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The Blindspot in the Education Budget Override Debate

J. Rick Normand

J. Rick Normand, SedonaEye.com Financial Columnist

Sedona AZ (October 20, 2013) – Education is intended to prepare students to function well in the real-world rather than to serve itself. Since the real-world requires its members to deliver results, be individually accountable, and be personally responsible for their own choices, the collectivist model for education runs orthogonal to the needs of education’s “customers” (companies, entrepreneurship, etc.). This is not a political statement, but reality. A “reform” of US education which focuses on “leveling the playing field” rather than pressing the bar ever higher for ALL students on an INDIVIDUAL level, would be an extreme disservice to US students and society as a whole! America has lost a share of its edge and leadership in the world because education has become excessively focused on egalitarianism rather than exceptionalism, inequities rather than individuality, and community over competence.

Our educational system’s goals should not be to serve itself, but rather to serve the objectives of the corporate entities to which its students will be delivered. Corporations in response (especially scientific & technical) are increasing their efforts to recruit from outside the US because those foreign students are found very capable of providing what corporations need. Seeking both quality and quantity of competent graduates, corporations have been forced to import talent which could otherwise have been trained in the US! Given the increasingly international plane on which US students will compete for jobs (yes, even here in the USA), educators must spend MUCH more time researching what their customers (for their graduates) demand. Otherwise, all the grand efforts to change education will result in yet another generation of newly minted graduates serving meals and cleaning cars for immigrants owning jobs they weren’t prepared to secure for themselves.

Many public education critics believe that the principal problem with today’s public education is the avoidance of focusing on results. Indeed, that complaint can be taken one important step further. We not only fail to hold individual students accountable for poor performance, we have also have failed to hold the Department of Education accountable for its performance since at least the Viet Nam War. For instance, ECONOMICS hasn’t been taught in our public schools in all that time and now virtually no one understands it. If no one understands it, then no one will ask why it is that everything is going wrong!

blind spotHere are the metrics that unequivocally prove my point:

Average “Scholastic Aptitude Test” scores fell 41 points between 1972 and 1991. Apologists for public education argue that such factors as the percentage of minority students taking the SAT can explain this drop…which is patently false! Scores for European-Americans have also dropped. Kids scoring over 600 on the verbal part of the SAT have fallen by 37% since 1972, so the overall decline can’t be blamed on just ethnicity for “diluting” the results. The typical American high school student spends only 1,460 hours on subjects like math, science, and history during their four years in high schools. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Japan will spend 3,170 hours on basic subjects, French students will spend 3,280 on academics, and German students will spend 3,528 hours studying such subjects – nearly three times the hours devoted in American schools. In light of these facts, the U.S. Commissioner of Education Statistics recently revealed the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study which ranked U.S. Grade 12 competency in mathematics, the sciences and history as only the 16th best in the industrialized world after being number one from the end of WWII until the end of the sixties.

Two out of three eighth-graders can’t read proficiently and most will never catch up. (NAEP, 2011)

Nearly two-thirds of eighth-graders scored below proficient in math. (NAEP, 2011)

Dr. Martin Luther King

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Seventy-five percent of students are not proficient in civics. (NAEP, 2011)

Nearly three out of four eighth-and 12th-grade students cannot write proficiently. (NAEP, 2012)

Some 1.1 million American students drop out of school every year. (EPE, 2012)

For African-American and Hispanic students across the country, dropout rates are close to 40 percent, compared to the national average of 27 percent. (EPE, 2012)

Our public school students trail their peers in most other industrialized nations.

After World War II, the United States had the #1 high school graduation rate in the world. Today, we have dropped to # 22 among 27 industrialized nations. (OECD, 2012)

American students rank 25th in math, 17th in science and 14th in reading compared to students in 27 industrialized countries.(OECD, 2012)

By the end of the eighth-grade, U.S. students are two years behind in math compared to their peers in other countries. (OECD, 2009)

The U.S. ranks behind 13 other countries in terms of the percentage of 25-34 year-olds who have completed some college coursework. (OECD, 2012)

American students tend to perform worse in math and science as they age, according to recent studies measuring fourth- and eighth-graders’ academic achievement against other industrialized nations. Gaps with high performing countries like South Korea and Singapore are widening. (TIMSS, 2012)

Not enough students reach college, and many who do are not prepared.

Mark_Twain

In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards. Mark Twain

Less than half of American students – 46 percent – finish college. The U.S. ranks last among 18 countries measured on this indicator. (OECD, 2010)

Only one in four high school students graduate ready for college in all four core subjects (English, reading, math and science), which is why a third of students entering college have to take remedial courses. (ACT, 2011)

Only 4 percent of African American students and 11 percent of Hispanic students finish high school ready for college in their core subjects. (ACT, 2011)

Two-thirds of college professors report that what is taught in high school does not prepare students for college. (Alliance for Excellent Education)

Many American children are not prepared to compete for careers or jobs in a 21st century knowledge-based economy.

In order to earn a decent wage in today’s economy, most students will need at least some postsecondary education. (U.S. Department of Labor)

Nearly 44 percent of dropouts under age 24 are jobless, and the unemployment rate of high school dropouts older than 25 is more than three times that of college graduates. (United States Department of Labor, 2012)

Despite sustained unemployment, employers are finding it difficult to hire Americans with the skills their jobs require, and many expect this problem to intensify. (“Getting Ahead…” Business Roundtable, 2009, and “An Economy that Works,” McKinsey & Company, 2011)

maynard

Just in general, any government throughout history hasn’t really wanted its people to be educated, because then they couldn’t control them as easily.
Maynard James Keenan, Cornville AZ

More than 75 percent of employers report that new employees with four-year college degrees lacked “excellent” basic knowledge and applied skills. (“Are They Really Ready to Work?” sponsored by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management. Accessed January 15, 2008)

Nearly half of those who employ recent high school graduates said overall preparation was “deficient.” (“Are They Really Ready to Work?” sponsored by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management. Accessed January 15, 2008)

The share of jobs in the U.S. economy needing a college degree will increase to 63 percent in the next decade. This will require 22 million new employees with college degrees. At the current pace, the nation will fall at least 3 million college degrees short. (Washington, DC: Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce, 2010)

Over the course of his working life, an American male with a college degree can expect to earn nearly $675,000 more; an American female $340,000 more -– far more than in any other country. (OECD, 2012)

Americans who earn a college degree make a 40 percent higher salary than those with just a high school diploma. (“Are They Really Ready to Work?” sponsored by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management. Accessed January 15, 2008)

"I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built up on the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think."  Anne Sullivan  Anne Sullivan Macy overcame a traumatic childhood to become a model for others who are disadvantaged by their physical disability, gender, or class. Her work with Helen Keller pioneered what is used today to educate blind, deaf-blind, and visually impaired children.  Anne was born in Massachusetts to poor immigrant farmers. She was physically abused by her alcoholic father and her mother suffered from tuberculosis. Anne was stricken with trachoma at the age of five, leaving her nearly blind. Abandoned by her father, Anne and her brother Jimmie were sent to an orphanage where he died shortly thereafter, leaving her alone.

“I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built up on the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must be taught to think.”
Anne Sullivan with deaf-mute-blind pupil Helen Keller

High school dropouts can expect to earn just 5 percent of what a typical graduate will make over the course of his lifetime. (College Board Advocacy & Policy Center, 2010)

Of the 1.66 million high school students in the class of 2013 who took the SAT, only 43 percent were academically prepared for college-level work, according to this year’s SAT Report on College & Career Readiness. For the fifth year in a row, fewer than half of SAT-participants received scores that qualified them as “college-ready.”

Yet, in light of all I’ve just reported here, we commonly see statements like these in our local print media from Education Budget Override advocates:

“[the] Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO) believes a vibrant and economically strong region begins with quality education for all children who live in the Verde Valley. We believe we have high quality schools in all of the communities of the Verde Valley.”

“…so let me just say that SRRHS has an A rating and Camp Verde has a C. There’s your comparison…”

“We all recognize that a good school system typifies a good city.”

Statements like these are, indeed, disingenuous, misguided and delusional for one simple and obvious reason…the inductive leap of concluding that funding more and more money to the best performer in an already failed system somehow helps our children in a competitive world of employment opportunities slaps reality in it’s face considering our young victims of public education are failing miserably in top job attainment competition against better educated young adults from vastly superior but very different types of educational systems from around the world. Derived from this reality are the hard statistical facts recited above!

Those of you living in denial of the documented facts above are part of the problem, not a part of the solution.

 

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

62 Comments

  1. The photo and caption of Anne Sullivan with deaf-mute-blind pupil Helen Keller . . . === PRICELESS! Reinvention of a picture being worth a thousand words?

  2. Dear Mr. Normand,

    I had no sooner read your article and was reflecting on it and the great teachers I had when I received a call from my Father.

    My Father informed me that my third grade teacher and family friend had just passed away.

    I was going to call her tomorrow and share your article ….. some how I believe she would have loved your article.

    Your article will be sent far and wide by at least me.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ
    Vietnam veteran

  3. Warren says:

    The root of the problem in 8 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vpq4r_YW94A

    “I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.” ~ John D. Rockefeller

  4. Stupidity is humankind’s greatest disease.

  5. Liked this article on Facebook.

  6. Gary Chamberlain:

    I’m very flattered. Thank you and I’m sorry for your loss.

  7. It seems like a lot of people in Sedona (like the rest of the country) say what’ s politically correct rather than research and think for themselves. And although I can not vote in city elections, I appreciate the alternative viewpoint Rick.

  8. Rick, Powerful data, verifed and sad for our country. Your comments are now posted on our site, http://www.USALadyLiberty.org
    And thanks for the pitures and source quotes from those famous people, I also used those. The one that hit me the hardest was the quote from Anne Sullivan. In an open forum with Mr. Richardson he said that it was their (the school’s) job to teach kids how to think. Programming our children is not education.

  9. To All Education Budget Override Advocates:

    Go to this video link at YouTube to find out what your educational system has wrought upon this country (warning, this should make you ill! Voters endorsing an Orwellian Police State by signing a petition): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOGqzo9dG4

  10. Dear Family and Friends,

    Has the American education system fallen apart?

    https://sedonaeye.com/the-blindspot-in-the-education-budget-override-debate

    Please take the time to read this SedonaEye.com link, our future depends on it!

    I hope Mr. Rick Normand posts his story to the media as I am passing it forward.

    If he will contact me, I would like to discuss helping him spread the word …… I would like to “hope” he’s wrong but fear he is most correct since I’ve seen the changes since 1966.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ
    Vietnam veteran

  11. I’ve always supported education taxes, doing so as a progressive Democrat. Isn’t it an eye-opener when what I thought I was supporting by voting yes, was counterproductive to my voting aim? I’ll remember when asked for money in my county/state. Due diligence before voting!

  12. John Mitchell says:

    Rick,

    An absolutely right on and timely piece, challenging the local establishment and the obtuse thinking of many of truly deceitful puppeteered academic elites. Yet, most of the local minions don’t realize how well they are being played through the emotional string program. See these:
    http://betrayed-whyeducationisfailing.blogspot.com/2012/05/americas-math-problem-what-is-it-why-do.html
    http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/stupid-in-america/
    http://relifeinc.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/why-the-american-public-school-system-keeps-failing-our-youth/

    We are in this sad state nationwide due to the undercurrent of the ‘Common Core’ and Agenda 21/Unesco initiatives; the goal being a communistic controlled dumbed down populace of ‘good non-thinkers’ who are ultimately compliant ‘good worker bees’. This has been taking place over decades now.

    http://thecommonsenseshow.com/2013/08/02/how-your-child-is-being-dumbed-down/
    http://thecommonsenseshow.com/2013/08/04/4320common-core-is-soviet-style-centralization/
    and look who’s funding it: http://thecommonsenseshow.com/2013/08/05/look-who-funded-and-developed-common-core/

    We in the US, are collectively running pell-mell towards the Agenda 21/NWO communistic system that the real leaders have planned for long ago. These evil puppeteers do not want free thinkers, but good slaves. Watch ‘The Hunger Games’, which gives you a very good vision where all this is rapidly heading.

    Pray, Prepare, and Buckle Up, as this slow-motion trainwreck gains speed, proceeding towards the ultimate destination the elites have planned for, as the mostly generationally dumbed-down sheople won’t want to arrive at…….

  13. Ted says:

    Was in favor then read your article Rick. Rethinking, rethinking, rethinking…

  14. Marj says:

    I’m voting yes.

  15. Nicole says:

    Time for a few truths to come out. I saw the advertisements and it fails to address the real story. Why does SHS get an A from UA? According to results stats are “curved” a trick to make things look good when they’re not. Don’t go touting because this is about clique’s wanting to see friends get and keep jobs, not about kids!! Right Zach Richardson??

  16. Alan says:

    smoke and mirrors!!! let’s talk about illegals in the classroom??? let’s talk about classes in mexican nationalism when our own kids don’t get american nationalism?? the teachers in this town ARE NOT ALL THAT !! AND THE ADMINISTRATORS are NOT ALL THAT!! Want to find out? Go out to dinner with a couple and figure it out yourself. Bores. Sycophants. Myopic.

  17. Larry says:

    me too Marj + voting yes

  18. To Marj and Larry:

    “Nos Morituri Te Salutamus Esse”, say you both. That was the gladiator’s salute to the Emperor – “We, who are about to die, salute you!”

  19. Sharlett says:

    Rick – Terrific Job!!! (yep Sharlett is in agreement with you)

    A NO VOTE will cause those in current power to find a financially new found intelligence and level of creativity as they get over the “spend all” mentality the current Board and Just Vote Yes Folks stick to.

    Agree with all those above who are not swayed by the motherhood and apple pie pleas by the big spenders.

    Speaking of the “Big Spenders”: Has anyone asked the important questions of just WHO the people are behind the “Yes for Sedona Schools Committee” who are paying for all the print and online ads and websites?

    As I looked into that name, on line, I came up with another site called http://www.investineducation.info. http://www.investineducation.info/Q&A-Flyer.pdf – All sites use same logo and only names showing are Angela Lefever and school Superintend Zachary Richardson…….and the web site creator Charlotte Howard (who runs a website design business).

    So now my big question is: Aren’t the two above mentioned groups – in reality – Political Action Committees? Don’t they need to be legally registered and their members names exposed to all of us? (as ALL past PAC’s have been required to do?)

    Isn’t their aim to sway the Public Votes on the Public vote issue to their side? Are they registered as a PAC as they collect, seemingly, mega big bucks to pay for all their stuff espousing only their viewpoints? ………….and as I recall that makes them required by State Law to register as a Political Action Committee.

    Everyone of us wants the best education we can find for our children and grandchildren – that’s a given and not even up for debate.

    The debate is only about the costs, the expenses, the benefits and full disclosure as to just WHO is running this BIG MEGA BUCK CAMPAIGN!

    Oh, I’m hearing it’s Sedona 30 which is the same group who kept promoting the grand performance center that is now silent…so much for their smart financial brains.

    so sorry to make this so long but below please find another post of mine: “OK Folks – let’s get Real!

    I did read the Big (and very expensive) ad in the Friday RRN (10/18/13), Paid for by the “Vote Yes” group regarding the Override of school district current spending limit where the YES folks say: “2013-2014 enrollment dropped after Override failed to pass in November 2012″ …………………… HUH?

    Call me crazy but how did a failed Override cause enrollment to DROP????

    Then the current big ad goes on to say:” The Budget Increase Override pays teacher and staff salaries to “teach “enhanced subjects such as art, music, SOCIAL STUDIES, U.S. HISTORY, foreign languages, advanced courses, P.E and more, as well as keeping our schools healthy and safe.”

    Call me crazy but I am not dead and do remember my curriculum and that of my children and all those (now called “enhanced subjects”) were regular parts of our education’s.

    Have you seen the little kids marching to play to our hearts on sidewalks in Sedona and in the Village? Have you seen the Superintendent of the School district out on the streets with the sign carriers? I have and find it despicable as well as dysfunctional!

    Sorry but My heart strings are not twanged by the sweet children standing on a street corner as they have no real understanding as to why they are there – they are just being USED.

    My heart strings are twanged by a school district who is supposed to be dedicated to a level of higher accountable education levels and financial responsibility that STANDS on its own merits and doesn’t parade little kids on the highway….and doesn’t drop money down the Rabbit Hole for a Performing Arts Center..or what ever they call that losing drain of a bad, very bad, decision.

    A NO VOTE will cause this group, who just feel entitled, to actually get their business plan to finally become a real forward Plan….and not on the backs of us taxpayers.

    Wasn’t there a school teacher who hid there name and disclosed something about a trip – a very costly conference trip – outside of Sedona??? Guess the money is just a want and not actually designated to any specific line item within the District?

    Who is entitled? I, for one, feel my taxes pay my due dollars to the youth and all the school systems within my tax base…just wish those who can’t figure out how to spend within their budgets would stop begging and tagging the rest of us for their entitled, mentality, drain on our check books !!!.”

    When people expect me to agree to pay more taxes – well I take that very seriously…especially when their rating numbers are below par.

  20. Linda says:

    Say what you will evidence shows how stupid we would be to vote yes or was that too complicated for you yes voters?

  21. Hey J Rick Normand!!!! You seem to be an intelligent, well written guy with a excellent grasp of the English language!!! Where did u go to school at??!! I trust you grew up in a properly funded school district. If not you seem to be the kind of guy who parents were properly funded to sent you to a private school!! What’s up J Rick Normand!!

  22. Peter says:

    Hey just wondering (lower case so it wasn’t a brain fart?) – the conversation isn’t public vs private.

    And if you are discussing your public school education vs a private school education, please remember that sentences do not end in the word “at” and whether ones parents send children to school or not, this conversation is still about a tax override.

    Thank you.

    Damn it all I like this website.

  23. Al says:

    pete old boy you hit it on the head.. …. …why would that be part of the discussion? so we hand stamp everybody who wants to vote w/ public or private or home school or drop out or college or HS? normand shouldn’t bother to answer you just wondering because he is smarter & who cares where he was educated or how? my dad never finished 8th grade & amassed millions through smart investments & was self taught by hard work & good character.. ….. finest man that walks the earth… keep it honest sedonaeye.

  24. Based on your sharp reply there Pete, I guess the answer is Yes!! Norman went to a properly funded school district or his parents had above average income to send there boy to private school!! How nice for him!! Thanks for the grammar lesson Pete!! Yes I went to a poorly financed public school system and a State college!

  25. To Just Wondering:

    You said “Where did u go to school at??!! You’re amazing, indeed. In the course of one short sentence you proved yourself to be one of those proverbial “victims of public education” about whom I often write. The proper sentence structure is “Where did you go to school?” Furthermore, people who use texting jargon in a forum like this do it for one reason only…they have no command of our language. Therefore, I thank you for your inadvertently supportive post. Moreover, thank you Peter and Al for your unerring insights!

  26. Well Rick my parents couldn’t afford to send me to a ivy league university and private schools like yourself! I bet they paid the teachers well were you got educated!! No problem with funding there!! Im sure your parents are very very proud of you! You communicate very well with your smart ivy league mouth on a local news blog!! Congratulations!! Oh yes, when I searched you name nothing came up about you being a finance expert! What is that a title you made for yourself to impress us!

  27. Christine says:

    Support of the school board is important —- I have heard that Mr. Lykins is a great man from people in the Sedona Chamber that have great confidence in him. Thanks.

  28. D.G. says:

    Dear just wondering,

    Obviously your parents failed to instill civil discourse values as well, however, may I be so bold as to point out that you, sir or madam, have endless opportunities to self-educate using your computer and to avail yourself of a free library system, like every American.

    Please turn off South Park and get thee to a book. We’ll all be grateful.

    We promise.

    Now what were we discussing?

    Sincerely,
    D.G.

  29. Just Wondering:

    Try this…http://contributor.yahoo.com/user/817230/j_rick_normand.html. Apparently you search skills are worse than your command of language.

  30. Barb says:

    @D.G.
    Unfortunately if “Just Wondering” became so assertive as to attempt improvements of his/her intellectual ability via self-motivated offerings as you (D.G.) suggest, the outcome unfortunately would most likely be the same: “Let us have public funding to pay for my free opportunities.” Aren’t they, after all, this day and age known as “entitlements?”

  31. Matt says:

    Using district’s enrollment numbers what’s the per student $$ now & asked for in the SOCSD? Cottonwood? Camp Verde? Am tired of not seeing that.

  32. Hey J Rick!! I guess I didn’t search your name very hard. You may think your self important, but I do not. By the way, based on the look of your self portrait, looks like you could drop a few pounds!!

  33. Rick,

    Don’t let those that use personal attacks affect you …. as if I needed to tell you that.

    Keep up the good work and when those who throw stones realize they will not break your spirit then maybe they will learn to work together on common solutions.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ
    Vietnam veteran

  34. You know Gary, just to set the record straight. J Rick enjoys showing us his literary superiority by pointing out others grammatical errors to those that disagree with him or have their own opinions!! To make a long story short, we are talking about children’s education here. I’ll let the REAL experts decide what they need!!! Those that are on the front lines actually teaching!! Not those like you and Rick who are always pointing fingers at what’s wrong from the sidelines, I am voting YES!!

  35. Nicely worded and well written Just Wondering. You are, indeed, entitled to your point of view while on topic.

  36. Your weekly reminds me we like the Sedona area. The Grand Canyon’s spectacular. We loved it. One of these days we’ll try and visit it again. Thanks for the email. There’s a local story or two that’s interesting even here.

  37. Kim Chott says:

    These comments, shown below, were posted by J. Rick Normand at Sedona.biz between October 23, 2013 and October 25 as commentary to an article at Sedona.biz posted on October 13, 2013 entitled “In the Political Ring with Tommy Acosta: Budget Override – Vote What’s Best for Sedona.” The owner/publisher of Sedona.biz chose, without notice to Mr. Normand, not to publish these comments although all other commentors were published evidencing that Sedona.biz didn’t have the courage to do the right thing. Herein, at SedonaEye.com, you can read them, as follows:

    >>> 1.]

    J. Rick Normand says:
    October 23, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    To Angela LeFevre, Daniel J. Sullivan, and the Education Budget Override “Yes” Vote Advocates posting at this site:

    I would venture to say that not a single one of you knows who the academic superstar is in the industrialized world. Am I right? So, I will tell you that it’s the Republic of South Korea where 47% of eighth graders are ranked ‘advanced.’ In the U.S it’s only 7%! How can this be? Because in South Korea all teachers are free agents where their compensation is based on the success of their students in academic achievement that will lead to top job assignments in the business world. This system results in the highest paid teachers in the world and the most accomplished students in the world. Understand this…you cannot have a free agent teacher corps where unions exist. Neither can such success be derived from a system that permits an education overseer, such as the U.S. Department of Education, to continue to foist upon our children a system of public education that was developed in the 1850′s to feed educated workers of a per-determined mindset into the then newly evolving industrial revolution.

    I notice that none of you ever refer to the failure metrics that I mention in the my numerous articles on the subject of failure to the U.S. Education System. I know that you, Angela LeFevre, and you, Daniel Sullivan have both read my articles because you’ve both posted comments to them. Never do either of you ever mention that you favor spending more and more dollars on a failed system of education than building a new system to replace the outdated failing system you both support. Why do neither of you point out that more and more money spent on our current education system has only produced these results for the kids you are so concerned about:

    Average “Scholastic Aptitude Test” scores fell 41 points between 1972 and 1991. Apologists for public education argue that such factors as the percentage of minority students taking the SAT can explain this drop…which is patently false! Scores for European-Americans have also dropped. Kids scoring over 600 on the verbal part of the SAT have fallen by 37% since 1972, so the overall decline can’t be blamed on just ethnicity for “diluting” the results. The typical American high school student spends only 1,460 hours on subjects like math, science, and history during their four years in high schools. Meanwhile, their counterparts in Japan will spend 3,170 hours on basic subjects, French students will spend 3,280 on academics, and German students will spend 3,528 hours studying such subjects – nearly three times the hours devoted in American schools. In light of these facts, the U.S. Commissioner of Education Statistics recently revealed the results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study which ranked U.S. Grade 12 competency in mathematics, the sciences and history as only the 16th best in the industrialized world after being number one from the end of WWII until the end of the sixties.

    The reason you both support our current failing system is not because you care about the fate of our failing high school graduates as documented above…it’s because you support unions, socialism and political thought control of our kids. Below, for all readers herein to see, are facts regarding the background of Angela LeFevre, who insists on politicizing this non-partisan election issue, which are made without further comment, but each of you can decide for yourselves whether better education or socialization and unionization of it are motivating factors for support of our current system of education. If those of you wondering what the real solution to improving the fate of our children is, look to South Korean and not a Fabian Socialist model as supported by LeFevre and Sullivan. Voting “yes” will only further dampen the fate of our kids. What is needed is a completely reformed system of education!

    Condensed Bio of Angela LeFevre:

    From her own bio, she states that she…”was born in Leeds, England and earned a degree in Political Science (BSc. Econ) at the London School of Economics [LSE] in 1971. I [LeFevre] spent some time in London, working for the Labour Party as a Political Party Agent…”

    LSE: funding came from the Rockefellers and the Rothschilds, the quintessential international capitalists. “Our object is to make this institution a place to raise and train the bureaucracy of the future Socialist State.” Lord Haldane (Lord Chancellor Labour Party and co-founder of LSE)

    British Labour Party – a political party formed in Great Britain in 1900; characterized by the promotion of labor’s interests and formerly the socialization of key industries

    Leeds, at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution, was the European capitol of party Communism outside the Soviet Union.

    Leeds Socialist Workers Party
    A REVOLUTIONARY ANTI-CAPITALIST BLOG
    Britain’s democratic socialist party

    ibrarysupport.shef.ac.uk/leftpam.pdf
    May 11, 2013 – London : Communist Party of Great Britain, [1942]. – … Turn Leeds left : the Manifesto of the Leeds Area Communist Party for the Leeds. Metropolitan District …. History Group of the Communist Party, 1975. – (Our history ; 63).

    >>>2.]

    J. Rick Normand says:
    October 24, 2013 at 7:56 am

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD:

    Speaking of cutting through the mixed metaphors and tortured logic as well as the Emperor’s New Clothes as you did, thus implying that only you can see the light of the truth, Daniel, while insulting one of our most prominent citizens, I’m just wondering if this is you? I am probably wrong and, if so, I apologize here and now for my errant thoughts but there is a smattering of curiosity here about someone so self-righteous (Please tell me this isn’t you):

    This particular Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD, who only coincidentally has the same name and monikers as our local commenter, lives in and practices medicine in Kingman…he’s not even a resident of Sedona or either of our counties. Surely such a person as this wouldn’t be meddling in Sedona’s affairs? I wonder if the below mentioned lawsuit could explain why this Daniel J. Sullivan left a very lucrative and famed practice in Ohio and Illinois, after having lost everything, only to quietly re-emerge in Kingman.

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
    SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    LUCAS COUNTY

    Daniel J. Sullivan, M.D., J.D. Court of Appeals No. L-06-1373
    Appellant Trial Court No. CI-06-3097

    v.

    Chad M. Tuschman
    DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
    Appellee Decided: July 13, 2007

    {¶ 1} This is an accelerated appeal from a judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, in which the trial court dismissed a complaint for damages due to abuse of legal process filed by appellant, Daniel J. Sullivan, M.D., J.D., …
    …..
    {¶ 3} The undisputed, relevant facts are as follows. Appellant [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] is an orthopedic surgeon in Sylvania, Ohio, who performed back surgery on patient Michael Jaska.2 On January 14, 2004, appellee, Chad M. Tuschman, sent a letter to appellant notifying him of Jaska’s intent to pursue a medical malpractice action…

    On March 4, 2004, a second patient on whom appellant [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] performed the same type of back surgery who was represented by appellee sent appellant a letter stating that he was “considering” filing a malpractice action.
    …..

    [Note] 2 The record shows that appellant [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] performed back surgery on many other patients, in which he employed substantially similar techniques.
    …..
    {¶ 4}…appellant’s [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] professional liability insurance carrier refused to renew appellant’s malpractice policy. As a result, appellant [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] was forced to seek coverage from a high-risk insurer, and was required to pay substantially higher medical malpractice premiums.
    …..
    {¶ 17}…This court has reviewed the entire record of proceedings in the trial court and, upon consideration thereof finds, after taking all the allegations in the complaint as true, and construing all reasonable inferences in appellant’s favor, that appellant [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] has not presented evidence sufficient to satisfy the second prong of the test set forth in Yaklevich, supra. Accordingly, we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that the complaint contains no set of facts which would entitle appellant to relief. Appellant’s [Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD] sole assignment of error is not well-taken.

    >>>3.]

    J. Rick Normand says:
    October 24, 2013 at 10:44 am

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Mr Richardson,

    Considering your position in this debate, I would think that you should be capable of structuring a lead sentence correctly. I think you meant “Typical of a bitter person WHOM we should all AVOID-” Voiding could be very messy for the custodial staff, don’t you think? Notwithstanding, as to your blanket generalization as to a typical “bitter person,” you must have the insight of God, himself, since you know nothing of me whatsoever…although you most assuredly should.

    Now then, you want to improperly rely upon the mention of ad hominem “attacks,” then how would you characterize these…

    “…especially when our State Representatives are more concerned about widening the rift and comparing our President to Adolf Hitler (De Fuhrer). Ms. Barton is a wonderful example of what our education system should NOT be.” ~from Angela LeFevre

    and,

    “…the “No” vote crowd employs in an attempt to rationalize their selfishness,…”~from Daniel J. Sullivan

    Finally, you say “Looking forward to see what you are willing to contrive about me!” I don’t have to contrive anything. You’ve already made it perfectly clear that you don’t screen your closest allies very well. That’s a fact and it’s not a trait to which your students should be exposed!

    So, let’s get down to facts Mr. Richardson. You run a very good school which is part of a badly failing system of education that produces high GPA graduates who can’t even come close to competing for top-eschelon career jobs in our globalized employment marketplace. You don’t believe me, then take a tour of the California University System top schools and see how many Asian students are dominating academia. Almost none of your graduates can gain admittance to any of those schools. Either you can fight for radical reform, which has nothing to do with spending more money, thereby truly helping our kids to a better life and our country to a recovery from its current unrecoverable flat-spin in the global economy, or you can continue to support accelerating failure while promoting your own career. If it’s the latter you choose, you may find me at the schoolyard to challenge you to a public debate on this issue in front of your students. And, trust me…you don’t want to do that!

    >>>4.]

    J. Rick Normand says:
    October 24, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Angela,

    You’re the one who, as always, politicized this non-partisan issue. Now when someone who knows your track-record calls you to account, you’re aggrieved and hurt. There’s nothing sad whatsoever in my words…they’re only cold hard facts. Why don’t you ask Brenda Barton if your vicious words hurt her? Let’s stop with the cry-baby routine Angela. Don’t forget, I have you in writing on several issues in the course of an email exchange in 2011. Be very careful what you say!

    >>>5.]

    J. Rick Normand says:
    October 25, 2013 at 6:52 am

    Laurel Romm’s commentary here is the best ever locally written relative to the Education Budget Override issue. It appears to me that she is the person who should be leading the voter education effort. I see no hint of politicization of the issue or ulterior motives. More importantly, what I see in her comments is greater knowledge of the issue than anyone has expressed to date without having been colored by emotion. The logic in her comments is easy to follow, insightful and probable. She deserves a collective hurrah from all of us offering commentary on either side of the issue!

  38. Dear Grammar Critics,

    I hope we all quit grading what others say based on grammar.

    I know a lot of uneducated folks that have more common sense and problem solving skills than many in the “educated” sector of our society.

    What if my folks and your folks spent as much time solving problems as we do being critical.

    FYI ….. I was and remain a “C” student when it comes to the English language.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ
    Vietnam veteran

  39. sharlett says:

    Hey Kim Chott – You are my new hero!!! Thank you so much for posting the above.

    I actually DID read all of the same on Sedonabiz a couple days ago and in seeing your current post – I thought I’d gone nuts and had Alzheimer’s so I went back to Sedonabiz and holly hell it’s ALL gone!!!!

    So I’m certain you are very correct in that the Sedonabiz site owner/publisher is apparently up for grabs – so where is he on fair and balanced representation of submittals?

    He just seems to be in bed with his supposed supporters who will stick with him as long as he does their bidding. Looks to me like they also dumbed him down to think he has no reason to be balanced on any issue.

    Other people in our town have told me that he picks and choses just to substantiate his own PERSONAL bias’s.

    Who controls his personal bias’s? Who’s pulling the strings???

    Thanks Kim Chott!!!

  40. Keith says:

    lets get poked and choked hot dang fun forget about OSB miller beer time to check what crap is goin on here best (deleted by editor) fun (deleted by editor) town (deleted by editor) been (deleted by editor) (deleted by editor) MIKE TOMMY CHICK BOB CANDY (deleted by editor) yea yea yea $$ to the WINNERS

  41. Traumatized says:

    Will someone out there be kind enough to translate the message from “Keith?”

    Also direct questions for “Keith”: Did you vote, do you intend to vote, are you capable of reading and understanding the ballot? Worse yet, do you intend to run for the School Board? OMG!

  42. Traumatized:

    I’m with you. But does not Keith so perfectly represent the “victims of public education” that I’m always writing about?

  43. Traumatized says:

    Ah yes, Mr. Normand. Keith indeed represents not only “victims of public education” but this day and age a rapidly growing segment of the entire population with the “I deserve entitlements” attitude. Class act? I think NOT.

  44. My Dear L.Rick ;

    Is the L is for loudmouth? B.t.w.,the pic is HILARIOUS….try flexing a little harder, you won’t look so soft.

    Well, well….I take it that you like to write. You posted the same stuff on the Biz, which was promptly taken down, as inappropriate… and appropriately so. Perhaps you enjoy reading, as well? If so, please start by reading the appellate blurb you selected to post, as part of your gratuitous, ad hominem attack, having nothing to do with the Over-ride issue, which was the subject matter at hand… that you have chosen to re-publish, getting “personal” with me, and others.

    Anyone, who can read, will understand that the Plaintiff Dr. was suing the lawyer in the action referenced..not the other way around. Therefore, what is implied is that, on the first go round, when the lawyer sued the doctor, the lawyer didn’t do so well:)

    In fact, he didn’t….

    Now, to borrow a phrase that you seem to favor, “please tell me you’re not the same” L. Rick Normand who lists himself online as an “economist/independent investor/entrepreneur” …. with an “advanced degree” from “Thunderbird School of Global Management” …. ?!

    That does have a pompous ring to it!

    Let’s just take a look see….

    Readers: please see online entry below, in re L. Rick’s dear old Alma Mater…

    “the Thunderbird School of Global Management”

    “With a full-time student body of several hundred or so (1,500 at its peak in the early 1990s), Thunderbird can either be viewed as a small school, or as a huge graduate department. The fact that it is unaffiliated with a larger university–and thus foregoes the resources and access to undergraduate teaching that such an affiliation would provide–has affected its academic life and reputation. (The 2013 Laureate deal seems likely to change this situation, whether for better or worse.) In addition, the school is relatively unselective (in fall 2013 it accepted 65 percent of applicants, with an average GMAT score of 601); and its placement rate remains low, with 76.1 percent of graduates jobless at commencement in 2012 (compared with 69.8 percent in 2011 and 85 percent in 2010), giving the school, according to U.S. News & World Report, one of the worst placement rates in the U.S.”

    Nice…

    “unaffiliated with a larger university”..

    L.Rick, I’ve been thru the school of hard knocks, undergraduate school, graduate school, military schools/training, medical school, law school, and years of post professional school training,…..exactly how does one obtain an “advanced degree” from a school that is not affiliated with any university?

    Anybody else out there, besides old L.Rick, heard of that route to an “advanced “degree? Advanced from what ?!

    Further, Thunderbird boasts, “one worst placement rates in the U.S”…85% of ‘graduates’ without jobs!! Probably not the cohort I’d have managing my money…

    It goes on from there…none of it good.

    I mean, really, L.Rick, that IS impressive! For some reason, can’t get an old tune out of my head. I’m sure you know the one….. M-I-C-K-E-Y….M-O-U-S-E .

    I can see where, being the self made man that you think you are, how you would not be a fan of supporting more formal education, or quality schools…I mean, who needs stinking school? You can just go online and write stuff!!

    Anyway…. are all your erstwhile investors out there aware of your impressive academic training, and background…from an undergrad B.S.(sounds about right..), to good old Thunderbird U?? I see you claim “44 yrs of experience”. Does that include all your “school time”?

    No matter; I’m sure they all did GREAT… with you guiding them thru the municipal bond crash in the 80’s, the dot.com, and real estate bubbles/crashes of the 90’s and 00’s (given your self-proclaimed “expertise” in those areas… ), as well as the more recent banking/mortgage industry meltdowns…all in reliance upon your good counsel.

    They all did well, right?

    Actually, all kidding aside, ‘L.’, you do have me confused with someone else; with someone who would even remotely think of taking your s..t .

    FYI:
    I live in Sedona. I have never lived/practiced in ILL. I didn’t “lose everything” at anytime, anywhere; I moved to AZ for a combination of weather, and money… have actually done pretty well over the years, for a kid who grew up in Public housing on the So Shore of Boston, putting himself thru undergraduate school working and playing ball, later working as a teacher in the ‘hood’ in NY for 5-6 years(…I was the original White Shadow, back in those early 70’s; you would not have lasted the day there…), 13 yrs in the Navy (re-signing my commission after Desert Storm), and graduating with honors, at the top tier of his classes in medical, and, law schools…

    So, it should go without saying that I didn’t do all that to be put in the position of being held up to ridicule in the community, by a loud mouthed, under educated, slob.

    While from what I’ve read and learned online of your “background” I would not accuse you of being particularly bright, one would have thought you’d be self- aware enough to consider taking your own words under advisement, before shooting off your yap…. “since you know nothing of me whatsoever…although you most assuredly should.”…..READ THAT PHRASE, AGAIN, SLOWLY..after having read the above. Doesn’t it sound like a good place you should have started?

    Normally I do not stoop to a duel of wits with an unarmed man; but in your case, I will make an exception.

    Will be in touch……

    To everybody else reading this, who is non-delusional, and able to focus on point; please consider a yes Vote on the Override. Don’t take out your displeasure with some of the ill advised “money projects” from recent years past…some of which I would wholly agree should not have been affiliated with a school budget. If you are so disposed, go after the people who are responsible, not the kids. The loss of Override support will truly hurt the kids, and indirectly, the community. Educated, professional, tax-paying people with children, or plans to have them, will shy away from a community that offers a second rate education for their kids. Then who will pay the taxes for other services we want?

    All you’ll have left is blowhards, like L. Rick…..

  45. William S. says:

    Excuse me Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD (whatever that means) but in my opinion you lost all credibility when you misidentified Mr. Normand as “L. Rick Normand” instead of his rightful byline, that being “J. Rick Normand.”

    Thank you because it offered cause to ignore the balance of your obvious rant – which I believe by your blatant erroneous identification of Mr. Normand had to do primarily with a personal attack amounting to no more than a childish “I’ll get-even with you L. Rick.”

    Temper tantrums at any age are unattractive. Shame on you Doctor of Whatever.

  46. Daniel J Sullivan MD, JD:

    First, who are you addressing as “L. Rick?”

    Second, I graduated from T-Bird 44 years ago so what does the 2012 graduating class have to do with anybody named Rick in this context? You said “exactly how does one obtain an “advanced degree” from a school that is not affiliated with any university?” This question alone makes me wonder if you’re a fraud. Notwithstanding, no one but no one who graduated with honors from multiple programs would have your classless demeanor. Anyone who’s lived in Arizona for long already knows who T-Bird is. And, BTW, I notice also that you conveniently never mentioned where any of your educational degrees are from.

    Third, in the “appellate blurb,” as you term it which no attorney that I know of would use, my excerpts do not suggest a conclusion upon which is founded the ruling. That wasn’t my point in aggregating the excerpts and apparently you can’t figure out what my obvious point was.

    Fourth, anyone who works out at SNAP Fitness with me, including Mayor Adams, City Manager Tim Ernster, Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Wesselhoff, Judge Bill Lundy, and on and on, will tell that if I chose to flex my arms they would crush your little pencil neck. Why don’t you drop by SNAP any afternoon and meet me…if you have the courage!

    Fifth, I said in my Sedona.biz comment, “I’m just wondering if this is you? I am probably wrong and, if so, I apologize here and now for my errant thoughts but there is a smattering of curiosity here about someone so self-righteous (Please tell me this isn’t you). If you are not the person I asked about, why are you foaming at the mouth now when you could have just charmingly said, “I am not the person you’ve asked about so I will accept your early apology. Please acknowledge that the answer to your question has revealed your presumed assumption to be in error.” But, strangely, you didn’t do that but instead transmogried into a raging pit bull. Get a grip man!

    Now, let’s get down to business. Sedona.biz says they pulled my comments because they constituted a personal attack which is a subcategory of defamation. What exactly do you think you’ve done here at this site? You’re a monumental hypocrite who must think of himself as a role model for our kids. OMG, give us all a break! You’re obviously a very bitter man who for some reason still didn’t reveal his credentials in his comments at this site.

    It seems to me that if you are who you say you are then you would understand that Sedona.biz didn’t understand, as apparently you don’t either (even with your JD moniker), this part of the body of law pertaining to journalism: The publication or broadcast of any libelous or slanderous statement, otherwise described as a “personal attack,” about an individual or business that can be proven to be false AND published with the intention of harming that entity’s reputation is considered to be defamation. Both of these elements must be proven together, contextually…they do not stand alone! Online defamation is the publication of such statements made on any Internet based media including blogs, forums, websites, and even social networking websites.

    In its 1990 decision in Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., the Supreme Court of the United States held that [publicly made] statements not capable of being proven false, or which reasonable people would not construe as statements of fact at all, but rather as mere rhetorical hyperbole, are absolutely protected by the First Amendment.

    The Fairness Doctrine, formally adopted by the Federal Communications Commission in 1949, required all broadcasters to devote a reasonable amount of time to the discussion of controversial matters of public interest. It further required broadcasters to air contrasting points of view regarding those matters. The Fairness Doctrine arose from the idea imbedded in the First Amendment that the wide dissemination of information from diverse and even antagonistic sources is essential to the public welfare and to a healthy democracy.

    Continuing, from your diatribe, I notice that you didn’t mention anything about Ohio or Kingman. With all your monikers, why are you so hard to track. We need some illumination. Can you post your complete bio?

    Have a good day,

    From the loud-mouthed, under-educated slob

    P.S. Amongst you readers, have any of you ever known an accomplished physician, with a Juris Doctorate to boot, who has a demeanor like this and a proclivity to throw about such classless language?

  47. sharlett says:

    Hey, Dr. Daniel “X” Sullivan – couldn’t agree more with William S.

    Scary that you couldn’t get J Ricks name right. Me thinks you do protest waaaay to much and with no point made.

    Considering myself Non-delusional – I will continue to vote NO because I have checked into the financial history etc. vs the motherhood and apple pie routine.

    Think “J” Rick should have stayed away from nasty, while true, bios because it is rather tacky, to say the least —except it looks like he produced true bios- yet looks like you showed a color I don’t want to see.

    If J Rick got you mixed up with someone else than it is entirely up to you to set him straight and then he needs to just MAN UP and correct his misinformation. Good luck! yet that is not the issue here —–

    Issue is a Grand Slam NO VOTE on the Override!

  48. Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD:

    re: From the website of the only Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD in Arizona;

    Member of the Ohio Bar

  49. Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD:

    Patient Reviews and Ratings;

    http://www.patientschoice.org/Dr_Daniel_J_Sullivan_5/profile
    http://www.vitals.com/doctors/Dr_Daniel_J_Sullivan_5/reviews

    One Current Address in Sedona but

    Current Office Phone Number at Area Code 419 (Toledo, Ohio)-coincidence?

    re: From the website of the only Daniel J. Sullivan, MD, JD in Arizona; Member of the Ohio Bar-coincidence?

    re: From SedonaEye above comment of Oct 20 by DJS; “…I can not vote in city elections…”-coincidence?

    Re: AZ Medical Board; only one Daniel Joseph Sullivan MD in the state, License; #38140 (office in Kingman, AZ)-coincidence?

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