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TEXAS EDUCATORS UNPROPESSIONALISM

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dali goddess

 

My activism in exposing CSCOPE has brought me a host of enemies in the Texas education industry.  They appear to be at ease with the controversial lessons where reading verses of the Quran in class, drawing new communist flags, portraying the Boston Tea Party as a terrorist act, etc. are the norm.  Despite that the lessons are biased and the teachers are being controlled and told what, when and how to teach with the CSCOPE program, they seem fine with that.  Many teachers have left the profession of teaching or have moved to work in private or charters schools.

 Dr. Brent Hawkins, ESC 6 Assistant Director and Cathy Moak, ESC 6 Component Director for School Transformation and Digital Learning have once again come out against me, showing their unprofessionalism in the process. My legal name is Rajene. I have never used the name RAJENE and someone must have taken the time to research me very thoroughly to have come across my legal name . Ms. Moak, in trying to paint me as something evil, searched my legal name on the internet and came up with the Sanskrit meaning of my legal name even though it’s reference has a different spelling and posted in on TWITTER. In her eyes I am the “dark one” a Hindu goddess. Dr. Hawkins also found this worthy information and chose to re-tweet it.

dark one

director hawkins

In 53 years I have never researched my legal name so I did some research of my own.  I summarize that Cathy must have looked pretty hard until she came up with something in order to demonize me with. I googled RAJENE and found another definition which I particularly favor in the following link, which is posted below and even has the correct spelling of my legal name. I am glad that my critics lead me to look up what my name really means and due to the fact that Dr. Hawkins told me months ago that I was not going to “tear apart something they have implemented”, it seems to fit really well. I don’t know who specifically “THEY”  are in Dr. Hawkins comment but I think I as well other activist across the state have been pretty successful in exposing the progressive agenda of these educators though the battle is far from over.

rajene

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CSCOPE’S…… FLIP FLOP PROGRAM!

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FLIP FLOP

 

CSCOPE or TEKS Resource System what ever you want to call the program has mastered the art of flip flopping dependent on the day and  current criticism of the program.   CSCOPE now known has the TEKS Resource System was operated by the non-profit Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative (TESCCC) is now being operated under the name Texas Curriculum Management Program Cooperative (TCMPC).  CSCOPE’s original promotional PowerPoint presentation used in promoting and selling their program to school districts outlined the research base in the creation of CSCOPE. Please make note that two of the most controversial individuals used in its creation of the program is  Marxist Lev Vygotsky and Radical Humanist Linda Darling Hammond (highlighted below). Hammond is associated with Communist Bill Ayers, the Weather underground bomber and is heavenly involved in the creation and implementation of the Common Core Standards.

HAMMOND

Performing another FLIP FLOP in hopes of  mending their damaged image the management team TCMPC has removed Vygotsky and Hammond from the research base though the foundation of CSCOPE has not changed. Despite it’s name change CSCOPE is the same, the management team consist of the same individuals. The program is all about implementing a Marxist Program called Project Based Learning built around the Collective, in  of promoting diversity, equity, and globalization.

ENGLISH

Due to the fact that CSCOPE was exposed last school year and received so much negative publicity the powers at be chose to change its name to the TEKS Resource System and to abolish its non profit.

Below is another slide from the PowerPoint notice they promote the idea of CSCOPE being Progressive and it is not a Parent Resource. Wow? They have tried for years to hide CSCOPE from the public and parents. Thankfully for the involvement in concerned Texas Citizens CSCOPE is now exposed for what it truly is, a complete radical progressive TRANSFORMATION of the education system in TEXAS.

WHAT CSCOPE IS AND NOT

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Students Hate Project Based Learning aka PBL

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pblThe progressive radical transformation of education today is called Project Based Learning. It is a teaching philosophy where the teacher is no longer as the progressives say “a sage on the stage” She/He becomes more like a coach, facilitator, and friend within this learning environment.  PBL is being implemented in Common Core states as well as those that did not adopt common core such as my home state Texas.  Project Based Learning is a  Marxist teaching philosophy based on the collective. Texas Parents need to wake up as to what is going on in your local school. Texas school districts have been implementing PBL with the use of CSCOPE and other curriculum tools for some time.

 

Students are not beginning to voice criticism about Project Based Learning on Social Media. We need more parents and students to voice their criticism of PBL as well using the hashtag #HATEPBL.

 

ramon

 

 

 

gun pbl

today

Comparison Chart between a Traditional Education and Project Based Learning

PBL COMPARISON

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A Right to Bear Arms not GUNS!! In TEXAS no Less!

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arms

I have to admit at 53 years of age I still find enjoyment in a fresh new box of crayons and new coloring book. Yes, I can still enjoying the art of coloring and drawing. The following blog in no way is to make fun of the student’s work but to criticize the teaching now taking place in Texas and the Nation. Online learning has become a HUGE focus in public schools now. Teachers post students work and pictures of the kids for the world to see. They want the students to connect with other world-wide. I find danger in letting children have free access to the internet but your local public school is not as concerned about your child’s safety as you are. The learning philosophy being utilized is called Project Based Learning, it is based on the collective the community in promotion of diversity, equity and globalization. American sovereignty is not taught in public school today, not even in Texas.

I found the following tweet on twitter praising the classwork of a Texas Student on their study of the Bill of Rights. I had originally thought it would be the work of an elementary student, with all the pretty pictures and colors.  You can understand my shock and amazement when I realized is was the work a 9th Grade  High School student. Is this the new TRANSFORMATION in Texas Education that Texas Superintendents are looking for?  Carrie Ross is an certified English Teacher at Trinity Independent School District.

In the students defense if he/she had actually drawn a gun, they probably would face school suspension in our politically correct society.

bear arms

2nd amendment.htm

mrs rose

After posting the above post Ms. Ross contacted me through twitter and wanted me to remove the post. Why? Why would you post it for the world to see then ask me to remove it. I am want to reiterate my criticism is not of the student but of the assignment. Teach the students the truth! Why we actually have a 2nd amendment is to stop a dictatorship. Obama and his left cronies would love to have our guns. They do not want an armed citizenry. Unarmed citizens will leave unable to protect our FREEDOM and our all our rights as American citizens.

ross2

“If you serve a child a rotten hamburger in America, federal, state and local agencies

will investigate you, summon you, close you down, whatever.

But if you provide a child with a rotten education, nothing happens, except

that you’re liable to be given more money to do it with.” — Ronald Reagan

soldiers

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The Downfall of the United States and It’s Education System

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stop common core

 

CSCOPE, Common Core, or Project Based Learning will contribute to the  downfall of the United States as most  have known it. All are based on a Marxist philosophy of teaching. It is based on the COLLECTIVE and not individual achievement. America’s  sovereignty is no longer taught. The lives of the men and women who fought and died for our freedom, you will not hear their names mentioned in a public school classroom.

God has been removed, though it is acceptable to learn about Allah and read the Quran, the religion enviromentalism is preached through all core subjects. It is acceptable for High School Students to draw new Communist Flags, etc.

 

The stupidity of of what is now transpiring in classrooms across America can be viewed in the videos below.

 

 

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A Mom had Enough of Coahoma School District!

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coahama

 

I went to the Coahoma school board meeting tonight, here is a copy of the letter I read.

Coahoma ISD School Board Members, 9/24/2013

I’m sure you have noticed the loss of several students and many staff; I am here to tell you why my husband and I have made the very difficult decision to take our son out of his neighborhood school, and transfer him to another district

As a volunteer in Coahoma elementary, I noticed a drastic change in the atmosphere, it has become what I would expect to find at an institution, not an elementary school with smiles and joy. It appears as though the students and staff are under a lot of stress, which is not an environment that encourages learning.

Last winter I observed Mr. Brown yell loudly at 2 groups of students, I started hearing him when I was in the office, and he was outside the restroom that is past the pre-K room. He was yelling “there is no talking in my halls”. I walked in that direction and saw him standing with his feet just inches from these students who were sitting on the floor with their back against the wall. When I called Ms. Jacobs, she cut my conversation short and told me to call Mr. Reddock, who said “that didn’t sound like something Mr. Brown would do.” When Mr. Brown was in the cafeteria, you could hear a pin drop. The kids were afraid to make a sound. Again, not a climate of an elementary school

Afternoon pick up, no child should ever be forced to sit on a curb, on the tail pipe side of the vehicles to breathe exhaust fumes while waiting to be picked up. This is a health hazard.

Last year, our son was tested for dyslexia here at my request. The results were that he had a couple of borderline scores, so he would receive no help. In his new school, they quickly identified that there was a problem, and they asked me for permission to test him for dyslexia. He is dyslexic. He has been in their dyslexia program since week two of the school year. I am so thankful that he is finally receiving the help he needs. It also makes me very upset that he was not thoroughly tested and properly served here at Coahoma. I am here because not every parent will fight for their child’s education, and I don’t want to see this happen to others.

Even though we have moved our child we are still being affected by Coahoma. His school has requested the 504 and dyslexia testing results from Coahoma on at least three separate occasions. I believe this is now week 5. On Monday, I called the elementary office and spoke to Sheryl. I let her know that I would be coming in to pick up our son’s 504 and dyslexia testing information, and asked her to have it ready, along with anything I needed to fill out to get them. She said she had been busy and would send them to the school when she had time. I let her know that I was picking them up, so she said “By law, I had to give her 2 days.” I am waiting the 2 days, but don’t see why I should, it’s been over a month that these records should have been sent. I understand that the school is understaffed, and has lost many wonderful people who truly cared about the students.

Please find out why so many good teachers and staff are leaving, and fix it. We need to keep those who truly care, and weed out the rest to have a quality school again. It is an embarrassment to the Coahoma community that the board is allowing this to go on. When I leave this room I could be considered just an upset parent, a troublemaker, or someone who just doesn’t know what’s really going on but you can not say I don’t care! I would hope that one of you sitting in this room would step up and do the job we have elected you to do!

Kimberly Mosino

 

 

Superintendent Pauline J Rhodes

http://www.coahomaisd.com/users/0001/admin pics/headshot-Amy.jpg

Superintendent Amy Jacobs
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 110
Coahoma, TX  79511
(432) 394-5000, ext. 4

 

coahama care2

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Dad Arrested for Speaking out Against Common Core!

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Robert Small of Towson, Maryland attended an open forum to get his questions answered regarding Common Core standards. It did not take long for those attending to realize those running the meeting had no intentions of answering genuine questions from parents or concerned citizens. The meeting was set up to stifle free speech and followup questions when parents were asked to submit question in writing ahead of time. When Small when off script and stood up to ask his questions despite the meeting format he was then escorted out my an armed officer moonlighting as a security guard. Small was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault though no assault visibly took place, facing a $2500.00 fine and up to 10 years in prison. All charges have sensed been dropped.

If America doesn’t wake up to what is going on they are in for some hard times. Texas at this moment has stifled their teachers from speaking out against the use of CSCOPE/Project Based Learning. The only ones that have spoken are the ones that are in position to retire or they have quit teaching. And then we have those that expose what is going on anonymously. While many chose to buy into the progressive agenda and are naive to the growing threat of fascism in America.

 

 

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Texan AG Calls For ‘Warriors’ For Freedom

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by John Griffing

World Net Daily

 

Only weeks after Texas attorney general candidate Barry Smitherman declared Texas should be prepared to go it alone if the U.S. economy collapses, the current occupant of the office, Greg Abbott, a Republican candidate for governor, is calling for “warriors” for freedom. gregabbott22

Smitherman, currently the chief of the Texas Railroad Commission, believes economic collapse could happen to the rest of the United States, not Texas. And he talked about energy policy as a way to make sure Texas commerce will continue. When he looks to the future, he focuses on Texas, because he believes there might not be the rest of the United States.

He said while he does not advocate secession, his state needs to be economically prepared for the expected coming tumult in the global energy market.

Now Abbott, who gave Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, his start in politics, is entering the national discourse on issues of state sovereignty and Texas self-government.

In an interview with WND, the state attorney general said Texas “will not back down in protecting our liberty or state sovereignty.”

“I’ve already sued the Obama administration 28 times to defend our rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “As governor, I will shift from the general in the battlefield to the commander-in-chief in our fight against federal government overreach.”

Before his election to the U.S. Senate, Cruz was Texas solicitor general and argued several landmark cases with Abbott before the U.S. Supreme Court. The cases included one challenging the intrusion of the World Court — to which the U.S. is not a party — into a state murder case and another protecting the display of the Ten Commandments on the Texas Capitol grounds.

In the World Court case against Mexican national Jose Medellín, Abbott recalled that he protected state sovereignty against not only the United States but also against Mexico and the World Court.

Medellín was sentenced to death in Texas for raping and killing two teenagers in Houston. Mexico, the International Court of Justice and the Bush administration insisted that the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations required Texas to give up its sovereign power to prosecute Medellín and that Texas was obliged to reopen his case and have it reconsidered, he said.

“The U.S. Supreme Court rejected those arguments and agreed with Texas, protecting our authority to enforce our state laws,” said Abbott.

Cruz and Abbott share an affinity for states’ rights as defined by the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Abbott joined other attorneys general around the country in a suit against the federal government for Obamacare, based on the Tenth Amendment.

The Tenth Amendment reads: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Abbott sees potential for the Tenth Amendment to be used to reclaim state-level jurisdiction in the place of what he calls federal “abusiveness.”

“The Tenth Amendment is gaining new life. I – and my fellow attorneys general – relied on the Tenth Amendment in the Obamacare case. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that Obamacare was a tax, the court also used the case to breath new life into the Tenth Amendment by ruling that Congress could not force states to expand Medicaid systems against their will,” he said.

“In voting rights, the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the Tenth Amendment give states – not the federal government – the authority to regulate elections. Texas is applying that Tenth Amendment victory to enforce its Voter ID law,” Abbott continued.

The Tenth Amendment also has guided Abbott in his opposition to Transportation Security Administration airport passenger body searches and scanning technology, which many believe aalso violate the Fourth Amendment.

Legislation introduced in 2012 to bar unpopular and constitutionally questionable body searches in Texas public transit centers had broad support in both houses of the Texas legislature,. However, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, incumbent in a contentious primary, convinced a majority of senators to swing their vote when the Obama administration pressured Dewhurst on federal funding.

In addition to commenting at length on broad issues of constitutional and legal significance, Abbott stated his plan for the common core curriculum prototype used in 80 percent of Texas schools called “CSCOPE.”

As WND recently reported, months after the controversial curriculum that compared the Boston Tea Party to an act of terrorism and called Islamic radicals “freedom fighters” was pronounced dead by Texas state legislators, some school districts are refusing to stop using the curriculum.

Further, a few state education officials are encouraging disregard of the law banning CSCOPE lessons from classrooms.

“As governor, I will drive a stake through the heart of CSCOPE, he said. “It’s disturbing that Texas education curriculum would portray the Boston Tea Party patriots as terrorists. Just as disturbing is that the curriculum was shielded from parents. I believe parents should have access to all materials teachers provide to children. The state continues its investigation into the actions of CSCOPE.”

Abbott said that during the legislative session, he supported SB 1406 by Sen. Dan Patrick to restrict the use of CSCOPE materials in Texas classrooms.

“I’ve been working with the state auditor concerning issues raised about contracting for services commissioned by the governing board of CSCOPE,” he said.

In the latest report on CSCOPE, WND outlined financial irregularities prompting a full forensic audit by the state, including millions of taxpayer dollars paid to out-of-state individuals without formal contract.

On the future of America and whether or not it will endure as a free country, Abbott said: “Liberty lies at the heart of American greatness. America is great not because of government, but because of freedom.”

He said there is “an arc in the story of America, and it bends toward freedom.”

“From Valley Forge to Vicksburg, from the Civil War to Civil Rights, from the Cold War to the War on Terror, Americans have always remembered that freedom is worth fighting for. We must reignite the passion for that freedom. But it takes more than words or thoughts,” he said. “It takes warriors.”
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/texan-ag-calls-for-warriors-for-freedom/#p4VlKPBQTFDFrORs.99

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Education is about Money, Power and Ideology not STUDENTS

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money

Texas Education Service Center XIII located out of Austin has been the hub of the financial part of CSCOPE. Here is a link to their 2011 990. Take Notice their gross receipts were 66,269.048. These same guys along with their cronies still salivate for additional funding from the State legislature all on “behalf of the kids.” As I have said and will continue to say, the education industry in Texas is not about students but MONEY, POWER and ideology. Aside from the kids suffering from this America will pay for it as well. 

990

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“Raise Your Hand’s Bogus Reform”

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raise your hand texas

 

“Raise Your Hand’s Bogus Reform”

by Donna Garner

9.18.13

 http://educationviews.org/raise-your-hands-bogus-reform-by-donna-garner-9-18-13/

 Principal Michelle Rice has been the principal of Copeland Elementary School in Cy-Fair ISD, Texas, for four years. She has graduated from the REEP (Rice Educational Entrepreneurship Program) which is a scholarship program designed and supported by Raise Your Hand. 

Raise Your Hand is the brainchild of Bill Ratliff (Thomas and Bennett Ratliff’s father, Ratliff Clan has made millions lobbying for Microsoft); Mike Moses (*who makes tens of thousands from his superintendent search firm among other education-related and lucrative sources of income), Charles C. Butt (owner of HEB supermarkets), Susan Kellner (whose husband is CEO of Continental Airlines), and other groupies.

Here are excerpts from Principal Rice’s glowing testimony posted on the REEP/Raise Your Hand website:

 Striving toward a 21st century mindset seemed the most logical next step in the development of my campus…To truly understand this approach, one must have a clear grasp of 21st century skills. It is not simply the idea of technology integration in the classroom. Instead, the 21st century model couples strong academics, the three R’s (reading, writing, and arithmetic) with the four C’s (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity) to create a strong educational environment that launches students on a learning quest…http://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/blog/ryhtreep-partnership-michelle-rice-principal-of-copeland-elementary-explains-her-innovative-plan-for-the-new-school-year/#.UjoDjGSG2K0

 After reading Principal Rice’s glowing account of Copeland Elementary School, I decided to see how well this campus did on the latest Texas Education Agency’s 2013 Accountability Ratings. Surely after Rice’s “fabulous” training with REEP/Raise Your Hand, her school’s scores must be very noteworthy.

 To gather my data, I used the following link on the Texas Education Agency’s website because it contains a composite screen of all of the campuses/districts in Texas along with their latest 2013 accountability ratings:  http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2013/statelist.pdf

 

COPELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOT SUPERIOR AT ALL

 

When I looked under the 2013 Accountability Ratings for Copeland Elementary School

(Cy-Fair ISD), what did I find?  This elementary school contains K-5 students and has an enrollment close to 1,000 students.  Guess how many Distinction awards among 40 like-characteristic campuses Copeland Elementary School received on the 2013 Accountability Ratings…NONE!  That means no Distinction award in English/Language Arts, no Distinction award in Math, and no Distinction award for being in the Top 25%. 

 

 

EXPLANATION OF 2013 ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS – DISTINCTIONS COLUMNS

 

The three Distinctions columns are indicative of superior performance because they are based upon objective data that rates academic achievement (the primary goal of the public schools.)  The campuses/districts are only compared with their same like-characteristic group of 40.

 

The first column under Distinctions means outstanding academic achievement in English/Language Arts/Reading

 

The second column means outstanding academic achievement in Math

 

The third column means the campus/district was in the Top 25% of schools among the 40 like-comparison group of campuses.

 

REEP/RAISE YOUR HAND NOT TRANSLATING INTO SUPERIOR STUDENTS

 

Principal Rice and Copeland Elementary School may be utilizing REEP/Raise Your Hand’s 21st Century technology integration, but it is obviously not translating into academic achievement for the students.  In truth, that was probably not Rice’s real motive for going through the REEP/Raise Your Hand administrators’ program.  The candidates who graduate from REEP/Raise Your Hand (Mike Moses’ brainchild) are undoubtedly first on his list when he is hired by school districts to help them search for a superintendent.  “The good old boy (or girl) network appears to be alive and well in Texas.” 

 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MIKE MOSES FAMILY

 

*The Dallas Morning News found multiple dubious behavior patterns during Mike Moses’ watch as Dallas ISD superintendent.

 

Allegations have surfaced about out-of-control spending with school credit cards, lost dollars for health plans, abuse of federal e-rate funds, irregular technology vendor contracts, misspent federal bilingual education funds, costly deals with Kinko’s, apparent conflicts of interest involving Voyager Expanded Learning, contributions by computer vendors, questionable bond sales, multiple teacher grievances, eyebrow-raising private consultancies, lucrative Coca-Cola contracts, and special privileges for vendors participating in the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) conferences.  

 

Mason Moses is the son of Mike Moses and is an employee who is financially tied to CSCOPE/TESCCC/ESC’s.  

 

 

 

Donna Garner

Wgarner1@hot.rr.com

 

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Islam was Tolerant! says “CSCOPE”

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9-17-2013 8-45-22 PM

 

This lesson is in the TEXAS World History CSCOPE curriculum speaks for itself. Now we know why the Texas Education Service Centers hid this MESS!! Texas Students deserve better. 

religious tolernace

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Texas SBOE Bully gets a Gold Star!

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pat hardy 2
Texas State Board of Education member Patricia Hardy has no respect for parents concerned about CSCOPE. She tried to belittle and bully parent Kara Sands during last Friday’s SBOE ad hoc committee formed to review the CSCOPE Socials Studies. Ms. Sands had legitimate concerns and in explaining them to the committee Ms. Hardy put her bullying tactics in motion, questioning Ms. Sands at every turn.

You would think someone on the State Board of Education would take the time to honestly listen to parents and what concerns them but that isn’t the case in Texas. Yes we have some great members but we have to progressive RINO’s on the state board that need to go, Pat Hardy and Thomas Ratliff. 

The following is an email Ms. Hardy sent to a Jan Moberley @ ESC 10 in relation to the SBOE meeting.

pat hardy

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Texas Smithville ISD host “Muslim Journeys”

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Is Islam a religion of Peace? I know of not one “peaceful” Islamic country. I know of not one country where Islam is the predominate religion and religious freedom is available to those of other faiths. I know of no Islamic country where the women are not treated  in the most degrading manner.

You would think America would see the writing on the wall. One would think America’s  administration would warn it’s citizens of the “pending doom” of an Islamic Caliphate but unfortunately they are just as responsible and are involved in the agenda. And, unfortunately you have those that are totally ignorant of the threat of Islam. They see men dressed in suits and ties appearing so cordial and agreeable when speaking of their “Islamic Faith” and what it has to offer. They don’t realize that those that have their goal of taking over America will stop at nothing in accomplishing it. They will lie and deceive any and all if the end result is an Islamic Caliphate. They hate the United States. Islam is not about a religion but Dominance. The definition of Islam is submission.

America is so gullible andright now  times are good but it will be our children and grandchildren that will suffer for our complacency.

Smithville ISD along with the Smithville library will host “Muslim Journey’s” tonight, Monday Sept 16th, 6:30pm @ Smithville High School. I spoke with Cheryl Burns the superintendent of curriculum last Friday about the meeting tonight where students are invited to explore an assigned book from their Geography Class titled “The Country of Men” authored by libyan writer Hirsham Matar. I have not read the book, “yet” but the following photo of one of the pages was sent to me. I asked Ms. Burns about this section and she stated “that is just one part of the book” . Wow!! There are no longer any boundaries in our Public schools as to what is appropriate and not appropriate to read.

PENIS

 muslim journeys

WHO YOU NEED TO THANK FOR THIS! 

Judith Bergeron, Library Director

Dr. Rock E. McNulty, Superintendent

Cheryl Burns, Superintendent of Curriculum

Smithville Independent School District Board of Trustees Kamron Saunders, Board President Steve McKay, Board Vice-President Mike Morgan, Board Secretary Alan Hemphill, Trustee Michael Goertz, Trustee Samella Williams, Trustee Howard Burns, Trustee

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Texas Patriots Needed in Austin Friday, Sept 13th

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say no

The State Board of Education’s Ad Hoc Committee on CSCOPE is having a hearing this Friday, Sept. 13 @9am. If you care about the direction of our state, country and most importantly our children we need You! We are asking Parents & Taxpayers to come voice your opposition on the Marxist/Progressive takeover of our Texas Public School System with CSCOPE/Project Based Learning/CommonCore.  You may register up to Friday morning by calling  512-463-9007. 

The Hearing with be at the Texas Education Agency, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, 78701.

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EMPATHY AND THE COMMON CORE: “Oh, say can you feel?”

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save america

Merrill_Hope_photo

by Merrill Hope

Empathetic learning is all the rage in the Common Core.  They call it SEL (Social & Emotional Learning).  Sort of like the newfangled “empathetic medicine” where I suppose the surgeon feels the pain of the patient.  Hopefully, not while operating.   Yup, put yourself right into someone else’s shoes, literally.  Not sympathy where I feel your pain but rather, I KNOW your pain.  Yup, empathy.  Well, your 9-year-old better have a whole lot of it 10 months a year, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am-3pm   because, like with everything else in CCSS (Common Core State Standards), empathy’s been revised, rebranded and repackaged for the 21st Century classroom.

 

So, what is empathy?  Webster’s defines it as the “identification with and understanding of the thoughts and feelings of another.” Well, I’m not so sure that little Johnny has very much of that character trait under his kindergarten belt.  How can he possibly identify with something he hasn’t lived to understand or have the learned trait of compassion for the feelings of another human being?  He can’t. 

 

Empathy is a feeling “deep in your soul, you were half now you’re whole…” That’s why you are a “people who needs people.”  But at this age, little Johnny isn’t among the luckiest people in the world.  He only knows the pain of a time out.  Nope, a 5-6-7-8-9 year old really doesn’t care all that much about his classmate’s feelings.  However, we are legislating empathetic learning in a classroom, ever walking the proverbial fine line between education and indoctrination. 

 

Yes, empathy is a great trait; however, we humans don’t really begin to flex our empathetic muscle much until after we set foot in a world outside of me, myself and I.  For some, that day never comes but for most of us, we get there through life’s experiences.  Yeah, move out of mom and dad’s basement!  Enter the rat race! Lose your job or a loved one!  Have a few joys and sorrows, successes and failures!  Still can’t find your empathy, become a parent.   Instant empathy!

 

But this is not how our children are coming to empathy compliments of CASEL (Collaborative Academic, Social & Emotional Learning); and this is the public educational mindset that’s been in a classroom for at least 10 years.   In fact, the 2013 CASEL guide titled “Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs: Preschool and Elementary school edition” is “dedicated to advancing the science and practice of school-based social and emotional learning (SEL).  CASEL’s mission statement is to “make social and emotional learning an integral part of education from preschool through high school.”  Maybe that’s why there’s so little time for exact sciences, concrete math and classic literature. 

 

But what CASEL calls empathy isn’t empathy at all.  It’s sympathy.  You can feel or project feelings onto another person’s situation without ever experiencing it.  Ever see that online video of the British school children absolutely out-of-their-minds, sobbing, as they describe the many ways climate change and human beings are killing Mother Earth?  That’s sympathetic-learning.  Well, maybe, Clockwork Orange-style learning.

 

So, let’s look at sympathy, what we feel for our fellow humans sans the actual shared experience.  Sympathy is defined as a “relationship between individuals in which whatever affects one affects the other in a similar way; the capacity to share another’s feelings.”  But don’t let that dramatic difference stop the Common Core classroom where empathy is systematically implemented as a social skills tool used connotatively to mean sympathy.  Can you say Newspeak? 

 

Linda Darling-Hammond, a major stakeholder in CCSS and CSCOPE, sits on the CASEL board of directors while other esteemed colleagues hail from the reaches of the Fed Led Ed creative hub, the University of Chicago.  Should we be trusting these same folks, many of whom are behind the Common Core, to design these litmus tests of acceptable and “positive social behavior” for our children and future generations? 

Furthermore, CASEL touts it “began the tradition of identifying SELect programs in its ‘Safe and Sound: An Educational Leaders Guide to Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning” as far back as 2003; CASEL even self-proclaims their corresponding documentation as groundbreaking because it provided an overview of the SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) field.   Was there an outbreak of low E that year?  Was there an outcry for higher E-quotient?

 

There has been a meteoric rise  of the IEP (Individual Education Plan) over the past decade.  Any correlation to CASEL and their SELect?  In California, 2005 was a pivotal year in the redefinition of social/emotional/mental health in the classroom.  Check-listed traits of high-functioning autism were broadened on the spectrum and lobbyists fetched big bucks for many of our local public schools.  That same year little golden state suburban school districts used a peculiar term to describe a kindergartner’s behavior: “Little Johnny has no empathy.”

 

Long gone are the days where kids can be kids in school, especially little boys who, by nature, are empathy-deficient and are genetically wired to resolve differences with their fists.  But in the empathetic classroom we will have none of that behavior.  In fact, you might need to glue that fidgety kindergarten boy to that floor mat during story time.  Move and it may be ADHD.  By the way, have you heard that Common Core and Pearson have a “bonafide” tool to test for that now?  Yup. Bona-fide ADHD.

 

So what happens to the perfect child when (s)/he slips up?  Oh no, little Johnny woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  He is not feeling very empathetic.  He is feeling 6.  He’s had an outburst, punched a kid on the playground and now is crying.  He also called a kid a mean name and he brought peanut butter in his lunchbox. Red alert!  Little Johnny is now on the SEL radar but that’s okay because the intervention team is right around the corner, lined up as far as the eye can see! They are ready to assess, checklist, diagnose and make a empathy plan for your kid all under the safe school policies of your 21st Century public school education code.  But wait, did little Johnny destroy property?  Defame the schoolyard? Burn down a building?  Nope, just a little low E.

 

For all its claims of unbridled rigor, CCSS is a social & emotional learning apparatus.  CASEL brings the five competencies directly to your child’s hard drive: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making.  In theory, great ideas.  In reality,  to do all or any one of these things requires the ability to “recognize one’s emotions and thoughts” and their real or perceived impact on others around them.  It requires regulating one’s emotions, thoughts and behaviors during school hours.  This also includes “managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.”  Isn’t that a lot for a 3rd grader to do besides cursive.  Oh, I forgot, no cursive in school anymore. 

 

Today, children must have the wherewithal to “take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior…” while maintaining “healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups.  This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.” Is this before or after lunch? 

 

You know, by all internet accounts and puff pieces on Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and the late Steve Jobs, doesn’t seem any of the above were engaged or empathetic students in their K-12 days.  Yet these very same hands are all over 21st Century learning data-mining machine.   Oh, for goodness sake, how could such self-absorbed, self-involved and empathy-deficient boys grow up to become astounding innovators and entrepreneurs?  These are the traits of focused, geeky, genius, inspired, free-market leaning capitalists, not social entrepreneurs. Wonder how they would fare in today’s public school climate?   Asperger’s, Oppositional Defiance and ADHD with a side of OCD? IEPs for all.  You have to wonder though, does this brave new “empathy” move us closer to Orwell’s vision than to Einstein’s vision of the future.  Einstein, not the best student either…

 

Mom, dad, you okay with all this? 

Merrill Hope is a contributing writer to Save America Foundation who has also blogged for other outlets including City on A Hill and Lady Patriots.   Her articles have also appeared in As A Mom’s (AAM) MinuteMom Magazine.  Over the years, she’s inked articles and columns for the Hollywood Reporter and Backstage West.  A founding member of CURE (Citizens United for Responsible Educaiton), a chair on AAM Workshop and a guest speaker, she is also on Twitter @ Merrill  Hope @outoftheboxmom.

Sources at http://casel.org/guide/http://startempathy.org/https://www.ashoka.org/;http://casel.org/wp-content/uploads/Final-Summary-for-HR-2437.pdf;http://sshs.promoteprevent.org/publications/prevention-briefs/social-and-emotional-learning

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Texas Teachers 2013/2014 CSCOPE.. GAG ORDER!

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CONTROL, CONTROL, CONTROL…. Below is what Texas Teachers have to agree to in order to enter the CSCOPE/TEKS Resource System. It is surprising that after all that has transpired over the last year and the controversy behind CSCOPE, the owners, the education service centers still want to control parents and teachers when it comes to viewing or speaking out against CSCOPE.

gag order

TEXAS CURRICULUM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM COOPERATIVE

TEKS Resource System Terms of Service

Welcome to the TEKS Resource System website. Please review the following Terms of Service carefully. These Terms of Service are a legally binding contract between you, as the user of this website, and the Texas Curriculum Management Program Cooperative (“Cooperative” or “our” or “we” or “us”). It applies to your use of the Site and all information, media, content, printed materials and electronic documentation accessible from teksresourcesystem.net or any of its sub-domains (collectively, the “Site”). An employee of a Texas independent school district, charter school, or private school that has licensed use of the TEKS Resource System (a “LEA”), parents of LEA students who access the Site from a LEA computer on a LEA campus in accordance with the policies and procedures of the LEA, and employees and representatives of regional education service centers or the Cooperative, and any individual who has received TCMPC’s express written consent is an “Authorized User.”

The “Services” available to Authorized Users through the Site are the curriculum system, including assessments and assessment items, answer keys, curriculum components and resources (collectively, the “Components”), and professional development courses on the Site. The Services are designed to facilitate the ability of Authorized Users to provide instruction to children enrolled in LEAs in the State of Texas. We will continue to further develop Services and operate the Site, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, with a view to enhancing the ability of parents and of teachers and of other Authorized Users to provide high quality educational instruction.

 

1. Acceptance of Terms of Service.

Please review these Terms of Service carefully. By accessing or using the Site, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by them. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use this Site.

 

2. Limited License; Permitted Uses; Restrictions on Use.

You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

  • permit parents to review the Components and Website in accordance with the policies and procedures of the LEA that is your employer and with Texas Education Code § 26.006;
  • permit parents to view the Site and have access to all Components when present at a school within the child’s LEA in accordance with the policies and procedures of the LEA;
  • access and use the Site, the Services, and all Components strictly in accordance with this Agreement and any other agreement entered into between you, the Cooperative and/or any entity by which you are employed or with which you contract, and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the LEA;
  • use the Site solely for purposes of furthering the educational goals of the public schools that are licensees, either in their own right or through their LEA or the Cooperative, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the policies and procedures of the LEA;
  • print out and modify Components solely for the purposes set forth in the preceding bullet, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and the policies and procedures of the LEA;
  • modify the Components and create derivative works from the Components in accordance with Section 2 of the terms of this Agreement and the policies and procedures of the LEA. All modifications and derivative works of the Components belong to the Cooperative;
  • share the Components you have modified with other Authorized Users in accordance with this Agreement and the policies and procedures of the LEA.

You may not make any other use of the Site or Components. Other than this license, you do not have any license, title, or ownership of/to the TEKS Resource System or any other intellectual property of the Cooperative or any third party.

Your license for access and use of the Site and Components is subject to the following restrictions:

  • You must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as well as any policies and procedures imposed by the LEA regarding your use of the Site and the Components provided on the Site.
  • Except for access to parents and others as permitted by this Agreement, you may not make any portion of the Components available to someone who is not an Authorized User (including by copying, printing, transmitting, through any current or future technology or otherwise).
  • You may not, other than for the purpose of administering a test to students assigned to you, release any unit test or assessment or answer keys to parents, students, or individuals who are not Authorized Users within the LEA that is your employer (including copying, printing, posting or transmitting, through any current or future technology or otherwise).
  • You may not use the Site to make statements or Components that are defamatory, libelous, threatening, harassing, invasive of privacy, stalking, abusive, tortuous conduct, hateful, discriminatory based on race, ethnicity, gender, sex or disability, pornographic or obscene.
  • You may not use any Components in any manner that may violate or infringe any rights of the Cooperative or any third party.
  • You may not knowingly distribute viruses, Trojan horses, worms, or other harmful or programming routines.
  • You may not impersonate any person or entity, including, without limitation, one of the Cooperative’s or other entities’ officers or employees, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity or commit any fraudulent act.
  • You may not remove, change or obscure any copyright notice or other proprietary notices contained in any portion of the Site.
  • You may not remove, decompile, disassemble or reverse engineer any Site software or use any network monitoring or discovery software to determine the Site architecture or use any automatic or manual process to harvest information from the Site.
  • You may not transfer your right to use any portion of the Site or give your password to any other person.
  • You may not intentionally use the Site to interfere with or disrupt any services or equipment.
  • You may not take any action that would involve the unauthorized entry to any machine accessible via the Site or interference with the Site or any servers or networks connected to the Site or disobey any requirements, procedures, policies or regulations of networks connected to the Site, or attempt to breach the security of or disrupt Internet communications on the Site (including without limitation accessing data to which you are not the intended recipient or logging into a server or account for which you are not expressly authorized).
  • You may not execute any form of network monitoring or run a network analyzer or packet sniffer or other technology to intercept, decode, mine or display any packets used to communicate between the Site’s servers or any data not intended for you and you cannot attempt to circumvent authentication or security of any Components, host, network or account (“cracking”) on or from the Site.
  • You may not collect or store personal data about other account users or attempt to gain access to other account users’ accounts or otherwise mine information about other account users or about the Site.
  • You may not forge headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any information transmitted through the Site.
  • You may not take any action contrary to the Cooperative’s public image, goodwill, reputation or mission or otherwise not in furtherance of the intended uses of the Site

2. Copyright and Trademark Rights.

The content, curriculum, organization, graphics, design, photographs, images, text, audio/visual clips, sound records, compilations, magnetic translations, digital conversion and other materials located on the Site (the “Components”) are protected under applicable copyright, trademark and other proprietary and intellectual property rights. In addition, “TEKS Resource System” is our common law service mark and trademark. We own this mark and any other trademarks, service marks, slogans and logos (the “Marks”) used and displayed on the Site. Registration of the Marks is pending with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Please note:

  • You do not have any ownership rights to any Components or other materials viewed on or generated by the use of the Site. Your posting of information or materials on the Site does not constitute a waiver by the Cooperative of any right in such information and materials.
  • Posting the Components on other websites is strictly prohibited.
  • If you create any materials based on any portion of the Components, you must give full attribution to the Cooperative and you must include all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in this Agreement or in the Components.

Failure to abide by the Terms of Service will give the Cooperative the right to immediately and automatically terminate this Agreement, and may result in the infringement of the copyrights and trademarks owned by the Cooperative or its licensors.

 

4. Account Set Up and Requirements.

In order for Authorized Users other than a Parent to access the Site, you or your employer must create an account in the following manner:

  • To register for an account, you must provide your first name, last name, and a valid school or organization email address. Account creation will be coordinated by your organization, your Educational Service Center (ESC), or 3rd Learning. Upon creation of your account, you will receive an email with the appropriate login credentials. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and protecting against unauthorized use of your password.
  • · At your initial login, you will be asked whether you have read this Agreement and whether you agree to abide by its terms. If you do not agree to abide by the terms, you will not be permitted to access the Site.
  • You may be asked specific questions if you are seeking to use certain features of the Site, and your answers to those questions will determine whether or not you are eligible to register for those features. If you answer “I agree” and you answer all of the questions posed for each feature and otherwise are eligible, your account may be activated.
  • If you answer “I Do Not Agree” or otherwise do not answer all of the questions or otherwise are not eligible, your account will not be activated and you will not be permitted to access the Site.
  • We reserve the right to decline to activate an account in our reasonable judgment.
  • If your account is activated, you will receive a notification email immediately after you register. You must confirm your email address by clicking on the confirmation link in the notification email. Once you have confirmed your email address, you will be permitted to log in, view, load, and use the specific features of the Site for which you have been registered and which are permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
  • By making such confirmation, you acknowledge that you have read, understand your rights and obligations under, and agree to be bound by this Agreement. You further acknowledge that certain features will be provided subject to additional terms of service (or a separate written agreement) and you agree to abide by such additional terms of service.
  • You are responsible for all activities by you or others that occur under your password and user name. You will immediately notify us if your password is lost, stolen, disclosed to an unauthorized third party or otherwise has been compromised or if there is any other breach of security.
  • You must ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session.
  • You must provide true, accurate, and complete information about yourself as prompted by our account activation form and promptly update your account information to keep it accurate and complete.

5. Message Boards & Other Public Forums.

The Cooperative may offer certain functionality on the Site, including message boards, blogs, chat rooms, instant messaging and other public forums. Your participation in these items is voluntary. However, any information or content you provide is not private or confidential and you authorize us and our affiliates and licensees to use the content you post, without compensation to you or others. The Cooperative may copy, reproduce, incorporate, distribute, publicly display or otherwise use any information you post as we deem appropriate throughout the world in any format or media. The Cooperative may edit, refuse to post or remove content you submit. To the extent permitted under applicable law, you waive and release and covenant not to assert any moral rights that you may have in any content posted by you. By posting content on the Site, you represent to the Cooperative that you own or have the right to use and permit the Cooperative to use the content as permitted by this Agreement. You agree not to post any content that belongs to any person other than yourself or that contains the name, voice or likeness of any person other than yourself unless you first obtain written permission to do so from that person. The Cooperative has no obligation to delete content that you personally may find objectionable or offensive. We do not control the information posted and we do not guarantee the accuracy, integrity or quality of such information. We do not endorse or make any warranties or representations with TCMPC Revised 08/21/2013 Page 6 of 10 regard to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of any content posted on any public forum on the Site.

 

6. Personal Page.

While accessing or using the Site, you may be provided access to a personal web page that can be personalized with your own content (a “Personal Page”). Your Personal Page may have several features, such as a personal URL at a sub-domain or URL as may be designated by the Cooperative, reports and email address book. Your use of the Personal Page may require your agreement and compliance with supplemental terms at the time that you register for a Personal Page.

 

7. Availability of Site.

The Cooperative reserves the right to establish general practices and limits concerning the Site and user accounts at any time and may modify such practices and limits as it determines appropriate, including without limitation the maximum number of days that your or any third party’s information, pictures, content or email will be retained and the maximum amount of disk space that will be allotted on our or our vendors’ servers on your behalf. The Cooperative has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to deliver or store your Personal Page or any other public forum, or any information, pictures, content or email provided by or stored by you on your Personal Page or any other public forum, regardless of whether the deletion or failure was due to the established practices or as a result of our error, intentional misconduct, or negligence. The Cooperative reserves the right to log off accounts that are inactive for a period of time designated by the Cooperative and reserves the right at any time it determines appropriate, and from time to time, to modify or discontinue, either temporarily or permanently, your access to the Site, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that we shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any such modification, suspension or discontinuance of your access to the Site.

 

8. Errors, Corrections and Changes.

The Cooperative does not represent or warrant that the Site will be error free, free of viruses or other harmful components, or that defects will be corrected. We may make changes to the features, functionality or Components at any time. We reserve the right to edit or delete any documents, information or other Components as we determine appropriate.

 

9. Use of Submissions.

We reserve the right, and you authorize us, to use and assign all information regarding Site uses by you and all information provided by you in any manner consistent with our Privacy Policy. All remarks, suggestions, ideas, graphics, or other information about the Components or the Site (or any service, information, content or documentation therein) communicated by you to us (collectively, a “Submission”) and all intellectual property rights from the date of creation or inception will forever be our property. We will not be required to treat any Submission as confidential, and will not be liable to you or others for any ideas (including without limitation, Components or ideas) comprising Submissions, all of which may be freely used by us without compensation, accounting or restrictions, and we will not incur any liability as a result of any similarities that may appear in our future products, TCMPC Revised 08/21/2013 Page 7 of 10 services or operations. Without limitation, we will have exclusive ownership of all present and future existing rights to each Submission of every kind and nature everywhere. We will be entitled to use the Submission for any commercial or other purpose whatsoever, without compensation or accounting to you or any other person. You acknowledge that you are responsible for whatever material you submit, and you have sole responsibility for the content thereof, including its legality, reliability, appropriateness, originality, accuracy, and copyright.

 

10. Term & Termination.

This Agreement is effective from the date you first access the Site, and continues in effect until terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

The Cooperative may terminate your access to the Site without prior notice if: (i) you breach this Agreement; (ii) any government agency so directs; (iii) technical or security issues occur; or (iv) the LEA User License Agreement under which you are an Authorized User terminates.

On termination, the Cooperative may immediately deactivate or delete your account and all related information, files or content in your account and bar any access to such information or content by you or others. The Cooperative shall not be obligated to return or provide copies of any information, files or content in your account to you upon deactivation. The Cooperative shall not be liable to any third party for any deactivation of your access to the Site.

Upon termination, neither you nor the Cooperative will have any further obligation to the other under this Agreement except for liability arising prior to the effective date of termination. Also, your obligations under this Agreement, which by their nature are intended to survive termination (such as indemnification) shall survive the termination of your access to the Site.

 

11. Investigation of Complaints.

We reserve the right to investigate complaints or reported violations of this Agreement and to take appropriate action, in our reasonable judgment. If you wish to submit a complaint or report a violation of this Agreement, please notify the Cooperative at the address stated in Section 11 with a description of the alleged complaint or violation and the person or entity that is the subject of your complaint or of the violation.

 

12. Notice of Claims of Intellectual Property Violations.

The Components may include pictures, information, testimonials, letters, marks, slogans and other content uploaded or provided by third parties or otherwise received from third parties. The Cooperative does not permit the use of Components that infringes on the copyright or trademarks or rights of publicity of others, and will remove any such content that violates the copyright or trademarks or other rights of others if properly notified of such violation in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Agreement. If you believe that any of the Components infringes your copyright or trademark rights or your rights of publicity, please TCMPC Revised 08/21/2013 Page 8 of 10 provide the Cooperative (whose contact information is provided below) with the following information:

  • a physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
  • identification of the copyrighted work or mark or publicity right claimed to have been infringed, or, if you believe that multiple works, marks or publicity rights have been infringed, a representative list of such works, marks or publicity rights;
  • identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit the Cooperative to locate the material;
  • information reasonably sufficient to permit the Cooperative to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address at which you may be contacted;
  • a statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the owner, its agent, or the law; and
  • a statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of a right that is allegedly infringed.

The Cooperative’s agent for the notice of any claim of infringement of any copyright or trademark or right of publicity is as follows:

By mail:
Texas Curriculum Management Program Cooperative
Attention: Wade Labay
5701 Springdale Road
Austin, Texas 78723

Please provide all of the information requested above. No specific form is required to provide the Cooperative with notifications of possible infringement. However, it will take the Cooperative longer to process your notice if any of this information is not provided, and in some cases, we may not be able to process your notice.

 

13. Disclaimer.

THE SERVICES, INFORMATION, CONTENT AND DOCUMENTS FROM OR THROUGH THE SITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” “AS AVAILABLE,” WITH “ALL FAULTS,” AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE DISCLAIMED (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE DISCLAIMER OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE). THE INFORMATION, CONTENT AND DOCUMENTATION MAY TCMPC Revised 08/21/2013 Page 9 of 10 CONTAIN BUGS, ERRORS, PROBLEMS OR OTHER LIMITATIONS. THERE IS NO WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR GUARANTEE THAT THE SITE WILL CONTINUOUSLY OPERATE OR BE ERROR FREE OR THAT ANY PROBLEMS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT ANY INFORMATION, SOFTWARE OR OTHER MATERIAL ACCESSIBLE FROM THE SITE IS FREE OF VIRUSES, WORMS, TROJAN HORSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. FURTHER, WE DO NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF, OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SITE EITHER IN TERMS OF ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH HARDWARE OR OTHER SOFTWARE, ITS RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE; AND YOU RELY ON THE SITE SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE AND OUR AFFILIATED PARTIES HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR YOUR USE OF ANY SERVICE, INFORMATION, CONTENT OR DOCUMENTATION, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 14. IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT AS A LIMITATION, WE AND OUR AFFILITATED PARTIES ARE NOT LIABILITY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF PROFITS, LITIGATION, OR THE LIKE), WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBLITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND EVEN IF THE REMEDIES STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT FAIL OF THEIR ESSENTIAL PURPOSE. THE NEGATION AND LIMITATION OF DAMAGES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 13 ARE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF THE BASIS OF THE BARGAIN BETWEEN YOU AND US. THIS SITE AND THE CONTENT, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION PRESENTED WOULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT SUCH LIMITATIONS. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM US THROUGH THE SITE OR OTHERWISE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR GUARANTEE NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT. ALL RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES CAUSED BY VIRUSES CONTAINED WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC FILE CONTAINING A FORM OR DOCUMENT IS DISCLAIMED.

 

14. Limitation of Liability.

  • Neither the Cooperative nor any Affiliated Party shall be liable for any loss, injury, claim, liability, or damage of any kind resulting in any way from: (i) any errors in or omissions on the Site or in the Components; (ii) the unavailability or interruption of the Site or any features thereof; (iii) your use of the Site; (iv) the Components; or (v) any delay or failure in performance beyond the control of the Cooperative or any Affiliated Party.
  • THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF THE COOPERATIVE AND THE AFFILIATED PARTIES TO YOU AND OTHERS USING THE SITE UNDER THE SAME DISTRICT USER LICENSE AGREEMENT, IN THE AGGREGATE, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE CONTENT, THE SITE, THE CONTENT AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED TCMPC Revised 08/21/2013 Page 10 of 10 AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT PAID UNDER YOUR DISTRICT USER LICENSE AGREEMENT IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE BREACH AND THAT AMOUNT SHALL BE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER REMEDIES WHICH YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST US AND ANY AFFILIATED PARTY.

15. Governing Law.

This Agreement, and all related matters, shall be governed by Texas law and United States law. Any action arising out of any dispute with respect to this Agreement shall only be brought in the state or federal courts located in Travis County, Texas. You agree that the statute of limitations for any claim against the Cooperative shall be brought within one year from when the claim arose, and any claims not brought within such period of time shall be deemed waived.

 

16. Equitable Remedies.

You agree that, if the terms of this Agreement are not specifically enforced, we will be irreparably damaged, and therefore you agree that we shall be entitled, without bond, other security or proof of damages, to appropriate equitable remedies with respect any breaches, in addition to any other available remedies.

 

17. Miscellaneous.

This Agreement shall be interpreted as to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any party. Any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not apply in interpreting this Agreement. This Agreement and all incorporated agreements and your information may be automatically assigned by us in our sole discretion to a third party in the event of an acquisition, sale or merger. If any provision of this Agreement is held illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be replaced, to the extent possible, with a legal, valid, and enforceable provision that is similar in tenor to the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as is legally possible. To the extent that anything in or associated with the Site is in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement, this Agreement shall take precedence. Our failure to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision nor of the right to enforce such provision. Our rights under this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement. The captions used in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and shall have no effect on the construction of the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement (and each supplemental agreement referenced in or referencing this Agreement found on the Site) constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Cooperative with respect to the Site, the Components and any related matter.

 

18. Changes to Terms of Use.

We reserve the right to change the Terms of Service any time by reasonable notice, including without limitation by posting revised Terms of Service on the Site (which shall constitute reasonable notice). All amended Terms of Service shall be binding upon you immediately upon their posting on the Site. Thus, you should consult the most recent version of these Terms of Service each time you view the Site.

Do you agree?

 

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Join: Frank Gaffney at Texas Education Summit… Sept. 14

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Join WomenontheWall.org Team as we take on the issue of Education. The topic will be CSCOPE and Common Core. CSCOPE is being used in Mt. Pleasant schools as well as surrounding communities. The link line-up of speakers will be giving information that uncovers the Truth about education in America and how Texas is the last STAND!    

When: Saturday, September 14th

Time: 10 am – 2 pm

Where:  TWO SENORITAS 

                 2601 West Ferguson Road

                  Mt. Pleasant, Texas 75455

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

 

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Frank Gaffney from the Center for Security Policy will be a guest speaker at the Education Summit

Frank Gaffney is founder and president of the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C., a not-for-profit, nonpartisan educational corporation established in 1988.

The center is recognized nationally and internationally as a resource for timely, informed, and penetrating analyses of foreign and defense policy matters.

Gaffney is the lead author of “War Footing: Ten Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World” (Naval Institute Press, 2005). This highly acclaimed volume constitutes an “owners manual” for navigating global conflicts.

Gaffney also is a weekly columnist for The Washington Times, TownHall.com, and JewishWorldReview.com. He is a contributor to National Review Online, and his columns also appear periodically in WorldNetDaily.com, the New York Post, and FrontPageMagazine.com. He appears often on national and international television and radio news programs.

In April 1987, President Reagan nominated Gaffney to become assistant secretary of defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving nuclear forces, arms control and U.S.-European defense relations. He acted in that capacity for seven months. From August 1983 until November 1987, Gaffney was the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.

From February 1981 to August 1983, he was a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Gaffney holds a master’s in international studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor’s in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Gaffney has received the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League’s Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award, and the Zionist Organization of America’s Louis Brandeis Award (2003).

He lives in the Washington area.

 

 

 

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CSCOPE: Another Coat of Lipstick on the Pig

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pigThe owners of CSCOPE aka “TEKS Resource System” are not a group of educators to be trusted. They have deceived and lied to parents and taxpayers for years about their intentions of dumbing down our children’s education system with CSCOPE/Project Based Learning in Texas. The lessons have been protected by a password for teachers only. The teachers have been threatened with a criminal penalties for revealing lesson content. Now that activist have exposed this corruption the Texas Educators that produced the mess what to appear transparent by releasing lesson in the public domain. Really?

In their shallow attempt to appear transparent by putting CSCOPE lessons online for the public to view. The owners of CSCOPE have had many of the original lessons edited before making them public.

I will first highlight the obvious revision on a 3rd Grade Science lesson titled Investigating Rocks and Soil. The original lesson had a Teacher Resource titled: Hungry, Naked and Homeless.  The attachment is mysteriously missing from the lesson that is now posted on the Texas Tribune.

What I want readers to understand is those responsible for CSCOPE are indoctrinating our children with the religion of environmentalism. After reading through 100’s of lessons from K-12  whether it be in Math, Science, English or Social Studies the writers indoctrinate through the use of Project Based Learning (Group Learning & Collaboration) that the US is going to run out  of resources if drastic measure are not taken.  And there is no exception with this 3rd grader lesson were students are asked to pretend without soil they would be  Hungry, Naked and Homeless.

naked

grade 3 5

The Texas Tribune Copy on Naked

The original lesson

Texas Tribune Lesson 

We will now focus on a 3rd Grade unit titled The Free Enterprise System.

One of the unit lessons is titled WHAT IF WHAT WE NEED IS SCARCE?

 The original lesson had an attachment titled Types of Economic Systems Chart. Mysteriously the chart and lesson content that accompanied the it are missing from the lesson posted on the TEXAS TRIBUNE website.  Why? What are the reps trying to hide?

The original lesson……

Attachment on Economic Systems

3rd old

3rd Economic System new

TYPES OF ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Below were the original instructions now missing that accompanied the chart.

9-6-2013 4-20-26 PM

9-6-2013 4-19-34 PM

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CSCOPE Assessments Now Posted on Public Website

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“CSCOPE Assessments Now Posted on Public Website”

by Donna Garner

 

9.6.13

Kate Alexander, liberal and biased reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, has written an article in today’s paper entitled “Activists publish CSCOPE tests online.” I have posted excerpts further on down the page.

 

WHAT KATE “FORGOT” TO MENTION

Kate mentions nothing in this article about the fact that the TESCCC (made up of all 20 Education Service Center directors) was the corporate owner of CSCOPE (and all its parts).  TESCCC announced on May 20, 2013, that TESCCC would cease to exist. 

 

From what has been widely publicized, the TESCCC decided to shut itself down because it was set up originally as a “shell corporation” without the appropriate business mechanisms having been put in place; millions of taxpayers’ dollars are still unaccounted for; and lawsuits may be in the offing because of plagiarism found in the CSCOPE lessons. The Texas State Auditor, John Keel, is presently doing a formal audit of TESCCC/ESC/CSCOPE; and shortly a formal complaint may be filed with the IRS.   

 

The TESCCC directors signed a letter saying that the CSCOPE lessons would be taken off the website on Aug. 31, 2013, when the yearly school contracts expired.  In the same 5.20.13 letter, the TESCCC also announced that the ESC’s would produce and sell no more lesson plans to Texas schools.

 

THOMAS RATLIFF INFLUENCES HIS CRONIES

Then up popped Thomas Ratliff who loudly began advising Texas public school administrators to let their teachers download the CSCOPE lessons and to keep using them anyway.  Ratliff is a registered lobbyist for Microsoft and gets richer each time online technology in Texas schools is utilized.  Because of his obvious conflict of interest, Ratliff is an illegal member of the Texas State Board of Education because of the monetary/business ties that the Texas Education Agency and SBOE have with Microsoft.  

 

Grassroots citizens have generated a petition to have Ratliff impeached by the Texas House  — IMPEACHRATLIFF.COM.

 

CSCOPE IN PUBLIC DOMAIN

At the July 17-19, 2013 Texas State Board of Education meeting, David Anderson, legal counsel for the Texas Education Agency, verbalized his interpretation of this confusing situation, saying that after Aug. 31, 2013, the CSCOPE lessons would become a part of the public domain and could be utilized by any and all.  On 8.22.13, the Texas Tribune published the CSCOPE lessons on their website.

 

However, nothing has been decided legally about the ownership of the CSCOPE assessments. The TESCCC owned the CSCOPE lessons and the accompanying assessments; but since the TESCCC has shut itself down and its contracts with districts have ceased to exist, it seems reasonable to assume that the CSCOPE assessments should be in the public domain also.  

 

MEANWHILE, TESCCC HAS MORPHED

On 8.12.13, the former TESCCC members met as a committee at ESC 13 in Austin and suddenly began calling themselves the Texas Curriculum Management Program Cooperative (TCMPC).  The name CSCOPE has been changed to the TEKS Resource System, and all of the same CSCOPE “parts” are being marketed by the ESC’s except for the CSCOPE lessons (which can now be accessed on the Texas Tribune website).

 

CSCOPE ASSESSMENTS PUBLISHED

This week a few of the CSCOPE assessments have been put into the public domain on a public website with more assessments sure to be published soon.  The question remains, “If TESCCC shut itself down, then who owns the CSCOPE assessments?” 

 

TEXAS TEACHERS SPEAK OUT

Please go to this link to see how Texas teachers feel about the CSCOPE lessons, assessments, and scope and sequence:  http://www.voicesempower.com/voice-of-a-teacher-and-a-student-cscope-assessments/

 

SBOE REVIEW AND PUBLIC HEARING — CSCOPE SOCIAL STUDIES LESSONS

The Texas State Board of Education is supervising the review of the CSCOPE social studies lessons since many schools in Texas have decided to keep using the CSCOPE lessons which are now in the public domain.  The review teams are evaluating whether or not the CSCOPE lessons are aligned with the state-adopted-and-mandated curriculum standards (TEKS) and are free from factual errors.

 

As a part of the SBOE review of the CSCOPE social studies lessons, a public hearing will be held by the SBOE on Sept. 13 at 9:00 A. M. (changed from an earlier start time of 1:00 P. M.)  Here is the link to the information people need who wish to testify at that meeting:  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/Communications/CSCOPE/Public_hearing_scheduled_on_CSCOPE/

 

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM – PARENTAL ACCESS

For those school districts that insist on using CSCOPE lessons (or whatever the new name may be), the “elephant in the room” is still parental access 24/7 to the CSCOPE curriculum.  

 

Statute established in the Texas Education Code (TEC) states that the school district must “allow the student to take home any instructional materials used by the student…The parent must be allowed to review all teaching materials, instructional materials, and other teaching aids used in the classroom of the parent’s child…A school district shall make teaching materials and tests readily available for review by parents.”  (Texas Education Code, Title 2. Public Education, Subtitle E. Students and Parents, Chapter 26. Parental Rights and Responsibilities, Sec. 26.006. Access to Teaching Materials — http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.26.htm#26.004 )

 

Definition of “instructional materials” – The term includes a book, supplementary materials, a combination of a book, workbook, and supplementary materials, computer software, magnetic media, DVD, CD-ROM, computer courseware, on-line services, or an electronic medium, or other means of conveying information to the student or otherwise contributing to the learning process through electronic means, including open-source instructional material. (Texas Education Code, Title 2. Public Education, Subtitle F. Curriculum, Programs, and Services, Chapter 31. Instructional Materials, Subchapter A. General Provisions, Sec. 31.002, Definitions, Instructional Material —

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.31.htm )

 

 

As described by an experienced Texas teacher:

 

Hypothetically, if a teacher ‘does’ a CSCOPE lesson, the parent will never be able to see it. It will be played out in the classroom. The only thing that will come home is a graphic organizer with a bunch of empty boxes — no explanation at the top, no content to review…

 

CSCOPE doesn’t provide the content — meaning the informational text for the student. That is why it is so dangerous.  It provides a script for the teacher, which the parent will never see. The teacher is left to scramble for material all over the internet. 

 

When dangerous links in the CSCOPE lessons were made public by concerned citizens, the TESCCC (corporate owner of CSCOPE) pulled those links. This is the big danger of CSCOPE and other online materials.  Links and other content can be taken out or put back in ‘at the click of a mouse’ without parental knowledge.  

 

 

Another expert on CSCOPE has stated:

 

We also need to keep going back to the fact that the TESCCC was never forced to provide actual access for parents  – a requirement of the Texas Education Code. TESCCC skirted by on pledges to create a new website with total access, which turned out to be a sham since parents did not have genuine access to the lessons being used in CLASSROOMS, only samples (as was the case with the original CSCOPE domain)…

 

No access was ever truly granted.  Therefore, the question of access is still a valid one for the courts and should be the primary focus of legal efforts. 

 

For success in court, parents need to seek injunctive relief on the basis of being denied access to the lessons used by both the District and TESCCC. Injury on the basis of ACCESS will give all parents standing. And standing, is what judges care about.  

 

 

============

9.5.13 – “Activists Publish CSCOPE Tests Online” – by Kate Alexander, Austin American-Statesman —http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/activists-publish-cscope-tests-online/nZn59/?icmp=statesman_internallink_textlink_apr2013_statesmanstubtomystatesman_launch

 

Excerpts from this article:

A conservative blogger has published online the questions and answers for social studies tests available to hundreds of Texas school districts because she maintains they reflect a pro-Islam and anti-American bias.

The public release of the tests could render them unusable and is the latest development in an ongoing saga over a curriculum system, formerly known as CSCOPE, that has inflamed conservative and tea party activists over the past year.

Ginger Russell, half of the mother-daughter duo that sparked the CSCOPE controversy, posted the 10 tests on her website —redhotconservative.com — on Wednesday. Russell said she believed that parents needed to see the tests, which had been provided to her by teachers

It will be left up to the school districts whether to continue using the tests, but many teachers and administrators have already expressed concern that the integrity of the assessments had been compromised, said Mason Moses, a spokesman for the state-funded Education Service Centers that developed the assessments.

“We take this very seriously. … This may be just 10 or so now, but there is concern that moving forward it could multiply significantly,” Moses said.

Posting the tests online harms the schools that have found them to be a useful resource, said State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant.

“Clearly, what she’s trying to do is destroy the whole program,” Ratliff said of Russell

 

Donna Garner

Wgarner1@hot.rr.com

 

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Backpack and Boots on the Ground Education Summit…CSCOPE Exposed!

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Join the WomenOnTheWall.org Team as we take on the issue of Education. The topic will be CSCOPE & Common Core. CSCOPE is being used in Mt. Pleasant schools as well as the surrounding communities. The line-up of speakers will be giving information that uncovers the Truth about education in American and how Texas is the last stand!

Time

Saturday, September 14th 10:00 AM — Saturday, September 14th 02:00 PM

Location

TWO SENORITAS
2601 W. Ferguson Rd.
Mt. Pleasant, Texas 75455

Get your tickets HERE! Cost is $20.00 includes lunch

 

boots

 

 

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