Fleming is not alone in the misuse of VGLA, Modified Standard Diploma, and course changes to avoid SOL testing. Perhaps the solution should involve closer monitoring by the DOE. I have personally witnessed course number changes within weeks of the SOL test. I was also given the dialog to follow during an IEP meeting that involved a modified standard diploma. After 33 years of teaching, I am no longer in a public school system because I could not follow procedures that were intended to maintain accreditation, yet not in the best interest of students.
Comment by Kathaleen Shelor — June 15, 2009 @ 10:49 am
Mr. M. ERIC PRITTs
You wrote that, "Unemployment soared to 9.4 percent in May .." Actually, uemployment increased another .5% in May 2009, i.e., it increased .5% from the April value of 8.6%. In another reference it can be said that it has increased by 2 full points since Bush left us with it around 7.1% (and climbing btw.)
We had a downward trend starting about June 2003 from about 6.5% and dropping slightly below 4.5% in the latter part of 2007. Before the end of Bush's brilliant economics it climbed to just over 7.% for Obama to begin.
Maybe we are in the situation we often hear, "It's got to get worse before it gets better."
Oh, Gary, Don't bore us with "facts", "reasoning" and (worst of all) "logic." We all know the truthiness of the matter. It comes from the gut. And from the AM airwaves. We all know that the recession not being fixed in under 6 months, despite vehement opposition and stalling by the GOP, is all Obama's fault. We all know that the joblessness is Obama's fault, despite the decline initiating and mostly occurring during the last full years of Bush's 2nd term. While you may wield statistics, I can wield something much more powerful: ignorance.
RE: Fleming (comment by Shelor). I concur, there are MANY methods, including trickery and cheating, that occurs, in various forms. How about a 'spot' check, via lie detectors, and let's see how many cheaters there really are.
Yeah George ignorance is a key asset Republicans count on. It seems to me Pritt's letter is just another example. e.g., I repeat when he says, "Unemployment soared to 9.4 percent in May .." Sure, it has been factually reported as at 9.4% in May, but it has been inching up for months, but not just whoooooooooom.
I think the size and scope of the planned stimulus package means it's going to take more than a month, or even 3 months, for all the money to get on the ground and have an effect.
Just like it took a number of years for the subprime mortgage industry to begin to show the deleterious impact it was destined to have on the real estate market, it's going to take some time for the stimulus money to filter down and start having a hopefully positive impact.
Sorry Bud I can't answer your question. My original comment #2 was in response to Mr. Pritt's LTE where I thought he was attempting to make readers believe that unemployment went off like a bomb in May (i.e. unemployment exploded to 9.4%.) btw I just used my $250 stimulus check in buying my son's family of four all a VA Busch Gardens Family Fun Pack all summer tickets. I'm now looking for economic stimulus results.
Kristen, possibly if he is a Democrat, but I don't think he is. If it does drop by .5% a moderate Republican would possibly report it as the glass is half empty, and the moderate Democrat would it as a half full. A more to the right Republican would scoff at it as hardly any significant change, a more to the left Democrat may contact Michael Moore suggesting a movie. I'm just hoping it will not get into double digits and that it will hurry up into a decline.
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Fleming is not alone in the misuse of VGLA, Modified Standard Diploma, and course changes to avoid SOL testing. Perhaps the solution should involve closer monitoring by the DOE. I have personally witnessed course number changes within weeks of the SOL test. I was also given the dialog to follow during an IEP meeting that involved a modified standard diploma. After 33 years of teaching, I am no longer in a public school system because I could not follow procedures that were intended to maintain accreditation, yet not in the best interest of students.
Comment by Kathaleen Shelor — June 15, 2009 @ 10:49 am
Mr. M. ERIC PRITTs
You wrote that, "Unemployment soared to 9.4 percent in May .." Actually, uemployment increased another .5% in May 2009, i.e., it increased .5% from the April value of 8.6%. In another reference it can be said that it has increased by 2 full points since Bush left us with it around 7.1% (and climbing btw.)
We had a downward trend starting about June 2003 from about 6.5% and dropping slightly below 4.5% in the latter part of 2007. Before the end of Bush's brilliant economics it climbed to just over 7.% for Obama to begin.
Maybe we are in the situation we often hear, "It's got to get worse before it gets better."
Comment by Gary — June 15, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
Oh, Gary, Don't bore us with "facts", "reasoning" and (worst of all) "logic." We all know the truthiness of the matter. It comes from the gut. And from the AM airwaves. We all know that the recession not being fixed in under 6 months, despite vehement opposition and stalling by the GOP, is all Obama's fault. We all know that the joblessness is Obama's fault, despite the decline initiating and mostly occurring during the last full years of Bush's 2nd term. While you may wield statistics, I can wield something much more powerful: ignorance.
Comment by George — June 15, 2009 @ 5:45 pm
George..what stalling by the GOP??
Comment by BUD — June 15, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
RE: Fleming (comment by Shelor). I concur, there are MANY methods, including trickery and cheating, that occurs, in various forms. How about a 'spot' check, via lie detectors, and let's see how many cheaters there really are.
Comment by other Joe — June 15, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
Yeah George ignorance is a key asset Republicans count on. It seems to me Pritt's letter is just another example. e.g., I repeat when he says, "Unemployment soared to 9.4 percent in May .." Sure, it has been factually reported as at 9.4% in May, but it has been inching up for months, but not just whoooooooooom.
Comment by Gary — June 15, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
Gary..how often does unemployment move a half of a percent in 1 month following a "stimulus" bill?
Comment by BUD — June 16, 2009 @ 6:44 am
I think the size and scope of the planned stimulus package means it's going to take more than a month, or even 3 months, for all the money to get on the ground and have an effect.
Just like it took a number of years for the subprime mortgage industry to begin to show the deleterious impact it was destined to have on the real estate market, it's going to take some time for the stimulus money to filter down and start having a hopefully positive impact.
Comment by Kristen — June 16, 2009 @ 9:19 am
Sorry Bud I can't answer your question. My original comment #2 was in response to Mr. Pritt's LTE where I thought he was attempting to make readers believe that unemployment went off like a bomb in May (i.e. unemployment exploded to 9.4%.) btw I just used my $250 stimulus check in buying my son's family of four all a VA Busch Gardens Family Fun Pack all summer tickets. I'm now looking for economic stimulus results.
Comment by Gary — June 16, 2009 @ 9:47 am
I suppose if unemployment drops .5%, Mr.Pritt will write how unemployment has "plummetted".
Comment by Kristen — June 16, 2009 @ 10:56 am
Kristen, possibly if he is a Democrat, but I don't think he is. If it does drop by .5% a moderate Republican would possibly report it as the glass is half empty, and the moderate Democrat would it as a half full. A more to the right Republican would scoff at it as hardly any significant change, a more to the left Democrat may contact Michael Moore suggesting a movie. I'm just hoping it will not get into double digits and that it will hurry up into a decline.
Comment by Gary — June 16, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Michael Moore suggesting a movie....lol
oh puhleeeeeze no more of those...
Comment by pammala — June 16, 2009 @ 11:50 am
When do I get my Stimulus Check?
Comment by Danny — June 16, 2009 @ 1:20 pm