>Asbury Park school audit digs into NJ’s big spender
The Monmouth County school district is Gov. Chris Christie’s favorite target — well, maybe second favorite target — when it comes to criticizing New Jersey’s education establishment. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0419/2340/
>With cap adjustments, 69 school budgets going over 2 percent
One in 10 districts will be asking voters next week to approve school budgets with permitted increases above the 2 percent recommended in the new tax levy cap, thanks to the few exemptions remaining in the law. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0420/0004/
>New York Times Pans “Dumb Dumb Math “
from today’s Times…
From the above referenced NY Times article:
“Jump is a modest outfit. Mighton has a staff of 10 to create materials and conduct teacher trainings. With decisions about math curriculum highly politicized, it’s difficult for a small group to influence the debate. Big textbook companies and paid math consultants have a big say — and big investments — in what gets used.”
Sound familiar.
Best paragraph, particularly the last sentence. Sums up the problems with constructivist approaches
“In particular, math teachers often fail to make sufficient allowances for the limitations of working memory and the fact that we all need extensive practice to gain mastery in just about anything. Children who struggle in math usually have difficulty remembering math facts, handling word problems and doing multi-step arithmetic. Despite the widespread support for “problem-based” or “discovery-based” learning, studies indicate that current teaching approaches underestimate the amount of explicit guidance, “scaffolding” and practice children need to consolidate new concepts. Asking children to make their own discoveries before they solidify the basics is like asking them to compose songs on guitar before they can form a C chord.”
Amen. Why doesn’t the BOE get is? I know some teachers who love it because (and I wrote a 7th grade math teacher) “it teaches itself and I just have to guide them a bit”
>Five charged in Glen Rock drug arrests
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY APRIL 19, 2011, 7:08 PM
BY EVONNE COUTROS
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
GLEN ROCK – Five adults were arrested on drug charges late Monday after weeks of police surveillance on a private home on Bergen Street, authorities said.
Arrested were James Gross, 20, Mark Miller, 21, and Corey McCoy, 38, all in the home at 8 p.m. when police – assisted by Bergen County SWAT – executed a search warrant.
“During the execution of the warrant police found a loaded .32 caliber handgun, an unknown amount of cocaine, 40 bags of marijuana, and $1,000 cash found on the coffee table,” said Glen Rock Police Chief Fred Stahman.
Five Charged : Natalie Aguado, Corey McCoy, Kelsey Halloran, James Gross and Mark Miller.
Two adult females, Kelsey Halloran, 19 and Natalie Aguado, 18, of Ridgewood, were arrested leaving the home earlier and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Also taken into custody were two juveniles observed making marijuana purchases at the home.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/041911_Five_charged_in_Glen_Rock_drug_arrests.html
>Department of Community Affairs flunks state audit – again
A new audit of the state’s troubled weatherization program yesterday found widespread problems once again in the department overseeing the effort, allowing the agency delegated to disburse the funds to improperly spend federal grant money. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/11/0419/2346/
>A peculiar pairing, Sarlo and Lonegan want cap-and-trade repeal; enviros wince
The right-wing organization Americans for Prosperity is teaming with left-of-center state Sen. Paul Sarlo, (D-36), of Wood-Ridge, to ask the state to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Cap & Trade Program. (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)
>Move on New Jersey health plan may cost towns but help power broker
In the last three years, hundreds of cities, towns and school districts in New Jersey have saved tens of millions of dollars on health insurance by dumping their private carriers and switching to a little-known benefits program run by the state. (Halbfinger, The New York Times)
>New Jersey’s high court set to hear demands for spending for poor schools
The New Jersey Supreme Court is being asked to order that aid to the poorest school districts be restored to a level that complies with the state constitution, regardless of the budget crisis. (Deprez and Voreacos, Bloomberg)
>Businessman John Crowley may challenge Menendez
John Crowley, a wealthy New Jersey businessman whose battle to save his children from a rare disease was made into the movie “Extraordinary Measures,” likely will run for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez next year, Crowley’s political adviser said Tuesday. (Chebium, Gannett)
>In town hall meeting, Christie blasts Legislature’s pace
A jam-packed crowd of senior citizens laughed and gasped Tuesday as Gov. Christie delivered a 40-minute, point-by-point condemnation of the Democratic-controlled “do-nothing Legislature” that may have served as a preview of election season. (Katz, The Philadelphia Inquirer)
https://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/120261964.html
>PSE&G Pole Attached Solar Project : These solar panels are a joke.
“I, for one, value efforts at alternative sources of energy and I applaud that my utility company is making the efforts.”
You are a perfect example of exactly what is wrong with people these days — you base your opinions on zero research, “feelings” and knee-jerk reactions. You are being duped and asking for more.
These solar panels are a joke.
They are inefficient, ugly and cost more energy to produce and maintain than they will ever bring in.
But you kneel at the altar of “green” and applaud this folly.
If you were serious, you’d be against this waste of money and would be pushing for a more serious and “commercial” implementation of true energy producing solar panels. But keep it up – keep making laughable comments and no one will ever take you seriously.
You are a joke to those who are opposed to the “green initiative” and you are an embarrassment to those who are serious about alterative energy sources.
>REPORT: Unhappy with police cuts, Medford official asks to be laid off
Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
MEDFORD — The township’s acting manager said Monday he has asked to be laid off due to his unhappiness with police cutbacks here, according to a report by the Courier Post.
“It was a very difficult choice,” said Stephen Addezio, who had been expected to become the township’s public safety director. “I told council if they lay off police officers, I wanted to be the first to go. It’s a moral issue for me.”
Four police officers received layoff notices Monday, along with six public-works employees and three fire department staffers. The layoffs would be effective May 2.
>U.S. Debt Tops $14.3 Trillion for First Time
Monday, April 18, 2011
By Terence P. Jeffrey
(CNSNews.com) – The national debt has passed another historical milestone, topping $14.3 trillion for the first time ever, according to data released by the U.S. Treasury late Monday afternoon.
https://cnsnews.com/news/article/us-debt-tops-143-trillion-first-time
>Gold Futures Top $1,500 on Outlook for Escalating U.S. Debt, Dollar Slump
By Pham-Duy Nguyen – Apr 19, 2011 4:04 PM ET
Gold futures rose to a record $1,500.50 an ounce as U.S. debt concerns weighed on the dollar, boosting demand for the precious metal as an alternative investment. Silver surged to a 1980 high.
>Math Wars: Why not hire scientist and engineers to give us input on math programs instead of bogus “math educators” out of Monclair State?
Why not hire scientist and engineers to give us input on math programs instead of bogus “math educators” out of Monclair State? I have no idea what grade your kids are in or how much your kids teachers are supplementing the crappy math program (CMP) but I can tell you that my youngest child is struggling with CMP and his teacher is incapable and unwilling to stray from the “it teaches itself” “constructivist” curriculum (she graduated Monclair with an “education” degree). I have tried to supplement with Singapore but he finds it too confusing. My older son was subjected to CMP as it was coming on line and his teachers supplemented heavily in middle school as most of them were old school and not fond of CMP. I was also supplementing with Singapore Math. He’s doing okay in high school but I have hired a tutor to make up for the gaps left by CMP.
IF you don’t think curriculum is an issue for a BOE candidate, you’re dead wrong. The “curriculum experts” work for us, not vice-versa. I need a BOE member who is informed, inquisitive and who can sythesize information to deliver the best outcome for our students (remember the fireman didn’t know that we had constructivist math in our schools when the selection of math programs was ongoing? And so we go the Crappy Math Program).
