The Education Wars: Students Unite!
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The Education Wars: Students Unite!
*The high school student protests aren't getting enough attention*
If you need a bit of inspiration, might I suggest t...
Why Trump Wanted Immunity from Audits
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The New York Times explained why Trump wanted immunity from audits by the
IRS. Before his first presidency, Trump appears to have had a tax liability
of ne...
Memorial Day, 2026
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I’m not much of a flag waver, really. I always thought that author James
Baldwin captured my feelings precisely in Notes of a Native Son when he
wrote: I l...
18 Rules For Life (2026 Edition)
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After first posting this list years ago, I have made it a tradition to get
it out every year and re-examine it, edit it, and remind myself why I
thought su...
18 Rules For Life (2026 Edition)
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After first posting this list years ago, I have made it a tradition to get
it out every year and re-examine it, edit it, and remind myself why I
thought...
Classroom Teachers Are Policymakers
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Note that no question mark follows the title. Teachers do, indeed, make
policy. Historically, teachers have been objects of policies that have come
from th...
Are the Falling NAEP Scores a Crisis?
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By Thomas Ultican 5/19/2026 Recently both the New York Times and the
billionaire propaganda rag ‘The 74’ ran articles about the National
Assessment of Educ...
On having nice places to walk
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Lately I really have needed to walk. A lot. Every day. And I’m fortunate
that the New York Botanical Garden is right here. And I’m fortunate that
Van Cortl...
This and That, May 18, 2026
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I am aware of Danny Westneat's column - *Seattle Has the No.1 Big City
School District *- and that will be a separate post. It was an interesting
read.
...
Are You a Threat Because You’re Good at Your Job?
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Maybe you are not crazy. Maybe you are not “difficult.” Maybe you are not
“too intense,” “too ambitious,” “too direct,” or “not a team player.” Maybe
it’s ...
Chaos, Consequences, and Classrooms
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“If someone’s ninety percent awful and ten percent great, everyone says
that deep down they’re great. Like they’re an iceberg, but all that
greatness is un...
Recess: Still Denied!
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I recently had to double-check the report’s date. American schools have
been quietly killing recess to focus on test scores—and pediatricians are
warning...
“It Was Already Dead”
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In December 2023 New York Times filed suit against Artificial Intelligence
for allegedly using its stories without attribution. Last week The Times
upped t...
Read and Learn from the Past
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I just finished reading “The Boys in the Light” by Nina Willner. This is a
wonderful World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood. I highly
recom...
April’s Parent Engagement Resources
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‘Easy, Positive, and Judgment Free.’ How Families Can Support Their
Children is one of my Ed Week posts. Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
That Build Fami...
Stop the Charter School Cash Grab
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NPE celebrates Women's History month by highlighting the accomplishments of
10 inspiring women from Jane Addams to Ida B. Wells to Christa McAuliffe.
The...
Reflections on America, the world, and life
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I acknowledge that I rarely post here anymore. Folks should remember that I
am approaching my 80th birthday in less than 9 weeks, I am still teaching
ful...
Shutting Down The Site
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Ten years ago, I ran for a seat on the LAUSD School Board of Education with
the goal to *Change the LAUSD*.
I am proud of the campaign we ran. We achieve...
A colleague looks back at 2025
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Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I get knocked down But I get
up again BETSY WOLF DEC 31READ IN APP I’ve been quiet for most of 2025.
Much of ...
The Company You Keep
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Even though the filing period for the 2026 elections isn't until April,
let's all pay close attention. The candidates lining up to run will tell
you more a...
This Is What Democracy Looks Like
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The polls for Prop 50, CA’s ballot initiative that counters MAGA’s illegal
gerry-mandering in Texas, opened Tuesday, November 4, 2025,…
The post This Is ...
Blogoversary #19 — Time to Move on
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Times have changed. I had a nice long run here, but let’s face it, it ended
a while ago. So I’ve moved. I’m not writing much any more, but when I do it
wil...
Il Papa è Morto
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Francis brought a distinct pastoral outlook to his papacy. A simple man, he
lived in a small apartment in the guesthouse. He sought to make the church
acce...
Mike Shulman the ARISE UFT Judenrat
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I was surprised to learn that Mike Shulman has aligned himself with ARISE.
I previously supported him, advocating that the Castle Doctrine could have
bee...
How Do We Fight Trump?
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Dear Friends, I don’t know when and why it hit me. But I suddenly realized
how serious Trump is about changing the country into something that
horrifies. I...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
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I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
I’ve moved.
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I’m on Substack now. You can continue to receive periodic posts for free.
Or you can read every post and comment for $5 a month, $60 a year.
fredklonsky.su...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
The Fight For Our Children
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*The number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 nationally increased by
56 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to a new federal report showing
the ...
Read to Self: Just a Kid and a Book.
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Date: Monday, January 5, 2020 Place: My classroom Student: Mrs.Mims, could
we start doing Read to Self again because I got this great book for
Christmas an...
Reminiscences
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I just finished dumping the rest of my lesson plans. I guess I held on to
the calculus ones for so long because I spent so much time working on them
an...
Just Asking for some Teachers I know.
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Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated, We must … recognize that
part of supporting our kids in the classroom means supporting the educators
who t...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
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Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Critique of Standards-Based Grading
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It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year
of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were
si...
Reduced time for testing? Not so fast.
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NYSED and Commish Elia continue to say that the NYS Assessments are of
reasonable length, I completely disagree.
Here is what NYSED states are average expe...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
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The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Whose Opinions Matter in Education World?
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It's hard to identify education heroes and sheroes. And perhaps even harder
to pinpoint just whose work is slanted, paid-for and dishonest.
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
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Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
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I’ve started a recent unit on poetry with my class. I’m not a poet, and I’m
not a poetry fan (I don’t hate it, but I’m a prose gal), so this makes it
harde...
The Apotheosis of Betsy DeVos
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Betsy Devos has drawn few headlines in recent months, and that is a good
thing for the Secretary of Education. Her tenure began with Vice President
Mike P...
Education Is a Civic Question
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In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
Should We Be Grateful?
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In an odd turn of events, and with little explanation, Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder has decided to return the state’s School Reform Office back to
the Dep...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
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An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
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Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
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States With the Best (and Worst)Schools
By *Evan Comen, Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich*
January 20, 2017- http://247wallst.com
...
Test Refusal = People Power
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In recent months, social media has been ablaze with talk of regular folk
taking action to resist the Trump agenda. Protests are a daily occurrence,
and ev...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
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I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
AB 934: A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR VERGARA?
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By Michael Stratford | in the Politco Morning Education Report | via email
05/24/2016 10:00 AM EDT :: Two national education groups are backing a
Califor...
MY NEW BLOG
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My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
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Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
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I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
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Greetings to InterACT readers one and all! If you’ve been following posts
here recently you might recall that I’m moving my blogging activity to
other loca...
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
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*“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must
move on.”* The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013
NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the...
VOUCHER WATCH LAUNCHED TO COMBAT USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLING | Education Law Center : VOUCHER WATCH LAUNCHED TO COMBAT USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLING ELC AND MUNGER TOLLES TO HELP ADVOCATES PROTECT NATION’S PUBLIC SCHOOLS Education Law Center (ELC) and Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP announce the launch of Voucher Watch , an initiative to inform and assist advocates as they op
CURMUDGUCATION: Finn Backs Accountability-- Hard : Finn Backs Accountability-- Hard The Great Divide in the reform world continues to be right along the lines of accountability, with DeVos and her DeVotees being pretty much against it in any meaningful sense. Just let the marketplace sort it out, they say, and Jeanne Allen, of the Center for Education Reform (a hard core charter-backing group), p
Well-Funded Non-Profits Pave the Way to Privatization - Living in Dialogue : Well-Funded Non-Profits Pave the Way to Privatization By John Thompson. David Callahan’s The Givers begins with the first politicized think tanks of the 1960s and 1970s, such as the American Enterprise Institute. Callahan may be right and the AEI may have been one of the more intellectually honest of the conservative alt
Federal pick to lead higher ed policy drops out of consideration : Staffing Woes at the Education Department Claude Pressnell, apparent choice as assistant secretary for postsecondary education, removes himself from consideration, further stalling efforts to fill leadership ranks at the Education Department. The Trump administration’s pick to oversee higher ed policy at the Department of Educatio
Debate heats up over teaching climate change in US schools : Debate heats up over teaching climate change in US schools COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The struggle over what American students learn about global warming is heating up as conservative lawmakers, climate change doubters and others attempt to push rejected or debunked theories into the classroom. An overwhelming majority of climate scientists
Elizabeth Warren: Gay Pride Month Love Letter (Exclusive) | Billboard : Senator Elizabeth Warren: Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community For Gay Pride Month, Billboard asked numerous pop culture luminaries to write 'love letters' to the LGBTQ community. Below, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts -- a champion of LGBTQ rights -- shares hers. Read more Pride Month love letters here. Right after I
Newpoint Education Partners owner faces criminal charges : Newpoint Education Partners owner faces criminal charges The owner of Newpoint Education Partners, an organization that managed public charter schools in six Florida counties including Escambia County, has been charged with racketeering and organized fraud. Marcus May, the owner of Newpoint, is accused of misusing more than $1 million in
June Solstice - Summer and Winter Solstice : June Solstice: Longest and Shortest Day of the Year The June solstice is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Winter Solstice the Southern Hemisphere. The June Solstice. (Not to scale) The date varies between June 20 and June 22 , depending on the year, and the local time zone . June Solstice in Citrus Heights, California, USA is on T
U.S. Department of Labor Funds States to Link Workforce to Education Data | Truth in American Education : U.S. Department of Labor Funds States to Link Workforce to Education Data This isn’t new. Student data privacy advocates have warned about the expansion of these databases to track your student from birth or preschool all the way to their participation in the workforce . The U.S. Department o
Is School Choice Just Expanding Privilege? | HuffPost : Is School Choice Just Expanding Privilege? Students who need the most support are not well-served by choice policies. When my father was 19 years old, he got into a serious car accident. At the time he was a college student studying to be a math teacher. The car accident kept him out of school for several months, and when he was ready to ret
Parents Need to Play a Role in Their Children's Education | Knowledge Bank | US News : Don't Give Parents a Pass on Education Hold schools accountable – but parents play a role helping their kids learn, too. America's schools are caught in a peculiar vise. We've made it clear that we expect schools to succeed with every child. That wasn't always the norm. Over the past 25 years, though, reformers
Texas law bars parents from suing schools — even when their children fall into a den of rattlesnakes : Texas law bars parents from suing schools — even when their children fall into a den of rattlesnakes According to personal injury lawyer John Kemmrer Ivey, “the State of Texas and the school district doesn’t care” about children harmed due to negligence at school. The Houston Press described the
Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPD Shooting of Mother Sparks Loss for SPS Communities : SPD Shooting of Mother Sparks Loss for SPS Communities I was away this weekend and so am just coming to learning about the terrible shooting of a black pregnant mother of three, Charleena Lyles, at transitional housing for people coming out of homelessness. Her children - two in Seattle schools - may have be
Tiny, Decent Things – Live Long and Prosper : Tiny, Decent Things PART I: THE WAR AGAINST PUBLIC EDUCATION I began my whine against the overuse and misuse of standardized testing when No Child Left Behind passed in 2001 and Indiana doubled down on student testing. I complained to my principal, the school corporation, my local legislators. I became an officer in my local teachers association, and
Study: Shootings Kill Or Injure 19 US Children Each Day | WBEZ : Study: Shootings Kill Or Injure 19 US Children Each Day Shootings kill or injure at least 19 U.S. children each day, with boys, teenagers and blacks most at risk, according to a government study that paints a bleak portrait of persistent violence. The analysis of 2002-14 U.S. data is billed as the most comprehensive study on the top
New LA school board member says his election was not about ‘the proliferation of charters’ | EdSource : New LA school board member says his election was not about 'the proliferation of charters' he May runoff election for two seats on the Los Angeles Unified District school board has resulted in a new majority backed by charter school advocates. In addition to incumbent Monica Garcia, who won re-
The Conservative Case for Unions - The Atlantic : The Conservative Case for Unions How a new kind of labor organization could address the grievances underlying populist anger A lthough i was as dumbfounded on Election Day as the next D.C. bubble-dweller, I did feel that I had one scrap of insight into the working-class anger that helped power Donald Trump’s improbable victory. Last year, I got a
More than 120 layoffs proposed in L.A. school district budget - LA Times : More than 120 layoffs proposed in L.A. school district budget A $7.5-billion Los Angeles schools budget set for approval Tuesday includes 121 layoffs and 180 “reassignments” that would result in pay cuts and possible additional job losses. Among the hardest hit in the proposal are library aides: 30 would lose their jobs, l
In high-crime areas, education reform needs to expand outside the classroom - The Hechinger Report : In high-crime areas, education reform needs to expand outside the classroom A science project can be the difference between life and death for kids in New Orleans In the 21st century, our children have one of three options: take something, break something or make something,” says New Orleans nativ
Middle school graduation and a travel day. | Fred Klonsky : Middle school graduation and a travel day. First there was the deluge. Then came the rainbow over Coney Island as my granddaughter graduated with over 400 of her fellow middle school students last night. And I mean the rainbow arched right over Coney Island. In a covered open air arena a few steps from the Cyclone roller coaster and Nath
Marc Tucker: Trump’s Budget Takes from the Poor to Give to the Rich | Diane Ravitch's blog : Marc Tucker: Trump’s Budget Takes from the Poor to Give to the Rich Marc Tucker says that Trump’s budget will not make America great again. It is a reverse Robin Hood plan, taking from the poor and giving to the rich. “The first reaction is all gut. The budget, on its face, would represent a gigantic redi
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Rahm's latest 'reform". Moving backward in Chicago. : Rahm's latest 'reform". Moving backward in Chicago. Chicago recorded it's 00th homicide over Father's Day weekend. Among those killed was 17-year-old Tiara Viramontes, a student at Marine Leadership Academy. After a Chicago weekend with 50 more shootings of mostly young people , eight of them fatal, Rahm Emanuel
Budget Expert, Robert Greenstein Explores Trump’s Heartless Budget in Cleveland City Club Address | janresseger : Budget Expert, Robert Greenstein Explores Trump’s Heartless Budget in Cleveland City Club Address Robert Greenstein, the President of the Washington, D.C., Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, addressed the Cleveland City Club last Friday. Greenstein’s subject was President Trump’s
Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 6/19/17 Featured Post A Charter School Violates Student Privacy to Shame Parents Into Volunteering Seattle educators demand justice for Charleena Lyles; pledge to rally and wear “Black Lives Matter” shirts to school on Tuesday | I AM AN EDUCATOR by mike simpson / 10min Seattle educators demand justice for Charleena Lyles; pledge to rally and wear “Black