From the "Not a surprise" file: Arne Duncan not helping colleges. (for Madfloridian in particular)

[Nikki Stone1]

http://chronicle.com/article/Duncan-Warns-Colleges-of/49261/?sid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Duncan Warns Colleges of Limits to Help From Federal Budget
By Paul Basken
Education Secretary Arne Duncan is watching colleges struggle with tough economic conditions and wants them to know that the federal government is trying to help. But, Mr. Duncan said Tuesday, it can help only so much.

The secretary spoke in San Antonio at the annual conference of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, whose members say they're struggling to maintain their traditional commitment to missions of teaching, research, and public service at a time of continuing state budget cuts.

Speaking afterward with reporters, Mr. Duncan said the federal government was "trying to do everything we can" to help out, including providing $100-billion to education through the economic-stimulus measure enacted earlier this year. Congress will provide $87-billion more for student aid and other higher-education programs if it can pass legislation ending the bank-based system of guaranteed student lending, the secretary said.

And yet, he said he told colleges, there are limits to the federal assistance. "If at the end of the day they think they're going to be able to avoid making hard decisions, I think that's unrealistic," Mr. Duncan said.


(I guess this is because they are so busy spending mega bucks on Green Dot, Imagine and other private K-12 companies. The end of state education is coming.)

[donco6]

1. CU Boulder is thinking of going private

The state has cut higher ed so much here, they believe they'd be better off charging tuition to those who can afford it.

[Nikki Stone1]

3. I've been saying it's not just California. This is a planned hit on public education.

We've been IMF'd. Or Shock Doctrined. These cuts are permanent.

[democracy1st]

2. K & R more bs

[Nikki Stone1]

4. Someone took away your R

:(

I appreciate the thought, though.

[Nikki Stone1]

5. Someone took away your R

:(

I appreciate the thought, though.

[LWolf]

6. Here's a decision that is not hard at all:

Fire Duncan. Now.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. My guess is the Dept of Ed would do exactly the same whoever was there

It's a Democratic administration and many Dems, who would normally be screaming bloody murder about the PIRATE-ization of education, are asleep or pacified because they think the party ideals are being carried out by those at the helm.

[LWolf]

8. Linda Darling Hammond would not be pushing

charter schools and merit pay.

Which is why Obama passed her, and many other better choices, by.

[Nikki Stone1]

13. Ok let me restate. The Dept of Ed has an agenda regardless of choice of Secy

But the Secy was picked for the agenda, not the other way around.

[LWolf]

14. True.

Which is why the current war on public education lies squarely on Obama's shoulders.

[Nikki Stone1]

15. Well, if you figure Obama is

really in charge. I figure he's just a new figurehead.

[LWolf]

16. That's an interesting way to look at it.

I honestly hadn't really looked at him in that light before, but what a perfect figurehead he makes!

Intelligent. Eloquent. Charismatic.

And still serving...who? Who is it that is truly pulling the strings? Corporations?

[Nikki Stone1]

19. Let me tell you something I do know

I had a friend who worked in DC in telecommunications. There is law firm in DC (whose name escapes me at the moment) who actually calls a lot of the telecom shots. The chairman of the FCC is often in a position where, if he's a decent guy, he's at loggerheads with this firm, but the firm gets what it wants anyway. I don't know who these people are or why their wishes supercede those of the entire country, but there it is.

It's a matter of government having been hijacked, and by different monied special interests.

But if I were to say who Obama represents, I would have to say it's Wall Street. Remember, he is the first modern president to have refused public funding. This meant he did not have to show who his wealthy donors were. I would say, considering his cabinet, that Goldman Sachs contributed a boatload of money, along with other Wall Street financial interests. These interests want EVERYTHING piratized. Remember, we don't make much here anymore so the new money has to come from the service economy, like education, like health insurance. Absolutely EVERYTHING has to make a profit for Wall Street. That, I believe, is the goal.

[LWolf]

21. I think you're very perceptive.

I remember a lot of passionate defense of his decision not to take public financing. "He can't WIN that way!!"

It didn't sit right at the time, but I was more concerned with Mclurkin, with leaving a unilateral invasion of Pakistan on the table, with the inclusion of health insurance companies in health care decisions, and with the right-wing education agenda to be more than uncomfortable with it.

[Nikki Stone1]

23. That's a nice way to put it

Most people on DU would actually have some other choice words to say about me... ;)

[LWolf]

24. It's DU's "catch 22:"

Claiming to be a "premier left-wing message board" and a partisan Democratic board at the same time.

One of these things is not like the other.

[Nikki Stone1]

25. No kidding.

Just ask me about Afghanistan. ;)

[donco6]

17. LDH is all about improving teacher skills.

She is not at all impressed with charters.

[LWolf]

18. While there were others I liked better,

I thought she was the best option on the published short list before the appointment was made.

I'm all for improving teachers' skills, too, including my own.

We all jump through all the hoops to renew our licenses. In truth, we should always be learning and improving, whether it fits a mandated "professional growth plan" or not.

I just wish those mandated plans were funded by someone other than me. ;)

[Nikki Stone1]

20. She sounds like a real educator.

What we got in Arne Duncan was a tool.

[tonysam]

9. Arne Duncan needs to go

He's nothing more than a Republican anyway when it comes to education.

[madfloridian]

10. He does not care much about public education. That is terrible.

Yes, he is busy giving the CMOs more business by using his 4.3 billion as a bribe.

[madfloridian]

11. Well, his head of Race to the Top is a charter school advocate...serves on their boards

When you hire Gates and Broad people and let people who serve on boards of charter school management companies run the show....you are making a loud and clear statement.

Head of Arne's Race to the Top serves on boards of charter schools... Updated at 12:51 PM

"Last May, Arne Duncan appointed Joanne Weiss as Director of Race To The Top, the multi-billion dollar competitively earned fund which Duncan and Obama have designated to "encourge and reward States that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform." With states so desperate for money, they are essentially being forced to comply.

Joanne Weiss' most recent employment was as Partner and COO at NewSchools Venture Fund. Her job description states, “she focuses on investment strategy and management assistance to a variety of the firm's portfolio ventures, and oversees the organization's operations. As part of this work, she serves on the boards of Aspire Public Schools, Green Dot Public Schools, Leadership Public Schools, New Leaders for New Schools, Revolution Foods, Rocketship Education and Teachscape.”

NewSchools Venture Fund, Aspire, Green Dot and New Leaders for New Schools have received millions of dollars from Eli Broad. You could say that Broad paid for a significant amount of Weiss’ salary. The 2006 - 990 for NSVF declared that Weiss was compensated $228,000 (page 28). During 2005, the NSVF received a total of $13,111,610 in gifts, grants and contributions (pg. 13). That year, Broad gave $1,860,000, or 14.2% of the total, in contributions."

http://thebroadreport.blogspot.com /

Race to the Top money only goes to states and districts that allow more charter schools.

Surprise! Surprise!

[Nikki Stone1]

12. There used to be a time that would be called "conflict of interest"

I guess we are in the "post-crime" society. (Except for the poor and disadvantaged)

[whistler162]

22. WOW... FIRE HIM.....

and find someone that will lie!