BOB BEHNING - PUBLIC EDUCATION'S #1 ENEMY

 

 

Indiana State Representative Robert Behning has gone from failed florist to PUBLIC Education's #1 enemy.  He has become a self-proclaimed education "reform" expert as Chairman of the House Education Committee.  In this role he has made every attempt to destroy and dismantle Indiana's Public school system in order to further line the wallets of his private school and private corporation cronies.  He has become an ALEC "all star" with his strong desire to write and utilize ALEC legislation into Indiana law to further cripple Indiana's public schools.  He seems to thrive on the destruction set in motion by former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett.  Representative Behning seems poised to continue his assault on Indiana's school children through his horrendous legislation and arrogant manner. He made many attempts to strip newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, of power and pushed one of the most vigorous voucher expansion programs in the nation through the legislature.  Behning did all these things against the wishes of his constituency by ignoring the voices calling for more public education support and less stripping our public schools down for the benefit of private and charter expansions.

 

As the picture above shows, Representative Behning claims to be glad to ehar from his constituents.  However, in stark contrast, the man whose website says he wants to hear from you doesn't really want to hear what you think about standards because you're too stupid to understand them anyway. 

 

It is time for Indiana voters in his district to take a stand for children and Public Education, by showing up in 2014 to vote him out of a seat in District 91 that has held since 1992. A seat he seems confident is safe for him to regain with little effort in 2014.

WEDNESDAY WIRE

Spring Break is over and, as I journey back to Indiana from sunny Daytona Beach, Florida and review the week's political happenings so far, I write to remind all readers how we accomplished our goal in November and what we must do now to continue that success.

We did not elect Glenda Ritz by sitting idly by and watching others take on the task alone.  Nor did we let our opponents go unnoticed for their attempts to destroy our PUBLIC schools.  No, we worked together to turn a grassroots campaign into a nationally historic election event.  It is now time for our legislators to be reminded of this accomplishment.  They continue to be hell bent on ignoring the voices of the voters and pushing through legislation to further destroy and deplete public schools across the state.  

The passage of HB 1003 to the full senate is just one clear attempt by our elected officials to take more public tax money and fund their own pockets in the form of private and charter schools.  Do not be fooled one minute that they are simply doing this for those who "seek" to transfer from "failing" schools by assisting them through tuition support.  No, they are doing this to please their campaign contributors who make money from these private  and charter school ventures.  

It is time for the full senate to hear from PUBLIC school supporters regarding HB 1003.  We MUST CALL and demand a NO vote on HB 1003 and put an end to voucher expansion once and for all.  Our elected officials need to be reminded NOW that we vote, and their seats are not safe when they are up for re-election if they continue to slash and deplete our public schools and rob from our children.

Do not think that we stop here! PUBLIC school advocates must be aware that Representative Robert Behning, you remember the florist who is an education "expert", is back at it in House.  Common Core, A-F Revisions and Turnaround Operators are Back

Yesterday, Chairman Behning brought an amendment to Senate Bill 493 revisiting several topics from earlier in the session. Senate Bill 493 is Senator Hershman’s bill to give grants to schools that achieve well on ISTEP. Now it includes several new provisions, including:

· A State Board review of Common Core.

· A fiscal cost assessment of Common Core.

· Voiding the current A-F system, to be replaced by November 15, 2013.

· Putting “A” through “F” school grades in law.

· A thorough rewrite of the 1999 Public Law 221, changing the central goal from “improvement” to “performance.”

· Allowing turnaround school operators who take over a school to expand to other grade levels “not currently provided by the school.”

Many of these ideas came out of the failed House Bill 1337. HB 1337 was defeated as a result of PUBLIC school supporters being involved in the process and expressing concerns overnight Billy's contents.  As we see the negative effects of these provisions being  added to SB 493 by way of amendments by Behning, we must once again take the florist to task and shut him down.  Representative Behning is aware we are coming for his seat, heis trying all he can to push his agenda while he still has a chance to destroy our public schools.  Keep and eye on the battle looming over this bill.   It is worthy to note, while many of us want to see revisions in the A-F system, when Florist Behning was asked if State Superintendent Ritz had input into this A-F plan, he said she did not.

Also in the House Education Committee, an amendment was added to SB 1 that would require an armed school protection officer in every public school in Indiana.  Notice was given by Rep. Sue Errington that this UNFUNDED mandate for an armed person doesn’t apply to private schools.  

 “If you believe this is the way to protect children, why not private schools as well as public schools – especially if they are taking public dollars?” she asked."

According to the bill, a school protection officer would be required in each school and must be on the property during regular school hours and carry a loaded firearm. That person could be a teacher or other school employee who has volunteered and undergone additional training.  If no volunteers come forward,  districts then might have to hire someone, though there is no money in the bill to train employees or hire outside guards. 

A few questions to ask yourself about this amendment and SB 1 ...

1)  Do you want an armed "staff" person in your child's school building?

2) How will schools fund the training and pay of an armed "staffer"?

3) If this is important legislation, why is is good for our Public schools, but not for private schools who receive tuition support from our tax dollars intended to support public education.

Spring Break is over! It is time to get back the momentum from November and raise our voices loud to make sure our PUBLIC schools come out with minimal destruction from this legislative session.  We must STOP HB 1003 in the Senate, and take a stand again when it comes to SB 493 in the House.

TUESDAY TATTLER 7

State Representative Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) has once again shown his elitist arrogance by stating his refusal to hear a bill that directly supports Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz's stance on slowing down and re-evaluating the Common Core State Standards.  From the start the Common Core has been unpopular with educators, administrators, and parents across the state.  They were implemented by former Superintendent Tony Bennett and have been a contentious point of duscussion concerning everything from cost to possible conflict of interest of state representatives (Rep. Todd Huston (R-Fishers) works for the man who wrote Common Core, one of its foremost promoters).

During the first half of the legislative session, by a bipartisan 38-11 vote, the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 193 to hold public hearings in every congressional district on Common Core,  and to study how much new tests, textbooks, and teacher training because of it would cost taxpayers.  This bill, although many feel it should never have been written, supports Superintendent Ritz's statement, “Common Core Standards must be re-evaluated. Indiana had exceptional standards before Common Core.” 

It should be within the Superintendent's power through the SBOE and as leader of the DOE to call for statewide review, without the necessity of legislative intervention through any bill regarding Common Core.  However, in a compromise with the bills original intent to put an immediate end to common core altogether, the Superintendent supported the amended bill calling for the statewide hearings.  With the legislature seemingly attempting to destroy her authority as the highest elected Democrat in state office, it is not surprising the Representative Behning has come out against a bill that would show even the slightest support for Superintendent Ritz.

As House Education Committee Chairman,  Representative Behning (R-Indianapolis) says no constituent or colleague concerns have changed his mind about refusing to hear the bill as it crosses from the Senate to the House.  With his arrogance swelling, Behning made some pretty questionable remarks regarding his constituents and the citizenry of Indiana.  After making comments that he is not excited about hearing the bill, he stated that if it is heard "it wouldn’t look like it does now,”  

Behning continued his statement regarding the bill by saying, “We’ve never ever gone to that level of public input."

He says,  “Frankly, most of the time the public would not have a very easy time even understanding what standards are, let alone trying to help form them.”

That sounds like a man who thinks so highly of himself, and his knowledge of education, that he would totally disregard the PUBLIC he is elected to serve because they would not even begin to understand what standards are.  Yes,  I am sure his life as a florits qualifies him to make such grand statements about education, and his constituency.  His pompous attitude is wearing on this writer, and I think it is time he speak to his constituents and explain why he appears to have no faith in their ability to communicate and understand discussions regarding education matters.

Mr. Behning, it is time you realize that your constituents are not only intelligent, they are also listening and watching your every move this legislative session, and your days may well be numbered come election time.  Enjoy your attempts to destroy our PUBLIC schools now, because your time is up and someone who actually knows something about education is coming for your seat!


Quotes and information thanks to The Heartland Institute Article "Indiana Common Core Bill Bottlenecked in House"

Go With Glenda On Common Core

AN OPEN LETTER -

To the Legislators who seek to “color outside the lines” on Indiana Curriculum State Standards,


Glenda is right: the best course of action on SB193 is to slow down and have a conversation - haste makes waste! The Hoosier Mom asks the members of the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development to table this bill where it stands now – in committee. Senator Kruse – your continued hearings on this Bill reflect against the State Superintendent and her capacity to lead a decision-making process typically handled by the IDOE. This is not a course of action you admittedly wish to take: well, at least not according to your statement last week.

The State Board of Education under the leadership of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction traditionally devises the state curriculum standards. Furthermore, this is the way state curriculum standards have been derived in Indiana for years. This process for development of state curriculum standards provides quality education outcomes for the children of Indiana by the people elected and appointed specifically to do that job. The financial and educational ramifications of this bill are numerous, even more so if state standards are routinely changed nilly-willy by well-intended yet misguided legislators who “color outside the lines”.

Senate members, please feel free to work with the State Superintendent and the SBOE on the development of appropriate state standards to achieve desired educational outcomes, but I ask you not to “color outside the lines” with this bill by over-legislation of education decisions best arrived at by the IDOE. Indiana’s education leadership has the expertise to consider the financial and educational ramifications of our state standards. I ask you to leave Common Core in place, have this discussion with Superintendent Ritz, and maintain the state standard adoption process through the IDOE.

Go with Glenda on Common Core!



Sincerely,

The Hoosier Mom On Politics