Archive for Sunday, February 25, 2007
Moderate majority could be in jeopardy in 2008
Waugh urges Democrats to start seeking candidates for board now
February 25, 2007
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State Board of Education
- State Board of Education to create guidelines for restraining unruly students (02-15-07)
- Education board to revisit debate over evolution (02-11-07)
- New science standards up for vote next month (01-10-07)
- Wagnon says SBOE to act on evolution in February (01-10-07)
- State board to revisit science, sex education (01-09-07)
- As old board departs, new evolution stance takes shape (12-14-06)
- No rush on new science standards (11-22-06)
- Chat about the Kansas Board of Education with member Janet Waugh (11-21-06)
Kansas State Board of Education member Janet Waugh encouraged Douglas County Democrats to start looking for a replacement right away.
"It's crucial," she said. "We need to look now."
With moderate education Chairman Bill Wagnon, D-Topeka, whose district includes Lawrence, and Vice Chairwoman Carol Rupe, R-Wichita, likely giving up their seats in 2008, Waugh said she's worried about the possibility of moderates losing control of the state board again.
Waugh, from Kansas City, Kan., whose district includes part of eastern Douglas County and parts of Lawrence north of Sixth Street, and Wagnon are the only Democrats on the board. But four Republican board members share moderate views.
"We're only 6-4, and in two years this can turn," said Waugh, who was the featured speaker Saturday at the monthly meeting of the Douglas County Democrat Party. "We could get a wing-nut, as I like to call them."
The leadership makeup of the state board has bounced back and forth four times since 1999, each time causing sweeping changes.
This year, the board is in the process of reversing some of the decisions made by a conservative Republican majority in the last two years.
In April, the board plans to replace former education Commissioner Bob Corkins, a Lawrence resident, who resigned after 13 tumultuous months on the job just after moderates took control of the board in the November election.
"He saw the handwriting on the wall," Waugh said.
Corkins, who had no experience in education and had previously lobbied against increased funding for public schools, was hired by the state board's conservative Republican majority in 2005.
This month, the moderate-controlled board adopted new, evolution-friendly science standards for Kansas' public schools, changing ones that questioned the theory and generated international ridicule.
"It was just unreal ... the bad press Kansas got," Waugh said. "I think it's sad."
Next month, the board likely will reverse its first-in-the-nation decision that requires students to get their parents' permission before taking sex education and return to allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education classes, Waugh said.
She also said the issues her constituents charged her with when she was re-elected to her third term this year are already being taken care of. But she won't stop there, she said.
"I personally plan to go back to the minutes" and search for any additional conservative-controlled votes in the last two years that need to be revisited, she said.
"We've seen this school board go back and forth now two times," said Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, after the party meeting. "These are important issues for our state, and we need to keep paying attention."
More like this
- Education board to revisit debate over evolution 40 comments / February 11, 2007
- State board to revisit science, sex education 9 comments / January 9, 2007
- Assistance enlisted in search for new chief 5 comments / January 15, 2007
- State board battles image problem 2 comments / January 16, 2007
- State board of education picks commissioner finalists April 18, 2007
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25 February 2007
at 6:35 a.m.
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KS (Anonymous) says…
Bill Wagnon a “moderate”? What's that gal been smoking? There is nothing moderate about that board. “Wing nuts” are on the left. No wonder that board is in such a mess!
25 February 2007
at 7:15 a.m.
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roger_o_thornhill (Anonymous) says…
Time to ditch the BOE. Just more bureaucracy anyways. Like roughly 1/3 of all people associated with schools who call themselves “administrators”. Plus this back and forth baloney is just that.
25 February 2007
at 8:06 a.m.
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oldgoof (Anonymous) says…
Yes, KS, with a Connie Morris or Kathy Martin included on an ordinal scale, Wagnon is a moderate.
25 February 2007
at 10:04 a.m.
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admireed (Anonymous) says…
Moderate? How about Liberal and conservative?
25 February 2007
at 10:12 a.m.
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SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…
As long as the establishment media is in control, you will never read about liberals— only “moderates” and their conservative counterparts.
25 February 2007
at 11:22 a.m.
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gccs14r (Anonymous) says…
The Journal-World a bastion of Liberalism? Go on…pull the other one.
25 February 2007
at 11:40 a.m.
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Lifelong_Lawrencian (Anonymous) says…
How about a new biology textbook sticker?
This book discusses evolution.
President George W. Bush said, “On
the issue of evolution, the verdict is
still out on how God created the
Earth.” Therefore, until 2009 this
material shood be aproched with an
open mind, studeed carefuly, and
critcly consid'rd.
25 February 2007
at 12:07 p.m.
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John1945 (Anonymous) says…
Steve Abrams is a successful veterinarian. Janet Waugh peddles used cars. Which one do you think knows more about biology?
25 February 2007
at 12:34 p.m.
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Lifelong_Lawrencian (Anonymous) says…
Or how about my personal favorite:
This textbook contains material on
gravity. Gravity is a theory, not a fact,
regarding a force that cannot be
directly seen. This material should be
approached with an open mind,
studied carefully, and critically
considered.
25 February 2007
at 12:47 p.m.
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oldgoof (Anonymous) says…
john altevogt: I believe Waugh knows more than the Vet, or you for that matter
25 February 2007
at 12:52 p.m.
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Lifelong_Lawrencian (Anonymous) says…
John1945 wrote:
Steve Abrams is a successful veterinarian. Janet Waugh peddles used cars. Which one do you think knows more about biology?
That's interesting and true. I guess that means even a used car salesperson has more common sense than Dr. Steve Abrams, but his beliefs probably have more to due with his membership with the First Baptist Church than his knowledge of Biology.
25 February 2007
at 1:32 p.m.
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ASBESTOS (Anonymous) says…
“Steve Abrams is a successful veterinarian. Janet Waugh peddles used cars. Which one do you think knows more about biology?”
The used car dealer that understands what evolution is about gets my vote. And I HATE used car dealers!
Do you really want a vet working on your pooch or kitty that doesn't recognise the basic fundamentals of his craft???
Here is a joke (from a true conservative namely me).
I took my dog into Steve to have a look at him,
Steve: What seems to be the matter here?
Me: He was hit by a car! I think his leg is broken.
Steve: Well let's see here, that's a good girl!
Me: It's a “he”, She's a boy, if you know what I mean.
Steve: That's what happens when man messes with God's work, they shouldn't spay these animals!
Me: NO, he can make puppies, he just has a broken leg!
Steve: Well we will have to pray for his soul, because of the spaying.
Me: I though all dogs go to heaven?
Steve: No, only the Fundamentalist Christian Dogs.
(I know it is bad, but it is no more crazy then the Fundies and Kansas Talabahn taking over the Republican party)
25 February 2007
at 1:34 p.m.
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ASBESTOS (Anonymous) says…
“Didn't I sell you a pupy last week?”
Yes!
What Happened?
He got Sick!
Did you take him to the Vet?
Yes, I took him to Steve, that's what killed him.
25 February 2007
at 1:42 p.m.
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drewdun (Anonymous) says…
“There is nothing moderate about that board. “Wing nuts” are on the left. No wonder that board is in such a mess!”
Its commonly accepted that 'wingnuts' is an appellation tied to right-wing nuts. (The preferred moniker for left-wing fanatics is 'moonbat.')
Here, I'll use 'wingnut' in a sentence…
“Only a 'wingnut' could post a sentence that claims that the current board is 'in such a mess' as opposed to the national embarrassment that was the previous board.”
25 February 2007
at 2 p.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
John1045 wrote:
“Steve Abrams is a successful veterinarian. Janet Waugh peddles used cars. Which one do you think knows more about biology?”
I think this speaks more to the low standards of veterinary certification that it does about this issue.
25 February 2007
at 4:41 p.m.
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sci4all (Anonymous) says…
Altevogt conveniently forgets that the new standards were written by board-appointed scientists. He's also ignoring the fact that the previous standards were condemned by all of the major scientific organizations in the country.
But the Discovery Institute & the Institution for Creation Research liked the previous standards. Why does Altevogt think they're the ones who should be in charge of science curriculum?
25 February 2007
at 4:59 p.m.
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melott (Anonymous) says…
Abrams once said that he was able to get thru vet training at KSU without learning anything about evolution. I believe him.
25 February 2007
at 6:39 p.m.
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jimincountry (Anonymous) says…
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
25 February 2007
at 6:57 p.m.
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jimincountry (Anonymous) says…
How about evolution for the masses……..islam style?!