Is It Time Yet, Sarah Huckabee Sanders? No? How About Us, Illinois?

Is It Time Yet, Sarah Huckabee Sanders? 

No? How About Us, Illinois?

October 25^th  will be one month since the Mandalay Bay killings in Las Vegas, the worst mass murder by assault weapons in the history of the United States.

I am hoping that tomorrow the perpetually furrowed, dark eye-browed Sarah Huckabee Sanders will give us all permission to talk about the event and ask questions about whether or not we might want to do something to reign in or at least curtail the bloody mayhem that is able to be visited upon us all.  Something tells me that she won’t bring it up. 

You might remember that Sanders had suggested that this is a time for “mourning,” not a time for legislation or even a discussion of legislation.  “I think one of the things that we don’t want to do is try to create laws that won’t create — or stop these types of things from happening,” Sanders said. “I think if you look to Chicago, where you had over 4,000 victims of gun-related crimes last year, they have the strictest gun laws in the country. That certainly hasn’t helped there. So, I think we have to, when that time comes for those conversations to take place, then I think we have to look at things that may actually have a real impact.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/02/white-house-now-is-not-the-time-to-talk-about-gun-control-but-if-you-look-to-chicago/?utm_term=.be65d8b9137e

We’re all told to be in mourning and Chicago shows us anything we might try to do won’t work anyway?  What kind of answer is that?  And I thought Sean Spicer was insincere or at best befuddled?

We learned a bit more from the nearly 60 killings in Las Vegas and over 500 hurt.  On the federal level, anything or bill that might move to examine or prevent various accessories like “bump-stocks” and over-sized magazines has stalled – evaporated – vanished.  Just like Sandy Hook and Newtown.  Like Orlando and other future sites.

But Springfield Armory (in Illinois) and the NRA have not been quiet, although the NRA threw a fallacious bone to the media after the shooting in Las Vegas, suggesting someone should “look at bump-stocks.”  Well, a quick look has been followed by another call to arms by the NRA and Geneseo-based Springfield Armory to fight against any bill looking to undermine the sacred right to bear arms that can kill and maim nearly a thousand people wielded by one individual.   

In the Illinois House and Senate, a number of bills are being written and sponsored to do something about what has happened in Las Vegas in an attempt to prevent it from happening here – despite Sarah Huckabee Sander’s proposal that nothing can be done to save us.

At least three of the many bills collecting in the House and Senate in the General Assembly call for the elimination of “Bump-Stocks” in Illinois.  A bump-stock is an accessory that replaces an original stock on a semi-automatic weapon (firing a shot each time one pulls the trigger) to an almost fully automatic ability by creating a bouncing stock that jumps back and forth against the shooter’s finger, increasing the amount of firepower to nearly the same as fully automatic war weapon. 

Like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Steven McKelvain, the President of Springfield Armory, believes that any move to suppress the availability of such accessories is a “knee jerk reaction.”  He is helped by the NRA and the Illinois State Rifle Association in his quest to warn we  “place blame where it does not lie. These feel-good measures by anti-gun legislators never solve anything but infringe upon our constitutional rights. This has been proven time and time again in cities that have the most restrictive gun laws also have the highest gun-related crime rates”

Of course, McKelvain’s argument that cities that have the highest rates of gun crimes might also wisely impose the most restrictive gun laws does not enter his mind or anyone else in the NRA.  Causality is not one of the cognitive high-points in the minds of the NRA.  The answer is instead to stop any and all kind of thoughtful and rationale concern for the greater good’s numbers – at movies, ball parks, concerts, gatherings…

The bills coming up in the Veto Session include HB’s 4107, 4112, 4115, 4117, 4120 and SB 236, 1657.  HB4117 is my personal favorite.  HB4117 not only bans the sale and possession of bump-stocks in Illinois, but it also stops the use of tannerite (a trademark name) in personal possession. 

I’ll use an exhausted NRA argument.  You’re a hunter, and you have a military weapon allowed by law after George W. Bush let the assault weapons ban lapse.  You want to “hunt deer” but practicing is difficult because you want to be like Chris Kyle, famed sniper in American Sniper.  Deer can’t fire back, but you need to practice at long range, because “real snipers” shoot at a distances of nearly 2500 meters (1 and ½ miles).  This where Tannerite comes in. 

Tannerite is a mixture of two mixtures of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder sold separately to would be snipers who mix the ingredients and apply to targets placed far downfield.  Rather than use a scope or walk the distance downfield to see if they have actually hit the target, tannerite causes an explosion upon being struck by a bullet.  Thus, the shooter can tell if he/she has hit the target where the tannerite has been applied.  Tannerite is an explosive, but as it is sold in separate packages before mixing, it does not fall into a category of “dangerous” or even fireworks. 

And, it’s fun to see things explode.  Nothing says power like blowing up a target at 1000 meters, unless it is a bump-stock at 500. 

You might want to call your Senator or Representative to urge them to vote in agreement with this bill.  My Representative is a co-sponsor, I am happy to say. Here are the others. 

Rep. Martin J. Moylan - Deb Conroy - Litesa E. Wallace, Kathleen Willis, Barbara Flynn Currie, Michelle Mussman, Emanuel Chris Welch, Jonathan Carroll, Sonya M. Harper, John Connor, Marcus C. Evans, Jr., Robert Rita, Will Guzzardi, Justin Slaughter, Christian L. Mitchell, Theresa Mah and Kelly M. Cassidy

Others you might call include Senate President Cullerton and House Majority Leader Michael Madigan.  The NRA has provided many thousands of dollars to our Illinois legislators to stall such action.  Please call your politicians and support these common sense restrictions. 

You might also want to call Sarah and ask her if it’s time yet?  Sadly, you won’t find a contact for her, but you may want to ask the White House if it is time to talk after mourning.  202-456-1111

Illinois Tax Education Credits - A Trojan Pony?

Illinois Education Tax Credits – A Trojan Pony?

In September this year, I called my Illinois Representative Justin Slaughter to discuss why he had voted yea for SB1947 after he had initially voted nay a short time before.  You might recall that SB1947 was the Educational Funding Bill, which had been vetoed by Governor Rauner for setting aside too much money for assistance to CPS.

The bill, which allowed Chicago to receive significant additional money for CPS as well as provide for increases in property taxes, failed on its first vote as a result of an amendatory addition of a Republican inclusion of a tax-credit program for private schooling – a tax-deductible voucher package.   

The first vote was, as stated before, a failure.  The second ballot, an attempt to override the Governor’s veto was also unsuccessful.  The third vote, a compromise that many Democratic Representatives described as “difficult” passed 73-34.  The Governor was quick to sign it.

Although many pols described the final vote as a compromise, which left everyone with a sense of some regret, they all agreed that the result was the best they could achieve for the most people.  Representative Justin Slaughter explained to me that the vote was extremely difficult for him.  He told me that he had to weigh the positives over the negatives: the increased funding formula for all schools, the freeing up of a budget that had curtailed the state’s operations for the last few years, and the needs of students and citizens across our state.  As "difficult as it was, I voted finally to accept it for the positives it brought, even though the educational tax credits were the reason I said no to begin with."

A close friend of mine who has worked politically in Springfield for decades called the entire dance of voting nay and then yea a politically inspired Madigan charade.  Just enough twists and turns of soulful and hand-wringing compromise to provide Representatives like those who changed their votes some cover for the next election.  That’s not necessarily cynicism; it is experience.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Policy Institute, the right-wing organization from which Rauner recruits and then fires his new, administrative team, declares the Governor victorious in getting a “voucher system” sanctioned as a part of the state code.

So, what exactly do we have in Illinois with Education Tax Credits or “Scholarship Tax Credits” as known in the other 18 states that use them?

In 2018, the State of Illinois will allow anyone (corporation or individual) with a payable state tax to apply that amount to a specific school or subset of schools (think parochial system kindergarten – high school) at a 75% rate of owed tax.  For example, my very wealthy friend Ernesto will owe $5000 in state taxes.  If he decides to provide all of that payment for his favorite private Academy, $3750 will go to his chosen school.   And, he will pay the state of Illinois the lesser amount of $1250 in tax responsibility.

When my pal Ernesto stopped by the other day, he was ecstatic.  He plans instead to pay the total $5000 to his favorite Academy and an additional  $1250 out of pocket to the same Academy.  “Is that legal?” I asked.  “Why not try it,” he replied, smiling.  “Besides. He offered, “I can get a federal deduction on the $1250.”  I reminded Ernesto that much of this is still in the air, and a non-political scholarship granting organization is charged with making heads or tails of this new system.  He gave me that “What, me worry?” smile.     

The Illinois Policy Institute declares Illinois as one of eight other states that have provided for tax credit scholarships, although there are now 18.  And in each case, the successes (political and otherwise) have led to more states following suit.   In Illinois, Republicans wanted a dollar-for-dollar exchange for those who would pay their state income tax to specific schools or programs (but not individuals).  That is the state tax credit program in Florida.  In the end, Illinois Democrats stood strongly against this and Republicans finally compromised for the 75%.

Hang on, here’s the math:

An individual (like Bruce Rauner) or corporation can give up to $1 million from state taxes each year. 

The total amount the State of Illinois can take from this arrangement for the whole state stops at $75 million.  The bill will be reviewed in 5 years, as that is its sunset moment.

Because that $75 million represents ¾ of the tax liability, the private schools can receive $100 million in “vouchers” specific to their schools/students.  This is money that will not reach the state coffers for services like public education, health care and safety.  Because it does not come "directly" from the public coffers, and it instead diverts money on its way to the general revenue, tax credits do not fall into the federal Blaine Amendment rule preventing public funds for private schooling.  

Recipients of such scholarships awards can come from households which earn 300% of the federal poverty level ($24,600) OR $73,800.   Once a student enters the program, the threshold is raised to 400% - or, $98,000.  This is not the “lower class families in Illinois. 

If we are considering a “voucher system” to assist the lowest income students to enroll in a suitable educational system, we are looking at a price of (on average) $13,000 per voucher.  This includes the price of tuition, books, fees, transportation, etc.  This will cover less than 6000 students.

How are the EdChoice and other Voucher Proponents Reacting?

Lukewarm but hopeful.  EDChoice leader Jason Bedrick felt that this sudden change in the hearts and political position of Democrats represented the great strength of Governor Rauner in drawing the line in the sand to refuse cooperation with their budget demands over the last few years. The Illinois Policy Institute agreed.  Bedrick also described the most any student might receive at $13,000; but, he also suggested strongly that students would probably number somewhere between 5000 to 20,000 students.  That range is between  $15,000 and $3750. 

Because no state in their memory has every reduced or dropped such programs, Bedrick looks forward to a probable increase in the program in the State of Illinois. In five years, he foresees $75 Million becoming $150M, $250M, and onward.  

On the other hand…Strings Attached

Part of the bargain struck between Democrats and Republicans in the arrangement for a “tax-credit voucher system,” was to force those private schools who accept such funding to administer annual state tests to those students who are participating in their credit programs.  In the past, this contingency has caused nearly 50% of private schools to retreat from accepting such students on the national level. 

As Ernesto has always made clear to me.  “Our private schools are not like yours at all.  We are better to begin with and demand more, so why should we submit to your measurements?”

Some accountability?

When arguing against any accountability, leaders in the “voucher/choice” present slippery opposition.  EdChoice leader Bedrick contends, “Why should we have to follow requirements. If parents want something different, it doesn’t’ make sense to use the same type of test as public schools…”  In fact, according to Pew Reports, when a state asks for a standardized test requirement on the state level, private schools opt out at nearly 50%.  Most of them, like leader Jeff Murray of School Choice Ohio state: ‘There’s better ways to track accountability,” another common position from Private School leaders.  

Pew and ALCU express positions that most money in tax-credit programs goes instead to those who are already well off.  ALCU describes most who access these scholarships" as financing extra fees and activities costs.  There's also the more duplicitous argument by such proponents as well: like the discomfort expressed by Principal Tom Otten of Elder High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.  “Students (who come to us) from academically deficient schools will struggle worse than ordinary students.”    

The state of Illinois has also thrown another “poison pill” at those who would have us hit-and-run public educational schools.  The amounts of money given to those seeking vouchers in Illinois will also be determined by how low the family resides on the poverty level.  If your family is at 185% of the federal poverty level ($45,110), you can receive the full STC amount ($13,000).

From there, the available scholarship money reduces to 75% for those with income up to $61,500.  And $51% for any family over that $61,500.

Another serious string attached is the requirement that the State of Illinois, in conjunction with these private schools that plan to agree to the terms of the law, will keep records and data of how students perform on state tests, what money has been spent on those who have participated, and expenses for each student. 

If past is prologue, this will give many private schools, academies and parochial systems serious pause.

And in five years, Representative Justin Slaughter will have another chance to look at this bill and whether or not to suspend the continued undermining of public education or play the charade once again.

I plan on being around, Representative.  

Sources:

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-house-passes-school-funding-plan-tax-credit-scholarships/

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2012/07/26/choices-often-limited-in-school-choice-programs

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-private-school-tax-credits-met-20170901-story.html

https://www.edchoice.org/blog/illinoiss-new-tax-credit-scholarship-happen-can-improve/

https://www.aclu.org/other/myths-and-facts-about-education-tax-credits

  

 

Addicted to Reform: A Twelve Step Program to Rescue Public Education

Addicted to Reform

I was reading Glen Brown’s piece by a teacher on his blog, one entitled “I am a teacher….but this isn’t teaching.”  https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2017/10/i-am-teacher-i-will-always-be-teacher-i.html

I was devastated by the personal and insightful agony of a conscientious teacher caught in a maddening Catch 22 of current testing and measuring catechism in our public school system.  Why does anyone do this? 

Believe me, the shortages have started.   A new Tier 3 is being figured and implemented in Illinois.  Start teaching, and you’ll work 60 years to attain a full pension under the law.  If not, you can choose another Tier in which you’ll pay more into a possible pension than you’ll ever receive, and be punished severely for every year you cannot stagger on until age 67. 

In the deep woods of northern Michigan and along the shores of Lake Huron, a person and retired teacher can escape the noise and panic of everyday life.  No television.  Just sweet fern and sand.  No real radio, unless you go looking.  And, if you do, there’s a bandwidth that provides Keillor’s Author’s Almanac and classical music all day.  Otherwise, there’s wind in the pines and waves breaking on rocks.  Not bad at all. 

There’s a small high school in the little town a few miles away.  In the last decades the population is being emptied by the draw of larger cities and towns along the east and west sides of Mackinac Bridge and, of course, the lure of Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, Chicago and elsewhere.  Things get there later.  New practices and newfangled educational reforms arrive a little tardy as well.   And that’s where my friend Neal comes in.

Neal’s the kind of guy who stops working at what he’s doing to greet you.  Last time I saw Neal, he was extending a deck over the sands reaching down to Lake Huron, creating a cantilevered step down and a larger space for a wood burning fire pit.  Up there, believe it or not, they still teach shop class.  And Neil was the school’s shop teacher.  And here’s what I learned about Neal.

Neal never gave a test where a kid filled in a bubble with a pencil.  He did something very different.  Like the kind of different John Merrow in his new book Addicted to Reform: A 12 Step Program to Rescue Public Education would suggest. 

Merrow had hoped that Obama’s tenure would have elevated a discussion about what we expect as we educated students to become adults and life long learners.  Sadly, he witnessed the shifting emphasis on data-driven assessment and evaluation become an obstacle to “helping grow adults.” 

“We’re the only country in the world to say let’s use test scores to judge teachers.  Most countries use tests to see how kids are doing.  We have a test and punish system.” http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education-reform-keeps-failing-students/

Back to my friend Neal. 

In the summer, Neal would look for available land to purchase for a reasonable sum of money.  After purchasing the land, Neal would meet his shop class and explain the task for the year.  Building a house.

Excavation was handled by a local contractor, but the foundation and cement was handled by the students.  And the decking.  And the plumbing.  And the carpentry.  And the electrical.  And the roofing.  And the window treatments.  And so on – so that every student in his class became familiar with various skills by doing as well as reading.  And many of those who have not trekked to different cities and places are builders and workers in the local area.  In the spring, the students would put their work up for sale and learn the basics of realty sales. 

During the summer, Neal would look around for another piece of property for the following year’s shop class. 

Merrow, during his interview on PBS, calls for a paradigm shift in our public education” “We think of school as a place where the teacher is the worker and the kid is a product.  No.  Students are the workers, and knowledge is the product, which means they must work on real projects to create knowledge.”  We must measure, but measure what matters per child.

From Glen’s blog:  “This is what education has become. It's a game; it's inauthentic; it's draining. They're putting out the fire that has blazed inside of me. They're destroying my soul and my passion. I don't know what to do now. I am a teacher. I will always be a teacher. I love teaching, but this isn't teaching."

And they’re dousing the fire inside our children.  Stay in there and fight, please.