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CAT Tracks for October 4, 2010
MY "EUREKA!" MOMENT |
...occurred at approximately 5 a.m.
Fortunately, I was sitting fully clothed at the computer at the time, so my neighborhood was spared the naked truth...
The tempest in the teapot of last week...the political controversy over an off-hand comment by yours truly in CAT Tracks.
On a slow news day...make that a NO NEWS DAY...my idle paws (the Devil's tools?) did "Google" Republican Candidate for Illinois Governor Bill Brady.
I clicked on the Bill Brady link for "en.wikipedia.org"...the online encyclopedia.
WHOA! there, Ron...
CAT TRACKS EDITOR'S NOTE:
After last week, I'd better STOP...and provide a big ol' DISCLAIMER...a "WHOA! Moment" before I get to my "EUREKA! Moment".
Wikipedia IS touted as an online encyclopedia. In fact, it is my source of choice on people, places, or events of interest. However, it is my understanding that this "encyclopedia" is written by volunteers and is NOT NECESSARILY ACCURATE.
So the "political position" below may or may not be the actual position of Bill Brady.
(EXTRA NOTE: The reason I "Googled" was that I had already visited the official Bill Brady For Governor website and there was no link showing his positions on education.)
Anyway, here is what prompted my "Ah-Ha! Moment" (figure that's "Eureka!" while fully clothed and remaining at the computer instead of running down the street.)
Brady supports replacing the Illinois State Board of Education, with a smaller agency that receives half of the current $80 million funding, or $40 million.[7][11]
Brady believes that intelligent design, which he has described as "in other words, teaching the Bible", should be taught in public schools, saying that "we should teach the Bible in our schools. One of the basic, fundamental voids we have in our school system is bringing God into the system." In a follow-up interview, he explained: "I certainly believe that local school boards should have the opportunity to teach kids about the Bible, just as they ought to be able to teach them about the Koran." He added: "I believe in school prayer. I think that local school boards should be able to dictate that they start the day with prayer."[12][13]
Brady supports competition in elementary and secondary education and, "either through board action or citizens initiative", school districts funding the tuition to private schools, at a rate that is, at minimum, what the state provides to the school district.[14]
I have seen the light...
Bill Brady is a "prayer-in-public-schools" advocate...sees himself as doing "God's Work". Needless to say, he would take offense to me labeling him "The Anti-Christ" for his other views toward education and teachers and teachers' pensions!
My bad!
My fellow Illinoisans...
Come November 2nd...VOTE!
NOT for Bill Brady...even though he is apparently a man of God. (Since his position on the pensions of teachers who are already retired and can't choose to unretire strikes terror in my heart, I'd be inclined to label him a terrorist...but, since Republicans have already usurped that label for public school teachers and their unions, well, I guess I'm at a loss for labels. Just say "NO" to Brady Bunch!)
NOT for a third-party candidate...who will not win.
VOTE for Sheila Simon's running mate!
OOPS!
Went back to the Brady Web Site...
Found this:
Education
The Bill Brady plan to reform education in Illinois starts with a clean break from the rigid educational structure of today with the transformation of the State Board of Education. Doing so will give local school officials, teachers and parents a greater voice in the operation of their local schools.
Bill will create a downsized department under the Governor to administer the financial disbursement of resources, helping school districts in a way that will ensure more dollars go to the classroom and not to educational administration expense.
Bill is an advocate of greater parental choice in education, giving parents and students more opportunity for education outside their neighborhood public schools, either through an increased number of competitive charter schools, which he has sponsored, or increased education tax credits.
The Bill Brady plan supports, if a school district deems it necessary, through board action or citizens initiative, the opportunity to offer tuition scholarships or vouchers to the students in that district to attend a private school. The voucher would be at a minimum level equal to the state support of that school district. Bill believes these programs are important if we are to ensure that our school systems, both private and public, are operated at the highest level of efficiency and excellence.
In higher education, Bill as Governor will restore state funding our state universities and community colleges cut by previous administrations as a means to make a college education more affordable for more Illinois students and provide greater opportunities for ongoing retraining of the state’s workforce. He will also promote programs and partnerships that utilize our higher education system as laboratories for entrepreneurship, innovation and research.
Compare the Brady/Plummer plan for education to the Quinn/Simon proposal
Since I was so dutiful in returning to the Brady Web Site and so honest in reporting my faux pas, I feel entitled to an addendum from Wikipedia:
Brady's running mate is twenty-eight-year-old political novice Jason Plummer, who has been employed for several years as vice president in his father's chain of lumber yards.[33]
Had to chuckle...
I mean...couldn't Bill Brady find someone else to run with him???
Oh, wait...a John McCain/Sarah Palin flashback!
I get it...
He picked "Jason...the Plummer".
Probably Joe, the plumber's son!
I am Ron Newell. Since I own this website and write all the articles without any authorization from the Cairo Association of Teachers or the Illinois Education Association or the National Education Association...well, I guess I must approve this message!
Education
Running mate
