11.12.2009 - How to solve California's fiscal crisis? First, don't think of an elephant

11.12.2009 - How to solve California's fiscal crisis? First, don't think of an elephant:

"BERKELEY — If they noticed it at all, readers of the Contra Costa Times must have found the brief announcement utterly commonplace. 'Linguistics expert and UC Berkeley professor George Lakoff will speak at the Nov. 12 meeting of the Lamorinda Democratic Club,' it began, just another routine listing in the paper's 'Political Notes' column. Few would have blinked at its characterization of the evening's topic: Lakoff's ballot proposal to 'eliminate the two-thirds voting requirement for a state budget or new taxes.'

George Lakoff (Peg Skorpinski photo)Yet the item's very innocuousness — with its seemingly neutral reference to taxes — hints at the size of the challenge Lakoff faces in his fledgling quest to end gridlock in Sacramento. For Lakoff, a cognitive scientist best known for his work on 'framing' and for dissecting the political mind in such books as Moral Politics and Don't Think of an Elephant, language is anything but neutral. And for his initiative to have a shot at becoming law, it's crucial that voters don't think of it as a license to boost their taxes."

"This isn't about taxes," he insists, slapping the desk in his small Dwinelle Hall office for emphasis. "It's about democracy."

In that spirit, he's named the initiative, submitted recently to the attorney general's office, "The California Democracy Act." But the newspaper's phrasing underscores a point to which Lakoff returns again and again: The way we think is governed by cognitive frames, largely unconscious metaphors burned into our brains. Thanks to three decades of Republican framing, he explains, "taxes" has come to mean politicians taking citizens' hard-earned money to waste on government. He advises supporters to avoid the term and focus instead on democracy and "revenue."

Change the frames of the budget debate, Lakoff argues, and you can change California history.

To that end, he's crafted a one-sentence, 14-word proposition he aims to get on the November 2010 ballot: "All legislative actions on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote." The measure would roll back the two-thirds votes needed to pass a budget and raise taxes in a state that's inarguably an economic basket case — exceptionally high hurdles Lakoff and many others blame for draconian cuts to state-funded programs and services, including the University of California. The provisions were inserted into the state constitution by the granddaddy of all California ballot initiatives, 1978's property-tax-reform Proposition 13.

Is Cloud Computing a Credible Solution for Education? -- Campus Technology

Is Cloud Computing a Credible Solution for Education? -- Campus Technology:

"Can cloud computing live up to its hype, or is it just another empty promise designed to create demand and liberate more funds from already strapped IT budgets?

'Hype aside, cloud computing is nothing new,' according to Bruce Schneier, an internationally renowned security technologist and author of numerous books on the subject. 'It's the modern version of the timesharing model from the 1960s, which was eventually killed by the rise of the personal computer. It's what Hotmail and Gmail have been doing all these years, and it's social networking sites, remote backup companies, and remote e-mail filtering companies such as MessageLabs. Any IT outsourcing--network infrastructure, security monitoring, remote hosting--is a form of cloud computing.'"

Part-time MBA program ranks in national top ten - News

Part-time MBA program ranks in national top ten - News:

"BusinessWeek has ranked the part-time MBA program at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business first in the country for academic quality, and tenth overall in its 2009 rankings. LeBow was the only Philadelphia part-time MBA program to rank within the top thirty.

'The Drexel part-time MBA is committed to exceeding the needs of our students and alumni and is a key factor in their upward mobility, as evidenced by the achievements of our MBA students and alumni,' George Tsetsekos, dean of the LeBow College of Business, stated in an article on the LeBow website.

'To be ranked No. 1 in academic quality by BusinessWeek is a testament to our growing stature as one of the world's leading resources for business education. This ranking validates the rigorous experiential education, leadership assessment, and global perspective that LeBow provides,' Tsetsekos stated."

First release for Napa Valley College | Napa Valley Register

First release for Napa Valley College Napa Valley Register:

"The public is invited to celebrate the first release of Napa Valley College wines for sale at the Napa Valley Vintners’ Teaching Winery, on Monday 5:30-8:30 p.m. The following Napa Valley College Estate wines will be poured for tastings: 2008 Estate Chardonnay, 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, and 2008 Estate Sauvignon Blanc.

Rose of Cabernet is a special release from the student label series and will also be poured. Light refreshments will be served.
Napa Valley College is the first California community college with a bonded winery, allowing the sale of college wine. However, no wine will be for sale at the event. All of the wine available for sale will be pre-sold online, and pre-sold wine can be picked up at the event. Wine quantities are limited this year, and college wine will be sold on a first- come, first-serve basis. Sale proceeds will be used to help support the program"

Beverly Hills Courier, Beverly Hills Newspaper, News, Celebrity, 90211, 90210: 2010 Report Says: ‘No BHUSD Distinguished Schools’

Beverly Hills Courier, Beverly Hills Newspaper, News, Celebrity, 90211, 90210: 2010 Report Says: ‘No BHUSD Distinguished Schools’:

"Despite increasing API scores for most BHUSD school sites, the district has no eligible candidates for the 2010 California School Recognition Program. The program designates high performing schools in the state as a “distinguished” school, an award BHUSD has received in the past.

New guidelines implemented by the California Department of Education deem Beverly Hills Unified School District as “category 3,” or as containing schools with no numerically significant disadvantaged subgroups. Category 3 schools must have an API in the 75th (above 940) percentile school-wide to qualify. Hawthorne School earned the district’s highest API score in 2009 of 908, 32 points below the designation requirements. With increased diversity, the API requirement drops to 840."

Californians Worry About Education, Sacramento Still Unpopular - Bay Area Blog - NYTimes.com

Californians Worry About Education, Sacramento Still Unpopular - Bay Area Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Update 1:54 p.m. Our colleague over at The Choice blog, Jacques Steinberg, points out that Mark Yudof of the University of California system has been named one of Time Magazine’s “10 Best College Presidents.” Sure, he walked into “one of the toughest jobs in higher education” last year, but the article, which ran with a photo of Mr. Yudof rolling up his sleeves, suggests he’s the right man to guide UC to safe harbor. Thoughts on Mr. Yudof, anyone?

California’s foundering higher education system is a source of both pride and worry for state residents, a new poll finds, but most are wary of tuition and fee hikes."

If you or your family or friends work for, attend or live nearby some of the Bay Area schools, we’d like to get your reaction to the plight of public higher eduction and to the poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

The poll shows that roughly two in three residents consider the California Community College, California State University and University of California systems “good” or “excellent” — the same level of confidence state-funded higher education has enjoyed for the past two years.

Some interesting divisions along party lines:

California Corrections Teachers Protest Layoffs - 11/13/09 - Fresno News - abc30.com

California Corrections Teachers Protest Layoffs - 11/13/09 - Fresno News - abc30.com:

"Chowchilla, California (KFSN) -- The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is planning to cut between 600 and 900 prison staff members across the state to deal with a more than one billion dollar budget deficit. But employees at the two prisons in Chowchilla say the proposed lay-offs come with too high of a price for the public. Dozens of staff members from the two women's prisons in Chowchilla rallied outside the gates of the Central California Women's Facility in hopes of sending a message to the community. John Plain said, 'The state of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to severely cut the number of teachers who work in prisons and that will severely impact public safety, and we want them to know what's coming"

Watch video: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/video?id=7116192

Federal schools grant program adds a bit of flexibility - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee

Federal schools grant program adds a bit of flexibility - Sacramento Politics - California Politics Sacramento Bee:

"Race to the Top, the nation's largest competition for school grants, quieted some critics by adding flexibility to final rules released by the Obama administration this week – but the fighting is far from over in California.

The stage is set now for school officials to craft competing applications for a slice of $4.35 billion designed to reward innovation in meeting goals ranging from enhancing academic standards to improving teacher effectiveness and turning failing schools around."

News: Liberal Arts in Jeopardy? - Inside Higher Ed

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/11/13/ccas:

"BALTIMORE — As colleges across the country continue to cinch their belts, both administrators and students have been forced to decide which sorts of programs are good investments and which are now unaffordable luxuries. And with students sweating a cutthroat job market that favors specific skills, many in higher education have been left wonder how the recession stands to affect the liberal arts.

That was much on the minds of liberal arts leaders gathered here at the annual meeting of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences. How to maintain the appeal of “an education for wisdom and virtue” as families and institutions fixate anxiously on their bottom lines was the question of the day."

Numbers Don't Lie - The Daily Californian

Numbers Don't Lie - The Daily Californian:

"Forty thousand spots to be cut in three years. 266,152 total applications for the 2010-11 academic year. A 230-percent increase in transfer applications. The numbers of the ongoing crisis at the California State University are staggering.

The University of California faces similar obstacles: an estimated 4,600 fewer spots in two years and a potential 32 percent fee hike for the next academic year. But the sheer magnitude of the CSU enrollment cuts, especially in the face of a 53-percent increase in total applications, may better represent the dire situation faced by California's public universities."

The CSU system has already slashed nearly 10,000 spots and on Tuesday Chancellor Charles B. Reed announced the system would go forward with further cuts over the next two years.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, California public colleges plan to cut nearly 300,000 students from their campuses in the next year and a half. For these students, the enrollment cuts could very well make the prospect of attending college an impossibility.

Especially for Californians of limited means, higher education is increasingly becoming out of reach. The door of opportunity is being shut in the faces of more and more qualified students each year.

Final Race to the Top Documents Released « The Enterprise Blog

Final Race to the Top Documents Released « The Enterprise Blog:

"Today, the Department of Education releases its much-anticipated final criteria for the Race to the Top program (RTT). I’m not as keen on the final versions as I was on the draft “proposed priorities” released a couple months ago, but overall it’s still mostly laudable.

Unions and others roundly criticized the first versions, but reformers were pretty excited by their scope and verve. The amended documents are less intrepid, much more palatable to the establishment. But I don’t think we necessarily need to see this as a loss; elsewhere I compared the shift to the difference between campaigning in poetry and governing in prose.

In terms of timing and process, there will be two competitions, with awards given in the spring and fall of 2010. The few awards will reflect the winning states’ populations (for example, should Wyoming win, it will get far less than California). Education Week does an excellent job providing more details."

Race to the Top Fund Final priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria. -

Race to the Top Program Executive Summary Rules November 2009 -

Higher education master plan getting ignored

Higher education master plan getting ignored:

"California's Master Plan for Higher Education - which set academics ablaze with the promise of a nearly free college education for all who qualified - is limping toward the half-century mark largely ignored by lawmakers who don't even pretend they can live up to its expensive commitment."

That's the finding of a report released Thursday by the state's Office of the Legislative Analyst. It says today's reality of soaring student fees, volatile college budgets and enrollment caps are so far removed from the guiding Master Plan, that something must be done to bring them in line.

The Master Plan was crafted in 1960 to establish a coordinated system of colleges and universities, with the goal of steering students appropriately toward the University of California, California State University or community college largely free of charge.

"Today its assumptions look pretty quaint," said Steve Boilard, the report's author. "There's a big disconnect between what the state's priorities are and what's actually going on.

"Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/13/BADC1AJG4C.DTL#ixzz0WkNuQFPX

Higher education master plan getting ignored

Higher education master plan getting ignored:

"California's Master Plan for Higher Education - which set academics ablaze with the promise of a nearly free college education for all who qualified - is limping toward the half-century mark largely ignored by lawmakers who don't even pretend they can live up to its expensive commitment."

That's the finding of a report released Thursday by the state's Office of the Legislative Analyst. It says today's reality of soaring student fees, volatile college budgets and enrollment caps are so far removed from the guiding Master Plan, that something must be done to bring them in line.

The Master Plan was crafted in 1960 to establish a coordinated system of colleges and universities, with the goal of steering students appropriately toward the University of California, California State University or community college largely free of charge.

"Today its assumptions look pretty quaint," said Steve Boilard, the report's author. "There's a big disconnect between what the state's priorities are and what's actually going on.

"Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/13/BADC1AJG4C.DTL#ixzz0WkNuQFPX

KCBS - CA Competes for Billions in Ed. Stimulus Funds

KCBS - CA Competes for Billions in Ed. Stimulus Funds:

"The announcement was made by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who made it clear that for California to win a chunk of this 'Race to the Top' Grant, the state must show that it has a strong commitment to teacher excellence and student performance.

”We’re going to fund those states that have demonstrated the ability to raise the bar and close the gap,” said Duncan. “But most importantly this is for those who have the capacity to get dramatically better, and take scale of what’s working.”

California has cut funding to education this year to balance the budget, and secretary Duncan says that how the state prioritizes the money it does have will determine whether it wins a piece of this $4.35 billion education stimulus grant."

KCBS’ Barbara Taylor Reports

National Day of Protests for Education Rights | Fight Back! – News and Views from the People's Struggle

National Day of Protests for Education Rights Fight Back! – News and Views from the People's Struggle:

"Students from across the country participated in a National Day of Action for Education Rights, Nov. 10, demanding an end to the budget cuts, layoffs and tuition hikes hitting schools since the economic crisis began.

The Campaign for Education Rights, a working group of the Network to Fight for Economic Justice, organized the protests after the students, faculty and staff of the University of California system held mass walk-outs and occupations in September. “Now is the time to carry the momentum forward into a nationwide movement for education rights,” reads the call to action. Over a dozen organizations endorsed the National Day of Action for Education Rights."

Tom Torlakson, California schools candidate, campaigns at Salinas' Second Chance Youth Center | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian

Tom Torlakson, California schools candidate, campaigns at Salinas' Second Chance Youth Center thecalifornian.com The Salinas Californian:

"A former schoolteacher running for the state's highest education position chose an unusual campaign stop Thursday in Salinas."

Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, who's campaigning to replace state Superintendent Jack O'Connell in 2010, met with local education and youth leaders at the Second Chance Youth Center in east Salinas. The nonprofit has spent 20 years helping young people leave gangs and criminal lifestyles.

"Most of these students are still in the K-12 system," Torlakson said, explaining his choice for the stop. "We need to give them the foundation for success. Teachers know the kids who need help, and they know how to help, but they just don't have the resources."

Much of Thursday's discussion focused on trading ideas about bringing more resources to Salinas, such as academic software, career training and more of the wrap-around family mentoring programs now active in Salinas schools.

New York governor sees risk of California bond default | Money & Company | Los Angeles Times

New York governor sees risk of California bond default Money & Company Los Angeles Times:

"Besides understanding his own state’s finances, New York Gov. David Paterson apparently has an excellent grasp of California’s fiscal situation.

So much so, in fact, that Paterson feels confident speculating publicly about the probability of California eventually defaulting on its municipal bond debt.

In a Bloomberg Radio interview on Thursday, Paterson described his plans for dealing with New York’s financial woes, and why it was important to avoid budget 'gimmicks which grind up your credit rating.'

New York still has an 'AA' credit rating from Standard & Poor’s, compared with California’s 'A' rating, which is the lowest of any state."

Student sick days will hurt school finances | student, once, enrollment - Local News - Appeal-Democrat

Student sick days will hurt school finances student, once, enrollment - Local News - Appeal-Democrat:

"An enrollment decline once projected to cost about $268,000 in state funds has leveled off — but a separate spike in student illness is likely to reduce revenue to the Yuba City Unified School District.

About 4,800 more sick days were reported through mid-October than at the same time last year, said Bruce Morton, director of attendance for Yuba City Unified.

The attendance dip affects state aid to the school district because the payments are based on average daily attendance of students.

'If they're in the seat, you get the money,' Morton said of how Sacramento calculates such finances."

Elk Grove Citizen : Archives > News > Momentum continues to build, moving ‘Support CA Kids’ in statewide direction

Elk Grove Citizen : Archives; News; Momentum continues to build, moving ‘Support CA Kids’ in statewide direction:

"It was standing room only Monday night as support for Marie Correa’s “Support CA Kids” has gone from a two-cup coffee meeting to a “coalition.”

Support California Kids has launched a campaign to help parents of public school students communicate with their state legislators. The focus is to bring attention to the negative impact of inadequate education funding.

At the Nov. 9 meeting hosted by Support California Kids and sponsored by the Elk Grove Citizen, Elk Grove parents showed their concern about cuts to education, and their determination to do something about it."

Michael Jackson will be a “subject” at A.R. Rahman’s Music Conservatory

Entertainment icon Michael Jackson will be a subject at Oscar winner musician A.R. Rahman’s (Slumdog Millionaire) KM Music Conservatory, according to reports.

Rahman himself will reportedly give the inaugural lecture on Jackson. Rahman loved Jackson’s music and has said about Jackson in the past: “one of the greatest musicians of our time… pushed the milestone of Pop music to unbelievable levels… I am yet to find an artist with that energy, perfection and vision…”

During their meeting in Los Angeles (USA) earlier this year, when Jackson showed Rahman a five second example of his dance move, Rahman stated: “It was like a lightning strike”. Jackson even reportedly asked Rahman during this meeting to compose a unity anthem. Jackson collaborated with Rahman on Ekam Satyam track in 1999. Rahman is reportedly developing an album in memory of Jackson, which will include musicians from all over the world.

Founded by Rahman (who is also its Principal), KM Music Conservatory in Kodambakkam area of Chennai in Tamil Nadu state of India envisions expanding the horizon of musicians in India by offering education in both Indian and Western music besides music technology and its mission is to provide students with a strong artistic, intellectual, and technical foundation. T. Selvakumar is the Managing Director of this international school of music and music technology whose tagline is "Become the Future of Music".

Conservatory offers Preparatory Program (2-5 years), Foundation Program (1-2 years), and Degree Program (three years) under affiliation of Middlesex University in United Kingdom (UK), and has proposed to offer Diploma Program (one year) for international students) and Masters Program (two years) with concentrations in music performance-composition-technology-education. Many faculty members have degrees from USA and UK. Sound editor Joe E. Rand (Titanic) has lectured here besides demonstration by Vienna Chamber Orchestra.

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed has applauded Rahman for creating a bridge between the music of east and west and for strengthening the worldwide market and stature of Indian music. Zed, who is the chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged Rahman to help nourish the next generation with the richness of Indian music, elements of whose theory were first found in ancient Hindu scripture Sama-Veda. Rajan Zed further said that Michael Jackson’s personal life might had been controversial, but he did provide “joy” to a large populace of the world through his music. One of the ancient Hindu scriptures “Taittiriya Upanishad” talking about “joy” says: From joy are born all creatures, by joy they grow, and to joy they return.

Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called “Mozart of Madras'' by Time magazine. Rahman sees music “as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it” and for “creating harmony in troubled times”.