No one has disclosed the identities of two other finalists, both reportedly career educators.

>snip<

Gov. Tom Corbett on June 30 signed into law an amendment to the state’s school code that qualifies those with a law degree or graduate degree in management to lead school districts. A year ago, the state expanded the eligibility requirements to include non-educators who hold graduate degrees in business or finance. (emphasis added)

To critics who object to his lack of a traditional education background, Pallone noted the district already has a staff of qualified educators and administrators.

Read more: http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/2521501-74/pallone-district-board-superintendent-salary-john-background-education-kensington-arnold?printerfriendly=true#ixzz25H37xJy9


From femmocrat: Pallone is the brother of a school board member. He is an attorney, not a certified superintendent. I did not know about Corbett's latest assault on public education. Anyone with a law degree or MBA is apparently qualified to become a superintendent now. Forget those with doctorates in education who have also had to earn their superintendent's papers. Disclaimer: I am not from New Ken but I am just appalled at their nepotism and attempt to hire an unqualified superintendent on the cheap. Corbett needs to GO! And take the lapdog legislature with him!!!

August 17, 2012

Corbett = Worst Governor Ever.

I wish we could rid of that SOB.
I just can't believe this is happening in Pennsylvania and there doesn't seem to be any way to stop them.

August 15, 2012

In light of the voter ID decision, please make sure you are eligible to vote! Handy link inside:

This site was surprisingly user-friendly, considering it is from the state.

https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa.us/Pages/VoterRegistrationStatus.aspx

Thanks to JaneQPublic for the link.

August 15, 2012

That is pretty much how I look at it, too.

The judge ruled that the legislature could pass such a law, not on the constitutionality of the law. That is for a higher court to decide.

Someone posted an excerpt from the PA Constitution a while back and the law seems to be in direct violation--- (at least IMO, which is worthless. LOL)

Thank you for your insightful explanation, happyslug!

August 15, 2012

Romney and Ohio coal miners:

?__scale=w:300,h:200,t:1

From the article:

"Also, the Century Mine is owned by a subsidiary of Murray Energy Corp. -- a company with past environmental violations that Democrats and environmentalists use as evidence to support stiffer regulations.

"Ohio Valley Coal and parent company, Murray Energy, were fined more than $1 million and required to spend $6 million to build a new slurry pipeline in Belmont County as part of a plea agreement for water pollution violations in 2008 and 2010. "

>snip<

"Robert Murray, founder of Murray Energy and a financial donor for mostly Republican candidates, has blamed layoffs at some of his mines on Obama’s policies. Murray attended Romney’s event but didn’t speak – Romney said Murray is a “great boss, he runs a great operation here.”

"U.S. Mine Health and Safety Administration statistics show that Ohio’s mining industry has added about 300 jobs and coal production is up 7 percent during Obama’s presidency. Additionally, the president has funneled $5 billion into “clean coal technology” – investments his campaign says are proof that he supports clean coal as a component of his energy strategy.

"“This record stands in stark contrast to Mitt Romney’s,” said Lis Smith, an Obama campaign spokeswoman. “As governor of Massachusetts, Romney spoke out against coal jobs, saying that a coal-fired plant ‘kills people.’ This is just another issue where the American people can’t trust Mitt Romney to be honest with them.” "

More at link: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/08/14/romney-in-ohio.html

From femmocrat: Seeing those miners clap for Romney really disturbed me today. I just knew this had to be a non-union mine and the men were probably threatened to stand there or face some kind of penalties. JMO, though... I don't have any proof of that. They all look positively miserable in the photo, though.