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KOCH BROTHERS, HASLAM GANG UP ON GLORIA JOHNSON
By Andy Spears
This article appears on the Tennessee Education Report http://tnedreport.com/?p=1048
GLORIA JOHNSON SPEAKING OUTSIDE THE
U.S.D.O.E THIS SUMMER - SPEAKING UP FOR KIDS, FAMILIES,
AND TEACHERS!
The race for Tennessee's 13th District House Seat features incumbent Democrat Gloria Johnson versus an army of out-of-state special interest groups who have teamed up with Governor Bill Haslam to unseat one of the most outspoken defenders of public education in the General Assembly.
Koch Brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity has sent mailer after mailer comparing Johnson to such horrible figures as Lane Kiffin and Barack Obama (it is difficult to tell which of the two is viewed less favorably in Knoxville).
The Tennessee Federation for Children has spent $100,000 against Johnson. The outfit is curiously named, since it is based in Washington, DC, and doesn't have a Tennessee presence until it is time to push for risky and expensive voucher schemes at the General Assembly. Thanks in part to Johnson's leadership, the TFC's voucher plans have failed in two consecutive General Assemblies. Now, they're coming after Johnson.
Joining (leading?) the parade of attacks against Johnson is Governor Bill Haslam. His Advance Tennessee PAC is spending $50,000 on a new TV attack ad against Johnson.
What's Haslam's beef against the Knoxville teacher-legislator? Gloria Johnson has routinely criticized Haslam for his lack of leadership and general failure to communicate, especially when it comes to education issues.
Johnson correctly warned that Common Core would die in Tennessee unless Haslam did a better job of talking with teachers and parents about the merits of the program.
The good news for Johnson is that Haslam and the Koch Brothers teamed up with TFC in the primary in August to challenge Republicans who weren't sufficiently in support of privatizing public schools, and they lost many of those races.
Of course, a teacher and defender of public schools can't compete dollar-for-dollar with such intense spending. But the focus on House District 13 when the GOP already holds a big majority in the General Assembly makes one wonder what exactly these groups want for their money.
I wrote a piece about the GOP 2013 legislative agenda on education that I think is exactly what these groups want to see pass in 2015. If only they can get Gloria Johnson out of the way.
For more on education politics and policy in Tennessee, follow@TNEdReport
A Little School Privatization History About Memphis
OCTOBER 30, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY
taken from her website at http://nancyebailey.com/2014/10/30/a-little-school-privatization-history-about-memphis/
If you think it is just the poor schools that will be turned to charters, think again. Sooner or later they will want to turn your middle class school into one, and my guess is you will pay for it, and you will have no say into how it is run.
In the fall of 2009, a strange change took place in Memphis City Schools (MCS) that may have been one precursor of more drastic things to follow. Certainly, there were already monumental shifts going on: principal removals, "everyone to college" mantras, and so-called school turnarounds. But this particular change I think is noteworthy.
Parents and teachers were startled to learn of a new high school block schedule and the addition of two more classes to an already crowded six course regimen. This transformation was districtwide. Most troubling perhaps, was that all this took place seemingly overnight, with scant input from the public. There was little time for teachers to prepare for such a drastic change. Many worried how this would affect students.
At White Station High School, in Memphis, one of the best schools in the city, and in the state, parents scratched their heads as they learned of this new schedule and how it would affect their school. Teachers were angered to hear they would lose planning time. Already the school had the highest number of National Merit Scholars, even higher than the area's prestigious private schools. And they had college recruiters from an array of high level universities.
Of course, according to critics, all is not perfect at White Station, a school that has, what some call, an elitist optional program. This program attracts students from around the Memphis area. There are poor students there too, and the diverse school is often criticized for not integrating students better once they walk through the door. But was a block schedule with 8 classes the answer? Shouldn't parents and teachers and school officials have had a discussion about it? Couldn't the school's difficulties been fixed? Shouldn't what worked at White Station have been applied at other schools?
And White Station was not the only good school in Memphis by any means. Other schools were improving–some by leaps and bounds. For example, Whitehaven High School had received $143 million in scholarship money just that previous June, and not just sports scholarships. What was Whitehaven doing right? Didn't anyone want to know? Why was an arbitrary new schedule being foisted on schools when poor schools were already striving hard and succeeding to make the kind of improvements that would help kids?
According to school board member at the time Dr. Jeff Warren the board followed the ideas of Eli Broad, a prominent business man turned school reformer. Why, Warren was asked by parents, would the board listen to Broad, an outsider with no children in the school district? Why would he not, instead, listen to his hometown constituents? Warren replied that the board liked Broad's ideas. Indeed, the MCS board was working in one of Broad's three school reformation programs, the Broad School Board Governance Program. Broad's activity in any school district is highly sought after by administrators who see his stamp of approval like a Pulitzer or Nobel Prize for schools. Memphis is not alone.
At the same time, in 2009, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also came to Memphis, awarding the cash-strapped Memphis City School System $90 million to work primarily on Teacher Effectiveness. Supt. Kriner Cash, who would later lose his job in the overall school transition plan, reflected the feelings of many when he said, "This is huge, this is huge, this puts Memphis City Schools in a very elite territory, on the front page of the nation."
The grant included $1.9 million for training which included videotaping teachers under the guidance of Harvard economist Thomas Kane. And a lesser known plan for teachers involved setting them up with earbuds where they would listen to coaches across the room giving them directions on how to teach.
The larger project, however, involved the use of Value Added Measurement (VAM) with teachers, promoted by the Gates Foundation in the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study. VAM has become a serious issue in Tennessee and the country. The Tennessee Education Association has pushed back against its use when it comes to their licenses. But VAM was used to fire four Nashville teachers just this week. And one can expect, with the draconian atmosphere in Tennessee against teachers, that more firings are around the corner.
While Gates and Broad looked to be all about effecting changes within public schools, it is important to note, what many of us know, that they also support groups that are all about privatizing schools. Teach For America (TFA), The New Teacher Project, the Memphis Residency Program, New Leaders for New Schools and Stand for Children all work towards replacing career teachers with novices and converting public schools to charter schools. These are all organizations heavily supported by not just Broad and Gates, but many other businesses and politicians, local and nationwide.
In 2011, the Memphis City School district (approx. 100,000 students) surrendered its charter, forcing a merger with the Shelby County Schools (approx. 40,000 students in the suburbs) outside of Memphis. Many in the county saw it as a hostile takeover on the part of the city schools. Others saw it as a way to finally bridge the racial divide between the city and the county. The merger, which went into effect in 2013, became the largest school consolidation measure ever. But it was not to last. The following year the county schools broke into municipalities. And the actions seem to have made way for more charter schools and a city school administration with few, if any, real educators.
The suburbs, which had always opposed charter schools, had to eventually accept them. Matt Throckmorton who was the director of the Tennessee Charter School Association stated, "Unfortunately, many school districts think of charter schools as a penalty. We need to stop looking at it that way. We need to focus on what is best for the children. Children should have the option of going to a zoned school or to a charter school. These schools could take kids just sort of getting by and turn them loose (academically)." Yet, there is no proof of this. CREDO.
The Transition Planning Committee (TPC) which dealt with the merger was made up primarily of individuals who had signed on to Stand for Children, politicians and businessmen. One of the commissioners, Mike Carpenter, eventually left his post to join Michelle Rhee's Students First. One of the Memphis City School board members, Tomeka Hart, is now Vice President of African-American Community Partnerships for Teach For America.
I was a finalist for my district to originally be on the TPC, but I was oddly removed from the process before my final presentation to the Shelby County Commissioners. I was the only educator, a longtime teacher, with a PhD in my field. One of the commissioners, Terry Rowland, gave an impassioned speech to the press, before the last meeting, claiming the candidates had been chosen ahead of time. The individual who eventually got the position was also from Stand for Children.
Jump ahead to 2014. Many changes have occurred to the schools in Memphis. Everyone is getting over the takeover that broke up the old county system into small municipal school districts, each led now by different superintendents. While parents want this to work, there has been much concern over how to fund schools well. The conversion of Memphis City Schools to Shelby County Schools produced a lot of changes, but few will tell you it brought people together. Much gnashing of teeth took place pitting people against each other. The way it was done, the lack of involvement by the people who were affected, stripped the city schools especially of a sense of community. And there has been much chaos and loss of money including $48.4 million in missing equipment.
The Memphis City Schools now have the Achievement School District, which includes an array of charter schools, none which have proven to be better than regular public schools. They also have i-Zone schools which are turnaround schools that get extra money from a school improvement grant, and the regular schools, many which are fighting to remain open. The charter schools with their eyes on Memphis include Yes Prep and Green Dot, among others, which have been supported by Broad and Gates and other business leaders in the past. When the real schools close, the teachers will have to reapply to the charter schools to get their jobs back. But those from Teach For America, or other like groups will most likely get hired instead.
There have been other changes too in Memphis, most of which have not been well-received. The University of Memphis will begin offering a Memphis Teacher Residency Program, similar to Teach For America, prep program, across the hall from the real teacher program to make authentic career teachers. While the university has made it more difficult for career bound teachers to graduate, trying to squelch years of criticism that they aren't doing a good job, the new program looks like it is posing to take over. Many business leaders are all onboard for the TFA types, calling Memphis "Teacher Town." The Gates Foundation is rumored to be behind the program. The professors in the College of Education were not included in the decision-making.
To be sure, the Memphis changes are disconcerting in many ways, but mostly because of how they seem to separate and divide under a false sense of progress. Recently, I attended a meeting of the Memphis Leadership Institute which, as its name implies, grooms young, bright individuals, many of color, to become leaders in charter schools and the community. They are well-dressed and sharp talkers. It is obvious that they are deeply committed to doing their idea of a good job. In many ways they epitomize those seen by the black community, and the community in general, as fine leaders.
The problem is that few of them have any real background or understanding of children and their development. They speak authoritatively and positively about data points and high-stakes testing, Common Core and getting students to college, but they don't seem to realize that education is much more than that. When I asked one gentleman from Stand for Children what credentials it would take to start a charter school, his answer was none. All you needed was a good application–a plan. This is alarming.
The good news is that there is pushback against charter schools. Several have pulled out citing capacity concerns. Parents are questioning if their schools are really failing, many don't seem to be, and they wonder how any charter school business from outside Memphis could be good for their children. And more recently, the Shelby County School Board looks to be slowing down on the ASD. Starting more charters when the ones you have aren't doing well doesn't make a lot of sense, like many of the changes in Memphis haven't made much sense.
There are many teacher and parent activists. Tennessee teachers Lucianna Sanson and Lee-Ann Pepper Nolan from the National and State BAT groups have written strong articles in defense of real public schools. HERE. Parent groups like TREES and Momma Bears have also stood strong against privatization.
Yet, thus far, the state is stating that more public schools will close and be turned over to the ASD. It is to them a done deal. Remember when charters were sold as what parents would want. Well, now we are finding out what happens when they don't want them.
As far as the block schedule and the 8 classes: the schedule was dropped and they also dropped one class, students have 7 classes now, which still seems like too many. It will be interesting to see what eventually happens to high-performing schools like White Station and Whitehaven and all those that are making steady progress. And what will happen to the municipal suburban schools? Will they all be turned into charter schools too eventually?
Memphis is a lovely city, and I like the people here too. But the poverty is severe. There is no sign that the charters that have taken over are doing better. Certainly, they aren't doing well enough to take over more schools and move into the suburbs. There is little to be seen of true efforts to bring people together when those at the top fail to listen. If the schools don't make progress, it is because there are too many competing against each other. Children in poor schools also need real teachers, not substitutes from fast-track programs. It is very sad to think about what could have been and what is actually happening in Memphis.
Clark, Kym. "Extra Credit: Whitehaven High Scholarship Money." WMC Action News 5. June 2, 2009.
Roberts, Jane. "Parents angry over many city schools changes." Commercial Appeal.October 6, 2009.
Five School Boards and Superintendents Selected to Participate in Executive Governance Trainings to Improve Student Achievement. Business Wire. July 16, 2008. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20080716006163/en/School-Boards-Superintendents-Selected-Participate-Executive-Governance#.VFFQ4MstC70.
Roberts, Jane. "Memphis City Schools. Accept $90 million Gates Foundation Grant."Commercial Appeal. November 18, 2009.
Roberts, Jane. Memphis City Schools Teachers Get An Earbud-ful of Class Coaching."Commercial Appeal. February 22, 2011.
Learning About Teaching: Initial Findings from the Measures of Effective Teaching Project. The MET Project. December, 2010. https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/Documents/preliminary-finding-policy-brief.pdf.
Dillon, Sam. "Merger of Memphis and County School Districts Revives Race and Class Challenges." The New York Times. November 5, 2011.
"Charter Schools Unwelcome in the Suburbs." TennesseeWatchdog.org. http://watchdog.org/151013/tn-charter-schools-unwelcome-in-the-suburbs/.
Editorial. Shelby County Commissioner Terry Roland Lashes Out at Newspaper, Process of Appointing School Board. Commercial Appeal. September 12, 2011 .
Roberts, Jane. "Audit of Shelby Schools Shows 'Staggering' $48.4 million in Missing Equipment." Commercial Appeal December 2, 2013.
Morrison, Oliver. Memphis Teacher Residency Program Expands, Gets Statewide Recognition. Chalkbeat TENNESSEE. August 14, 2014. http://tn.chalkbeat.org/2014/08/14/memphis-teacher-residency-program-expands-gets-statewide-recognition/#.VFI-IRYW31I.
Dries, Bill. "Teacher Town." Memphis Daily News. March 23, 2013.
Burnette, Daarel. "Citing Capacity Concerns, KIPP, Freedom Prep Pull Out of ASD Takeover Process. Chalkbeat TENNESSEE, October 27, 2014. http://tn.chalkbeat.org/2014/10/27/citing-capacity-concerns-kipp-freedom-prep-pull-out-of-asd-takeover-process/#.VFI_0RYW31I.
Sanson, Lucianna and Lee-Ann P. Nolan. "Making Money Off Students." LA Progressive. October 2, 2014 and "Tennessee Students 'Fastest Improving at Making Money for Venture Capitalists.'" Herald Chronicle. October 29, 2014.
New York Badass Teachers Association
For Immediate Release - October 29, 2014
Marla Kilfoyle, General Manager
Melissa Tomlinson, Asst. General Manager
contact.batmanager@gmail.com
NEW YORK BADASS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OUTRAGED AT CUOMO'S COMMENT TO "BREAK" PUBLIC EDUCATION!
The New York State Badass Teachers Association, an organization of over 2000 educators, was enraged today to read comments made by Governor Cuomo to the Daily News editorial board [http://m.nydailynews.com/…/cuomo-vows-bust-school-monopoly-…]. It was reported that Governor Cuomo stated emphatically that he would "break" the state's public school system. His plan to end this "public monopoly" would include expanding charters, tougher teacher evaluations, and a continued agenda to punish the children and families who choose to attend New York's public schools.
We have already endured a roll-out of evaluations Cuomo himself has called "a disaster." Its byzantine algorithms fraught with inaccuracy and called "arbitrary and capricious" are in a legal challenge announced this week. Even more absurdly, the current evaluations actually attribute student test scores in Math and English Language Arts to teachers of other subjects, such as music, art, gym, foreign language, and others.
Schools that struggle with high poverty rates have been hit hardest under Cuomo's education agenda. This needs to be investigated fully as a civil rights violation mandated by Cuomo towards our children that attend these struggling schools.
NY teacher Jamy Brice Hyde stated, "Public schools are not a business therefore not a monopoly. The monopoly is in the Charter school movement where public tax dollars go to private business. THIS IS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION."
"Charters do not in any way get held accountable by any objective evaluation or standard--nor are they compelled to follow Common Core or any other state mandate. That's like having a race where one runner has to carry a cannon ball while the other gets to use roller skates," stated former NY teacher Steve Corso.
Bronx teacher Aixa Rodriguez and BAT DREAM Manager commented strongly, "Cuomo is once again giving into special interests and attacking public education, teachers unions, and therefore parents and children."
Cuomo's choice of words shows a distorted understanding of public versus private enterprise. Matt Steiniger adds "To call public education a monopoly is to presume that education is a marketplace. The implication here is that there is profit to be gained. Education is a public good. The only people that should be allowed to exploit education for personal gain are the students."
Finally, NY BAT Sue Parla commented, " I wonder why Cuomo is fighting so hard against teachers when he could be opening a dialog with us to find out what will truly help our schools. The underlying issue is those who are funding his campaign. He puts their desire to make money off privatization over the needs of children."
New York teachers go to the polls on Tuesday to vote. No teacher in New York State should vote for Cuomo. NY BATs have officially endorsed the Hawkins/Jones Green Party ticket for their support of public education, its children, parents, and teachers. VOTE GREEN!
Opting Out: Our Strongest Weapon against the Corporate Education Reform Machine
Since No Child Left Behind was implemented and schools across the country were held hostage to unreasonable goals, punished for educating low achieving students, and besieged with an alarming increase of high stakes standardized testing, parents, teachers, and students have been fighting back. Unfortunately President Obama and his administration doubled down on the false narratives set by NCLB with Race to the Top which increased testing and evaluating teachers based on those tests, also known as value-added measures. Nonetheless, those of us who know that high stakes testing is not a valid measure of a student's academic achievement or a reliable measure of a teacher's effectiveness, continue to fight back against these dangerous policies that have created an atmosphere of blame, punishment, and failure. United Opt Out (UOO) is a grassroots national organization formed in 2011to lead the fight to resist high stakes standardized testing. The mission of UOO is "to strengthen public education; fight corporate based reforms . . . and, in particular, to end the practice of punitive, high-stakes [testing] and related activities that are fraudulently being used as 'proof' of the incompetence of public education/ teachers [and schools]."
UOO has encouraged parents to opt their children out of high stakes standardized testing in an effort to deny the corporate model of education reform the data they need to profit off our children's education. Parents have a right to say no to policies and practices that they believe are unethical and harmful to their children. Although many states and education leaders claim that opting out is not legal, UOO has developed state guides that inform parents of their right to opt out is indeed a recognized right for parents to have control over the education of their children. UOO also instructs parents on how to inform the principal at their child's school that they will be opting out of high stakes testing. Some parents have felt resistance and have been scared into thinking that if they opt their child out it will have a negative effect on their school but to date that has not happened and thousands of parents across the country have been successful in opting their child out of high stakes standardized tests, field testing, and testing used to evaluate teachers.
Parents are our first line of defense when it comes to opting out because unlike teachers they cannot be fired for their decision. However, teachers are increasingly choosing not to administer tests that they know are harmful to their children. In January 2013, teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle Washington voted not to administer the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to their students. The teachers argued that the tests lacked any significant value because they were not aligned to the state standards. Superintendent Jose Banda threatened to suspend any teacher who did not administer the test but after receiving numerous emails and calls of support from parents he backed down and the teachers were not punished for their actions.
In February 2014 both Drummond Elementary School and Saucedo Elementary School boycotted the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT). Parents, students, and teachers were also threatened with dire consequences if they went through with the boycott but they refused to back down. As the opt out movement continued to grow, President Obama continued to pay lip service to the concerns of parents, teachers, and students about the alarming increase of high stakes testing. During his State of the Union Address in 2012 he called for an end to teaching to the test and this past month he issued a statement that appeared to be a call to reduce the escalation of high stakes testing. The Christian Science Monitor writes that President Obama said, "I have directed [Education Secretary Arne] Duncan to support states and school districts in the effort to improve assessment of student learning so that parents and teachers have the information they need, that classroom time is used wisely, and assessments are one part of fair evaluation of teachers and accountability for schools," in a statement on Wednesday October 15, 2014.
Two days letter Secretary of Education Arne Duncan writes an article for the Washington Post where he claims to support the cutback in testing but continues to argue that tests are the best ways for parents to know how their students are performing. Dr. Yohuru Williams, a professor and education activist reminds us that these words are not surprising given that we are in an election year and that we should not be fooled into thinking that the Obama Administration is going to back down from the mantra of high stakes testing. Despite the continued rhetoric that does not correspond to real action from our supposed education leaders, teachers, parents, and students continue to fight back and say no to corporate education reforms that seek to privatize public education.
Last month, kindergarten teacher Susan Bowles from Gainesville, Florida issued a statement to the parents of her students that explained why she would not be administering the Florida Assessments for Instruction in Reading (FAIR) tests. Citing her ethical concerns that administering a test for six weeks to kindergarten children was not something she could do in good conscience she risked being fired to do what she felt was right. In response Florida education officials have dropped the FAIR test for kindergarten students throughout the state. A small step but immensely important victory for the opt out movement.
Following closely in Bowles steps, Peggy Robertson, an administrator for UOO and a teacher in Aurora Colorado also issued a letter stating that she refuses to administer the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test, a new test aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). She argued that the tests along with the CCSS "have placed unrealistic expectations on our youngest learners, many who now view themselves as failures because they are unable to meet the developmentally inappropriate expectations set by the . . . standards." UOO next issued a plea for unions to support teachers who refuse to administer the test. When asked by Washington Post reporter Valerie Strauss if they would support teachers who refused to administer the test both NEA and AFT said they would support teachers who did not administer the test but failed to elaborate on what kind of support they would issue.
So what should be our next move? We know we cannot wait for the Secretary of Education to follow up his claims with tangible actions that actually reduce or eliminate our national reliance on high stakes standardized testing. And we know that we cannot continue to allow our children to be over-tested and turned into data points instead of human beings who are entitled to a high quality public education. So we must continue to fight. But we need to be strategic in how we fight. The unions say they will support teachers but what will that support look like and will it be enough? The only way to know for sure is for more teachers to refuse to administer the test. If teachers are disciplined for their refusal then we will demand that the unions offer the support they promised.
Now we understand that every teacher is not in a position to risk losing his or her job. Many teachers work in right-to-work states and have zero protections including tenure and the right to due process. And although the unions claim they will support teachers who refuse to administer tests we do not know what this support will look like and if it will keep teachers from losing their jobs or being disciplined. So we are looking for teachers who are preparing to retire or leave the profession and are willing to risk retaliation if they refuse to administer the test. If the teacher is disciplined or fired for their actions we will reach out to their union leaders to demand the support and advocacy they said would be there. Then we will know just how far the unions are willing to go to support teachers. Therefore, if you are willing and able to refuse to administer high stakes standardized tests, which are not a valid and reliable measure of student's ability and promise, please write and publish a letter stating your intentions. Send a copy to info@unitedoptout.com so we can keep track of your situation. Together we can deny the corporate reformers the data they so desperately need and drive out the testing insanity that has dismantled our public education system.
To learn more about how you can actively fight back against corporate education reforms, please join United Opt Out at their Standing Up for Action Spring Event January 16-18th at the Broward County Convention Center in Ft. Lauderdale Florida. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, UOO is hosting an event that brings advocates for public education together to form plans of actions. For more information and to register visit our Eventbrite page.
Denisha Jones is a professor in the School of Education at Howard University. She is former kindergarten teacher and preschool director. She is an admin for the Badass Teachers Association and United Opt Out.
Posted by Denisha Jones at 1:59 PM 1 comment:
For Information Contact
BATs Respond to Time Magazine Cover
As representatives of an organization that represents the collective voices of 53,000 teachers, we take issue with the image selected for the November 3 edition of Time. We believe that the image is journalistically irresponsible and unfairly paints teachers and teacher tenure in a negative light.
The gavel smashing the apple, the universal symbol of education, reinforces the text that applauds "tech millionaires" in finally figuring out how to deal the deathblow to teacher tenure widely misunderstood as job protection for life for teachers.
In addition, the cover perpetuates the myth of the "bad" teacher and tenure as the prime enablers of larger failures in American education—more borne of structural inequalities and chronic underfunding than teaching professionals.
"Labeling of teachers is hurtful and stigmatizing to teachers, students, and communities", states Aixa Rodriguez, BAT DREAM Manager and Bronx teacher.
The cover deliberately privileges the "bad" teacher narrative with the misleading statement, "It is nearly impossible to fire bad teachers." A few months ago talk show host Whoopi Goldberg made similar statements suffering under the same basic misunderstanding of teacher tenure as something akin to what college professors enjoy rather than a simple guarantee of procedural due process which is its function in K-12 education.
In fact, teacher tenure has served as an important protection to allow teachers to advocate for students— especially with regard to maintaining manageable class sizes, safe instructional spaces, ELL and Special needs interventions, and needed financial resources to combat the poverty and inequality that plague public schools and are most to blame for hurting young people.
Terry Kalb, BAT administrator, former Special Education teacher, and Special Education advocate says, "Teachers are whistleblowers- we protect children who are denied IEP services, devices, accommodations- all costly and complicated for administrators looking to streamline budgets and staff."
Given the massive increase in student enrollments, one of the greatest shortfalls is in the number of teachers themselves. A simple accounting of all the teaching positions lost in the great recessions reveals that the nation would need 377,000 more teachers in the classroom just to keep pace not to mention combat the shameful shortage being teachers of color.
BAT Administrator, historian, author, and college professor Dr. Yohuru Williams states, "More significantly, the cover uncritically situates the tech millionaires as saviors without revealing their own self-interest in the tenure fight— the creation of a nation of corporate-run franchise schools taught by untrained teachers and measured by high stakes test developed and administered by those same millionaires."
In an age where transparency in politics and journalism is sorely needed, we regret Time's decision to proceed with a cover so clearly at odds with the truth.
For my colleagues
Don't forget you know how to nurture
You know why you chose this profession
It wasn't for the money
We could have made more
Choosing another
It wasn't for the summers off
Though opponents keep sounding off
It was because we are special
We have a love of children
We have a love to help them succeed
We love when we see that light bulb
Show its bright face
That smile or hug from
A child can never be replaced
So hold your heads up
You know who you are
You know what you do
Forget those words from those
Who haven't a clue
And could never ever
Do what we do
I'm proud to say I am a
TEACHER!!!!
Bonnie Bushman Forrester copyright 10/26/14
Why I Don't Want an Apology from Time Magazine
By: Patte Carver-Hevia
This week Time Magazine (November 3 issue) is running a piece about how difficult people think it is to fire bad teachers and how deep pockets may have found a way to change that.
I have read the teacher outrage. "Cancel my subscription!" "Boycott Time!" "Time owes teachers an apology!"
No offense to my colleagues, but I don't want an apology.
When my husband (a Cuban political dissident and then rafter) and I first started going out, his English was rudimentary and my Spanish was just a bit better. One Sunday afternoon we went to an electronics show at the county fairgrounds. You know the kind. Everything for sale at an inexpensive price. Nothing worth spending money on.
At the entrance, we spotted the "Win a Vacation" (in this case, a cruise to the Bahamas) papers to fill out. My husband wanted to fill one out. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it was a scam. He filled out the paper, used my address and phone number because he didn't have a phone, and dropped the paper in the box.
On Monday we were watching Wheel of Fortune at my apartment when the phone rang. A young man wanted to speak to my husband. He claimed that my husband won a vacation. He (my husband) would have to pay a boarding fee and purchase airline tickets and what credit card did he want to use to pay for everything.
I explained the language issue and that I would have to translate. As I translated the young man asked if my husband was interested in the vacation. I had to answer that I didn't know yet because I was still translating. Sometimes translating can take time. For example, for a long time I couldn't pronounce "refrigerator" in Spanish, but I could say, "That thing in the kitchen that keeps food cold."
As I was translating, I heard the line click. I wasn't sure if the young man had put me on hold or if he had hung up. I continued to translate as I held the phone against my ear. I heard another click, and I could tell the young man was back on the line because I could hear others speaking in the background. He said nothing. Then I heard another click. Silence.
I hung up. About thirty seconds later, as I was explaining what had just happened to my husband, the phone rang again. This was before the days of caller ID for me, so I answered the phone.
And I heard:
"You f*cking spic. Why didn't you just say you don't want the god d*mned vacation? Get the h*ll off my line."
Normally I wouldn't give something like that a second thought. This was different though.
I spent six hours the next day climbing the phone tree. I started with the county fairgrounds staff. To another number and another and another and another.
Each time I repeated the story and what the young man had said. And anyone who knows me knows that I do not use vulgar language. I was careful to explain that I was simply repeating what was said to me.
Each time I heard a gasp on the other end of the line.
Each time I heard, "I'm so sorry!"
Each time I answered, "Thank you. I appreciate that. What I want though is to speak to that young man's boss."
Finally, I was on a speaker phone with the boss.
I told my story one last time.
And one more time I heard, "I'm so sorry."
I said, "Thank you. I appreciate that. I don't want an apology though. I want that young man's job. He had access to my address and telephone number and he said that. I don't think he's someone you want representing your company to the public."
He said, "You have it."
I have no way of knowing if that young man truly lost his job or not. I had my say. I moved on.
So how does this tie to the Time article? Do I want to talk to the editor of Haley Sweetland Edwards and demand her job? Do I want an apology from her or her editor or from Time?
I want a voice.
I want a seat at the educational policy table.
I want someone like Haley Sweetland Edwards to write the WHOLE story. She had access to so much more information and decided to write that. She's talking to deep pockets about education, as if money makes the expert, but she isn't talking to teachers. Unfortunately, she's not the only one.
I want Time to get it right.
I want judges like Treu (in the Vergara case in California case) to know what they are talking about before they make rulings.
I want people to understand that the likes of Gates and Welch are businessmen, not teachers. No matter what they say and no matter how philanthropic some of their efforts may be, their goal is to make a profit, not to benefit students. If they were truly interested in helping students, they wouldn't go about it by going after teachers.
I want action.
No, I do not want an apology. Like a PPO, an apology from Time would just be words on a paper. Meaningless. The toothpaste isn't going back in the tube, and I have a feeling Time would just make a bigger mess trying to shove it back in.
I'm willing to educate you, Haley, Time, Welch, Gates, Treu, and so many more.
The question is are you willing to put in the time, effort, and mental energy to LEARN?
Rotten Apples or Low-Hanging Fruit?
By: Wilma de Soto
The controversial TIME Magazine cover story has teachers from around the country up in arms and rightly so.
It's an apparent corporate education reform piece from stem to stern, written without any balanced input from a single teacher with the intent to defame and malign teachers who have dedicated their professional lives to helping children of all persuasions make better lives for themselves.
While checking out the cover photo that has been passed around social media this week, I took note of something. The headline proclaims "ROTTEN APPLES", but the cover photo does not. Instead the reader sees a beautiful red apple, ripened to the point of perfection. A gavel is poised over it ready to deliver the destructive, smashing blow.
In my opinion, this photograph is a perfect and powerful visual metaphor for what Corporate Education reformers have done to the careers of many great teachers around this country; labeling teachers as rotten fruit while they are in the prime of their teaching careers. Perfect specimens of educational acumen relegated to the garbage heap of history by a few corporate entities whose minions have never taught a single class in public school; they have been demoralized, defamed, denigrated and ultimately destroyed.
So has TIME Magazine goofed on this piece? Did they inadvertently reveal the corporate education agenda while purporting to support it? In this case I do not believe, "Only 'TIME' will tell."
Check Your Wallet! You Too Can Be An Expert on Teacher Tenure!
This can also be read on his blog http://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/check-your-wallet-you-too-can-be-an-expert-on-teacher-tenure/
It is IMPOSSIBLE to fire a bad teacher.
Unless of course you document how that teacher is bad.
You know? Due process. Rights. All that liberal bullshit.
Thank goodness we have tech millionaires to stand up for the rights of totalitarians everywhere!
A slew of Microsoft wannabes is taking up the mantle of the bored rich to once again attack teacher tenure.
They claim it's almost impossible to fire bad teachers because of worker's rights.
You know who actually is impossible to fire!? Self-appointed policy experts!
No one hired them to govern our public schools. In fact, they have zero background in education. But they have oodles of cash and insufferable ennui. Somehow that makes them experts!
I wonder why no one wants to hear my pet theories on how we should organize computer systems and pay programmers. Somehow the change in my pocket doesn't qualify me to make policy at IBM, Apple or Microsoft. Strange!
But that doesn't stop millionaires and billionaires with nothing better to do than try to increase their already skyrocketing profits.
It's disgusting. They're nothing but wealth addicts looking for a new score by stealing whatever crumbs have fallen to the floor that the rest of us need just to survive.
Time Magazine, which decided to put this non-story on the cover for Nov. 3, should be ashamed. But something tells me the editors could care less about things like facts, truth, integrity…
These are the same folks, after all, who propelled Michelle Rhee to fame on theirinfamous cover with the then-DC-schools chief holding a broom to sweep out all the bad teachers. Oh! That worked out so well! Cheating scandals, anyone!?
But instead of any apology or retraction for their faulty journalism, one can imagine the following conversation at Time's last editorial meeting:
Editor 1: I've got a great idea for the cover! How about a bunch of know-nothing idle rich talking out of their asses!?
Editor 2: Brilliant!
I know I'm just a teacher and I don't have millions in the bank, a bulging wallet or even a platinum credit card – but let me try to draw on my poor more-than-a-decade of experience in the classroom to explain.
1) Tenure does not mean a job for life. It just means you have to follow due process before firing a teacher. Many other jobs have similar due process rights for their workers that they don't call tenure. Unfortunately that leads to the belief that teacher tenure is special or unique. It isn't.
2) Teachers are Evaluated Based on Student Test Scores. This is ridiculously inaccurate and unfair. Standardized tests do NOT effectively measure student learning. They measure family income. So teachers who have richer students have generally more favorable evaluations than those who teach the poorest and most difficult children. Value-Added Measures, as these are often called, have been labeledjunk science by national statistical organizations. They violate a basic principle of the field that you cannot use a test designed to evaluate one factor as a way to evaluate an entirely different factor. Removing due process would make the teachers who serve the most at-risk students, themselves, unfairly at risk of losing their jobs.
3) Firing the "least effective" teachers doesn't improve education. I know this goes against common sense, but facts are facts. If you fire someone, you have to find a replacement. Ideally, you want a replacement who will do a better job than the person being removed. However, this is incredibly difficult and expensive. Half of teachers who enter the field leave in 5 years. It's a tough job that many people just can't handle. Moreover, it takes a long time to get good at it. A much more cost-effective approach is providing high-quality professional development. You can't fire yourself to the top. Yes, if a teacher has no interest and doesn't improve after multiple attempts to help, then it may be best for that person to seek employment elsewhere. But it's not step 1!
4) Tenure Protects the Most Experienced Teachers. Without it, veteran teachers could not compete with new hires who enter the field at a lower salary. In the long run, it costs less to keep and train veteran teachers than hire new ones. But administrators and school directors often only see short-term gain. Without due process, veterans would be in danger of unfair firing to increase the short-term bottom line. This would reduce the quality of education kids receive because they'd be denied a wealth of experience and talent. Moreover, who would enter a field that only values new hires? There's no future in such a job and it would just be a repository for a series of temps with no other choice than to teach for a few years before moving on. Teach for America, anyone?
5) Tenure Allows Teachers to Innovate. With due process, teachers can more easily make decisions based on what's best for their students and not what's politically acceptable. They don't have to give the school board director's son an A just because of his patronage. Kids actually have to earn their grades. And if a student doesn't like a teacher, he can't destroy the adult's career by making a baseless accusation.
But to know any of this, one would have to possess some actual information about the field. That takes experience, not big money.
For some reason, the same people who are investing heavily in privatization just can't see it. The people who champion for-profit charter schools, toxic testing and Common Core can't wrap their heads around the concept. All they see are dollar signs of public money meant to pay for the public good being diverted into their private bank accounts.
Human suffering? Educational outcomes? Struggling students?
Who gives a shit?
Teachers do. That's why they're trying so hard to get rid of us.
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Also Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, New Zealand and Visiting Professor in the Department of Social Medicine, University Bristol, UK.
Daniel Dorling's research tries to show how far understanding the patterns to people's lives can be enhanced using statistics about the population. Part of this research involves developing new techniques to analyse and popularise quantitative information about human geography, in particular introducing the use of novel cartographic techniques into geographical research. In 2006, Daniel started working with a group of researchers on a project to remap the world (www.worldmapper.com). Respected in academia as a leader in his field, a Google search on his name also reveals how prevalent his voice is within the mainstream media.
Daniel Dorling has published over 25 books and 400 papers. He is Honorary President of the Society of Cartographers.


Casseroles are an extremely wonderful meal to start your day off just right, easy to make and the cost to make on is quite low. When making casseroles always use fresh whole vegetables and organic hormone free meats. Which helps keep out stomach from rolling the rest of the morning into early afternoon, it also keeps inflammation down as we are not consuming foods that create problems in our bodies. Everyone is different and some do different variations of the paleo diet lifestyle as not everyone can handle certain foods the same. I find when eating a terrific casserole in the morning for breakfast, I feel less bloated through out the day, as this dish is most certainly filling it does not sit heavy. Keep in mind that I absolutely love spicy foods and this recipe is on the spicier side, you can ton it down to suit your personal spiciness desire.
Preheat a skillet to medium-high and melt in the fat of choice.
Combine the ground pork and dry spices together, then brown in the preheated pan for about 5 minutes.
While the ground pork is cooking, slice the mushrooms, dice the green chillies, and dice the onions. Add them to the par-cooked ground pork.
Allow ingredients to cook together for an additional five minutes, while 10 eggs are cracked and whisked.
Remove the pork mixture from the heat.
Place the pork and vegetable mixture into a 2.5 qt baking dish.
Now slowly pour the whisked eggs over the entire casserole, ensuring it's even distributed, do not mix or disturb the pork and vegetable mixture.
Cover the dish and bake for about 40 minutes in the preheated oven.
Serve warm with some fresh cilantro, guacamole and/or hot sauce.


text:
Elegy Isabel Coixet adaptation of The Dying Animal
by Dave Douthitt | Oct 22, 2010 | Movies | 1 comment
The Dying Animal by Philip Roth? Not for me; I've never read it. Maybe it's good, but I like the Philip Roth who wrote "Defender of the Faith," Goodbye Columbus and, perhaps, The Ghost Writer.
All the same, "Elegy," the Isabel Coixet adaptation of The Dying Animal, is a notable if austere film about a senior-citizen professor and his young Latino lover.
Consuela is David Kepesh's student in a literature class and WANTS to be courted by him after he asks her for a date. By and by they sleep together. Kepesh comes to love Consuela and, assuredly, her body, as she comes to love him. But the old Casanova exhibits a social cowardice that drives the winsome girl away from him.
It has been claimed that the script by Nicholas Meyer softens the ending in Roth's novel, but in any case the film is a strong examination of human relationships. It's very contemporary-Lit: without a plot, with sex, poignant.
Ben Kingsley is David Kepesh, lacking charisma but not personality. He's credible. More beautiful than she's ever been, Penelope Cruz is a superb Consuela, providing facial play now inquiring, now touching, and all the pleasing solemnity the movie calls for. Many directorial treats has Coixet engendered here, from visually friendly, gorgeous close-ups to the use of Satie's venerable music.
I think "Elegy" is a success, whether Coixet actually filmed The Dying Animal or not. She did film an elegy, one in which there exists the craving for sensual vitality in old age, prior to death.
Philip Roth's playful, unpredictable "Nemesis" (salon.com)
'Alamar,' 'Putty Hill' top Santiago Film Fest (variety.com)
Philip Roth's Extreme Novel (thedailybeast.com)
Thunder Bay Movers on October 27, 2010 at 4:14 pm
I can't stand latter-day (as in post-1980…and that's being generous) Philip Roth. He's become a parody of himself.
Tweets that mention Elegy Isabel Coixet adaptation of The Dying Animal | The Hip Opinion -- Topsy.com - [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by David Douthitt, David Douthitt. David Douthitt said: Elegy Isabel Coixet adaptation of…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
HomeSubsidiesDirect Benefit Transfer
Direct Benefit Transfer
Direct benefit transfer is one of those monumental topics which have successfully incited ardent discourse in recent times. Many significant government policies have stumbled to get themselves implemented from time to time due to rampant corruption and unsolicited intervention of middlemen.
The Indian government came up with the direct benefit transfer scheme to resolve this predicament. On 1st January 2013, the government intended to bring a change in the system of transferring subsidies directly to the people through their bank accounts. This newly launched mechanism was highly expected to have reduced leakages, delays etc. On 1st June 2013, the scheme Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) launched formally by the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 20 AADHAAR coverage districts.
Genesis of DBT
The mechanism of DBT has its origin in Brasilia, Brazil in mid-1980. It was used in many Latin American countries as a 'poverty reduction measure'. In Brazil, this mechanism known as 'Fome Zero Program' gained its utmost popularity. In this scheme, families whose income was less than a predetermined income line as per 'the federal government's unified social service register', used to get money directly through their bank accounts, although Brazil launched this cash transfer in order to address some specific issues. This program, affiliated to scheme called 'Bolsa Familia' in 2004, paved a new way towards reducing poverty and inequality in Brazil. India also embraced this idea of direct benefit transfer program directly from Brazil.
The huge success rate of this program attracted many other countries like United States, Mexico, some other American Republic and south-east Asian nations including Latin American nations to utilize this scheme in the form of 'Conditional Cash Transfer'(CCT).The Bolsa Familia program is deemed to be the largest and most successful CCT program. CCTs have been proven to be effective enough to shatter the vicious circle of poverty to a great extent establishing social equity and human capital enhancement. This mechanism has successfully fetched structural stability in the society. This innovative mechanism has yielded momentous success which is prominent in the statistics that the number of the beneficiaries takes a leap from 38 million in 2001 to 129 million in 2011. Besides 18 Latin America and Caribbean countries, this scheme has shown its excellence in some south-Asian countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia.
Benefits Of DBT
DBT aims to transfer subsidies, welfare benefits and scholarships directly to the people through their bank accounts. The direct benefit transfer has ushered in a handful of benefits. It successfully added impetus to the implementation of government schemes by preventing leakage and delays. Leakages were reduced as middlemen were eliminated, which has in turn helped the Indian economy as structural expenditure has been removed. Also, fake and duplicate beneficiaries were eliminated based on biometric identification by Aadhaar Card verification. The DBT scheme also removes delays in transferring money by allowing time-bound transfers. The recognition of actual beneficiaries and time bound transfer of benefits has brought transparency in distribution of benefits.
DBT has also contributed to the growth of economy. As the DBT scheme has opened a new way to transfer money directly to the bank accounts which is in a way is injecting liquidity to the economy leading to at least 0.5% growth in GDP. People in rural areas are also able to avail the facilities of the financial institutions with cash in their hands and have the ability to spend it according to their need.
The Jam Trinity
The JAM trinity represents JAN DHAN Yojana, AADHAAR and mobile number, plays a significant role in implementing the direct subsidy transfer to the poor- one of the biggest reforms in independent India. Previously subsidy schemes used to reach the poor of our country through various indirect ways. Those procedures were not only time consuming and complicated but also involved corruptions, extortions and intermediaries depriving the poor in availing the benefits. But the advent of JAM trinity has made the procedure much easier and fair. AADHAAR helps to sort out the disadvantaged citizens through direct biometric identification, while direct transfer of funds to the bank accounts has been availed with the help of JAN DHAN bank accounts and mobile phones. It has made it possible to yield its benefits only to the intended beneficiaries keeping aside the well-to-do families and intermediaries.
Different Types of Subsidies
When the government tends to provide an advantage to a group or an individual in the form of cash which is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the people-it is called subsidy. The prime motive of subsidy is to lessen the financial burden of the poor people and encourage them to avail every facility the government as it provides to establish a stable social and economic structure.
The government started providing subsidy for LPG, one of the most significant needs of daily life, from the year 2015. This scheme was launched with two dimensions in mind. The prime motif was to provide LPG connection to those families who belong to the below poverty line. As the financial constraints did not allow them to avail the facilities of LPG connection, the government decided to bear the expenditure to some extent by sending cash directly to the bank accounts. Another important aspect was to encourage people to surrender the subsidy as they can afford those expenses on their own. And if those surrendered subsidies are redistributed to the poor, it will help lessen the daily life constraints to some extent. This special facility was provided through the scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna which was launched in 2016. This scheme was supposed to protect the health of women reducing the severe health hazards associated with unclean cooking fuels. It targeted eliminating acute respiratory ailment by indoor air pollution.
Rural India still uses kerosene as common lighting source and as cooking fuel despite its adverse effects. The government pays subsidy on kerosene which is Rs 4.39 per liter according to the latest source. But in case of kerosene, subsidy is not paid through bank accounts. Public Distribution System (PDS) is used to distribute kerosene among the beneficiaries at a subsidized rate. Moreover, through the PDS the government provides daily life household ingredients like rice, pulse, flour at subsidized prices to lessen the burden of expenditure on the poor.
The facility of subsidy is also provided in case of electricity consumption. But this advantage is not applicable in all over India. Some states and UTs like Haryana, Delhi have decided to sanction electricity consumption up to 200 units every month. Apart from electricity, the government decided to provide subsidy on fertilizer on March, 2017. The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers chaired by MS. K. Kanimozhi intends to provide subsidy to manufacturers and importers with the objective to yield fertilizer to the farmers in affordable price.
All responsibility of implementing DBT programs was initially given to the Planning Commission that acted as the nodal point. But later, the Department of Expenditure took over all the responsibility in July 2013 and continued to function till September 2015. Then the authority of DBT and matters related to it was transferred to the Cabinet Secretariat which added more impetus to the scheme. This scheme has gradually expanded its purview of work by giving more emphasis on scholarships, women, child and labour welfare. A significant progress has been marked in recent times when seven new scholarship schemes and Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) were brought under the purview of DBT in 300 identified districts with higher AADHAAR enrollment.
Lacunae
Although Direct Benefit Transfer has attained enormous success still there are some existing lacunae which are required to be scrutinized properly. A person must have a bank account to avail the facility of DBT whereas many people living in rural and tribal areas are unaware of banking system. Many people are deprived of all those facilities of government schemes as illiteracy has left them vulnerable. It is obvious that having a bank account does not means that banking facilities will be availed. Another big problem is to find out deserving beneficiaries as only 3% Indians pay income tax. This extreme inclination of evading income tax deters the process of determining those citizens who actually need the government subsidy. It is also necessary to maintain a proper vigilance on how the money is spent otherwise money given by government can be used in unhealthy ways. Moreover, in rural areas men are the head of the families and is a disadvantage to women who hardly get their share of the cash. Besides, in this system of DBT all money transaction are done through micro ATMs which are not always present at the door steps of every beneficiaries who need to travel long to withdraw their money. Another vulnerability of this program is that it uses data using AADHAAR which may lead towards the violation of privacy of a citizen.
This program of DBT is an excellent initiative of government to reach out to every nook and corner of our country. It is an evolving project which presents its own concerns and prospects. It deserves a unanimous support so that it can successfully broaden its ambit more and work more purportedly to elevate the downtrodden and vulnerable section of the society which would lead towards social stability. The DBT, during the pandemic has proven itself as an efficient tool to the government to provide benefits to the people who were without any income.
To see video and download pdf, visit: https://currentaffairsreview.com/direct-benefit-transfer/
aadhaar current affairs DBT Direct benefit transfer Education GS 2 gs 3 jam trinity jan dhan yojana Subsidies


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When I was in San Francisco last August, one destination firmly on my itinerary was Ocean Beach, the Cliff House, and the Great Highway. I was drawn there after reexamining my family slides from 1956 — which I shared back in Memory Monday weeks 8 and 9 — including images of my grandfather and my aunt walking along Ocean Beach with my mom and sister.
This corner of San Francisco has changed a lot over the past 62 years, although the Great Highway is still there, along with Ocean Beach and a more modern version of the Cliff House.
Previous PostPrevious Meet the beetles!


text:
Q: How to avoid "ClientRedirectError: loop detected" error during testing Flask application (and how is it triggered)? Environment:

*

*Python 3.6.1

*Flask 0.12.2

*Werkzeug 0.14.1

While writing tests for my Flask application, I have discovered the following peculiarity: if in tests for Flask application you will be redirected to the same url two times 'in a row' ClientRedirectError: loop detected will be thrown, even if it stops redirecting after the second redirect (i.e. loop is not, actually, happening).
Consider the following, simplified, example:
app.py
from flask import (
    Flask,
    redirect,
    url_for,
    session
)

app = Flask(__name__)
app.secret_key = 'improper secret key'

@app.route('/')
def index():
    if not session.get('test', False):
        session['test'] = True
        return redirect(url_for('index'))
    else:
        return "Hello"

@app.route('/redirection/')
def redirection():
    # do something — login user, for example
    return redirect(url_for('index'))

test_redirect.py
from unittest import TestCase
from app import app

class RedirectTestCase(TestCase):

def setUp(self):
    self.test_client = app.test_client()

def testLoop(self):
    response = self.test_client.get('/redirection/', follow_redirects=True)
    self.assertTrue('Hello'.encode('ascii') in response.data)

Now, if I will run the test — it'll throw a ClientRedirectError: loop detected (even though, it could be seen from the code that second redirect will happen only once).
If I just run the app and go to the /redirection/ — it takes me to the index (i.e. /) with no problem, and no looping is happening.
The reason I need if not session.get('test', False): in index(), is because in my app I'm using it to set some things in session, in case user accessing / for the first time. As suggested by comment in code, in my 'real' app redirection() is a function that logs user in.

My questions are:

*

*Is there a 'right' way to overcome throwing of ClientRedirectError: loop detected in similar cases (i.e. is it possible to make the test run & pass)?

*Is there a better/'more correct' way to setup things in session for the 'first-time' user?

*Can mentioned behaviour be considered a bug in werkzeug (i.e. actual looping is not happening, but ClientRedirectError: loop detected is thrown, still)?

Workaround, I have came up with (which does not answer my questions, still):
def testLoop(self):
    self.test_client.get('/redirection/') # removed follow_redirects=True
    response = self.test_client.get('/', follow_redirects=True) # navigating to '/', directly
    self.assertTrue('Hello'.encode('ascii') in response.data)

This might look redundant, but it's just a simplified example (it'll, probably, make more sense if self.test_client.get('/redirection/') would be replaced with something like self.test_client.post('/login/', data=dict(username='user', password='pass')).

A: It seems, I am ready now (almost 1.5 yeast after posting them) to answer my own questions:

*

*It is possible to make test run & pass.
Given the code, as it is above, the workaround, provided at the end of the question will do, though it can be shortened to:
def testLoop(self):
    response = self.test_client.get('/', follow_redirects=True) # navigating to '/', directly
    self.assertTrue('Hello'.encode('ascii') in response.data)

in this particular case, there is no need for the self.test_client.get('/redirection/'), line.
 Though, if some changes were made to session['test'] inside the /redirection/, like so:
@app.route('/redirection/')
def redirection():
    session['test'] = True
    return redirect(url_for('index'))

then, self.test_client.get('/redirection/'), would be necessary, so test would become:
from unittest import TestCase
from app import app

class RedirectTestCase(TestCase):

def setUp(self):
    self.test_client = app.test_client()

def testLoop(self):
    self.test_client.get('/redirection/')
    response = self.test_client.get('/', follow_redirects=True)

    self.assertTrue('Hello'.encode('ascii') in response.data)

This, so called, "workaround" is just preventing test from doing two redirects to /, in a row (which is exactly what is causing ClientRedirectError: loop detected — see answer to point 3, below).

*If there is a better way or not — will depend on the exact details of the app implementation. In the example from the question, the redirection inside index is, actually, unnecessary and can be removed:
@app.route('/')
def index():
    session['test'] = session.get('test', True)
    return "Hello"

Such change, by the way, will also make the initial test (from the question) pass.

*As far as I can tell, such behaviour is "by design", namely: ClientRedirectError: loop detected is raised, when redirection to the same url occurs (at least) two times in a row. Below are some examples.
This, test won't encounter ClientRedirectError (as redirection only happens once):
isolated_app.py
from flask import (
    Flask,
    redirect,
    url_for,
    session
    )

app = Flask(__name__)
app.secret_key = 'improper secret key'

@app.route('/')
def index():
    session['test'] = session.get('test', 0)
    if session['test'] < 1:
        session['test'] += 1
        return redirect(url_for('index'))
    else:
        return "Hello"

test.py
from unittest import TestCase
from isolated_app import app

class RedirectTestCase(TestCase):

def setUp(self):
    self.test_client = app.test_client()

def testLoop(self):
    response = self.test_client.get('/', follow_redirects=True)
    self.assertTrue('Hello'.encode('ascii') in response.data)

Though, if the code of the app will be changed to:
from flask import (
    Flask,
    redirect,
    url_for,
    session
    )

app = Flask(__name__)
app.secret_key = 'improper secret key'

@app.route('/')
def index():
    session['test'] = session.get('test', 0)
    if session['test'] < 1:
        session['test'] += 1
        return redirect(url_for('index'))
    elif session['test'] < 2:
        session['test'] += 1
        return redirect(url_for('index'))
    else:
        return "Hello"

then test will fail, throwing werkzeug.test.ClientRedirectError: loop detected.
It is also worth mentioning, that triggering of redirection loop errors is different for Flask tests and for real-life browsing. If we will run the last app, and go to / in browser — it will readily return Hello to us. Amount of allowed redirects is defined by each browser's developer (for example in FireFox it is defined by network.http.redirection-limit preference from about:config, and 20 is a default value). Here is an illustration:
from flask import (
    Flask,
    redirect,
    url_for,
    session
    )

app = Flask(__name__)
app.secret_key = 'improper secret key'

@app.route('/')
def index():
    session['test'] = session.get('test', 0)
    while True:
        session['test'] = session.get('test', 0)
        session['test'] += 1
        print(session['test'])
        return redirect(url_for('index'))

This will print 1 2, and then fail with werkzeug.test.ClientRedirectError: loop detected, if we will try to run the test for it. On the other hand, if we will run this app and go to / in FireFox — browser will show us The page isn't redirecting properly message, and app will print 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 21, in console.

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text:
Tag: Regency
Regency Style (1811-1830)
Regency style evolved under King George IV of England's Welsh regency and English Reign, which ended in 1830.
A rotunda, based on a design by Sir John Soane, and a library, adapted from designs made in 1767 by Robert Adam for Kenwood House, London.
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/dc96a636-5114-45ec-a300-e247da12d760 by Rictor Norton & David Allen
Close-up of Kenwood House library, located in Hampstead, England
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/629370c5-83cc-41bf-91de-62bcc09bf936 by Klovovi
Origin of Regency
The term Regency referrs to several periods, some of which were longer than others. The period from 1795 to 1837 includes the part of the reign of George III along with the reigns of his sons, George IV and William IV. Regency era style was featured with particular tendencies in architecture and culture.
Prince Regent, Future George IV, 1815 by Henry Bone
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/4adf8eee-6bdc-4e62-9985-5057a95abbd2 by BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives
Influential Regency Style Artists
Among the most relevant Regency architects was John Nash, who served as court architect for Prince Regent and later King George IV. He also designed for Regent's Park and Regent Street in London.
John Nash at All Souls
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/39eb84b4-747b-4acb-9ef9-2c7e17f68a87 by Michael Gwyther-Jones
Another important artist was Thomas Hope, who had an important role in shaping the taste in the Regency time. His book "Household Furniture and Decoration" became the most important source for designers. Plus, it was the first to use the words "interior decoration." Additionally, other important influences of Regency were Thomas Sheraton and George Smith, who published designs of Regency furniture. Also, Thomas Lawrence lead portraiture, at this time.
Cumberland Terrace (1826-7), by John Nash, in Regent's Park, London
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/bbad4d89-70bb-43b4-8627-ed4ff82c5f5b by stevecadman
Park Crescent – designed by John Nash for the processional N-S route in London.
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/89732f5c-0d08-4929-aa95-061b3f025efa by Colin Smith
66 Great Russell Street Bloomsbury London WC1B 3BN- John Nash (1752-1835)
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/fbc7d703-ad33-49cf-9cb9-279714a9c909 by Spudgun67
Regency Style Characteristics
The style was inspired by the neo-classical architecture of the Georgian style, but with more elegance and brightness to the structures. The strongest inspiration for Regency taste came from Greek and Roman antiquity, from which the artists took the most common features of the style:
Vertically striped wallpaper
Resurgence of the Chinese theme
Interest in Egyptian motifs
French Louis XV Regency Style ormolu griffin coffee table
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/c60b6b84-83df-4195-8ae9-8177774f7b2d by AntiqueTaste
Regency Architecture
Recalling classical Greek architecture, many regent buildings were symmetrical with bricks, covered in stucco, or painted plaster to create a look similar to marble. The most important elements were:
Main Facade – usually black and flanked by two columns that sometimes support a balcony
Balconies – often wrought iron.
Little Venice – Regency style houses
Image source: https://search.creativecommons.org/photos/5e3814b2-3fbb-408d-95ee-17ef611e7b96 by Kathleen Tyler Conklin
Info source: https://www.britannica.com/art/Regency-style
Author JBDAdminPosted on December 7, 2016 October 18, 2022 Categories Styles and MovementsTags 1811, 1830, 19th century, arched windows, black and gold lacquer, brass, Brighton Pavillon, Egyptian motifs, facade, George III, George IV, George Smith, Great Britain, Greek architecture, John Nash, masks, metal paw feet, Neoclassical architecture, Regency, Regency architecture, Regency forniture, Regency style, rosettes, Rosewood veneers, Thomas Hope, Thomas Sheraton, vertically striped wallpaper, zebrawood veneersLeave a comment on Regency Style (1811-1830)


Summer 2013 took its sweet time in North Dakota, but we're enjoying every moment of available sunshine. I keep thinking that this is Annistyn's first summer, because she can enjoy so much more. From running barefoot around the yard to swirly-sliding at the park, it's so much fun to watch her experience summer.
Tonight I'm reflecting on how I've been spending my weekends. Lately, I've felt more at ease about housework. I do what needs to be done (i.e. laundry, clean the germy areas, buy food), but that's about it. Thoughts of "When am I going to find time to wash my windows?" and "The fingerprint-covered stainless steel needs a good scrub…" certainly creep into my brain, but I shoo them away quickly.
We're doing what matters most. We're putting play first. We're blowing bubbles of wonder and savoring perfectly done ribeyes. We're strolling through the neighborhood daily, relaxing in the warm glow of a backyard fire and sipping white mochas in the crisp morning light. Weekends are made for this, after all.
How are you savoring summer?
Previous Post My favorite things.
Next Post Happy morning traditions.
You're correct in leaving the windows and the cleaning. They will wait. Annistyn won't. Savor your summer days with her!
Awww, sounds so sweet. I haven't savored summer yet- life/family sometimes interferes. We'll change that soon! We did install a bird feeder & baby swing between a couple trees last weekend, so we're savoring sunsets with that for now. :) It's funny, because with Ax getting into everything, I'm more organized/put away than ever! He is too destructive with a messy house! No clean windows at Casa Boman either.
I love the first summer that little ones can run around and enjoy it! We've been visiting parks, enjoying a steady diet of otter pops and watermelon, and not getting anything accomplished. It's fabulous!


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HomeFrance
France and the EU, Recognizing Yet Supporting Apartheid Reality in Palestine
A recent statement made by the outgoing French Ambassador to the US regarding the nature of Israeli apartheid accentuates a larger ailment that has afflicted the European Union foreign policy. The EU is simply gutless […]
Notre Dame of Gaza: Our Mosques and Churches Are also Burning
As the 300-foot spire of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris tragically came tumbling down on live television, my thoughts ventured to Nuseirat Refugee Camp, my childhood home in the Gaza Strip. Then, also on […]
Israel Rejects France's Request to Repay Money Deducted from Palestinian Tax Revenues
Palestinian Authority (PA) Ambassador to France Salman Al-Harfi yesterday reported that Israel has rejected a France request that it repay money deducted from Palestinian tax revenues, Al-Wattan Voice reported. Al-Harfi said that the French letter was met […]
French Ambassador to US Says Israel Becoming an 'Apartheid State'
French Ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, has said that Israel is an apartheid state, in candid comments during an interview with The Atlantic as he prepares to step down from his role in […]
Fire Breaks out at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (VIDEO)
A fire broke out at Al-Marwani Prayer Room in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound yesterday, at the same time as the world watched Paris' iconic Notre Dame Cathedral engulfed in flames. Smoke could be seen rising […]
Macron Says Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitism
France is to recognize anti-Zionism, the denial of the state of Israel, as a form of anti-Semitism in response to a surge in acts against Jews not seen "since the Second World War", reports The Telegraph. […]
Yes, What about Yemen?
After the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, many are asking 'But what about Yemen?' Yes, indeed, what about Yemen, but what about Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Somalia? What about Egypt in 1956, what about […]
Palestinian Photojournalist Wins First Place in French Photo Awards
The top photo prize of the 25th edition of the Bayeux-Calvados-Normandy Award for War Correspondents went to Palestinian photojournalist, Mahmoud Hams. Thirty-eight-year-old Hams won for his picture of a Palestinian protester on a wheelchair in […]
Abbas: Palestine Ready to Enter Peace Talks with Israel (VIDEO)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday voiced readiness to resume peace talks with Israel, either behind closed doors or in public. Speaking at a joint press conference in Paris with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Abbas […]
Khan al-Ahmar: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK Issue Joint Statement
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain issued a joint statement on Monday opposing the proposed demolition of Khan al-Ahmar. A Bedouin village situated east of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, Khan Al-Ahmar has […]
France Demands that Israel Releases French Citizen
The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in Paris has pointed out that a year has elapsed since the arrest of French citizen Salah Hamouri by Israel. France is still concerned about his administrative detention, […]
Palestinian Artist Denied Visas to France, UK to Attend Exhibits of Her Own Work
Young Palestinian Artist Malak Mattar from Gaza said Monday that she was refused a visa to France and to the U.K., in order to be present at exhibitions of her own paintings in the European […]
Europe's Iron Curtain: The Refugee Crisis is about to Worsen
By Ramzy Baroud A recent European Council summit in Brussels was meant to articulate a united policy on the burgeoning refugees and migrant crisis. Instead, it served to highlight the bitter divisions among various European […]
Israel to Extend Detention of French-Palestinian Lawyer by 3 Months (VIDEO)
On Saturday, French Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri will attend a confirmation hearing in Jerusalem District Court where his colleagues at the Palestinian NGO Addameer are told, his administrative detention order will be renewed for at […]
French Company Withdraws from Israel's Jerusalem Rail Project
French engineering company Systra has withdrawn from part of Israel's construction of a rail network in occupied Jerusalem, after its connection to the project was revealed by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). French […]
French Suburb Remove Nakba Street Sign under Israeli Pressure
Under Israeli pressure, a French suburb yesterday removed a street sign commemorating the Nakba. The Mayor of Bezons, a northwest suburb of Paris, unveiled the "Nakba Lane" plaque on Monday to commemorate the 70th anniversary […]
French Protesters: Israel's Real Brand Is Colonization, Occupation, Apartheid (VIDEO)
By Palestine Chronicle Staff French activists in Paris protested on Saturday in front of an Israeli pavilion at VivaTech, a major international fair for start-ups. Action #BDS ce samedi 26 mai devant le pavillon israélien […]
Israel Arrests French Citizen over Alleged Weapons Smuggling
Israel has said that it is holding an employee of the French consulate in Jerusalem on suspicion of smuggling weapons from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank. The French citizen, identified as Romain Franck, […]
French Intellectuals' Statement on Palestinian Child Detainees Published in 'Le Monde' (FULL TEXT)
French academics and writers published a collective letter in Le Monde on January 23, focusing on the case of Ahed Tamimi and the plight of the approximately 360 Palestinian child prisoners in Israeli prisons. The […]
French Municipality Recognizes Palestinian State
Patrice Leclerc, mayor of Gennevilliers, a northern suburb of Paris, on Friday announced his decision to recognize the state of Palestine saying that the decision will be officially signed next Monday. Leclerc said in a […]
France Condemns Israeli Plans to Build over 1,100 Units in 20 West Bank Settlements (VIDEO)
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday condemned the Israeli authorities' decision to allow more than 1,100 housing units to be built in 20 different West Bank settlements with some on private Palestinian lands. The […]


This project pouch measures 8" x 10 1/2". The perfect size to hold your fabric, thread, scissors, and pattern. It also has a wool magnetic zipper pull to hold your needle while stitching on the road. Don't fear the zipper! The directions have step by step illustrations.
This listing is for a paper pattern, paper pattern with magnet, or a digital PDF pattern.


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Home › Tracking & Law Enforcement
UK Government Proposes Digital Harms Legislation to Regulate Online Content
By Kevin Townsend on April 12, 2019
Two of the most powerful Ministers in the UK government, the secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the secretary of state for the Home Department, have published a document, titled Online Harms White Paper, designed to control content on the internet. Technically, this is a consultation document open to public comment until July 1, 2019; but it clearly forms the basis of intended legislation: "Following the publication of the Government Response to the consultation, we will bring forward legislation when parliamentary time allows."
The document (PDF) describes a new internet regulatory regime designed to prevent online abuse of children, vulnerable people, and even democracy (fake news). It takes its lead from the EU's GDPR, and even proposes an independent regulator similar in vein to the GDPR regulator (the Information Commissioner's Office -- ICO). If this becomes law, it will have ramifications for the entire global internet.
The basic principle is to make websites responsible for the legality of user-generated content, and in doing so to force the companies concerned to better 'police' what appears on their websites. In theory, this will prevent hate speech, bullying, terrorist recruitment, self-harm advice and anything else the government classifies as contributing to online harm.
The intention of the UK government is well-received. "There are many caveats here about what creating a new regulatory body will actually entail," Nathan Wenzler, senior director of cybersecurity at Moss Adams told SecurityWeek, "and how far the government can or should go to require companies to deal with harmful content in a more consistent and thorough manner. But, if even a portion of what is recommended here is done, we could see a significant reduction in child exploitation, terrorist activity, cyberstalking and harassment, black market activities and much more."
It is also seen as the spark that might ignite a more global approach to tackling online harms. "I see the UK's actions to combat and regulate online harms to be just as impactful and trendsetting as GDPR was for privacy," said David Ginsburg, VP of marketing at Cavirin. "It should really serve as a foundation and a framework for action within the EU and even in the US. The positive outcome will be that the internet properties, in having to comply with the proposed UK regulations, will by necessity have to raise their standards globally, much like their response to GDPR."
Matt Walmsley, EMEA director at Vectra, notes that artificial intelligence is both the cause and cure for some of the problems. "We've already seen with the Cambridge Analytica scandal that the speed and scale at which data is now processed and acted upon can have significant societal impact. Much of these new capabilities are underpinned with artificial intelligence." But he adds, "using AI to help spot low provenance 'Fake News' is a likely technical response we can expect from content platform providers."
One of the big concerns about this proposed legislation is that it could easily deteriorate into a form of censorship. It would be for the regulator, ultimately responsible to parliament, to decide what should or should not be allowed. The UK has no legal right to freedom of expression similar to the First Amendment. It is signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, where Article 10 gives everyone the right to freedom of expression; but this is then taken away again in the next paragraph: "The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society..."
Jim Killock and Amy Shepherd, both of the Open Rights Group, wrote, "If it's drawn narrowly so that it only bites when there is clear evidence of real, tangible harm and a reason to intervene, nothing much will change. However, if it's drawn widely, sweeping up too much content, it will start to act as a justification for widespread internet censorship."
As ambitious as this proposal is, there are those who think it doesn't go far enough -- even from within the wider UK government. Lord Gilbert of Panteg, chairman of the Lords Communications Committee, commented in a statement, "I welcome the Government's White Paper... [but]... The need for further regulation of the digital world goes beyond online harms, however. A comprehensive new approach to regulation is needed to address the diverse range of challenges that the internet presents, such as misuse of personal data and the concentration of digital markets."
His committee published its own proposal, in March 2019, 'Regulating in a digital world'. It comprises ten wide-ranging principles for a new approach to regulating the internet and covering areas like accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights and equality.
The bottom line for any legislation is, however, its enforcement. Without effective enforcement, a law might as well not exist. The authors of this document clearly have GDPR in mind (it is mentioned several times) for both local and international enforcement -- so we can expect any ensuing legislation to come with fines set at a similar level. However, the document notes that "under GDPR, the extent of compliance by companies based outside the EEA is still relatively untested."
"Legislation is often a blunt tool, and could only be part of a solution, but it's the most obvious one for a government to wield," comments Vectra's Walmsley. The danger is that a blunt tool is only able to strike large targets -- such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn -- that have a UK presence. This is politically acceptable, and appears to address the problem; but is likely to miss the myriad small and private websites located around the world that spread hate, terrorism, racism, child pornography and more.
The UK has no practical jurisdiction over foreign websites, that could be located in countries with strong freedom of expression laws, or rogue nations with zero incentive to cooperate. The only enforcement possible against such websites would be to block them at ISP level. This is already legally possible -- but ineffective. Consider The Pirate Bay. Technically, this is blocked within the UK. At the time of writing, it is possible to access https://thepiratebay.org/ from the UK.
One approach taken by the site is to keep changing its URL, so that ISPs need to change what they block. But even when it is blocked, it can still be accessed via a VPN -- or via a constantly changing range of foreign proxy sites that are not blocked.
The UK government had planned to introduce a 'porn pass' scheme at the beginning of April (now thought to be delayed until the end of April). The idea is simple. ISPs are to block access to porn sites unless the user has legally acquired a porn pass.
VPN expert Ray Walsh from BestVPN.com blogged in March pointing out that tech-savvy kids will just use a VPN to by-pass the blocks. "What's more, because young people are often more tech-literate -- it seems likely that they will be among the first to bypass UK porn blocks altogether. This means that the very teenagers the porn block is meant to protect from age-inappropriate content will probably be the first to work out how to access it."
Exactly the same principle will apply to any site blocked at the ISP level. If someone wants to access an extreme right-wing hate site, he or she will still do so via a VPN. The only solution to this would be to ban VPNs -- just as China does (and it still doesn't work). The irony in the Online Harms White Paper is that it may end up controlling only those large tech giants that are genuinely -- although perhaps not yet very successfully -- attempting to conform to government wishes. The small and more nasty hate and terrorism sites may remain largely unaffected.
Related: Is Facebook Out of Control? Investigations and Complaints Are Rising
Related: 'Digital Gangsters': UK Wants Tougher Rules for Facebook
Related: Facebook Faces Criminal Probe of Data Deals: Report
Related: Wickr Announces General Availability of Anti-Censorship Tool


The Doctor of Philosophy (PHD) in Educational Research program is located in Memorial Hall. It's worth noting, too, that the identical attitude is not unknown in philosophy; Simmel is reputed to have mentioned a century or so in the past that philosophy is its own first problem. As a result of training is an applied philosophy of philosophy, while philosophy different circulation, then in any philosophy of education we are going to discover a wide range of streams, at the least as a lot flowlack of philosophy itself. To try complete coverage of how philosophers of training have been working inside this thicket can be a quixotic activity for a large single volume and is out of the query for a solitary encyclopedia entry. I significantly agree with Einstein, that training (and teaching college students philosophy from a young age) has two central functions regarding the person and their society.
I ought to add that an outcomes based system also has quite a few problems, as it is tough to ensure a uniform quality of training. Even more fertile floor for remark, in recent years, has been Rousseau's proposal for the training of girls, developed in a bit of the novel (E book V) that bears the title of the younger woman who's destined to be Emile's soul-mate, Sophie. Plato's writings include a number of the following concepts: Elementary schooling would be confined to the guardian class till the age of 18, followed by two years of compulsory navy training after which by larger education for those who certified. But it is going to be even better if all the above philosophy could be mutually complement. To begin, it's useful to briefly summarise my upbringing as this further explains my interest in education.
Nonetheless, in the twentieth century philosophy of training tended to be developed in faculties of schooling in the context of what's called foundations of schooling, thus linking it with different components of the discipline of education-instructional history, psychology, and sociology-rather than with different elements of philosophy.
Part of the explanation for this diffuse state of affairs is that, fairly fairly, many philosophers of training have the purpose (bolstered by their institutional affiliation with Schools of Education and their involvement within the initial training of academics) of contributing not to philosophy however to educational coverage and observe.
The essential impulse, like the analytical one, shares the attribute of attempting to clear the bottom of misconceptions and ideologies, where these misrepresent the needs and pursuits of disadvantaged groups; just like the prescriptive impulse, the essential impulse is driven by a optimistic conception of a better, extra simply and equitable, society.


Individuals who live in or travel a great deal in their boat knows how important it is to have ideal docking for them. Each area has different features and regulations, so you must do your research for that particular area before seeking out space.
Located at the North side of Greenwood Lake in New York, Willow Point Marina is a gorgeous spot to dock your boat. There are 150 slips that are a part of this full service marina that can be used during the winter and summer. The marina also features a full-time mechanic, gas services, restrooms, showers and various other amenities. Willow Point has amazing views of the lake and mountains, along with park-like grounds.
If you become a member of the Bakers Marina Group, you can enjoy many benefits. As a slip holder at one of the marinas in the group, you can use all three of them whenever you wish. Not only will you find it a desirable location for docking purposes, you also can take advantage of the excellent fishing for Striped Bass, Blue Craw crab and more.
It is necessary to have basic auto insurance coverage for your watercraft policy in every state. The Windermere Insurance agency serves Greenwood Lake NY, and offers different types of policies to suit your needs. Liability coverage is necessary to protect your assets. Physical damage coverage will help cover the costs of physical damages to your watercraft. Add fuel spill liability to your policy to cover any fines as a result of accidental leaks or spills. Learn about all coverages that are available from Windermere Insurance by reaching out. Request a quote with ease right on the website today.


Mizzou students protested similar incidents of racism on campus in 2015.
The University of Missouri has suspended its Delta Upsilon fraternity chapter after reports that members shouted racist and sexist epithets at members of a black student government group, The Columbia Daily Tribune reported.
The move came hours after Delta Upsilon's International also suspended the chapter as a result of the alleged incident, which took place at 11:50 p.m. on September 27, according to a statement by the group allegedly targeted, the Legion of Black Collegians.
A group of six to seven white male and female students shouted, "look at those n------ looking at us," according to the statement. Nearby police reportedly approached and intended to deescalate, when members members of Delta Upsilon shouted, "'Mizzou PC, c----, B-----, N------' and a plethora of other micro-aggressions," the statement continued.
The incident comes almost exactly a year after a similar racial incident sparked mass tension on Mizzou's Columbia, Missouri, campus in September 2015.
Tensions continued to rise when the Legion of Black Collegians was targeted with hate speech in October. The students were rehearsing for a play when an inebriated white male used racial slurs against them, according the Columbia Missourian.
Students rebuffed the Mizzou administration for a lack of action, and athletes of color on the Missouri football team pledged not to play football until university president, Tim Wolfe, resigned or was fired. Wolfe stepped down in November.
This time, Mizzou administrators seem keen to get in front of the alleged situation and disparage any acts of racism.
"I am outraged and saddened to hear of this!" Interim Chancellor Hank Foley said, according to the Tribune. "The University of Missouri is committed to fostering an inclusive campus environment where all students, faculty, staff and visitors can live, learn, work and feel safe."
Mizzou's diversity officer is set to meet with the students allegedly targeted in the incident.
Mizzou did not immediately respond to our request for comment.


A bequest is a gift made through a will or trust, to take effect upon a donor's death, and is a practical way to make a meaningful financial contribution to Redwood without affecting the donor's current financial position. A bequest may be for a specific amount, for a percentage of the donor's estate, or for part or all of what remains of the estate after other bequests are carried out. Whether unrestricted or designated, bequests can help to reduce the donor's taxable estate. Please remember to contact your legal advisor to prepare your will or trust.