Words for the Future, Words To Watch, and a Long Line

Phil's blog A Family Runs Through It, the section Fun With Words is about his kids' choice of words. I'm waiting for this day...

I wanna see the movie, but not this bad. Some people have wayyy too much time on their hands... CNN.com - 'Star Wars' fans wait at wrong theater - Apr 6, 2005

Nice site to see your federal elected officials at work. GovTrack.us: Track Federal Legislation. I wish the Arizona legislative site was as easy and informative.

Last Night I picked up the phone and called an old and dear friend. The conversation drifted through the past, the future, and even some of the present. Talking with friends, something we should all do more often.

Simplistic way Az republican leadership is trying to increase school funding. Plan asks 65 cents of $1 to fund classrooms. If we legislate it, they will come. Yea, right. It sounds good, more for the classroom, less for "non-classroom" expenses. Some districts may be forced to cut librarians, guidance counselors, and speech therapists - especially the smaller & inner city districts . At the same time the leadership is pushing for a voucher program that will remove public education funding and redirect it to private education programs.

I am all for choice, I am all for increase funding, but these leaders need to find a better way. Public education, by federal law, is the school of last resort - they must take students. Inner city students don't always have the resources to attend a charter school in Gilbert. Instead of diluting the public pool go back and find alternatives. Give us options, don't just bully districts, don't cut funding.