What can $611 billion buy? – Boston.com

What can $611 billion buy? – Boston.com <—Click here to see, but in the meantime…

…there are a lot of people who don’t like “socialized” education. Who out there is opposed to our “socialized” military?

I guess whether or not something is “socialized” depends on your orientation. Damn. There is that “subjectiveness” thingee again.

Just for the record. I find the United States military completely necessary. I’m just pointing out a little bit of “tax-hater” hypocrisy.

Thanks to Tom Diehl for the link.

4,000 Year Old Temple Unearthed – around since the time Noah died – In The Americas! – History Education

On one side of the world, Abraham was born, on our side of the world, this temple was built in Peru.

Article | Reuters
Temple built 4,000 years ago unearthed in Peru
Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:44pm EST

By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) – A 4,000-year-old temple filled with murals has been unearthed on the northern coast of Peru, making it one of the oldest finds in the Americas, a leading archaeologist said on Saturday.

Click here to read on…

Presidential Candidates on Education: The Democrats – The Huffington Post

Dan Brown: Presidential Candidates on Education: The Democrats – The Huffington Post
Most funding for public education in America comes from states, but the overarching legislation and guidance for how to allocate those funds comes from the federal government. Currently, this influence is embodied in the stultifying mandates, impossible accountability goals, and all-important high-stakes standardized testing of the No Child Left Behind Act. Strong guidance from the executive branch and legislative branches of the federal government is necessary to bring about the school and community reforms needed to begin to pull America public schools out of the uninspired quagmire that they are in. Our next president must address this dire American need.

Click here for the Democratic presidential candidate’s views on education….

Presidential Candidates on Education: The Republicans – Politics on The Huffington Post

Dan Brown: Presidential Candidates on Education: The Republicans – Politics on The Huffington Post
The future of public education is a major national issue.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is, if nothing else, a hugely controversial piece of sweeping legislation. The National Education Association, the nation’s largest union, containing about 3.2 million members, states on their website: “NEA strongly supports the stated goals of the law — to raise student learning, close achievement gaps, and ensure that every child is taught by a highly qualified teacher. But, simply put, the law is not working.”

If the 3.2 million people who spend their working lives trying to implement a law say that that law is not working, perhaps the lawmakers should listen.

Click here to read the rest of the Republican candidate’s views on education…

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) – Football Style

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND—The Football Version

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the
championship.If a team does not win the championship, they will be on
probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held
accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their
footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the
championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same
time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to
practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in
football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or
disabilities of themselves or their parents.
ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without
instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their
instructional time with the athletes who aren’t interested in football, have
limited athletic ability or whose parents don’t like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in
the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. It will create a New Age of Sports where every
school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will
reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets
left behind.
If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote for
vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the non-athletes
and prevent their children from having to go to school with bad football
players.