The Indianapolis Star political columnist for the Haves
writes another one on cue:
There’s been a lot of chatter lately about the concept of having the governor appoint, rather than having the voters elect, Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction . . .
I’ve long supported the idea of having governors appoint the state schools chief . . .
Why? Because education is the most important issue facing Indiana, and a governor should be the clear leader on it. A governor should be judged heavily on his or her education agenda, and on the performance of the state’s schools.
I'm surprised they haven't offered him a job yet as reliable as he is.
19 comments:
HOLY CRAP!!! Has Tully lost a screw in his brain! genuflect, genuflect, genuflect!
Gary talked to a charter cop at FACE (my older sons boy cat Simba was terrorizing my two females) and he said all the kids that get kicked out of IPS go to the charter schools. Same thing happens in the burbs Roncalli and Lew High get a bunch of kids the public schools won't take. It's about the kids damn it! Ritz knows that but Pence and his minions just worry about the money and who they send it to! Doug Mason even posted it on his blog comments!
Gary, the scumball protected teachers will continue to elect officials who protect their monopoly, low standards and poor results. Teachers have their hands in the education till more than any other class.
Democracy is a very bad idea. In a Republic, elected officials appoint administrative officers.
We don't need teachers voting their sinecures.
Only in Indiana : "Democracy is a very bad idea"
These same people say that we should have school choice. But too much choic is a bad thing. Awful awful awful!
Fascists!
Indiana: the democracy-free state.
Free us from Democracy!
Democracy is tyranny!
Anon 10:06 as you might recall it was the majority of HOOSIER VOTERS that elected Ritz, not teachers. Really what you probably mean is "scumball voters" not "scumball teachers". Why are there so people in Indiana that think that some voters are less equal than others? And more importantly, why don't they learn to ...
Look at the cover-up "investigation" the state legislation concocted to support Bennett!!!! Do you think he would have been thrown out by anything other than sunshine and a fair election?! What would our state look like in ten years if someone like him had gone unchecked?! Shame on you!
There is such a contempt for teachers, when really it's the bad apples you hear about. Who doesn't personally know a handful of public school teachers that defy the common misconception of all public school teachers?
As for Tully. He actually has the nerve the recommend that we further dismantle democracy in Indiana.
Enough with the Star. Officially cancelling my subscription.
Math challenged: a "majority" of Hoosiers did not elect Ritz, unless she received over 3 million votes.
...hello, get me Ripley's Believe It or Not! -I have to report this is the first time I've agreed with Tully.
Anonymous 11:21 (a/k/a "Cato"): The Superintendent of Public Instruction should NOT be an elected position.
Your assertion that "Why are there so people in Indiana that think that some voters are less equal than others?" is off the mark. This issue is that voters don't currently task the Superintendent with a vision and mission to carry out, they elect someone to office based on politics (ie: what's in it for me?). As others have posted here, statewide speaking teachers have something in it for them...
That job best be accountable to The Governor to implement his vision and carry out his goals because education is the most important issue facing Indiana, and a governor should be the clear leader on it. A governor should be judged heavily on his or her education agenda, and on the performance of the state’s schools.
I can think of no valid reason to elect that position...and placating the ISTA is not a valid reason.
Anon 1:28 -You can label me as "math challenged" or a low information voter, or whatever condescending nonsense helps you sleep at night, however here are the facts
"Not only did Bennett lose [to Ritz], but his opponent had garnered more votes than governor-elect Mike Pence (R)." (HuffPo, 2012)
But let's parse words unnecessarily so that you can continue to hate me, (instead of a government that has betrayed you) -semantically you're right; the majority of Hoosier VOTERS elected Ritz, by a higher percentage than voters elected Pence or Donnelly.
It is a gross oversimplification to say that what the people need is less democracy, not more -and it is dismissive of what this country is supposed to be about. I would much rather see the present standstill than have more of the same of what Bennett and his disgusting and greedy cronies were serving up the families of Indiana. Thank you Jesus for Glenda Ritz and her shining a light in an area where it was needed most!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/glenda-ritz-superintendent-for-public-instruction_n_2089866.html
oh wait look at that: i did say Hoosier Voters. Nevermind. Jackass.
Indiana voters elected Glenda Ritz as our new Superintendent of Public Instruction by a large margin. She received roughly 1,300,000 votes--about 100,000 more votes than the governor-elect, Mike Pence. Now, however, Governor Daniels refuses to acknowledge that our election of Glenda Ritz sent a clear message on the direction of school reform, saying instead: "The consensus and momentum for reform and change in Indiana is rock solid." Governor-elect Mike Pence is also choosing to interpret the election results as a "strong affirmation on the progress of education reform in this state," (Journal Gazette 11/8/12). On the contrary: when Indiana voters elected Glenda Ritz as superintendent, we rejected the top-down, corporate reform model imposed by the state. We embraced Ritz's platform and her research-backed proposals to support and improve our public schools.
Democracy in action! Woohoo!
http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-daniels-governor-elect-pence-the-indiana-state-legislature-honor-our-1-300-000-votes-for-glenda-ritz
http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2393.htm
who's math challenged? what's 4.5/2? That would be about 2.25 + a little more to make a majority of you have 100% voter participation. But you know that already, as you have superior intellectual skills and are here to rescue us from the tyranny of democracy. Any other gems you'd like to give away?
this is what is so awful about the present state of Hoosier politics Anon 4:59. When democratic elections yield results that don't satisfy "the agenda", Indiana Republicans find ways to undermine democracy in order to enforce "the agenda". Shouldn't they be advocating what the voters are saying with who they elect? Ritz's sucess could not have been a clearer mandate on what THE PEOPLE of Indiana want, Pence and his cronies be damned!
You say: This issue is that voters don't currently task the Superintendent with a vision and mission to carry out, they elect someone to office based on politics (ie: what's in it for me?).
-funny because that's my perception of Pence's appointees
-and, I think Ritz was very clear about her platform. Perhaps you accuse others what you are most guilty of?
-Why should so much control go to the Governor? Heck why not just have one election in the entire state for Governor and let his administration appoint all of our officials, statewide a locally?!
-you speak with certainty, but there isnt substance to what you are saying -it's all impression and vitriol against teachers and non-crony loving voters.
And I'm not Cato. I have no idea who that is. But then again why let the truth get in the way of your attacks?
Thank you Glenda Ritz for getting in the way of the profiteering agenda that is killing our educational system! Do what you can!
Anonymous 6:38: Allow me to clarify your erroneous comment. The election of Ritz did NOT mandate what The People of Indiana want, it mandated what the ISTA wanted.
The Governor is elected to be the Chief Executive of The State of Indiana. -Having an elected Superintendent of Public Instruction means that the chief executive lacks an important influence on the course our State is headed.
I support changing law to have The Superintendent of Public Instruction be a part of The Governor's appointments.
8:19.
Your comments, unfortunately, are beneath consideration.
When democratic elections yield results that don't satisfy "the agenda", Indiana Republicans find ways to undermine democracy in order to enforce "the agenda".
Nothing could be more un-American than that.
Period.
Go teach over 120 kids a day when your assistant has been cut. Would you like to grade 100 papers for home work. The teachers are organized and working their asses off in my schools. They work 10 times harder then almost all college professors. Damn they have to put up with kids that are abused, delinquent, disturbed, indifferent and just plain unmotivated. But there are the good kids that make teaching in the high school and the lower grades so rewarding!
Pat's latest on why it's so essential to get teachers out of teaching.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/2013/12/patrick-j-buchanan/is-the-us-a-90-pound-weakling/
Guy, don't confuse activity with work. This admonition applies to both sides of the lectern.
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