The Special Mess of Special Ed

"A promise made is a promise kept - except in education..."

Once again this year our hometown newspaper actually had some good reporting last Sunday. It was on two topics near and dear to my heart - Special Education and unfunded (or underfunded) mandates.

First off, I need to make this clear - I am not against Special Education. My wife was a Special Education teacher for over 30 years and I know she helped many kids succeed who had learning issues. I have an opinion on how much kids with significant impairments can be taught in a school setting, but for the most part, I think the program is worth the time and expense. 

My BIG beef however, is how the program is funded. I have wondered many times in the past, why state Attorney Generals do not take the Federal Government to court for non-payment of funds. What do I mean? First a bit of history. The Special education services were initially mandated in 1975. The law was called the Education for all Handicapped Children Act. Some of the finer points (and the non-PC title) needed to be changed, so in 1990 it was modified and renamed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). And this is where the problems begin.

The Federal Government provides funding under Part "B" of the IDEA. However to receive Federal funding, states MUST provide to children who need it, special education services. Here comes the punch line - Part B of this federal law, authorizes Congress to contribute federal funding of "up to 40% of the average per pupil expenditure". The states have hung on to the 40% part of the language and Congress has hung on to the "up to" part. Bottom line - not since day one, has Congress ever authorized 40% of the funding. If the states receive 18%, they are lucky.

How about the states? Minnesota has promised to pay a percentage of special education salaries, another percentage for benefits and still another percentage for supplies. Bottom line? To date, each and every one of these "promised" percentages have not been met. The costs have gone up, and the promised funding remains short.

So where does this leave us? You know, the "us" is you and I who pay property taxes to support our school districts. To some, this may come as a shock. To others, this is old news. This is frustrating to special education experts as the number of students identified as needing special education services continues to rise. It is frustrating to taxpayers as we are "stuck" with the ever growing bill due to non-payment or under-payment by both the Federal and State governments. However, the regulations continue to be promulgated which also drive up costs. Angry about this? You should be!

One more thing which will be frosting on the cake. If a parent feels his or her child is not being serviced to meet the letter of the IDEA law, that parent, many times along with a advocacy group like PACER, will take the school district to court and sue. The cost of the law suit and any remedy will be paid for by - - - you guessed it - you (the taxpayer)! To a judge or a jury, it does not matter a hill of beans these statues and regulations are promulgated by the Federal Government without adequate funding.

A liberal friend from high school told me last summer my criticism of how government works is often times shrill, or too loud. Sorry about that. The way Special Education has been funded in this country should make even the ardent liberal shout at the top of her (or his) voice. We should all agree that Special Education is indeed, in a special mess.

Goldilocks

 

 

"This porridge is too hot!" she exclaimed.

So, she tasted the porridge from the second bowl.

"This porridge is too cold," she said

So, she tasted the last bowl of porridge.

"Ahhh, this porridge is just right," she said happily and she ate it all up.

 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Robert Southey

 

 

 

This is not a bedtime story, and I hope it won't put anyone to sleep. Many astronomers and scientists refer to our home, our planet, as the "Goldilocks" planet. In fact, the term "Goldilocks" has spread to our search for other habitable planets. There is a zone in most every solar system we have discovered called the "Goldilocks Zone". That is the area where the distance from the sun is not hot enough to fry and not cold enough to freeze. It is just right.

 

As the years have gone on, I realize just how fortunate we are to live on this blue marble in the middle of this inky, black void. Many scientists have said that 72 degrees is the ideal temperature for human beings. In the spectrum of temperatures that exist in the cosmos, we happen to have that ideal temperature at certain locations right here on Terra Firma. Our planet is in a perfect distance from our sun.

 

Besides for our location from Sol (our sun), here are some other considerations on how perfect our planet is:

The Tilt: As we know, our Earth is titled at 23.5 degrees. This is very fortunate for all of us. Here is what Universe Today in October 2010 had to say on how important this is to our "Goldilocks" home:

It is [our tilt] perfectly positioned so that it gives us the seasons and on top of that the seasons are near perfectly calibrated for life. When compared with other planets, Earth’s tilt allows for season that are not two extreme in temperature but are pretty well balanced. At the same if it had stay in the “perfect” position one side of the Earth would be too hot at time and then too cold.

The Moon: Many of us take our Moon for granted. Much research has been conducted on why we have a Moon and where it came from. And why just one? Other planets have numerous moons. We do not know for sure but many scientists believe a collision occurred about 4.5 billion years ago, when Theia, a planet about the size of Mars, smashed into Earth. This impact, not only created the Moon from material resulting from the collision, but also gave the Earth it's life giving tilt. Without the Moon, the Earth would tilt as much as 90 degrees. However, because of our Moon, we have our seasons, our 23.5 degree tilt, and thereby life.

 

 The Core: As we know, the Earth is like an apple. Whereas an apple has skin, the pith, and then the core, the Earth has a crust, a mantle, and a core (both outer and inner). We all live on the crust, so who cares about the core? Our iron core helps create our magnetic field. This field has many important functions, the most important being our radiation shield. It protects us from the constant bombardment of all kinds of space radiation. In addition, rather than enjoying an active display of Northern Lights, without this shield, we would all be toast from even the most minor of solar eruptions.

There are other factors that make up our "Goldilocks" existence here on Earth, but I think I covered the major ones. Whether you believe our planet is the way it is because of happenstance, or if you believe it was the hand of God, we are lucky, we are blessed to be living here. Life on most other planets would not just be uncomfortable, it would also not be possible.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Where have all the bullets gone?

 

 

Where have all the bullets gone,

long time passing-

Where have all the bullets gone,

long time ago...

Parody on Where have all the flowers gone?

This is not intended to be a conspiracy theory post. However with that being said, most people that use firearms have noticed since the tragedy at Sandy Hook, many different types of ammo is very hard to come by. In fact, at many stores, ammo is impossible to come by.

First a bit of government procurement history. This may or may not have something to do with the shortage of ammo. The United States government uses what is called the Defense Priorities and Allocation System (DPAS) to buy material from contractors. The DPAS rating is put front and center in all government solicitations, whether they be IFB (Invitation for Bid), RFQ (Request for Quote) or RFP (Request for Proposal). Anyone submitting a proposal in response to a government solicitation needs to be up to speed on the basics of the system.

Most procurements are what is called "DO" actions. They are routine, non emergency procurements. Next up the line are "DX" actions. These take priority over any "DO" procurements. In other words, if you accepted orders for both "DO" and "DX" procurements, the "DX" would (by law) have to be filled first. Once in a while the President can mandate a priority even higher than "DX". Most of the time it is called a "BRICK BAT". Although very rare, a "BRICK BAT" rating will trump everything else.

Now is where we go from fact to conjecture. The Department of Homeland Security has recently placed orders for 1.6B rounds of ammo for be delivered over a period or five years. This amounts to five rounds for every man, women and child in the United States. What is really strange about this procurement (DHS has redacted part of it so it can't be read under FOIA) is many of the rounds are hollow point. The purpose of this procurement was mostly for "training". Hollow points are seldom used for range practice as they cost more per bullet.

So what gives? DHS is not the only agency who has recently bought large quantities of ammo, they are just the largest. Is it the government procurements that are causing the shortages? Are the government procurements given a very high DPAS priority to keep them ahead of any civilian procurements? Is the government trying to create an artificial shortage thereby driving the price of ammo sky high? Or is it just the gun owners hoarding that went on after the last election and Sandy Hook that caused it. Whatever the reason, the shortage is real, and is felt in most every store that deals in firearms.

I am going to keep snooping around on this one. If I come across more tidbits, I will have a follow on post. For now, my range time is at a minimum until I am able to buy adequate amounts of ammo at a fair price.

 

The Truth about Tritium

"The Holy Grail of energy is out there - we just need to harness it..."

If you are not familiar with tritium, don't feel alone. Many have never heard of it. However, if you lived in China, you would be very familiar with it as they are staking a good part of their energy future on this mineral.

This is a very interesting mineral. It has been mined since the 1955 and unlike uranium, only very little of was produced. It has some advantages over uranium and some disadvantages. The main advantage is a much shorter half-life of the radioactivity once the mineral is done producing energy. The main disadvantage (this may have some urban legend mixed in) especially during the cold war, tritium does not produce plutonium as a by product. Plutonium as we know, is instrumental in the production of nuclear weapons.

Okay - we know we can use tritium to illuminate key chains, watches, exit signs and rifle sights. However, we need to know if it is hazardous to humans. According to studies done by Idaho State University:

The radioactive decay product of tritium is a low energy beta that cannot penetrate the outer dead layer of human skin. Therefore, the main hazard associated with tritium is internal exposure from inhalation or ingestion. In addition, due to the relatively long half life and short biological half life, an intake of tritium must be in large amounts to pose a significant health risk.

If it is not as lethal as uranium, can we still use it as a safer yet viable energy source? To answer this, we need to go deeper into the rabbit hole. First off, yes - tritium can be used as a cleaner answer to nuclear energy. However, there is currently not enough natural tritium to sustain a new and viable energy source. To obtain enough tritium, breeder reactors will be required. The first step on this research is being conducted by the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). This project is being funded by seven countries (including the United States) and the goal is to build a "proof of concept" reactor in France that will be able to produce (breed) deuterium and tritium by 2027.

One more thing about this reactor being built in France. This will be a plasma reactor like we have never seen before. Besides breeding adequate supplies of deuterium and tritium, it is hopeful this reactor can product 10 times more energy from the plasma it generates than the fuel needed to produce it. If this technology is successful, by 2050 this energy source could be a global game changer ushering in the age of clean, unlimited energy. 

When we talk about a comprehensive plan for our energy future, technologies such as this need to be a part of it. Fuel cells, solar, cleaner nuclear (tritium), oil shale, natural gas, tar sands and others make up a cornucopia, a smorgasbord for decades of energy. Don't let anyone fool you - we are energy rich and more energy sources are on the way. And that is the truth.   

The Deep End of the Pool...

Many years ago, when I attended Navy boot camp, we all needed to pass a swimming test before being allowed to graduate. We needed to jump into a pool. Not just any pool - this one had a deep end of 12 feet. Many of the young men came from states which did not offer opportunities to learn how to swim. For them, the thought of jumping into a pool of water twice their height was daunting. Once you jumped in, you needed to make to the side of the pool and get out. The instructors did not care if you swam, dog paddled or treaded water with forward motion. You just were not allowed to sink. However, many did sink. They were rescued and put into a remedial swimming class so they could try it again and succeed.

Being from Minnesota, I knew how to swim. Not only did I know how to swim, but I also taught swimming lessons. I even passed the Red Cross lifeguard training and earned a three year certificate in lifeguarding. As scary as jumping in the deep end of the pool was, I knew this from my background - if you spend all your time in the safer, shallow end of the pool, you will never learn how to swim. There comes a moment in every swimmer's life they take that first, harrowing plunge into the deep end of the pool.

As I have aged, I have become less and less interested in going into the deep end of the pool. Not in a swimming pool, I am talking about immersion in life's more important ventures and challenges. This is not a good thing. I have decided it is time to make a significant course correction. I really need to get more deeply involved in things that matter. There are just too many things that simply matter too much.

Getting back into the deep end of the pool involves doing some things that are way out of my comfort zone. For example, to forgive someone when deep down I really don't want to. To love someone when at times that person is unlovable. To serve someone when all I really want to do is serve myself. To share with someone when I can come up with a hundred reasons why I should not. It is listening to God, even though I am worried He might push me beyond comfort.

In my working years, I have taken my turn at the deep end of the pool. Most of the time it resulted in a favorable outcome or I ended up as a better person. As a young man in the YMCA, we were taught to remember the priority of service - God first, others second and self third. Through the years I have either forgotten or ignored that prized wisdom. For that I have regrets. The deep end of the pool demands I now practice that selfless lesson the YMCA taught me years ago. I am ready. The pool awaits. I just need to once again jump into the deep end and swim.

Left Behind

Question: What is the difference between ignorance and apathy? Answer: I don't know and I don't care.

In the movie We Were Soldiers, Lt Col Hal Moore was getting ready to take a group of young men into battle. This was historic, as it marked the first time the United States was going to be in a major battle in the Viet Nam War. Prior to entering the battlefield, Lt Col Moore told his troops the following: [sic] "You have my word on this - I will be the first one to put my feet on the battlefield, and the last one to leave. In addition, alive, dead or wounded, I will leave no man behind. We will all leave together".

Today, we have become very good at leaving some behind. Not on the battlefield, but in the classroom. I am going to say this as clearly as I can, so it might offend some. Our education system today stinks. It is so overdue for an overhaul. Our achievement gap keeps growing and most seemed flummoxed on how to fix it. I said most, not all. Yesterday, I visited a school in the center of the city, in the center of where there are problems that could easily derail solid learning. It is a school run by, and administered by educational iconoclasts. It is a school where success is not just an aspiration, through hard work, dedication and love, it is a fact of life.

A man I knew years ago was a science teacher in a middle school in the city. He was burned out by the system and the lack of cooperation from many of the parents. Towards the end of his career, he would address the class on the first day of instruction: "If you are interested in learning, sit up front. If you are not, sit in the back and try not to be disruptive to the others". Many went to the back of the room and ended up failing for the year. Nobody cared - not the student, not the parent and not the teacher. Many were lower income, minority students. The broken system made more broken students who became part of the achievement gap.

Now think of a school which practices just the opposite. This was the school I visited yesterday. Everyone, from the teachers, to the students, to the parents, to the community had buy in. Failure truly is not tolerated by the students nor the staff. The sweet taste of success has been experienced by many of the students for the first time. The curriculum is stiff and the work is long and hard. However, each and everyone of the students drink in the learning like water on a hot day. Even with a challenging curriculum, the graduation rate is 100%. The vast majority of the graduates go to college or accepted into the Armed Forces.

In these days of confusion, wasteful spending and failure in our nation's education system, it is refreshing to come across an educational oasis such as this. For those who have not guessed it, this school is part of the Cristo Rey network. In this network, both apathy and ignorance are unwanted and unwelcomed. In this network, unlike the Federal program which shares the name, no child gets left behind. For those who think there is no hope, ask for a tour of a Cristo Rey school. It will give hope to the hopeless on how we educate our young and thereby build our future.

Inertia

 

 

 

Inertia- the resistance of any physical object to a change in its state of motion or rest, or the tendency of an object to resist any change in its motion.

 

Wikipedia

 

 

 

Nope. I am not going to do it. I will not make this about some "law" from physics. Not that there is anything wrong with that - the law of inertia is a cornerstone concept in understanding how our universe works. No, this has to do with the inertia of something much more massive than the known universe - our Federal Government.

 

I knew this was coming. It started last night and I saw it again on the morning news. Some agent of government status quo said "It this sequester goes through, it will end up costing the government more than it saves!". Just before I yelled "poppycock" or something worse, I was stopped in my tracks by a profound thought - he was right. Our government has become like a juggernaut - a voracious behemoth which we have allowed to develop a life of its own.

One of my favorite phrases from Economics is "something is increasing at a decreasing rate". Boy, it that does not sum up the growth in  our government. Nothing really goes in reverse, and programs seldom die. At best, they will slow down. If you look at our nation's debt clock, it continues to spin like a top. Trillions in revenue is collected every year and then all of it, plus whatever can be borrowed or printed, is spent. The "beast" continues to enslave millions and many of the enslaved continue to advocate for the beast to grow even larger. Those that worship at the shrine of Keynesian Economics join with the enslaved to pronounce that only government intervention (and lots of it) and monetary policy (the Fed), can tame the marketplace to ensure growth and stability. Meanwhile, the only "growth" we see is in the "beast".

In Atlas Shrugged, a key moment was when one of the principals said [sic] "The Government takes what they want, and then taxes what little you have left". Even though Ayn Rand tried to paint a fictional, dystopian society, I fear that is where we are headed. Have we truly created a "beast" that controls us rather than visa versa? Is there nothing anyone can do, or are we destined to sit on the sidelines and watch this slow motion disaster consume us all?

The "beast" has been defined as being so big, so powerful, it has taken on the physical law of inertia. If it continues to grow, it will become so massive it will also take on the physical law of gravity. It is time to once again become the master of the "beast", and not the enslaved.