Mike Pence And The Big Fumble

Mike Pence had a chance, as Governor, to make a big difference in some young lives.  Unfortunately, after Superintendent of PUBLIC Instruction Glenda Ritz's Department Of Education spent over 600 hours working on federal Pre-K grant application, Pence decided (probably after realizing it wouldn't benefit his tea party buddies) not to submit the application.  This fumble cost Indiana children an $80M shot at Pre-K education.

Mike Pence has fumbled the ball many times during his term as Indiana Governor when it comes to PUBLIC education.  He has allowed his GOP cronies to write and pass legislation drastically reducing powers of the ELECTED Superintendent, Glenda Ritz.  He continues to support vouchers to take money from PUBLIC Schools, He touts charter schools even though they score far below traditional PUBLIC schools statewide, and he has released a campaign add featuring his educator wife that contains many false statements and myths. 

ISTA came out with a strong statement showing the Truth versus Myth of Mike Pence's Education record.  Here is the link to their article, "Truth versus Myth" - Mike Pence's education record.

One of the strongest comments regarding Mike Pence's record and his very misleading campaign ad was from an Indiana Educator named Ben Yoder.  Ben share the Pence Campaign ad along with his statement regarding the false and misleading information contained within.  Here is what Mr. Yoder had to say. . .

"The fact that Mike Pence would even dare to talk about what he has "done" for education in the state of Indiana is insulting to teachers, administrators and ESP...ECIALLY the students in this state. Let me pull this ad apart (which is easy to do), piece-by-piece:

1. Mike Pence was a part of starting the first Pre-K program in the state...that's true. But what he fails to mention is that he turned down a federal government grant for $80 million in additional funds to expand Pre-K all across the state. TURNED IT DOWN. The research into the advantages that kids receive from Pre-K education is pretty much indisputable. Mike Pence doesn't care about research. Mike Pence doesn't care about facts. Mike Pence simply doesn't want to be a GOP governor who takes money from the federal government for ANY REASON because he is an ideologue and a very poor executive branch leader.

2. Mike Pence has recommended an increase in public education funding. Yes. But, when you look at where that money is ACTUALLY going, you will see that the majority of that money goes towards expanding our already too-large school voucher program and charter schools. I'm not going to get into the politics of vouchers (I am against them) and charters (I am not against them when they function well) but his statement is extremely misleading.

3. "Our test scores are up." MIKE PENCE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. This is a testament to our educators and our students.

4. "Our graduation rates are up." MIKE PENCE HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. This is another testament to our educators and our students.

5. "Our students are really beginning to excel." Beginning to excel? Indiana student success really doesn't have anything to do with Mike Pence (or Karen Pence, for that matter).

6. "When you invest in education, you see results." We are seeing results, but they aren't in response to anything Mike Pence has done. Our educators all across this state are continuing to do their jobs despite the many, MANY obstacles that Mike Pence has placed in our way. Despite the fact that he called teachers idiots and then told us "not to take it personally" when the ISTEP results came out last year. Despite the fact that he cut a publicly elected official off at the knees who was charged with running our educational system in this state and put into office by a grassroots campaign comprised largely of teachers. Despite the fact that he has worked tirelessly to funnel money away from traditional public schools and into vouchers and charters that aren't working for our kids. Despite the fact that he has made the teaching profession in this state so undesirable that bright young minds are choosing NOT to be teachers simply because they don't want to put up with the bull$hit that comes along with it. The list goes on and on.

7. "Mike wants to keep doing what he can to make education the number one priority in Indiana." ......... Governor Pence, I don't want you to "take this personally" but the best thing you can do for education in the state of Indiana is to leave office.
Oh, and by the way...SHAME on Karen Pence too for appearing in this ad. As a former teacher, I'd think she'd know better.

Rant over."

After Mr. Yoder's "rant" made the rounds on Facebook. and ISTA posted their argument, and countless others questioned Pence's education agenda once again, Mike Pence announced this past week that he is NOW interested in seeking federal grant money for Pre-K funding.  NOW?  When there are NO grants available for application?  Surely, as Glenda Ritz points out in her recent statement, "Mike Pence must think that Hoosiers have the memory of a goldfish".

Hoosiers have a duty this election cycle.  It is our duty to VOTE in November and see to it that the GOP destruction of our PUBLIC education system does not continue.  There are many strong candidates out there this cycle who will challenge the GOP establishment to turn things around and put our PUBLIC schools back in a positive light.  Watch Hoosier Voices in the coming weeks as we begin to list our endorsements for State Representatives, State Senate, Governor, Superintendent, and more to reverse the destruction and return our schools to our children, parents, and educators.

"He said, She said" - comparing Tony Bennett and his crony, Jennifer McCormick

There is a new Facebook page, Hoosiers Against Jennifer McCormick, that is hoping to gain support to keep the GOP's apparent nominee from defeating Superintendent Glenda Ritz in November.  Although Dr. McCormick has not been given the nomination (that has to wait until the convention this summer) she is making the campaign rounds as if the nomination is hers.  This new Facebook page seeks to show voters the commonalities between Dr. McCormick and ousted Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett.  

Those of us at Hoosier Voices have noted many details in the McCormick campaign and her education profile that show her to be a female version of Dr. Bennett.  It appears those behind the page have also come across wide ranging comparisons, calling her the "Tony Crony" and pointing out that she is already displaying characteristics of a Bennett "clone".

The new Facebook page has also begun a series of "memes", titled "He said, She said" detailing some very similar quotes by both the ousted Bennett and the wannabe GOP nominee.  With permission from the pages owners, we are going to post their "memes" here as they post new ones.  With the permission to post these "memes" we promise to ask our viewers to check out the page and give it a like.  If you are a true supporter of Indiana PUBLIC schools, our children, teachers, and current Superintendent of PUBLIC Instruction Glenda Ritz, follow the page and share it with your friends and other advocates.  

Visit Hoosiers Against Jennifer McCormick for the latest "memes" before we post them here.

THERE'S STILL TIME TO STOP SB334

Governor Pence has been counting his chickens well before hatching this session and his plans to use his GOP supermajority to continue dismantling PUBLIC Education seem to have unraveled just a bit over the past two weeks.  First the Senate killed HB1004, then SB10 found its death in the House.  Now it appears the two legislative bodies are once again at odds over SB334.  SB334 is the controversial "Voucher Expansion" bill that seems to surface and pass every session under the current administration.  However, SB334 returned to the Senate this week after passing the House with amendments.  Instead of conferring with the House version, there was a dissent filed and Senate President Pro Tempore David Long appointed Senate conferees for a conference committee.

it is presumed that the conference committee will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8.  Below are the conferees and advisors for this committee from both the Senate and the House.  The Chair is original SB334 author Carlin Yoder.

Please contact both Senate and House members and tell them that you are following their every move and any action with this bill.  Tell them that you oppose ANY expansion to vouchers.  Vouchers are draining PUBLIC schools of needed funding in order to help pad the wallets of campaign contributors along with the charter and private school buddies of the Governor and the GOP majority.

After the committee approves a final version of the bill, both the full House and full Senate must vote on the final bill.  Our voices have been heard throughout this session.  The legislators are listening.  They understand this is an election year and they see the opposition rising to stop them at every possible turn.  We have one more chance to put and end to this extensive expansion of vouchers and once again halt another bill aimed at PUBLIC Education destruction.

Let members of the Senate and House hear your opposition to this voucher expansion bill because it does not focus on the original stated intent of the original authors, Senator Yoder and Senator Kruse.  The stated purpose of this bill was to aid in drop out recovery; however, the bill never focused on anything but the continued dumping of PUBLIC funding into private and charter schools using drop out recovery as an excuse.  The length of your message does not matter.  The number of messages received in opposition to this widespread expansion will be reason for these legislators to understand the our voices must be heard and heeded.  Take time to call, email, tweet, post, and SPEAK OUT to oppose this bill and stand up for our PUBLIC Education system once more.

#RespectOurVoice #INpublicED #NoVouchers #NoSB334  

CALL TO ACTION! STOP SB334!

SB334, this session's version of Voucher Expansion, was amended in the House and has returned to the senate for a vote to concur, vote down, or let it die. This session has proven interesting, to say the least.  Not only are votes looking more partisan when final votes are taken on Education measures, they also appear to be quite contentious between the GOP members of the House and Senate.  This could be positive for PUBLIC school advocates, as we were already able to STOP HB1004 and SB10 by speaking out, tweeting, emailing, calling, and posting concerns to our elected officials.  They have heard our outcry.  They know our displeasure.  They are aware of our concerns.  Now they must choose to ignore our voices during an election year or follow our urging and recognize our concerns by voting down any remaining bills destructive to PUBLIC education.  

This post asks you to once again contact your legislators, especially in the Senate, and urge them to VOTE NO on SB334.  It is time to shout out one more time to urge support for our PUBLIC schools by stopping destructive measures and financial fiasco.  SB334 (Voucher Expansion) once again straps the education budget to the favor of charter and private schools while draining our PUBLIC schools of much needed funds provided by Indiana's taxpayers.

Below is a graphic from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education detailing the immense sums of money being doled out for the "Choice Scholarships". Expanding these scholarships will further siphon money from PUBLIC schools in the already tight education budget.

Another graphic from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education shows the difference between voucher funded schools and our PUBLIC schools.  Taking funding from our PUBLIC schools does not seem fair when those schools receiving voucher money do not have to play by the same rules of providing for students.  If they are not expected to serve under the same requirements and standards, then they should not be receiving our PUBLIC tax dollars to fund their own agenda and pad the wallets of their corporate leaders.

Please take time to contact members of the Senate and ask them to stop draining our PUBLIC schools for corporate benefit and fund our PUBLIC schools without expanding vouchers and putting the money where it belongs.

Click here for twitter handles of legislators.