Asides

Copyright Trolls
(2010/8/31)
Laura at Pursuing Holiness notes one and presents a course of action. I think bloggers often move past fair use, but news outlets and going way too far the other way. (0)

New Meaning to Language Police
(2010/8/31)
This story gives new meaning to the idea of language or grammar police. (HT: The Agitator) (0)

Christianity by Force or Manipulation
(2010/8/23)
There is very little that offends me more than the idea of manipulating people into Christian events or trying to convert them by force. (0)

What Makes a Plumber Real
(2010/7/20)
Michele Bachmann says she hopes that the newly formed Tea Party Caucus will provide a voice in congress for “real housewives, real farmers, real businessmen, real plumbers.” (Source.) I’m wondering how “real” farmers, businessmen, and plumbers differ from the rest … (1)

Somebody Needed a Dictionary
(2010/5/6)
… to look up “suffrage.” (0)

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Gov. Crist Vetoes Merit Pay and Tenure Bill

You can find the full story in the Florida Times-Union.

I am a supporter of merit pay, but in this case merit pay was tied to test results, which makes me much less happy. Even though I think pay should be based on merit everywhere, one must measure the merit in some realistic [...]

More on Florida HB31 and Inspirational Messages

I wrote about this before, and commented that it seemed to accomplish nothing–nothing, that is, except to possibly encourage some school boards to tangle with the federal courts.

That version, however, has been replaced in committee. I’m going to do something I don’t usually do, and put in a “tear line” so this won’t get too long, as I intend to quote both versions of the bill in full:

Continue reading More on Florida HB31 and Inspirational Messages

And on the Other Side: Merit Pay for Teachers

I marked this story a couple of days ago. In my view, merit pay is such an obvious idea, not to mention merit hiring, merit promotion, and lack-of-merit firing, that I don’t see why it would be controversial, except, of course, amongst those who lack merit.

But there is one valid area of [...]

Not a Republican

When I get annoyed at the Democrats, which I do frequently, I’m often directed by smiling friends to the Republican party. Obviously you’ve seen the light. We’re the party of freedom.

In case you’re wondering why I don’t buy it, consider the working of the Texas Board of Education. (This is only one [...]

Florida Inspirational Message Bill Cleared by One Committee

The Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee, who ought to know better, has cleared CS/HB 31 with only three negative votes. I’m guessing someone is thinking, “What harm can it do?” I’d suggest a vote against wasting time.

A Bill to Make Legislators Look Good

It’s Florida HB 31 (full text – original – committee substitute), and either version of it accomplishes pretty much nothing, thought the original version might have led some school boards to get into legal trouble, something many of them are quite adept at without help.

I am opposed to officially sponsored religious events, [...]

Parents are Key to Science Education

Jonathan Smith, Vice President of Florida Citizens for Science (of which I am a board member) presents a column on science education in Florida today in the The Ledger (Lakeland, FL):

A key quote:

Parents are the ones who must endeavor to help shape their children’s future by guiding them down the [...]

Can Education Keep Up

One of the things I think has not been discussed enough in the current job situation, though I think President Obama has done extremely well on this one point compared to his predecessors, is the simple fact that jobs for minimally educated people are disappearing, and thus many of the new jobs that [...]

Blocking a Federal Education Grant

While I know that some forms of determining merit pay for teachers can be unfair, in general I think tying pay to performance is an excellent, indeed necessary idea.

Now the Florida Education Association is trying to block $700 million in grants from the federal government because it’s tied to incentive pay.

Bad [...]

Incentive Bonuses Equally Divided?

The idea of equally dividing incentive bonuses between all teachers, good, average, or bad apparently makes sense to the Boston Teachers’ Union. They want to block incentive bonuses given to teachers based on performance and instead divide the money between all teachers equally.

Note also that the money is coming from private foundations. [...]