AN EXCERPT
Distributed in Person at an annual meeting attended by hundreds on Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8:00AM
To: CA State Board of Education
Subject: Local Control Funding Formula, Discussion of Proposed Changes to California's Local
Educational Agency and School Planning and Accountability System
Unanswered
Recognizing the probability that I may not have any opportunity to speak publicly or privately with any member of the State Board of Education, I have prepared this document and attachments for submission to you in public in the hope that some attention to the following issues that have been reported to your agencies and officials and to many other agencies, appointed and elected officials at municipal, county, state and federal levels and to community organization from local to national levels throughout 23 years will finally get some attention. Copies of this document will also be provided to members of the public. Hopefully, someone will follow up.
1. The Teacher Credentialing Process has been used as a political weapon to exclude more highly qualified candidates when they oppose race, race+ sex and other discrimination. Complaints are ignored.
2. Often children being tutored in No Child Left Behind have unnoticed, unaddressed needs for glasses, hearing aids and dyslexia. Parent requests for help are also ignored.
3. Anti-immigrant attitudes are pervasive in K-12 schools and in universities. Community colleges are more welcoming and supportive. . .
5. Barely qualified and/or under-qualified overwhelmingly white applicants, most with GEDs, none with preparation in education, were awarded $200,000 in grant funds to establish community-based, in school truancy programs over a culturally diverse team of educators with master and doctoral degrees and more than 100 years of combined experience. The schools to be served had among the highest drop-out rates with students of color making up most of the student population, while faculty, staff and administration did not have a comparable ethnic/cultural/racial makeup. . . .
7. Discrimination in schools is ignored and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws for education and employment are not adequately enforced. What enforcement does take place is more often in public schools. Non-public/religious affiliated schools often believe they are exempt from laws against discrimination, a belief reinforced by the resistance of enforcement agencies to understand and address the laws against discrimination which apply to all educational institutions. Enforcement agencies add to the barriers faced by complainants while accommodating defendants. Reports such as "Closing the Gap," some university "studies" and some district plans exclude any mention of discrimination which means no effort is made to address these problems because they are never recognized as existing. Those who draw attention to the realities of discrimination are treated as pariahs and subjected to retaliation.
9. The impact of youth deaths from curable diseases, suicides, addictions, domestic violence, institutional violence, human trafficking, gangs, auto accidents and bullying (more accurately termed assaults) is not being addressed for the physical, psychological, emotional and social destructiveness that results. They are not certain they will live to adulthood.
This is not a comprehensive list of concerns, but a starting place to immediately get to work to save lives and sanity. As long as these conditions continue so flagrantly, there is little accountability in the educational institutions of California. In one school district, the "plan" to close the gap in achievement for students of color was a 60 plus year plan. . . It is impossible to understand how the perpetual failure to address the needs of students of color as understood by those in their families and communities who are closest to the masses of grassroots/working class people who make up the largest percentages of each group is repeated over and over again. Even worse, those who succeed most with these populations are driven out, denied employment and fair employment practices. . . . A "talented 10th” approach insures that the masses will remain fodder for the prisons and economic, undereducated slaves blamed for their own conditions.
Distributed in Person at an annual meeting attended by hundreds on Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8:00AM
To: CA State Board of Education
Subject: Local Control Funding Formula, Discussion of Proposed Changes to California's Local
Educational Agency and School Planning and Accountability System
Unanswered
Recognizing the probability that I may not have any opportunity to speak publicly or privately with any member of the State Board of Education, I have prepared this document and attachments for submission to you in public in the hope that some attention to the following issues that have been reported to your agencies and officials and to many other agencies, appointed and elected officials at municipal, county, state and federal levels and to community organization from local to national levels throughout 23 years will finally get some attention. Copies of this document will also be provided to members of the public. Hopefully, someone will follow up.
1. The Teacher Credentialing Process has been used as a political weapon to exclude more highly qualified candidates when they oppose race, race+ sex and other discrimination. Complaints are ignored.
2. Often children being tutored in No Child Left Behind have unnoticed, unaddressed needs for glasses, hearing aids and dyslexia. Parent requests for help are also ignored.
3. Anti-immigrant attitudes are pervasive in K-12 schools and in universities. Community colleges are more welcoming and supportive. . .
5. Barely qualified and/or under-qualified overwhelmingly white applicants, most with GEDs, none with preparation in education, were awarded $200,000 in grant funds to establish community-based, in school truancy programs over a culturally diverse team of educators with master and doctoral degrees and more than 100 years of combined experience. The schools to be served had among the highest drop-out rates with students of color making up most of the student population, while faculty, staff and administration did not have a comparable ethnic/cultural/racial makeup. . . .
7. Discrimination in schools is ignored and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws for education and employment are not adequately enforced. What enforcement does take place is more often in public schools. Non-public/religious affiliated schools often believe they are exempt from laws against discrimination, a belief reinforced by the resistance of enforcement agencies to understand and address the laws against discrimination which apply to all educational institutions. Enforcement agencies add to the barriers faced by complainants while accommodating defendants. Reports such as "Closing the Gap," some university "studies" and some district plans exclude any mention of discrimination which means no effort is made to address these problems because they are never recognized as existing. Those who draw attention to the realities of discrimination are treated as pariahs and subjected to retaliation.
9. The impact of youth deaths from curable diseases, suicides, addictions, domestic violence, institutional violence, human trafficking, gangs, auto accidents and bullying (more accurately termed assaults) is not being addressed for the physical, psychological, emotional and social destructiveness that results. They are not certain they will live to adulthood.
This is not a comprehensive list of concerns, but a starting place to immediately get to work to save lives and sanity. As long as these conditions continue so flagrantly, there is little accountability in the educational institutions of California. In one school district, the "plan" to close the gap in achievement for students of color was a 60 plus year plan. . . It is impossible to understand how the perpetual failure to address the needs of students of color as understood by those in their families and communities who are closest to the masses of grassroots/working class people who make up the largest percentages of each group is repeated over and over again. Even worse, those who succeed most with these populations are driven out, denied employment and fair employment practices. . . . A "talented 10th” approach insures that the masses will remain fodder for the prisons and economic, undereducated slaves blamed for their own conditions.
Aurora©2003*
Africa, Up and Down America, Asia, Antarctica, Australia; Indian, Pacific,
the Atlantic All that land and ocean,
We only have one world.
We are all the colors of the rainbow; if not united, just a bunch of lines
When we come together, we let our light shine.
We are the Aurora, Aurora of our time. *
by Suzanne Brooks & Reggie Graham
The theme and theme song of WomenWorldCulture--Aurora-- highlight the movement from division based on a negative emphasis on difference to unity founded in our common humanity defined by DNA and diversity refined by cultures and environments. The Aurora Blog of WomenWorldCulture will encourage constructive and civil exchanges of ideas; stimulate ideas and suggestions for unique and positive programs and services; and provide recommendations and support for education, research and documentation addressing social issues and problems, reciprocal communication and inspiration, sharing and leadership through the arts. The success of this blog will be rooted in mutual caring for each other, with the willingness to learn from each other. Honor and dignity will be the rule. The blog is published with the same media rules, requirements and guidelines required for advertisers on this site. Readers can refer to that section for additional information.
Welcome to Aurora: The WomenWorldCulture Blog.
Aurora Blog
The WomenWorldCulture Blog serves as a source of information regarding current events, which are highlighted because of importance to women, cultural communities and/or environmental sustainability. We encourage readers to visit often to read updates and new entries and then to share the information with others.
Title 9, most powerful law against sex discrimination in education and educational institutions, is nearly ended.
With the following steps, Title 9 is nearly gone: Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is rescinding the advances made to protect women employees and students. The DeVos actions include an interim guide which "differs from the 2011 Dear Colleague letter in several key ways. Perhaps most notably, it rescinds the requirement that schools use a “preponderance of evidence” standard to adjudicate sexual assault cases, and instead allows schools to use a “clear and convincing” evidence standard, which puts a greater burden on accusers. This is a change that critics of the 2011 guidelines have been requesting for some time, and one many advocates say is unfair to survivors.
The interim guide also allows schools to deny survivors the ability to appeal, and lifts the time limit for completing an investigation. Without a time limit, investigations might drag on for years, as they sometimes did before the 2011 guidelines were in place, Peterson said. In some cases, she said, survivors dropped out of school because their investigations went on for so long.
Conservatives cite “legal/illegal”, as often the loudest argument (other than “personal responsibility”) to bolster cruel policies---policies that are not applied equally. The latest example of this is Trump's Executive Order ending President Obama's Executive Order DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), that protected almost 800,000 undocumented, young immigrants, known as the “Dreamers”, who were brought to the U.S. as children, at the average age of six.
A decent society does not hold children responsible for the actions of their parents.
... The vast majority of the Dreamers know no other country except the U.S. Ninety percent are in school, employed or...
Unequivocally opposing white supremacists in all their manifestations: Ku Klux Klan, Nazis and militias should be a moral reflex. Terms like “white nationalism” and “Alt-Right” are fuzzy euphemisms. Blunt clarity is required. What we saw in Charlottesville, Virginia are white supremacist domestic terrorists.
In May, the FBI warned of the rising tide of far-right extremists. documentcloud.org/documents/3924852-White-Supremacist-Extremism-JIB.html
Since September 11th, through the end of December 2016, white supremacist domestic terrorism have been far higher than domestic terrorism by Muslims: 74% white supremacists vs. 26% by Muslims. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/aug/16/look-data-domestic-terrorism-and-whos-behind-it/
... Racist violence has always been essential to maintaining a system privileging white, rich men and putting everyone else in a...
Most oppositional reaction to the 2016 election, defines President Donald Trump as a threat to U.S. democracy---when he's actually as a result of democracy already under siege for some time. The “Russia meddled with the 2016 election” obsessionis (among other things) an evasion of the home-grown assaultsto fair elections and real representation of everyday Americans.
... Economic elites aspire returning the U.S. to it's anti-democratic roots: with only white, male property-owners able to vote, George Washington...
CURRENT RESOURCES (2016) FOR WOMEN
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS REMOVED OR BEING STERILZED WITHOUT CONSENT AND/OR AGAINST OUR WILL
THE HEALTH IMPACT NEWS NETWORK
https://healthimpactnews.com/
HORMONES MATTER
https://www.hormonesmatter.com/
RESEARCH + COMMENTARY
WOMEN’S HEALTH
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
FAMILY HEALTH
ENVIRONMENT
HEALTH STORIES
HEALTH SURVEYS
HYSTERECTOMY ALTERNATIVES AND AFTEREFFECTS
HERS FOUNDATION
Hysterectomy Educational Resources and Services
http://www.hersfoundation.com/
The HERS Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit international women's health education organization. HERS provides information about alternatives to hysterectomy and the aftereffects of the surgery.
Hysterectomy
Free information by email or mail
Telephone counseling by appointment
Physician referral for evaluation and treatment
Review of medical records
Medical journal articles
CD's, DVD's and videos
Woman to woman networking
Regional conferences
Lawyer Referrals
Litigation support
CORTISOL & FAT LOSS – WHY YOUR HORMONES MATTER
http://wellnessforce.com/resource/cortisol-fat-loss-why-your-hormones-matter/...
Justice Reform Coalition Press Release: Complaints of Medical Battery, Fraud, Breach of Contract filed against Mercy Medical Hosptial and Doctors
U.S. East to West Coasts Eugenics By Thousands: Widespread Then & Now—Hidden, Ignored, Denied
In Our Communities Today—2016
In CA Correctional Institutions 2010-2016
... JUSTICE REFORM COALITION PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Rev Ashiya Odeye
JUSTICE REFORM COALITION
Phone: 916 893-9793 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
October 6, 2014: FOR IMMEDIATE...
Unanswered Letters Blog
This blog is an acknowledgement of the millions of serious letters written by people around the world to representatives of governments, businesses, print and electronic media, businesses, community groups and individuals to address many issues and concerns. So often, had the contents of these letters be read and responded to, tragedies and crises could have been avoided.
Too often, those in power choose to ignore the writer and the letter. This blog shows that there are people with similar good ideas, urgent complaints, and important information which deserved to be heeded. The goal of this blog is to show that people with similar concerns are working to make changes and have not given up on their ideas.
By sharing ideas, people can contribute to needed research and continued discussions to bring about change. When it is clear that these are not isolated, infrequent issues, masss of people can be encouraged to continue speaking out, in writing as much as vocally. When we realize the large extent of idfentified problems, we are also encouraged to take some appropriate actions. Those actions could be to ask some of the recipients of letters why they have not responded and when will they?
PREPARING FOR THE 2020 ELECTION: WILL IT BEGIN REAL DEMOCRACY OR END ITS DREAM
NOTE: WHILE THIS SPACE WAS DEVELOPED AS A PLACE IN WHICH TO POST UNANSWERED LETTERS WRITTEN TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS ABOUT PUBLIC ISSUES, THE FACT THAT THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HAS BEGUN BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PRESIDENT ELECTED IN 2016, THE LETTER BELOW IS BEING POSTED SHORTLY AFTER SENDING IT OUT, BEFORE ANY CHANCE OF REPLY IS POSSIBLE, AS A MEANS OF POSTING ISSUES THAT WERE IGNORED IN THE PAST 8 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS AND BY THE CANDIDATES IN THE 2016 CAMPAIGN. IT IS UP TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC LIFE, HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED, AND ARE INCREASINGLY DEMONIZED, SCAPEGOATED, AND DENIED MOST, IF NOT ALL, FACTUAL AND EQUAL INCLUSION, ESPECIALLY FOR VOTING, WORKING, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, NEWS COVERAGE, HOME OWNERSHIP AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CIVIL AS WELL AS CRIMINAL CASES.
... Dear Presidential Nominee Advocate:
I am grassroots/working class leader of women of color, many other women's interests, a supporter of...
URGENT COMMUNITY ACTION NEEDED:
A terrible educational injustice is pushing millions of students of color in California and across the nation so far behind this year that many will never catch up, will never graduate from high school, and will lose all hope of higher education achievement.
The implementation of this new program: "Every Student Succeeds Act "(ESSA) | has ended nearly all free tutoring with it hopes of closing the learning gap for low income students, students of color and students with learning disabilities. Parents and communities have been misled into believing that this new program give students improved services when, in fact, most tutoring has been ended.
... For so many years, students were tutored inside their schools with "small group" tutoring which is completely ineffective because it...
AN EXCERPT
Distributed in Person at an annual meeting attended by hundreds on Thursday, November 7, 2013, 8:00AM
To: CA State Board of Education
Subject: Local Control Funding Formula, Discussion of Proposed Changes to California's Local
Educational Agency and School Planning and Accountability System
Unanswered
... Recognizing the probability that I may not have any opportunity to speak publicly or privately with any member of...