text:
|Large oil painting on plywood
Angie Villa Art & Education
Saving art in public schools while stopping corporate education deform.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Vanitas 2
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 11:39 AM No comments: Links to this post
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Why Choice Won't Improve Public Education
|"My Old School Is Gone", mixed media collage, by Angie Villa
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 9:51 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: art work by angie villa, ASD, charter schools, reform
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Working With Autistic Students K-2
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 3:23 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, student work
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
A Paraprofessional Speaks Out: "This is the Job of a Teacher"
|Paras help me teach my Pre-K lessons
" I have been a para in Missouri for 5 years (this coming year is my 6th). I was a SPED para for 4 years and was a classroom para (more of a teacher's aide) for the past year and will be again this year. Last year, I had my own classroom, which I decorated and managed, planned my own lessons, and took 9 reading groups of 6 kids each, 1 math class of 21 children, and 1 intervention group of 8 children in my day. Like any other teacher, I have a plan time in addition to my lunch--because I need it. I plan all of my own lessons for each reading group, on different reading levels, each math group and each intervention group. I go to the teacher professional development and provide anecdotal notes as well as data for teachers.
This job is the job of a teacher. I make less than 12K a year. I spend nights at home grading, working on lessons and free days organizing and decorating my classroom. Schools are realizing that if they call a position "para" they can pay whatever they want...and it's not right.
As a SPED para, I did as much work. I learned sign language for one of my kids, because no one gave him any kind of communication device and he was nonverbal. I planned his communication lessons, and rather than the SPED teacher, I was the one who met with his SLP and the district Autism Specialist about him. His mother addressed her notes to me rather than to his teachers. Again, I got paid next to nothing.
In Missouri, I am eligible for food stamps. It's not right that I do the things I do and still make so little that the state has determined that I cannot feed myself on my own salary. Not only that, but I often feel discarded because I am a para. At professional development recently, the end of the day came and an activity was still going on, a "team" activity, but an announcement came on: "Paras are dismissed. Activities will continue after you have clocked out." Why not just say, "Paras are dismissed...you don't matter and we don't want to pay you anymore."?
I have 2 Master's degrees in addition to my undergrad. I am an educated, smart person and I strive every day to make a difference to kids, but I cannot feed myself and clothe myself and put a roof over my own head. I fear I might have to quit because of these things...but the saddest part is, the district doesn't care. They'll hire anyone else with 60 college credit hours and say "whatever."
It burns me to the core to think of how undervalued paras are."
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 9:44 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: budget cuts, reform
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
A Simple Landscape
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 10:04 AM No comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
A Failure to Lead in Allentown SD
|Where was admin. support for our elementary art show?
As a current substitute teacher, former ASD teacher, and a parent, I see the overall damage caused by the mass elimination of teachers. The decision to cut even more teachers is short-sighted and immoral. These cuts don't heal, children only get this one chance at an education. This is a failure in leadership of school board, and ASD central administration.
This past school year my active 7th grade son was robbed of physical education/health class all year, because PE teachers were cut. No tech ed class for my son. The beautiful school library is dark, art and music teachers slashed to .5 teacher to serve over 900 students, but they keep piling on the reading/math, and other content classes, even though kids cannot concentrate at end of long day of seat work. This is a disservice to children, not age appropriate, it's even abusive. Teachers are stretched too thin. Schools have become unsafe due to understaffing. Kids are not happy. It's a failure to lead our district.
I taught art as a long term sub at 3 ASD elementary schools, seeing 2,000 students. These sweet children saw me only once every 3 weeks. I was unable to get to know them. But I do know that they are suffering because of cuts to related arts. Arts/PE programs are critical to a child's overall health and development. These programs have always been essential to public schools. They bring joy and teach important skills. These classes must be taught by certified specialists. So why is our superintendent, Dr. Mayo, courting an arts academy charter school, for select "talented" young children, instead of restoring certified arts teachers so every child has an opportunity? I find his efforts to be immoral, and not in best interest of majority of students he serves. A real leader would be fighting, and finding ways to reinstate our arts teachers, to minimize testing, working to put a stop to unproven common core, which is diverting millions of dollars away from our classrooms. Dr. Mayo did not attend the opening of the elementary student art show, neither did our school board. In fact, the only administrator in attendance was the ASD's former arts coordinator, who is now an assistant principal. There were no administrators at the Trexler Middle School Spring Concert. Again, failed leadership, no real support for our arts programs, and demoralizing for teachers and students who work so hard.
Access to books is critical to improving literacy for children of poverty, yet our board approved cuts to librarians, with no plans to restore those positions. Failed leadership.
We need more Special Ed and Emotional Support help. Support is SO critical. Para professionals are paid less than 12k per year to start, while Dr. Mayo makes over 170k! And he plans on taking a salary increase this year! And there are plans to cut special ed teachers and paras. This is a failure to lead, and a failure to protect our children.
There is no shortage of funding for shiny new unproven common core textbooks and materials, a new STEM coordinator, supervisors of instruction, other administrators who don't work directly with students. Why isn't anyone questioning the validity of new standards? How will college and career standards help our students? STEM is a joke, since science is barely taught in elementary school, and tech ed has been cut, librarians cut. ASD has narrowed the curriculum, cut teachers and essential programs, so how does this prepare kids for college? Where is the early intervention? ASD has cut vital Pre-K program. Another failure to lead our district, and mismanagement of funds.
Over $30 million being diverted to flavor of the day charter schools, which appeal to parents because these schools can exclude students with behavior issues, and they offer smaller class sizes. These new "schools" take more vital resources away from neediest students at our neighborhood schools. The charter schools may seem appealing and customized, but children should be offered a well rounded curriculum, they are too young to be focusing on a career path at school. And the high quality schooling that parents want for their own child, they should want for every child. Most charter schools hire young, inexperienced teachers, pay them less than traditional public schools, and don't provide special education or ESL services. They are run by non-educators, and overall, students at charters do not outperform students at regular public schools. Plus, these de-facto private schools increase racial segregation, and promote inequality. I try to convince parents to stay and fight to improve the neighborhood schools, which are a foundation of democracy, but few share my point of view, and ASD has become unsafe. I don't blame parents for wanting to protect their children. How long can we stay committed to a district the keeps cutting teachers?
The larger political plan is to starve neighborhood schools, creating a need for charters, run by business men and huck$ters who know nothing about teaching. Most charter schools are SCAMS. The "executive education" school is a joke, and it is inappropriate to train Kindergarteners to be business executives, and to teach primary grade children how to create spreadsheets. Why didn't anyone question the name and mission of this school? And I see they are heavily promoting their full day Kindergarten, for future "executives". They bought a curriculum at last minute, and ASD board approved the school. The school is based on a misguided goal- to meet Allentown's need for skilled workers in the new NIZ (Neighborhood improvement Zone). What if those jobs don't materialize? A school should be focused on meeting STUDENT needs.This is NOT public education. I don't know how any teacher worth their degree could support this school's mission.
The community is being duped into believing that choice will benefit all children. What about the 700 homeless kids in ASD, how will choice help them? And busing kids out of their neighborhoods to charters does not help strengthen our community. ASD students must walk across dangerous intersections and long stretches because the district does not provide busing for majority of students. This is a failure in leadership at all levels of government, and Democrats no longer stand for democratic values and principles. Where is the shared humanity, the concern for the greater good? Where is the leadership?
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 9:52 AM 3 comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, ASD school board, budget cuts, charter schools, common core
Monday, June 16, 2014
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Grade 1 Funny Fish Paintings
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 6:13 PM No comments: Links to this post
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Fish in Coral Reef, Grade 4
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 5:20 PM No comments: Links to this post
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Full Day Kindergarten Should Not Focus on Academics
|What Kindergarteners should be doing
I think that a full day kindergarten, with a focus on academics, is a bad idea. And what's an even worse practice is how schools target those so called academically "at risk" kids for full day K. Many of these children are not developmentally ready for a full day of school. Every young child should be given the chance to progress at his or her own rate. I don't believe children will fall behind if they are not reading and writing at age 5. The current misguided trend of imposing "college and career ready" standards in the primary grades, is completely absurd, and not age appropriate. Kindergarten is now like 1st or even 2nd grade. These babies have been alive for only 5 short years!
When I attended Kindergarten in1970 we played, snacked, and napped, there was no guided reading or writing in journals. There were no worksheets, benchmark assessments, or requirement to learn 100 sight words. There was no timed testing for nonsense word fluency. The teacher did not sit at an overhead projector, she sat at the piano. There were class plays, dress up, dolls, blocks, kitchen sets, hula hoops, jump ropes, singing, show and tell. There was a big slide right inside the classroom! These are the things I fondly remember. I was ready for 1st grade. I turned out okay. Young children need time to play and explore. They WANT to play, and that's normal, because that's how young children learn. A full day of school is just too much. These children should not be pushed to do more work, follow a rigid schedule, or be punished for misbehaving. The focus of Kindergarten should be socialization, and adjusting to being at school.
I am going to rethink how I teach my art lessons to full day K classes, because I don't think it's right to expect 5 year old babies to sit quietly and follow directions at the end of a long school day, it's just not age appropriate. Some children are so small, they fall off stools or chairs in the classroom.They want to explore, investigate, and play, sometimes under the tables. I hate to see children crying at school, but it happens often.
Seems like full day K was designed to help parents more than children. I don't care what the research or data says about standardized test scores, or how inner city children benefit from full day K. I see the same behavior issues in every full day K class that I have taught. The expectations are unrealistic. Children have trouble listening and following directions. They want to play. All full day K programs should include an afternoon of napping, snacking, unstructured play, outdoor recess, singing, dress up, toys, blocks, painting at easels, and the classrooms should be set up in this way. That's not happening, and it's a tragedy.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:35 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: common core, NCLB, standardization, teaching philosophy
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Example for Van Gogh Lesson
This is a piece I made to use as a teaching example for a 1st grade lesson on Van Gogh. The vase is cut out from construction paper, and then I used oil pastels on blue construction paper. Please see right sidebar for more examples of my art work, or search label "art work by Angie Villa." Unfortunately I folded the paper to make it fit in my bag! I LOVE oil pastels, and use them often with my students.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 10:22 AM No comments: Links to this post
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
4th Grade Cityscape
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 6:55 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, student work
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Kids Need Art Class Once a Week
|3rd grade landscape, Van Gogh style
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:06 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, budget cuts, student work
Monday, January 20, 2014
Cutting Librarians From Allentown Schools is Undemocratic
Allentown SD is an 89% low SES/high poverty district where access to books is important to offset the impact of poverty on learning. Independent reading greatly improves literacy. These deep cuts will not heal, and our children only get this one chance at an education. They must be given opportunities to choose books at school, right now.
How can schools prepare children to be informed and engaged citizens in a democracy without access to books at school? It's undemocratic and immoral to cut librarians in schools that serve poor children, while schools that serve more affluent children employ full time librarians. Library funding should be increased, not decreased, in Allentown SD, where it is needed the most. My 7th grade son has taken out one book this entire school year. And it is unfair that our children will be denied a Book Fair this year. The Book Fair is a fun family/school event that children look forward to all year. Children should never suffer because of budget cuts and bad decisions by school board.
At a recent Trexler Middle School PTA meeting, parents expressed their concerns about the library. I encouraged parents to attend school board meetings and to speak up. Parents must demand reinstatement of certified librarians. Any state funding must be used to bring back librarians. Legislators must hear from parents. Every building should have a full time librarian. The library is the HEART of the school, it should never be closed! There will be no "renaissance" in Allentown without fully funded and fully staffed school libraries!
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 9:28 AM 4 comments: Links to this post
Thursday, January 2, 2014
My E-Z Draw a Bird
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 12:53 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: handouts
Friday, December 20, 2013
No More Charter Schools in Underfunded Allentown SD!
|4th grade student work, ASD
These four school board directors should be ashamed of themselves: David Zimmerman, Scott Armstrong, Mike Welsh, and Charlie Thiel. They voted FOR an arts academy for select, elite "talented" youngsters. The "arts academy" model does not accept children with behavior problems or special needs. Traditional public schools accept every child.The arts academy model does not even integrate the arts into other subject areas. Charter schools are business ventures, motivated by profit. The arts academy founder plans on expanding his school model to other states. All Allentown school board directors should be focused on reinstating related arts teachers, restoring the ASD's arts programs to what they were 4 years ago. No more charter schools in ASD! Currently ASD spends $19.6 million on charters, while barely able to deliver a basic education. Students are suffering in over crowded classrooms, with minimal opportunities to engage in creative learning activities.
Thank you board members who voted AGAINST the charter school: Joanne Bauer, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Debra Lamb, Ellen Bishop, Bob Smith, it was denied!!!
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 9:08 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, ASD school board, charter schools, student work
Monday, December 2, 2013
The Charade of Urban School Reform
The following scenario is playing out in urban schools across the country, not just in Allentown:
With continued reduction/elimination of art, music, social studies, library, electives, and physical education in urban public schools, kids have become unhappy and unhealthy. Implementation of tougher, unproven "college and career" standards, with increased and harder testing, in chronically underfunded and understaffed urban schools has resulted in these worst practices: For example, 12 year old children must sit for 7 periods of "rigorous" content classes per day. Teachers have told me that many young students are drained, have trouble concentrating in the afternoon, due to this developmentally inappropriate schedule and narrowed curriculum. Kids need breaks, daily exercise, and time to be creative at school.
Charter $chools are expanding to make up for the loss of arts/activities, further draining funds from neighborhood public schools. The Allentown SD currently loses close to $20 million to charter schools. This number is expected to go up to over $25million next year. This creates an unequal, undemocratic public school system, where the arts are reserved for the chosen elite. And expansion of charters promotes racial and socio-economic segregation. The best "choice" is always a fully funded, and fully staffed neighborhood school. Don't believe the rhetoric that choice means equality.
Certified arts teachers are being fired, while supervisors of instruction, PR director, and more administrators are being hired. Grossly underpaid and undervalued paraprofessionals keep school libraries open for elementary students to select books. The Allentown SD now has only one librarian for 15 elementary schools, in an 88% poverty/low SES district, where access to books is critical to reducing effects of poverty on learning. Middle school students rarely have an opportunity to take out library books. Cheaper outsourcing of arts, and bogus arts "integration" is being implemented, instead of hiring certified teachers. Our district spins this as "developing the whole child." Our superintendent is once again conducting a study to determine MINIMAL staffing needs, when he should be working on finding ways to restore what has been lost. Over 4 years, ASD has cut 371 positions, and there is a possibility that 94 more will be cut next year. Schools that serve impoverished children need much MORE than the minimum, in order to meet needs of students.
What can we do? Without a mass joint effort of parents, teachers, and students protesting at every school board meeting, I believe there are 2 things:
1: Parents can write/call local state legislators and demand that strings are attached to any money from the state, so that the money must be used to reinstate teachers. We must by-pass the Allentown School Board, and central administration, because they continue to ignore pleas from parents, and they continue to hire more overpaid administrators, while cutting essential teachers, and implementing unproven initiatives. State Rep Mike Schlossberg and Senator Pat Browne must hear from parents en masse. And vote out current school board members who approve cuts to teachers.
Teachers see that kids are drained, but per orders from central administration, they must pile on more reading, math, science content during "intervention and enrichment" periods. Teachers must comply to keep their jobs, and are observed closely by administrators, and told how they must teach the enrichment class. Teacher morale is low. Parents are not happy. Children suffer and hate school.
1: Parents can write/call local state legislators and demand that strings are attached to any money from the state, so that the money must be used to reinstate teachers. We must by-pass the Allentown School Board, and central administration, because they continue to ignore pleas from parents, and they continue to hire more overpaid administrators, while cutting essential teachers, and implementing unproven initiatives. State Rep Mike Schlossberg and Senator Pat Browne must hear from parents en masse. And vote out current school board members who approve cuts to teachers.
2. Opt your children out of ALL standardized testing, Go to Lehigh Valley Opt Out on Facebook, or UnitedOpt Out the National Movement for more information. Deny the politicians the flawed data that they are using to label schools, teachers, and students as failures. Say "not with my child!" End the charade.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:46 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, ASD school board, charter schools, common core
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Leave the Arts Alone!
|Joy of painting (Kindergarten lake scene)
These pompous corporate hacks who developed the CCSS (David D-Bag Coleman, Gates, etc.) don't even understand that certified art teachers already reinforce academic concepts, teach across the curriculum for deeper meaning, incorporate art criticism, assess during the lesson, and challenge students while using age appropriate methods. Leave the arts alone! What a huge waste of time and money. We don't need your stupid common core, just let us teach! And just let the kids enjoy learning! Experiences in the arts should never be "rigorous" or standardized!! Art has so much value in and of itself.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 10:13 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: common core, reform, student work, teaching philosophy
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Malala: Growing Peace
Malala Yousafzai, the courageous Pakistani girl who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban while trying to get an education, as my subject. I think she is a great role model for students, and she should have won the Nobel Peace Prize, even though she is a young 16 year old girl. She is planting the seeds of peace and equality by standing up for her human right to an education. It was difficult working on such a small canvas (8"x8") because I felt a bit constricted, and because I think large work has a bigger impact. I wanted to portray her as being soft, yet very powerful. The color green as a symbol of youth, growth, and hope. The flowers, also symbols of growth, are cut out images of the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a mixed media/acrylic painting on canvas. I hope someone wants to buy it!
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:50 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: art work by angie villa, ASD
Sunday, October 20, 2013
"Intervention and Enrichment"
|7th grade wire sculpture
Allentown SD middle school students used to participate in 2 related arts classes per school day. This year, they only get one related arts class, and the extra period is now being used for "intervention and enrichment." Related arts classes have been reduced by 50%, due to budget cuts and bad decisions by school board and ASD central administration. Currently, there is .5 art teacher to serve each middle school. There are over 900 students at Trexler Middle School. The .5 art teacher teaches three classes at Trexler, and then travels to Raub MS to teach three more classes each day. Some ASD middle school students will not even have an opportunity to see a certified art teacher at all this year. When I taught art in ASD (2001) we had 2.5 art teachers per middle school. Then it was reduced to 2, then 1, and now .5 over the past 12 years. What's next? NO art teachers?
My son (7th grade) will not have tech ed or family consumer science this year (two classes he enjoys) and will not have any physical education until 4th quarter. He has not had an opportunity to take out a library book. There are plans to hire paraprofessionals to work in the libraries, so students can take out books. Right now, enrichment class is used for extra reading, math, or science. The principal at Trexler has told me that since this is a new class, they are still figuring things out. So, as they figure things out, our kids miss out. Also, they are finding out which kids need "intervention" based on test scores and grades. I think ALL kids should have enrichment. It's not right that the kids who are struggling academically are excluded from enrichment. The school already offers free after school tutoring.
Middle school students need breaks from seat work. 7 periods of seat work per day, with only a short lunch break and no recess is not developmentally appropriate, and it is not healthy. The ASD's expectations of "increased rigor and college readiness" are unrealistic. 12 year old students do not need to be ready for college and career, or for competing in the global economy. They will burn out, misbehave, hate school, and not even want to go to college if ASD continues to pile on more reading and math, while decreasing related arts (also known as narrowing of curriculum). It's just a BAD idea, and it is the opposite of the district's stated goal "to develop the whole child." All kids, and especially those who struggle academically or behaviorally, need opportunities to discover their talents and strengths at school.
As the PTA artist in residence chairperson, I told our principal that the enrichment period lends itself to possible residency opportunities. Residencies should be supplemental and provide enrichment. Residencies should never take the place of certified arts specialists, who are trained to teach a high quality, age appropriate, and comprehensive arts program. Last year we had poetry and visual art residencies that went well and reinforced concepts learned in class. But I do not feel comfortable with a residency unless it is initiated by the teacher.
ASD must reinstate all certified related arts teachers immediately in order to truly work towards their goal of developing the whole child. I blame central administration and our school board for approving cuts to related arts teachers and essential programs. Our kids only get this one chance, and right now they are being denied a well rounded education. We don't need more administrators, or testing. We need more arts teachers. Our legislators must attach strings to any money given to ASD from the state, to make sure that the money is used to reinstate arts teachers. Parents, call representatives Pat Browne and Mike Schlossberg and tell them you want strings attached to the money. We must take back our schools. We must demand better leadership at all levels of government.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 7:23 PM 2 comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, budget cuts, student work
Monday, October 7, 2013
My Old School Is Gone (Black and White Version)
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 2:02 PM No comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Young Kids Don't Need to Be Ready for College
|My son, ready for 7th grade, just turned 12 yrs. old
Could someone please explain to me why it is so important for middle school children, ages 11,12 and 13 to be ready for college? I looked at my son's textbooks and they are from the College Board, to prepare kids for AP, PSAT, SAT, etc. With so much focus on who we want kids to be in the future, we lose sight of who they are right now- they are KIDS. Let them be kids and let them enjoy their childhood. My kid has to sit for 8 periods of seat work, and he told me that by 7th period he cannot concentrate. Kids need breaks, exercise, and activities every day to be healthy. I don't even think adults could sit for 8 periods a day. The expectations are unrealistic. This is why I don't like Common Core and "rigor".
Ask yourself, with the school push to college, what is your student missing out on with their journey through life today? Will they later hate school because they missed out on the joys of childhood? Let's let our children be children. It goes by much too fast already." Nancy Bailey
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:39 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: common core, duncan, reform, standardization, testing
Sunday, August 18, 2013
E-Z Draw an Elephant
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 6:00 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: handouts, student work
Monday, August 5, 2013
Dishonesty Is Not Best School Policy
The ASD has greatly reduced its related arts (art, music, PE, library) offerings taught by certified teachers, and has completely eliminated elementary school librarians. For the last 2 years, young students saw a certified art teacher only 9 times per school year. This year, there will be one art teacher for every 3 elementary schools, working on a crazy rotation schedule. Middle school related arts will be reduced by 50%. The district almost completely eliminated the elementary related arts staff, but at the last minute got some money from the state, and a few of the arts teachers were saved. This will be the third year of reduced arts. There have been hundreds of changes to teacher and principal assignments, which adds to the instability in our district, and is especially harmful to disadvantaged children. These changes will also negatively impact the quality of arts education. These changes negatively impact the student/teacher relationships which are built on trust and respect, and which are necessary for students to succeed.
Instead of finding ways to fully restore arts teachers and provide our students with the same opportunities as neighboring suburban public schools, ASD superintendent Russ Mayo supports a new "arts academy" elementary charter school, for select talented youngsters. Opportunistic charter school operators and local business/real estate moguls are positioned to fill the ASD's arts/PE educational gap. As an art educator, I believe an "arts academy" for elementary students is an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money because all young students should have access to quality arts programs at traditional public schools. The arts should not be reserved for the elite. Public schools are supposed to promote and preserve equality of opportunity.
Charters, either for profit or so called non-profit, can pick and choose best students, follow different rules than regular public schools, while funneling public money into private coffers with little public oversight. Applying business/market principles to public education has led to fraud and cheating. Charters are really private schools since they can skim best students. Public schools accept all children. And school choice rarely benefits disadvantaged students, it actually increases racial segregation and destabilizes urban neighborhoods. We must preserve and strengthen the existing neighborhood schools, since they are the anchors of the community. Mayo is promoting inequality and he should be fired.
It appears that the new website and a new ASD Facebook page (to promote the new school uniform policy) is the work of the new PR director/spin doctor, recently hired by ASD at a salary of 88k, twice a teacher's salary, while arts teachers were cut. A move that speaks to ASD's misplaced priorities. We know what the students will be wearing this coming school year, how about telling us what they will be learning? Here's a link to the website page: http://www.allentownsd.org/domain/1832
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:57 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, budget cuts, charter schools
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Children Must Not Feel Pain of Budget Cuts
|My son and honor student at the Trexler MS Science Fair
The community has spoken, Brave parents have made passionate pleas at several packed board meetings. We have rallied, and we have written letters. Some of us have been very active and dedicated to this cause since the first round of cuts to related arts 2 years ago. I have met with Dr. Belardi ( salary $132.5K) and other top administrators to discuss my concerns about the harmful narrowing of curricula. The Muhlenberg PTA met with Dr. Mayo (salary $170K) and presented a resolution to restore the arts and he told me "don't treasure what can't be measured." Appalling!
The majority of board members, and many administrators have ignored parents. ASD school board director David Zimmerman said that teachers are the "lowest priority" in our school district budget. Board member Scott Armstrong said that given rising pension and other employee costs, he does not support restoring any teaching positions and would put the entire $9.6 million in state aid toward restoring reserves and reducing the tax hike. They must immediately be removed from our school board.
There should be no debate. Providing a quality education to our children, as mandated by the state's constitution, is top priority, and ASD cannot fulfill the state's obligation without teachers. Robbing children of their education in order to reduce taxes is criminal. And only the worst criminals rob children. There should not be a two tiered public education system where urban students sit in overcrowded test prep factories, while other kids enjoy the arts and a safe, rich learning environment. Armstrong and ZImmerman are promoting inequality! They should both "share the pain" of being booted off the board and publicly shamed for their cruelty to children.
Parents, it's time to get angry, be a badass, and take back our schools! There is strength in numbers! Write letters. Speak up, speak loud, and speak often.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 8:29 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, ASD school board, budget cuts, protests
Monday, July 1, 2013
Dear ASD Board: Use $9.6 Million in State Aid to Reinstate Teachers
|Student work ASD
Dear Allentown School Board Director:
I am writing to you as a concerned parent. I am concerned about my child's future and the future of our school district. All ASD students must be provided with a quality public education, as mandated by the state constitution. Students must be your top priority, regardless of the dire financial situation of ASD. There should be no debate about priorities.
Please make sure the $9.6 million in state aid is used to reinstate teachers. My suggestion is to start at the elementary level to bring back librarians. Full restoration of related arts in middle school, and at all grade levels is of utmost importance as well. Middle school children should not be forced to sit for an additional period of reading and math test prep while parents are told this is "enrichment." I have had enough, and will not stand for the implementation of anymore schemes to improve test scores while the curriculum is narrowed.
Please end data driven instruction, high stakes testing, and other highly flawed methods that do not improve academic achievement, and diminish a child's joy for learning. The ASD administration's business model approach to education does not motivate or engage children. Children are not data points, they are human beings. ASD students need year round art, music, social studies, physical education, and library taught by certified teachers. ASD students deserve the same well rounded education as children from neighboring suburban districts. Anything less is an injustice and disservice to children and community. Please do what is morally right by children and reinstate the teachers to our schools. Thank you for your service.
Angie Villa
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 4:32 PM 5 comments: Links to this post
Labels: ASD, ASD school board, budget cuts, testing
Friday, June 14, 2013
Allentown Teacher Describes Real Consequences of Teacher Cuts
|ASD teacher Deb Brobst with her students in DC, 2010
"ASD has closed its eyes to the destruction of the public school education that it is supposed to protect. The public does not understand the true repercussions that have been caused in the daily life of an Allentown public school student. With the cut of 25% of the teachers in ASD in the past 3 years, much of the curriculum has gone by the wayside. Students in the high schools have to take the 4 core subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies (only 3 years). Most of the electives are gone. No more Law Academy, No more Science and Fitness Academy and now, no Dance Academy. Without the electives, many students have no way to explore a subject that interests them more fully: the law science, physical science, artistic expression and so many other interests that could be stimulated with a complete curriculum. Instead we will have a "minimal" curriculum. One that does not stretch the imagination, call for higher thinking, asks the great questions, teaches to fix the ills of society. There is no outlet for the curiosity and creativity of the mind without the course choices previously offered in abundance.
ASD has been "bare bones" for the last 3 years. Now, it will be at the marrow. The last 3 years have seen a 25% reduction in faculty with only a 4% decrease in student population. The District has seen no such decrease in administrators, rather an increase. I am wondering, who will teach the kids? Certainly not an administrator, since their eyes have been closed for too many years to the actual day to day life of the public school student. I am also wondering, how will students in overcrowded classrooms (do the math) be able to learn? It will certainly be harder. Harder to hear the teacher, harder to see the board, harder to ask a question, harder to have one on one time with a teacher. I am also left to wonder one last thing: how is a teacher to get through the curriculum of a course with 6 weeks taken out for Standardized Testing? Why are we paying for PSSA Tests, at all? 4-Sights and Keystones all take a toll on curriculum requirements. Will this mean that a teacher cuts into the required information for the course year, or does that mean the course gets watered down by the District in order to justify constant standardized testing?
No matter which way you slice it, ASD is just about dead. The cuts that started 3 years ago and continued this year are not done, yet. Stick around. It will get worse!"
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 9:42 AM No comments: Links to this post
Monday, June 3, 2013
Calling out ASD Board Directors for Crimes Against Children
|Allentown School Board Directors
All board members should be focused on the big picture of making sure ASD students receive a quality education, as mandated by the constitution. Instead, divisive and arrogant board directors Scott Armstrong and David Zimmerman use their positions of authority to grandstand about politics, bully teachers, parents, students and fellow board members while offering no reasonable ideas. I have written about them here and here and here. And it's very disturbing that ineffective directors Lamb, Bishop, and Zimmerman were recently re-elected to serve on the board. Allentown is headed in the same direction as Philadelphia and Chicago, where schools are being closed, resulting in destabilized neighborhoods where children's safety is at risk. The following commentary on the situation in Philadelphia is exactly how I feel about the outrageous "curtailment plan" recently approved by a majority of Allentown School Board Directors:
PHILADELPHIA: the school decimation budget through the eyes of a Temple student:
"These cuts should not be understood as a simple response to the current economic climate or lack of public funding in Philly or PA. These cuts should be understood as crimes committed against young people and workers; they should be understood as forms of structural violence in that these decisions will create incredible social harm in young people's life choices and eliminate their access to community, recreation, mental and physical health services, mentors, creative outlets, higher education, employment and a meaningful culture of learning – in the one of the most impoverished, incarcerated, racist cities in the US – our nation's birthplace nonetheless." Read more:
Allentown schools have also been decimated by deep cuts to teachers, including cuts to vital programs and services for children.
Art, music, physical education, and library are mandated as core subject areas under the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, and also under PA state law, and these programs should never be cut or reduced. Allentown SD plans to eliminate 132 teaching positions. Over the past 3 years nearly 400 positions have been eliminated. Related arts will be nearly eliminated. The curtailment plan will narrow the curriculum to mainly test prep, robbing children of their right to a quality education, robbing children of equal opportunities to discover their talents. It will put children in an unsafe learning environment where their needs can not be met. Classes will be over crowded. It will be less than bare bones. It will be educational malpractice, child abuse, and a violation of educational ethics. Would you want your child to be educated in this harmful environment? Parents will have no choice but to protect their children by leaving ASD. This is a quote from an ASD teacher working on the front lines of this impending disaster:
"132 more cuts -- more than 1/4 of our staff over three years. Our school balance WILL shift away from safe. Our education program WILL become so basic that it will not be able to sustain itself.
I believe that certain board members truly do not know how devastating an impact this will have on our students and this city. I also believe those that don't should not have a voice in an education forum and must be removed.
Out last round if cuts was absorbable to a point. This one is not."
The school board directors who approved the harmful "curtailment" plan are Ellen Bishop, Debora Lamb, David Zimmerman, Scott Armstrong, Andrew Weiss, and even board president Robert Smith Jr. Smith voted "yes" after he got what he wanted- restoration of full day kindergarten. But related arts and full day kindergarten should go hand in hand. If you are going to restore full day K, you must also fully restore related arts! What a mess.
I believe that there is no hope for the ASD unless the six unqualified board members are removed, along with superintendent Dr. Mayo and other top administrators. Let the teachers run the district! Hold the Mayo accountable! He has no ideas, and has continued with Dr. Zahorchak's crackpot plans and failed business model. This is SHAMEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. This is an OUTRAGE. These people are not leading, and they do not understand that their short sighted decisions will have huge negative consequences. These cuts will never heal. The cuts are a disservice to children and community, and an injustice. These people must be called out by name, and held accountable. Only the worst kind of criminals would rob children.
UPDATE 6/22: ASD has found some money to keep 5 art teachers at the elementary schools, and 5 phys ed teachers. Hmmm, I wonder where else can they find some money? So this is good news for our kids, but we must demand FULL restoration of specialists at all grade levels. Note that Scott Armstrong and David Zimmerman voted against using the money to keep teachers, calling it "irresponsible." Demand removal of these immoral cretins from our school board! There should be no debate, the money MUST be used to restore teachers! Bizarro world Allentown! Demand accountability from Mayo and school board! Our kids deserve same opportunities as kids from neighboring suburban districts.
Posted by Mrs. Dottie at 10:31 AM 7 comments: Links to this post
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Wouldn't it be cool if you got to play videogames at home instead of attending lectures at a university? It sounds like the sort of idea a teenager might come up while daydreaming in the classroom. But the proposal favoring a remote learning system that favors interactive games over traditional lectures comes from former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty.
Speaking at Iowa State University, the possible Republican 2012 presidential candidate argued that technology, particularly videogames, could help improve the quality of education. "Let's say you can scale the best Econ 101 lecture and not a lecture, not some guy standing in a room lecturing but let's say it has all the sights and sounds and video and visual components of Call of Duty 3, but now it's Econ 101. Or instead of learning about WW II, you're fighting in WW II."
Above: Well, if video games have taught us anything, it's that economic situations are just as exciting and riveting as a CoD online match
Pawlenty continued to argue that videogame-like distance learning could help defray the cost of higher education, citing the billions of dollars the University of Minnesota spent on its facilities and employees. He thinks the private sector could do a better with edutainment courses offered online.
But that doesn't mean that Pawlenty thinks there's no value to the traditional university experience because of the need for football teams and socialization. Yep, professional educators, scientists, important research, and a culture of learning can all be replaced by videogames, but football and drinking beer with your buds can't.
[Source: Des Moines Register, Fox News]
Mar 10, 2011
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Conservative rabble-rouser Glenn Beck is defending the First Amendment rights of an artist who painted Barack Obama being crucified on a cross as only he can—by filling a mason jar with what he claimed was his own urine, placing a toy of the president inside and calling it "art."
The exact title of the piece is "Obama in Pee Pee," which is actually incredibly misleading, given that Beck later admitted that the jar is actually filled with beer (what a waste of perfectly good beer).
Best part: This "artwork" can be yours for the "bargain" price of $25,000! And who doesn't want to impress their friends by supporting free speech rights with a bobblehead of President Obama drenched in Glenn Beck's fake piss displayed prominently in their home or office, right?
—Posted by Tracy Bloom.
A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion Publisher, Zuade Kaufman Editor, Robert Scheer
© 2014 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.


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live ranking›
Women Who Warren Beatty Has Dated
The list you're viewing contains items like Madonna and Goldie Hawn.
This list answers the questions, "What are the names of Warren Beatty's ex-girlfriends?" and "Who has Warren Beatty hooked up with?"
It's not certain whether the people on this list are women that Warren Beatty has had sex with but it's safe to assume that when two adults are going out that some action will inevitably occur. Who has Warren Beatty slept with? We can't say for sure but it's most likely all the women on this list.
- 1
Born: 1948
Birthplace: Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Profession: Actor
Institution: Hollywood High School
Height: 5'4"
Barbara Hershey : see more
- 2
Born: 1945
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Profession: Activist, Model, Actor
Institution: Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
Height: 5'4"
Bianca Jagger : see more
- 3
Born: 1934
Birthplace: Paris, France
Profession: Activist, Model, Actor, Singer
Institution: Conservatoire de Paris
Height: 5'6"
Medical Conditions: Breast cancer
Brigitte Bardot : see more
- 4
Born: 1942
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Profession: Screenwriter, Actor, Singer, Film Director
Height: 5'4"
Britt Ekland : see more
- 5
Born: 1937
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
Profession: Actor, Writer
Institution: Vassar College
Brooke Hayward : see more


text:
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text:
Your subsequent post seems top repeat this one so clearly you are gob smacked.
But what is Clegg to say? Is he to pretend he is St Paul and has seen a revelation on the way to the dispatch box?
Or is he to stay true to his belief? No doubt if he had dissembled in his belief you and others would hav e speared him for that.
We are in a coalition – had you forgotten? Tough – get used to it — start thinking about what that means – for all of us. i do not like it – but I'd like to think it can do its best for us
At least he is not a hypocrite even though I personally do not believe he is correct. He has gone up in my estimation for that.
It is fairly obvious that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. Consider: The overriding purpose of the U.N. being in existence is to prevent wars of aggression which it defines as the supreme international crime. Which makes sense when you look at it having been formed from the Allied powers in World War II. When Country A isn't being provoked by Country B but decides to invade it anyway then Country A is launching a war of aggression. Iraq's government such as it was did in fact jump through several hoops to try to avoid a war. Anyone paying attention to the news could have foreseen from at least a year before March 2003 that there was nothing in the world that was going to dissuade the U.S. from having its war against Iraq. Why? Because Cheney and the rest of their oil-minded government realised that Iraq is going to be the centre of gravity of the 21st Century world's oil production and the Ba'ath Party government appeared to be all set to privatise their country's state-owned oil industry but with France's Total and Russia's LukOil as the beneficiaries whilst the U.S. and U.K. would be left out in the cold so to speak. To avoid this it became necessary for the warmongers to invade Iraq, topple its government and emplace a puppet government to allow the oil privatisation on U.S./U.K.-friendly terms.
It's pretty simple really. When a country launches an unprovoked war of aggression there is literally nothing worse that they can do in terms of international crime. So yes it was highly illegal and for the history books it makes the U.S.-U.K. axis the villain by any impartial account. The United Nations has not permanently expelled the U.S. and U.K. and this is precisely because the U.S. pays about a fifth of the organisation's bills and its headquarters is in New York. But if it was Nigeria invading Cameroon then Nigeria would have been condemned and kicked out. Which means that nothing that the U.N. has said or done post-March 2003 has any credibility, usefulness or clout whatsoever. It is absolutely meaningless but vastly more importantly, objective historians will condemn the U.S. and U.K. for their crimes against humanity.
Iain Martin is Deputy Editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. He writes on politics.


text:
Featured news
Face it: privacy is endangered
Wednesday, 7 December 2005, 2:55 PM EST
In the 1997 flick Face/Off, John Travolta wears Nicolas Cage's face in order to infiltrate Cage's criminal gang. Last week, movie fantasy became medical reality when a team of French doctors successfully performed the first partial face transplant on a woman who had been mauled by a dog.
By Jennifer Granick at Wired.
[ Read more ]


text:
Baby Hidden In Basement Crawl Space
A Waterbury day care operator is under arrest, charged with hiding a six-month-old baby in a locked, unfinished crawl space.
Police Investigate Baby's Death
Hamden police have announced that they're investigating the death of a 6-month-old baby.
Bridgeport Native Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping
A woman who snatched a baby from a New York City hospital in 1987, then raised the child as her own daughter in Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to kidnapping.
Baby Given Up Under "Safe Haven" Law
Meriden police say a newborn baby is doing well after being dropped off at the Mid-State Medical Center emergency room about 4 a.m.
Hartford Police Investigate Death of Baby
Hartford Police are investigating the untimely death of a 9-month old boy.
Infant's Death Ruled A Homicide
Ansonia Police say an autopsy by the Medical Examiner's office has determined the death of a five-month-old baby over the weekend was a homicide. Police have made no arrests, but say they have a suspect […]
Woman Pleads Guilty To Kidnapping, Abandoning Child In Connecticut
A Pennsylvania woman has pleaded guilty to kidnapping her 13-month-old niece in Massachusetts then abandoning the baby in Connecticut.
Former Bridgeport Woman Indicted On Kidnapping Charge
A former Bridgeport woman accused of snatching a newborn from a New York hospital more than two decades ago has been indicted on a kidnapping charge.
FBI Looking Into 23-Year-Old Kidnap Case
The FBI says it's investigating the case of a woman raised in Connecticut who was kidnapped as an infant and recently tracked down her birth mother.


text:
Posted: Mar 6, 2014 5:04 PM
Updated: Mar 6, 2014 5:04 PM
HOUSTON (AP) Authorities say a Houston police officer shot dead one of three men who had broken into his townhome overnight. The Harris County Sheriff's Office did not identify the officer, but said he lived in north Harris County and was awakened today by the sound of breaking glass. The two other burglars remain at large.
MCKINNEY, Texas (AP) A Collin County medical examiner's report says a natural cause is most likely in the death of a 10-year-old boy whose body was found in a family bathtub. The boy's mother was charged with murder in the January 29th death at the family's Frisco home. The mother remains free on $50,000 bond.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) The German manufacturer of a roller coaster from which a woman fell to her death is blaming Six Flags for the accident. Gerstlauer Amusement Rides filed court papers today related to the lawsuit the woman's family has brought against it and Six Flags after Rosa Esparza's death last year.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A Texas man faces federal charges of traveling to Missouri to have sex with two underage girls after agreeing to pay $400 to a police officer who posed as their father. The U.S. attorney's office says 40-year-old John Christian was unwittingly communicating with a Kansas City officer on a social media site when he made plans to meet the girls, 11 and 15. Christian was arrested after flying to Kansas City on Saturday and was charged yesterday.


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The draft makes me sad, but the FAs are alot more realistic than most mocks...if only because there's just 2 of them.
Again the theme is we need to inject some youth and do it while being good stewarts of our financial resources in the near and long term.
Here are the major moves:
Sign: D'Qwell Jackson: Will come cheaper than Harris and has put up some very good stats. Better in coverage than Harris too.
Namadi Ashmouga: with Revis will be the BEST CB tandem in the league.
Resign: Wayne Hunter: Starting RT.. He has earned his stripes.
Santonio Holmes: We cant sign both and this will the intended releases should save enough money for a splashy FA move.
Drew Coleman: Played well down the stretch. Him with ashmouga, Revis, Cole and Wilson is a formidble grouping
Brodney Pool: Pool, igheigo, smith and leonard are a good safety group.
Restructure: Jenkins: incentive laden contract. His options are limited. Pouha, Jenkins will give time for tevseau to continue to develop.
Release: BT. Will be replaced by Jamal Westerman. Frees up $ for ashmouga signing.
Woody: Replaced by Hunter. Too old and heavy.
LT: Going to draft a RB in mid rounds.
Ellis: Going to get a contract that is too long and too much from another team.
Harris: replaced by jackson for less monies.
Brad smith: large contract from another team.
Draft: 1. Corey Liuget: Ellis replacement. Bigger and younger. Holds up against the run and can penetrate to pressure QB. Pit, Dixon, Liuget, Gilbert and Devito are your DEs.
3. Danny Watkins: OG - Baylor - He will go down as the best OG in this draft and would allow for future flexibility in regards to Moore and would immediately backup slauson and Moore and keep the ground and poound in effect for years. I am usually not a big believer of drafting OGs high but he is that good.
4. Dion Lewis: RB - PITT - love this kid. falls due to size but collegiate production is there against big programs. Allows us to say good bye to LT. Mcknight, Greene and Lewis is a hell of a RB tandem.. cheap and young.
5. Joseph Barksdale: OT - becomes the primary backup to hunter and indirectly dbrick
6. Aldrick Robinson - WR great collegiate production 3000 + yds. a perfect slot/PR. similar to emmanul sanders of pittsburgh. allows brad smith to go.
7. TJ Yates: QB - a developmental guy. Clemens goes and O Connell is nothing. Brunnel coaches we sign a cheap vet and develop Yates who could become a solid 2 QB in the NFL.
Money is freed up by the releases/not signings, it doesnt put us in cap hell and adds youth to continue performing at a high level with no drop off. You could throw in a short contract to a TO, Chad Johnson or Plax for now 2
The draft makes me sad, but the FAs are alot more realistic than most mocks...if only because there's just 2 of them.
I love the dion lewis pick...any time you can find someone with huge production, who slips because of a 40 time, im all aboard.
I dont see us taking 3Olineman, although finding a backup in the late rounds is a priority.
I dont see any reason to pay Aso. We invested in kyle wilson...he struggled a lot this year, but he has to be given an opportunity to play.
Would rather see us with Kiwi and cullen jenkins then aso.
Holmes, Cotchery, Greene, McKnight, Keller and unproven rookies is not good enough on offense. Sorry but we would struggle mightily on offense again.
I HATE the idea of bringing in Asomugha. We pay a kings ransom for a guy who will not help our pass rush our ability to disrupt plays in the backfield. The idea of Liuget stepping in and just dominating up front is unrealistic. We gotta realize that we can have all pros at every secondary position and it wont matter when we cant dominate upfront.
Look at Pittsburgh and their schitty cornerbacks. There are in the Super Bowl, again, with a ridiculously average CB group. None of their corners would start for us.
Asomugha money should go right into the front seven. Nowhere else.
I also agree with only taking one OLman in the draft. In the 3rd I'd rather target a Safety. Let Ducasse backup OG and RT. If Hunter is able to step up as the RT let Ducasse take over for Moore in the future.
Moore will only be 31 years old and has shown no signs of slowing down. He is in the prime of his career, especially playing guard...
Watkins is 27 I believe... no more old draft picks please (see Pouha).
Again, What is Aso going to give you for 10 mill a year? Which is 80% of what Revis Makes.
You letting Ellis and Jenkins go, why will Jenkins renegotiate down? IF he can pass a physical he will get a decent contract anywhere. If he can't pass a physical, why do the jets want him.
I think your better of which Edwrards. Holmes is one strike away from having Cotch as your #1 again.
Watkins will not last until the 92nd pick in the draft. I dont think he makes it out of the 2nd rd.
Like the Barksdale and Lewis picks.
I don't get the obsession over Aso. Didn't this past season teach us anything? Even when Revis and Cro were playing lights out, teams were able to sit back and attack with slot WRs, TEs and RBs out of the backfield. The problem with our defense wasn't outside coverage- it was the lack of athleticism in our LBs where they didn't get pressure on the QB and weren't able to match up against even the slowest of TE.
We still have the same problems as we have now with the scenario above. Still have depth issues on the D-line and still have no one at all that can rush the passer from the outside. One o-lineman maybe but not two and I'll be surprised if we take even one until late.
One way or the other I want a pass rush, draft, FA, trade. I want someone the other team actually has to account for on any given down. (One really good pass rusher makes the whole secondary better.)
wouldn't be a popular move, but if we could sign D'Quell Jackson for half of what Harris would make, I think it would be a great move. People are saying Harris will make $10 mil... that is insanity!


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The Gate of heaven, this is why this website is here. To introduce you to the year of the Lord's favour to all the children of Abraham, and to those who would like to be. What is the year of the Lord favour? Well it is something that
the Lord the God of heaven and earth is doing now, it is something that is good, something that you don't want to miss out on, it is about the salvation that is being revealed in this last time.
The true children of Abraham are the children of promise,
you can only be a child of promise if God the Father shines His light on you. The promise has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. It is not fulfilled in which race you belong to, or which family you are in, or which church you attend, it is found only in Jesus
Christ. God is not willing that any perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9. So His light is toward you if you allow Him.
This website is about the fulfillent of the promise, it is not about one day it will be better, it is about
now, the time to receive the promise is now.
There is a promise land for us and a feast for us to enjoy, as the Holy Spirit enables this is what we will write.
Ezekiel 34 God says that He will seek out His scattered sheep and that He will
seek that which is lost.
verse 16 says, I will seek
that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken,
and will strengthen that which was sick:
Let us Trust God to do what He said he would.
This is the link to my blog
I thank the Lord for giving me a family,please stand with me for our financial break through as we trust GOD for his hand to start up our family business
I Have a spiritual Gift that I need to Learn how to understand,But most of all to respect it .I am a seer. I want my Life to Glorify God. I seek no praise .Eva
Jesus my master have mercy on me and my family, keep us in good health and peace in family. bless us in financial. Bless my job and the where i m working .
Please pray with me for my wife Lisa to turn from her sinful ways and that she comes back to JESUS and that JESUS heals and blesses our marriage and finances.
do not worry u can see the miracle soon according HIS living wordIII JOHN 2.with love and peacemy id email@example.com
Please saints pray for my finances and a miracle in my child 's life.
God is the centre of it all.
teach me the bible
i had read all the good news on web page u are truly blessing pls cc keep it up agood job may god bless u
also check out my blog http://email@example.com for some of my recent posts. For the Lord is ready and willing to forgive us our sins.


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- Age / Gender:
- 31, Male
- Location:
- Somwhere
- Joined:
- 5/19/05
- All Stats >
Nobody knows exactly!
User Statshot
- Community Stats
Level 12 Blank Slate
Normal Whistle
Ranked as Police Officer
Contact Info / Websites
Latest News
In Office, lol, what am i doing here? After so many years?
Recent Game Medals
Trukin 5 Points Help a semi truck arrive safely. Medal Stats.
Save the day 5 Points Complete a level with 3 stars. Medal Stats.
Feed the Fishes 25 Points Defeat the 7th boss Medal Stats.
Sing, My Angel 10 Points Defeat the Barbarian Queen Medal Stats.
Brilliant: Holy Mountain 5 Points Get BRILLIANTS for the day missions 4-6 Medal Stats.
Avada Kedavra 10 Points Defeat the Archmage Medal Stats.
Deposition 10 Points Defeat the King Medal Stats.
Starry: Holy Mountain 10 Points Get BRILLIANTS for the night missions 4-6 Medal Stats.
It's a Trap! 10 Points Make 100 mines (poisonous, energy or volcanic) of the enemies Medal Stats.
Thunderstorm 10 Points Damage 50 enemies with the thunder scroll Medal Stats.
Total Medals Earned: 262 (From 44 different games.)


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Trash Gator
Getting Started
Always use your imagination and be creative when building these kids crafts or any others. It's your creation, so be inventive when looking for building supplies — you just may be surprised! When building your project, experiment with new and different ways of putting it together. The most important thing is to have fun!
Find these or similar supplies!
1. Let's get started!
The Trash Gator will bite into your imagination! This project requires few supplies and is very simple to make. To get started you'll need to first cut out your gator's head. Draw zig zag teeth onto your soap box and cut on the lines you draw. Next trace out a circle the size of your bottle's neck, and cut it out. The soap box head will pop right onto the bottle now.
2. Make your legs!
The next step is making your gator's legs and back spikes. Draw out some front and back legs and back spikes onto some cardboard or construction paper. When you have a design you like cut them out.
3. Make the tail!
The tail is simple to make. Take a toilet paper tube and cut it into several pieces (maybe five or so). Now go along and make each piece smaller than the next. You should end up with a very small piece at the end.
4. Put it together!
Now you can tape everything together and make your simple version! From this point you can paint, color or decorate however you want. Have fun and use your imagination.
5.Tape it up!
For my version I decided to decorate using some green painters tape. I took everything apart and carefully covered all my pieces with the tape.
5.Finish up!
I finished putting my gator together and made my finishing touches. I added some wadded pieces of tape for the eyes and some small cardboard circles for his nostrils.
Voila! A Trash Gator!


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Posted: Jun 27, 2014 12:36 PM
Updated: Jun 27, 2014 12:36 PM
HOUSTON (AP) Michael Andretti is interested in adding Simon Pagenaud to his race team.
Andretti did not reveal Friday where he'd slot the Frenchman. Andretti Autosport currently fields four full-time IndyCar teams, but expanded to five cars for the Indianapolis 500.
Pagenaud is in a contract year with Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports, the team he joined when he made the full-time move to IndyCar in 2012. He heads into this weekend's doubleheader in Houston ranked fourth in the championship race with one victory this year.
Pagenaud says he's flattered by the Andretti interest and it shows he's doing a good job in the series. Although he said he'd like to make a decision on his future sooner rather than later, he doesn't want to lose focus on the championship race.


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Although I have suffered a great deal of pain from my mother, my understanding of my own pathology is a step toward healing. Everyone has a story. Everyone has suffered loss, pain, or rejection on some level. My story of my mother has been written and published for 42 years. My story of having a family of my own is still being written. I have had a series of unfortunate setbacks, but I have faith in knowing that God has a plan for me. My Aunt believes that if a baby is what I want now, then I should focus on that. For me, I will explore all my options as I have someone special in my life. I have learned my lesson about pressuring a man for marriage. With that said, I will continue to work on myself so that I can be the best woman, friend, companion, and mother to my future children… Godspeed.
IG: thekenyamoore
Facebook: thekenyamoore
Twitter: @KenyaMoore


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Weather Links
Humidity 93%
Winds 10.4mph
Sponsored by: Arceneaux Ford
Humidity 93%
Winds 10.4mph
Mar 25, 2010 12:59 PM by Rob Kirkpatrick
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has partially frozen state spending on travel, supplies, contracts and other services in agencies under his control.
Jindal ordered the limited spending freeze Thursday as he prepares to cope with an expected multimillion deficit for the current budget year, which ends June 30. Estimates of the deficit
range from $100 million to as much as $400 million.
The executive order contains a list of exemptions, allowing travel and supply purchases considered essential for law enforcement, prisons, the Louisiana National Guard, education operations and more. Hurricane recovery efforts, statewide elected officials' duties and tax collection efforts also are among the three pages of exemptions.
4 hours ago


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Written by Cory Twibell: firstname.lastname@example.com Friday, 30 March 2012 00:00
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto introduced Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos as "hopefully our next U.S. Senator from the State of New York" at Hicksville Community Center's town hall meeting on March 22.
Venditto lauded Maragos for his work as comptroller since he assumed the post in 2009, but reassured residents that Maragos' next venture, if elected, may have a greater impact on the county than his current one.
"To have a gentleman like George Maragos as a U.S. Senator, who is Nassau-oriented in his thinking – I'm not diminishing the role of comptroller – but that would serve us very, very well. The things he could accomplish for Nassau County in that position would be mind-boggling," said Venditto.
Maragos and his staff monitor the $2.6 billion budget for Nassau County, which has approximately 1.3 million residents. During his first year, Maragos noted, the county had a budget deficit of $135 million and was on the verge of bankruptcy.
"Although I'm running for the U.S. Senate, my first priority is Nassau County, to do the best job that I can to ensure that we get through this very difficult financial period," said Maragos, who came into his position with 35 years of experience in the private financial sector.
The comptroller explained how streamlining government with County Executive Edward Mangano and reducing unnecessary contracts ($158 million) helped the county to report a $26 million surplus in 2010.
"It hasn't been easy, but for the third consecutive year we have not raised taxes. Mangano eliminated the energy tax in his first year and did it while having to absorb pension contribution increases of over 60 percent, health insurance premium increases over 30 percent and all other inflationary costs," Maragos cited.
"To say that he has been performing an exceptional job under extraordinarily difficult circumstances is a bit of an understatement – he's running the 100-yard dash with a 100-pound concrete block on his back and he's doing it quite well," said Venditto, adding, "I'm glad I don't have his job, but I'm glad he has his job, because he's handling it very well."
Regarding ongoing Nassau County issues, Maragos provided specifics for the approximately 30 residents in attendance.
Maragos said the Nassau County public-private bus partnership has "restored better service at a much better cost" and noted that the deal hasn't been in the public spotlight recently "because it has been a successful transition."
As far as the police precinct consolidation goes, the comptroller said public safety "should not be comprised" once the plan takes shape and that the county will eventually save nearly $20 million. Nassau County Police Department Deputy Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said he prefers the term "administrative realignment" as opposed to consolidation.
"We're shifting how we do work, what drives activity. There will be an increased number of police officers available to address crime issues. We've reduced 148 administrative positions and created 48 problem-oriented police [POP] cops," explained Krumpter.
The Third Precinct, Krumpter noted, is the county's busiest, handling approximately 1,900 cases per year. The Second Precinct, which covers the Hicksville area, is a less active precinct and will provide some relief for the Third Precinct following the realignment.
Maragos later advised residents on a sour subject for some residents: property tax assessments.
"There continues to be issues, but there has also been significant progress made. In 2009, the property tax refund was up to $150 to $160 million and in the first year reduced to $80 million. In 2011, it was reduced to around $70 million, so we've seen successive improvement," said Maragos.
The comptroller said fair and equitable assessing has resulted in "less appeals and therefore less refunds out to the property owner." He advised residents to seek out comparable assessments to help resolve any uncertainties.
"Assessment is not perfect, there are still certain inequities within the system. If you feel you have approximately identical homes and your neighbor's house is assessed lower than yours, file an appeal, and in most cases you will get a reduction in your assessment, therefore a reduction in your property tax and school tax," Maragos said.
"We haven't solved all of our fiscal challenges because our economy hasn't recovered. Our sales tax, which is our major source of revenue, has not recovered and is still below the 2008 level. We have managed to keep the county afloat and protected the taxpayers without raising property taxes," said Maragos, adding, "No other county government in the state has been able to do the same."


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The First Lady has made healthy eating her priority, but her husband's stimulus package hasn't helped as much as hopedRemember President Obama's stimulus package? The $787 billion bill was supposed to goose this country's ailing economy like a line of premium yeyo. Here in Miami, it was also book ... More >>
You could say this week's Earth Learning's 2nd Annual Greater Everglades Food Summit at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus had a bit of a sci-fi edge.Among the terms thrown around -- deracinated, food shed, food desert, localization campaigns, and food miles. We even heard discussion about expe ... More >>


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Blood on White Wicker
Blood on White Wicker Peggy Hollowa
chapter in between jobs. Looking forward to the next one
and future books by this author.
By Toni Palumbo
Dec 7, 2010
This book is a must read. I could not put it down for a
second! I highly recommend people to read this book if
they like true quality writing.
By tracdhall
Nov 25, 2010
This book kept me wanting to read more! Made me
laugh and cry. Love the characters- great personalities! Im
going to order the sequel today.
By martha- mills
Nov 21, 2010


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POSTED: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 - 10:34am
UPDATED: Thursday, July 4, 2013 - 9:16am
EL PASO, TX (KTSM) — Police arrested the suspect believed to be the culprit in a series of sexual assaults and burglaries in the Manhattan Heights district of El Paso.
Police said Arturo Valtierra-Payan, 24, was arrested late Tuesday night. They said he recently moved to El Paso from Chihuahua, Mexico.
According to investigators, three women have been assaulted and the predator in a failed attempt tried to assault a fourth woman.
"They've all been during the night," said El Paso Police Sgt. Chris Mears.
Valtierra-Payan was charged with one count of Burglary with a $300,000 bond. The investigation continues.


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Korachi Hotel and Cabins
No availability found through our partners. Please contact the business directly or check some of our recommended alternatives.
TripAdvisor Reviews Korachi Hotel and Cabins Creel
Travel Blogs from Creel
Mainland Mexico West
... machine gun so I wasn't going to argue!
Our weekend destination was in a little town called Creel. Awesome little spot! We had walked the length of the main street in the time it took us to remember what our hotel was called. As this area is home to the native indians there were plenty of colourful outfits and gorgeous little snotty nosed kids selling hand women baskets. (It was cold up here so snots are forgiven!) Through some ...
Trains, Rocks, Hamburgers & Guns
... identical train, with a couple of identical additional carriages thrown on the back! This was on the Friday, so I had a free day to explore and went out by the river to see some petroglyphs…
I still haven't forgiven petroglyphs since a particularly **** day in Peru, where I spent a good 8 hour round trip to see a stencil in a rock, got given the worlds map and burnt in some death valley. Maybe I'm not the archaeological type, ...
Entry point for Copper Canyon
... started pouring while we were there. While we ate, a number of young children from the local indigenous tribe tried to come in and sell trinkets, but were shooed out. Poverty is a strong presence. The small towns we rode through on the bus today were sad places where it seemed the whole populations were living in poverty. We're staying in a $20 a night hotel, Real de Chapultepec, and thankfully have two rooms with two beds each because the front room has a serious ...
And 9 1/2 hours up again to Cusarare
... and one in the mountains. Children (5 - 14 years old) still attend these schools from Monday to Friday and then return to their homes for the weekend.
Setting up the schools was not easy task. Food, school supplies, bedding and water were all needed to operate the schools. There was no access to electricity and a well had to be dug by hand. Volunteer teachers taught grades 1 to 5. The children, who only spoke their native language, were taught ...
Ruins of Hacienda San Miguel and the Aqueduct
... and football in the ruins. We saw the remains of a swimming pool and a round latrine built for 4 people. Lots of donkeys and cattle occupied the little rooms scattered around the site.
Alexander Shepherd really accomplished a lot in the 30 years that he lived in Batopilas. He built a modern silver mining operation that included an iron bridge (the scary one) across the river and a three mile aqueduct that continues to provide water for the town. Power generated by ...
Other places to stay in Creel
Best Western The Lodge At CreelAv. Lopez Mateos 61, Creel | 3 star hotelfrom $90
Hotel Villa Mexicana at CreelAdolfo Lopez Mateos S/N, Creel | 3 star hotelfrom $70
Margarita's Plaza MexicanaCalle Elfido Batista s/n, Creel | 3 star hotelfrom $69
Casa Margarita'sAv. Lopez Mateos 11, Creel | 2 star hotelfrom $41
Parador de la MontanaAv. Lopez Mateos s/n, Creel | Hotelfrom $67
Hotel Nuevo121, Creel | Hotelfrom $25


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Results 1 - 1 of 1
bykrazyivan, February 4, 2007
The installation is easy and the configuration too.Anyone can use the Simple image gallery including newbies to joomla.You don't need to knew programing for make this gallery run .
Thanks a lot for this joomla works
I'm waiting for the next release with printing ability for the images thanks for that Fotis
They really listen to their users and their need they are a great
People that are happy with joomlaworks products please donate to then so they can keep it up with such great products and visit their page they have more great stuff over there
Those who think adding a printing feature for the images give me a hell yeah !!


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OK all – the Average Superwoman is starting off the New Year with a bang, not a whimper! Tune in tomorrow at 2PM (EST) when the amazing Lynn Cusack Bardowski has yours truly as her first guest of the year! We are going to have a few laughs and see if we can't give our friends some special energy for 2014! Here's the link: http://bit.ly/MPGTalkRadio
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November 24, 2014
ARDMORE, Okla. -- Civic leaders are always saying how bright Ardmore's future is, but this week it is the area's rich history that is bringing hundreds of visitors to the Ardmore Convention Center.
It is the Oklahoma Historical Society's annual meeting, and Carter County was selected to host the event this year. Organizers say Ardmore was a natural choice, as this year's meeting focuses on the unique history of the Red River Valley.
"A lot of people do not realize that one of the fastest growing cities in the state at the turn of the century was Ardmore. At one point, it was third in terms of population behind Oklahoma City and Muskogee, then Ardmore," Bob Blackburn of the Oklahoma Historical Society says.
Attendees have a packed schedule that includes field trips to historic sites as far away as Bryan County. Those events run through Friday.
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Year 2012 was a good year for Bollywood and it seems the trend may well continue in 2013 as well. Here are the top films you can wait to see this in 2013.
Tags : #Farewell 2012
Set in the backdrop of the picturesque Goa, 'Finding Fanny' is an English/Konkani movie. The movie stars Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Dimple Kapadia and Pankaj Kapur. Check out the trailer right here.