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2012, government accountability, hd131, justin simmons, kevin deely, lehigh valley politics, pa house, padems, pennsylvania politics, progressives, school choice
In the struggle to retake the Pennsylvania State House, one local race has caught my attention. In House District 131, former President of the Easton Area Education Association and High School English teacher Kevin Deely is challenging Justin Simmons (R-131).
In todays PoliticsPA Morning Buzz we see a development in this race that in my opinion is a key contention between our parties, and the course Pennsylvania should be taking.
HD-131: The Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania’s PAC has endorsed Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh) for reelection. He was the first candidate the PAC supported in 2010, and they said his commitments to government accountability and school choice have led them to support him again. He is running against Dem Kevin Deely Jr (PoliticsPA Morning Buzz 7/31/12)
The difference I call into question is the ideal of School Choice and Government Accountability. School choice is not about choice. The words together seem to be a wonderful notion for the community. However, We need to choose to empower our teachers to teach our children how to think for themselves, not how to pass tests. If we are going to reclaim our education system for our children and the community we need accountability, not free market profiteering of Education. The students in our schools need an experienced educator who understand the commitment it takes to educate them, not the desire of special interests.
As for Government accountability, according to data compiled by PoliticsPA 14.47% of Mr.Simmons constituents who are registered voters do not possess the ID requirement that State House Majority Leader Turzai’s (R-28) infamous comment stated:
Voter ID, which is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, DONE. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuOT1bRYdK8&feature=related)
Of the registered seniors in the 131st district, 19.59% of them lack the ID that will protect the election process from so-called rampant voter fraud. Lancaster City Councilman John Graupera whose City Council resolution exposing the disenfranchisement behind the Voter ID Bill stated:
“Over a 10-year span, less that 10 instances of fraud were litigated and our former attorney general, (Gov. Tom) Corbett never prosecuted a single case
That measure passed the Lancaster City Council 6-0. And those currently lacking ID and unsure if they can hold their government accountable have Mr.Simmons and the majority party to thank.
The voters of the 131st district and the Commonwealth at large deserve a representative that will put our children ahead of special interests. And will not put party ideology over their constituents. Hopefully on November 6th we can see a shift back to normalcy in our Commonwealth.
You can also join Kevin Deely in petitioning Mr.Simmons in repealing ACT 13, which allows the gas industry to ignore local zoning laws in pursuit of profit over the needs of the community at http://www.change.org/petitions/representative-justin-simmons-repeal-act-13?utm_campaign=petition_created_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=guides
I absolutely agree with what you said about teachers being empowered to teach our students to think, and not be controlled by what’s in the test. Unfortunately, all schools deal with this.
I agree with you that we need accountability from our teachers. Unfortunately Your hero in this piece does not. From The Express Times March 27th 2010
“To base a teacher’s evaluation and their worth as an educator on how much their students grow, it just doesn’t work that way,” Deely said.
Seems strange a teacher wouldn’t care how much their students grow
You would have a point with that quote, if it wasn’t taken out of context. If you listened to the interview the response was to the idea of merit pay. The idea of forcing teachers to teach to a test and then paying them according to the students test scores.
I for one can say the worst teacher I ever has was my tenth grade global studies one. Day one he brought out the regents review book and put sample questions on the board and chapter summaries. I got an 80 on that test, however I am quite a better history student than that (I have my bachelors in history). The two global classes I took in college I got an A in.
The hero in this piece is an educator who is allowed to teach our children to teach out kids to think for themselves. An educator not hamstrung by test scores and students whose schools aren’t taking the brunt of budget cuts. And that hero will be hard to find in a climate where we demonize the teachers.
We can’t tax our way to prosperity, but we definitely can’t cut our way their either.
If he doesn’t want merit pay and doesn’t like testing students how about drug testing of teachers?
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2009/08/three_easton_area_school_distr.html
Wow this guy is a winner
Because teaching our children to answer questions on a test is more important than learning to think for themselves….Why are we so afraid for our children to learn to question and ask why. I personally believe I learned the most with the teachers that made me think, not just memorize for tests.
Also I don’t take tests well, so if my teachers got paid by my test scores only they’d need public assistance to help them make it.
That article showed up no longer available, but as a state worker I know I can be drug tested if suspected of something so I don’t see your argument. It’s actually in my collective bargaining agreement.
At least you admitted that you tried to use that quote out of context by not replying with anything but another attack.
We will see on November 6th if Mr. Deely and any of the other candidates running against the corporate give away of our education system are winners. I’ll continue praying for it and writing about it, I’m sure you’ll stay on the path you are following as well.
So You want Act 13 repealed because… you don’t like the impact fee? Or because you don’t like increasing setbacks for non-conventional gas wells?
I don’t like how Act 13 allows the gas industry to pretty much do as they will. I don’t understand why we can’t put communities over excessive profits.
I love how we were told if we impose too much of an impact fee they will go elsewhere. Well http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2012/07/supply-glut-pushing-natural-gas-drillers-ohio/
Also I am tired of Grover Norquist. He never ran for any office in the commonwealth, he pays no taxes in this state, yet the majority party like so many other Republicans in every state cowers to that loon. He doesn’t care about about the communities that are impacted and Act 13 helps the gas industry not care either.
Oh so you want to repeal a law over a provision that is no longer part of the law? So you will scrap the impact fees and increased setback requirements for… what exactly?
Personally I don’t know what to replace it with, if I did I’d run for office
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First off all I would have never saddled the Commonwealth with an ALEC modeled bill. They don’t write bills for our Representatives who are interested in making our communities stronger, only those who care about the profits of those who fund their campaigns.
I would like those we elect to work a system that would be beneficial to the Gas industry and also take the needs of the communities they impact into consideration.
I added the petition into the story because it was part of a press release of Mr. Deely who is running in the 131st against Justin Simmons and his Koch addiction to the special interests.
His Koch addiction to the special interests? I guess you are just taking that on faith from Mr. Deely’s press release too?
I don’t believe the press release says anything about Mr. Simmons and the Modern day Republican Parties Koch addiction. That was my statement and I stick by it.
I believe Mr. Simmons voting record in the state house and support for ALEC Modeled bills is all the proof I need. I only put faith in one person and that person wasn’t a corporation.
I have written several articles on ALEC sponsored bills from this session andI don’t believe Mr Simmons voted against one of the . I also remember his co sponsorship of a few of them. I am also going out on a limb here but I don’t think that would bother you, or facts about the specific bills would affect your decision either.
So how bout you don’t try to insult my intelligence by thinking I’m just making statements because a press release comes out against Justin Simmons support of Act 13. An Act that in my opinion was best described by Steven Rosenfeld of Alternet as “The Nations worst corporate give away”.
The Republican Party can hide behind misinformation, a distorted belief in liberty and a sheer misunderstanding to any principles that party was founded on all they want. I see through the rhetoric and fear, and I hope you realize many Pennsylvanians are starting to as well.
Guess its a good thing for Justin that his support of another ALEC modeled bill, the Voter ID Bill made it harder for 14.49% of registered voters in his district who might hold Mr Simmons accountable to his Laissez Faire approach to Common Sense.