ACTION ALERT!

ACTION ALERT TO ALL COLLIER COUNTY TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, BOOSTER CLUBS, ETC.

A BIG thank you goes out to both Erika Donalds and Kelly Lichter for slowing down this school Blue Zones initiative and giving teachers, parents, students, booster clubs, etc. until September 8, 2015 to get informed and better understand what school Blue Zones involve and what specific freedoms can be lost with school Blue Zone proposals.

The following are just some of the items that ARE on the School Pledge list and can be implemented if we don't get involved and show up in force at the next Board meeting on September 8, 2015:

1. Discontinue using unhealthy foods for fundraisers;

2. Ensure all foods served outside of school hours meet the USDA Smart Snacks nutrition standards, including after-school fundraisers, concession stands at sporting events, etc. (THIS WILL LEAD TO A MAJOR DROP IN SALES);

3. Establishment of a wellness council at the individual school level and develop a recurring meeting schedule to regularly discuss progress and future steps;

4. Prohibit the sale and consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages on campus, including those BROUGHT FROM HOME (this includes non-100- percent vegetable or fruit juice);

5. Discontinue using food as rewards (no more pizza or ice-cream parties..seriously);

6. Prohibit unhealthy food and beverage (e.g., sodas, sweets, etc.) advertisements on school grounds;

7. Integrate physical activity into daily lesson plans outside of physical education class (For example, offer physical activity in the classroom as part of planned lessons that teach mathematics, language arts, and other academic subjects. Additionally, incorporate at least ten minutes of stretching, walking, or other activities into students’ daily classroom experience);

8. Integrate nutrition education into daily lesson plans outside of health class at every grade level,

9. Limit vending-machine access during the school day;

10. Require students to pay for unhealthy foods in the cafeteria with cash;

11. Prohibit consumption of food and beverages, other than water, in classrooms and hallways, and

implement a Walking School Bus and/or bus-to-walk program (putting children at perhaps greater risk given traffic and other safety concerns);

12. Recess before lunch;

13. Incorporate “lifestyle-focused” activities into your school’s physical-education curriculum.(For example, rework the PE curriculum to emphasize non-team activities, such as walking, cycling, weight training, social dance, etc.);

14. Establish an in-class breakfast program (Work with teachers, food service staff, custodians, and administrators to develop an in-class breakfast program. Your program may deliver meals to the classroom at the beginning of the day or employ a healthy breakfast cart in the hallway where students can grab breakfast and take it into the classroom. Students should be given 10–15 minutes to eat at their desks before class starts. Ideally, offer breakfast in the classroom free to all students to reduce the stigma associated with school breakfast and increase participation.)

Any guess why the District has failed or refused to date to disclose the above proposals to school stakeholders?

WHAT CAN YOU DO to inform and organize stakeholders?

1. Write an e-mail or letter to School Board members,

2, Call or meet with your elected School Board members,

3. Write NDN letters to the editor,

4. share this post on social media, and

5. ATTEND THE SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 BOARD MEETING AND OPPOSE THE PILOT PROGRAM IN OUR SCHOOLS.

LET'S STOP THIS NOW BEFORE THE CANCER SPREADS!

PS ... the above items are on the CURRENT School Pledge list. Can anyone assure stakeholders that list will remain static over time? No doubt, the list will change over time and it will become even more restrictive and imposing on our personal freedoms. The time for action on this is NOW.

http://makingthegrade.prod.wordpress.jmg.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/128/2015/08/School_Pledge_Packet_National.pdf

CCPS Defends the use of Highly Explicit and Pornographic Materials!

The Collier County School Superintendent's attorney, John Fishbane, defends the use of highly explicit and pornographic materials!

At the August 12, 2015 Collier School Board meeting, the Superintendent's attorney, John Fishbane, defended the use of highly explicit and pornographic materials in OUR children's school media centers.  The three senior school board members (Curatolo, Sprague, Terry) sat on their laurels, continued to drink the progressive kool aid and lapped up Mr. Fishbane inane argument that "because these texts have already been purchased, I fear 'banning them' would put the District at risk of a lawsuit."

In case the public is unaware of the content parents are concerned about, here are a few excerpts from the books this District has made available to our children (CAUTION - ADULT CONTENT):

Beautiful Bastard – Contains graphic details of sexual encounters.

Excerpt: “He leaned close enough to bite my shoulder, whispering, ‘You f*****g tease.”Unable to get close enough, I quickened my pace on his zipper, shoving his pants and his boxers to the floor.  I gave his c**k a hard squeeze, feeling him pulse against my palm.

He forced my skirt up my thighs and pushed me back on the conference table.  Before I could utter a single word, he took hold of my ankles, grabbed his c**k, and took a step forward, thrusting deep inside me.

I couldn’t even be horrified by the loud moan I let out – he felt better than anything. ‘What’s that?’ he hissed through his clenched teeth, his hips slapping against my thighs, driving him deep inside. ‘Never been f****d like this before, have you? You wouldn’t be such a tease if you were being properly f****d.”

The Bluest Eye – Contains graphic detail of rape and incest.

Excerpt: “What could he do for her – ever? What give her? What say to her? What could a burned-out black man say to the hunched back of his eleven-year-old daughter? If he looked into her face, he would see those haunted, loving eyes. The hauntedness would irritate him – the love would move him to fury. How dare she love him? Hadn't she any sense at all? What was he supposed to do about that? Return it? How?”

Beloved: A Novel - Depicts scenes of bestiality, gang rape and an infant’s gruesome murder.

Excerpt: “A stair step before him was Baby Suggs' replacement, the new girl they dreamed of at night and f****d cows for at dawn while waiting for her to choose. Merely kissing the wrought iron on her back had shook the house, had made it necessary for him to beat it to pieces.”

“…picked up and put back down anywhere any time by a girl young enough to be his daughter. F*****g her when he was convinced he didn't want to. Whenever she turned her behind up, the calves of his youth (was that it?) cracked his resolve. But it was more than appetite that humiliated him and made him wonder if schoolteacher was right.”

“What? A grown man fixed by a girl? But what if the girl was not a girl, but something in disguise? A lowdown something that looked like a sweet young girl and f*****g her or not was not the point…”

Dreaming In Cuban – Highly explicit sex scenes which involve sadomasochism and verbally abusive language to women.

Excerpt: “Hugo and Felicia stripped in their room, dissolving easily into one another, and made love against the whitewashed walls. Hugo bit Felicia’s breast and left purplish bands of bruises on her upper thighs. He knelt before her in the tub and massaged black Spanish soap between her legs. He entered her repeatedly from behind.

“Felicia learned what pleased him. She tied his arms above his head with their underclothing and slapping him sharply when he asked.

“‘You’re my bitch,’” Hugo said, groaning.

“In the morning he left, promising to return in the summer.”

This is becoming a systemic problem which undermines the ability of parents to trust this District with their children.

Young children are being exposed to these sexually inappropriate and graphically violent materials which can cause serious and long-term cognitive and behavioral problems.

Why would the District be filling their libraries with books targeted to children with themes that are desensitizing students and distorting their views of sexual and physical abuse and promoting dehumanization and the abuse of animals? 

Many studies have shown that children who are exposed to violent material are likely to suffer from attachment problems, regressive behavior, anxiety, and depression.

The District can no longer blame third parties for its conduct. Superintendent Patton and the Collier County School District are directly accountable to parents for making these sexualized and violent books available to our children.  This is unacceptable!

We can do better.  Our children certainly deserve better!

Email the three senior board members and District superintendent who are defending putting these books in the hands of 11 year old children, and let them know you will not stand for this!

Kathy Curatolo Email

Julie Sprague Email

Roy Terry Email

Kamela Patton Email

Collier County Public Schools Website - Screenshots that Lead Students to Highly Inappropriate Reading Materials

 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

U.S. Flag Code states: "During a rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed ALL PRESENT except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart."

Take a look at the complete disrespect shown by Collier County School Board member Ms. Kathleen Curatolo and other Collier County Public Schools Administrators during the singing of our NATIONAL ANTHEM at the Barron Collier High School Graduation Ceremony this past Friday night. This picture reveals much about the real Ms. Curatolo!

Perhaps Ms. Curatolo and President Obama both can learn a thing or two about respect and honor from one of our wonderful Collier County High School students (see, bottom right of the top picture)!

I would like to remind the Collier County School Board

I would like to remind the Collier County School Board that the stakeholders (taxpayers, parents and Collier residents) are above ALL of you on the District’s organizational chart.  The elected board members all ran on their commitments to improve education in our community and EACH of you swore an oath to uphold the Constitution.  Each board member represents the STAKEHOLDERS of this county.  The Board does not represent the Superintendent.  The Board does not represent the District’s Lawyer, and the Board does not represent the District’s Staff.  The board (that body situated BELOW the public on the District’s organizational chart) has delegated certain responsibilities to its Superintendent, Dr. Patton, who is situated below the Board on that same chart. 

In recent years, unfortunately, the organizational chart has turned upside down.  Today, we have District staff steering the ship, effectively positioning themselves over the board and the stakeholders.  How has the Administration accomplished this you ask? 

First and foremost, when elected sitting Board members request workshops, the Board members should be directing the workshop, NOT an unelected Superintendent or her staff.  When elected sitting Board members ask to bring in outside experts with decades of experience armed with volumes of research on the damaging effects of High-Stakes testing, that request MUST be honored.  Further, when a parent requests additional time to publicly present his or her findings as they relate to High-Stakes testing and faulty curriculum matters, that parent MUST be afforded the opportunity to do so.  In no case should District staff be empowered to vet ANY parent or outside expert that a sitting board member wants to hear from in this chamber.

Second, with the approval of this board, District staff has developed and implemented policies which infringe on the public’s ability to direct the Board; saying things like “those are operational issues” and claiming that neither the public nor the Board should be interfering with the Superintendent in the exercise of her duties. Neither the Board nor the Superintendent has the right or power to create policy which interferes with the stakeholders’ ability to fulfill their position at the TOP of the organizational chart.  The education of our children is the parent’s responsibility.  Just because we delegate these duties to the Board and Superintendent, that DOES NOT mean that we have given you the power to lord over us.  WE are the stakeholders.  WE are the parents of the children we have entrusted into your care.  WE are the citizens who have elected and hired you to do OUR bidding. 

It is time that the Board, Superintendent, Attorney and Staff of this District START doing what the citizens want.  It is high time for those we’ve hired to STOP doing what THEY want in OUR schools and with OUR children.

The Biggest Problem with Common Core

The biggest problem with Common Core is that it teaches kids exactly WHAT they must think, NOT how to think logically, independently, and critically. Rather than teach basic objective facts (the building blocks of thought, logic, deductive reasoning, and inventiveness), Common Core materials attempt to brainwash children to all think and believe the same opinions, and instill in them the same political outlook.

The high stakes tests ensure that no one goes past prescribed check points unless identical answers are regurgitated by all. This is essentially a modern day reeducation camp. Only the 'successful' will move on to the next phase. This guarantees uniformity in thought, skill level and goals for all. However, it inhibits creativity, individuality and a spirit of inventiveness and risk. All will be suited for mediocrity and sameness. Differences in thought and opinion will be snuffed out, and along with that, exceptional-ism and individuality will be lost.

The answer to this problem is to go back to local control for variety, and to have the freedom to tailor educational techniques to individuals or/and local needs and cultures. To bring out excellence and creativity, developing each person to their highest potential, we must institute what previously was called a 'classical liberal arts education.' This kind of education promotes critical thinkers, and allows for individual creativity and thought. This kind of education was responsible for forming the greatest minds throughout history. 

Getting back to the basics is the best way to build a solid foundation for the future, and the only way for each individual to reach his potential.

Enough is Enough

It has been just five months since Collier County elected two school board members who have skin in the game.  Kelly Lichter and Erika Donalds are two young mothers with children in the public school system. They are both well educated and supremely qualified to serve the students and constituents of Collier County.  Mrs. Donalds is a Certified Public Accountant and partner at a local Accounting Firm. She is an active opponent of high-stakes testing and Common Core.  Mrs. Lichter is the founding board president of the first Hillsdale College public charter school in Florida, Mason Classical Academy, and president of the Southwest Florida Conservative Coalition. These ladies were elected by the voters because they believe in public education, and have dedicated their talents and passions towards improving it.

Since their election, the radical left-wing ideologues have attacked them for speaking out against politically biased and historically inaccurate instructional materials. They have been criticized for exposing the pervasive corruption at the administration.  The liberals in charge at the district offices and their minions have actively campaigned against them using district resources (which is illegal by the way).  It is understandable, in a perverse sort of way, that these statists would be so defensive.  After all, they have been in charge of "educating" our children for years, and they often earn six figure salaries at that.  But how are our schools performing under the current regime?

Take a look:
1) Just 50% of Collier graduates could read at a 12th grade level in 2014.
2) Just 49% of Collier graduates could perform math at a 12th grade level in 2014.
3) Just 25% of Immokalee High graduates could read at a 12th grade level in 2014.
4) Since Dr. Kamela Patton was hired as superintendent in 2010, no more than 60% of our 10th graders could pass the state's reading test.

The liberal education methodologies, teaching to the tests and Common Core curriculum have failed our children!  This bottom-of-the-heap dumbed-down school system is wrecking havoc in our classrooms.  We can do better!  Our children deserve better!

In 2016, Collier County voters will have an opportunity to oust two of the most destructive and corrupt school board members in recent memory.  Julie Sprague and Kathleen Curatolo are up for reelection next year. On August 30, 2016, you will have a choice - continue the failing status quo, or turn the page and transform our local schools into beacons of robust education.  With two new ethical members on the school board, we can take back our schools and restore public education for the next generation.

Stay tuned for more information on the two fresh candidates who will challenge the status quo and stem the tide of liberalism that has flooded our public schools.  Until then, let Mrs. Lichter and Mrs. Donalds know you support them by showing up at school board meetings, speaking out, writing letters to the editor, and telling your friends and colleagues that "enough is enough." We will not stand idly by as our public schools are devastated by power hungry educrats who care more about public perception than educating our children.