Of that one-third, how many are registered Democrats?
Of that one-third, how many are on welfare?
(Daily Mail) — A survey has found that around one third of U.S. citizens would fail the country’s citizenship test for immigrants.
The study, conducted by the Center for the Study of the American Dream at Xavier University, in Cincinnati, Ohio, found that one in three respondents would fail the civics portion of the test given to those applying for U.S. citizenship.
More than 1,000 Americans over the age of 18 were asked 10 random questions from the civics test, which asks about US history and government topics.
Of those questioned, 35 per cent were unable to answer the pass mark of five correctly.
The most common questions people got wrong revolved around the different functions of government, and how power was distributed between the federal and state governments.
Seventy-five per cent of respondents didn’t know what the judicial branch does, while 71 per cent could not name the U.S. constitution as the ‘law of the land.’
Furthermore, 57 per cent could not define what an amendment was. . . .
Despite this, another study found that 60 per cent of Americans believe that being able to pass the government portion of the naturalization exam is a prerequisite for a high school diploma. . . .
According to U.S. News and World Report, 97 per cent of immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship pass the test.
“For more than two years, the Michigan Education Association [MEA] has had a manual that urges its members to use students as propaganda in contract negotiations and also lays out how to organize strikes,” writes Tome Gantert of Michigan Capitol Confidential.
Considering the fact that teacher strikes are illegal in Michigan, some may find it odd that the MEA has been encouraging this sort of behavior. In fact, the MEA has done a lot more than just “encourage” potentially illegal activity. As Gantert reports, the organization produced an anonymously written 28-page manual titled, “Building Full Capacity Locals — Crisis Planning, It’s Never Too Early To Start!”
Cover of Rules for Radicals
While much of the rhetoric in this “crisis planning” handbook is unsettling (”The worst time to plan for a crisis is when you are in the middle of one, so crisis planning should commence at the same time that planning for actual bargaining begins”), perhaps the most disturbing moment occurs when one section appears to quote almost verbatim Saul Alinksy’s “Rules For Radicals.”
Alinsky instructs his followers to “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Likewise, the MEA manual instructs teachers to “Pick a target—personalize—and polarize the opposition [pg. 17].” And those are just the verbatim quotes; the entire manual is a handbook for creating, managing, and profiting from crises.
Representatives of the MEA were unavailable for comment when The Blaze contacted them for more information.
“What’s really troubling about this publication isn’t what’s inside, it’s right there on the cover. This organization has decided it is above the law that has empowered them so much in so many other ways,” said Paul Kersey, director of labor policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, according to the Michigan Capitol Confidential article.
“We have given them the authority to represent employees who individually may not support them, and to collect dues and agency fees from them and have them fired if they refuse. But the union does not feel it is bound by the law’s prohibition of government strikes,” he said.
The manual states that the “MEA…supports and defends its members who engage in a strike,” which, again, is illegal in Michigan.
But if an out-and-out strike isn’t your thing, don’t worry! With a variety of passive aggressive protest methods, the manual has you covered. One of the passive methods suggested by the MEA is “Work-To-Rule” actions where employees refuse to do anything outside of what is included in their contract.
“Understand that a local is limited only by its collective imagination when it comes to specific work-to-rule actions,” the manual states. “If you carefully examine your contract you will probably find a number of work-to-rule opportunities. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t want to violate the contract or past practice; you want to adhere to it … exactly!”
And of course, what union protest would be complete without the exploitation of children in the bargaining process?
“In terms of a bargaining message, the public responds most positively when we talk about children, quality in the classroom and the future,” the MEA manual states. “There may come a time when it’s appropriate to talk about money and benefits, but lay the groundwork first.”
The manual even suggests one slogan that it claims has worked for other locals: “It’s not about dollars and cents; it’s about our children.”
Saudi-funded textbooks being used in America’s K-12 classrooms.
Teaching, among other things, that Jesus was a “Palestinian,” the state of Israel never existed, and that the Muslims discovered America before Columbus. At this rate, perhaps even Saudi grade-school textbooks, complete with jihadi and dhimmi declarations, will come to instruct American school-children.
“Public Schools Teach the ABCs of Islam,” by Erick Stakelbeck for CBN News, October 9, 2008:
CBNNews.com – Several recent studies have shown that American students are alarmingly ignorant about U.S. history and world events.
Experts have attributed the problem to everything from failing schools to substandard teachers.
But what about content?
For instance, did you know that Muslims discovered America? Or that Jerusalem is an Arab city? That’s just some of the “history” that students in America’s K-12 classrooms have been taught in recent years–with the help of taxpayer money.
A new report by the non-profit Institute for Jewish and Community Research finds that American high school and elementary textbooks contain countless inaccuracies about Christianity, Judaism, Israel and the Middle East.
The Institute examined 28 of the most widely-used history, geography and social studies textbooks in America. It found at least 500 errors.
A judge upheld Indiana’s school voucher law on Friday, rejecting opponents’ arguments that the largest such program in the nation unconstitutionally uses public money to support religion.
Marion Superior Court Judge Michael Keele said the School Choice Scholarship program doesn’t violate the state constitution because the state isn’t directly funding parochial schools. Instead, it gives scholarship vouchers to parents, who can choose where to use them. That was essentially the argument made by the program’s supporters.
About 4,000 children are enrolled in Indiana’s school voucher program, making it the nation’s biggest.
Indiana State Teachers Association President Nate Schnellenberger said opponents would keep fighting the law. The union had backed the lawsuit brought by teachers and religious leaders.
“The ruling from the judge does not shake our confidence and it will be appealed,’’ he told The Associated Press.
But officials with the Institute for Justice, which represented two parents who wanted to use the vouchers, said they believed the ruling would stand. Attorney Bert Gall said similar laws in Wisconsin and Ohio had been upheld, and the U.S. Supreme Court had also affirmed the constitutionality of vouchers.
“Today’s ruling is a resounding win for Indiana parents and students, and it is a major defeat for school choice opponents,’’ Gall said in a news release.
The ruling also dismissed arguments that the program unconstitutionally took funds from public schools and sent the money to private schools. Keele wrote that the Indiana Constitution clearly authorized “educational options outside of the public school system.’’
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, whose office defended the state program, praised the ruling.
“The court agreed that the choice scholarship program does not violate anyone’s rights, and we are pleased with the thoughtful analysis,’’ Zoeller said in a statement.
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma said the court ruling “validated’’ the school voucher program.
“The court clearly understood the goal that so many House Republicans fought so hard for, which is to give families that want and need school choice when it comes to their child’s education,’’ he said in a statement.
Lawmakers approved the law during the 2011 session. Gov. Mitch Daniels signed it last May and it took effect at the start of the school year. ISTA and opponents sued to block the law from taking effect, but Keele declined in August, saying it was likely to be upheld — which he did Friday.
DENVER – In 2009, Teikyo-Loretto Heights University changed its name and its mission. Now, Colorado Heights University is looking to help students in the area who typically are left with few options after high school.
“We saw that there was a definite need that how do we help these immigrants,” said Jason Johnson, director of marketing and admissions for Colorado Heights University.
On Saturday, the private school held an open house celebrating its open-door policy.
“We established our admissions standards that if you graduate high school in the state of Colorado, four years of high school in the state of Colorado, you pay our in-state tuition,” said Johnson.
Administrators will not ask about residency status. They will not ask for a social security number.
Colorado Heights overlooks west Denver, an area with hundreds of undocumented students, like Ana Yeli.
“So, it’s really hard to pay for college,” said Yeli. “Without loans, without anything, it’s really, really hard to pay for college.”
Undocumented students are forced to pay out-of-state tuition to public institutions. Those costs can easily be more than $10,000 per semester. Yeli says what Colorado Heights is doing can really help the neighborhood.
“Well, just because it gives them that hope of finishing a degree of continuing their education,” said Yeli. “If this school is giving them that chance, then that will help a lot of students that new hope, like ‘Hey, I’m going to college.’”
Johnson says undocumented students can also earn a chance for a scholarship at the school which would charge around $2,500 per semester for a full-time student.
“We have a merit-based scholarship program that’s all our own money,” said Johnson.
Former Republican Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo is famous for his strong stance on immigration.
“If it’s a private institution using private funds, they can do everything they want, I suppose,” said Tancredo. “My gut tells me, it’s a way to try to fill some seats.”
Tancredo adds that the efforts at Colorado Heights are essentially pointless.
“What you’ve got after you educate an illegal alien is an illegal worker,” said Tancredo.
He says that if the school wants to help families in the community, it should focus on those that entered the country legally.
“And, what do you tell the people who have done it the right way?” said Tancredo.
Tancredo believes this will be an experiment that will fail.
“Are there all these thousands and thousands out there chomping at the bit?” said Tancredo. “They’re here illegally, ‘please let me into some institution of higher education.’ I’ll bet not – to tell you the truth.”
Johnson says it’s worth a try. He says it’s worth it to give undocumented students some hope.
“I’m talking kids with 3.8, 4.0′s (grade point average) who simply, because they are not eligible for in-state tuition, they don’t go to college,” said Johnson. “So, you’ll have these valedictorians working at gas stations and it’s just not right.”
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Education Secretary Arne Duncan meeting at the Department of Education with a group that, according to the Department of Labor's newsletter, included a "majority" of people who were "DREAMers." (Official Department of Education photo by Leslie Williams)
(CNSNews.com) – A group of illegal aliens visited the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 15 where they held a “Student Voices” meeting with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, according to information about the meeting posted on the official Department of Education and Department of Labor websites.
Department of Education Spokesman Jim Bradshaw, while acknowledging receiving questions about the meeting from CNSNews.com, failed to respond to those questions after they were put to him via both phone and email messages on Thursday and Friday of this week.
At the meeting, according to the Department of Labor’s website, Duncan told the illegal aliens about the administration’s “efforts to assist students who are undocumented” through the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act—the DREAM Act. Solis also spoke to the illegal aliens about the DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act, sponsored by Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin (Ill.), would legalize illegal aliens who had entered the U.S. before their 16th birthday, who had been in the U.S. for at least five years preceding the passage of the act, and who had been admitted to a college or earned a high school diploma or a general education development certificate.
The Department of Education reported on the meeting between the illegal aliens and the two Cabinet secretaries in an article published on the department’s official blog.
The blog article, written by a New Mexico high school teacher designated as a “guest blogger,” was headlined: “Secretaries Duncan and Solis Meet with DREAMers.” The article explained that “DREAMer” is “a label derived from the ‘DREAM Act’ that the students use to describe undocumented young people.”
An online newsletter published by the Department of Labor said that “the majority” of the students who attended the meeting with Duncan and Solis were “DREAMers” who “spoke candidly about their uncertain futures and the possibility of deportation.”
[To see video of the Department of Education blog article and the Department of Labor's newsletter article and slideshow on Duncan's and Solis's meeting with the "DREAMers" click below:]
The piece on the Department of Education blog said: “The frank conversation between the Secretaries and the group of young advocates largely revolved around the obstacles undocumented youth face while living in the United States, particularly limited access to higher education.”
“Several of the students discussed how difficult it was to be a ‘DREAMer’—a label derived from the ‘DREAM Act’ that the students use to describe undocumented young people who have lived in the U.S. from a very young age,” said the blog report.
The blog also said the students complained to the two Cabinet secretaries that not having a Social Security Number blocked an illegal alien from applying to college and winning scholarships.
“The students explained their frustration and disappointment that they cannot fulfill their dreams of a college degree once they graduate high school, good grades and hard work are rendered invalid the day they learn they can’t apply to colleges or scholarships without having a social security number,” said the blog.
One student told that Cabinet secretaries that he was unable to afford college in the United States because he did not qualify for financial assistance.
“‘I got in to a top school,’ said one now non-student with tears welling up in his eyes,” said the blog. “‘But I deferred because I don’t have a way of paying for it. I can’t apply for financial aid, so Work Study is out.’”
The DOE blog also described “undocumented students” as “promising nation-builders.”
“There is irony in the fact that the U.S. has an abudance [sic] of undocumented students who are extremely motivated, informed, who earn excellent grades, and who have developed marketable skills,” said the blog. “And yet, we are turning away promising nation-builders in droves.”
The story in the Department of Labor’s online newsletter about the meeting was entitled: “Working to Make DREAM a Reality.” It said that Duncan and Solis had had “a lively discussion” about the DREAM Act with the students.
According to the DOL newsletter, the “majority” of the students attending the meeting with the two Cabinet secretaries were “DREAMers”—and thus illegal aliens. “The students, the majority of whom are DREAMers, spoke candidly about their uncertain futures and the possibility of deportation,” said the newsletter.
The Department of Labor’s website also posted a “slideshow” of photographs from the meeting. The caption for one of these photos reads: “Secretaries Solis and Duncan listen to students, many of whom DREAMers [sic], facing uncertain future of deportation.”
The caption for another photo says: “Secretary Duncan speaks about efforts to assist students who are undocumented, i.e., supporting the passage of DREAM Act.”
CNSNews.com contacted the press office of the Department of Education on Thursday morning to ask some questions about Duncan’s and Solis’s Dec. 15 meeting. The press office directed CNSNews.com to the voicemail of DOE Spokesman Jim Bradshaw. CNSNews.com left four questions on Bradshaw’s voicemail and then emailed the questions to Bradshaw’s DOE email address.
CNSNews.com also emailed Bradshaw links to the article on the Department of Education’s blog about the meeting, the piece in the Department of Labor’s newsletter, and the Department of Labor’s slideshow of photos from the meeting. The questions CNSNews.com asked Bradshaw were:
– How many undocumented aliens came to the meeting?
– Did they go through any security checks? How were they positively identified if they did not have legal documents attesting accurately to who they were?
– What countries were they from?
– Has Secretary Duncan (Solis) had any other meetings with illegal aliens at the Department of Education, or was this the first?
Bradshaw initially responded to CNSNews.com via email on Thursday morning, saying: “I’ll see what we can get for you on this.”
However, Bradshaw did not respond to follow-up emails on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning or to a second voice message left on Friday morning. Thus far, the Department of Education has not answered CNSNews.com’s questions.
The newsletter on Department of Labor website said Duncan’s and Solis’s meeting was with “students and members of the United States Student Association and United We Dream.”
In the “Vision & Mission” statement on its website, United We Dream says: “We aim to address the inequalities and obstacles faced by immigrant youth and to develop a sustainable, grassroots movement, led by immigrant youth, documented and undocumented, and children of immigrants.”
On a webpage explaining its own history, the United States Student Association says it has worked organizing students “as a nascent national student union in the late forties, as a cautiously liberal organization in the fifties, as an increasingly activist federation of student governments in the sixties, as a radical antiwar outfit in the early seventies, and as a broad-based progressive advocacy group in the eighties and nineties.”
by Laura Armstrong
Columnist The Marietta Daily Journal
March 12, 2011 11:19 PM
In her fifth term as a state representative from south Cobb, Alisha Morgan has been called a “leader in the movement for education reform,” according to one local newspaper. To date, Morgan has visited Ohio, Colorado and Virginia to discuss the topic, and likely other places I haven’t heard about. Her website promotes her as “a powerful political voice, inspirational speaker and empowering trainer… one of today’s trailblazing architects for change.”
Despite our opposite political bents, I’ve always admired Mrs. Morgan, who majored in drama and sociology at Spelman College and boldly ran for political office at age 23, winning a Gold Dome seat with the big boys. Today, at 32, she juggles Morganics, “a people services company that focuses on public speaking, leadership development, training and advocacy” with two kids and her part time job as a legislator. She’s got an impressive list of awards and clients, and has written a book, “No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics,” which is on my list of things to read.
Morgan, who sits on the house education committee, really put herself on the map last year as an advocate of school choice, which seemed a maverick thing to do considering her party’s usual disdain for letting parents choose when it comes to that sort of thing. She’s focused on the achievement gap, the disparity between demographic populations and a worthy educational challenge. And her many town hall meetings and projects through the years indicate she takes her job seriously, much more so than the good old boys in both parties who stay busy, well… doing other things, courtesy of taxpayers and lobbyists.
Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Laura Armstrong Rep Morgan must remember vow to put special interests aside
Nov 29, 2011- 5:04 - Former Rep. Tom Tancredo on the importance of border security and how the candidates will approach the issue.
BASHIR: STOP GINGRICH’S FOOD STAMP RHETORIC BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED
MSNBC host Martin Bashir rarely misses an opportunity to dramatize and string-together current Republican happenings with obscure incidents from the past. Example. On Friday Bashir made the arguably far-fetched comparison linking the murder of a black British teenager in 1993 to Newt Gingrich calling President Obama “the most effective food stamp president in American history.”
Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo discusses the extent of the investigation into the Department of Justice.
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