Our monthly meeting of the South of Dayton Democratic Club is this evening at 6:00 at the Wright Library in Oakwood. On the agenda is indicated time for a brief discussion of some of the ideas in my book, Public Education 2030.  I sent this e-mail to the club members.

Dear Friends, I see our agenda for this evening includes the opportunity to briefly discuss some of the ideas in my book, Public Education 2030.  (You can get a PDF here). 

One essay (p. 30) reports on Ted Strickland’s forums on the future of Ohio’s system of public education. In these forums, Strickland challenged his listeners to

…continue reading the article To Strengthen Public Education, Democrats Should Advocate Transformation, Not Reformation

Trace Pickering in the April edition of the F.M. Duffy Reports, says the reform of public education is not sufficient, that what is needed is transformation. Much of what he says resonates with the point of view I develop in my book, Public Education 2030.

The first step to solving a problem is to understand the problem — to understand the nature of the problem. If we seek to solve the problem of how to improve public education, then we must first identify the problem to be solved. Pickering says there are two categories of problems — some problems are “tame”

…continue reading the article Transforming Industrial Age Schooling To Authentic Education — A Very “Wicked Problem”

The book I am posting today — Public Education 2030, The Singularity Approaches —  focuses on the future of public education.

I’ve shortened and summarized twenty-five of my previous posts on education so that most will fit on one page. I’ve added an “Introduction”, a “Message from the Author” and a “Conclusion” and I’ve grouped the posts into six sections: 1) The Singularity Approaches 2) Reforming Public Education 3) Building A Better System 4) The Aim of the System 5) Great Teachers and the Profession of Teaching 6) Good Character, the Key to Success 6) The Importance of Civic Education.

My goal in putting this publication together is twofold:

To

…continue reading the article My New Book — Public Education 2030 — Invites Readers To Discuss The Future Of Our School System

What a beautiful spring!

Last fall, at the end of the bulb planting season, I bought a ton of spring bulbs for 50% off and on several chilly November days, I planted them at the front of Centerville Methodist Church. I planted the bulbs in honor of my brother-in-law, Jim Dunaway and at the four year anniversary of his passing, April 20, they were blooming gloriously. I’m glad they turned out so beautifully and that the members of the church are very happy with their appearance. Last week when I had help from a friend I took these pictures and made a

…continue reading the article Spring Flowers At Centerville Church Are In Honor Of My Friend And Brother-In-Law, Jim Dunaway

This is great news: Caroline Gentry and Jim Butler — candidates seeking election to represent District 41 in the Ohio House — will participate in a Lincoln Douglas style debate on Friday, November 2. The debate will be at Kettering High School on Shroyer Rd. in the Recital Hall starting at 3:45 PM.

Republican Jim Butler is the incumbent, appointed to the position last January. This is his first election. Caroline Gentry is the Democratic challenger. And this is her first election.

The program will last for one hour and the public is invited to attend.

In the 34 minute debate portion of

…continue reading the article Caroline Gentry And Jim Butler — OHD 41 — Will Have Lincoln-Douglas Type Debate At KHS On Friday, Nov 2

Rick McKiddy has a new video that reminds voters that the Republican Assembly voted to refuse $400 million in federal money that, if accepted, would have funded a high speed train in Ohio. The video says that, because of this refusal, Ohio lost 6000 good jobs.

McKiddy is seeking election to the Ohio Senate to represent District 6 and is challenging the Republican incumbent, Peggy Lehner. The proposed high speed train would have had a potential big impact on District 6, because one of its planned terminals would have been in Riverside, close to the Air Force Museum. Citizens throughout District

…continue reading the article Rick McKiddy Reminds: Opponent Refused High Speed Train & Fed’s $400 Million — Lost 6000 Good Jobs

Yesterday my one student, Juwan, and I went to see President Obama. And a great day it was.

When I was Juwan’s age, in 1964, I made it to downtown Dayton to hear Barry Goldwater. He spoke on the steps of the Dayton Court House, standing on the very steps where Abraham Lincoln also once had made a speech. I simply caught a bus and went downtown and joined a large crowd. It was a memorable experience and I wanted Juwan to have a similar experience.

Now in 2012 to see the president, one has to have a lot more determination and

…continue reading the article At the Dayton Rally — I Shook The Hand Of the Hand That Shook The President’s Hand

Nick Kuntz, Montgomery County Juvenile Court Judge, met with our South of Dayton Democratic Club this week. Kuntz has served as Juvenile Judge since 1994 and this year is on the ballot for re-election. He thanked the club for supporting his reelection campaign. He said that he loves his work and that during his tenure he has worked to make a lot of good improvements in the county’s juvenile court system. He said that he has visited over 100 other juvenile court systems and has not found a juvenile court system better than Montgomery County’s.

I was very impressed — not only

…continue reading the article Nick Kuntz, Juvenile Court Judge, Seeks Re-Election — Says Montgomery County System Is Among The Best

It’s hard to understand why Dayton voters keep returning Mike Turner to Congress.

The “Campaign for America’s Future” tracks ten key congressional votes dealing with the economy and the middle class, and Mike Turner, my congressman to the U.S. Congress, according to this organization, is the worst of the worst and deserves a score of zero.  In its report, the CAF analyzes ten pieces of legislation and, Mike Turner, in every case voted against the middle class. Turner voted for the Ryan Budget, voted against a jobs bill, voted to diminish consumer financial protection, voted to weaken unions, voted to repeal

…continue reading the article Who Stands For The Middle Class? Dayton Congressman Mike Turner Gets Score Of Zero — “Worst Of The Worst”

Greeting the nuns were a group of four women holding signs saying “Abortion.” After the event I talked with them and they said they thought the nuns were “wishy-washy” on taking a strong anti-abortion stand. One woman said that, to her, there is no greater injustice than abortion. They indicated that they are Romney supporters.

Yesterday, the “Nuns on the Bus” arrived at the University of Dayton and were greeted by a group of about 150, mostly students. UD is a Marianist school and several of the nuns are UD graduates. The nuns urged the UD students to, “help carry

…continue reading the article At the University Of Dayton, The Nuns On The Bus Urge Students To “Help Carry Out The Mission Of The Gospel”