Why Democrats should push ‘Medicare for all’ now

It’s the perfect counter-offer to TrumpCare

 

(Note – this essay was written BEFORE Paul Ryan pulled the legislation.)

The fate of the Republicans’ health-care bill is unclear — but it’s not looking good. The ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus refused to vote for the American Health Care Act because it wasn’t cruel enough, resulting in a hasty rewrite over Wednesday night, and further negotiations between them and President Trump on Thursday. But the changes alienated some more moderate Republicans, and failed to appease the ultras anyway. At time of writing, the vote has been delayed until Friday.

The AHCA is a monstrous bill that would leave at least 24 million more people uninsured by 2026. But whether or not it fails, the Democrats shouldn’t sit idly by and wait for Republicans to slowly bleed ObamaCare to death by other means. They need a counter-offer, one that’s more compelling than the creaky status quo. They need a single-payer, Medicare for all plan. Here’s why….Why Democrats should push ‘Medicare for all’ now

Open Letter to Parents on Michigan’s “Testing Season”

Open Letter to Parents on Michigan’s “Testing Season”
by David Britten
Spring break is coming up and warmer days are ahead. Unfortunately, this time of year state-mandated tests bloom about as rapidly as the wildflowers. As you might guess, I do not support the growing regime of testing that has come to define public schools and learning every since President Bush forced through his No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act. President Obama poured gasoline on this fire when he used his Race to the Top initiative to force states into more rigorous but narrow curriculum and testing. In Michigan, our legislature has been up and down, in and out about our curriculum and requirements for testing leading to frustration and a substantial waste of our children’s classroom learning time. —READ THE FULL BLOG POST HERE – https://rebel6.wordpress.com/2017/03/24/open-letter-to-parents-on-michigans-testing-season/

Superintendent's Notes

Spring break is coming up and warmer days are ahead. Unfortunately, this time of year state-mandated tests bloom about as rapidly as the wildflowers. As you might guess, I do not support the growing regimen of testing that has come to define public schools and learning ever since President George W. Bush forced through his No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act. President Barack Obama poured gasoline on this fire when he used his Race to the Top initiative to force states into more rigorous but narrow curriculum and testing, and ranking schools from Top to Bottom as a result. In Michigan, our legislature has been up and down, in and out about our curriculum and requirements for testing leading to frustration and a substantial waste of our children’s classroom learning time.

Sir Richard Livingstone (1880-1960), a wise and learned British educator, found the whole enterprise of testing requirements forced…

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Kalamazoo schools closure is proof paid sick policies are needed | Eclectablog

 The following guest post was written by Jenny Doezema, a Kalamazoo resident who sends her children to Kalamazoo Public Schools. Enjoy.

Earlier this month, Kalamazoo schools were closed when more than 1,900 students fell ill on the same day.

The district closed all schools on a Friday to allow them to disinfect the school buildings over a long weekend. Other schools were closed that week due to illness as well.

Winter is normally a time of year when schools are closed for inclement weather, but this year’s unseasonably warm weather has lessened the need for closing schools.

So why are so many schools closing because of massive amounts of sick students?

Any teacher or parent will tell you that when one child is sick, the likelihood that more will get sick is very high.

That’s why schools ask that parents keep their children home when they are sick.

However, the more complicated question is why parents make that choice.

The fraying of the social safety net over the past few decades…

READ THE FULL BLOG POST HERE: Kalamazoo schools closure is proof paid sick policies are needed | Eclectablog