Comments for Expect More Arizona http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog Expect More Arizona Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:50:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Moving Arizona Ahead Demands Degrees by Expect More Arizona http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/28/moving-arizona-ahead-demands-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-14764 Expect More Arizona Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:50:15 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=830#comment-14764 We believe a quality education begins at birth, and that we must support early childhood health & development. As such, one of our 4 actions to "<a href="http://www.expectmorearizona.org/p/vote.html" rel="nofollow">Vote 4 Education</a>" is to vote NO on 302. We believe a quality education begins at birth, and that we must support early childhood health & development. As such, one of our 4 actions to “Vote 4 Education” is to vote NO on 302.

]]> Comment on Moving Arizona Ahead Demands Degrees by Dino J. DeConcini http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/28/moving-arizona-ahead-demands-degrees/comment-page-1/#comment-14762 Dino J. DeConcini Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:41:34 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=830#comment-14762 What are you doing about opposing Prop 302 to take the tobacco money from early childhood development and put it in the general fund? What are you doing about opposing Prop 302 to take the tobacco money from early childhood development and put it in the general fund?

]]> Comment on We Need Your Help! by Chauvin Emmons http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/08/12/we-need-your-help/comment-page-1/#comment-14474 Chauvin Emmons Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:34:41 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=897#comment-14474 Im all for real education reform, like ending the unions stranglehold on our children. we must eliminate all unneeded positions that are not teaching and stop paying teachers that are not teaching. Your retirement is not my problem you should save your own money and stop looking to the people for cradle to grave entitlements. Try social security If its good enough for me its good enough for you too. Chauvin Emmons Prescott, AZ. Im all for real education reform, like ending the unions stranglehold on our children.

we must eliminate all unneeded positions that are not teaching and stop paying teachers that are not teaching.

Your retirement is not my problem you should save your own money and stop looking to the people for cradle to grave entitlements.
Try social security If its good enough for me its good enough for you too.
Chauvin Emmons Prescott, AZ.

]]> Comment on The Case of the Disappearing “Vote 4 Education” Signs by Randy http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/09/the-case-of-the-disappearing-%e2%80%9cvote-4-education%e2%80%9d-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-11517 Randy Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:43:17 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=735#comment-11517 I have noticed that there are fewer signs in my neighborhood. I have also heard that there was a blogger who advocated citizens removing EMA signs. Who would be so frightened of a discussion on quality education that they would advocate denying others the right to free speech? I have noticed that there are fewer signs in my neighborhood. I have also heard that there was a blogger who advocated citizens removing EMA signs. Who would be so frightened of a discussion on quality education that they would advocate denying others the right to free speech?

]]> Comment on Watch Arizona Superintendent of Schools Candidates Debate by Brian Griggs http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/21/watch-arizona-superintendant-of-schools-candidates-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-11221 Brian Griggs Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:04:01 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=780#comment-11221 Thanks for posting these videos! Thanks for posting these videos!

]]> Comment on Let’s Get Greedy by Rose http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/14/let%e2%80%99s-get-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-10899 Rose Sat, 17 Jul 2010 23:12:44 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=756#comment-10899 Well, call me greedy, too, then. In education, just like in life itself, we do in fact get what we pay for. Raise my taxes, Arizona! A world-leading education system is worth every penny. Well, call me greedy, too, then. In education, just like in life itself, we do in fact get what we pay for. Raise my taxes, Arizona! A world-leading education system is worth every penny.

]]> Comment on Let’s Get Greedy by Russel http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/14/let%e2%80%99s-get-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-10799 Russel Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:53:50 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=756#comment-10799 I've had this argument with a number of people, including Regent Calderon, District Superintendents, Union Leaders, and educators. The argument that 'money doesn't improve education' is fallacious. I agree with Mr. Porter's argument that we need better teachers, need to remove the chaff, and reward on Merit. We can't reward on anything without more money though. We can't attract the brightest, most-talented teachers with mediocre wages that result in an inability to buy a home and live in the district in which they work. I agree that 'throwing money at the problem' doesn't solve anything, unless the problem is money. Clearly, Arizona has a problem in the money department. Furthermore, districts have tracked-out or cancelled technical programs due to funds, and new schools in the growing parts of the state don't have the funds to start these things. Tucson's Joint Technology Education District hasn't manifested in a real opportunity for non-collegiate aspirants in the K-12 system. Not everyone needs college, but everyone needs some kind of training. We've done everything we can to tell people that College is the only solution, and eliminated their other options. Regardless, the 'talent' of students depends on their exposure to different, challenging situations. Arts, Humanities, Lab Science, Technical Courses - all of these things are expensive and only Science is 'on the list' of supported activities. We live in a state where Football is sacrosanct (but provides limited opportunity for graduates) and the Arts are constantly slashed (eliminating opportunities to learn creativity). So yeah, let's get greedy. Demand the lion's share of our state funds to be spent making the state safer, smarter, more competitive. It should ALWAYS be the top expense, and I'd much rather have my clientele and the people that wait on me in a higher income bracket. It lifts all boats... I’ve had this argument with a number of people, including Regent Calderon, District Superintendents, Union Leaders, and educators. The argument that ‘money doesn’t improve education’ is fallacious. I agree with Mr. Porter’s argument that we need better teachers, need to remove the chaff, and reward on Merit. We can’t reward on anything without more money though. We can’t attract the brightest, most-talented teachers with mediocre wages that result in an inability to buy a home and live in the district in which they work. I agree that ‘throwing money at the problem’ doesn’t solve anything, unless the problem is money. Clearly, Arizona has a problem in the money department.

Furthermore, districts have tracked-out or cancelled technical programs due to funds, and new schools in the growing parts of the state don’t have the funds to start these things. Tucson’s Joint Technology Education District hasn’t manifested in a real opportunity for non-collegiate aspirants in the K-12 system. Not everyone needs college, but everyone needs some kind of training. We’ve done everything we can to tell people that College is the only solution, and eliminated their other options.

Regardless, the ‘talent’ of students depends on their exposure to different, challenging situations. Arts, Humanities, Lab Science, Technical Courses – all of these things are expensive and only Science is ‘on the list’ of supported activities. We live in a state where Football is sacrosanct (but provides limited opportunity for graduates) and the Arts are constantly slashed (eliminating opportunities to learn creativity).

So yeah, let’s get greedy. Demand the lion’s share of our state funds to be spent making the state safer, smarter, more competitive. It should ALWAYS be the top expense, and I’d much rather have my clientele and the people that wait on me in a higher income bracket. It lifts all boats…

]]> Comment on Let’s Get Greedy by Bob Porter http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/07/14/let%e2%80%99s-get-greedy/comment-page-1/#comment-10792 Bob Porter Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:50:37 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=756#comment-10792 The admonition to invest more money in building better education is precisely what Arizona has been doing for years but with no reasonable outcome. Why? Money doesn't improve education. Teachers and administrators improve education. Our structure protects the inept and unskilled teachers and, in times of financial stress, penalizes our school systems by removing the best and brightest teachers who cost the least. Improvements in education are dependent on teachers who are the best and the brightest. Merit should be the only assessment that guarantees a teaching job and continued employment. We don't do that in the state of Arizona and we never have. Companies are not looking to the cities and to the state to produce "educated" workers. They are looking for "talented" workers who may have been trained in a trade school to do one or two things very well. People who can be inculcated with the culture of the new company, its people and objectives. This does not require more than a GED in most instances. Poor teachers are an impediment and should be removed. Arizona should not only expect more, it should GET more. More talented teachers should be encouraged to join the people in Arizona and the untalented and complacent teachers and administrators should be relieved of their positions and allowed to find employment in another city or another type of job. That's the only way that Arizona will realize its potential and the potential of its people. The admonition to invest more money in building better education is precisely what Arizona has been doing for years but with no reasonable outcome. Why? Money doesn’t improve education. Teachers and administrators improve education. Our structure protects the inept and unskilled teachers and, in times of financial stress, penalizes our school systems by removing the best and brightest teachers who cost the least. Improvements in education are dependent on teachers who are the best and the brightest. Merit should be the only assessment that guarantees a teaching job and continued employment. We don’t do that in the state of Arizona and we never have. Companies are not looking to the cities and to the state to produce “educated” workers. They are looking for “talented” workers who may have been trained in a trade school to do one or two things very well. People who can be inculcated with the culture of the new company, its people and objectives. This does not require more than a GED in most instances. Poor teachers are an impediment and should be removed. Arizona should not only expect more, it should GET more. More talented teachers should be encouraged to join the people in Arizona and the untalented and complacent teachers and administrators should be relieved of their positions and allowed to find employment in another city or another type of job. That’s the only way that Arizona will realize its potential and the potential of its people.

]]> Comment on Education is quickly becoming a priority for Arizonans by Expect More Arizona http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/06/14/education-is-quickly-becoming-a-priority-for-arizonans/comment-page-1/#comment-10780 Expect More Arizona Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:06:55 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=661#comment-10780 Thanks, Lester. We have a "<a href="http://www.expectmorearizona.org/p/know-your-candidate.html" rel="nofollow">Know Your Candidates</a>" page on our site that will direct you to other sites that have legislative scorecards and other information on candidates. We're hoping to build this site with more info, so if you know of other relevant pages, please let us know. Thanks, Lester. We have a “Know Your Candidates” page on our site that will direct you to other sites that have legislative scorecards and other information on candidates. We’re hoping to build this site with more info, so if you know of other relevant pages, please let us know.

]]> Comment on Education is quickly becoming a priority for Arizonans by Lester Dray http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/2010/06/14/education-is-quickly-becoming-a-priority-for-arizonans/comment-page-1/#comment-10773 Lester Dray Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:51:56 +0000 http://www.expectmorearizona.org/blog/?p=661#comment-10773 Good suggestions for us voters as we go to the polls - question: How do we determine education support and actions of the representatives and State Senators seeking office? Good suggestions for us voters as we go to the polls – question:
How do we determine education support and actions of the
representatives and State Senators seeking office?

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