Lawrence conservative picked to head education department

[coda]

We're going to pay $140,000 to education commissioner whose only experience with education is lobbying against it.

With the plethora of blatant actions such as these, why would anyone need to read Thomas Frank's book?



Lawrence conservative picked to head education department
By Scott Rothschild (Contact)

Originally published 04:33 p.m., October 4, 2005
Updated 05:01 p.m., October 4, 2005

TOPEKA — A divided State Board of Education today selected conservative activist Bob Corkins to become education commissioner, the top position in the Kansas public school system.

He heads two conservative think tanks, has no experience in education and has lobbied against increased funding for public schools. Moderate board members voted against Corkins. John Bacon, Olathe, who represents the Lawrence area on the board, voted in favor of Corkins.

Corkins, of Lawrence, will now be offered the job and salary will be subject to negotiations. The last commissioner earned about $144,000 per year.

Voting for Corkins were Steve Abrams of Arkansas City, Kenneth Willard of Hutchinson, Iris Van Meter of Thayer, Connie Morris of St. Francis and Kathy Martin of Clay Center. All are Republicans.


more....

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/oct/04/lawrence_conservative_picked_head_education_depart/

[mike_c]

1. the American taliban strengthens it's hold on Jesusland....

:puke:

[atommom]

2. Yup. It was a forgone conclusion, once they changed the rules

to make experience in education not that important for the job candidates. How long will it take us to clean up this mess? :banghead:

[ComerPerro]

3. Disgusting. Simply disgusting.

[MuseRider]

4. Article from today.

I don't know if it will help but at least it is a little bit reassuring that we haven't gone totally over the edge here.

http://cjonline.com/stories/100705/loc_educomm.shtml

[atommom]

5. Very interesting. But my head almost exploded when I read

Some have said he will cause an exodus of staff from the education department, making it dysfunctional.

:crazy:

I think the whole system is dysfunctional. We need a new BOE desperately.

[MuseRider]

6. We need their views

on these specific subjects to be made available to the public before we vote. I spent days looking for those answers and was never able to find them so I doubt most people really knew when they voted. It would be very interesting if their names were posted with their beliefs about education before we vote. It would then tell us if we are really going backwards so fast. Somehow I don't think we are. I think they just want us to believe that we are.

[ComerPerro]

7. They'd just lie about their beliefs anyway

Republicans at all levels do that before every election.

[MuseRider]

8. That is when it becomes

helpful when they say that part of their life is church group or bible school. That is what I used to vote, sad as it is, I voted for the guy that did not mention his church.

[ComerPerro]

9. Yeah, but how many people will vote FOR them for that very reason?

Because they mention their chruch or Bible Group.

[MuseRider]

10. I would like to know that.

Actually it would be very helpful to know that information. I just do not think they would have a majority on the board. Who knows? The way things are run they can just about make up anything and sell it to the masses.

[ComerPerro]

11. A lot of people don't even read those ballots anyway.

[MuseRider]

12. How do we change that?

Everyone wants to complain but they think their job is over once they vote. Don't they understand that they must not give this kind of power to people, ignore them, and then have the right to complain about what they did? This is just killing me. That is why we go from one extreme to the other. Grrrrrrrrr

[ComerPerro]

13. I think the Republicans did our job for us, in that regard

Now people are very aware of what might be on the line and at risk with the BOE elections.

[MuseRider]

14. But it happened

once before and then was corrected and now here we are again! Why do people not learn that their little check mark by a name does not mean it is the end of their job? Why did they not ask for the info? For that matter, why do those of us who do ask not get any answers? Sorry, I am very frustrated today.

[ComerPerro]

15. Yeah, I can tell

Its been a frustrating series of events

[MuseRider]

16. Oops!

:blush: