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We recently received an email from our school district about M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) Testing dates--for those not in Michigan, this is the new "required" state test for children in grades 3-8 which replaces the MEAP.
For one of our boys, the M-STEP testing schedule was to span 6 different days and include tests on English Language and Mathematics. The thought of our son missing class time for 6 days to sit
for standardized tests--the results of which couldn't possibly inform his learning or his teachers' instructional practices, due to the tests being administered in the Spring rather than in the
Fall, with the results not being made available until after the close of the school year--was bad enough. But to make matters worse, this "summative" test was not intended to be a long-term
solution to the state's testing policies:
"Our challenge is that this is a one-year interim assessment. I'm not sure how meaningful that will be for us because we can't compare results," Grandville Public Schools Superintendent Ron Caniff said about the M-STEP. "This will be a snapshot of how our students measure up to other students (nationwide), but we won't be able to measure it in terms of how our students are learning and growing – that's the downside." (http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/11/west_michigan_school_leaders_v.html)
The bottom line was that our child was being pulled out of classes for 6 days, for tests that weren't intended to really measure student learning or growth, or to provide any meaningful feedback for his teachers, and these tests were not likely to be given again in subsequent years. The whole thing seemed like a terrible, awful, really bad idea--but the kicker was the following tag line on the district's email announcement:
"PLEASE DO NOT MAKE APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUR CHILD ON THE DATES ATTACHED. If your child misses these dates, then they will do make up testing and will be pulled from other academic classes. If your child is ill, they should stay home, of course! We understand!"
Before going on, I want to be clear: My wife and I believe that the school district that our children attend is terrific. They have wonderful teachers, a fantastic school music program, excellent academics, and a wide array of student services. The student body is diverse and motivated, and the community is fully engaged in school activities and governance. Our interactions with school personnel have always been great, and we have never regretted our decision to purchase a home in this town--a decision we made based largely on the quality of the school system.
So, the district's message didn't appear to ring true. In private conversations with teachers and administrators within the school system, I had sensed their agreement with our thinking about the explosion of standardized testing and its negative impact on teacher evaluation, school funding, and a host of other issues. These were intelligent, thoughtful, caring persons. Each of them had treated my children as their own--with sensitivity, compassion and care. I was certain that they had the children's learning as their highest priority, but felt compelled to follow the state's (misguided) directives regarding these tests.
After a great deal of thought, we decided to contact the school to tell them we were opting our son out of the M-STEP tests, and asked about the provisions for students who will not be taking
these exams. After hitting "send" I was apprehensive--I knew about the pressures the folks at the school were under, and also didn't want to put my son in an awkward position with his
friends and teachers at school. Both my wife and I are teachers, and have always approached our "job" as parents of school-aged children with the goal of supporting our kids' teachers fully.
Making this request was not an easy decision for either of us.
Two days later we received the following response:
"I contacted the Assistant Superintendent and she told me that we would honor your request for opting (your son) out of testing with a note from you. (Your son) is already on the testing rosters, but with your note, we will remove him.
Students are being tested during their academic hours with their homeroom teachers. Per Assistant Superintendent, (your son) will be offered this time to work on any homework he has or to read a book for the time that his peers are testing. He may be given the option of going to the library...
We are required to have 95% participation for testing and any student opting out is a hit on that percentage. However, we understand your request and will honor it with a note sent to the Guidance Office."
Having read and heard about much more hostile responses from schools around the country to similar requests, we were both relieved and encouraged by our school's reply. Not only was our request
for our child to opt out greeted with respect, but provisions for our son's attendance on those days when the test was scheduled were provided without argument or hassle. The approach was
understanding, positive and student-centered--everything we have come to expect from our school district.
I also believe that this response is an indication of a tipping point of sorts when it comes to the issue of opting out and school testing. More and more, teachers and administrators are understanding the negative impact of these tests on students, teachers and schools, and are joining the fight with parents and other groups advocating for a reduction in the number and uses of these tests.
At the end of the day, I am left feeling optimistic and enormously encouraged by this interaction, and energized to continue the fight against the corporate reformers' obsession with data-mining and high-stakes testing. I can sense the tide turning, and more teachers and school administrators joining in the push back against these reforms. We have reached a Tipping Point, and now is the time to redouble our efforts.
Teach for America "Scenarios"
Scenario 1--the college student wants to be a teacher but goes to a school with no ed degree program, so signs up with TFA: bad decision making.
Scenario 2--the student is not interested in being a teacher, graduates with a degree in another discipline, but decides to do TFA for a couple of years before going back to grad school or
entering the work force: in so doing, the student may force an experienced teacher out of the classroom, as happened to hundreds of teachers in Chicago over the last couple of years, especially
veteran teachers of color in the city (http://inthesetimes.com/article/15367/teach_for_americas_mission_to_displace_rank_and_file_educators_in_chicago); and, the hiring districts pay a premium of
$3000-5000 per TFA recruit on top of paying the new teachers' salaries--creating negative financial consequences for the school and community, not to mention the costs (financial, human
resources, etc.) associated with excessive teacher turnover, which is a feature of the TFA business model
Scenario 3: the student has a sincere interest in social justice and societal change, and believes that working as a TFA recruit will help them achieve those goals: the recruit's goals are not
aligned with the organization's goals, creating tensions that lead to non-productive disruption among the teaching force and in the schools (see: Gary Rubenstein's work, among others).
Scenario 4: the student enters the classroom through TFA, teaches for 2 years, then gets a job in a state education department, or in school administration, or with a policy think tank: this is
TFA's real agenda (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/07/17/a-former-teach-for-america-manager-speaks-out/; http://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/teach-america-hidden-curriculum;
http://www.mitchellrobinson.net/2015/02/02/the-one-in-which-teach-for-america-reveals-their-true-colors/), and we can see how this is working out for us as a profession--our policy agenda is
being dictated and guided by persons who have no education degrees, never interned or student taught, and don't have sustained, successful teaching experience in "regular" public schools.
None of these scenarios is good, most of them are really bad, and the proof is right in front of our eyes in the form of destabilized schools and communities, the explosion of for-profit charters, and continued attacks on K-12 and higher education.
Recently, the Lansing School District released a series of TV and radio ads designed to promote their schools (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pV60aDl44g). Amid a floating stream of expertly produced and edited video of young children bouncing basketballs and playing music instruments, the voiceover claims that the Lansing Schools "offer more educational choices to students than any other school district in the greater Lansing region." This, in spite of the fact that the District decided to slash the offerings for those very children by eliminating all of the 27 elementary art, music and PE positions in the Lansing schools over a year ago, leaving the city's students with only 2 music, art and PE classes per semester, while their peers in neighboring school systems often receive these classes twice per week.
Now, if the superintendent, board of education and teachers union in Lansing had just gotten together and cut the elementary art, music and PE programs and teachers in the schools, that would have been one thing...
Let me be clear: I believe that there are many excellent teachers in the Lansing schools, including several outstanding music
teachers working in the District's high schools. I've been blown away by what the music students and faculty are doing in Lansing, especially given the difficult conditions under which they are
working. These students and teachers deserve nothing but our support, encouragement and respect.
But cuts to music and art programs in any school system are unacceptable ways to manage school finances, and are disproportionately devastating to children in urban communities, whose families may not have the resources to provide them with alternative forms of instruction in the arts. School district leaders are charged with providing the students in their care with a full and comprehensive education, which includes the arts. Eliminating these offerings, at any level, is an abrogation of their duty, and merits a strong and forceful response.
The children in Lansing deserve strong, quality arts programs, delivered by qualified, certified music and art teachers. What is currently being offered as "Innovative" is unacceptable, and the District needs to restore the teaching positions they have eliminated so that Lansing's students get the education that they deserve.
The state of Ohio recently announced a newly re-branded initiative to attract, recruit and train new superintendents for the state's schools (http://www.brightohio.org). Interestingly--or
horrifyingly, depending on your point of view--the BRIGHT initiative is based on the "executive MBA" model, and is designed to bring recent college graduates in degree programs other than
education into school leadership positions in Ohio's schools. These eager new recruits would be admitted not to an administrative degree program, but to the MBA degree at Ohio State University,
"fully paid for by BRIGHT", while being placed in a one year internship in an Ohio school, under the supervision of a "master principal." At the conclusion of the training program, each
candidate will complete their "responsibilities as a BRIGHT leader..." by serving "at least two years as the principal of any public school in Ohio."
Now, some people might understandably have a few questions after hearing about the BRIGHT initiative. Like:
Given that the BRIGHT program is clearly designed as a business model, I wondered how it compared to the way that business leaders
are prepared. So, just out of curiosity, I looked into the typical career paths for CEOs--and this is what I found...
"Although some individuals are born leaders, most are made. Becoming a chief executive typically takes years of hard work. Extensive experience in the company's field is desirable and some
companies tend to prefer those with degrees from upper-tier schools in business, economics or finance. Finally, those that have worked their way up from a low level within the organization may
have an advantage, as they arguably know the company better than any outsider ever could." http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financialcareers/08/ceo-chief-executive-career.asp
If we transfer these characteristics to education, we might surmise that superintendents should have extensive experience in education with significant time in the classroom as a teacher, a
degree in education and perhaps additional degrees in one's subject matter area, and should have worked their way up in the school system so that they know and understand the communities in which
they work. But the folks at BRIGHT don't seem concerned with following ethical business principles when it comes to their true agenda--destabilizing schools by providing a rotating cast of short
term leaders with no background or experience in education.
Now, why would the folks behind BRIGHT ignore the "best practices" from the business world, when they are basing their program on business models? As always, when you are confused about the
premises of a new education reform idea, follow the money. And in this case, that means finding out who is paying for this program. The answers can be found under the "Partners" tab on the
BRIGHT website:
"BRIGHT is proud to be working closely with the Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Board of Regents, and Adjutant General of Ohio, as well as Ohio's three largest school districts – Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. National partners include New Leaders, Teach for America and the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Jones Day provides comprehensive legal services on a pro bono basis."
And now the circle is squared. The BRIGHT program neatly fills in the niche between "Teach for America" (producing unqualified recruits for classrooms) and the Broad Superintendent's Academy (producing unqualified superintendents) by producing unqualified principals for Ohio's schools.
Lately we've been hearing increasingly hysterical claims from "think tanks" (http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/time-end-monopoly-education), pundits
(http://www.edchoice.org/The-Friedmans/The-Friedmans-on-School-Choice/Milton-Friedman-on-Busting-the-School-Monopoly.aspx) and even presidential candidates about how our public schools
are "government -run, unionized, politicized monopolies' that 'trap good teachers, administrators and struggling students in a system that nobody can escape'"
((http://www.publicschoolshakedown.org/jeb-colludes-with-corporations-to-destroy-government-run-unionized-monopoly-schools). Sounds like scary stuff.
But before we call in the National Guard, let's be clear about one thing: anyone who thinks that our public schools are well organized enough to pull off a monopoly has never spent any significant time inside of a public school. Its not uncommon for the teachers who work in an elementary school to be unaware of what's happening in the middle school in their district, or for the math teachers in a high school to have any idea of what's happening down the hallway in the social studies department--let alone communicate well enough to organize a national education monopoly with consistent rules, regulations and standards.
Years ago when the then-new National Standards in Music had been out for a couple of years, I visited a middle school where we had placed a student teacher. The cooperating teacher was a wonderful musician and teacher, and happened to be a good friend of mine as well. I watched the co-op and his student teacher team-teach a terrific band rehearsal, full of inspirational teaching, artistic conducting and impressive creativity on the part of the students.
As the 3 of us were walking back to his office to debrief, I asked my friend a question: "How is your teaching different now because of the National Standards?" He turned and looked at me with a quizzical look on his face, and responded simply, "What National Standards?" Monopoly? I don't think so.
The simple truth is that public schools are a hot mess. We are disorganized, don't communicate particularly well, and do a terrible job of letting the public know what we do. That's mostly because the public schools are also incredibly active, vital and busy places, full of noise, excitement and creativity, where the adults are less concerned with issuing press releases and conducting feasibility studies than they are in working on projects, rehearsing plays, and helping children become happy, expressive, sensitive and curious human beings.
Now, if Mr. Friedman, the Cato Institute and Gov. Bush really want to see an educational monopoly in action, they need look no further than the multi-national testing conglomerate, Pearson,
Pearson, with headquarters in Great Britain, owns the publishing companies Scott Foresman, Penguin, Harcourt and Prentice Hall, setting text book prices, controlling content, and "franchising" the curriculum in thousands of K-12 schools and colleges across the country. Not content with merely controlling textbooks, Pearson also has their tentacles into familiar companies like Adobe, Longman, Wharton, Puffin and Allyn & Bacon, which allows them to exert an outsized influence on the size and scope of the educational enterprise in the US and abroad. Pearson's support for the Common Core State Standards, with generous support from "philanthropic" foundations like the Gates Foundation, practically assures that the tests that they produce will be closely "aligned" with the CCSS, all but guaranteeing that states will enter into agreements with Pearson to be the sole test provider for thousands of students each year. In New York State alone, Pearson's contracts total more than $32 million over the next 5 years.
But it doesn't stop there: Pearson also has the contract to produce, administer and score the edTPA, a new test for student teachers. And the company is the provider of standardized tests such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the Stanford Achievement Test, the Millar Analogy Test, and the G.E.D. Pearson also owns some of the most popular and powerful student data management systems available for schools, like PowerSchool and SASI (http://teacherblog.typepad.com/newteacher/2012/11/on-the-rise-of-pearson-oh-and-following-the-money.html#sthash.JJaLJLM8.dpuf).
Pearson is well on their way to controlling virtually every aspect of American education, from preschool materials
(http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/course/Curriculum-in-Early-Childhood/91115347.page), to professional development for teachers (http://www.mypearsonpd.com), to online and virtual learning
products and services (http://home.pearsonhighered.com/what-we-do/online-learning.html).
If Mr. Friedman, Gov. Bush and friends are *really* concerned with monopolies, I suggest that they focus their gaze on Pearson, and leave the schools alone so our teachers can teach, and our children can learn.
Charter school proponents claim that charters offer options for parents who are disappointed in what their public schools provide, and this "choice" is about giving children better options. A recent story in the Detroit Free Press (http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/02/07/charter-schools-steven-ingersoll-grand-traverse-academy/23054725/) spins a "soap opera" style tale of nepotism, cronyism, crazy ideas about how children learn, bank fraud, and embezzlement. Michigan's charter school "industry"--and that's what it is, an industry; not an educational system, but rather a business model designed to steal public money and slip it into private bank accounts--is wildly out of control, an unregulated Wild West playground for unscrupulous hucksters, quacks and charlatans who see our school system and our children as an untapped well-spring of profits. And the stream is flowing.
Let's be clear: the charter school "industry" is not about kids, learning or "choice." This unregulated explosion of charters is about money, and lots of it. This eye doctor funneled
millions of taxpayer dollars into his private bank account. This was essentially a money laundering operation, not substantially different from how drug dealers set up a legitimate business, run
it at a loss in order to turn "dirty" money into "clean" money, and then walk away when the heat gets too hot. [See: Breaking Bad.]
What's lost here is any discussion of Dr. Ingersoll's "innovative" approach to learning, "Integrated Visual Learning," which has to do with rapid eye movements. Here's a teacher's account of
IVL, and how it was used in Dr. Ingersoll's school:
"His claims were/are at best a novelty in my opinion. If I recall correctly, students were initially given a screener to see how their eyes tracked on a page of text. This was done with a special machine and a pair of glasses hooked up to the machine. If their eyes didn't track from left to right (as in how a person reads a page of text) and from one line to the next in the correct "zig zag" pattern during reading, then they were considered to need "therapy." Therapy was expensive and rarely covered by insurance."
What's missing here is any description of how children learn. How does this "test" help teachers adapt instruction? What happens when a child's eyes don't zig zag? Are they taught differently, or just not admitted to the school?
Um, not so much...according to another teacher:
"There was NO room in the school specifically for IVL testing. There may have been equipment, but kids were never observed for vision. The IVL methods were taught to all kids, because Ingersoll made the staff do it; middle school and high school as well. Even the Special Education teachers had to teach it. which meant critical standards were not met."
So while we don't know if Dr. Ingersoll knows anything about children, or learning, or schools, here's what we do know:
1. He stole our money.
2. He subjected our children to radical, untested teaching methods.
3. People like this should not be permitted to set foot in our schools, much less run them.
A recent article on the Michigan Radio web page describes Gov Snyder's plans "to 'fix' Detroit's education problems once and for all"
Aside from the fact that many of these "problems" were created in large part due to the Governor's mismanagement of education in the state, and specifically in Detroit, and because of the systematic starving of resources for the state's schools, the ideas included in this article were also deeply offensive to anyone who lives in, works in or cares about Detroit and the DPS.
1. Detroit's schools don't need to be "fixed." They need to be cared for. And they need to be cared for by those that care about them the most, and for the right reasons--the parents, students, teachers and citizens of Detroit. Expecting the same folks who wanted to sell the art off the walls of the Detroit Museum of Art to "fix" the DPS is like expecting a burglar to lock the doors after he cleans out your house. If you really want to help Detroit's schools, then return control of those schools to the elected school board, administration and teachers in Detroit and get rid of the EAA...now.
2. Hiring the architect of New Orleans' "Recovery School District" to fix DPS is like hiring the CEO of BP to clean up an oil spill. As Professors Miron and Pedroni point out in the article, the "experiment" in New Orleans has not worked, and is not likely to work in Detroit either. It was based on faulty premises, was untested and never vetted properly. Perhaps most alarmingly, it was truly an "experiment"--an experiment conducted on the children and families of New Orleans, without their knowledge or approval. The full extent of the damage created by this experiment won't be known for years, but we do know it has been spectacularly unsuccessful, and certainly is not worth bringing to Detroit.
3. You don't "scale up" schools based on design templates. That's a business practice, not an educational practice—and schools are not businesses. Schools are unique, organic and different,
depending on where they are, who attends them, and who works in them. Just as a house in Alaska may serve some of the same functions as a house in Hawaii, they don't look the same, aren't built
the same, and would be ineffective and inefficient if transported from one place to the other. You "scale up" a fast food franchise. You don't "scale up" schools.
So, I'd like to offer some unsolicited advice for Gov. Snyder: as a businessman, you know that one of the first rules of crisis management is that when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. Your policies have led to a manufactured crisis in Detroit, and your solution appears to be looking at one of the few cities in the country whose schools are in worse shape than Detroit's and bringing the former superintendent from New Orleans to Detroit. You are fortunate to lead a state with some of the nation's finest teacher education programs, and yet ignore the advice from the experts in those programs. Drs. Pedroni and Miron have been unusually blunt and frank with their advice on your plan--you would do well to listen to their ideas and suggestions.
You are, after all, paying them for their expertise.
Recently, we have seen an inexplicable explosion of head-scratching, chin-stroking stories on *alleged* issues, such as whether or not parents should have their children vaccinated, whether evolution is a "thing" or not, and supposedly serious discussions by elected officials about whether or not global climate change is real. [Spoiler Alert: Yes, yes, and yes.]
This rampant streak of what can only be seen as "anti-intellectualism" (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201407/anti-intellectualism-and-the-dumbing-down-america) isn't simply unsettling; the science on each of these "issues" is settled. Vaccines DO NOT cause autism; the Earth is not 6000 years "young"; and climate scientists have determined without a shadow of a doubt that the planet is warming at an alarming rate, with dire consequences. Its dangerous.
To this list I would add a 4th dangerous decision that poses a threat to our children and our communities: the reckless and irresponsible decisions we see in too many school systems to eliminate music, art and physical education instruction from the curriculum.
In Lansing, MI, the decision to eliminate 47 elementary art, music and PE teachers was cast as a "tough, but responsible decision," and the local media praised the superintendent and school board
for their "courage" in making this decision.
Let's be clear: This was not a "tough" decision. It was a bad, and dangerous decision. What's "tough" is being a 2nd grader who loves to draw and going to school without the possibility of art class being the bright spot of your day. What's "tough" is being a 5th grade kid who loves to play the trumpet, and knowing that your school doesn't think that music is important enough to offer as a class. What's "tough" is being in Kindergarten and seeing your cousin in the suburbs learn how to paint, and sing, and dance, while your school day is full of "test prep" and "extra math."
It was a decision that denies thousands of children, many living in crushing poverty, an education that includes making music, making art, and learning how to be physically fit and healthy for a lifetime. We have known that music and the arts were an important component of a child's education in this country since the public schools began. And while parents in more affluent communities may be able to provide their children with private music and art lessons, or pay for them to join a travel soccer or basketball team outside of school, many of the families in Lansing and other urban areas do not have the resources to afford these opportunities--they depend on the public schools to make sure their children have access to the richness of a full and complete education, one that includes music and art.
School leaders are charged with making sure that the children in their schools are provided with the very best education possible--an education that includes ALL of the disciplines and subjects that are a part of a comprehensive, sequential curriculum. And that includes the arts, foreign language, libraries, special education services, and a host of other offerings. These things are not "specials" or "extras"; their absence can't be disguised by referring to them with clever names like "Encore!" or "Innovative Arts and Fitness". There is nothing "innovative" about firing 47 teachers and denying children a full and rich education, especially when its your job to ensure that they get just that.
The inclusion of music and art in the curriculum is not an "issue"--just as with vaccination, or evolution, we *know* the truth. And the truth is that all children deserve to learn about music and art in the public schools. There are not "2 sides" to this question. No parent would willingly choose an education barren of these disciplines--and no school should either.
After a great deal of consideration, I have decided to apply for the position of State Superintendent of Instruction for the state of Michigan. It's time to stop complaining, and time to take action.
I have no illusions that my candidacy will be successful, but would welcome the opportunity to ask some serious questions about the policies guiding education in the state.
We need a person in this office who will be a strong supporter of teachers and students, understands the damage that over-testing has had on the schools, and will work to stop the attacks on teachers and public schools.
We need to halt the proliferation of charter schools, abolish the EAA in Detroit and the rest of the state, and address the funding problems that have hampered public education in Michigan.
We need to insure that every child in the state receives a full, rich and diverse educational experience that includes music, art, PE, foreign language, social studies, science, and library services, in addition to the "tested subjects."
And we need to make sure that teachers are evaluated fairly and appropriately, not by Value Added Measures, student test scores or other invalid and unreliable "metrics."
Please let me know what educational issues you believe are important in the comments below.
Perhaps the strongest voice defending public school teachers against the agenda of the corporate reformers is education historian, Diane Ravitch. Dr. Ravitch recently posted a story
(http://dianeravitch.net/2015/02/02/tfa-supports-junk-science-to-grade-colleges-of-education-by-student-test-scores/) about Teach for America's public support of the Federal Department of
Education's newly proposed regulations on teacher education programs. This is notable for a couple of reasons. One, TFA is--allegedly--a non-profit organization devoted to the preparation of
alternatively certified teachers for America's urban schools. And two, TFA is clearly in competition with said teacher education programs, making their public stance on these regulations a fairly
obvious conflict of interest.
Now, my own feelings about Teach for America are hardly a secret (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/17/a-professors-encounter-with-two-teach-for-america-recruiters/), but even I was a bit surprised that TFA would tip their hand on their real agenda: destroying traditional teacher education programs, teachers unions, and public schools as we know them.
I guess we should be grateful that TFA was so transparent about their true colors--it makes them much easier to identify as part and parcel of the corporate reform movement, and makes it much harder for them to continue pretending they are an educational organization at all.
I often read stories that quote politicians and ed reform officials who claim that spending money won't help solve the problems facing students, schools and teachers nowadays. Their premise is
wrong on several accounts; one, these persons are usually the ones who have created the problems we are all now dealing with, and two, in my experience throwing money at problems usually works
pretty well.
Recently, Sen. Phil Pavlov, the chair of the Michigan Senate Education Committee, trotted out this under-thought, knee-jerk response to school funding in our state, saying: "What's clear in all of this is that simply spending money is not the answer. According to statewide school report cards available on the Michigan Department of Education website, some of the state's highest-funded school districts have multiple schools on the 2012 achievement gap list, despite receiving over $9,000, $10,000 or even $11,000 per pupil." (http://www.senatorphilpavlov.com/commentary-how-we-are-reinventing-states-outmoded-education-system/)
What Sen. Pavlov fails to mention is that gaining a spot on the state's "achievement gap list" is no measure of any sort of educational or learning issue--its simply an indication that a school's students have not met a predetermined goal, set by the state (not teachers), with respect to standardized test scores in math or reading. In some schools, this may mean that only 97% of the school's students achieved a passing score on an exam, and the state had set a goal of 98%. Really. Both of my children's schools were placed on one of these state lists a few years ago for not achieving "adequate yearly progress," even though they were two of the highest scoring schools in the state on all measures of student learning. So, Sen. Pavlov's measuring tool isn't measuring what he thinks it is, lots of students and teachers are being punished for excelling at what they do, and lots of time and effort is being wasted on things that just don't matter.
Sen. Pavlov's response also ignores the fact that Gov. Snyder, with Pavlov's help, has cut school funding by $2 billion dollars during his time as governor. So suggesting that giving more money
to schools won't do any good is a particularly cruel and hurtful approach given the systematic starving of resources and draconian reforms that have been enacted by Pavlov, Snyder and the
legislature in recent years.
What I find especially ironic is the fact that the same politicians who claim to believe that "throwing money" at our children's futures is a waste of resources saw no problems with "Citizens United," which eliminated all restrictions on financial contributions to election campaigns. If throwing money at students, teachers and schools won't help education, then how does it help their campaigns?
So, Sen. Pavlov, you may be right that throwing money at the schools won't solve the problems that you helped to create, but your other solutions--expanded school choice, more charter schools with less regulations, invalid and unreliable teacher evaluation systems, increased student testing requirements, destroying our state's teacher unions, etc.--haven't worked so far, so let's try adequately funding our schools and see what happens. Its worth a shot, right?
I just returned from a wonderful time in Peoria where I shared two presentations with the music teachers and music teacher educators at the Illinois Music Educators Association Conference. One session was on strategies for designing partnerships between schools and colleges, and the other was a talk on the (mis)uses of data in music teacher evaluation. PDFs of both sessions are available for download on the "Clinic and Workshop Materials" page on this site.
I head to Arizona in a few weeks for the Desert Skies Research Symposium to present a keynote address on music teacher evaluation and music education research, and then on to Miami the following week to visit with the music ed students and faculty at Florida International University on Friday, Feb. 27, and talk to the Miami-Dade County music teachers about assessment strategies on Sat., Feb. 28.
But the best part of my visit to Illinois was spending time with former Spartans, Bridget Sweet and Adam Kruse, now members of the music ed faculty at the University of Illinois, along with Janet Barrett and Louis Bergonzi; my "old" friend, Glenn Williams, from Downers Grove; Maud Hickey and Steve Demorest from Northwestern; Rich Cangro from Western Illinois; Scott Edgar from Lake Forest College; and many new friends as well.
It's out! Teachers College Press has released our new book, What Every Principal Needs to Know to Create Equitable and Excellent Schools, edited by George Theoharis and Jeff Brooks.
My chapter is titled, "Music Teaching and Learning in a Time of Reform"--here's a brief excerpt:
Music in the public school curriculum is at a precarious point. Indeed, one author has described the place of school music as teetering at a veritable "tipping point." Borrowing from Malcolm Gladwell's book of the same name, Kratus (2007) identifies the need for "sticky" ideas in music education that will attract new students and new audiences, lest we see the divide between music and "school music" grow even wider and deeper. A 2006 survey by the Center on Education Policy, an independent education policy think tank, found that since the passage of NCLB in 2001, 71% of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math (Dillon, 2006).
This narrowing of the public school curriculum has been accompanied by an increased emphasis on standardized testing, especially in the subject areas of math and reading, in a back-to-basics movement that has threatened to alter the very fabric of American public education.
For more information, click on the picture of the book cover to go to the Teachers College Press web page about the book.
Music education, both in the public schools and in higher education, is at a precarious point. A 2006 survey by the Center on Education Policy, an independent education policy think tank, found that since the passage of NCLB in 2001, 71 percent of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math. This narrowing of the public school curriculum has been accompanied by an increased emphasis on standardized testing, especially in the subject areas of math and reading, in a back to basics movement that has threatened to alter the very fabric of American public education.
Never before in my teaching career can I think of a time when what we had to offer as music teachers and music teacher educators was more desperately needed, by our students, our schools and our society. I often tell my students that the job we are preparing them for as teachers is an amazing one—it allows them to make decisions, solve problems, make interpretive choices, and be responsible for making a glorious whole out of disparate, disconnected pieces. It seems to me that our goal as music teachers is to make sure that the students in our ensembles and classes also view their 'jobs' in the same way—that they feel creative, empowered, and independent. It is both our privilege and our challenge to be music teacher educators during an exciting and volatile time in our profession's history, and it is the role of our professional organizations to provide the leadership and guidance necessary to support all of us as we move into the future.


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Microbiology & Rapid Micro Methods (RMMs)
A selection of articles from European Pharmaceutical Review covering Microbiology & Rapid Micro Methods (RMMs):
Pharma Webinar: Practical Application of RMM in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
15 December 2014 • Scott Sutton Ph.D. - President of Pharmaceutical Microbiology Forum & Owner of The Microbiology Network & Dr. Yongqiang Zhang - Senior Scientist at BD Diagnostics
Discussion on how a rapid method can provide a solution to a common microbiological testing problem for pharmaceutical manufacturers – process water microbiology testing.
RMM: In-depth focus 2014
5 November 2014 • Michael J. Miller, Deborah Gessell-Lee, Oliver Gordon, Joe Johnston, Neil Lewis, Jeanne Mateffy, Jeffrey W. Weber
Michael J. Miller discusses rapid microbiological methods and the regulatory environment, the Online Water Bioburden Analyzer Workgroup look at the path to implementing Online Water Bioburden Analyzers, plus RMM roundtable...
Microbiology: In-depth focus 2014
3 July 2014 • Dr. Guenther Gapp, James L. Drinkwater
In this free-to-view in-depth focus: How to deal with non-sterile results in aseptic processing, Risk Profiling and Proactive Response (RPPR) to Bio-contamination in GMP classified and controlled areas, Microbiology Roundtable...
Microbiology Series: Antimicrobial delivery
15 April 2014 • Joshua Boateng and Harshavardhan Pawar, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich
Antimicrobial drugs form a significant aspect of disease therapy and are a major means of treating bacterial, fungal and viral infections. The issue of antimicrobial therapy is of current interest and clinical concern. This is mainly due to two key reasons; (i) persistent emergence of microbial resistant strains and (ii) the significant reduction in the rate of successful discovery new generations of more potent antibiotics to combat this resistance epidemic (especially in bacteria).
Fungal contamination of pharmaceutical products: a growing menace
19 February 2014 • Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Interest Group (Pharmig)
Any pharmaceutical product, whether manufactured in the hospital or industrial environment, has the potential to be contaminated with microorganisms. With sterile products, any microbial contamination presents an unacceptable risk; with non-sterile products, the implication of the contamination is dependent upon whether the microorganism can be considered 'objectionable', and then to the extent that it can cause patient harm (and here a risk assessment is ordinarily required).
Microbiology: Mould contamination in pharmaceutical drug products and medical devices
15 December 2013 • Tony Cundell, formerly of Merck Research Laboratories
Invasive fungal infections associated with high mortality rates are common in hospital settings, especially in intensive care units where patients may be immune-compromised, subject to invasive procedures and treated aggressively with antibiotics. The most common nosocomial fungal infections in descending order are due to the genera Candida, Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Fusarium and other less frequently isolated moulds. Usually the fungi are passed on from the hands of medical personnel, the indigenous microflora of the patient or the general hospital environment but occasionally pharmaceutical drug products and medical devices are implicated...
Towards the real application of rapid microbiological methods in developing countries
22 October 2013 • Michael J. Miller, President, Microbiology Consultants, LLC and Suzan Mohammed Ragheb, Department of Biotechnology, The Nile Company for Pharmaceuticals and Chemical Industries
Rapid microbiological methods (RMM) have gained popularity and acceptance within a number of industry sectors, including food and beverages, diagnostics, environmental, personal care and pharmaceuticals. In recent years, many firms have successfully validated and implemented RMMs for a wide variety of applications. However, many geographic areas around the world still have not benefited from the advantages that RMMs afford, most notably the time to result for critical microbiological analyses. This is particularly true for clinical diagnostics and the detection of foodborne pathogens in developing countries.
RMMs & Environmental Monitoring: In-depth focus 2013
21 August 2013 • Emanuele Selvaggio (Pfizer), Chris Delaney (Noonan Services Group)
The rapid microbiological methods revolution.
Controlling contamination in the pharmaceutical industry.
Rapid Micro Methods Roundtable.
The Encyclopedia of Rapid Microbiological Methods: The new fourth volume discusses technologies, regulatory acceptance and validation case studies
13 June 2013 • Michael J. Miller, President, Microbiology Consultants, LLC and rapidmicromethods.com
This is the second paper in our continuing series on Rapid Microbiological Methods (RMM) that will appear in European Pharmaceutical Review during 2013. As the editor for the Encyclopedia of Rapid Microbiological Methods, I provide a summary of the latest volume, which was published earlier this year. New case studies, regulatory guidance and novel technologies are highlighted, and encourage our industry to adopt new ways of performing microbiology assays across a wide range of applications.
Current activities of the USP Microbiology Expert Committee
18 April 2013 • Radhakrishna S. Tirumalai
For sterile as well as nonsterile pharmaceutical products, manufacturers must eliminate or minimise potential risks to patients as well as product quality. While many contributing factors may affect the quality of a medicine or its ingredients, microbial contamination control and proper sterilisation methods are critical considerations for the manufacturer throughout the product's life cycle.
Improving the quantitation of live antigens used to produce rabbit generated serotype specific antiserum
21 February 2013 • Michael J. Miller, President, Microbiology Consultants, LLC, Silvia Fragoeiro, Ananthi Ramachandran and Paul van Empel MSD Animal Health
This is the first paper in our continuing series on Rapid Microbiological Methods (RMM) that will appear in European Pharmaceutical Review during 2013. Flow cytometry represents one of a variety of viability-based RMM technologies that are currently available to the pharmaceutical industry. In flow cytometry, individual particles are counted as they pass through a laser beam in a very narrow flow cell.
Hot topics in rapid methods: revisions to validation guidance and real-time environmental monitoring
18 December 2012 • Michael J. Miller, President, Microbiology Consultants, LLC
This is the sixth and final paper in our continuing series on Rapid Microbiological Methods (RMM) that have appeared in European Pharmaceutical Review during 2012. As many of you already know, I am keen on staying on top of recent developments in the world of rapid methods, and have used my own blog (http://blog.rapidmicromethods.com) to communicate technology advances and changes to regulatory and validation practices and expectations. In my final article of the year, I am providing an overview of two very interesting topics that have sparked additional discussions within the professional community: the proposed changes to USP's informational chapter on the validation of alternative microbiological methods and real-time environmental monitoring. Revision to USP Chapter <1223>: Method validation is the process used to confirm that an analytical procedure employed for a specific test is reliable, reproducible and suitable for its intended purpose. All analytical methods need to be validated prior to their introduction into routine use, and this is especially true for novel technology platforms such as RMMs. Because many RMM technologies consist of a combination of instrumentation, software, consumables and reagents, in addition to specific detection, quantitative or identification methodologies, it is important to develop a comprehensive and holistic approach to the validation process to ensure that the entire RMM system is suitable for its intended use.


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Michael D Schifter (1938 - 1999)
Biography & Family History Add details
Michael D Schifter (1938 - 1999) was born on July 30, 1938. He was born into the Schifter family.
He died on June 13, 1999 at 60 years of age.
Michael D Schifter's last known residence is at Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio.
We were able to locate a death record for Michael D Schifter in the United States Social Security Master Death Index (SSDI). What is the SSDI?
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Need Help w NEMA # for Standard Kenmore Dryer Plug!!!??
We are having an outlet installed for our new kenmore dryer model 81272.
Both electricians who gave bids told us that they need the nema# for the plug in order to install the right outlet. Well... hours with sears in store, online, by phone, technicians... even someone who found the plug and box.... nobody could tell me the nema #!!!
so... anyone out there have this (or similar) dryer who can help me with this?? i assume that they only have a few dryer extension cords... ours is part # 15000 and is listed as a 3-prong 5 foot plug. it is pictured here... with info that does not include the nema #.
thanks for any help!!!!
thanks much, acetx... can you tell me why both electricians would be so worried about this and not know this?? do you have this information because you own a kenmore, or because it's just something that's pretty obvious???
i have been so stressed at getting this information... and that nobody at sears seems to have it!!!
thanks again..
there arent that many 30A recepticle options
if the electrician is installing a new circuit it makes sense to install a 4 prong
the reason they asked is because they were probably considering your existing dryer plug, but the thing is you can usually install a 3 OR 4 prong cord on an electric dryer
the power cord that you linked to looks like an older type straight blade, unless i was looking at the wrong cord
get the 4 prong for the dryer http://www.sears.com/kenmore-4-prong-5%27-round-dryer-cord-black/p-02615001000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
it's a standard 10 gauge plug 14-30p so the matching receptacle would be 14-30R
they probably sold us the older style plug because our house is older and they figured we would have an older outlet?
ok... i'm a little confused. is the 3-prong or the newer 4=prong you recommended the one that fits into the 14-30? this is all completely new to us.
what would the advantage be of getting a 4-prong?
thanks SO much for this info & education!
4 prong is newer
4 prong = 2 hots, a neutral, and a ground
many 240v appliances operate on both 120 & 240v
@ 240v you need 2 hots (120v + 120v) and a ground
@ 120v you need 120v and a neutral (return path)
it makes no sense to not install a 4 prong on a new circuit
an electric dryer can take either cord so install the 4 prong cord


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Falcons release statement on Wade MacLeod
Springfield Falcons forward Wade MacLeod was stable and alert after suffering a seizure following a hit into the glass during the second period of the Feb. 17 game against the Adirondack Phantoms.
MacLeod was brought by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Players and coaching staffs on each team unanimously agreed to postpone the game.
Information on MacLeod's status and a rescheduled game date will be announced when available on FalconsAHL.com.
UPDATE, 2/21/13: Statement from family of Wade MacLeod: "A CT scan performed on Wade resulted in the discovery of a benign mass. He will be undergoing further examination to determine the appropriate treatment. We appreciate the respect of Wade's privacy at this time."
- AHL names award winners for March
- Playoff Primer: April 1
- AHL announces suspensions
- Accountability plays a big role in Penguins' success
- Wolves' Rattie named AHL Player of the Week
- A resilient nature keeps paying off for Froese
- Hershey heads back to the playoffs
- Milano takes next step in Springfield


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Dorothy (Alves) Holmes
Dancing As Fast As I Can Poem by Dorothy (Alves) Holmes
The alphabets were standing in a line 26 strong,
The Language Door Keeper knew at once something
was wrong...
No verbs or nouns or personifications, no sentence
structures, or punctuation.
What is the problem The Language Door Keeper
demanded to know,
what is the reason for this unseemly show?
What has brought about this disregard for
the written word?
Letters all in a row, why this is absurd!
Who indeed wishes to be heard?
who will step forward to explain this line
without metaphor, rhythm or rhyme?
Come on he urged, you are wasting time.
There must be someone out there looking for you
Why are you standing here, your words overdue?
Well sir, stepped forward the letter A,
being the first in line, she had been urged to have the first say...
We had a strange request sir, asking words to dance,
and some letters won't stand a chance, they can't be
found in any dance.
I am trained to waltz, tango cha cha, and do a little jazz,
I can tap, and …
Stop bragging yelled the letter "J" I can jitter bug, no letter
is better than me cutting a rug!
I can do the Charleston spoke up the letter "C",
I can kick high with the help
given by the other eight letters, just wait and see.
The other letters became loud and enraged,
like wild animals in a cage.
It is not our fault some letter are omitted from dance
move us around, give us a chance...
We can break dance, shouted "B" and "K"...
We can do the samba spoke us "S" and the show off "A".
No! No! Interrupted The Language Door Keeper, you have
it all wrong
the request is for words that give rhythm and meaning,
to a poem or a song.
Letter in sequences to form words used everyday.
Have you lost your thinking power, are they in decay?
Now the word "sad" won't do and "Cry" there is no use for you.
"Happy" "Love" and "smile" can render a melody.
Haven't you noticed the words you become can set a poet free.
The idea dear friends is that you enhance written thoughts
that sparkle with metaphors giving writers a choice...
Asking words to dance, is what they endeavor to do,
Grab a partner dear alphabets and make words new;
Put your heads together, step out of the line
Form some sentences to make writing divine.
What a privilege, calling on words to dance
slip in between someone thoughts and give it a chance.
Soon all was quiet and words took form, short and long
sentences were born...grand words emerged resounding
from the plea...
Asking words to dance sets hearts free.
Dorothy A. Holmes
Topic of this poem: Humorous
Dorothy (Alves) Holmes's Other Poems
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Comments about this poem (Dancing As Fast As I Can by Dorothy (Alves) Holmes )
Susan Lacovara (5/6/2014 6:36:00 PM)
My toes at tapping along to the alphabet sing-song of this ever clever symphony of sentences stepping out to dance! Bravo....let the band begin.....as I look for new words to make grand dance partners. PEACE (Report) Reply
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An act of cruelty: An audience with Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, the man behind the 'quenelle' salute
Dieudonné M'bala M'bala is the man behind the 'quenelle' salute. His fans claim the stand-up represents free speech. Others say he is just a hateful anti-semite. John Lichfield joins the crowd at his latest gig
John Lichfield
John Lichfield has been The Independent's man in Paris since 1997, covering French news. Before that, he was the paper's Foreign Editor and he has also worked in Brussels and Washington.
Tuesday 28 January 2014
Dieudonné M'bala M'bala appears on stage to a feral roar from the audience, with his arms held aloft, more politician than comedian.
Which is he? No politician in France generates such raw excitement. No comedian produces such an intoxicating and disturbing cocktail of self-righteous laughter and joyous anger among his fans.
Howls of gleeful fury greet Dieudonné's every reference to a French politician, or to his alleged "persecution" by the French establishment. Louder howls and boos greet every reference to a Jew or to a Jewish organisation.
Dieudonné M'bala M'bala – the man who invented the controversial "quenelle" arm gesture performed by the Premiership footballer Nicolas Anelka – has belatedly started his 2014 stand-up Tour de France. The show replaces a performance banned by the French authorities earlier this month for inciting racial hatred against Jews.
Mostly, it is the same show, with the provocative anti-semitic quips taken out or replaced by pauses, which the audience cheers with passionate indignation.
Dieudonné is a compelling presence on stage: bearded, balding, black, very large and sometimes funny.
"What the fuck are all you lot doing here?" he asks. "The media and the politicians and the thinkers have ordered you not to come. You must all be crazy anti-semites, assassins and wicked sorcerers. I almost didn't turn up myself."
The performance is in the Bordeaux ice-rink – appropriate for a man who has been skating on thin moral and political ice for almost a decade. The audience of at least 5,000, which fills the venue to capacity, is predominately male. It is mostly white and working class. There are older people and some students, but the great majority seem to be in their thirties and forties. This is different from his usual audience in Paris, which is dominated by conspiracy-loving, far-leftist, bourgeois bohemians.
Dieudonné, half-Breton and half-Cameroonian, was born in the Paris suburbs 47 years ago. He first made his name as a cheeky, anti-racist comedian in a stand-up double act with a Jewish performer, Elie Semoun (one of the Jewish names booed at the Bordeaux show). He had several parts in movies, such as Asterix and Cleopatra. He campaigned, on and off the stage, against racism. He was, he said, a black man who refused "to dance the calypso with a banana stuck up my arse".
From about 2004, for reasons never explained, he metamorphosed into a French version of Louis Farrakhan, the controversial leader of the Nation of Islam in the US.
A pro-Dieudonné supporter does the 'quenelle' gesture, which is said to be a bastardised version of a Nazi salute On stage, he sometimes speaks in a mock French-African voice, which the Bordeaux audience loves. The rest of the time, he speaks in rapid, colloquial, last-man-in-the bar, working-class French, which the Bordeaux audience adores.
When he reaches a banned part of the old script, Dieudonné pauses and grins or he stares suspiciously, and comically, into a "spy camera" that "They" have hidden in his lectern.
The fans know by heart from YouTube what Dieudonné is supposed to – or not supposed to – say next. Thus, he no longer says: "Why should I have to choose between Jews and Nazis? In all that business, I am neutral."
Instead, he stops and allows an innocent, yet conspiratorial expression to spread across his face. Cue, hysterical cheers and laughter.
What is the 'quenelle'? Why Zoopla have decided to end their sponsorship with West Brom over the Nicolas Anelka gesture
Alternatively, Dieudonné gives a censored version of one of his anti-semitic "jokes". In the original show, Dieudonné would attack his frequent critic Patrick Cohen, the Jewish presenter of France's most successful morning radio news show (a cross-Channel equivalent of John Humphrys).
Dieudonné used to say: "When the wind turns, I don't think he'll have time to pack a suitcase. When I hear Patrick Cohen talking, you see, I think of the gas chambers. Pity."
In the revised show, Dieudonné casually mentions Patrick Cohen. (Hysterical booing from the audience). Then he says: "The wind is going to turn, maybe. We will see. I have a feeling that the wind is turning." (Hysterical laughter.) Dieudonné's Bordeaux fans, who have paid €43 each, resemble a pick-and-mix of the people that you might see at provincial, far-right or far-left rallies in France.
Random interviews suggest that they are a rather different set of people: just as angry; just as alienated; but apolitical. They are so furious with "the system" that they are beyond the reach of even populist politicians. They are not beyond the reach of Dieudonné. Their refuge, for now at any rate, is in his destructive, dark humour, rather than in organised politics.
No one will admit to caring much about Jews. It's all just a big anti-System joke, they say.
Cyril, 31, a vineyard worker, says: "I adore Dieudonné. He is not like all those other boring comedians, who go on about the same kind of stuff. He talks about life as it really is. He is educational.
"I'm not anti-semitic. Dieudonné is not anti-semitic," he goes on. "He laughs at everyone. But in this country, there is one community that no one is allowed to laugh at... By trying to ban him, they are proving his point. They are just making him even more popular."
The comedian defends the 'quenelle', stating the gesture is not anti-semitic Dieudonné's show is not all about Jews. His comedy is based on provocation; pushing things to the edge and then far beyond. There is often an undertow of violence. He is on the side of the ordinary people of France – white and black – and against the elites, with their hypocrisy and their fancy ideas, such as gay marriage.
In one skit, a French homosexual couple goes to Africa to buy a child. Dieudonné, playing a corrupt African official, says: "No, we are not homophobic in Africa. That word is not strong enough. We are homovore. We eat gays."
More hysterical laughter.
Is Dieudonné satirising African attitudes or white attitudes to Africans? He walks a tightrope. You can laugh at his corrupt, homophobic African or you can agree with him. But when it comes to Jews, Dieudonné steps off the tightrope. I count 23 references to Jews in a supposedly "cleaned up" 80-minute show.
There is nothing remotely funny in any of these references. Even with his gaps and pauses, Dieudonné's world view is as follows: the Jews run the world; they are responsible for the suffering of blacks and poor whites. Why? Because they have created a global monopoly of pity by manipulating the Holocaust.
Before the legally-enforced "re-write", his "jokes" on Jews and Nazi concentration camps were frequently drenched in obscenity. The audience in Bordeaux, trained by Dieudonné's videos and YouTube appearances, cheer apparently innocent references to pineapples. Along with the quenelle arm gesture – which may or may not be based on the Hitler salute – this fruit has become Dieudonné's emblem.
A couple of years ago, the comedian re-wrote an old French pop song and called it "Chaud Ananas" – hot pineapples. In French, this sounds like "Shoah nanas" or "holocaust floozies". One of Dieudonné's five convictions for inciting hatred of Jews was based on the words of this song, which incoherently mingle the holocaust, sexuality and obscenity.
The "quenelle" works the same way. Before the Bordeaux show, a wandering "quenelle camera" selected members of the audience. The chosen ones competed to give the most obscene and suggestive quenelle – pointing at the ground with one arm while touching their shoulder or upper-arm with the other hand.
Why is this obscene? Quenelle means an elongated meat-ball or fish-ball. In slang, it means a finger or a penis. Dieudonné's gesture means, symbolically, that you want to shove a "quenelle" as far as possible up the backside of your enemy. His Bordeaux fans, just like Nicolas Anelka, insist that Dieudonné's real target is "the establishment", not the Jews. The quenelle gesture is not anti-semitic, they say, even though it may "accidentally" resemble a Nazi salute.
Stéphane, 57, a building labourer, says that: "In the beginning, they started attacking him for a small sketch that he did on Israeli colonists on the West Bank. So he doubled the stakes and started mocking the holocaust. That's not anti-semitism. It's freedom of speech.
"Pineapples, quenelles, all these things: they have become a symbol, not of anti-semitism, but of resistance to the system. We have a right to mock the way things are run by a minority, against the majority, in this country.
Ashling O'Connor: Reaction to Nicholas Anelka's 'quenelle' and Twitter trolls is true reflection of our society – and that is one built around hope rather than hate
The comedian's critics say that the Dieudonné M'bala M'bala phenomenon – and he is a phenomenon – works precisely the other way around. In the "Dieudonnosphere" (as his fans call themselves) the "establishment" and the "Jews" have become the same thing. People who start off vaguely anti-system are encouraged to become viciously anti-Jewish.
Looking around the people crowded into the Bordeaux ice-rink, it is difficult to believe that they were sincerely anti-semitic. Most have probably never met a Jew. And yet, in January 2014, to hear 5,000 people baying angrily at each mention of a Jew is deeply unsettling.
Dieudonné's show ends with three little girls called up on stage to perform their best and most obscene "quenelles".
The comedian then leads the audience in his newest anti-François Hollande song, which uses the beautiful melody of the anthem of the French wartime resistance, "La Chanson des Partisans". "Can you see, François, what is sliding up your bum? La quenelle."
Is Dieudonné a comedian or politician? First and foremost, he is a businessman. As the audience leave, they snap up T-shirts showing "Dieudo" doing the quenelle at €40 a time. There is also a man handing out leaflets for a book-signing in Bordeaux next month by Alain Soral, a virulently anti-semitic French intellectual, light years to the right of the Marine Le Pen and the National Front. Soral is a friend of Dieudonné
The leaflet man says: "You've seen Dieudonné. Now come and see the man who inspired him." Why not? The master could hardly be worse than the pupil.
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Rated 4.2 out of 5 by 488 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by jack4396 Great experience My wife and I recently spent a few days at Sheraton Suites Key West. Since I normally expect good service and pleasant accommodations at Starwood properties, I rarely do this after a visit, but this trip was extraordinary. We want to thank the entire staff at this property for a very pleasant and relaxing quick vacation. Despite it being "spring break" and very busy, everyone at the hotel was extremely friendly and pleasant. We spent a good deal of time on-site and made use of most of your facilities. Without exception, all staff we encountered (management, porters, front desk, wait staff, bar staff, pool staff, maintenance, shuttle drivers, etc.) were the best. We were made to feel like valued guests and we were able to simply relax and enjoy ourselves. The facility was also impressive. Very clean and well maintained, everything worked as it should and as advertised. Thank you all for making our stay so pleasant. You all should be proud of the great work you do. March 15, 2015
Rated 3 out of 5 by Manju Staff needs proper training Room was not ready at guaranteed time. Staff didn't seem concerned. Front desk staff could not answer simple questions. On Tuesday, during rainstorm, I slipped and fell on wet rug on the covered walkway, I reported the incident to the staff and they acted as if it didn't matter. I wasn't even asked if I had gotten hurt. I asked to speak to the general manager and he only spoke to the clerk and whispered something in his ear. I asked that this incident be reported but I'm sure it was not done. The staff is horrible and should be given sensitivity training by Human Resource. This was my 2nd trip to this hotel but I will never stay there again. June 22, 2012
Rated 1 out of 5 by DonL34 This hotel suffered from customer service I have stayed at this resort a number of times in the past and was looking forward to it but was very disappointed. It started with my room selection. I am a spg gold member but was not able to secure a spg room. The room I was given was in the back of the resort facing outward. The room interior was nice as usual however you could tell it suffered from neglect. Little things like the water pressure was terrible, the safe did not work and the blinds were broken. The worst thing however was the overall customer service. The bar / food service at the pool was terrible. They were grossly under staffed. The bar tenders tried to do their best but showed frustration do to the work load. Only 2 of the 6 days was there as service pool side. The rest of the days you had to wait in long lines by pool bar or had to have the bar tender leave the bar and bring your food down to the pool There was only 1 bar tender on staff. I am sure that 1 extra bar tender / pool staff would certainly pay for their salaries in sales if they were added. I spoke with a few other guest who thought the same. A number of us left the resort to eat when we would have gladly spent the money to eat. The service even got worse during the evening. We tried to eat dinner in the restaurant and had to wait a long time for some one to come up to seat us. Also when checking out I was informed that Sheraton has added a $20 per day resort fee. I understand many other resorts do the same but I was not informed of this charge when I checked in nor did I feel the resort service earned the fee. I am disappointed because I have stayed in the this particular resort 4-5 times in the past and don't remember it being like this. I realize that it is hard to find help in the Keys but Sheraton had better solve this one. March 20, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by CathyMc51 Send Off Breakfast The send off breakfast was excellent & staff was super to work with March 17, 2015
Rated 5 out of 5 by RoadTrip2012 Very relaxing & comfortable This was the 3rd of 4 Starwood hotels we stayed at on our month long roadtrip and it was, by far, our favourite. Initially, we thought we might regret not being within walking distance of Duval, but that turned out to be a positive. The complimentary shuttle service was very convenient and made Duval Street accessible without being in the middle of the chaos 24/7. Munisa at check-in was efficient and made sure we had all the info we needed to navigate the hotel and the area. The best surprise for us, was that the beach and boardwalk were right across the road. What a great way to start the day. Our room was wonderful...spacious, spotless and well stocked and Iliana kept it that way during our stay. Unfortunately we were only there for 2 nights. Next time we will stay longer. March 4, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by Czarina2083 Nice hotel, located right across the street from the beach The room and bathroom were nicely updated. Although the pool was a bit small, those who love the water can venture off across the street to the beach. The only negative thing I can say is that I arrived Tuesday night and stayed until Thursday afternoon (got a late check out with my SPG gold membership) and house keeping didn't come to clean on Wednesday at all. All I wanted were clean towels! Oh and by the way, you better get back to the hotel early cause there's no parking in the lot if you get back to the hotel after 11 pm ( think they are renovating cause there's a bunch of metal containers taking up a bunch of parking spaces.) July 25, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by MFD1412 Wonderful Stay Being in Key West, we didn't really stay much at the hotel, however, when we were there, the room was great. The showers were clean, bed was incredibly comfortable, the hotel itself was very Key West. The colors, the vibe were incredibly relaxing. Its away from the hustle and bustle of Duval Street, this place is definetly a place I'll be returning to. Staff was friendly, concierge was great in helping us plan our weekend. They offer shuttle service to the downtown area or to rent scooters, and taxis are literally a minute away ready to go. Overall it was great. I really enjoyed this hotel. February 11, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by CTgal Quality Stay, Great Location Access to the beach is what made this hotel stand out for us. Simply grab your stuff and walk across the street to a great beach with all water activities right there. Hotel pool/hot tub was a perfect end to the day. The suite facilities were great for our adult family of five. We used two rooms so everyone had sleeping space; however, the pull outs are not nearly as comfortable as the bed. January 26, 2012


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Author Comments
Rated 0.5 / 5 stars
Weak move.
If you want to get money for your work it's okay, absolutely fine, but is it so difficult to crerate new thing?
No offence, but this much money for an one-playthrough art game?
please, be a good indie, put this game back and create some new ones to make money on.
Rated 0 / 5 stars
Sad to see this game gone from Newgrounds and only available if you purchase it.
I can understand that you need to make money but it's the exact same game and the only extra content you get is the soundtrack.
If it was a complete remake with better graphics, soundtrack and more content, then I might have been interested.
Rated 0 / 5 stars
I played this game some time ago, I finished it, and I liked it. Now I come back to play again, only to discover that the SAME game has been put down from NG, and is playable only after paying 5$? I would have understood if the game was only a demo, and the full game was available after payment... but here you're asking people money for the same game, with no new features!
Rated 0 / 5 stars
Unobtainable Medal
Rated 0 / 5 stars
Really? $5 for a game that was once a F---ING FLASH GAME?!?!?!?!?!


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VFW Baseball: Brainerd sweeps Park Rapids
Brainerd erupted for a five-run sixth inning leading to an 8-1 Game Two victory over Grand Rapids in a freshmen VFW game Tuesday at Mills Field in Brainerd.
Bryce Flanagan had two hits and an RBI to help Will Peabody pitch Brainerd to a 4-0 Game One victory.
Justin Banks added two hits and Cole Kubesh drove in a run in Game one.
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Telling stories
The first Story Slam filled the Bandersnatch and opened the door to more.
Full Story » 03/27/2015
The first Story Slam filled the Bandersnatch and opened the door to more.
Full Story » 03/27/2015
This year's TEDx encouraged the idea of taking something apart to make it work in new ways.
The 2015 Distinguished Leaders are acknowledged for the impact they've had on campus and the promise they hold for their new communities.
In a celebration of collaboration, Denison's biennial festival of new music expanded this year to embrace all the arts.
The Denison Democrats bring James Carville to campus to discuss his passion for politics.
Three shows in the Denison Museum speak to difference and identity.
Wilde romp
The Denison Theatre Department presents "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.
Model citizen
Even though Nelson Dow '16 has returned from his study abroad experience, the people of New Zealand will still see him every day.
Do you want to build a snowman?
Students make the most of winter before it all melts away.
At the top of their game
The Big Red men's squash team goes east and brings home the Chaffee Cup.
Even sparrows in the prairies do it
Sarah Winnicki '16 turns her natural interest in birds into serious ornithology.
Right on track
Seven newly tenured professors join the Denison community.
The big red carpet
And the award goes to…
Outside the box
In a campus-wide art exhibition, students are challenged to think about the spaces in which their work will be displayed.
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It's The Little Things...
Our Living Room Mantel - Christmas 2010...
Our Living Room Mantel - Christmas 2010...
garland to create a beautiful rustic mantel decor: Read the complete story here »
Seasonal decorations. There are some things that simply resist all
all attempts at purging. Holiday and other seasonal decorations fall smack into that category. Many small homes are also shy on storage. I'll address
Christmas decorations — sange277
Fred Martin, AIAP
Fred Martin, AIAP
love this look for Christmas especially for clay's house
If you haven't decorated yet, don't. Those bags and bags of gumdrops you bought to make miniature Christmas trees as a centerpiece? That mile of glittery
a few health issues, and this year the list of what I'm not doing for Christmas prep is longer than my to-do list. "Not this year" I keep telling myself
porch — bestysmith
Linly Designs
Foyer Staircase Christmas Garland
Make a grand statement with a custom, hand-crafted christmas garland in your foyer!
Foyer Staircase Christmas Garland...for Christmas Decorating...Beautiful christmas decor...Christmas Decor...Beautiful Christmas garland...Christmas garland...Decorations for Christmas...Decoration for christmas...banister decor...Christmas decorating on stairs
Xmas — chuckles2101
Regina Gust Designs
Christmas Interiors
Pretty Decorations for Christmas!!!!
Christmas Interiors...pretty christmas decoration...Christmas decor on pendant lights...Santa decorations...Decorating the light fixtures! Neat....Christmas decoration...Xmas decor...Light Decor...Christmas decorations...Decor on chandelier
the bar stools — lolarduke
Dawn Hearn Interior Design
Traditional Front Porch Christmas
Front porch decorated for the holidays. Garland, lights, angels
under every window so that by flipping one switch I can turn on all the Christmas candles! Also, we have a wrap around porch and he installed outlets
talLights.com sells pre-lit greenery with high quality LED warm white Christmas lights. We used the popular mini-conical bulbs for this greenery because
christmas entryway. Don't like the poinsettias or the angel but like the archway & small christmas trees
Decor — snail22
Hydrangea Home
Holiday Decor
Wrought iron tower with Christmas bulbs
The Christmas decorations are decorative forms
this outdoor christmas decor...Christmas decor...Christmas decor love it...Nice front decorations...Christmas decor! Love this!...Holiday decorating idea...Ideas for decorating front entrance...Love christmas...Christmas idea...with Christmas Flowers....Decorative sidelights....Christmas deco...Holiday Decor
Christmas Tier Basket — tygalucas1
Julie Ranee Photography
Holiday Decor
Yet another truly creative alternative christmas tree!
Guilt-Free ChristmasWhat's Your Christmas Decorating Style?12 Christmas Holiday Traditions to Start NowFestive Styling That Embraces the 'White Christmas' Look
a tree. It's relaxed and light-hearted Christmas decorating at its best.Tour the rest of this laid-back Christmas home
for a festive look that really reflects you.Do you have any DIY Christmas decorating tips? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
festive look that really reflects you.TELL USDo you have any DIY Christmas decorating tips? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments.MORENot
Cute! — ccals
Linly Designs
Christmas Mantel
"Believe" sign was actually already in the client's home! However, we decorated the tree, shelves, and mantel. We also carry custom handmade firescreens
Christmas Mantel...Love the Christmas decor....Christmas decorations, ambiance....Christmas decorations...Love christmas...fairy-tale Christmas Decorations...Christmas Decor...Christmas tree...Christmas. Decorations...Christmas trees
Xmas — chuckles2101


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Git Bisect and Why it is Amazing
January 20, 2015 — 5 Comments
Had a client email me recently, mildly concerned, as an update to WP eCommerce broken his search layout. I told him that I couldn't think of anything between the latest version and the prior version that would have caused any such thing, but I'd be more than happy to check it out. Initially, if I'm […]
How To: Remove Shipping Calculator from WP eCommerceDecember 10, 2014 — 4 Comments
On Legacy and FoundationsAugust 26, 2014 — 1 Comment
How To: Set the Default Shipping Country in WP eCommerceJuly 3, 2014 — 3 Comments


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Bill Rancic: Giuliana Will Be the Disciplinarian
Bill Rancic and wife Giuliana Rancic's ups and downs have been chronicled on their reality show Giuliana and Bill. From their struggles to have a baby to Giuliana's breast cancer battle, they have weathered a lion's share of storms. But now, as they prepare to welcome their first child together via surrogate, things are finally looking up again.
"We had a crazy year and we've tested our vows," Rancic told Parade.com about their plans to have a vow renewal this summer. "Our outlook on life is different so we want to tweak our vows a little and have more fun with it. It's going to be a celebration of life and as I told her, it's the year of the Rancics."
A big part of 2012 will be their increasingly sympatico careers. They are hosting a summer reality show for NBC entitled Ready For Love, they opened a new restaurant, and he has partnered with Rogaine, becoming their spokesman and "growth coach."
"I had suffered from some hair loss and we pulled up old pictures versus some from the past two years and it was a night and day difference," he says. "One in four men suffer from hair loss and I wanted to let guys know they don't have to go through it since nine out of ten men who use Rogaine get their hair back." And what did his wife think of his new venture?
"She's the one who really noticed the difference," Rancic says. "Women get men to do things they wouldn't normally do. Eye cream and stuff like that. Getting married has been better for me. I don't know if most guys can say that but it's definitely enhanced my life."
Read on for more about baby names, their high-tech way of staying in touch, and why Giuliana will be the bad cop:
On keeping their busy marriage strong.
"Although we travel a lot we try to limit it and we're starting to do more projects together. We're doing more work things together to limit our time apart. When we're apart, we're on the phone a lot and use FaceTime. Recently, both of our flights had Wi-Fi and we were FaceTiming each other from our seats on our separate planes. I was talking very quietly and the person next to me was watching a movie."
On knowing you're ready to settle down.
"Every guy has a different timetable. For me, it was very appropriate to get my career on track before I brought anyone else in my life. So I wasn't ready until I accomplished certain things in my career. Everyone has that time in their lives when they wake up and they know. That's what happened to me and I was very lucky to find the love of my life and my soul mate.
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In late summer of 2004, PPZ became home to a coral reef exhibit featuring over 30 invertebrates and fish.
Amur Tigers are the biggest cats in the wild, topping out around 600 pounds!
"What a great organization to be a part of. I'm so proud to be a member."
- Janice G, Lansing
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Potter Park Zoo
1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave.
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Teacher Punches Student in the Face for Allegedly Insulting Her [VIDEO]
64-year-old art teacher Sandra Hadsock is making headlines this week after she punched a male student in the face for allegedly calling her vulgar names.
64-year-old art teacher Sandra Hadsock is making headlines this week after she punched a male student in the face for allegedly calling her vulgar names.
Angeline Lavasseur didn't want to break the time-honored tradition of graduates walking to get their diplomas at graduation.
The 18-year-old girl, who has been confined to a wheelchair throughout her childhood after being born with spina bifida, recently walked across the stage to pick up her diploma at Pinckney High School's graduation in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the controversial supporter of assisted suicide, died this morning at a hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He was 83.
As of July 1, it will be a crime in the state of Tennessee to use somebody else's login information on sites like Netflix and Rhapsody.
While the legislation is primarily aimed at hackers who steal and sell passwords in bulk, the bill's sponsor Rep. Gerald McCormick a
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer the radiation in cell phones may cause cancer.
The group came to this conclusion after analyzing 30 previous studies which had explored the link between cell phones and cancer.
As a result of this finding, cell phones have now been given a "2 B" cl
Tornadoes have captured much of the nation's attention this year, but hurricane season is not too far away, so Americans should be prepared for the possibility of devastating storms, even if you think there's no way one will come to your town.
A new list says Honolulu, Hawaii is the most overd
Last week, blogger Sean Symons captured horrifying footage of a teen driver who crashed into the side of the road, then hit two oncoming cars, all while he was allegedly texting and driving.
According to his YouTube page, Symons called the police when he spotted the texting teen, then pulled out his camera to catch the teen in the act. The original video was reportedly handed over to the police as evidence, Symons said.
So, you're thinking of catching up on some reading this summer? Well, you're not alone.
Amazon.com has come out with its list of the most well-read cities in America. The website created its rankings by looking sales of books, magazines and newspapers in print and on the Kindle since January 1 of this year.
In the battle between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Newsweek, the final blow may have been dealt by Grand Rapids.
After Newsweek called it out by naming it one of America's "dying cities," the good people in town responded with a record-breaking lip dub to the tune of 'American Pie' by Don McLean.
It's not just the human spirit that can show amazing resiliency in times of crisis.
A dog named Mason who was blown out of his home when a tornado tore through North Smithfield, Alabama on April 27 crawled back three weeks later. And we do mean crawled.
According to the Washington Post, MSNBC has suspended radio talk show host Ed Schultz after he referred to rival conservative host Laura Ingraham this week as a "right-wing slut."
The incident occurred Tuesday on his radio show, and was prompted in response to comments Ingraham made about President Barack Obama visiting Ireland while the Midwest was getting