Frank Chow: Asian- American Political Pundit

Every Child Left Behind I am Frank Chow and I approved this message

Michelle Rhee has been heralded by some as an education reformer. I tend to think of her as part of the problem. When education becomes a product, something to be bought and sold, we've lost. Also too, more tests . A recent report by USA Today reveals that perhaps the touted test results in the district while Rhee was in charge weren't without cheating. Rhee's response : “It isn’t surprising that the enemies of school reform once again are trying to argue that the earth is flat and that there is no way test scores could have improved for DCPS students unless someone cheated,” Rhee said. “It is surprising to see USA Today proceed down this path in the face of a statement from the independent investigators that there was no evidence of cheating. This story is an insult to the dedicated teachers and schoolchildren who worked hard to improve their academic achievement levels.” As Oliver Willis states , this is the kind of response you would expect from the right-wing. More im...

The Uneducation of Uhmerikans I am Frank Chow and I approved this message

I have never understood why teachers don't get paid more, but apparently some get paid a decent wage in the Chicago area. The Tribune wants everyone to be outraged about that , but then when you look at the statistics of course it isn't outrageous: —About 4 percent of teachers statewide earned $100,000 or more — 5,457 teachers — but the vast majority worked in the Chicago suburbs, with heavy concentrations in north Cook, DuPage and Lake counties. In all, 32 Chicago-area districts paid at least 20 percent of their teachers six figures — five times the state average. —Six-figure teachers were unevenly distributed, with high school teachers making up 60 percent of the group — more than double their representation in the teaching force. Affluent suburban districts had the largest concentrations of six-figure teachers. Less than 1 percent of Chicago Public School teachers earned $100,000 or more in 2009 . A select few are paid relative to the community they are educating. How illogi...

CNN Money ( h/t Raw Story): More than 80% of U.S. school districts are expected to eliminate jobs and more than half will likely freeze hiring during the upcoming school year, an education organization said Tuesday. Based on a survey of school administrators from 49 states, a total of 275,000 education jobs are expected to be cut in 2011, according to the American Association of School Administrators. "Faced with continued budgetary constraints, school leaders across the nation are forced to consider an unprecedented level of layoffs that would negatively impact economic recovery and deal a devastating blow to public education," said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech. While the jobs picture begins to stabilize across the broader economy, in its previous survey, the AASA projected job cuts in the education field between 2009 and 2011 to exceed the jobs created by the government in that same period. In the survey released Tuesday, AASA said job cuts in the 2010 to 2011 sch...

This is the real tragedy when ideology clouds better judgment. Monica Potts via TAPPED: Many state school systems are facing a "funding cliff" next year when their federal stimulus money runs out, which was the kind of dramatic budget shortfall the stimulus money was meant to prevent in the first place. Most states spent the bulk of the funds last year and this year, and are left with little. But a few states spent everything, leaving nothing for the coming academic year, according to the New York Times. The leaders of some of these struggling states, like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, were among the most vocal opponents of the stimulus and feigned reluctance when the federal money was dispersed. And since many states used those federal funds to bolster the program that helps poor and disabled children, it's hard to imagine where those children would be if it weren't for the stimulus money. Now, those kids could be poised to suffer most since the budget pain was ...

It is going to be a busy day today in Frank world. Lots and lots more going on. The exciting event of yesterday was I finally got a new pair of shoes! For running that is...it is quite a change. Sad to say, but it has been some five years since I had a new pair of shoes. So you know what that means people, juicing my pecs and fist pumpin! Anybody...? Anyone...? No...Oh well, sorry still psyched for Season 2 of Jersey Shore. The days news is not a snooze, so let's do this people! Here are your highlights: "We are the World" gets redone for Haiti Hey old guys! Box! Two of my favorite fighters of all time are getting a long awaited rematch...wayyyy too late Noted Blogger Directs Nonspecific Anger WIRED: Obama gives more money to NASA while scrapping man to the moon program You know how you ruin a great series of movies? Do a Bourne prequel movie without Matt Damon and P. Greengrass! Budget Sense and Nonsense , the papers are already picking up the meme of 1937. THE DEFICIT...

So much going on so little time, what to do, what to focus on? Last night was Drinking Liberally Chicago's "War on Christmas." A solid gathering of socialists, commies and pinkos all focused on destroying Christmas and teh baby Jeebus. Nawwww. Actually it was a great time with light debate and friends enjoying many a Christmas ale. I must say, DL Chicago has turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It has opened up new doors and new friendships as well as honest debate. Weird considering I read about it on a blog and kind of just strolled in nonchalantly. Ain't life grand? If you have change to spare please donate to the Living Liberally organization, http://livingliberally.org/Donate Here are your highlights: Senate Dems have reached a tentative health care deal and it isn't as awful as I thought it would be... Our REAL GUVNA is building a legacy its all in the hair, Blago 2012 Math scores up in major cities , amazing what happens when an administration actually c...

No Child Left Behind And Socialist, School Indoctrination of the "so-called" President Barack "the Muslim Islamofacist Terrorist Sympathizer" Obama. It amazes me that all of sudden the Right decides they care about the state of education in America. With the economic downturn and subsequent budget cuts you would think they would be outraged by schools losing funds, supplies and textbooks. No, they are stating they would be much happier home schooled and learning about the teachings of durr Remington rifle. Here is the scariest thing President Obama will be saying to kids in schools and you should hide your children too, beware the underlying message : But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents a...

What a weekend! What a life! My ninja skills were almost depleted this weekend as Frank Chow is not impervious to 5 hours of solid boozing. Alas I survived and must now rock this week like a metal band on a mission. The truth is I am truly exhausted, I am not sure I have the energy to conduct true ninja analysis of our political stupidity, but I will try folks. I am not defeated. No FRANK NEVER LOSES. Just feel like I have been hungover for three straight days bitchesss. Here are your highlights: Erry'body hates Michelle Obama The weekend's Boxing Round-up , Little Mac gots robbed! Paul Krugman vs. Neill Ferguson , what is odd about this match up is Ferguson is a historian so he should know that during the Depression when Roosevelt listened to people like him, the country's economy suffered Say Anything says "Hate Everyone" Glenn Beck is experiencing that thing people call KARMA Wanksta of Illinois Orin Hatch Wanksta of Utah , why the media keeps putting these guy...