Post blogger Cari Shurman is psyched up for Election Day and feels that people need to base part of their vote on who has the best education policy. For her it's Barack Obama.
In coverage underwritten by Factual Aspen Investigative Reporting (FAIR), Post Time News reports on a myriad of issues raised by the money the Aspen School District wants for affordable housing. "In 2005," Post Time News reports, "the Aspen School District convinced voters to pony up for $33 million to build a new Middle School; in 2001, the District asked for and received another $43 million for a new High School. In all through November 2008, the Aspen School District has asked voters for $88 million in funds on ballot questions since 2001."
With so much fear about the economy, terrorists and other scary issues no one is talking about education right now. However, if we don’t provide good education for the majority of the children in this country everything else will be unimportant.
Did you know that we can tell how many prison cells we need to build from the test scores of third graders? How would our kids feel if they knew that we are building those cells rather than teaching them what they need to know to be a contributing member of society?
Teachers in inner city schools are already seeing an improvement in students’ self-esteem, attitude and interest in education since Obama became a candidate in the primaries last spring. He has talked widely about the role of family and schools.
The Bush administration’s NCLB only encouraged teachers to figure out ways to increase test scores. No teacher I have spoken to feels that learning and knowledge have increased.
If you are undecided please think about our future and probably the biggest factor in making us a strong nation. As we look at failing schools, poor results compared to other nations, an extremely high rate on incarceration of failing students, please vote for Barak Obama, the one who can make the difference. I am a teacher. I work in New York City schools. I see what is happening.
Cari Shurman
Aspen
ASPEN, COLORADO (Post Time News)—No stranger to asking voters to approve tens of millions of dollars of improvements, the Aspen School District is going back to voters again for the third time since 2001 to ask for the passage of a $12 million bond for affordable housing rental units that comes with an ultimate repayment price tag of $21.6 million.
In 2005 the Aspen School District convinced voters to pony up for $33 million to build a new Middle School; in 2001, the District asked for and received another $43 million for a new High School. In all through November 2008, the Aspen School District has asked voters for $88 million in funds on ballot questions since 2001. The repayment cost on the latest bond—on the ballot as Referendum 3 A—would be up to $1.147 million annually.
“We realize that we have asked the district for a lot of money in the past years,” Aspen School District Superintendent Dr. Diana Sirko told Post Time News. “But with this referendum we were very fiscally conservative. We were going to ask for more but in the end decided against it. I am pretty sure that we are not going to have to go back to the voters for money again any time soon. I am confident in that.”
Moving to a new place is not to the easiest thing to do. As you are all well aware I moved from New York to Aspen. There have been things that have made the transition difficult and other things that have made it easy. So far the place that has made me feel the most at home and comfortable is the Pitkin County Library.
The workers there are always helpful and every time I walk through the door they ask if there is any way they could help me. Part of my job here at Post Time News is to update the the Web site and since I am still in between places I don't have the internet yet. So I have had to rely on the library. They helped me set up my computer so I could get the internet and do my job.
First off, before I start this blog I want to let the readers know that I am a former teacher and got my Masters in Education from Columbia University. With that said here is my blog.
During last night's Presidential debate between Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain the topic of education came up. Both Obama and McCain pledged to spend more on education and to make sure that every American child received a good education to compete in this global economy. They both debated about school vouchers, recruiting new teachers, the no child left behind policy and all the usual topics that come with the education debate.
Aspen Community Theatre is offering a free scenic design workshop taught by Tom Ward, the set designer for A.C.T.’s fall musical "Chicago." Join Tom, as he takes us on the journey from the written script to a stunning, detailed set.
Tom, a theater graduate from Denison University, has designed sets for Theatre Aspen, Aspen Stage, theaters on the front range and 22 sets for A.C.T. including Fiddler on the Roof.
It amazes me that last week only had 5 days because it seems like a much longer time. Though it really did fly by, each day had so many special moments in them and both Brad and I were intent on savoring everything.
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Debby Barnekow has been blogging from around the Valley this week. Today is the final day of her in-school residency with guitarist Brad Richter.
As this residency with Brad Richter comes to a close, and we head into the Music and M.O.R.E. concert at 6:30 tonight at Harris Concert Hall, a higher level of intensity was needed to get all of the student groups ready for the performance. Often it is difficult for young people to assess their own potential and abilities. Their performance opportunities are not frequent nor often well attended. I hear young people say to me often that they feel invisible, that adults don't even notice them. I have a most wonderful job that lets me observe their incredible skills, imagination and creativity and hear their powerful solutions to difficult world problems.
Tonight I am proud to not only present Brad Richter with a world premiere among the pieces he will play but to also present students who have worked hard to reach a new plateau in their playing. For some, this is their first time to ever play together in an ensemble.
The past two days we worked with Basalt High School's guitar classes, Aspen Community School's 3rd/4th grade guitarists and Aspen Elementary's 4th grade class, taught by Natalie DeFelice. The high schooler's rearranged their classes in order to have one more extended rehearsal with Brad to perfect their piece-a Led Zeppelin song, Kashmir. ACS guitarists have a Beatle's song, I've Just Seen a Face, that is not often heard. The AES 4th graders worked on perfecting the form of their poem with Brad's music-it will be amazing to hear. I invite you to join us for a wonderful concert- again, the time is 6:30 at Harris Concert Hall.
Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform (CAIR) co-founder Mike McGarry is in fine form, followed by someone from the other side of the spectru, Tom Ziemann, Western Slope director of Catholic Charities.
Also: the Con Man is joined by Dr. Pamela Zuker, who talks about the wonders of the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork.
In the final half-hour, Michael Conniff returns to the implications of what he calls "The Permanent War" in Iraq.
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Deborah Barnekow is on the road again this week with guitarist Brad Richter. The week-long school residency ends this Friday with a free community performance at Harris Concert Hall. The following is Debby's daily blog:
The Con Man discusses his impressions from the Aspen Environment Forum put on by the Aspen Institute and National Geographic magazine, but the best audience in talk radio does not always agree with him.
