DREAM Act

During this lame-duck session for Congress, Arne Duncan has recently advocated the urgency in passing the DREAM Act. Under this act, minors who were brought into the US illegally by their parents will be allowed to attend universities at in-state tuition rate or join the military and gain citizenship upon proper documentation and lengthy requirements.

Duncan made a statement that outlines all the positives that will come out of the DREAM Act and rigorously pushes the necessity of the bill.

However, this bill cannot come without controversy. Many support the DREAM Act and say it will be a stepping-stone for ratification of immigration laws, which are up for debate soon. Others strongly disagree, and claim that this bill is only being used to garner the vote of Hispanics and disgraces the nation.

One media vehicle that commented on this new proposed legislation is the online news source Hispanically Speaking. On this site, they reposted an article from Politico.com that states the benefits for the passage of the DREAM Act and a summary of Duncan’s message. This would be a proper place to post such an article because Hispanically Speaking is targeted at Hispanics. A majority of the website is in Spanish, so to post an article that supports new opportunities for citizenship would be appealing for either an illegal minor or a parent looking for opportunities for their children.

This is important because this particular media source supports the bill and makes it look like the answer to immigration. Not only does it offer the opportunity, but it is important to note that the article also contains the specific requirements that illegal minors would have to take. This is especially important because it lets the readers know that it is not an easy scapegoat for citizenship, rather it is a law to be taken seriously, and will not be easily exploited and does not leave holes for fraud or misuse.

However, our friends at Kansas City Star would be appalled…in fact, they ARE appalled!  Kansas City Star posted a letter to an editor that demonizes the proposition of the bill, referring to it as a “bad dream” act. The author comments on the falsity of the provisions, saying that it is unfair to American citizens who work just as hard. The author also claims that illegal minors who take advantage of this new law will exploit it by using it to get green cards for their parents. It important to note this specific letter because it shows how uninformed people can still have crucial opinions that can influence other uninformed citizens.

Duncan Challenges NCAA

This post is different from any of the other posts on this blog, primarily because it does not address a specific policy or law. Rather, this post concerns a statement/essay made in January 2010 by Arne Duncan concerning college football and basketball programs.

In this statement Duncan calls for a reformation of the way college sports programs are run and the graduation rates of the student athletes. Duncan proposes that new regulations be implemented when deciding when a student can go pro, and the eligibility of teams to play in play-off games with regard to graduation rates.

Duncan offers data that about ¼ of NCAA men’s basketball teams graduate LESS THAN 40% of their players. Some schools graduate zero players, while other schools graduate 100% of their players. Duncan addresses the need to fix the unevenness. He proposes that teams with less than a 40% graduation rate should be banned from post-season competition.

The infamous “one-and-done” rule will be also overhauled. This rule requires potential professional basketball players to “attend” college for a year or requires them to be 19 to be drafted. Duncan thinks this is ridiculous because if a student is not given the chance at 18, they basically are wasting their time at a university for a semester until they turn 19. Duncan supports the right for students to try out for the pros upon graduation of highschool, and BEFORE entering college. If the student does not get accepted, he has the opportunity to get an education under his belt before trying out again.

There have been extremely mixed responses to this addendum. George Vecsey, writing for the New York Times, agrees whole-heartedly with this decision. He supports these new ideas and agrees with Duncan on the absurdity of collegiate eligibility laws. Vecsey goes on to say that Duncan’s points were terrific and attests to his credibility, saying he has the right to call these issues to attention and talk trash about coaches because Duncan himself played both college and professional basketball and was a coach before becoming Secretary of Education.

Quite contrary to this opinion is Bill Sweetland, who writes for Ragan Communications, and whose negative toned article was republished by the Huffington Post. Sweetland harshly criticizes Duncan, calling him delusional and unfit for the job of Secretary, and says that Americans should expect more from his position. Not only does he drag Duncan through the mud, he also claims that college sports are a mockery, and that student-athletes are a joke.

This is important because depending on what source a person chooses to read, their opinions can be strongly affected either for the good or bad

Let’s Read. Let’s Move!

On Tuesday, June 29, the Department of Education (Arne Duncan) in combination with Michelle Obama kicked off the summer enrichment series “Let’s Read. Let’s Move.”

The purpose of this initiative is to prevent learning loss and physical inactivity, which many children face during the summer break from school. Often, children in certain locales only read or exercise during the school year. The activities of “Let’s Read. Let’s Move” will promote reading and academia, healthy life and physical choices for children, as well as an overall enrichment.

The kick off event, hosted in Washington, was made up of book readings, writing and arts activities, healthy snacks, and games. Secretary Duncan, Cabinet members, Administration officials, and other public figures were encouraged to participate with the children by reading books and participating in games and fitness.

The ‘Hands On Network’ is a blog/database for volunteer opportunities. For this particular volunteer event, the website chose to promote it. The article lists the facts about the enrichment series such as who in the administration is behind it, what the overarching purpose of the series is, and what the three main goals are.
After the main entry, there are sections of tools and references for people who might be interested in getting involved. Also, the site offers links to share information and continue to get out the word on the program.

The Corporation for National & Community Service promoted the United We Serve: “Let’s Read. Let’s Move” Summer Initiative. This website is sponsored by Serve.gov, the official government website promoting service. The article, listed under “Stories of Service,” includes a description of the events, and testimony from various people who stepped up to the challenge of summer reading and found it rewarding.

The article offers a personal testimony from a woman who claims reading was forced upon her in school and it wasn’t something she chose to do on her own, and that this program has helped her enjoy reading. The woman is also quoted saying her life is better now that she can read.

It is important to note these kinds of testimonials in the article, because it presents this summer enrichment series in a positive light and reinforces its effectiveness. The purpose of the web site is to promote volunteering. It would be hardly effective if the site posted anything about a service opportunity that was not enlightening.

Promoting and supporting this campaign, which is sponsored by Michele Obama and Arne Duncan, subjectively supports the government and our president. When people read this article they will think highly and positively about the administration.

National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention

On October 4, 2010 the President, Department of Justice and Department of Education met with various state representatives to discuss the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention. In short, this forum was created to establish new policies and strategies to prevent youth in certain violence-plagued cities from succumbing to the pressures of gang life and violence in schools.

Teams from Boston, California, Chicago, Detroit, and Tennessee got together with these federal agencies to work out these proposed strategies and plans, to find out what will work.

Courtesy of Google Images

What they hope will work, is combining the efforts of local law enforcement, educators, health providers, organizations in the communities, and families to work off of each other and stand together in the fight against violence. Arne Duncan says the administration will have to work with communities and schoolteachers to reach a conclusion about the reasons why kids get sucked into crime and gang life, and then find ways to prevent it.

Many news sources provided humbling testimony on the forum and proposed legislation. Many have high hopes for the plans, and are optimistic about it’s future success.

The Boston Globe’s online edition, Boston.com covers this topic and presents it to the public in an unbiased manner, detailing the facts as they unfold. They used quotes from both the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education, which is important because the forum involves the Department of Justice and the Department of Education. Providing a short testimony from officials on the inside presents the issue as more human. A reader being able to hear quotes directly from the source adds to the forum’s credibility and depicts it as an open, translucent proposal, instead of being private and shut off to the public.

Taking a less open stance however, is Dr. Jeffrey Butts, staff to John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In Butts’ blog, there is the basic factual expression of the intention of the forum, with no commentary on the predicted outcome. Dr. Butts and a team will be working to assess the development of the National Forum and also analyze the effects of the participating states and communities involved.

Back to School Tour 2010

AKA, Courage in the Classroom.

In August 2010, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan embarked on a tour known as the “Back to School Tour,” sometimes referred to as “Courage in the Classroom.” This is a bus tour that travels through various states and explores the looming first days of school for students around the nation.

The tour went from Arkansas through Louisiana and Mississippi to Alabama, then from New York through Massachusetts and New Hampshire to end in Maine.

The main purpose of the tour was to listen to teachers, parents, and students and get on-sight feedback.  Duncan also discussed the administration’s decisions like No Child Left Behind, now known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the ARRA, while in these various states.

Big newspapers like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Huffington Post all covered the tour with articles chronicling the progress and the purpose. The only reason I do not site the specific articles from the Washington Post and Huffington Post is because they were purely fact based and offered no opinion or commentary on the tour.

The New York Times, however, offered a more cynical take on the tour. Though not directly stated, the author Trip Gabriel takes on a skeptical stance, commenting that the tour was more of a political campaign than it was an honest outreach by the administration. Gabriel notes that the tour might have been prompted by the recent success of the Race to the Top campaign, and may have a bragging tour.

It is important to note the underlying negative tone of the piece, because it further points out the different political views people have of the tour. Some people think the tour really IS an honest outreach by Duncan, whereas Gabriel claims malice.

One of these outlets that honors Duncan as somewhat of a hero to the Education field, is the Christian Science Monitor. Amanda Paulson and Stacy Teicher Khadaroo wrote an article about Duncan’s rise to the top, from his upbringing at a Brooklyn public school to Harvard University, to Education Secretary. His tale is one of triumph, which places him in a hero category, according to Paulson and Khadaroo. They claim that Duncan is empowering, and has been the most influential secretary.

Another important aspect to focus on is the reaction by other blog sites about this presentation of the Bus Tour from the Christian Science Monitor. Nichole Dobo posted an article on the blog, “Delware Online” remarking on how Duncan told the Christian Science Monitor to visit Delaware and that Delaware’s DSEA President Donohue was a personal hero of his. This short article is nothing to be surprised about, but what IS surprising are the comments from readers about this article. One commentor in particular lashes out and refers to Donohue as a sell-out and that this plan will only weaken the education system and hurt the children.

With such polar opposites being thrust into the media, how are citizens supposed to know whether this Bus Trip is positive or negative?

Do your civic duty and read about it, then draw your own conclusions.