- a narrative that would capture the attention of the grant evaluators.
More non-teaching positions for grant writers and lawyers. Public education is a jobs program for college-educated derelicts. - Allison Serafin, the executive director of Teach for America in the Las Vegas Valley, is a member of the governor's task force and was responsible for the section of the application that calls for more investment of her organization. Serafin said there was no conflict of interest.
I see. Public education is all about lucrative service contracts to politically connected firms. - Superintendent of Public Instruction Keith Rheault said the two counties were concerned they would not receive much money for their effort under the funding formulas. Because the state Department of Education has promised to supplement their shares, they have agreed to reconsider the endorsement, Rheault said.
Public education is a *political* institution. - new evaluation standards for teachers and principals, and creating an accountability task force
More regulations. More bureaucracy. Public education is a CATASTROPHE, and cannot be reformed.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
CCSD Grant Writing
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
UNLV Football Integrity: Roughing the Taxpayers
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
$280K Livengood said we have a responsibility to the integrity of the program and perception of our program.
What "integrity" is that? How do we know it was a *personal* trip? Because $400K Coach Hauck says so? No way!
The Regents -- the bozos accountable to the taxpayers for the way NSHE funds are spent -- should conduct an independent, *public* investigation.
$280K Livengood said we have a responsibility to the integrity of the program and perception of our program.
What "integrity" is that? How do we know it was a *personal* trip? Because $400K Coach Hauck says so? No way!
The Regents -- the bozos accountable to the taxpayers for the way NSHE funds are spent -- should conduct an independent, *public* investigation.
- Was Gregorak's trip/expenses charged to a UNLV AD credit card?
- Does UNLV football have any Colorado high school prospects on its recruitment list?
- Has Gregorak visited strip clubs on his previous, "official" recruiting trips, either for UNLV or Montana?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Fluff Courses Out
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
UNLV's left wing faculty supports every one of those ridiculous "Leadership" programs except *Military* leadership.
Save Urban Horticulture! That's a serious science program, with *real* requirements like Organic/Bio Chem, Physics, Calc/Stats, etc. Applied Biology is a legitimate function of a state university. Urban Horticulture should be the *only* major available to jocks.
Informatics is a light science program. Too much required fluff. Dump it.
MFT is another left wing, bonehead program. Majors are taught that all society's problems are caused by employment discrimination.
Pro Golf Management. Really.
UNLV's left wing faculty supports every one of those ridiculous "Leadership" programs except *Military* leadership.
Save Urban Horticulture! That's a serious science program, with *real* requirements like Organic/Bio Chem, Physics, Calc/Stats, etc. Applied Biology is a legitimate function of a state university. Urban Horticulture should be the *only* major available to jocks.
Informatics is a light science program. Too much required fluff. Dump it.
MFT is another left wing, bonehead program. Majors are taught that all society's problems are caused by employment discrimination.
Pro Golf Management. Really.
CCSD: One HUGE Conflict-of-Interest
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Public education is a *political* institution. It's all about
Besides, the true constituency for education fled to the private schools long ago.
Those of you who believe that CCSD is about "the kids" need look no further than all the ridiculous, self-interested unions which fight tooth-&-nail to keep their good things going. And this is just the stuff that we can see.
The sort of crooked deals which go on among Legislators, Board Members, BIG political donors (representing special interests in construction, finance, textbooks, food service, etc), in expensive restaurants here in LV, up in Carson City, and even at exclusive tropical resorts, I can only imagine.
Public education is a *political* institution. It's all about
- Retainers to politically connected law firms.
- Lucrative union contracts.
- Lawsuits for shysters.
- Sinecures for friends.
Besides, the true constituency for education fled to the private schools long ago.
Those of you who believe that CCSD is about "the kids" need look no further than all the ridiculous, self-interested unions which fight tooth-&-nail to keep their good things going. And this is just the stuff that we can see.
The sort of crooked deals which go on among Legislators, Board Members, BIG political donors (representing special interests in construction, finance, textbooks, food service, etc), in expensive restaurants here in LV, up in Carson City, and even at exclusive tropical resorts, I can only imagine.
Monday, May 10, 2010
UNLV Eliminates Academic Programs Which Don't Advance Football
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
UNLV .. does have experience with eliminating programs .. [which do not further] the university's mission.
The mission of UNLV is to play football. Very few jocks major in computer science or engineering. Those programs do *nothing* to provide jocks with the academic cover necessary to make them NCAA eligible. Therefore, they're prime candidates for elimination.
Smatrick must EXPAND the number of jock majors. It looks really bad when 90% of the jocks major in Interdisciplinary. BTW, here are the requirements for that Jockology department:
Notice they wouldn't challenge a 5th grader. Nevertheless, few jocks can get through the "program".
UNLV .. does have experience with eliminating programs .. [which do not further] the university's mission.
The mission of UNLV is to play football. Very few jocks major in computer science or engineering. Those programs do *nothing* to provide jocks with the academic cover necessary to make them NCAA eligible. Therefore, they're prime candidates for elimination.
Smatrick must EXPAND the number of jock majors. It looks really bad when 90% of the jocks major in Interdisciplinary. BTW, here are the requirements for that Jockology department:
Notice they wouldn't challenge a 5th grader. Nevertheless, few jocks can get through the "program".
Smatresk Con Job
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Two years ago, the bachelor's degree in University Studies was eliminated. The program had about 400 students in it, but Smatresk, then the provost, didn't believe it fit with the university's mission.
Pure spin. The reason University Studies was phased out was because of an embarassing USA Today article which revealed that some huge percentage of majors were JOCKS.
Yeah, all but 50 of them have "finished", but that just means they've dematriculated from UNLV, not that they completed their degree. Probably fewer than 15% of them *ever* went to class, much less graduated.
"Interdisciplinary", AKA Jockology.
Two years ago, the bachelor's degree in University Studies was eliminated. The program had about 400 students in it, but Smatresk, then the provost, didn't believe it fit with the university's mission.
Pure spin. The reason University Studies was phased out was because of an embarassing USA Today article which revealed that some huge percentage of majors were JOCKS.
Yeah, all but 50 of them have "finished", but that just means they've dematriculated from UNLV, not that they completed their degree. Probably fewer than 15% of them *ever* went to class, much less graduated.
"Interdisciplinary", AKA Jockology.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Union Seniority More Valuable Than Results
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Teachers who have worked in the district for 14 years or more are no longer eligible for pay increases based on experience.
Most of them should be weeded out. Their jobs given to younger, more motivated, less expensive employees. It's always the same story with the unions. Job security based on seniority.
A private teaching firm would always be on the lookout for hot, young talent with executive material. Those are the kinds of go-getters who would get picked (ie promoted to Principal) to operate *expansion* schools.
Teachers who have worked in the district for 14 years or more are no longer eligible for pay increases based on experience.
Most of them should be weeded out. Their jobs given to younger, more motivated, less expensive employees. It's always the same story with the unions. Job security based on seniority.
A private teaching firm would always be on the lookout for hot, young talent with executive material. Those are the kinds of go-getters who would get picked (ie promoted to Principal) to operate *expansion* schools.
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