The City Council took the time to declare gang violence a 'city challenge'.
In a rare meeting dedicated to a single topic, the Los Angeles City Council said public safety - particularly suppressing gangs and keeping young people from joining - is a top priority.
Well, shoot. I was going to encourage my nephews to join a gang, but now...
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Spanish Language
From La Politica
Look at the first Spanish-language Presidential commercial and the current ones being developed by Obama.
And as Presidential candidates try to reach out to Spanish voters, it becomes pretty clearthey weren't paying much attention during high school Spanish class. You'd think, with so many native Spanish speakers in the country, they could at least hire someone fluent?
Look at the first Spanish-language Presidential commercial and the current ones being developed by Obama.
And as Presidential candidates try to reach out to Spanish voters, it becomes pretty clearthey weren't paying much attention during high school Spanish class. You'd think, with so many native Spanish speakers in the country, they could at least hire someone fluent?
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Easy as ABC
Jack O'Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction, hosted a conference on 'the achievement gap' up in Sacramento this week.
He just can't figure out why black and latino kids aren't doing as well...
He offered the example of black children who learn at church that it's good to clap, speak loudly and be a bit raucous. But doing the same thing at school, where 72 percent of teachers are white and may be unfamiliar with such customs, will get them in trouble, he said.
The achievement gap is "absolutely, positively not genetic," O'Connell said. "All kids can learn. I'm saying it's racial."
That wasn't what racial meant when I was in school.
Add to this our school district's unbelievable stupidity.
Officials are asking teachers to pay back $53 million that they were accidentally 'overpaid'. Maybe. OK, we're not sure, but please, give it back.
Are the calculations "100% guaranteed? No," Holmquist [interim COO] said. "But it's highly probable. We have a higher degree of confidence than ever before that we are accurate."
A higher degree of confidence? And these people are suppose to be in charge of teaching our kids?
He just can't figure out why black and latino kids aren't doing as well...
He offered the example of black children who learn at church that it's good to clap, speak loudly and be a bit raucous. But doing the same thing at school, where 72 percent of teachers are white and may be unfamiliar with such customs, will get them in trouble, he said.
The achievement gap is "absolutely, positively not genetic," O'Connell said. "All kids can learn. I'm saying it's racial."
That wasn't what racial meant when I was in school.
Add to this our school district's unbelievable stupidity.
Officials are asking teachers to pay back $53 million that they were accidentally 'overpaid'. Maybe. OK, we're not sure, but please, give it back.
Are the calculations "100% guaranteed? No," Holmquist [interim COO] said. "But it's highly probable. We have a higher degree of confidence than ever before that we are accurate."
A higher degree of confidence? And these people are suppose to be in charge of teaching our kids?
Howard Dean and the Hispanic Vote
Howard Dean issued a statement about the importance of the Hispanic vote:
“Selecting Nevada as an early caucus state and placing the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado show that we respect voters enough to ask for their votes in every part of the country. Both states also have strong Hispanic populations, which will now play an important role not only in electing America’s next Democratic President, but also in that candidate’s nomination.
“Today Democrats are building momentum across the country, and building stronger ties than ever with the Hispanic community. The Democratic Party shares the Hispanic community’s values centered on family, faith, and hard work, and our candidates offer the new direction the American people want.
“Here in Nevada, enthusiasm over the upcoming caucus and the involvement of the Hispanic community have helped state Democrats double the Democratic voter registration edge. Hispanics are critical to the success of the Democratic Party and our candidates, and we won’t take a single vote for granted.”
“Selecting Nevada as an early caucus state and placing the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado show that we respect voters enough to ask for their votes in every part of the country. Both states also have strong Hispanic populations, which will now play an important role not only in electing America’s next Democratic President, but also in that candidate’s nomination.
“Today Democrats are building momentum across the country, and building stronger ties than ever with the Hispanic community. The Democratic Party shares the Hispanic community’s values centered on family, faith, and hard work, and our candidates offer the new direction the American people want.
“Here in Nevada, enthusiasm over the upcoming caucus and the involvement of the Hispanic community have helped state Democrats double the Democratic voter registration edge. Hispanics are critical to the success of the Democratic Party and our candidates, and we won’t take a single vote for granted.”
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