Education
Posted October 24th, 2011 by Konni
By MerryLynn Gerstenschlager. Texas Eagle Forum VP and Education Liaison
Had anyone told me that I would end up spending the bulk of my time during the most recent Texas Legislative Session and Special Session lobbying on Turkish charter schools, technically known as Harmony charter schools, I would have laughed at them.
However, this turned out to be no laughing matter and by the end of the Special Session, the legislature had called for an investigation of all charter schools by the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee.
The forthcoming investigation was precipitated by Texas Eagle Forum’s and Peyton Wolcott’s (Publisher – Public Ed Commentary) unsuccessful efforts to amend legislation that will now allow certain charter schools to use the $25 billion dollar Permanent School Fund (PSF) to guarantee new construction bonds. Public schools already enjoy this privilege. The PSF is also known as the Children’s Textbook Fund.
Peyton Wolcott’s research provided outstanding information throughout session. Upon learning that there are 36 Harmony charter campuses in Texas and that their operators are mostly Turkish men who have been educated and previously employed in Turkey, we dubbed the Harmony charter schools “Turkish charter schools.” We began to scrutinize them in the context of this legislation. Harmony is overseen by the Cosmos Foundation, a non-profit organization that has received a quarter of a billion dollars in Texas taxpayer dollars in the past three years. Note that there are 156 Harmony-related charter schools in the U.S.
Harmony refers to their schools as “charter” as well as “public” schools. On February 1, 2011, “Harmony Public Schools” organized the “Bond Financing for Charter Schools” luncheon at the Austin Omni Hotel. Among the speakers was former Counselor to President George W. Bush, Karen Hughes, who welcomed guests “on behalf of Harmony Public Schools” to talk “about innovative ways to finance school facilities.” Harmony had hired Hughes through Burson-Marsteller, the prestigious marketing firm, to kick off Harmony’s efforts to pass this legislation.
Harmony was scheduled to open a new School of Political Science in Austin in August of 2011. Because Harmony schools emphasize Turkish culture and also take Texas elected officials on free trips to Turkey, we contemplated how American government and the U.S. Constitution might be taught in this school. And with so many Texas teachers looking for work, we wondered why Cosmos has brought 1,300 teachers here from Turkey on H1-B visas?
We were concerned that five members of the Senate Education Committee had accepted a collective total of $15,000, and that seven members of the House Public Education Committee had accepted a collective total of $11,500 in campaign funds from the Texas Charter School Association (TCSA). The TCSA had hired 11 lobbyists to push for this legislation. Among these lobbyists were former State Representative Diane Delisi and former State Senator Kyle Janek. One of the PSF charter school guarantee bills had to pass out of these committees to take on a life in the House and Senate.
The focus on Turkish influence in Texas schools was emphasized when the Senate passed Senate Resolution 85 honoring the Turkish imam Fethullah Gulen. Gulen was given asylum in Pennsylvania in 1997 when he was driven out of Turkey by his own government for trying to reinstate a caliphate in this secular nation. Since then, Gulen lives here in self-imposed exile, even though he has been exonerated in Turkey.
In order to protect the $25 billion Children’s Textbook Fund, Texas Eagle Forum and Peyton Wolcott began to lobby that the following fiduciary duty-of-care amendments be placed in the legislation:
Posted September 27th, 2011 by Konni
Good Morning,
I am contacting you on behalf of CLEAN Resources. CLEAN Resources is a group of concerned citizens, small businesses, and other Texans who represent more than 70,000 jobs in the Barnett Shale. We are a non-profit organization that focuses on education. We advocate for the development of American energy resources, especially shale gas, as a way to lead this country down the path of energy security, national security, better air quality, economic progress and a cleaner environment.
On Thursday, September 29, 2011, the EPA is hosting a public hearing at Arlington City Hall. The EPA is considering additional restrictions on the oil and gas operations by proposing further regulations on air quality standards. These new regulations will impact job creation and economic development in North Texas.
- The hearing is from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm. Please feel free to come to any portion of the hearing that is convenient for you.
- There will be opportunities for citizens to speak at the hearing regarding this issue. If you are interested, you may register to speak at the hearing by contacting Joan C. Rogers at (919) 541-4487 or rogers.joanc@epa.gov. Also, you may sign up to speak in person on Thursday at the hearing.
- Public comments will be accepted through October 24, 2011. When you submit your comments, identify them by Docket ID number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505.
- You can submit written comments by doing any of the following:
- online at the Federal rulemaking portal – www.regulations.gov
- by email to A-and-R-Docket@epamail.epa.gov
- by FAX at 202-566-9744
- by postal service (include 2 copies) to: Docket ID number EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0505, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460
- If you mail comments, please mail an additional copy to: The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attn.: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20503
I have attached a flyer here that contains more information about the EPA public hearing on Thurdsay.
CLEAN Resources wants to encourage as many supporters as possible to join us in speaking out at this public hearing. It will be highly beneficial to have supporters at the hearing throughout the day to demonstrate to the EPA that we support drilling in the Barnett Shale and oppose unneeded additional regulations that will harm this vital economic sector.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me anytime at (817) 583-4292 or chelsea@cleanresources.org.
Thank you so much for your support.
Best,
Chelsea Bacher
CLEAN Resources (817) 583-4292chelsea@cleanresources.org
Posted September 27th, 2011 by Konni
Have you recently heard your city leaders talking about a “sustainability plan” for your community, or mentioning something called “Smart Growth”? Take a minute to do a quick experiment. Open a browser window on your computer and search using the following three word phrase: “Carrollton Sustainability Plan”. Chances are you will see page after page, each mentioning multi-million dollar grants and the words “green” and “sustainable”. Now try a second search. This time remove the word “Carrollton”, and search on the two word phrase, “Sustainability Plan”.
Surprised at the results?
To learn more and to find out how to resist this UN Agenda, please join this Webinar with John Marler on Wednesday, September 28th at 7:00 PM (CST). The webinar is estimated to run until 9:00p.m. (CST)
John’s Presentation Will Include:
Background
Key Events of Agenda 21
The Program
ICLEI – Int’l Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
Education- Deliberate Dumbing Down of America
Smart Meters – Technocracy invading our Homes
Competing Philosophies
What We Can Do
Q&A
WEBINAR INSTRUCTIONS:
Please sign in 15 minutes before the webinar. It is a 2 step process:
1. Log into FreeScreenSharing – to see John’s presentation – 1st go to www.freescreensharing.com. 2nd You will see 3 boxes: Get Started/Host a Meeting / Join a Meeting. In the Pink Join a Meeting box please fill in:
Name: Your name – first or first and last (your choice) – others will see your name
Email: type in your real email address
Meeting ID: 409-212-584
Then click “Join Meeting”
An Installer message will appear on your screen – Click “RUN” when the popup window appears to run the FreeScreenSharing software. Next, a downloading popup window will appear – should only take 30 seconds to load – (depending on your computer speed)
Once complete you will see the Meeting room – You will see a list of participants on the left (you will not see your own name but everyone else in the room). There is a chat window where you can type a message.
2. Log into Free- Conference call – for Audio of this meeting
Dial 559-546-1200 prompt will ask for your Meeting ID enter: 409212584# (make sure you hit the #) (sometimes it will ask you for your name – if requested just state your name so others can hear who is entering the call)
You will then join the Conference call and be able to hear the audio for this Webinar.
Please keep phone line clear for Presenter. If you have a question type it into chat box on left. Please note that unless presenter is watching the chat box – your question may go unanswered – just remember to ask it again during Q&A.
Posted September 2nd, 2011 by Konni
The Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce is hosting a State Legislative Update featuring Representative Vicki Truitt on Tuesday, September 6.
Topics will include the state budget, redistricting, and education, and will also include time for Q&A.
Cost to attend is $5 and includes lunch. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 6 at Keller Town Hall (1100 Bear Creek Parkway) in Room 212.
RSVP is required. Click here to RSVP online or call the Greater Keller Chamber of Commerce Office at 817-431-2169 to RSVP or receive additional information.
Posted August 30th, 2011 by Konni
If you read our Lesson 1, you now know what a precinct is, what your precinct number is and the area your precinct covers. What is your number again?? Remember it! Know it! Again, THIS is where real change begins! This is where YOU can make a difference. Why? Because a precinct is a manageable amount of voters to educate, influence and get to the polls.
The tea party movement learned early on that starting a third party would only result in a split vote that would help get more liberals elected. We also learned early on that taking the Republican party “back” is a pretty good strategy. But that has to start at the lowest level – the precinct. Each precinct has an elected Precinct Chair who’s #1 goal is to maximize the Republican vote in their precinct. However, many precincts do not even have a Chair. You know why? Because no one has even stepped up to do this most basic, grassroots job. And so that precinct simply goes without one. And in many, many cases those that do have a Precinct Chair might as well not. That person doesn’t do anything to actually educate, influence or even try to get conservatives to the polls. This is simply unacceptable and is a big reason that our system is broken – us conservatives have not committed to the process.
Now you should know – you don’t have to actually get elected to do this job. You can just use this information to help you go out and do what needs to be done within your own precinct without the actual title of Precinct Chair. However, as an elected Precinct Chair within the Republican party you’re endorsement of true conservative local candidates can help to get them elected. Also, you would have more of a voice within the party itself.
But first things first. Does your precinct even have a Precinct Chair? Do you know who that is? To find out, click here to see if your precinct has a Chair and who they are. This list is from the Republican Party of Tarrant County and was last updated on August 31, 2010. If your precinct doesn’t have a Chair… well you’ve got some thinkin’ to do. Are you alarmed at the direction that this country is headed? Are you disillusioned with the direction of the Republican Party? Are you tired of yelling at your TV because of your disgust with establishment elite that don’t really care what YOU think? Are you lookin’ to do something to help our country, but you don’t know what?? Well, this just may be what you’ve been looking for!
Stay tuned! More lessons and an IMPORTANT meeting to come!
Posted August 23rd, 2011 by Konni
Greetings,
Are you fed up with the way kids are being indoctrinated in the government schools? Do you wish there was something you could do to counter the relentless onslaught of anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-Christian propaganda that fill our children’s textbooks and related curriculum in K-12 education?
There is something we can do. Interested?
My name is Chris Rowan, and I am writing to you on behalf of Sheri Krass who is Chair Person of the Florida Textbook Action Team (TAT). Sheri writes:
———-
The Florida Textbook Action Team (TAT) is forming State and National Divisions, and is also looking for volunteers in each State – so that we can network with its organizations.
We want to communicate with every State in our Republic – sharing education information, identifying problems, and determining possible actions/solutions.
This work will mainly be done online – through emails. Some research will be needed to identify organizations not on the contact list that we will be providing. Each State volunteer will be given an introductory letter to be sent to these organizations.
Textbook publishers are providing books that have faulty, slanted, and biased excerpts. Citizens for National Security (CFNS) identified over 200 faulty excerpts with a pro-Islamic and/or anti-Judeo/Christian bias. These textbooks are used in every State of our Republic. Every organization in every State will receive both a list of these textbooks and faulty excerpts.
We are going to ask the organizations in each State to contact their State Department of Education and insist that they inform these publishers that they will not buy these textbooks until revised editions are available.
We believe that the Federal Department of Education (DOE) is unconstitutional. The US Constitution clearly states the powers of the Federal Government. Education is not one of the delineated powers. It is reserved to the Sovereign States.
Right now, the Federal Government dictates to the States what curriculum they must follow and “pushes” Agenda 21 onto the States. By the States joining together, we will eventually have the power to remove the Federal DOE and their influence.
One way to do this is to “de-fund” the DOE – by the States refusing to send monies to them. Decisions pertaining to how the money is spent, curriculum, etc. will be made by each State – where it belongs.
In Florida, of the monies that are allocated toward education, the Federal Government only contributes 10%. The rest is provided by the State. For a breakdown of the States – Fiscal Year 2009 – by the National Center for Education Statistics – you can go to this link: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2011/2011329.pdf Table 1, Page 7 of this report.
As we are organized in Florida and just obtained a volunteer for the States of New York, Indiana, and New Jersey, we only have 46 States to go! I’ve only been able to identify 50 States – not the 57 that Obama mentioned!
If you are interested in volunteering to network with your State organizations (or choose another State), contact me, and I will send you a list of emails and websites of organizations in your State. You will first need to verify the emails provided and, through searching each website, find those emails we do not have.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Please forward this request to anyone you think may be interested in volunteering.
Sheri Krass, Chair Person
Florida Textbook Action Team (TAT)
561-672-1410
sheri1449@gmail.com
———-
If you are interested in joining Sheri and forming a Textbook Action Team for Texas, please let me know. We need to go county-by-county and find at least one person in each county willing to liaison between the local School Boards and the Texas TAT. We also need someone willing to serve as Texas State Coordinator.
Best regards,
Chris Rowan
Posted August 21st, 2011 by Konni
Please review these amendments and understand them before voting!
Explanatory Statements for the November 8, 2011 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election
Proposition Number 1 (SJR 14)
SJR 14 would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to provide the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran with an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the surviving spouse’s residence homestead as long as the surviving spouse has not remarried, the property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the qualifying veteran died, and the property remains the residence homestead of the surviving spouse.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.”
Proposition Number 2 (SJR 4)
SJR 4 would amend the constitution to authorize the Texas Water Development Board to issue additional general obligation bonds on a continuing basis for one or more accounts of the Texas Water Development Fund II, with the restriction that the total amount of bonds outstanding at any time does not exceed $6 billion.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $6 billion at any time outstanding.”
Proposition Number 3 (SJR 50)
SJR 50 would amend the constitution to authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or its successors to issue and sell general obligation bonds on a continuing basis for the purpose of financing educational loans for students, subject to certain constitutional restrictions, including a restriction as to the maximum principal amount of bonds outstanding at any one time.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.”
Proposition Number 4 (HJR 63)
HJR 63 would amend the constitution to authorize the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area within the county, and to pledge increases in ad valorem tax revenues imposed on property in the area by the county for repayment of such bonds or notes. The amendment does not provide independent authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.
The proposed amendment would appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area and to pledge for repayment of the bonds or notes increases in ad valorem taxes imposed by the county on property in the area. The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.”
Posted August 11th, 2011 by Fred
This week was the last week of the Summer Food Service Progam that we reported about earlier this spring. Schools everywhere offer free food (breakfast AND lunch!) for any kids under 18, and discounted meals for adults. There are no qualifications; all you have to do is show up. So, I went to try it out and to see if it’s true. Sure enough, my four-year old and I ate our “free meals” in a cafeteria with other parents and kids - no questions asked. By the way, no one in there looked liked they were in any danger of starving to death any time soon, not even close. Gee, how have we managed to make it as a people before this program, and is there any wonder why we are $14 trillion in debt?
Posted August 10th, 2011 by Julie
Ken Mercer Asks for Your Help
In 2012 because of redistricting, all seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be on the ballot. Even though many of us just ran in 2010, we will be required to run again in 2012 if we intend to retain our seats.
I am humbled to request your financial help for my re-election campaign. Your gift today of $5, $10, $25, $50, or more will help to ensure my conservative representation on the State Board of Education (SBOE).
As you know, because of my conservative leadership, I am again a target of the far left. I need your support to defend my seat.
Many supporters do not realize that as an elected State Board of Education member representing 1.8 million constituents in twelve counties, I receive no salary or benefits.
For example, a State Representative, who represents 150,000 constituents, is blessed with an officeholder allowance from the State of Texas of about $160,000 per year. That funding supports an office in Austin, an office in the Representative’s home district, three or more professional staffers, mailers to constituents, several computers, cell phones, furniture, and other equipment.
A State Representative also receives a small monthly salary, health insurance, and is enrolled in the pension plan.
Again, as a Member of the State Board of Education, I do not receive any allowance or salary.
This is not a complaint — just a fact. My intention is to help my constituents to understand why I need your financial help to defend our values.
There are three ways you can financially help our campaign. All information is found at:
www.VoteKenMercer.com
First, you can go online to www.VoteKenMercer.com and contribute using the “DONATE” button. Your contribution is secured using PayPal.
Second, some have expressed a desire to give a “reoccurring” amount of $9.95 or more a month. The “Recurring Donation” button is also found at: www.VoteKenMercer.com.
Finally, you can use the regular U.S. mail and send your gift to:
Friends of Ken Mercer
P.O. Box 781301
San Antonio, Texas 78278-1301
Please make your checks out to: Friends of Ken Mercer
Thank you for allowing me to represent you on the Texas State Board of Education. As always, please remember our 12- year theme of “Family, Faith and Freedom.” We want to strengthen the family, respect our faith, and defend our freedom!
Ken
Ken Mercer (R – Bexar) is a current Member of the State Board of Education and a former State Representative. Mercer now represents 1.85 million constituents in twelve counties including Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Llano and parts of Bell, Bexar and Travis.
Posted August 3rd, 2011 by Konni
By JoAnn Fleming, volunteer Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People, Chair of the TX Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee, jafleming3@juno.com
Due to numerous requests for details and an analysis of the debt ceiling deal, the following represents the basics. It is written to assist constitutional conservative groups in their efforts to educate, empower and motivate their members. My hope is that it will be of some value as we all work to wake up those who still slumber as our nation continues down a destructive path. To each of you, God speed.
House Passes “The Deal”
