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* Sun-Times Editorial: A wise blueprint for education

* Group proposes new school funding plan

* Madigan polls his caucus on cash ideas

* Editorial: The shifting debate in Springfield

* Editorial: Pay for play bill deserves chance in the Senate

* Franks wants questions answered

* Council supports CeaseFire

* Madigan looks to get MySpace sex offenders’ info; more here

* Editorial: Shocking data a useful tool for concerned parents

* Editorial: Measured advance to protect access to public information

* Bernstein: Don’t let red ink drown our transit system

* CTA aims to cut worker benefits

* Chicago teacher’s union chief: we’re not afraid to walk; more here

* Rockford council sends letter to the Governor

* Home rule discussion for Rockford

posted by Paul Richardson
Tuesday, May 22, 07 @ 8:51 am

Comments

I wonder if the Burnham plan for education calls for school consolidation? There’s too many small school districts in Illinois, each with their own superintendent, administrative staff, school board, etc. Why is it that local control of schools is good, but local funding of schools is bad?

Comment by Doodles Tuesday, May 22, 07 @ 9:10 am
The Burnham Plan for World Class Education seems a little backward. The article states that members of the group that created the plan come from “around” the state, but it’s basically comprised of Chicagoland folks. The IFT-AFT isn’t at the table, and it represents about 90,000 teachers across the state.

I don’t see anyone from the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Principals’ Association, the Illinois Association of School Business Officers, or the Illinois Association of School Boards on this committee. There isn’t even anyone from the Illinois State Board of Education! If you plan to do school reform (and label it a funding plan), you might want to have some of those people in the room.

And what does a 19th Century architect have to do with this? The only connection I can find is that the original Burnham Plan was all about the City of Chicago, and it looks like this one is, also.

Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, May 22, 07 @ 9:21 am
Teachers should teach only basics in lower grades. And parents should stop showing more interest in ensuring that they and their children have more STUFF and more extracurricular activities than they have interest in staying home and being responsible adults. There, at home, where the whole family does daily chores, the whole family prepares healthy meals, and children study with the tv off until homework completed and reviewed. There would be more money saved for necessities and would teach children the difference between wants and needs. All would be less stressed, less tired and would share the camaraderie of family and close friends over public displays of indulgence. Yeah, it sounds like the fifties but even then there were the good parents and the bad parents.

Comment by i d Tuesday, May 22, 07 @ 1:36 pm
I thought this was a bigger story than to be just a Blurb. After causing the state to lose a half-million on the stupid video game law, turns out the gov’s hired private law firms charged something like 800 thousand to defend it, when the Atty General was available to do at least as good a job already. The punchline: instead of payin gout the fees and fines from his discretionalry or campaign funds, he takes the money from orphans and wards of the state, from sick people, and from civil servants.

Oh, such a brave and wise Governor is our Rod. How is this even legal, what he did?

Comment by Franks for governor Tuesday, May 22, 07 @ 1:42 pm
Hey franks Blago is wasting even more state money hiring outside lawfirms to fight judges orders that he release subponas regarding federal investigations into his administration. Again blago is wasting taxpayer money and then crying that he needs more. This man can not be trusted with one cent.

Comment by fed up Tuesday, May 22, 07 @ 8:56 pm

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