The Liberal Patriot Blog
 The Liberal Patriot Blog is dedicated to collecting and sharing information about National and State [New Hampshire] Political Action, News, and Events.

Friday, January 27, 2006

A walking contradiction....

I
n September of 2004, there were two. By the end of the last school year, there were six. But over the summer, one closed because it didn't have enough money. This week, another opened and several more are in the works.

Charter schools seem to be catching on statewide, and more students from Berlin to Goffstown are enrolling in the small, highly focused public schools. But while the schools report academic success, paying the bills has proven more difficult. And it only promises to get harder unless state lawmakers make major changes, an option that not everyone involved sees as probable.

It has been three years since the state secured $7.2 million in federal grants for a 10-year pilot program to establish up to 20 charter schools in New Hampshire. The grants were to be divvied up among the schools, depending on their enrollment, and used to pay start-up costs for three years.

But the schools, many in their second year, have come to rely on that money. With only $3,500 per student from the state, and per-pupil costs between $6,000 and $10,000, school officials say they use that money to fill the gaps. Towns do it with local taxes, but because charter schools are open-enrollment schools, meaning anyone can attend, they don't have that option.

All charter school officials interviewed for this story said they're worried about their schools' uncertain financial future. With the grant money scheduled to run out next year, they said, they've started to put together contingency plans and look to the state government.


"The state has put us in a precarious place," said Emily Hamilton, director of the Seacoast Charter School in Stratham.

Part of the "enchantment" with charter schools is that they pledge to teach kids better for less money, said Sue Hollins, a charter school enthusiast and head of the New Hampshire Center for School Reform.

from stateline.org

It’s hilarious to me that anyone thinks they can do a better [or same] job educating kids for LESS money than our massively under funded public schools. What makes this article even more hilarious is that the charter school people are hollering for MORE MONEY to support their plan to educate kids with less money. They are just proving the point that public school advocates have been making since the inception of the idea of charter schools. You can’t educate kids for cheaper than is already being done EVEN when you hire non-union uncertified teachers.

The money wasted on this experiment could best be used in the PROVEN public school system. Charters schools will be asking for more money up until the minute the book closes on their failed experiment. The only CHEAPER part of charter schools is how they seek to redefine teacher’s pay and benefits more in the line with a hourly wage earning daycare worker than that of a skilled and well trained professional. Guess what kind of teachers they get to take those jobs?

Many of these dismantle-the-public-school “reformers” would like to see any kid coming out of high school be eligible for a $15 an hour job teaching. You DON’T see these wealthy families sending their Harvard bound children to “charter” schools.


That settles that.....

“Our government is not corrupt, lobbyists are not bribing people, and members of Congress are not being bought for campaign contributions,” says Paul Miller, head of the American League of Lobbyists. Well that pretty much settles it.


from thinkprogress


Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Republicans are strong on the military?

“Stretched by frequent troop rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army has become a “thin green line” that could snap unless relief comes soon, according to a study for the Pentagon.”


from thinkprogress


Tuesday, January 24, 2006



National Call-In Week
Call your U.S. Representative toll-free: 800-426-8073!

On December 19, the House of Representatives approved a budget bill in the middle of the night that slashes aid Americans depend on – after having only a few hours to read the nearly 800-page bill. The bill protects powerful interests: the health insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, and banks -- while it hurts people who need Medicaid, student loans, child care, child support enforcement, and disability assistance. Because the Senate made some small changes, the bill goes back to the House for another vote on February 1. Now they have plenty of time to learn how their constituents will be hurt – and vote NO.

Call your U.S. Representative toll-free at 800-426-8073 starting January 23. This number will connect you to the Capitol switchboard. The person at the switchboard can connect you to your Representative's office. After you’re connected with a staff person from your Representative’s office, tell them: “My name is _______________ and I live in (town/city). I would like Representative [Bradley/Bass] to vote NO on the budget cuts bill (S.1932). This bill will cut billions in vital services, including Medicaid, SSI, foster care, child care, child support and student loans. I urge the Representative to vote against this bill because it chooses special interests over families.”

This number is available from now through February 1 - the day the vote on the budget will take place.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Who supports the troops again?

“Troops and civilians at a U.S. military base in Iraq were exposed to contaminated water last year and employees for the responsible contractor, Halliburton, couldn’t get their company to inform camp residents, according to interviews and internal company documents.”

from think progress

People who vote republican do not support the troops.

They vote for cuts to benefits for veterans and active duty personnel.

They vote to not supply troops with nessesary equipment.

They vote to incompetently manage a war.

They vote to give away billions of dollars to large corporations while charging disabled troops for their "missing" gear and giving them contaminated water.

In defense of republican voters, they are just really stupid. They don't actually think they are voting for issues. They think they are voting for people who aren't as bad as their conservative masters tell them liberals are.


The New Republican Society for the Owners


The No. 2 U.S. automaker in the world is hoping to reverse billion-dollar losses by closing some plants in North America. Ford's drastic restructuring plan will entail cutting the American workforce by 25,000, closing 14 major plants in North America and thinning executive ranks. The job cuts will amount to 20 percent of Ford's North American workforce. "It's going to be painful for some people," Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford said this month. Ford Motor Company has been hurt by falling sales of its profitable sport utility vehicles, growing health care and materials costs and labor contracts.

from airamerica news

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