Freestate
Is it COVID or Teachers Unions Keeping Schools Closed from In-Person Instruction?
Picture the look of a deer caught in headlights. That captures the response of many Maryland educators and local officials to Governor Hogan’s announcement authorizing Maryland public schools for in-person instruction. The president of the association representing Maryland’s superintendents, Talbot County Superintendent Kelly Griffith, claimed that schools had “no advance warning” of the Governor’s announcement.…
Read MoreIs it Safe to Go Outside Yet? The Science & Politics of COVID
Discussion about COVID-19 policy rarely seems to go very far before the word “Science” is invoked reverentially. By implication, further discussion is no longer warranted. Yet, science is in a constant state of flux. Today’s “settled science” can be reversed tomorrow once new data becomes available. New data tests old theories and previously “settled” conclusions…
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Commentaries by Mark Uncapher Is it COVID or Teachers Unions Keeping Schools Closed from In-Person Instruction? By Mark Uncapher | September 4, 2020 Picture the look of a deer caught in headlights. That captures the response of many Maryland educators and local officials to Governor Hogan’s announcement authorizing Maryland public schools for in-person instruction. The…
Read MoreExelon Subsidiary Acknowledges Political Corruption, Agrees to Pay $200 Million Penalty
EXELON SUBSIDIARY ACKNOWLEDGES POLITICAL CORRUPTION, AGREES TO PAY $200 MILLION PENALTY BG&E, CONSTELLATION, DELMARVA POWER & PEPCO OWNER SNARED BY FEDERAL BRIBERY INVESTIGATION The U.S. Justice Department recently filed a one-count criminal information for bribery in U.S. District Court in Chicago charging Exelon’s Illinois subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison, “ComEd.”[i] CommEd is owned by Exelon, which in…
Read MoreHas COVID-19 Killed Off the Kirwan Commission’s $32 billion Spending Plan?
Before COVID 19, the top agenda item of Maryland’s teachers’ union and their Democratic allies has been ramping up state spending to fund the Kirwan Commission’s K-12 education recommendations. The price tag totals a staggering $32 billion over the next decade. Their eventual spending target hits $3.8 billion more per year. The charge exceeds $5,000…
Read MoreMaryland’s Teachers Union COVID-19 Demands Will Increase Educational Inequality
Maryland’s teachers’ unions presented their demands earlier in July for using distance learning exclusively during at least the first half of the 2020-21 school year.[i] Within a matter of days afterward, districts, such as Montgomery County’s school system, responded and reversed their tentative reopening plans. They opted instead for an all virtual, online fall semester. This…
Read MoreTeachers Union Demands “Homeschooling Lite” for Maryland’s New School Year
TEACHERS UNION DEMANDS “HOMESCHOOLING LITE” FOR MARYLAND’S NEW SCHOOL YEAR Earlier this past week, Maryland’s teacher’s unions weighed in with their demands that distance learning be used for at least the first half of the 2020-21 school year. [i] In contrast, a survey of parents by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) found 42% expected…
Read MoreTIME FOR MARYLAND TO EMBRACE ONLINE EDUCATION
Maryland’s schools are scheduled to open in a matter of weeks for the 2020-21 school year. Yet many school districts still are unable to share their plans for educating in the COVID-19 world. While the Maryland State Department of Education has released an updated Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education, individual school districts can take as long…
Read MoreTop Elrich Official’s Book Deal with Contractor Violates Ethics Rules
TOP ELRICH OFFICIAL’S BOOK DEAL WITH CONTRACTOR VIOLATES ETHICS RULES Ex-Baltimore Budget Director Supplemented his $280,000 Montgomery County Job with a Book Deal with a County Contractor Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich’s $280,000 “Chief Administrative Officer” Andrew Kleine has been found guilty of ethics violations. The County’s Ethics Commission reached this conclusion after reviewing payments…
Read MoreTIME FOR MARYLAND TO EMBRACE ONLINE EDUCATION
TIME FOR MARYLAND TO EMBRACE ONLINE EDUCATION As the state’s schools plan to reopen, Maryland should stop being a hold-out, and give parents and their children the option to use tuition-free online education from charter providers Maryland’s schools are scheduled to open in a matter of weeks for the 2020-21 school year. Yet many school…
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