The Cost of Educating the Public on Obamacare

Open enrollment in Obamacare’s insurance exchanges is slated to begin in October, and the Administration is using extraordinary—and questionable—efforts to raise awareness among the public and facilitate enrollment for fear not enough people will sign up for coverage.[1]

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius has recently admitted to contacting outside groups soliciting funding for assistance with public outreach.[2] This effort to lobby outside groups to fund outreach efforts raises ethical questions and sheds light on the true cost of operating the health care law.

Navigators, Assisters, and Consumer Assistance Programs

Obamacare makes available navigator grants for qualifying organizations for the purpose of educating and facilitating individuals’ enrollment into the exchanges.

Organizations that act as navigators must

Raise awareness about the availability of qualified health plans, Distribute fair and impartial information concerning enrollment and eligibility for subsidies, Facilitate enrollment, Provide referrals to enrollees with grievances or questions, and Provide information in a manner that is linguistically appropriate.

To be eligible to receive a navigator grant, an entity must demonstrate existing relationships, or that it could readily establish relationships, with employers and employees, consumers (including uninsured and underinsured consumers), or self-employed individuals likely to be qualified to enroll in a qualified health plan.

Proposed federal regulations direct the exchange to select at least two different types of entities as navigators, one of which must be a community and consumer-focused nonprofit group. One such organization is Planned Parenthood, which plans to play a large role in consumer assistance programs for Obamacare and has applied for navigator grants.[3]

The navigator grants are funded through the operational budgets of exchanges. States that are setting up their own exchanges are also using funding from federal exchange establishment grants to operate non-navigator assistance programs. These “assisters,” as they are known, will perform the same general functions as navigators.

A proposed federal rule estimates compensation for these groups at $20 per hour for personnel, $29 per hour for project leads, and $48 per hour for senior executives.[4]

HHS has announced that it will also distribute $150 million in federal grants to community health centers in each state to further consumer assistance efforts. The stated purpose is to “support health centers in raising awareness of insurance options and providing eligibility and enrollment assistance to uninsured patients of health centers and residents in their approved service areas.”[5]

Wide Disparity in Funding Between Navigators and Assisters

The biggest practical difference between navigators and assisters is their source and amount of funding. HHS has announced it will spend just $54 million out of its operational budget on navigators to be dispersed among the 34 states that are relying on the federal government to set up their exchanges.[6] Under this scenario, Texas will receive about $8 million to fund navigators to reach its nearly 5 million uninsured residents (less than $2 for every uninsured individual), and Florida will receive roughly $5.85 million to reach its 3.5 million uninsured.

Advocates of the law worry about the low level of federal outreach funding. As Stan Dorn, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, put it, this level of funding is “a drop in the bucket.… It’s not enough to enroll tens of millions of uninsured into coverage.”[7]

In contrast, states that are running their own exchanges and using assisters for consumer outreach report much higher spending, largely attributable to their ability to use exchange establishment grants. For example, the state-based Maryland exchange plans to spend $24 million on its 750,000 uninsured.[8] Another state-based exchange, Colorado, has just announced an exchange public awareness campaign with TV and radio ads that will cost $2 million over two months. In total, the Colorado exchange plans to spend at least $10.5 million to provide consumer assistance to fewer than 1 million uninsured residents in the first year of exchange operations.[9] The California state-based exchange anticipates that it will need 25,000 assisters in 2014 for a total cost of an estimated $57.9 million.[10]

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee speculates that HHS’s use of establishment grants to fund assisters is an attempt to circumvent Obamacare’s prohibition on such grants being used for navigators. Even HHS officials have admitted there is virtually no difference between the two programs. In a letter to the Secretary, the Committee writes:

[As HHS officials] agree that the functions of the Navigators and Assisters programs are “essentially the same,” it seems that…your Department intentionally circumvented an explicit federal funding ban in the interest of convenience and political expediency.[11]

Sebelius’s Questionable New Efforts on Outreach

The dramatic difference in consumer assistance spending between state-based and federally facilitated exchanges may explain the efforts of Secretary Sebelius to extract outside funding for outreach. She has solicited funds from private corporations to further publicize the law and finance consumer outreach and enrollment activities via the nonprofit group Enroll America.[12]

Robert Pear of The New York Times reports that Sebelius “has solicited sizable donations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and H&R Block, the tax preparation service, as part of a multimillion-dollar campaign to ensure the success of President Obama’s health care law.… The foundation is expected to contribute as much as $10 million, while H&R Block is expected to make a smaller donation of about $500,000.”[13]

The House Energy and Commerce Committee[14] and Senate Committee on Finance have both launched investigations into Sebelius’s questionable fundraising attempts. A letter to Sebelius by 11 Senators states, “Our initial reaction is that this appears at best to be an inherent conflict of interest and at worst a potentially illegal augmentation of appropriation.”[15]

Public Support Still Low

The fear of lackluster enrollment, which would significantly hinder Obamacare’s ability to succeed, is well founded. Recent polls continue to show lagging support for the health care law. An April 2013 Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that “about half the public says they do not have enough information about the health reform law to understand how it will impact their own family, a share that rises among the uninsured and low-income households.”[16] Recently, another poll found that 64 percent of the uninsured are uncertain whether they will purchase insurance coverage once Obamacare takes full effect next year.[17]

It is these fears that appear to be fueling the Administration’s desperate and questionable consumer assistance funding and fundraising efforts.

—Alyene Senger is a Research Assistant in the Center for Health Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation.

View the original article here

Public school culture

(Difference between revisions)

Public school culture is an atmosphere fostered in public school,[1] especially in the most liberal of public schools, which is characterized by:

prohibition of classroom prayer sex education, homosexual curriculum and sexual abuse by school personnel has been referred to as a "red-light district" for students [2] a culture of incompetence [3][4] fashion that includes all black clothing (Goth), facial piercings and rings, tattoos, and male earrings depressed demeanors (a so-called "emo" culture amongst some teens) an absence of objective morality; instead, a principal will say someone "made the wrong choice" a sense of hopelessness a lack of critical thinking about liberal indoctrination compulsive profanity general inability to look someone in the eye lewd behavior euphemistically referred to as "PDA" or "Public Display of Affection" [5] racial discrimination resulting from set cliques of racially homogeneous students [6] tolerance of homosexuality due to school-supported and funded groups [7] extreme anxiety feeling that it is funny to be dumb disruptive yelling lack of supervision, class cutting being so accustomed to censorship of ideas that there is genuine surprise when someone actually says something unfamiliar or politically incorrect lack of awareness that prayer is censored in public schools and that teachers' unions are very liberal smoking, alcohol and drug abuse drug testing [8] disrespect for teachers, taking advantage of substitute teachers bullying, hazing, public humiliation gang activity [9], weapon detectors, locker searches lack of proper etiquette and manners glorification of certain groups such as athletic teams and outcast of others bitter hate for rival schools and their students corrupt and abusive teachers and school administrators[10][11][12] censorship of conservative sources of news and information violence and school shootings excessive network abuse complete lack of awareness or involvement by parents rampant cheating by students[13] and teachers[14] cross-dressing - in schools plays, boys wearing girl jeans, powder puff sports, etc. special concessions for certain ethnic groups and religions while Christianity is ignored allowing students to opt-out of saying the Pledge of Allegiance pregnant students being accepted by school officials, and sometimes even pregnancy pacts[15] acceptance and sometimes even encouragement of abortion and birth control a lack of respect for public property and other people's personal property, as seen by vandalism (e.g. defacing and/or inscribing obscenities into desks, lockers, etc.) and high rates of theft disruptive pranks like false fire alarms have caused many schools to implement detection mechanisms such as surveillance cameras and tamper dyes.[16] students impeding traffic by walking on roadways instead of walking on the sidewalk or on the grass going to and from the school bus stop. disrespect for authority figures and high-ranking elected public officials[17] Participation in sports and other activities. Social Development ? Public schools are the government-controlled schools in the United States. In other countries different terms are used to describe the government schools.? Public schools: The new red-light district?, Olivia St. John, World Net Daily, January 09, 2008? POINT: A Call for Action, Rick Norwood, The Mathematical Association of America, Accessed May 4, 2008? John Merrow, Mixed Results for School Reform Efforts in New Orleans. The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. PBS: July 24, 2008? http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0523/p03s01-ussc.html? http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/lifestyle/nearly-all-high-school-cliques-are-racially-divided-study_10025532.html? http://www.gsanetwork.org/? New Jersey School District Random Drug Testing Program Fox News, July 29, 2001? Gangs recruiting at middle schools, Diana Hefley and Kaitlin Manry, Daily Herald, April 27, 2008? "School Says Official Embezzled Millions". Court House News. January 21, 2010.? "National Media Largely Ignore Public-School Sex Scandals" Citizenlink. 01.26.2007.? "Not the Catholic Church? MSM Mum About Huge L.A. School Sex Abuse Scandal". Dave Pierre. NewsBusters. May 19, 2008? http://articles.cnn.com/2002-04-05/us/highschool.cheating_1_plagiarism-cheating-students?_s=PM:fyi? http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,992885,00.html? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/19/eveningnews/main4197525.shtml? http://www.ahs.albany.k12.ny.us/AHS/misc/Hall_Sweeps_October_2008.pdf? http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/emma-sullivans-potty-mouthed-tweet-has-a-lesson-for-all-of-us/2011/11/29/gIQAG6CEAO_story.html

View the original article here

As Even Dems Fret, NYT Finds GOP 'Misinformation' to Blame for Public Unease With Obama-Care

The New York Times has long excused the continuing unpopularity of Obamacare by arguing that people just don't understand it or that it's been unfairly caricatured by political opponents. The latest entry was John Harwood's "Political Memo" Tuesday, "The Next Big Challenge for Obama's Health Care Law: Carrying It Out." The text box fretted: "Misinformation and complex imperatives could cause trouble."

This month, a political organization aligned with House Republicans sent an e-mail to reporters attacking President Obama’s health care law.

“Young adults on parents’ plan pay more,” said the organization, the YG Network, citing a new employee benefits study. The e-mail’s subject line read “So Much for Popularity.”

Actually, the study did not show those young adults were paying more. It showed insurance companies were, because they had begun providing health coverage to those young adults, as called for under the law.

The missive, inaccurate though it was, illustrates the immense challenge facing the Obama administration as it puts in place the most significant parts of the 2010 law. Few government initiatives reach so many corners of the American economy and society -- and have as much potential to generate trouble for the party in the White House.

Harwood kept downplaying Obama-care related woes, even though Obama supporter and journalist Joe Klein found plenty to complain about in his April 2 column "Obamacare Incompetence," including those vaunted health-care exchanges: "...the key incentive for small businesses to support Obamacare was that they would be able to shop for the best deals in health care superstores -- called exchanges. The Administration has had three years to set up these exchanges. It has failed to do so."

Harwood even dismissed a Politico news report faulting Obama-care, while admitting to "modest potential headaches" for the economy. No mention of Obama-care architect and retiring Sen. Max Baucus calling the legislation's implementation a "train-wreck."

A new example popped up last week, to the delight of Republican opponents of the law. An article by Politico reported “high-level confidential talks about exempting lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides” from the health law.

In fact, lawmakers said, the talks the article referred to concerned preserving the same kind of employer-subsidized health coverage for Congressional employees that workers at private companies can receive under the law. Yet the article sent White House aides and other Democrats scrambling to avoid the appearance of special treatment.

The law poses some modest potential headaches for the overall economy.

It requires, for example, that businesses with 50 or more full-time workers either offer insurance coverage or pay a penalty. Mr. Goolsbee said he would be watching whether companies around that threshold either defer hiring or shift some full-time workers to part-time jobs.

But the number of such companies is small. A vast majority of American workers are employed by larger companies that already offer coverage.

Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times. Click here to follow Clay Waters on Twitter.

View the original article here

Public schools in the United States

(Difference between revisions)[[File:800px-Warning signs at CHS.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Because of violence, vandalism, and other undesirable elements, this public school has a glaring sign warning of the on-campus surveillance cameras at its parking lot entrance.]][[File:800px-Warning signs at CHS.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Because of violence, vandalism, and other undesirable elements, this public school has a glaring sign warning of the on-campus surveillance cameras at its parking lot entrance.]]'''[[Public schools]] in the [[United States]]''' have become predominantly [[liberal]] and [[atheistic]][http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_exodus_from_public_schools_gets_helping_hand.htm Exodus from "public schools" gets a helping hand], Exodus Mandate, Sept 15, 1998For example, "in 2005, officials at East Brunswick High School adopted a policy prohibiting representatives of the school district from participating in student-initiated prayer." [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61806]From 2004 to 2006, a [[public school]] banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. ... Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess."[http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/][[Atheists]] routinely impose their views on [[public schools]], though liberals deny it.  For example, a court prohibited a moment of silence in [[Illinois]] "Township High School District 214 after atheist activist Rob Sherman challenged" it.[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-moment_of_silence_bothmay30,0,7722271.story]  '''[[Public schools]] in the [[United States]]''' have become predominantly [[Truth|liberal]] and [[Truth|atheistic]][http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_exodus_from_public_schools_gets_helping_hand.htm Exodus from "public schools" gets a helping hand], Exodus Mandate, Sept 15, 1998For example, "in 2005, officials at East Brunswick High School adopted a policy prohibiting representatives of the school district from participating in student-initiated prayer." [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61806]From 2004 to 2006, a [[public school]] banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. ... Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess."[http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/][[Atheists]] routinely impose their views on [[public schools]], though liberals deny it.  For example, a court prohibited a moment of silence in [[Illinois]] "Township High School District 214 after atheist activist Rob Sherman challenged" it.[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-moment_of_silence_bothmay30,0,7722271.story]  government institutions that employ 3 million people and spend $411.5 billion annually at a cost of $10,770 per student.[http://www.edreform.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=section&pSectionID=15&cSectionID=97 Statistics about education]  [[Liberals]] censor [[classroom prayer]], the [[Ten Commandments]], sharing of [[faith]] in classrooms during school hours, and teaching [[Bible]]-based [[morality]].''See, e.g.'', ''[[Stone v. Graham]]'' (1980) (excluding Ten Commandments from public school).A public school banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  [http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/] Mandatory [[Homosexual Agenda|homosexual indoctrination]] is common as early as elementary school in more [[liberal]] states.http://www.massresistance.org/media/video/brainwashing.html The failures of underperforming public schools are paradigm of [[socialism]], along with [[landfills]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] healthcare system.government institutions that employ 3 million people and spend $411.5 billion annually at a cost of $10,770 per student.[http://www.edreform.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=section&pSectionID=15&cSectionID=97 Statistics about education]  [[Liberals]] censor [[classroom prayer]], the [[Ten Commandments]], sharing of [[faith]] in classrooms during school hours, and teaching [[Bible]]-based [[morality]].''See, e.g.'', ''[[Stone v. Graham]]'' (1980) (excluding Ten Commandments from public school).A public school banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  [http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/] Mandatory [[Homosexual Agenda|homosexual indoctrination]] is common as early as elementary school in more [[liberal]] states.http://www.massresistance.org/media/video/brainwashing.html The failures of underperforming public schools are paradigm of [[socialism]], along with [[landfills]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] healthcare system.

Public schools in the United States have become predominantly liberal and atheistic[1][2][3][4] government institutions that employ 3 million people and spend $411.5 billion annually at a cost of $10,770 per student.[5] Liberals censor classroom prayer, the Ten Commandments, sharing of faith in classrooms during school hours, and teaching Bible-based morality.[6][7] Mandatory homosexual indoctrination is common as early as elementary school in more liberal states.[8] The failures of underperforming public schools are paradigm of socialism, along with landfills and the Canadian healthcare system.

The following are characteristics of US public schools:

30% of public school students fail to graduate from high school,[9] and more than 40% of minorities fail to graduate;[10] the real drop-out rate may be 50%.[11] Nearly 70% of students leave high school unqualified to attend four-year college, and many are unable to hold a steady job.[9] A 2007 study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 77% of students between eighth and 12th grade had used illicit drugs.[12] Fatal overdoses are common but underreported.[13] Public schools are required to present drug "education" to kids. More than 60% of public school teenagers (in one regional study) watch more than 3 hours of television a day, compared with a national average of 35%[14] About half of the viable pregnancies among girls attending public school end in abortions and about half end in birth. Public schools "educate" kids about sex.[15] "About 160,000 students miss school daily because they fear being bullied," and students viciously fight each other and post videos of it on Youtube.com.[16] 20% of students had been dangerously "binge drinking" in the previous 30 days, and 50% of seniors regularly drink illegally, according to a 2007 study of Ottawa County, Michigan.[17][18] 10-20% of students become addicted to cigarettes[18][19] More than 10% of public high schools have a pro-homosexual student club The majority of public school students are completely ignorant about the Bible, even as history and literature 35% of students are overweight[20] Health screening of public schools in Memphis, Tennessee, found that nearly 10% of students have mental health problems[20]. California public schools, largest in the nation, now rank at the bottom in academic achievement.[21]

See Also: Public school culture

if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); }

In many states, administrators and other public school employees are paid full salaries, at substantial public expense, but at some of their schools actual teaching occurs only 4 days a week, rather than 5. These states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming ... and Washington passed legislation to allow it there too.[22]

In 1647, Massachusetts Puritans enacted the second law, after Scotland in 1616,[23] establishing universal public schools in the English-speaking world to block the attempts by "ould deluder Satan to keepe men from the whole knowledge of the Scriptures".[24] Each settlement larger than 50 families was required to pay a schoolmaster to teach reading, writing and religious doctrine to the children in the community. Beginning in 1670, Massachusetts provided tax funding for school maintenance. This model was then copied throughout the colonies, and even throughout the world.

Many children did not attend public school for the first two centuries. It was not until 1852 that Massachusetts became the first state to require attendance by students aged 6 through 16, and it was not until 1918 that all states had compulsory attendance laws. High schools did not generally exist until after the Civil War, and the first American kindergarten didn't exist until 1856 in Watertown, Wisconsin.

In response to the perception that public schools have stopped teaching morality, many state education departments have or are in the process of developing "morality" that avoid good and evil, right and wrong, and instead present under the heading of "character" education.[25] The lack of appreciation for right and wrong can surprise outsiders, and even school principals. When one public school student was charged with felony computer crime for altering the grades of 20 students, the principal said, we "want to teach them what's right and wrong, and it's tough for some kids to catch on to the idea that changing grades is the wrong thing to do."[26] The impact of the removal of morality from the public school curriculum (which is also used in private schools) is that "more than one in three boys (35 percent) and one-fourth of the girls (26 percent) — a total of 30 percent overall — admitted stealing from a store within the past year."[27] Liberal politicians are the most frequent opponents of initiatives designed to build moral fiber in the public school system, with organizations like the ACLU and teacher's unions devoting a significant amount of their resources towards this end. In 2010, a school board in North Dakota decided to change the name of their mascot from the "Satans." Liberals unrolled a large-scale media campaign that blanketed the district with pro-Satan propaganda in an attempt to keep the name, but they were unsuccessful. [28]

See also: Classroom prayer

The White House announced the release of Revised Religious Guidelines for America's Public Schools on May 29, 1998. Within this announcement, President Clinton stated, "Nothing in the First Amendment converts our public schools into religion-free zones, or requires all religious expression to be left behind at the school house door." --President Clinton, July 12, 1998[29]

In 2003, the Education Department released the following guidelines that clarified and added requirements to Public Schools to ensure the religious rights of students.[30]

Schools that don’t allow students to pray outside the classroom or that prohibit teachers from holding religious meetings among themselves could lose federal money, the Education Department said late last week.

The guidance reflects the Bush administration’s push to ensure that schools give teachers and students as much freedom to pray as the courts have allowed.
The department makes clear that teachers cannot pray with students or attempt to shape their religious views. The instructions, released by the department on Feb. 7, broadly follow the same direction given by the Clinton administration and the courts. Prayer is generally allowed provided it happens outside the class and is initiated by students, not by school officials.

The department, however, also offered some significant additions, including more details on such contentious matters as moments of silence and prayer in student assemblies. And for the first time, federal funds are tied to compliance with the guidelines. The burden is on schools to prove compliance through a yearly report.

The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools[31] (NCBCPS) provides a program for teaching the Bible in public schools. Currently, the NCBCPS's Bible curriculum has been voted into 462 school districts (over 1,900 high schools) in 38 states. Over 210,000 students have already taken this course nationwide, on the high school campus, during school hours, for credit.

Activist judges have proclaimed that teaching creationism[32] and intelligent design[33] in public schools is unconstitutional because they claim that such teachings would amount to a government establishment of religion, which is prohibited by the First Amendment.[34]

Since the rapid expansion and liberalization of public schools after World War II, students' literacy levels have dropped significantly. While the average 14-year-old had a vocabulary of 25,000 words in 1945, the equivalent student in 2000 had a vocabulary of only 10,000 words, a severe disadvantage in an increasingly textual world.[35]

See also: Textbook bias

Textbooks (K-12) have been systematically analyzed in a study funded by the U.S. government. The 1986 findings were that massive, systematic liberal bias exists, resulting in several information blackouts in four key areas of modern American life—marriage, religion, politics, and business. While an actual conspiracy was then ruled out, the cause was found to be a "a very widespread secular and liberal mindset" pervading "the leadership in the world of education [and textbook publishing]"[36].

Professor Larry Schwikart, of the University of Dayton, wrote a book about biased textbooks. False claims common in those texts included that the Founding Fathers wanted a "wall of separation" between church and state, that "Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation only because he needed black soldiers", and that "Mikhail Gorbachev, not Ronald Reagan, was responsible for ending the Cold War". [37]

Evidence for bias in school textbooks includes promotion of Homosexual agenda, support of liberal viewpoint, as well as support of the unproven theory of evolution. Most Biology textbooks do not provide the Creationist viewpoint a chance, or even a second thought.

Due to the strength of the nation's teachers' union, it is nearly impossible to fire a bad performing teacher with tenure. The process can take years and involves countless steps to even attempt. The union claims that the protections are needed against arbitrary and malicious lawsuits.

The New York public schools system has approximately 700 teachers accused of insubordination to sexual misconduct. They remain in seclusion from the classroom but are paid full salaries until their cases are heard, sometimes from months to years later. All because their union contract makes it extremely difficult to fire them. [38]

Given that public schools educate about 90% of Americans, it is astounding how few prominent Americans attended public school after the banning of school-sponsored prayer in 1962. Here is an impressive list of people who attended public schools before the banning of school-sponsored prayer.

Ronald Reagan[39] graduated from Dixon High School, Illinois Dwight D. Eisenhower[40] attended Abilene High School in Abilene, Kansas Richard M. Nixon[41] attended Fullerton and Whittier High Schools, California Gerald Ford[42] attended Grand Rapids South High School, Michigan Lyndon B. Johnson[43] attended Johnson City High School, Texas Harry S Truman[44] attended Independence High School, Missouri H. Ross Perot[45] attended public schools and Texarkana Junior College, Texas Richard Cheney[46] graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming. Colin Powell graduated from Morris High School, NY in 1954 and received his B.A. in geology from the City College of New York in 1958 [47] Billy Graham graduated from Sharon High School, NC in May 1936[48] Michael Medved graduated from Palisades High School, CA [49] The Wright Brothers attended public schools in Richmond, India and Dayton OH but did not graduate [50] Roy Jay Glauber, Nobel laureate, graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY in 1941. [51] Frederick Reines, Nobel laureate, attended Union Hill High School, NJ, during the late 1930's. [52] Oliver North, US Army Officer, political commentator, graduated from Ockawamick High School in 1961. [53]

Here is a mostly unimpressive list of people who attended public school after school-sponsored prayer was banned in 1962:

Brad Pitt, actor, graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981; dropped out of college.[54] Tom Cruise, actor, attended several public high schools including Glen Ridge High School, New Jersey during the 1970's. [55] John Sununu, former one-term Senator from New Hampshire, graduated from Salem High School in the 1970's;[56] claiming to be pro-life, Sununu arranged for the nomination of David Souter to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he then repeatedly voted on the side of abortion John Edwards, indicted in 2011 on allegations arising from his affair with a mistress, was a former one-term Senator from North Carolina and two-time unsuccessful candidate for nomination for president, attended public school in Robbins, N.C. during the 1960's.[57] Spike Lee, producer, actor, graduated from John Dewey High School, Brooklyn, NY.[58] Laura Bush attended James Bowie Elementary School, San Jacinto Junior High School, and Midland Lee High School in Midland, Texas (Graduated 1964); came out in support of gay marriage and abortion in 2010.[59] William J. Clinton[60] graduated from Hot Springs High School in Arkansas in 1964, and became the only president impeached in the 20th century. Anthony Weiner, a congressman who resigned in disgrace in 2011 after first denying but then confirming an indecent use of Twitter, graduated from a public high school in Brooklyn. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc., graduated from Homestead High School in Cupertino, CA in 1972; his colleague, Steve Wozniak, graduated from the same high school in 1968. Eminem, a liberal rapper, repeatedly failed 9th grade in public school and ultimately dropped out. Alan Colmes, a liberal news commentator, attended public school in New York City. Sarah Palin, vice presidential candidate on the Republican Party ticket in 2008 and favorite of some Tea Party groups, went to Wasilla High School and graduated in 1982 and then attended 5 different colleges before becoming more conservative later in life.[61] Rick Perry, Texas governor, infringed on parental rights by requiring young girls to receive an HPV vaccine. Kenneth D. Cockrell, Texas Graduated from Rockdale High School, Rockdale, Texas, in 1968. A veteran of five spaceflights, Cockrell has logged more than 1,560 hours in space.[62] Russell Alan Hulse, New York Graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, in 1966. Winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.[63] Richard Axel, New York Graduated from Stuyvesant High School, New York, New York, in 1963. Winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.[64] Hugh David Politzer, New York Graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, in 1966. Winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics.[65] Christine O'Donnell graduated from Moorestown High School in 1987.[66] Scott Walker graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1986.[67] Paul Ryan, an establishment Republican, graduated from Joseph A. Craig High School, Janesville, WI in 1988.[68] Sharron Angle (born 1949) graduated from Wooster High School in Reno, Nevada.[69] Jon Huntsman, Republican Presidential candidate and former Governor of Utah, attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah before he dropped out in 1978 to pursue a career as a rock and roll keyboardist.[70] Michelle Bachmann, Republican member of the House of Representatives graduated from Anoka High School, Anoka, Minnesota in 1974.[71] Mike Huckabee, former Republican Governor of Arkansas, graduated from Hope High School, Hope Arkansas, in 1974.[72] Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, Graduated from Cheltenham High School, Wyncote, Pennsylvania, in 1967. [73] Rand Paul, Republican Senator, Graduated from Brazoswood High School, Clute, Texas in 1981. [74] ? Exodus from "public schools" gets a helping hand, Exodus Mandate, Sept 15, 1998? For example, "in 2005, officials at East Brunswick High School adopted a policy prohibiting representatives of the school district from participating in student-initiated prayer." [1]? From 2004 to 2006, a public school banned Bible study by children ... during recess. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it. Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. ... Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess."[2]? Atheists routinely impose their views on public schools, though liberals deny it. For example, a court prohibited a moment of silence in Illinois "Township High School District 214 after atheist activist Rob Sherman challenged" it.[3]? Statistics about education? See, e.g., Stone v. Graham (1980) (excluding Ten Commandments from public school).? A public school banned Bible study by children ... during recess. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it. [4]? http://www.massresistance.org/media/video/brainwashing.html? 9.0 9.1 "Only 70% of all students in public high schools graduate, and only 32% of all students leave high school qualified to attend four-year colleges."[5]? "Only 71 percent of kids graduate from high school within four years, and for minorities the numbers are even worse -- 58 percent for Hispanics and 55 percent for African Americans," [Bill Gates] wrote. "If the decline in childhood deaths [in developing countries] is one of the most positive statistics ever, these are some of the most negative."[6]? http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/47272207.html? According to Monitoring the Future, a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, illicit drug use is up among students between eighth and 12th grade. In 1991, 62 percent had used illicit drugs. In 2007, the number jumped to 77 percent. [7]? Fatal overdoses are common, although often underreported.Reporting of a heroin overdose by 16-year-old public school student was an exception to the underreporting.? http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/01/memphis-youth-make-progress-on-risky-behavior/ (study of Memphis students)? "There is zero shame [to teenage pregnancy]," the school nurse observed.[8]? One victim is now "being homeschooled at state expense."[9]? The Grand Rapids Press The Grand Rapids Press: Ottawa County confronts teen drinking, By Greg Chandler, December 04, 2008[10]? 18.0 18.1 http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/12/ottawa_co_youth_survey_surpris.html? http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/01/memphis-youth-make-progress-on-risky-behavior/? 20.0 20.1 http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/29/students-health-needs-attention/? High-Spending California School System Collapsing AP, June 21, 2009? http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/school-calendar-four-day-school-week-overview.aspx? The Social, Economic & Political Reasons for the Decline of Gaelic in Scotland [11]? Family Encyclopedia of American History (Reader's Digest 1975)? [12]? http://cw2.trb.com/news/kwgn-student-grade-felony,0,7871401.story? http://charactercounts.org/programs/reportcard/index.html? http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-11/news/ct-perspec-0311-things-20120311_1_devil-man-great-deceiver-native-americans? http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/05-1998/wh-0530.html? http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17550? http://www.bibleinschools.net/? https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/482/578/case.html? www.pamd.uscourts.gov/kitzmiller/kitzmiller_342.pdf? See Kitzmiller, 400 F.Supp.2d at 765? Utne Reader (July-August 2000), 28-9.? Censorship: Evidence of Bias in Our Children's textbooks, Paul C. Vitz, Servant Books, 1986, ISBN 0-89283-305-X? http://www.emailwire.com/release/20086-Controversial-Historian-on-the-Price-of-Business-Show.html? 700 NYC Teachers Paid to Do Nothing AP, June 22, 2009? http://www.dixonil.com/reagan/reagan2.htm? http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/press_releases/2007/PR07_11_August_02_2007_Eisenhower_Co_Sponsor_Little_Rock.pdf? http://www.nndb.com/edu/836/000068632/? http://www.visitgrandrapids.org/ford-facts.php? http://www.nndb.com/people/062/000023990/? http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/103truman/103visual1.htm? http://www.famoustexans.com/rossperot.htm? http://www.nndb.com/people/598/000022532/? http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/powell_c.htm? http://online-bibleconcordance.com/Ministers/BillyGraham.aspx? michaelmedved.townhall.com/About.aspx? http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/inventor/wright/index.html? http://www.nndb.com/people/738/000138324/? http://www.nndb.com/people/052/000099752/? http://libraryoflibrary.com/E_n_c_p_d_Ollie_North.html? http://www.rolemodel.net/brad_pitt.cfm ? http://www.nndb.com/people/791/000022725/ ? http://www.sununu.senate.gov/biography.html? http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/edwards_bio.html? http://movies.nytimes.com/person/99175/Spike-Lee/biography? http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/laura-bush-supports-gay-marriage-abortion/story?id=10629213? http://www.hotsprings.org/things_to_do/historic_hotsprings/presidents_hometown.asp? http://outhouserag.typepad.com/outhouserag/2008/09/sarah-palin-198.html? http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/cockrell.htmll? http://alumni.bxscience.edu/?page=NotableAlumni? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Axel? http://alumni.bxscience.edu/?page=NotableAlumni? "Delaware politics: From middle-class New Jersey, moral activist Christine O'Donnell knew 'God was calling'", Delaware Online? Ames, Ann Marie, "Rock County Close to Home for Walker", Walworth County Today, Sept. 7, 2010? http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/16/politics/wis-ryan/? "Sharron Angle, Biography"? [13]? [14]? [15]? [16]? [17]

View the original article here

Public schools in the United States

(Difference between revisions)[[File:800px-Warning signs at CHS.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Because of violence, vandalism, and other undesirable elements, this public school has a glaring sign warning of the on-campus surveillance cameras at its parking lot entrance.]][[File:800px-Warning signs at CHS.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Because of violence, vandalism, and other undesirable elements, this public school has a glaring sign warning of the on-campus surveillance cameras at its parking lot entrance.]]'''[[Public schools]] in the [[United States]]''' have become predominantly [[liberal]] and [[atheistic]][http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_exodus_from_public_schools_gets_helping_hand.htm Exodus from "public schools" gets a helping hand], Exodus Mandate, Sept 15, 1998For example, "in 2005, officials at East Brunswick High School adopted a policy prohibiting representatives of the school district from participating in student-initiated prayer." [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61806]From 2004 to 2006, a [[public school]] banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. ... Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess."[http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/][[Atheists]] routinely impose their views on [[public schools]], though liberals deny it.  For example, a court prohibited a moment of silence in [[Illinois]] "Township High School District 214 after atheist activist Rob Sherman challenged" it.[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-moment_of_silence_bothmay30,0,7722271.story]  '''[[Public schools]] in the [[United States]]''' have become predominantly [[Truth|liberal]] and [[Truth|atheistic]][http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_exodus_from_public_schools_gets_helping_hand.htm Exodus from "public schools" gets a helping hand], Exodus Mandate, Sept 15, 1998For example, "in 2005, officials at East Brunswick High School adopted a policy prohibiting representatives of the school district from participating in student-initiated prayer." [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=61806]From 2004 to 2006, a [[public school]] banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. ... Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess."[http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/][[Atheists]] routinely impose their views on [[public schools]], though liberals deny it.  For example, a court prohibited a moment of silence in [[Illinois]] "Township High School District 214 after atheist activist Rob Sherman challenged" it.[http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-moment_of_silence_bothmay30,0,7722271.story]  government institutions that employ 3 million people and spend $411.5 billion annually at a cost of $10,770 per student.[http://www.edreform.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=section&pSectionID=15&cSectionID=97 Statistics about education]  [[Liberals]] censor [[classroom prayer]], the [[Ten Commandments]], sharing of [[faith]] in classrooms during school hours, and teaching [[Bible]]-based [[morality]].''See, e.g.'', ''[[Stone v. Graham]]'' (1980) (excluding Ten Commandments from public school).A public school banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  [http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/] Mandatory [[Homosexual Agenda|homosexual indoctrination]] is common as early as elementary school in more [[liberal]] states.http://www.massresistance.org/media/video/brainwashing.html The failures of underperforming public schools are paradigm of [[socialism]], along with [[landfills]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] healthcare system.government institutions that employ 3 million people and spend $411.5 billion annually at a cost of $10,770 per student.[http://www.edreform.com/index.cfm?fuseAction=section&pSectionID=15&cSectionID=97 Statistics about education]  [[Liberals]] censor [[classroom prayer]], the [[Ten Commandments]], sharing of [[faith]] in classrooms during school hours, and teaching [[Bible]]-based [[morality]].''See, e.g.'', ''[[Stone v. Graham]]'' (1980) (excluding Ten Commandments from public school).A public school banned [[Bible]] study by children ... ''during recess''. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it.  [http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/jan/03/recess-bible-study-spurs-lawsuit/] Mandatory [[Homosexual Agenda|homosexual indoctrination]] is common as early as elementary school in more [[liberal]] states.http://www.massresistance.org/media/video/brainwashing.html The failures of underperforming public schools are paradigm of [[socialism]], along with [[landfills]] and the [[Canada|Canadian]] healthcare system.

Public schools in the United States have become predominantly liberal and atheistic[1][2][3][4] government institutions that employ 3 million people and spend $411.5 billion annually at a cost of $10,770 per student.[5] Liberals censor classroom prayer, the Ten Commandments, sharing of faith in classrooms during school hours, and teaching Bible-based morality.[6][7] Mandatory homosexual indoctrination is common as early as elementary school in more liberal states.[8] The failures of underperforming public schools are paradigm of socialism, along with landfills and the Canadian healthcare system.

The following are characteristics of US public schools:

30% of public school students fail to graduate from high school,[9] and more than 40% of minorities fail to graduate;[10] the real drop-out rate may be 50%.[11] Nearly 70% of students leave high school unqualified to attend four-year college, and many are unable to hold a steady job.[9] A 2007 study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 77% of students between eighth and 12th grade had used illicit drugs.[12] Fatal overdoses are common but underreported.[13] Public schools are required to present drug "education" to kids. More than 60% of public school teenagers (in one regional study) watch more than 3 hours of television a day, compared with a national average of 35%[14] About half of the viable pregnancies among girls attending public school end in abortions and about half end in birth. Public schools "educate" kids about sex.[15] "About 160,000 students miss school daily because they fear being bullied," and students viciously fight each other and post videos of it on Youtube.com.[16] 20% of students had been dangerously "binge drinking" in the previous 30 days, and 50% of seniors regularly drink illegally, according to a 2007 study of Ottawa County, Michigan.[17][18] 10-20% of students become addicted to cigarettes[18][19] More than 10% of public high schools have a pro-homosexual student club The majority of public school students are completely ignorant about the Bible, even as history and literature 35% of students are overweight[20] Health screening of public schools in Memphis, Tennessee, found that nearly 10% of students have mental health problems[20]. California public schools, largest in the nation, now rank at the bottom in academic achievement.[21]

See Also: Public school culture

if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); }

In many states, administrators and other public school employees are paid full salaries, at substantial public expense, but at some of their schools actual teaching occurs only 4 days a week, rather than 5. These states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming ... and Washington passed legislation to allow it there too.[22]

In 1647, Massachusetts Puritans enacted the second law, after Scotland in 1616,[23] establishing universal public schools in the English-speaking world to block the attempts by "ould deluder Satan to keepe men from the whole knowledge of the Scriptures".[24] Each settlement larger than 50 families was required to pay a schoolmaster to teach reading, writing and religious doctrine to the children in the community. Beginning in 1670, Massachusetts provided tax funding for school maintenance. This model was then copied throughout the colonies, and even throughout the world.

Many children did not attend public school for the first two centuries. It was not until 1852 that Massachusetts became the first state to require attendance by students aged 6 through 16, and it was not until 1918 that all states had compulsory attendance laws. High schools did not generally exist until after the Civil War, and the first American kindergarten didn't exist until 1856 in Watertown, Wisconsin.

In response to the perception that public schools have stopped teaching morality, many state education departments have or are in the process of developing "morality" that avoid good and evil, right and wrong, and instead present under the heading of "character" education.[25] The lack of appreciation for right and wrong can surprise outsiders, and even school principals. When one public school student was charged with felony computer crime for altering the grades of 20 students, the principal said, we "want to teach them what's right and wrong, and it's tough for some kids to catch on to the idea that changing grades is the wrong thing to do."[26] The impact of the removal of morality from the public school curriculum (which is also used in private schools) is that "more than one in three boys (35 percent) and one-fourth of the girls (26 percent) — a total of 30 percent overall — admitted stealing from a store within the past year."[27] Liberal politicians are the most frequent opponents of initiatives designed to build moral fiber in the public school system, with organizations like the ACLU and teacher's unions devoting a significant amount of their resources towards this end. In 2010, a school board in North Dakota decided to change the name of their mascot from the "Satans." Liberals unrolled a large-scale media campaign that blanketed the district with pro-Satan propaganda in an attempt to keep the name, but they were unsuccessful. [28]

See also: Classroom prayer

The White House announced the release of Revised Religious Guidelines for America's Public Schools on May 29, 1998. Within this announcement, President Clinton stated, "Nothing in the First Amendment converts our public schools into religion-free zones, or requires all religious expression to be left behind at the school house door." --President Clinton, July 12, 1998[29]

In 2003, the Education Department released the following guidelines that clarified and added requirements to Public Schools to ensure the religious rights of students.[30]

Schools that don’t allow students to pray outside the classroom or that prohibit teachers from holding religious meetings among themselves could lose federal money, the Education Department said late last week.

The guidance reflects the Bush administration’s push to ensure that schools give teachers and students as much freedom to pray as the courts have allowed.
The department makes clear that teachers cannot pray with students or attempt to shape their religious views. The instructions, released by the department on Feb. 7, broadly follow the same direction given by the Clinton administration and the courts. Prayer is generally allowed provided it happens outside the class and is initiated by students, not by school officials.

The department, however, also offered some significant additions, including more details on such contentious matters as moments of silence and prayer in student assemblies. And for the first time, federal funds are tied to compliance with the guidelines. The burden is on schools to prove compliance through a yearly report.

The National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools[31] (NCBCPS) provides a program for teaching the Bible in public schools. Currently, the NCBCPS's Bible curriculum has been voted into 462 school districts (over 1,900 high schools) in 38 states. Over 210,000 students have already taken this course nationwide, on the high school campus, during school hours, for credit.

Activist judges have proclaimed that teaching creationism[32] and intelligent design[33] in public schools is unconstitutional because they claim that such teachings would amount to a government establishment of religion, which is prohibited by the First Amendment.[34]

Since the rapid expansion and liberalization of public schools after World War II, students' literacy levels have dropped significantly. While the average 14-year-old had a vocabulary of 25,000 words in 1945, the equivalent student in 2000 had a vocabulary of only 10,000 words, a severe disadvantage in an increasingly textual world.[35]

See also: Textbook bias

Textbooks (K-12) have been systematically analyzed in a study funded by the U.S. government. The 1986 findings were that massive, systematic liberal bias exists, resulting in several information blackouts in four key areas of modern American life—marriage, religion, politics, and business. While an actual conspiracy was then ruled out, the cause was found to be a "a very widespread secular and liberal mindset" pervading "the leadership in the world of education [and textbook publishing]"[36].

Professor Larry Schwikart, of the University of Dayton, wrote a book about biased textbooks. False claims common in those texts included that the Founding Fathers wanted a "wall of separation" between church and state, that "Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation only because he needed black soldiers", and that "Mikhail Gorbachev, not Ronald Reagan, was responsible for ending the Cold War". [37]

Evidence for bias in school textbooks includes promotion of Homosexual agenda, support of liberal viewpoint, as well as support of the unproven theory of evolution. Most Biology textbooks do not provide the Creationist viewpoint a chance, or even a second thought.

Due to the strength of the nation's teachers' union, it is nearly impossible to fire a bad performing teacher with tenure. The process can take years and involves countless steps to even attempt. The union claims that the protections are needed against arbitrary and malicious lawsuits.

The New York public schools system has approximately 700 teachers accused of insubordination to sexual misconduct. They remain in seclusion from the classroom but are paid full salaries until their cases are heard, sometimes from months to years later. All because their union contract makes it extremely difficult to fire them. [38]

Given that public schools educate about 90% of Americans, it is astounding how few prominent Americans attended public school after the banning of school-sponsored prayer in 1962. Here is an impressive list of people who attended public schools before the banning of school-sponsored prayer.

Ronald Reagan[39] graduated from Dixon High School, Illinois Dwight D. Eisenhower[40] attended Abilene High School in Abilene, Kansas Richard M. Nixon[41] attended Fullerton and Whittier High Schools, California Gerald Ford[42] attended Grand Rapids South High School, Michigan Lyndon B. Johnson[43] attended Johnson City High School, Texas Harry S Truman[44] attended Independence High School, Missouri H. Ross Perot[45] attended public schools and Texarkana Junior College, Texas Richard Cheney[46] graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming. Colin Powell graduated from Morris High School, NY in 1954 and received his B.A. in geology from the City College of New York in 1958 [47] Billy Graham graduated from Sharon High School, NC in May 1936[48] Michael Medved graduated from Palisades High School, CA [49] The Wright Brothers attended public schools in Richmond, India and Dayton OH but did not graduate [50] Roy Jay Glauber, Nobel laureate, graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, NY in 1941. [51] Frederick Reines, Nobel laureate, attended Union Hill High School, NJ, during the late 1930's. [52] Oliver North, US Army Officer, political commentator, graduated from Ockawamick High School in 1961. [53]

Here is a mostly unimpressive list of people who attended public school after school-sponsored prayer was banned in 1962:

Brad Pitt, actor, graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, 1981; dropped out of college.[54] Tom Cruise, actor, attended several public high schools including Glen Ridge High School, New Jersey during the 1970's. [55] John Sununu, former one-term Senator from New Hampshire, graduated from Salem High School in the 1970's;[56] claiming to be pro-life, Sununu arranged for the nomination of David Souter to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he then repeatedly voted on the side of abortion John Edwards, indicted in 2011 on allegations arising from his affair with a mistress, was a former one-term Senator from North Carolina and two-time unsuccessful candidate for nomination for president, attended public school in Robbins, N.C. during the 1960's.[57] Spike Lee, producer, actor, graduated from John Dewey High School, Brooklyn, NY.[58] Laura Bush attended James Bowie Elementary School, San Jacinto Junior High School, and Midland Lee High School in Midland, Texas (Graduated 1964); came out in support of gay marriage and abortion in 2010.[59] William J. Clinton[60] graduated from Hot Springs High School in Arkansas in 1964, and became the only president impeached in the 20th century. Anthony Weiner, a congressman who resigned in disgrace in 2011 after first denying but then confirming an indecent use of Twitter, graduated from a public high school in Brooklyn. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc., graduated from Homestead High School in Cupertino, CA in 1972; his colleague, Steve Wozniak, graduated from the same high school in 1968. Eminem, a liberal rapper, repeatedly failed 9th grade in public school and ultimately dropped out. Alan Colmes, a liberal news commentator, attended public school in New York City. Sarah Palin, vice presidential candidate on the Republican Party ticket in 2008 and favorite of some Tea Party groups, went to Wasilla High School and graduated in 1982 and then attended 5 different colleges before becoming more conservative later in life.[61] Rick Perry, Texas governor, infringed on parental rights by requiring young girls to receive an HPV vaccine. Kenneth D. Cockrell, Texas Graduated from Rockdale High School, Rockdale, Texas, in 1968. A veteran of five spaceflights, Cockrell has logged more than 1,560 hours in space.[62] Russell Alan Hulse, New York Graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, in 1966. Winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics.[63] Richard Axel, New York Graduated from Stuyvesant High School, New York, New York, in 1963. Winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.[64] Hugh David Politzer, New York Graduated from Bronx High School of Science, Bronx, New York, in 1966. Winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics.[65] Christine O'Donnell graduated from Moorestown High School in 1987.[66] Scott Walker graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1986.[67] Paul Ryan, an establishment Republican, graduated from Joseph A. Craig High School, Janesville, WI in 1988.[68] Sharron Angle (born 1949) graduated from Wooster High School in Reno, Nevada.[69] Jon Huntsman, Republican Presidential candidate and former Governor of Utah, attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah before he dropped out in 1978 to pursue a career as a rock and roll keyboardist.[70] Michelle Bachmann, Republican member of the House of Representatives graduated from Anoka High School, Anoka, Minnesota in 1974.[71] Mike Huckabee, former Republican Governor of Arkansas, graduated from Hope High School, Hope Arkansas, in 1974.[72] Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, Graduated from Cheltenham High School, Wyncote, Pennsylvania, in 1967. [73] Rand Paul, Republican Senator, Graduated from Brazoswood High School, Clute, Texas in 1981. [74] ? Exodus from "public schools" gets a helping hand, Exodus Mandate, Sept 15, 1998? For example, "in 2005, officials at East Brunswick High School adopted a policy prohibiting representatives of the school district from participating in student-initiated prayer." [1]? From 2004 to 2006, a public school banned Bible study by children ... during recess. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it. Principal "Summa, having learned of a complaint by a teacher and of the students' Bible study, told fourth-grade teacher Virginia Larue to nix the group's recess meeting. ... Larue later told one of Luke's Bible study colleagues the group could no longer meet at recess."[2]? Atheists routinely impose their views on public schools, though liberals deny it. For example, a court prohibited a moment of silence in Illinois "Township High School District 214 after atheist activist Rob Sherman challenged" it.[3]? Statistics about education? See, e.g., Stone v. Graham (1980) (excluding Ten Commandments from public school).? A public school banned Bible study by children ... during recess. A teacher complained about the use of the Bible and the principal then censored the study activity, according to a sworn statement by a teacher told to stop it. [4]? http://www.massresistance.org/media/video/brainwashing.html? 9.0 9.1 "Only 70% of all students in public high schools graduate, and only 32% of all students leave high school qualified to attend four-year colleges."[5]? "Only 71 percent of kids graduate from high school within four years, and for minorities the numbers are even worse -- 58 percent for Hispanics and 55 percent for African Americans," [Bill Gates] wrote. "If the decline in childhood deaths [in developing countries] is one of the most positive statistics ever, these are some of the most negative."[6]? http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/47272207.html? According to Monitoring the Future, a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, illicit drug use is up among students between eighth and 12th grade. In 1991, 62 percent had used illicit drugs. In 2007, the number jumped to 77 percent. [7]? Fatal overdoses are common, although often underreported.Reporting of a heroin overdose by 16-year-old public school student was an exception to the underreporting.? http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/01/memphis-youth-make-progress-on-risky-behavior/ (study of Memphis students)? "There is zero shame [to teenage pregnancy]," the school nurse observed.[8]? One victim is now "being homeschooled at state expense."[9]? The Grand Rapids Press The Grand Rapids Press: Ottawa County confronts teen drinking, By Greg Chandler, December 04, 2008[10]? 18.0 18.1 http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/12/ottawa_co_youth_survey_surpris.html? http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/01/memphis-youth-make-progress-on-risky-behavior/? 20.0 20.1 http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/29/students-health-needs-attention/? High-Spending California School System Collapsing AP, June 21, 2009? http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/school-calendar-four-day-school-week-overview.aspx? The Social, Economic & Political Reasons for the Decline of Gaelic in Scotland [11]? Family Encyclopedia of American History (Reader's Digest 1975)? [12]? http://cw2.trb.com/news/kwgn-student-grade-felony,0,7871401.story? http://charactercounts.org/programs/reportcard/index.html? http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-03-11/news/ct-perspec-0311-things-20120311_1_devil-man-great-deceiver-native-americans? http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/05-1998/wh-0530.html? http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=17550? http://www.bibleinschools.net/? https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/482/578/case.html? www.pamd.uscourts.gov/kitzmiller/kitzmiller_342.pdf? See Kitzmiller, 400 F.Supp.2d at 765? Utne Reader (July-August 2000), 28-9.? Censorship: Evidence of Bias in Our Children's textbooks, Paul C. Vitz, Servant Books, 1986, ISBN 0-89283-305-X? http://www.emailwire.com/release/20086-Controversial-Historian-on-the-Price-of-Business-Show.html? 700 NYC Teachers Paid to Do Nothing AP, June 22, 2009? http://www.dixonil.com/reagan/reagan2.htm? http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/press_releases/2007/PR07_11_August_02_2007_Eisenhower_Co_Sponsor_Little_Rock.pdf? http://www.nndb.com/edu/836/000068632/? http://www.visitgrandrapids.org/ford-facts.php? http://www.nndb.com/people/062/000023990/? http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/103truman/103visual1.htm? http://www.famoustexans.com/rossperot.htm? http://www.nndb.com/people/598/000022532/? http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/powell_c.htm? http://online-bibleconcordance.com/Ministers/BillyGraham.aspx? michaelmedved.townhall.com/About.aspx? http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/inventor/wright/index.html? http://www.nndb.com/people/738/000138324/? http://www.nndb.com/people/052/000099752/? http://libraryoflibrary.com/E_n_c_p_d_Ollie_North.html? http://www.rolemodel.net/brad_pitt.cfm ? http://www.nndb.com/people/791/000022725/ ? http://www.sununu.senate.gov/biography.html? http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/edwards_bio.html? http://movies.nytimes.com/person/99175/Spike-Lee/biography? http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/laura-bush-supports-gay-marriage-abortion/story?id=10629213? http://www.hotsprings.org/things_to_do/historic_hotsprings/presidents_hometown.asp? http://outhouserag.typepad.com/outhouserag/2008/09/sarah-palin-198.html? http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/cockrell.htmll? http://alumni.bxscience.edu/?page=NotableAlumni? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Axel? http://alumni.bxscience.edu/?page=NotableAlumni? "Delaware politics: From middle-class New Jersey, moral activist Christine O'Donnell knew 'God was calling'", Delaware Online? Ames, Ann Marie, "Rock County Close to Home for Walker", Walworth County Today, Sept. 7, 2010? http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/06/16/politics/wis-ryan/? "Sharron Angle, Biography"? [13]? [14]? [15]? [16]? [17]

View the original article here

Public interest

(Difference between revisions)

The public interest means what is best for the general public, such as greater transparency and accountability by government, or lower prices for consumers.

View the original article here

Presidential Memorandum -- Delegation of Functions Under Sections 404 and 406 of Public Law 112-208

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

SUBJECT: Delegation of Functions Under Sections 404 and 406 of Public Law 112-208

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate the functions conferred upon the President by sections 404 and 406 of Public Law 112-208 as follows:

I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities set forth in:

• subsections 404(a), 404(b), and 404(d), with respect to the determinations provided for therein;
• subsection 404(c)(3);
• subsection 404(c)(4), consistent with subsection 404(f); and
• subsection 406(a)(1).
I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the functions and authorities set forth in:
• subsections 404(a), 404(b), and 404(d), with respect to the submission of the list, updates, and reports described in those respective subsections;
• subsection 404(e); and subsections 404(c)(2) and 406(a)(2).

The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

President Obama tell the American people about the budget he is sending to Congress, which makes the tough choices required to grow our economy and shrink our deficits

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

President Obama marks the end of the Easter season with a prayer breakfast at the White House.

view all related blog posts

View the original article here

Minnesota State Rep. Introduces Bill To Halt Public Financing Of Football Stadium Until Revenue Is Secure

Artist's rendering of new Vikings stadium

The Minnesota state legislature last year approved a financing plan for a new stadium for the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings. In doing so, it exploited a legal loophole to provide $348 million in taxpayer money for the project.

The revenues were supposed to come from revenues from new electronic pull-tab machines, but by January, it was already clear that those revenues weren’t keeping up with projections, meaning the new stadium was already turning into a financial nightmare before construction even began. Now, a Minnesota state representative is preparing to introduce legislation that would halt construction — and the bond sale meant to pay for it — until the state can guarantee that the pull-tabs will generate enough revenue to pay for it, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports:

Republican state Sen. Sean Nienow of Cambridge says he’ll introduce a bill that would delay the sale of bonds for a new Vikings stadium until a revenue stream to pay them off is secured.

Additional tax revenue from newly authorized electronic forms of charitable gaming, which was supposed to pay the state’s share of the stadium, is coming in much slower than anticipated, and the backup sources aren’t expected to be able to produce more than a few million dollars per year.

Nienow says he and Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, plan to introduce the bill next week.

As we have documented here, stadiums consistently turn out as bad deals for taxpayers, as the promised revenue streams almost always come up short of projections and leave cities and states footing the bill, whether through increased debt, higher taxes, or cuts to public programs.

What makes Minnesota’s stadium different is that it became clear even before construction began that revenues meant to pay for the stadium aren’t going to come close to covering the cost. While Nienow’s legislation wouldn’t abandon the stadium plan altogether, it would still force the state to find actual revenue to pay for the stadium, though that will still leave taxpayers footing the bill so the Vikings’ wealthy owner can make more money from a stadium than he could have made from the old one. (HT Field of Schemes)

View the original article here

Presidential Memorandum - Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service

Presidential Memorandum - Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service | The White House Skip to main content | Skip to footer site map The White House. President Barack Obama Get Email UpdatesContact Us Go to homepage. The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts 2012: A Year in Photos

A unique view of 2012

Briefing Room Your Weekly Address Speeches & Remarks Press Briefings Statements & Releases White House Schedule Presidential Actions Executive Orders Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Legislation Pending Legislation Signed Legislation Vetoed Legislation Nominations & Appointments Disclosures Visitor Access Records Financial Disclosures 2012 Annual Report to Congress 2011 Annual Report to Congress 2010 Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff A Commitment to Transparency

Browse White House visitor logs

Issues Civil Rights It Gets Better Defense End of Iraq War Disabilities Economy Jobs Reform and Fiscal Responsibility Strengthening the Middle Class A Plan for Refinancing Support for Business Education Energy & Environment Ethics Foreign Policy Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Taxes Tax Receipt The Buffett Rule Rural Urban Policy Veterans Joining Forces Technology Seniors & Social Security Service Snapshots Creating Jobs Health Care Small Business PreK-12 Education Women Violence Prevention Now Is The Time

To do something about gun violence

Immigration Reform

Creating an Immigration System for the 21st Century

The Administration We the People

Create and Sign Petitions Now

President Barack Obama Vice President Joe Biden Being Biden Audio Series First Lady Michelle Obama Dr. Jill Biden The Cabinet White House Staff Chief of Staff Denis McDonough Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Nabors Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco Counselor to the President Peter Rouse Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett Executive Office of the President Other Advisory Boards About the White House White House On the Go

Download our mobile apps

Easter Egg Roll

Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You: April 1, 2013

Inside the White House Interactive Tour West Wing Tour Video Series Décor and Art Holidays Presidents First Ladies The Oval Office The Vice President's Residence & Office Eisenhower Executive Office Building Camp David Air Force One White House Fellows President’s Commission About the Fellowship Current Class Staff Bios News and Newsletters White House Internships About Program Presidential Department Descriptions Selection Process Internship Timeline & FAQs Tours & Events 2013 Easter Egg Roll Kitchen Garden Tours Take a Virtual Tour of the White House Mobile Apps Our Government The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch The Judicial Branch The Constitution Federal Agencies & Commissions Elections & Voting State & Local Government Resources /* Maximize height of menu features. */if(typeof(jQuery)!='undefined')jQuery.each($('#topnav'),function(i,v){var o=$(v),oh=o.height(),sh=o.siblings().height();if(oh Home • Briefing Room • Presidential Actions • Presidential Memoranda   The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 29, 2013 Presidential Memorandum - Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service March 29, 2013 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUBJECT: Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service By virtue of the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby assign to you the functions of the President under section 203 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by Public Law 111-148, to appoint commissioned officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service. Commissions issued under this delegation of authority may not be for a term longer than 6 months except for commissions that place officers in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemiological Intelligence Service, the Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program, the Indian Health Service Pharmacy Residency Program, the Indian Health Service Health Professions Scholarship Program, or the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program, which may not be for a term longer than 2 years. Officers appointed pursuant to this delegation may not be appointed to the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service for a term greater than those outlined in this memorandum other than by the President. This authority may not be re-delegated. My memorandum of May 31, 2011 (Delegation of Authority to Appoint Commissioned Officers of the Ready Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service), is hereby revoked.You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. BARACK OBAMA

Blog posts on this issue March 29, 2013 5:47 PM EDTWeekly Wrap Up: ‘The Promise of America”

Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov.

March 29, 2013 4:11 PM EDTIn Miami, President Obama Talks About his Plan to Put People to Work Rebuilding America

Despite strong efforts to fix our broken national infrastructure over the past four years, much work needs to be done if we are to prove to the world that there is no better place to do business than in the United States.

March 29, 2013 3:02 PM EDTOpen Government: A Time for Self-Assessment

The Obama Administration has harnessed new technology to engage the public, worked to disclose information more quickly, and given citizens a greater voice in decision-making. There is more work to do, and we remain committed to continuing this in the second term.

view all related blog posts ul.related-content li.views-row img {float: left; padding: 5px 10px 0 0;}ul.related-content li.view-all {padding-bottom: 3em;} Stay ConnectedFacebookTwitterFlickrGoogle+YouTubeVimeoiTunesLinkedIn   Home The White House Blog Photos & Videos Photo Galleries Video Performances Live Streams Podcasts Briefing Room Your Weekly Address Speeches & Remarks Press Briefings Statements & Releases White House Schedule Presidential Actions Legislation Nominations & Appointments Disclosures Issues Civil Rights Defense Disabilities Economy Education Energy & Environment Ethics Foreign Policy Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Taxes Rural Urban Policy Veterans Technology Seniors & Social Security Service Snapshots Women Violence Prevention The Administration President Barack Obama Vice President Joe Biden First Lady Michelle Obama Dr. Jill Biden The Cabinet White House Staff Executive Office of the President Other Advisory Boards About the White House Inside the White House Presidents First Ladies The Oval Office The Vice President's Residence & Office Eisenhower Executive Office Building Camp David Air Force One White House Fellows White House Internships Tours & Events Mobile Apps Our Government The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch The Judicial Branch The Constitution Federal Agencies & Commissions Elections & Voting State & Local Government Resources En español Accessibility Copyright Information Privacy Policy Contact USA.gov Developers Apply for a Job

View the original article here

Paul Ryan Budget Contemplates Selling Off ‘Millions Of Acres’ Of Public Land

This morning House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) offered his fiscal year 2014 budget, which the Wall Street Journal called “almost identical” to the Romney-Ryan presidential platform last year.  In addition to cutting taxes for the rich and preserving tax breaks for Big Oil, the budget offers an extreme and flawed view of public lands and energy development.

For example, in an editorial in the Wall Street Journal last night, Ryan offered a confused vision of government programs designed to purchase lands from willing sellers:

America has the world’s largest natural gas, oil and coal reserves—enough natural gas to meet the country’s needs for 90 years. Yet the administration is buying up land to prevent further development. Our budget opens these lands to development, so families will have affordable energy.

In actuality, there are only limited instances in which the federal government buys land, which can occur via two programs.  First, the Land and Water Conservation Fund uses receipts from offshore oil and gas drilling (not taxpayer dollars) to purchase inholdings from willing sellers within national parks, monuments, and other areas.   As an example, a piece of the Flight 93 Memorial was protected through an LWCF land acquisition.

Additionally, there are already statutes and regulations in place that allow the government to sell or dispose of certain public lands (see, for example, Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land and Policy Management Act).  Importantly, there must be willing sellers before the government purchases additional land to make it public, and so it is unclear what Ryan means when he says the administration is trying to “prevent further development.”

And, despite the fact that we already have a program in place to sell and dispose of federal lands, the Ryan budget explicitly calls for selling off public lands:

In the last year alone, Republicans put forth proposals to sell unneeded federal property.  Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah has proposed to sell millions of acres of unneeded federal land… Such sales could also potentially be encouraged by reducing appropriations to various agencies.

Selling off public lands to then be used for extractive purposes is not supported by the American public.  Indeed, a recent poll from Colorado College State of the Rockies project determined that only 30 percent of voters in six western states agreed with the statement that “too much public land” is a serious problem.

Jessica is the Manager of Research and Outreach for the Public Lands Project at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery('#comment_submit').click(function(){if(jQuery('#comment_check:checked').length

View the original article here