May 23, 2012

Yes, I do.

I don't have any anecdotes about seeing one, but I think those spirits or energies (or whatever they are) are all around us. It comforts me to believe that....

May 23, 2012

All of it! Probably playing outside until dark.....

I grew up in the 1950s and 60s. It was such an innocent time. We were outside from morning till night, only coming in when we got hungry or our mothers called us. We were total tomboys and urchins! We had endless woods to explore, creeks, a big yard with shade trees to climb, a neighborhood playground, and everyone watched out for other peoples' kids. We had a lot of freedom but we were always safe.

May 20, 2012

Corbett is going after teachers' collective bargaining rights!

This is from an email I received from PSEA:

"On Tuesday, May 22, the state Senate Education Committee plans to ram through legislation that strips collective bargaining rights for school employees in financially distressed districts. You may think you don't work in a financially distressed district so you are safe – but think again. PSEA estimates that a significant number of school districts – urban, rural, and suburban – could fall into financial distress in the next one to two years, if current conditions do not change.

A growing number of our public school districts are facing financial distress, primarily because of Governor Tom Corbett's nearly $1 billion in school funding cuts. But instead of addressing the real needs of our struggling school districts, Governor Corbett and some state Senators want to solve it by eliminating your collective bargaining rights and putting state-appointed bureaucrats in charge of your school district.

Make no mistake, this is a manufactured crisis that Tom Corbett is using to chip away at our rights. We need to stop him.

Corbett’s proposal to "help" these districts is to violate the state constitution by canceling your contracts. It would also empower districts to close schools and eliminate jobs. But it would not provide any new funding or resources. The proposal also would permit public school districts to be turned over to for-profit management companies and charter operators with no financial or academic accountability."

This proud public school teacher and PSEA member would appreciate it if DUers could contact your state senators on our behalf. Thank you, femmocrat