Conservatives vs. Education
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More details emerge in the Upper St. Clair, PA attack on the International Baccalaureate honors program for the alleged (bogus) “anti-American” teachings the internationally revered program dispenses.
New court filings reveal some bare-knuckle backroom politics at play in the Upper Saint Clair School District.
Just before the Upper Saint Clair School Board voted down the International Baccalaureate program 5-4, board member Mark Trombetta offered a deal to Superintendent James Lombardo.
In a sworn deposition, Lombardo said Trombetta offered him a quid pro quo — he would support a pay raise for administrators if Lombardo supported eliminating the IB program.
Beyond that, Trombetta warned Lombardo not to express support for the IB program in public. That caused Lombardo to feel threatened, according to the deposition.
Lombardo said at the same time Trombetta proposed discontinuing the IB program because of its cost, Trombetta advocated “significant funds” for the district hockey team.
As for the cost of IB, before the board voted, Lombardo said it never asked him how much money would be saved by eliminating the program. This despite the fact that board members argued cost was the most important factor to them.
And in fact, eliminating the IB program will cost the district more next year because of increased expenses for retraining teachers. Lombardo estimates the long-term savings at no more than $50,000.
This is just a microcosm of the national Republicans culture of corruption, and in this case it is shortchanging the education of our nation’s children. How vile.
15 Responses to “Conservatives vs. Education”
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Enough! Awwwkkk!
Please. Democrats have done more to ruin public education in this country to the point it’s almost impossible to repair, especially within the constituencies they’re elected to represent. Call it a corruption of the mind. Dumbed down standards combined with the pathetic belief that these kids “just can’t do it” without making it easier for them (famed teacher Jaime Escalante was driven from Garfield High School even after what he did there because he felt the school was still shortchanging the students by not pushing them hard enough) along with the idiotic thinking that self-esteem is more has brought us to where to we are today. Not your little example and certainly not the desire for some to have creationism taught in schools.
How’s that No child Left Behind thing workin’ out?
Hey, don’t get me wrong. Republican politicians haven’t been better. The best idea conservatives had was to complete do away with the Department of Education. It is without a doubt one of the most wasteful and useless departments ever created. A total drain on taxpayer dollars that hasn’t done a single solitary useful thing to help improve public education in this country.
I mean, is it any wonder that home schooled, private school and parochial school students do far better than their public school counterparts in almost all areas of study?
“especially within the constituencies they re elected to represent”
I love it when Republicans go into racist code-word mode. Keep Goldwater’s dream alive!
I can’t believe people are seriously opposed to the IB program. That’s just…nuts.
“Do they?” He says, excoriating stereotyping and prejudice.
Hehe
Jamie Escalante doesn’t teach anymore and therefore we are to conclude that liberals have destroyed education.
God, these people are f-in stupid. Tomy, I noticed the racist/xenophobic code words too. They can’t resist, they don’t even notice that they are doing it, do they?
I love it when Republicans go into racist code-word mode. Keep Goldwater s dream alive!
Racist code word mode? What the hell are you talking about? Is it not true that most Democrats represent minority districts? Look at the minority areas in the country where the majority of the worst schools are. The overwhelming majority of the represetation at the local, state and federal level is Democrat! What have they done to make improvements other than bitch that they need more money?
Typical liberal bullcrap. You don’t like the facts, so you cry racism. Intellectual cowardice at its best.
Jamie Escalante doesn t teach anymore and therefore we are to conclude that liberals have destroyed education.
You know, it is hard to fathom you writing something MORE stupid than this. You truly are a fucking MORON.
What’s your problem Jay? Why are you so angry all the time? That anger will kill you. As long as you don’t beat your wife, or dog, I guess. Have you ever considered anger management? Maybe people wouldn’t think you’re an idiot.
HTH
I think it is noteworthy that Jay is doing his darndest to try to score political points without addressing the issue at hand – that a school board member is using bribery to shut down a highly valued educational program.
His desire to change the subject speaks a great deal.
It’s really strange to read this thread tonight, because just earlier today I had been reading about a school in my area that wants to start an IB program. Many people in the area are really excited about it, and I thought maybe it would be an alternative to private school for my son (public schools in my city are pretty much not an option for people fortunate enough to have options.) When I did a little research into IB, it sounded like a really excellent program…as a supplement to core academics. The emphasis on learning in an international context sounded interesting and valuable, but a list of “attitudes” (their word) that would be taught was surprisingly not accompanied by a list of skills and academic disciplines.
Why are you so angry all the time?
I’m not. I just think you’re a moron. You’re the equivalent of a chat room flamer. You bring nothing to the table. You offer nothing constructive. You’ve never once responded to anybody without attacking them personally. It’s either that, or what you did here. You take what somebody writes and totally turn into something it wasn’t. IE, you lie. In the realm of debate, you’re completely useless.
Sundown, I was responding directly to Oliver’s accusation that the GOP is shortchanging the education of the children in this country. When one considers the immense damage liberals and Democrats have done to education in this country over the last 30-40 years, this one example pales highly in comparison.
Yawn. You do that to everybody. I’m done with you. Go back to your usual temper tantrums.
Typical Factcheck response.
You still haven’t responded with any substance. And probably never will.