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Category Archives: Education

Reading and Writing and Arithmetic Taught to the SOL’s

30 Jan

Ha! It use to be taught to the “tune of a hickory switch” but those days are gone:)

In a recent article in the Roanoke Times Virginia is running up the white flag on history for grade school,  By Sen. Mark Obenshain, January 27, 2012 (online version) SB185 is mentioned. http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2012/sb185/

After reading the article, I went to Richmond Sunlight to look at the entire bill to see what was actually going on with this.  While the Senator notes that the teaching of history would be de-emphasized, I’m not sure that the bill presented actually reflects that goal. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on January 30, 2012 in Education

 

Addendum to: 333 Apartment Complex Coming to the Mall Area in Christiansburg?

25 Jan

Following the last Planning Commission Meeting, where a change in Zoning Ordinance and a CUP for a large apartment complex, I wrote this article:

333 Apartment Complex Coming to the Mall Area in Christiansburg?

At the 1/23/12 Planning Commission Meeting, this came up again. I had reviewed the documents in the packet and saw that there was still no report on how this could affect our schools. “Our schools” does not mean schools that are owned and operated by the Town of Christiansburg. Only Cities and Counties “own” schools, so it is all taxpayers of Montgomery County who foot that bill. However, at the time of the meeting, apparently a statement from MCPS had arrived and been delivered to the Planning Commission. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on January 25, 2012 in Christiansburg, VA, Citizen Participation, Education, Local Government, Montgomery County

 

Moving on after the elections

10 Nov

The elections are over and it is time to move on. By “move on” I do not mean it is time to winterize the garden, calk windows, etc. I mean it is time to “move on” by getting ready to watch and evaluate the performance of our returning and new employees, elected officials.

Money is tight. We all know and feel that! Stopping the spending of money is not going to do anyone any good. Careful, thoughtful spending of money is making an investment. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on November 10, 2011 in Education, Local Government, US Government, VA government, Your Tax Money

 

Scrabble my eggs..uh, I mean Scramble by words…oh, heck, read for yourself

28 Sep

…and be grateful for the fact that you can read.

The Fifth Annual Scrabble Tournament, a fundraiser for the Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley, will be held on October 18, 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on September 28, 2011 in Education, Simple Thoughts

 

Montgomery County School System – A Different Perspective

27 Sep

I was at a recent LWVMCVA (League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, VA) program where education was the central theme. There was a technical problem that caused a delay and during that time one simple question was asked … “What are the 3 biggest challenges facing Montgomery County Schools?”. The responses (more than 3, I might add) were “funding, Funding, and FUNDING!!!”. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on September 27, 2011 in Education

 

Do citizens living in Towns pay double taxes?

20 Sep

I have heard citizens of the Town of Christiansburg say, more than a few times, that they don’t like paying double taxes. A lot of people perceive that they are paying double taxes simply because they live in a Town and have to pay both County and Town taxes. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on September 20, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Economic Development, Education, FOIA, Local Government, VA government, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Talking About Education? If You Aren’t Maybe You Should Be!

15 Sep

What do you think the role of Federal Government should be in K-12 Public Education? What are the “Common Core Standards”? What affect could changes in the role of Federal Government have on our local schools? Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on September 15, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Education, Local Government, US Government, VA government, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Unfunded Federal Education “Mandates”?

31 Jul

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard a lot of rants about “unfunded federal education mandates”. After a bit of looking around, what I found was not all that surprising. A clear and concise summary can be found at the U.S. Dept. of Education in one of their archived reports: “No Child Left Behind – 10 Facts About K-12 Education Funding“. Item #8 of this report states: Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on July 31, 2011 in Christiansburg, VA, Education, Local Government, Montgomery County, VA, Your Tax Money

 

The 10th Amendment and Education

28 Jul

The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. The goal of this Amendment was to make it such that all powers NOT specifically granted to the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution are reserved for the states (or the people) to control.

This Amendment was applied to Education. In 1790, the first U.S. Census was conducted (including only states, not the territories). Now, let’s take a look at what conditions were at the time that the 10th Amendment was written and interpreted to include education: Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by on July 28, 2011 in Citizen Participation, Education, Montgomery County, US Government, VA government, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 

Weldon Cooper Center School-Age Population Data

27 Jul

The Weldon Cooper Centers School-Age (5-19) Population Estimates for Virginia’s Incorporated Towns shows that:

  • Blacksburg has a school-age population of 3,556 which is 27.01% of the County total of 13,164.
  • Christiansburg has school-age population of 3,781 which is 28.72% of the County total of 13,164.
  • Montgomery Count’s school-age population is 13,164. (Subtract Blacksburg and Christiansburg from this and you have the Montgomery County count at 5,827 school-age students (over 44% of the total). Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by on July 27, 2011 in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, VA, Education, Local Government, Montgomery County, US Government, VA, VOTE, Your Tax Money

 
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