Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The ex-Dean's salary is outrageously high. Why does he make more than the Governor? If Sandgren is such a talented engineer he should be working in the *private* sector.
This whole notion about paying "competitive" salaries to attract top-notch NSHE faculty/admin is such a load of bull. Maybe CalTech needs (and can afford) to do that, but a *public* university should be structured more like a benevolent society. From each according to his ability, as it were.
No more Fortune-500 payscale for Profs/Deans. All we can do is pay them token honoraria (a little extra if they agree to coach football) and award them distinguished titles ("Coach", if they so desire). Professor/Dean symbolizes a fellow's commitment to *teaching/management* and his renunciation of personal financial gain.
No more leveraging the titles we bestow into lucrative private sector consulting contracts. If you covet the prestige of being addressed as "NV Professor", then sorry. Strict limits on outside income. Of course a power systems professor should be able to consult for NV Energy. All fees revert to the University of Nevada.
If a PhD, talented teacher is unwilling to abide by those rules, hire him as an instructor (part time) -- if we can afford it. If need be, recruit emeritus professors from Princeton.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
DRI: Political Science
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
- What enables DRI to receive government grants? Politics.
- How are DRI experiments prioritized? Politics.
- Why does a so-called scientific research institution need an Office of Diversity? Politics.
- Who gets appointed to Administration sinecures? Politics.
- What firms receive DRI Purchasing approval as vendors? Politics.
- How was DRI's mission decided? Politics.
- How was DRI's site chosen? Politics
Political Insiders Picks Candidates
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The RNC .. picked .. The Sarah
Someday the BIG government cabal will just assign us prefects from out of state. Our only job as voters will be to confirm candidates who don't even *live* here. The DEMs will assign us Northeastern professors and UN bureaucrats. The GOPs members of the military-industrial complex and NY bankers.
The RNC .. picked .. The Sarah
Someday the BIG government cabal will just assign us prefects from out of state. Our only job as voters will be to confirm candidates who don't even *live* here. The DEMs will assign us Northeastern professors and UN bureaucrats. The GOPs members of the military-industrial complex and NY bankers.
Abolish DRI
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
DRI is a tax CONSUMER. It's just another government contractor. Like Sandia, LBL and Oak Ridge. It could NEVER survive as a *commercial* research firm. It's the post office with no water.
We don't want a Nevada government owned and operated research lab whose business model is winning politically controlled federal government grants. That's not diversification of our economy. It's diversification of *government*.
Research is an uncertain activity best left to the *private* sector. DRI's full-time researchers don't teach. They train career-track research graduate students and post-docs. They pay themselves huge salaries. For instance, President Wells makes ~$305K/yr. That's right.
Academic welfare.
DRI also has the usual political structure, including a "Diversity Office". We pay for their clubby desert playground. They have all the fun and get rich in the process. Outrageous!
ABOLISH DRI.
DRI is a tax CONSUMER. It's just another government contractor. Like Sandia, LBL and Oak Ridge. It could NEVER survive as a *commercial* research firm. It's the post office with no water.
We don't want a Nevada government owned and operated research lab whose business model is winning politically controlled federal government grants. That's not diversification of our economy. It's diversification of *government*.
Research is an uncertain activity best left to the *private* sector. DRI's full-time researchers don't teach. They train career-track research graduate students and post-docs. They pay themselves huge salaries. For instance, President Wells makes ~$305K/yr. That's right.
Academic welfare.
DRI also has the usual political structure, including a "Diversity Office". We pay for their clubby desert playground. They have all the fun and get rich in the process. Outrageous!
ABOLISH DRI.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Hey CCSD Parents: Opt OUT Of Federal Testing
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
The NAEP tests are strictly voluntary. Schools which accept federal funds must administer them but the students who attend those schools DON'T have to take them.
Hey public school parents. Tell the US Dept of Education that you don't want any part of their schemes. PROHIBIT your child from taking federal assessment tests. Beware! Your child will likely be singled out and sent to the principal. Admnistrators will browbeat him, even threatening him with EXPULSION unless he submits.
Know your rights! If they threaten your kid, SUE.
I had an experience like this in high school. The US Army came to the school to administer aptitude tests to the seniors. Huh? The junior officer started explaining the intructions. Then he said "Sign at the bottom, otherwise we won't be any point to taking the test .." We all looked at each other and dropped our #2 pencils. A mutiny!
Yup, the principal had us over to his office for individual interrogation sessions. None of us backed down. A few days later he sort of told us "Oh, forget the whole thing." and that was that. He must have heard from somebody's lawyer.
The NAEP tests are strictly voluntary. Schools which accept federal funds must administer them but the students who attend those schools DON'T have to take them.
Hey public school parents. Tell the US Dept of Education that you don't want any part of their schemes. PROHIBIT your child from taking federal assessment tests. Beware! Your child will likely be singled out and sent to the principal. Admnistrators will browbeat him, even threatening him with EXPULSION unless he submits.
Know your rights! If they threaten your kid, SUE.
I had an experience like this in high school. The US Army came to the school to administer aptitude tests to the seniors. Huh? The junior officer started explaining the intructions. Then he said "Sign at the bottom, otherwise we won't be any point to taking the test .." We all looked at each other and dropped our #2 pencils. A mutiny!
Yup, the principal had us over to his office for individual interrogation sessions. None of us backed down. A few days later he sort of told us "Oh, forget the whole thing." and that was that. He must have heard from somebody's lawyer.
Regent Abuse
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
We don't want to hear any more ivy tower debates. No more pompous statements about higher education representing the future of this state. No more opportunistic, plaintive admissions of taxpayer abuse long after revelations first came to light.
Division 1 sports is the ultimate vertical cut. No more mealy mouth Wixom talk advocating vertical cuts after he and the other hack Regents approved contracts for a new UNLV head football coach ($450K) and athletic director ($280K).
We don't want to hear any more ivy tower debates. No more pompous statements about higher education representing the future of this state. No more opportunistic, plaintive admissions of taxpayer abuse long after revelations first came to light.
Division 1 sports is the ultimate vertical cut. No more mealy mouth Wixom talk advocating vertical cuts after he and the other hack Regents approved contracts for a new UNLV head football coach ($450K) and athletic director ($280K).
Public Education: Everywhere A DISASTER
Originally posted in a LVRJ Forum
Florida's fourth graders -- whose test scores essentially matched ours in 1998 -- are now a full grade level ahead of ours
Statistics.
Last week RJ published a story about 4th grade scores on federal government standardized reading tests.
Yes, NV and FL were at opposite poles, but overall not too far apart.
Yes, FL's score (226) was higher than most, but ND matched it. VA was even *higher* (227), and a few states came close (OH, NY, PA, MO, etc). How many of *those* states follow FL's model?
I oppose federal involvement in K-12, however if the 2009, 4th grade test results show anything, it's that public education is *everywhere* a CATASTROPHE.
NPRI has a pro-alternative government school agenda. If NPRI had a dental health agenda they would have attributed FL's statistical rise in test scores to water fluoridation.
Florida's fourth graders -- whose test scores essentially matched ours in 1998 -- are now a full grade level ahead of ours
Statistics.
Last week RJ published a story about 4th grade scores on federal government standardized reading tests.
Yes, NV and FL were at opposite poles, but overall not too far apart.
Yes, FL's score (226) was higher than most, but ND matched it. VA was even *higher* (227), and a few states came close (OH, NY, PA, MO, etc). How many of *those* states follow FL's model?
I oppose federal involvement in K-12, however if the 2009, 4th grade test results show anything, it's that public education is *everywhere* a CATASTROPHE.
NPRI has a pro-alternative government school agenda. If NPRI had a dental health agenda they would have attributed FL's statistical rise in test scores to water fluoridation.
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