Steven+Singer

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= = = MYTHBUSTER NEEDED = = = =If there’s one thing our country needs, it’s a universally accepted mythbuster.= = =

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= = =There are so many half truths circulating, it becomes hard to make sound judgments.= = =

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= = =But here goes.= = =

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= = =The most pernicious myth in Pennsylvania is that Gov. Corbett hasn’t cut education, he’s increased it.= = =

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= = =The governor and his surrogates echo this constantly whenever confronted by angry parents, children and educators.= = =

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= = =However, it’s not true.= = =

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= = =Gov. Corbett admitted as much in a 2/10/12 Capitolwire article: “We are reducing education spending overall... we have reduced state funding to schools.”= = =

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= = =When he says he’s increased education funding, he’s only talking about the K-12 line item. That one item has been increased since 2010-11. However, it’s not the ONLY item that funds public schools. For example, the Accountability Block Grant line item funded all-day kindergarten programs. In 2010-11, it contained $254 million. In 2011-12, it contained $100 million. In the proposed 2012-13 budget, it contains $0.= = =

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= = =Overall education spending for Pennsylvania public schools was cut by $900 million this year. Corbett proposes we cut an additional $94 million next year.= = =

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= = =That has nothing to do with federal stimulus money. That’s $1 billion less the state of Pennsylvania will spend on our kids than we did before Gov. Corbett was sworn in.= = =

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= = =You may think that’s a good idea or a bad idea. But let’s at least be honest about what we’re talking about.= = =

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= = =-Steven Singer= = = =T.E.A.C.H. Co-Founder= = =

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= = = The following letter was published in the McKeesport Daily News on 2/16/12. = = =

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= = =It’s official - Tom Corbett is “The Anti-Education Governor.”= = =

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= = =For the second straight year, he’s proposing massive education budget cuts.= = =

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= = =He says he’s just revamping the way public schools are funded.= = =

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= = =Instead of separate funding streams dedicated to specific aspects of schools, Corbett lumps funds together in one big block grant. All the money’s in one pot, spend it as needed.= = =

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= = =However, when you do the math, you get a different picture. All funding streams for K-12 in the 2011-12 budget equalled $6,610,486,000. This year his proposed block grant equals $6,516,087,000. That’s a cut of $94,399,000!= = =

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= = =Some people will shrug and say that we can’t afford education spending. Pennsylvania has a $719 million projected budget deficit. True. But the Corbett administration makes these projections. If officials make high projections and fall short, it’s called a budget crisis.= = =

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= = =The administration did the same thing last year. Republicans projected a budget shortfall thereby justifying $900 million in cuts to education. Meanwhile, the state raked in a $188 million tax surplus. This year, revenues are running 1.5 percent ahead of last year!= = =

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= = =There is no crisis except what the Governor proposes we continue doing to our school children.= = =

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= = =Steven Singer= = = =T.E.A.C.H. Co-Founder= = =

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= = = The following letter was published in the Patch Internet Newspapers on 2/15/12. = = =

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= = =For the second straight year, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has proposed massive education budget cuts.= = =

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= = =For the second straight year, Gov. Corbett has proposed massive cuts to colleges, universities and K-12 public schools.= = =

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= = =For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed the state do less for its citizens and more for big business.= = = =Why?= = =

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= = =It’s all about profits. There’s money to be made short changing kids’ educations.= = =

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= = =States throughout the country spend the majority of their budgets on schools. On average, states spend about 40% of their tax revenues on K-12 and colleges, according to The National Association of State Budget Officers. That’s some $400 billion every year.= = =

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= = =Pennsylvania comes in somewhat below the national average with only 33% of it’s budget (approximately $9 billion) going to education in 2011-12.= = =

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= = =Still, that’s a lot of money. If only there were a way for lawmakers and corporations to skim a bit off the top. If only there were a way to spend less on the students, pocket the extra and yet appear to be offering bold new initiatives that only hold the students best interest at heart.= = =

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= = =Enter charter schools.= = =

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= = =Charter schools are alternative education systems that, while paid for by taxes, are independent of the public-school system and relatively free from state and local regulations. A charter school has a greater degree of freedom and autonomy than the traditional public school, and students attend it by choice.= = =

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= = =Not all charter schools are created equal, though. Some charter schools truly are driving real reform with student-centered policies. However, these are not the norm. Most charters are big business run factories with a driving purpose to lower costs and increase profits no matter what that does to the widgets... I mean students, they produce.= = =

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= = =For instance, a 2004 study done by the Department of Education found that charter schools "are less likely than traditional public schools to employ teachers meeting state certification standards.” A national evaluation by Stanford University found that 83% of charter schools perform worse than public schools.= = =

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= = =And it only gets worse for cyber charter schools. Fewer than 20 percent of Pennsylvania’s cyber charters meet national standards for reading and math known as AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress).= = =

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= = =But the cost is so low; the profits so high! Provide a kid with a computer and software and you’re done. Maybe you have a handful of actual living, breathing teachers on staff to provide instruction via a chat room. Compare those costs with that of public schools. Just the cost of running an actual brick-and-mortar building is more.= = =

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= = =Do these schools get less in tax revenue to support them since their costs are that much less? No. Everything left over is profit. That’s money the cyber charters can use to advertise and get more students (something public schools can’t do), money they can line the pockets of like-minded legislators with or funds that management can give to itself in the form of huge bonuses.= = =

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= = =This is why Gov. Corbett and his supporters proposed cutting K-12 education by $900 million last year. This is why the governor suggests cutting K-12 education by an additional $94 million this year. That is why he’ll suggest cuts again next year and every year as long as he remains in office.= = =

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= = =He knows public schools, like any other organization, can’t run effectively if they aren’t funded efficiently. And if they fail, it just proves how much we need to transform our public schools into charter schools.= = =

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= = =You can already see the massive damage he’s done with the 2011-12 budget cuts. A September study by the Pennsylvania School Administrators Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials indicated that this year 70 percent of school districts increased class sizes, 44 percent of school districts reduced course offerings, 35 percent of school districts reduced or eliminated tutoring programs and 14,159 school district positions were eliminated or left vacant.= = =

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= = =Pennsylvania’s students are struggling to get an education just as Pennsylvania’s remaining employed teachers are struggling to provide them with one. Further cuts would make this much worse. Without an increase in funds, not keeping funding the same or a continual decrease, Pennsylvania’s public schools are bound to fail - by design.= = =

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= = =However, if you watched the governor’s budget address, you heard a completely different story. This year, Corbett says he’s not cutting K-12 public schools - he says he’s increasing funding slightly.= = =

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= = =He proposes revamping basic education funding to get rid of all those pesky management costs. To do so he’ll change how he funds public schools.= = =

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= = =Instead of separate funding streams each dedicated to specific aspects of the school, Gov. Corbett will have all the funds lumped together in one big block grant.= = =

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= = =That sounds good, right? All the money’s in one pot, spend it however you need, no strings attached.= = =

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= = =However,when you actually do the math, you get a different picture entirely. All funding streams for K-12 in the 2011-12 budget equalled $6,610,486,000. This year his proposed block grant equals $6,516,087,000. That’s a cut of $94,399,000!= = =

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= = =I know my critics will say all of this is just inevitable. We can’t afford education spending. Pennsylvania has a $719 million budget deficit projected by June. True. But who makes these projections? The Corbett administration, of course. Yes, you, too, can create your own budgetary crisis at home in three easy steps: (1) make your projected revenue really high. (2) Fall short of that number (3) Repeat every budget season. Voila! A budgetary crisis.= = =

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= = =It’s the same thing the administration did last year. Republicans projected a budget shortfall thereby justifying budget cuts of almost $900 million to K-12 education. All the while, the state raked in a budget surplus of $188 million. This year, in terms of raw dollars revenues are running 1.5 percent ahead of last year!= = =

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= = =There is no budget crisis. It’s all smoke and mirrors! However, if we continue down this path of slashing aide to public schools and forcing them to fail, we truly will have a budget crisis. How many more of the state’s 129,708 teachers will be unemployed, thus unable to pay taxes? How many of the state’s 1,775,029 public school students will actually get a quality education, thus enabling them to pay taxes once they enter the workforce?= = =

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= = =Or does any of that really matter to Gov. Corbett? Perhaps short term profits are the only bottom line for this governor and his Republican-controlled legislature.= = =

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= = =Come on, Pennsylvania! We deserve better than this. Our kids deserve better than this.= = =

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= = =Shame on you if you let Gov. Corbett and his backers get away with it. We know better. If we let Corbett get away with it, the next generation won’t be so lucky.= = =

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= = =Steven Singer= = = =T.E.A.C.H. Co-Founder= = Maybe School Vouchers Failed, But They Aren't Going Away = = T.E.A.C.H. Co-Founder Steven Singer suggests voting out legislators who vote against public education. =

=“Almost.” It’s a scary word sometimes.=

=Like when you put freshly brewed coffee too close to the edge and it ALMOST spills over ...=

=Like when you’re running late to work, gun that yellow light and ALMOST get clipped by an oncoming minivan...=

=Like when your tiny toddler teeters at the top of the steps and ALMOST tumbles down ...=

=At times like these, ALMOST is both a terror and a relief.=

=That’s how all of Pennsylvania feels now that our state legislators ALMOST passed a bill to enact school vouchers and expand charter schools.=

=We feel sick that it ALMOST happened, yet relieved that in the end common sense prevailed. Vouchers failed to muster enough support to make it to the floor, and later, a score of Republicans sided with nearly all House Democrats against a school-reform measure by a vote of 105-90. =

=Had it been passed, it would have further crippled our public schools still reeling from $860 million in unnecessary budget cuts.=

=This bill would have been nothing more than a taxpayer subsidy for religious, parochial and charter schools. It would have traded the unmistakable educational gains public school students are making throughout the state for unproven or failing programs.=

=For example, take cyber charter schools, which would have been rubber-stamped for approval across Pennsylvania without any say by local residents had Gov. Corbett gotten his wish.=

=Only two of the 12 cyber charter schools operating in Pennsylvania made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) last year. Compare that with 500 public school districts of which 83 percent made AYP in 2010, according to the state Department of Education. Such a measure would trade success for failure.=

=Moreover, cyber schools boost profits by shortchanging kids on costs. About 30,000 Pennsylvania students are enrolled in online schools at an average cost of about $10,000 per student. That is double or more what it costs the companies to educate those children online, according to state Auditor General Jack Wagner.=

=After all, how much does it really cost to plop a kid in front of a computer compared with actually having people and facilities to educate them? However, this is seen as a positive for the business-minded because it translates into massive profits. It’s extremely unfair for the taxpayer to be paying for additional expenses, such as advertising and lobbying state officials — initiatives our public schools can’t legally do.=

=Brick-and-mortar charter schools fare a little better with 71 percent making AYP in 2010. However, that is not a success compared with the much larger portion of students in public schools getting a better education.=

=It is important to note that the average annual administrative expenditure per student for charter schools is DOUBLE the cost of traditional public schools. In other words, charters of all stripes spend much more to run the business and advertise but much less on actually educating the kids. Replacing educational institutions that place kids first for those who put profits first would have been criminal.=

=As for parochial and religious schools, it’s hard to make a comparison because they aren’t required to take these same state tests or held to any open records or financial accountability laws. However, voucher schemes have been tried throughout the country and every one has failed to show an improvement in students’ education. Why would you replace something that’s working with something that’s completely unproven?=

=If legislators are really concerned with helping students, they should focus on measures that have been proven to be successful — early childhood education, safe and secure schools, and individualized attention through smaller class sizes and programs like tutoring and community supports. Lawmakers truly concerned about the kids should reverse this year’s unconscionable funding formula that reduces state aid to the poorest schools while hardly altering funding to the wealthiest districts.=

=In short, Gov. Corbett’s educational “reform” plan would have been disastrous, and legislators know it. Constituents made their disapproval plain in hundreds of thousand of phone calls, emails, letters, protests and even public opinion polls finding more than two-thirds of Pennsylvanians against the measure.=

=Only the most tone deaf lawmakers could ignore such an outcry. It’s unfortunate that our local GOP representatives could not hear voters' cries. Reps. Rick Saccone (R-Jefferson Hills), George Dunbar (R-North Huntingdon), Eli Evankovich (R-Export), Mark Mustio (R-Moon) and Randy Vulakovich (R-Fox Chapel) all voted in lockstep with the governor. (State Sens. Jane Orie (R-McCandless) and Kim Ward (R-Greensburg) supported a similar Senate bill.) =

=If it weren’t for the Democrats and those 20 free-thinking Republicans who proved they weren’t beholden to anyone else’s political agenda, we wouldn’t be celebrating common sense today. We’d be mourning another hammer blow to our kids’ educations. It’s a pity that there are still politicians who put special interests' campaign contributions and radical ideology before what’s good for kids.=

=Perhaps our local GOP representatives who are too cowardly to stand up for what’s right need a more unmistakable message. Let them know you’ve had enough of partisan posturing that goes against facts and simple logic.=

=This Election Day, show these hearing-impaired politicians what your voice sounds like — vote them out!=

=Steven Singer= =T.E.A.C.H.=

=//The above letter was published in several local PATCH Internet Newspapers on 12/23/11.//=

=[|Canon-McMillan]= =[|Chartiers Valley]= =[|Cranberry]= =[|Dormont-Brookline]= =[|Forest Hills-Regent Square]= =[|North Hills]= =[|Peters Township]= =[|Pine-Richland]= =[|Plum-Oakmont]= =[|Sewickley]= =[|Upper St. Clair]=

= Like most western Pennsylvanians, I’m a born Democrat. =

= However, as the Christmas season nears, I’d like to thank a Republican - 20 of them actually. =

= I’d like to recognize the 20 Republican state Representatives who voted with House Democrats 105-90 against Gov. Corbett’s radical education “reform” package. Had it been passed, it would have further crippled our public schools still reeling from $860 million in unnecessary budget cuts. =

= This bill would have been nothing more than a taxpayer subsidy for religious, parochial and charter schools. It would have traded the unmistakable educational gains public school students are making throughout the sate for unproven or failing programs. =

= And legislators know it. =

= Constituents made their disapproval plain in hundreds of thousand of phone calls, emails, letters, protests and even public opinion polls finding more than 2/3 of Pennsylvanians against the measure. =

= Only the most tone deaf lawmakers could ignore such an outcry. It’s unfortunate that Mon-valley’s GOP representatives - Reps. Rick Saccone, George Dunbar, Eli Evankovich, Mark Mustio and Randy Vulakovich - could not hear voters’ cries. =

= Perhaps they need a more unmistakable message. This election day show these hearing impaired politicians what your voice sounds like - vote them out! =

= -Steven Singer = = TEACH Web Organizer =

=//The above letter was printed in the McKeesport Daily News on 12/21/11.//=

=Focus - School Vouchers=

= This letter was published in the McKeesport Daily News 8/24/11 = = READER’S VIEWPOINT = = **SA takes a stand with suit ** = = **C **ongratulations to South Allegheny School District! = =By being the first local school to sign on to a class action lawsuit against the state for inequi­table education funding, SA once again shows us the way! = =When legislators slash education spending by cutting more from poorer schools than richer ones, someone needs to take a stand. When politicians decrease educa­tion while increasing prison spend­ing and tax cuts for the wealthy, someone needs to take a stand. = =When lawmakers downsize the most fundamental service a society provides while the state’s flush with surplus cash, someone needs to take a stand. = =At the time these measures were proposed, SA administrators, staff, parents and students were some of the most committed members of T.E.A.C.H., picketing legislators, ral­lying in Harrisburg and even just put­ting up signs in their back yards. And now this. SA is standing tall. Will other schools, churches and public organiza­tions join them? = =Being a pathfinder is a lonely busi­ness, and we at T.E.A.C.H. — Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt — want to commend SA and its brave board of directors for having the foresight, courage and conviction to stare evil in the eye and spit in it. = =**Steven Singer** = =// White Oak // =

= This letter was published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on 7/23/11. =

When it comes to teachers, Gov. Tom Corbett and the GOP majority are all about accountability. But what about political accountability? Politicians appeal for re-election every two to four years. But sometimes that's too long! Mr. Corbett and the newly elected GOP have been in office for only six months and look at the damage done. A June 14 Quinnipiac Poll reports only 39 percent of Pennsylvanians approved of Mr. Corbett's performance and voters in every part of the state disapproved of his budget proposals. What would those numbers be now that his party has slashed $900 million from education while our $650 million surplus continues to grow? Pennsylvania needs legislation and an amendment to the constitution allowing for recall elections. Unlike other states, we don't have this option. Rep. Jaret Gibbons put forth two bills for this purpose -- HB 921 and 922. The former would revise the constitution to allow for recalls. HB 922 would define the rules with few exceptions thenew Republicans were voted in by slim margins. State Rep. Rick Saccone, for example, won by only 151 votes! Yet these legislators are acting as if they have some overwhelming public mandate for their radical policies. They don't. If Pennsylvanians could recall public officials, legislators wouldn't feel so secure to make such drastic decisions. After all, Election Day wouldn't necessarily be four years away. It could be tomorrow! **STEVEN SINGER **
 * Pa. needs recall **

White Oak

//The writer is a teacher. //

= This letter was published in the McKeesport Daily News on 5/27/11 and the following Patch papers: Pine-Richland, Forest Hills, Cranberry, Sewickly, Moon, Upper St. Clair, Peters and Canon-McMillan on 5/26/11. = = = = “Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind.” -- Proverbs 11:29 = = The T.E.A.C.H. organization would like to express its outrage at Republican [|House] members for [|passing a state budget proposal] that still cuts over $1 billion from education across the commonwealth. = = All Democrats and two Philadelphia Republicans voted against the measure. Republicans had been hoping for a unanimous vote among their party. They didn’t get it. This just goes to show how difficult it is for anyone to support this twisted budget. = = We visited, called and wrote as many local Republican representatives as we could before this vote. I can’t believe they would just ignore the will of the people. This budget proposal is incredibly unpopular. You can’t find anyone except the staunchest [|Tea Party] member who supports it. That and the moneyed interests who backed many of these freshman Republican lawmakers' election bids in the first place such as [|George Dunbar] and [|Rick Saccone], who only won by slim margins. = = The battle now moves to the state [|Senate] where Republicans only hold a majority of 10 members. We are hopeful they will either amend or reject the budget. = = Make no mistake – voters are taking names. Come election time, we will remember. = = Steven Singer = = The TEACH Organization = = = = What follows are two responses from the Patch and my reply. To See the original page, click [|here]. = = = = [|Parent #2] = = [|4:04pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011] = = = = You are right Steven - but you have it backwards. Voters are taking names and they are taking names of irresponsible legislators that are playing politics in this very very serious time. I applaud Turzai for trying to come up with a solution to this very real crisis. Why don't you step aside and let the adults do the work. = = If money was the answer to the education system - then why isn't the sky the limit?? Simple and obvious question - WHY NOT throw even more money at the education system to make it even better? Because it doesn't work. Until the unions and bureaucrats get out of the way - the system will be broke and will continue it's downward spiral. Stop kidding yourself. You are stuck in the 80s and 90s - this is truly a different time - and voters are so much more educated now then they ever were. Good luck. And go SB 1! = = [|PR Parent] = = [|7:34pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011] = = TOTALLY agree with Parent # 2. Furthermore I am requesting you to comment back on this forum exactly how YOU propose to fix this miserable state. Yep-I want to hear your plan. In detail. What makes me the maddest is that all you geniuses at the teachers union and organizations have NO good ideas on how you would fix things. And make no mistake-things absolutely need to be fixed. We are 2 BILLION dollars in the hole in this state and something has to give. I am 100% for Gov. Corbetts budget and applaud him for being the only one with the courage to fix this broken state. You teachers are just upset because your cushy way of life is threatened. Boo hoo. I wish I got my summers and Christmas/Easter breaks off, no performance reviews and most of all a pension for life. You guys are living the good life and you are afraid now because we are all catching on and not feeling sorry for you anymore. = = (I can almost guarantee the only thing you will ping back with is "tax Marcelus Shale." Such a load of crap. All of you people pushing that do not even realize how very little this tax will bring in.) = = = = = = Steven Singer = = Parent # 2 and PR Parent, I'm afraid you're not as educated on this issue as you think. First of all when money is spent on children's education, why is that always "throwing money at the problem?" In what other field would you consider spending "throwing money away?" I've never heard it used in any business context, have you? In the corporate world, they call it "INVESTING." Shouldn't we be INVESTING in our children's future? = = Second, anyone who's read Gov. Corbett's budget and the GOP House's proposal could fix it before lunch AND WITHOUT RAISING TAXES. Solution # 1: don't increase prison spending by $2.68 billion dollars. That's right, the Republicans are spending more on prison inmates than school children. Shows a misplaced priority, I think. Solution #2: Don't form a new $2 billion Liberty Loan fund. Corbett says this is a loan fund for business. It's not. It's a WAM (Walking Around Money). This is a way for him to funnel more cash to his buddies in the corporate world - all while children's education suffers. Solution # 3: Close the Delaware tax loophole. Should we really be cutting funding to education while we allow some businesses in our state to escape from paying any taxes? Solution #4: Use the $1 billion in surplus revenue our state is receiving that hadn't been accounted for in either budget proposal. = = There. That's four ways to comfortably get the $1.5 billion in cuts to education the Republicans are proposing without raising taxes and I didn't even mention Marcellus shale. (We are the only state not to tax that, by the way. Just saying. You do know they gave $1 million to Gov. Corbett's election campaign, right? Just asking. How about C. Alan Walker - the energy executive and Corbett campaign contributor he put in charge of shale drilling? I'm sorry, I said I wouldn't mention this, didn't I? Forgive me.) = = In addition to the amount of spending, perhaps an even bigger problem is the way education funds are allocated in these Republican budgets. Two years ago, before the federal stimulus money, the state allocated funds for Community Development Block Grants (funding for all-day Kindergarten, etc.), charter school reimbursement, tutoring programs, etc. Now in the Republican's budgets these line items have either been erased or drastically diminished. Do you really think the state is wasting money by helping poorer districts pay to have all-day Kindergarten class? Do you really think tutoring is a waste? If legislators wouldn't change a dime in terms of how much they fund education but allocate the funds in the same way they did before the stimulus, that ALONE would be a dramatic improvement. = = I could go on all night. If either of you or anyone else has any other questions on this issue, please feel free to respond. Feel free to email me at stevenmsinger@hotmail.com, visit the TEACH Website: www.svteach.wikispaces.com or add a comment right here. I'll try to monitor it. = = I hope I've shown you how much more complex this issue is. It's not greedy teachers. It's kids who will suffer when class sizes are raised, programs like all-day kindergarten, tutoring, foreign languages, and the arts are cut - especially in the poorer districts. This is about the children. Please don't let your anger blind you to their plight. =

= This letter was published in the Valley Mirror on 5/19/11 =

=Stimulus money. That’s all you hear about from Republicans. “We don’t want to cut education by more than $1 billion in our budget proposals, but that nasty ‘ol federal government isn’t giving us any stimulus money this year. Boo-hoo!” = =I am so sick of these disingenuous Republican whiners. They act as if public schools’ financial problems stem from mismanaging that federal aide - ­ wasting it on salaries and exorbitant programs. = = However, the stimulus money couldn’t be used for ongoing expenses like teachers salaries. It was only available for one-time projects like construction and buying textbooks and computers. = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Public schools fund education using local taxes and governmental aide. In a bad economy, there is less of the former and a need for more of the latter. = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So stop whining! Government has a responsibility to provide every child with a free education. If Republicans aren’t up to the task, they should resign. = =<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For every dollar they withhold from education, they are making a new pool of stimulus money. Not money to stimulate the economy. Money to stimulate voters who’ve had enough of excuses. Pennsylvanians aren’t stupid, Republicans, no matter how much you want to defund education to make them so. = =Steven Singer= =White Oak=

= = = This letter was published in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on 5/17/11 = = = =TEACHERS VS. REFORM= = = =I'm an American and I like freedom of choice. I like that in the grocery store freezer aisle, there are more flavors of ice cream than states in the Union. I like that at the checkout counter, there are magazines for fashionistas, golfers and even people who believe Elvis attended the royal wedding.= =However, when it comes to school tuition vouchers, I think the choice presented is not even an illusion. It's a lie.= =If state Senate Bill 1 were to become law, it would benefit middle-class kids who already attend parochial or private schools. Period. It is effectively a bailout for religious and private schools -- nothing more.= =This legislation would allow parochial schools to choose whether they want to participate at all and to choose which students they accept. They could refuse any student for whatever reason.= =Moreover, these schools don't have to have any accountability -- no "sunshine" laws, no "right-to-know" laws. They don't have to comply with No Child Left Behind, standardized testing -- none of the things our public schools have to do every day.= =Who'd really get the choice here? The consumer or parochial-school administrators? And yet we, the taxpayers, would get the bill. Some choice!= =**Steven Singer**= =//White Oak//= =//The writer teaches eighth-grade language arts at Steel Valley Middle School.//= =<span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Read more: [|Teachers vs. reforms I - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] [|http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/s_737342.html#ixzz1Mbj5zOoj] = = = = = = = = This letter was published in the McKeesport Daily News on 5/11/11 = = = = = =I am not a senior teacher. I’ve only been at Steel Valley Middle School for 5 years. However, legislation that would eliminate seniority for teachers would devastate the field for students and teachers. Senate Bill 612 and House Bill 855 would allow school districts to fire anyone for whatever reason. Since my district is furloughing 56 employees, one of which may be me, this might save my job. But it’s still a horrible idea.= = = =Consider this: that 92-year-old teacher who’s taught three or more generations of your family would be nothing more than a large salary that some penny-pincher should cut. Teachers who’ve given their lives to help children succeed and are just approaching retirement would always be in danger of those deserved golden years being taken away. Moreover, public employees would always be at the mercy of the incoming school board. Every time a school director had a cousin or in-law that needed a job, teachers who’ve become irreplaceable in the hearts of students, parents and principals would be out the door.= = = =How can children learn in such an environment of uncertainty? We should respect our senior teachers, not give them walking papers.= = = =Yours, Steven Singer= =White Oak= = = = = = This letter was published in the Valley Mirror on 5/5/11 = = = = = =Dear Editor:= = = =I’m an American, and I like freedom of choice. I like that in the grocery store freezer aisle, there are more flavors of ice cream than states in the union. I like that in the checkout counter there are magazines for fashionistas, golfers, and even people who believe Elvis attended the Royal wedding.= = = =However, when it comes to school tuition vouchers, I think the choice presented is not even an illusion. It’s a lie. If Senate Bill 1 were to become law, it would benefit middle class kids who already attend parochial or private schools. Period. It is effectively a bailout for religious and private schools - nothing more. This legislation allows parochial schools to choose whether they want to participate at all and to choose which students they wish to accept. They can refuse any student for whatever reason. Moreover, these schools don’t have to have any accountability - no “Sunshine” laws, no “Right-To-Know” laws, they don’t have to comply with No Child Left Behind, standardized testing - none of the things our public schools do every day.= = = =Who’s really getting the choice here? The consumer or parochial administrators? And yet we, the taxpayers, get the bill. Some choice!= = = = = =Sincerely, Steven Singer, WHITE OAK= = = = = = This letter was published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on 4/28/11= =

= Merit pay? = =I am so glad school administrators around the country are enacting "merit pay" initiatives for teachers. If we don't tie teachers' salaries to how their students do on standardized tests, how do we know these teachers are really doing everything they can to educate our children? After all, why would they work hard if we don't wave some money in their faces? They certainly don't care about things like a job well done, or -- giggle -- their students! It's all about the benefits and that sweet, sweet middle-class payday.= = = =I think "merit pay" is such a good idea, we should enact it for all professions. From now on, doctors only get their top salaries if they cure their patients. Treating someone with terminal cancer, you better work harder, Doc. Police detectives should only get above minimum wage if they solve all their outstanding crimes. And soldiers, don't think you're getting a free ride anymore either. It's time we decisively win these "unwinnable" wars. We've been in Afghanistan for a decade already. If you guys want all those Benjamins, you'd better start getting down to business and not slacking off so much. That apple pie ain't free!= =Yes, sir. "Merit pay" is the way to go. Let's let the market decide what "merit" any of us have. It's the American way, isn't it? In what else might we trust?= =STEVEN SINGER White Oak= =<span style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: #000000; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Read more: [|http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11118/1142398-110-3.stm#ixzz1KohP7vtb] =

= = = //This letter was published in the McKeesport Daily News on 4/14/11// = = = = = = = =Dear Editor:= = = =Why are Gov. Corbett and GOP legislators dismantling the great American education system? He proposes slashing $1.5 billion from education. Why? Pennsylvania’s broke, he says. Yet he refuses any tax on our abundant natural gas. We’re broke, yet he proposes an over $2 billion increase in prison funding. We’re broke, yet he proposes a new $2 billion business loan program. We’re broke, yet he proposes a 10% increase in salary for himself and his staff!= =And what will all this frugality get us? A generation of kids who can’t imagine a class with less than 40 kids in it - kids who won’t be prepared for the workforce.= =Don’t be fooled. Corbett is no penny pincher - he’s an ideologue. He wants to undermine the very government he’s supposed to be leading. He’s only interested in what benefits the wealthiest Americans - things like school vouchers that allow the richest to attend private or parochial schools on taxpayer dollars. He’s interested in promoting energy executive and campaign contributor C. Alan Walker to oversee the industry in which he makes his living. He’s interested in busting unions and taking away the rights of working people.= = = = = = = =Sincerely,= = = =Steven Singer= = = =

= //This letter was published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on 4/16/11=// =

= **Corbett, ideologue** = =I am a teacher. Yes, I know it's unfashionable to use the "T" word anymore, but that's what I am. I go into school every day and educate our youth. I design lessons, grade papers, give tests, consult colleagues, sponsor after-school clubs, mentor the aimless, plan field trips and assemblies, promote students' achievements to school directors, apply for grants, listen to problems and sometimes stop for lunch.= =It's from this vantage that I watch Gov. Tom Corbett and GOP legislators dismantling everything teachers try to build. He proposes slashing $1.5 billion from education. Why? Pennsylvania's broke, he says. Yet he refuses any tax on our abundant natural gas. We're broke, yet he proposes an increase in prison funding. We're broke, yet he proposes a new $2 billion business loan program.= =If one of my students tried to argue like this, I'd fail him. Mr. Corbett is no penny pincher -- he's an ideologue. He wants to undermine the American education system. He's interested in what benefits the wealthiest Americans -- things like school vouchers that allow the richest to attend private or parochial schools on taxpayer dollars. He's interested in promoting energy executive and campaign contributor C. Alan Walker (secretary of the state's Department of Community and Economic Development) to help oversee the industry in which he makes his living. He's interested in busting unions and taking away the rights of working people.= =So, yes, I'm a teacher.= =STEVEN SINGER White Oak= =Read more: [|http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11106/1139754-110-4.stm#ixzz1JpdImx97] =

=//Steven Singer is an 8th Grade Language Arts teacher at Steel Valley Middle School and the Web Organizer and a middle school representative of the T.E.A.C.H. Committee. //=

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