Michelle On Immigration And Education: Less Irresponsible Than Reported

I yield to few in my low regard for the First Whinger, but she is taking a bit of an unfair knock from Bretibart (subsequently picked up in the Washington Times).

From Breitbart:

In New York City, First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) convention, promising that her husband would act on his own to fix the broken immigration system.

“So make no mistake about it, we have to keep on fighting as hard as we can on immigration,” she said as the crowd cheered. “And as my husband has said, he’s going to do whatever administrative action it takes to fix this broken system.”

Obama reminded the attendees that they couldn’t wait for Congress to act on their future and urged them to seize opportunities on their own.

“We cannot afford to wait on Congress to lift up our next generation. We can’t afford to wait on anybody when it comes to our kids’ future,” she said. “Your grandparents and parents didn’t wait for opportunities to come to them. No, they packed up their families and moved to this country for a better life.”

The First Lady reminded them of the history of social injustices that Latinos suffered in America which inspired the founder of LULAC to start his organization in 1929.

“Back then, Latinos were being brutalized and killed by police and lynched by the KKK,” she said. “‘No Mexicans Allowed’ signs hung outside of restaurants and storefronts. Latinos often couldn’t own property or serve on a jury. And if you walked into a public building, you’d often see not two water fountains, but three -- one white, one black, and one brown.”

Here is the text of her speech. She does assure the crowd that Congress can be bypassed. However, as presented  by Breitbart it reads as if she is exhorting the current generation to pack up their familes and move to the US, as their forebears did. However, she is talking about the importance of seizing the educational opportunities available in the US:

Now, I know that education is one of so many pressing issues on your plates right now.  And with a broken immigration system hurting so many of our families and neighbors — (applause) — some of you may be wondering why I decided to focus on education today.  But what I know from my own life experiences, is that if we truly want to lift up our next generation, we must tackle all of these challenges at the same time.  And that is actually one of the greatest lessons of LULAC’s history. 

LULAC initially formed back in 1929 in response to horrific violations of Latino civil rights.  Back then, Latinos were being brutalized and killed by police and lynched by the KKK.  “No Mexicans Allowed” signs hung outside of restaurants and storefronts.  Latinos often couldn’t own property or serve on a jury.  And if you walked into a public building, you’d often see not two water fountains, but three — one white, one black, and one brown.

But LULAC didn’t just focus on these pressing crises; all along, they were investing in education too.  Yes, those early leaders traveled from town to town to organize local councils to right those injustices, once being run out of town at gunpoint.  And they rallied the Latino vote, even in the face of poll taxes and voter intimidation.  But they also sued to desegregate their schools.  They also organized parents into neighborhood committees, launched boycotts to protest terrible learning conditions for their children.  They sold tamales and held dances to raise scholarship money. 

So make no mistake about it, we have to keep on fighting as hard as we can on immigration.  (Applause.)  And as my husband has said, he’s going to do whatever administrative action it takes to fix this broken system.  (Applause.)  

But we cannot afford to wait on Congress to lift up our next generation.  We can’t afford to wait on anybody when it comes to our kids’ future.  Your grandparents and parents didn’t wait for opportunities to come to them.  No, they packed up their families and moved to this country for a better life.  Felix didn’t wait for Texas to set up a program to teach kids English.  No, he hired those teachers himself. 

So today, we have got to live up to those examples and reignite that hunger for opportunity — that hunger for education –- across all of our communities.  And we all have a role to play in this endeavor.  Parents have to be reading to their kids from an early age and making sure they go to school every day and do their homework every night.  Our young people, you have a role to play as well.  You have to make education your number-one priority and be role models for those around you.  (Applause.)

Now, one might argue that she is making a not-so-coded call for de facto open borders. But she might just as plausibly be an inept public speaker (I certainly can't rule that out.) And as a factual matter, the Washington Times is simply wrong when they report that

Shortly after [the exhortation about Congressional irrelevance], Mrs. Obama began to list the civil rights offenses that plagued the Hispanic community at America’s hands in recent decades.

The ghastly history (And has anyone ever heard the "three water fountains" story before? I'll give it an "Anything Is Possible".) was presented in the intro.

Well. If Michelle and her brain trust hope to persuade the Hispanic community to stop railing about immigration reform and start railing about education reform, that may simply take Team Obama out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Comments

[GMax]

TM sticking up for Michelle. Well if you live long enough, you might just see the US in a world cup final too, just don't hold your breath...

[Eric in Boise]

I'm at the point where I can't give the benefit of the doubt to anyone in this administration, for any reason, at any time. I suspect I'm not alone.

[narciso]

Surprisingly there's nothing about the Klan in the wiki, it has long been considered the more mainstream organization

While praising its Mexican cultural heritage in its rhetoric, LULAC promoted the full adaptation of its members into the dominant US Anglo-Saxon culture, believing this strategy would be the most successful in combating discrimination. Asserting that it was not the economic or political intuitions that were flawed but discrimination was the result of racism alone, LULAC took an arguably conservative stance. It promoted capitalism and individualism and believed that through hard work and assimilation into American culture, Mexican Americans could improve their socioeconomic standing in American society.[6] That is, by adapting to American institutions, LULAC believed individuals could change negative perceptions Anglo-Saxons held of Mexican Americans and achieve economic success.

[rse]

I did explain yesterday that Wade Henderson did a shout out to Van Roekel of the NEA and Randi Weingarten of AFT, the 2 major teachers unions, who are on his board and how his Vice Chair is the General Counsel of MALDEF=Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund as demonstrating the new importance of immigration rights and education and how they are viewed now as inextricably linked. Unfortunately the linkage is to jettisoning the US Constitution in favor of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Hard not to see mo's speech as tied into the same vision. Did you know there's an entire curriculum developed at Stanford creating a Common Core for ELLs and the idea is that it is the non-ELL students who should have their practices modified to fit what works best for ELLs?

Finally on Ex's link on the previous thread to Nebraska and maryrose's comment. The states have already been told they must enroll all students without any demand for documentation like birth certificates or anything that would put the invading horde as having a problem with enrolling. The announcement seems to have come from DC as a reminder that illegals have a SCOTUS right to enroll and these new illegals get to piggyback on that with no scrutiny or the locales will be in trouble with Ed and Justice's Civil Rts Division.

Several people have forwarded the official letters states have sent out to me.

[Rick B]

Heartless bastards. Can't you all just stop for a minute and think of the chirrun like the First Lady?

“Some of them have had gray hair and they're telling you that they're 17 years old and they have no documentation,” the official is quoted as saying.

Conditions in their home countries are so bad that some of them have prematurely aged by thirty years.

What more evidence do you need?

[GMax]

Rasmussen this AM:

Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters say electing an opposition Congress is the better way for opponents to halt or change the president’s policies. Just 15% think impeachment is the better way for opponents to go

A solid majority telling you how they intend to vote. Remember, the 45% includes those who blink and ask for the question to be repeated. And most assuredly include those in New York, California and Illinois where it has no impact on the Senate composition.

Gonna be another shellacking...

[narciso]

One assumes a Princeton education would acquaint someone with facts

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlac/00085/lac-00085.html

[rse]

The Henderson speech was in June but posted on the Leadership Council's Unfinished Business site about a week ago.

He also goes on to insist that those who are not currently in the country with permission need to be educated as if they will be citizens in the future. As I explained the method laid out in the WIOA was created by Paulo Freire and has nothing to do with academics. It has to do with how to create a critical consciousness.

Come in without permission and then insist on transforming the place invaded. Henderson describes a vision of Latinos, Blacks, Asian Americans, and White Progressives dedicated to an economic justice vision for the US.

[Jim Eagle]

JamesD,

Saw your questions in re: Paris to Frederick. He is in Aviation Camp at Embry-Riddle until 4:30. So, I'll ask him on the drive home,

I know that Venice has replaced Paris as his #2 favirite place. New York us #1 and he overwhelmingly loves Italy:)

[James D.]

I'm sorry, there is literally NOTHING that could be said about Mooch, or Zero, that I would consider unfair, or for which I would take up their defense.

[rse]

So good Brookings wants to figure out Why Governments Fail so something can be done. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2014/07/light%20cascade%20of%20failures/light_cascade%20of%20failures_why%20govt%20fails.pdf

No one points out it is in the nature of a bureaucracy with no real downside for screwing up and more personnel with each screwup or bad policy idea.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwaski]

Perhaps I'm not reading closely enough but I'm having a hard time seeing the point of this thread. Does whether the "ghastly history" was before or after the call for executive action make much difference about the point of her call?

"We [the historical Democratic party, ed.] treated Latinos bad. Barry needs to act."

"Barry needs to act. We [the historical Democratic party, ed.] treated Latinos bad."

Not seeing anything other than a very small error that doesn't significantly effect her meaning.

[Porchlight]

Somewhat OT but something I've long wondered:

Why is it that the same (white, upper class, educated) people who think immersion is the best way for their child to learn French, think biligual ed is the only way to teach English to native Spanish speakers?

If immersion is best for their child, it should work for other children, too. Unless they think brown people are not as smart as white people. But that can't be, right?

[Porchlight]

BTW I don't agree with TM. She isn't directly saying "pack up your bags and move here because we are going to bypass Congress and enact amnesty."

But she is indirectly saying it. And that is what LULAC and its supporters want to hear, so it shouldn't surprise anyone.

[rse]

Right on cue PBS's Frontline tomorrow is doing a show on the resegregation odf schools called "Separate and Unequal."

Porch-my experience in reading the ELL docs is the separation allows the anger and perceptions of injustice to be nurtured for political transformation purposes. Mainstreaming might support keeping US institutions as they currently exist and that's what is unacceptable. Plus mainstreaming makes the individual student of importance instead of the desired emphasis on being a member of a designated cultural group.

I wish I was kidding or exaggerating.

[narciso]

it is classic community organizing in an organization that is typically not so oriented,
before, this is about amnesty and voter turnout, but mostly about 'rubbing raw the sources of discontent,'

[glasater]

A friend sent me the below link to ponder and I'm passing it along to JOM:

http://nesaranews.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-if-they-leftand-entered-legally.html

What really gets me is the additional funds Zero has demanded from Congress which is the best part of 4 billion bucks. And the R's are really considering adding monies for dealing with the illegals coming into our country!

Homeland Security gets 500 billion annually - take any money needed for any border security out of that pot 'cause after all that's the agency's mandate for pete's sake. 0 wants to set up another bureaucracy with a permanent infrastructure. No Mas!

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

DHS should buy less ammo and more coach airfare tickets to Central America and Mexico.

[Jim Eagle]

Porch,

I might have some relevant exoerience that can help regarding your question on immersion versus bilingual ed. I totally agree on immersion as long as the student has every opportunity to practice and speak the new lingo at home and school.

I did Dutch immersion at CERAN in Spa and was gettng pretty fluent but my extended in-law family found it was easier for them to speak their better english than my aspiring Vlaams. Frederick the same way. No one at school to speak with so he only gets mostly english and its hard to just do it at home only.

The Hispanics also have another problem at home in practicing english - Univision and ESPN Desportes et.al.

It just seems tio me the best way to learn is long term exposure which is how Frederick is learning Vlaams, Italian and French,

[Rick B]

RSE,

Isn't it actually in line with whole word rather than phonetic conditioning? Immersion will bring you to the point of thinking in the second language, rather than translating word for word. Our current indoctrination, conditioning and reinforcement programs are designed to discourage thought while encouraging emotional reaction to symbols.

IOW - immersion is antithetical to peck and drool and therefore useless for indoctrination purposes.

[Rick B]

RSE,

Isn't it actually in line with whole word rather than phonetic conditioning? Immersion will bring you to the point of thinking in the second language, rather than translating word for word. Our current indoctrination, conditioning and reinforcement programs are designed to discourage thought while encouraging emotional reaction to symbols.

IOW - immersion is antithetical to peck and drool and therefore useless for indoctrination purposes.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Conditions in their home countries are so bad that some of them have prematurely aged by thirty years.

What more evidence do you need?

Hah! Too funny!!

[Extraneus]

Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters say electing an opposition Congress is the better way for opponents to halt or change the president’s policies. Just 15% think impeachment is the better way for opponents to go

This is an indication that talk of impeachment is moving the needle.

"Some may say that the president should be given dictatorial powers and allowed to summarily execute and display the severed heads of those who displease him, and some may say that he should be impeached and removed from office. I reject this false choice and merely call for a Republican majority in the Congress."

[narciso]

it's just squirrel all the time;

http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/07/surprise-democrats-to-push-race-issues-in-2014-midterms/

the Stone novels have made me quite acquainted
with Venice, but don't you have to be a Doge to go there

[Captain Hate]

What really gets me is the additional funds Zero has demanded from Congress which is the best part of 4 billion bucks. And the R's are really considering adding monies for dealing with the illegals coming into our country!

A real opposition party would finance it by taking it away from other Executive Branch budgeted expenditures, like to the IRS, DoJ, EPA. You know, use the "power of the purse" that they campaigned on in 2010 and then forgot about.

[Porchlight]

JiB, I agree about the opportunity to practice, but Asian immigrants to the US don't seem to have much trouble. If the first generation doesn't pick it up readily, the second one does.

Tens of millions of immigrants from all over the world have learned English just fine throughout US history without the benefit of bilingual ed in public schools, which seems to me to be mostly identity politics at work. Gotta keep those kids speaking Spanish (even though many Hispanic parents actively disagree with this approach).

[Porchlight]

Oops, I screwed up my antecedents. Bilingual ed is identity politics, not immigrants to the US learning English.

Rick B. pegged it upthread.

[Jim Eagle]

Porch,

Misunderstood what you mean't about bilingual ed,. I don't agree with teaching in any other language than english. I was suggesting long term exposure is still the best way to learn and retain.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

Bilingual ed is an old battle. I can remember my mom being against it when I was a kid. She would point out that the ones pushing for immigrants to not have to learn English were the ones hurting the kids.
Even back then (must have been the 60s or early 70s)...those that were against bilingual ed. were painted as "racist haters".

[cathyf]

My state has laws requiring that children with communicable diseases be excluded from schools, and specifically requires proof of TB-negative status. Most states have such laws. Sure, SCOTUS can strike them down, but it will take a couple of years to get around to it.

[Stephanie]

I think all school systems have those laws, cathyf.

Typical of this bunch of bozos to demand something that can't and shouldn't be complied with. They don't think through anything that they decide they want to do.

I dare them to require that the states comply with this demand at the expense of children's health with the current trend of parental helicoptering of special snowflakes.

Popcorn futures!

[Porchlight]

I was suggesting long term exposure is still the best way to learn and retain.

Definitely agree, JiB.

[narciso]

speaking of popcorn;

http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicagospea/exclusive-poll-karen-lewis-could-give-rahm-run-his-money/mon-07142014-1213am

[Porchlight]

They will just waive the TB-negative requirements just like they're waiving everything else, at least in the most compliant sanctuary city districts (like mine).

Elsewhere it may not be such an easy sell. NIMBY is pretty potent regarding public health threats.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Language Immersion: I'd be interested in hearing narciso's opinion of the best way to make spanish speakers english literate asap.

[Stephanie]

Those libs in your area will scream the loudest, porch. Helicoptered snowflakes abound.

[Extraneus]

I think all school systems have those laws, cathyf.

I believe those laws are trumped by others that require immediate admission of illegal aliens. I had to jump through hoops to move my son last year, and providing birth certificate, evidence of residency and a physical were just a few of them. It took weeks and even a legal proceeding, and then when I finally was allowed to come in for the signing ceremony, posters were plastered all over the place indicating that the school has to take your undocumented kid immediately upon your arrival. No documentation of any kind is required for illegal aliens, just immediate service.

[narciso]

You know that's an interesting question, nk, my wise grandfather did have me keep fluent in my native tongue, and I did attend one of the first bilingual schools down here, but on reflection years later, I think it's less effective than advertised.

[Porchlight]

They certainly would, Stephanie, if they knew about it. But they won't. It will all be done subrosa. We already have plenty of illegals in our schools, so a few more won't be noticed.

[James D.]

I dare them to require that the states comply with this demand at the expense of children's health with the current trend of parental helicoptering of special snowflakes.

I really do hope that we see some large-scale civil disobedience on this. I think there's a chance of it, too.

[Jim Eagle]

"Wat a wacket" as Bugs would say.

States send pols to DC to beg for money, They invent unfunded mandates and the DoEd who will help out with the money if only the State will agree to attached strings,

Now those strings will get pulled big time and the only option for the State is give up the Fed dough, Don't think it will happen, Like asking an addict to go cold turkey.

[Bori]

Speaking from personal experience, though I was born in New York, my Great-Grandmother relocated to Puerto Rico when I was 4 years old.

Spanish was the only language spoken at home and in school English was thought but it was very rudimentary.

When I returned to the States at eleven, English was a foreign language to me, the first school I attended was bi-lingual and a waste. It was once I was in an English only school that I really learned the language.

Bilingual education is a nice concept on paper but without the immersion in the other language, especially if no one else is talking in that language is the only thing that will teach the language quickest.

[Rick B]

Porchlight,

I'm looking forward to stories about the horror of Precious Snowflake coming home with the little critters which got a free ride in with the chirrun. RID sales should take a jump come September. TB incidence among school children might take a little pop but the real danger is the chirrun who grab jobs in restaurants. There's just nothing like food handlers as a vector for infectious disease transmission and the Gordito chirrun look to average about 16.5 years in age so school probably isn't anywhere on their to do lists.

[anonamom]

Ex, the more people who have your experience, the better as far as I am concerned.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

[Comanche Voter]

I'm at the point where I don't care what Mooch says. Our long national nightmare won't be over until this clown and her husband leave the White House permanently.

[Porchlight]

I'm afraid work isn't real high on their to do lists, either, Rick.

Sad to say headlice is already a constant problem in our schools. Very few kids escape it, or at least very few girls with long hair.

[Porchlight]

headlice *are*
That does it. Going to get a cup of coffee...

[rse]

Rick-yes on your question about Whole Language. In fact the first time I ever encountered Louise Rosenblatt's work was in a doctrinaire ELL program.

The students are also not taught about idioms anymore much less grammar. I have had this conversation with several of the Diva's friends from high school who are Latino wither one or both parents. They actually did not know why the schoolwork is harder for them. I asked which language they thought in. Answer was a mixture.

Having both languages taught as whole word instead of phonetically harmed abilities in both languages and most never become fully fluent in print in either language. Then they start taking APs and they have to learn the words and not just facts.

Now they will only have to learn the desired interpretive lenses. Say oppression and colonialism 3 times and you too can get a 4.

[James D.]

rse, what do you think about the upcoming changes to the SAT (no penalty for wrong answers, simplyfing the vocabulary and grammar, throwing out words that are less "practical", etc).

I immediately thought of you when I read the article.

[Captain Hate]

Sad to say headlice is already a constant problem in our schools.

Public schools: Mainstreaming headlice at the expense of property owners. How wonderful.

[rse]

It is also a problem with things like chorus where sight reading of music is necessary. The idea that notes are simply symbols for a particular sound is hard because that is not how reading has been taught.

Genuine phonetic fluency with print as in 'can read words never before encountered' is extremely rare these days. I learned that from teachers who are fascinated by that ability when they encounter it.

In UMC high schools.

Fascinated as if they encountered a vintage car or something.

[Eric in Boise]

We already have plenty of illegals in our schools, so a few more won't be noticed.

While this is true, I think the outbreak(s) of drug-resistant TB will definitely be noticed. Helicopter moms talk to each other at soccer games and during play dates.

[Captain Hate]

Fascinated as if they encountered a vintage car or something.

Fairly apt metaphor.

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

On our local news website when a comment is made about lice, scabies, assorted diseases,...
the leftists make fun of the person.

The sicknesses, diseases, whatever are not that bad...& then they accuse the concerned person of thinking all foreigners are filthy.

Seriously...the left are emotional rabid dogs.

[rse]

I think the new SAT will be monitoring subjective beliefs more than knowledge. I have listened to David Coleman enough, especially at conferences not open to the public, to know what he means when he insists it will now be equitable.

Remember College and Career Ready does not mean what people think on either term. The new vision of education for either K-12 or higher ed is extremely focused on equity of credentials. Making having the right attitudes in what you want to do in open ended, no right answer questions or situations the purpose now for who will get access to the Ivies or their equivalent works just fine in most administrators' eyes.

Henderson talked in that same keynote about changing the nature of all coursework in the STEM disciplines so those will award proportionate degrees for all groups. I was sad for Dr J.

That was before I knew about his fun family wedding this weekend.

[Porchlight]

If it happens, Eric, yes. But then it will be too late. Trying to figure out what will stop the kids from being dumped into various places if it's being done in secret.

Just got a message on the community listserv at work asking for donations for "undocumented refugee women and their children." Also there is a vegan dinner being held in their honor in McAllen. For goodness' sake.

Catholic Charities is getting tons of money to facilitate all of this, too.

But let's not forget - it's not just children coming in. Lots of moms too. And who knows what the cartels are sending over while the Border Patrol are tending to the chirrun.

[Porchlight]

narciso and Bori, thank you for the input about your bilingual ed experience. That seems to track with other stories I have read and heard.

[narciso]

He has an American partner, Michael Ruppert, like RT's Abbott and Costello, McGovern and Madsen

http://weaselzippers.us/193139-moonbat-professor-claims-netanyahu-secretly-killed-three-israeli-teens-and-blamed-it-on-hamas-so-he-could-attack-gaza/

[squaredance]

Get a load of this.

(and remember that Obama is "retiring" decent servicemen right and left.)

[Captain Hate]

What bothers me about this illegal situation, over and above the issues that have been discussed, is that when the backlash happens, and it is coming, I'm worried about my son in law, a legal immigrant, being caught up in it.

[James D.]

THanks, rse. I had a feeling it was something like that.

[Jim Eagle]

Another language vignette: One of Mrs, JiB classmate in Wales was from Italy with no English and yet through forced exposue completed his junior and senior year of a full IB program with honors. He know teaches English to Italians. His wife is French and has a BA in Italian and Masters in Italian History and Art but can't teach French or Italian because her degrees are from France. So, she us having to take language certification courses to get her teaching degree,

And you thought we were screwed up:)

[rse]

I hope not ch. I read all this stuff because truly I have to. My reaction is that I do not really care except I'll be darned if I accept the proposition that I owe anyone anything.

When I listen to Henderson describe what is owed I know that the urban schools were deliberately broken to keep most students there ignorant and aggrieved. There has been lots of race on race use of these kids yet such opportunistic behavior gets a pass. Instead we get a search for white racism that really is gone in my mind.

[cathyf]

Although the SAT essay has been an utter fiasco of the new emo education. Some professor did a study where he trained a group of college students to write long rambling incoherent essays with lots of big words used ridiculously inappropriately. The students then got the highest scores with those essays.

When WonderBoy was applying to college in 2011-12, the top schools were quoting their average SAT scores without the essay score. Some even had a note that they had their own application essay or used the Common App essay. But, anyway, the SAT essay has been a bust because that was the first fully-corrupted section, but they are continuing to corrupt the math & verbal tests.

Maybe rse can confirm or deny -- so far I have the impression that the ACT is not nearly so corrupted. I suspect that is why Illinois has just stopped using it as their official measuring tool for student and school evaluation.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwaski]

In filling out my Federal Firearms License renewal I note with dismay that not only do I have to fill out and sign a form certifying that I am either a citizen or legal resident alien of the USA, but I am also asked under penalty of perjury if I am "an alien illegally in the United States."

ATF is part of the DOJ; when is Eric Holder going to stop harassing, profiling and, yes, targeting migrants? When is he going to stop using inflammatory and racially insensitive trigger words like alien and illegal?
Effin racist.

Don't even get me started on the discriminatory questions about whether I'm a felon, fugitive, drug addict, wife beater or an adjudicated nutter.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

well.... are you?

[rse]

jib-this is the second year that the Diva has done a German opera piece even though she speaks that language not at all. She told Red Italian is easier but I guess some auditions require an ability in both languages. Die lotusblume it was called.

She nailed it, which again was probably easier because she reads phonetically. Everyone else did Italian or in English.

I must admit "Maybe this Time" from Cabaret was more fun since I knew what it was about.

[Buckeye]

Head lice problem seems to be a function of socioeconomics, at least in Ahia. Gal I worked with lived in a ghetto neighborhood. Her kids came home with lice every couple of months. School was 80% AA, 10% Latino, 5% Somali, 5% Caucasian. She did lot's of complaining to no avail. She lived paycheck to paycheck, and head lice treatment was at times a financial hardship. I suspect that was true of most families in the school.

She moved to far suburban neighborhood, probably 95% Caucasian, but barely middle class, no more head lice.

My kids went to public schools in a near suburban "privilege" neighborhood. Never ever even heard of anyone with head lice.

[narciso]

they do seem language sensitive over there, don't they,

[Man Tran heading to CO]

G'day to the Boise gang. Just passing through and sipping a little fuel.

[rse]

cathy-I agree on the ACT, but other assessments being prepared by them will make that corruption easy and invisible in the future.

Never forget that Elizabeth Coleman was a prof in sociology at the New School before becoming President of Bennington. Being an idealogue comes naturally to David. He genuinely believes in using education for changing what people believe to drive future transformative social change.

All tests are a barrier unless they get at figuring out how a student currently perceives reality. What are their hot button issues? What does it take to change what they believe? What strategies do they apply when there is no correct answer or it's an ambiguous situation or there's cognitive dissonance involved like the old lifeboat problem.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

I am a admirer of Lee's philosphical substance and the real work he puts into getting things done that make a difference. of course I disagreed with his 'shutdown' tactics which I thought were naive and counterproductive. I may be a hopeless optimist, but IMO in a repub Senate Lee and Sen Johnson (Wisc) would have a lot of influence on the Repub Leadership and provide the substance of what the leadership will push as a 'conservative' agenda. http://reason.com/archives/2014/07/11/sen-mike-lee-on-the-importance-of-primar/

[matt]

My mother remembered the NINA (No Irish Need Apply) signs when she was a child in the 1930's.

Far different from mass illegal immigration.

[matt]

JiB;

Is he the one who sticks the vowels at the end of every word?

[DebinNC]

Parents have to be reading to their kids from an early age and making sure they go to school every day and do their homework every night

MOzo is right about that, but black parents are the least likely of all demographics to do so. Ditto tv watching. Black kids watch much more tv than other races. IIRC there's also a cultural difference is time parents spend talking with their kids; black parents doing so the least. Mr. and Mrs. BOzo have never and will never note that disparity.

[cathyf]

WonderGirl sang an Italian piece for her voice recital this year, which she had sung in the Solo and Ensemble competition this spring. S&E was February, while the recital was June. She got to the second verse and forgot the words. My mom -- the only surviving grandparent who speaks fluent Italian -- wasn't there, and was totally bummed that she missed her granddaughter singing random Italian-sounding syllables. To bad I didn't get a video. She had a funny look on her face as she started the verse, but otherwise carried it off with complete aplomb. No one else had any idea it was Italian jabberwocky.

We've always had a rule about dinner-table insults: either they have to be clever, or in a foreign language. Which is why both of my children know how to say "hello moron" in ancient Greek.

Anyway, last year in Illinois one of the IMEA festival pieces was Cantique du Jean Racine, sung in French. The high school kids -- the full concert choir, not just the most exclusive groups -- did it pretty well.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Matt-- Boston = private invideous bigotry and Now = Federal Lawlessness deliberately violating the Nation's duly enacted laws. The 2 situations are entirely dissimilar.

[Eric in Boise]

{Waving at ManTran out of office window}

[Porchlight]

Buckeye,

I had zero experience with lice until my oldest was in 3rd grade or so. Now with three kids in three different classrooms it is hopeless. Don't know what the variables are - certainly the demographics are very different in our school from the ones in which I grew up. It's still embarrassing enough that the parents for the most part don't mention it, so I don't know how widespread the problem is. Sigh.

Probably my fault for letting the girls grow their curls out. They have the kind of hair that tangles really easily, and is much harder to comb.

[Porchlight]

...and meant to add, Buckeye's observations about socioeconomics do seem to bear out, at least in my experience. Another factor is that I also had short hair growing up as did my brothers of course.

You know what else just occurred to me - we all sat in rows of desks when I was a kid, but my girls' elementary classrooms all have the pod/table arrangement. Therefore the kids, especially the girls, put their heads together much more in the course of the day than we did. And with longer hair...

[lyle]

Shout out to Man Tran. Hot day in Le Bois.

[Extraneus]

What pure, unadulterated b.s.

Kerry to meet with Iran foreign minister at nuclear talks

VIENNA – Secretary of State John Kerry will hold in-depth discussions Monday with Iran's top diplomat in a bid to advance faltering nuclear negotiations, with a deadline just days away for a comprehensive agreement.

The scheduled talks come a day after Kerry and the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany failed to reach a breakthrough on uranium enrichment and other issues standing in the way of a deal that would curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the end of nuclear-related sanctions on Tehran.

The top officials took turns meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, and each gave an assessment describing significant gaps between the two sides. Russia and China sent lower-level officials to Austria's capital for this week's gathering.

Six months ago, the six world powers and Tehran gave themselves until July 20 to conclude what is supposed to be a multi-decade agreement that sets clear limits on Iranian activity and locks in place an international monitoring regime designed to ensure that the Islamic republic cannot develop nuclear weapons.

But the interim agreement also provides the option of an additional six-month window for hammering out a full accord, though officials have suggested a shorter extension may be agreed upon.

Who can possibly take this seriously?

[Jane]

Maybe we should have a contest: What will the next scandal be?

[Extraneus]

Here you go, DoT.

Bill would speed removals of Central American kids

Two Texas lawmakers are teaming up on a bill to speed removals of the unaccompanied Central American kids who've been arriving by the tens of thousands at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The legislation by Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, and Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, would allow Border Patrol agents to turn many of the kids around quickly at the border.

Under current law, the youths stay here while awaiting an eventual hearing in the backlogged immigration court system, something that can keep them in this country for years.

[cathyf]

WonderGirl is at girl scout camp for her 10th year (she is counselor-in-training this year). There is always a lice and athletes foot check at camp check in, and I've never personally seen or heard of anyone being sent home from check in. They do recommend that you check your daughter beforehand yourself so that you can clear up anything.

[clarice]

Heh, cathy.

[clarice]

Actually, I think straight hair is more susceptible to lice, and in DC the toniest private schools always have lice problems. There are people making lots of money de-lousing kids for their parents.
Porch, has it--it's head to head contact that 's the problem--from the nap blankets and hats in pre-k to the pods in upper school.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Cuellar is proof of how badly the CA invasion is polling for Dems. Mexican immigrant - 3d generations are apparently not happy that job and yes government $$$ is being sucked up by CA families gaming the system with Obummer's help.

[Exasperated]

You can be certain that Windows 8 was designed, written, approved and constructed by a team of goofy Democrats.

[James D.]

"Pods" in schools now, too?

Whoever thought of that idea for designing workspaces should be executed. And then their family. And then their closest friends. And then maybe their neighbors, too, just to make the point clear.

As you might have guessed, I am not a fan of "pods."

[jimmyk]

Clarice @2:18, that's true in NYC too. Daughter goes to a private school, and they have lice checks after every break. Daughter has long straight hair, and has gotten lice three times. :( The first was from a neighbor friend of hers who goes to public school, not clear where the other two came from.

[Beasts of England]

Michelle is such a good person and an inspiration to all! She's just so grateful for the opportunities afforded her in this nation that truly hates her and all the other blacks. That she overcame those odds with no government coercion or interference, simply proves how truly superior she is to me and other ingrates. I hope I don't ever disappoint her or her fabulous husband either. We truly don't deserve their greatness. Maybe one day we'll all be able to atone. Mea culpa.

[Beasts of England]

Oops! Forgot my hashtag --

#CrapASalonCommenterWouldPost

[Carol Herman]

There are more Latinos than Blacks!

Latinos, however, divide themselves into groups. Those from Peurto Rico see themselves differently than do those from Mexico, and lower down through Central America, thru South America.

Latinos also know there's a major drug industry which has produced cartels ... which supply all sorts of drugs. And? They consider Blacks the biggest users. Plus, stupid about how they arrange sales. In other words? Latinos just don't hand you a package. You go to a neutral site. And, you pick up what you paid for.

While Blacks advertise the money they make by not only buying gold jewelry; but by going to dentists and having the gold implanted into their teeth.

There's also the possibility that lots of Latinos are legal. That they live in family units where no one is on welfare. And, within their communities they live in houses that don't have crap in their yards. And, don't smell from urine, where others just urinate down staircases. Or in elevators.

Different groups.

What's Obama's program doing? Well, to bring in the minors they local families who will take them in.

Or, as Drudge's headline points out ... dead kids are washing up on the shores of the Rio Grande.

While Obama can't solve this problem; he can't fix it, either. And, democrats who poll potential voters are finding out that the democratic label is losing steam.

The "over the border" crowd isn't bringing in voters for Nobember's elections. (And, just you wait when 35 year old gang members show up at high schools claiming they're 13. And, having zero English skills.)

[Janet - the districts lie fallow, while the Capitol gorges itself]

-it's head to head contact that 's the problem--

Yes. Supposedly movie theaters are a place where lice are spread too. The tall back, fabric seats...as wave after wave of kids come in to see the latest kids movie.

I can remember 1 girl getting lice in my elementary school (mid-60s, South Texas)& she was sent home & got her head shaved! Yikes!
FYI...she was white! hah!

One thing that helps avoid lice...after shampooing your kid's hair, give them a vinegar rinse as the final rinse.

[Eric in Boise]

Or maybe Mary Cloggenstein over at AoS, Beasts :)

[Stephanie tortoise not the hare]

WTH was that at 2:43?

[Carol Herman]

The Spanish Language. As taught at Pasadena City Collete.

I had this wonderful Professor (American history class), who also taught Spanish. If you think it was easy for the Spanish speaking kids, think again.

He DEMANDED Castilian. If they talked "street Spanish" their grades sank.

Dr. Orozco. One of my favorite professors, EVAH !

[Marlene]

My husband grew up in the St. John Valley of northern Maine. French Canadian and Catholic. The three oldest attended Catholic elementary school and the nuns did not allow the children to speak French. I should put DID NOT ALLOW in Gus caps,because the punishment was severe. Nuns,ha. This was a problem,because 95% of the children spoke French at home. My in-laws also had a strict rule,they did not speak French at home.The kids were at a disadvantage,because their grandparents,aunts,uncles and cousins spoke French. My mother-in-law especially didn't want her kids speaking a strange hybrid of French Canadian/English. My father-in-law taught himself French when he opened his optometry practice in northern Maine so he could interact with his patients. His own father came from Italy in 1922 and learned how to speak English,although when I met Gramp,his Italian was still heavily accented after over 50 years in the U.S.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

This is one the 2 major reasons the economy stinks. American families are spending more than ever on food and fuel and healthcare. Those increases have offset any savings from the ZIRP reduced mortgage interest refis, so no discretionary money left. No discretionary money, no sales for other goods from manufacturers and service providers, so no sales no new jobs. The other big reason? Obamanomics is strangling the economy with Debt, taxes and regulations. http://www.gallup.com/poll/172532/consumers-spending-not-things.aspx