At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Stop Common Core in Mississippi.

Let’s stand together and stop the common core standards that are being used in the state of Mississippi. This practice is an ignorant and more difficult way to teach things that are simple. It causes more stress than our children deserve. This was put in place without asking what we the parents feel is best for our children.

Created: Sep 10, 2014

Issues: Education

Signatures needed by October 10, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,759

Total signatures on this petition 241

[emphasis added]

Apparently, what has been best for the children of Mississippi:

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Mathematics

8th grade 2013

Mississippi 271 (0.9) National 284 (0.2) % at or above Basic 61 (1.3) % at or above Proficient 21 (1.2) % at or above Advanced 3 (0.4)

Reading

8th Grade 2013

Mississippi 253 (1.0) National 266 (0.2) % at or above Basic 64 (1.3) % at or above Proficient 20 (1.3) % at or above Advanced 1 (0.3)

In Missouri:

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Mathematics

8th grade 2013

Missouri 283 (1.0) National 284 (0.2) % at or above Basic 74 (1.3) % at or above Proficient 33 (1.3) % at or above Advanced 7 (0.7)

Reading

8th grade 2013

Missouri 267 (1.1) National 266 (0.2) % at or above Basic 78 (1.3) % at or above Proficient 36 (1.4) % at or above Advanced 4 (0.5)

Thank goodness for Mississippi.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard:…We’ve made too many compromises already, too many retreats. They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here. This far, no further…

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, very serious money for the people opposed to Amendment 3 – which is designed to punish education professionals – on the ballot in November:

C141258 08/31/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION National Education Association Campaigns & Elections 1201 16th Street NW Suite 511 Washington DC 20036 8/29/2014 $500,000.00

[emphasis added]

Next move?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: they’re serious (August 29, 2014)

Campaign Finance: pawn to queen’s bishop $125,000.00 (August 27, 2014)

Understatement (July 20, 2014)

Campaign Finance: even more in (July 15, 2014)

Campaign Finance: all in (July 9, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Nope, the boat’s still not big enough. (June 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: still need a much bigger boat (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: schooling (May 19, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission, more serious money for the folks opposed to Amendment 3 – [which is designed to] punishing education professionals – on the November ballot:

C141258 08/29/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION Missouri State Teachers Assn Legislative Impact Committee PO Box 458 Columbia MO 65205 8/28/2014 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Over the years one learns well that standing on the sidelines is no longer an option.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: pawn to queen’s bishop $125,000.00 (August 27, 2014)

Understatement (July 20, 2014)

Campaign Finance: even more in (July 15, 2014)

Campaign Finance: all in (July 9, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Nope, the boat’s still not big enough. (June 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: still need a much bigger boat (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: schooling (May 19, 2014)

Ah, Amendment 3, the ballot initiative on the November ballot promoted by someone with a lot of money who wants voters to screw public education across the State of Missouri. There are a lot of people opposed, though.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141258 08/27/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION American Federation of Teachers 555 New Jersey Ave NW Washington DC 20001 8/26/2014 $125,000.00

[emphasis added]

Not quite chess playing territory. But then again, they have a lot of pissed off teachers on their side.

C141258: Committee In Support Of Public Education

Po Box 458 Committee Type: Campaign

Columbia Mo 65205

[….] Established Date: 04/17/2014

Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/Oppose

Constitutional Amendment 3 11/04/2014 Shall The Missouri Constitution Be Amended To Require Teachers To Be Evaluated By A Standards Based Performance Evaluation System/Statewide Oppose

[….]

[emphasis added]

Next move.

Previously:

Understatement (July 20, 2014)

Campaign Finance: even more in (July 15, 2014)

Campaign Finance: all in (July 9, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Nope, the boat’s still not big enough. (June 4, 2014)

Campaign Finance: still need a much bigger boat (May 28, 2014)

Campaign Finance: schooling (May 19, 2014)

Previously: Campaign Finance: all in (July 9, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141258 07/15/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION American Federation of Teachers 555 New Jersey Ave NW Washington DC 20001 7/14/2014 $125,000.00

C141258 07/15/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION Northeast Region MO State Teachers Association 56408 Highway VV Green City MO 63545 7/15/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

This is definitely serious business.

Previously: SB 656: legislature of the gun (May 16, 2014)

[….]

…they make it illegal for you as parent to know if your kid’s teacher is carrying a gun, or qualified to do so. That’s insane…

[….]

Governor Jay Nixon (D) vetoed [pdf] SB 656 today:

GOVERNOR OF MISSOURI

[….]

July 14, 2014

TO THE SECRETARY OD STATE OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

Herewith I return to you Conference Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 656 entitled:

AN ACT

To repeal sections 21.750, 84.340, 571.030, 571.101, 571.107, 571.111, 571.117, 575.153, 590.010, and 590.205, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof sixteen new sections relating to firearms, with penalty provisions.

I disapprove of Conference Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 656. My reasons for disapproval are as follows:

Conference Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 656 would allow Missouri school districts to designate teachers or administrators as “school protection officers,” who would be authorized to carry concealed firearms within those districts. I have consistently opposed the arming of teachers as a means to keep schools safe. It is is simply the wrong approach, and one that I do not support.

The safety of Missourians [] especially children – has long been a priority of mine, both as Governor and as the former chief law enforcement officer of our state. I have supported, and will continue to support, the use of duly authorized law enforcement officers employed as school resource officers in schools. This bill, which would create a new mechanism for the arming of teachers, would not make schools safer. Consequently, I am returning it without my approval.

In accordance with the above stated reasons for disapproval, I am returning Conference Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 656 without my approval.

Respectfully submitted

s/

Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon

Governor

That’s sanity.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard:…We’ve made too many compromises already, too many retreats. They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here. This far, no further. And I will make them pay for what they’ve done…

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141258 07/09/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION MO Legislative Impact Committee PO Box 458 Columbia MO 65205 7/9/2014 $60,100.00

C141258 07/09/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION MO National Education Association 1810 E Elm Street Jefferson City MO 65107 7/9/2014 $500,000.00

[emphasis added]

And pay they will.

C141258: Committee In Support Of Public Education

Po Box 458 Committee Type: Campaign

Columbia Mo 65205

[….] Established Date: 04/17/2014

[….]

Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/Oppose

2014-024 Relating To Teacher Performance Evaluation Systems 11/04/2014 Shall The Missouri Constitution Be Amended To Require Teachers To Be Evaluated By A Standards Based Performance Evaluation System Oppose

[emphasis added]

The right wingnut assault on public education will never end.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C141258 06/04/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATORS Central MSTA Region 1422 Grandview Drive Warrensburg MO 64093 6/4/2014 $10,000.00

C141258: Committee In Support Of Public Educators

Po Box 458 Committee Type: Campaign

Columbia Mo 65205

[….] Established Date: 04/17/2014

[….]

Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/Oppose

2014-024 Relating To Teacher Performance Evaluation Systems 11/04/2014 Shall The Missouri Constitution Be Amended To Require Teachers To Be Evaluated By A Standards Based Performance Evaluation System Oppose

[emphasis added]

It takes a lot more money than that to buy into a professional chess match.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: schooling (May 19, 2014)

Campaign Finance: still need a much bigger boat (May 28, 2014)

Previously: Campaign Finance: schooling (May 19, 2014)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

141258 05/28/2014 COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATORS Northwest MSTA Region 2911 Blackwell Road St Joseph MO 64506 5/28/2014 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

Fancy that MSTA and Missouri NEA, working together.

It’s not nearly enough yet to weather the coming astroturf storm.

You just need 37,500 people to chip in. And then vote.

Previously: Campaign Finance: Wouldn’t it be easier to just write them a check directly? (April 14, 2014)

Do you think he took it as a suggestion?

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121045 04/25/2014 TEACHGREAT.ORG Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 4/24/2014 $750,000.00

[emphasis added]

Nah, he couldn’t have, could he?

Meanwhile, celebrate astroturf!

For now it’s still only one vote.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: here’s $31,000.00, go beat up on public school teachers (February 26, 2014)

Campaign Finance: Bah, humbug! (December 25, 2013)

Campaign Finance: how astroturf (the fake grassroots) works (August 1, 2013)

Campaign Finance: teachers are evil, except when they save kids from a tornado or a crazed gunman (May 24, 2013)

Campaign Finance: using a lot of money to beat up on teachers (May 28, 2012)