You didn't actually think it was spontaneous did you?

We've all read the stories of thousands of people descending on the Capitol in support of education funding.  Have you ever wondered how those demonstrations are organized?  Naturally, they use school resources and school logistics. 

Here's an efficient little announcement from the Cocopah Junior High website.

March 4 Schools Event at the Arizona State Capitol

Supporters of public education will gather at the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday, March 4th to make their concerns heard regarding proposed budget cuts to education. The Arizona State Legislature is proposing 18 percent cuts to public education statewide. Budget cuts proposed for Scottsdale Unified School District total $21 million. Buses will leave from 10 different Scottsdale Unified School District sites at 3:45 pm and return at 6:00 pm. These sites are; Anasazi, ANLC, Aztec, Cochise, Copper Ridge, Hohokam, Pueblo, Sequoya, Tavan, and Tonalea. Each site will also offer carpools as needed. The community is invited to attend this important event.
 
Please RSVP at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/

Wow, busses from 10 different schools.  I wonder who is paying for all that?

Here's a nice organizational touch.  I can't tell if this blast is set up using a school distribution network or not, but it looks to me like the only way to get these email addresses would be to get them from the school itself. 

-----Original Message-----

From: sophomores2008-bounces@chapts.org

[mailto:sophomores2008-bounces@chapts.org] On Behalf Of sophomores2008@chapts.org

Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 9:59 AM

To: freshmen2008@chapts.org; sophomores2008@chapts.org; Juniors2008@chapts.org; Seniors2008@chapts.org

Subject: Chapts Sophomores2008 March 4th rally at State Capitol

Please see below regarding a rally at the State Capitol:

March 4 Schools 4:00 - 6:00 at the Arizona State Capitol

We need everyone at this event. Buses are leaving from 10 different elementary schools (departing at 3:45). Please use this link to RSVP.

http://www.surveymonkey.com

  

Pass this email on to anyone, I mean anyone, who believes that a promising tomorrow starts with our schools today. Right now the legislative leadership is proposing cuts of 18% to our already inadequate funding.

My promise is to speak up against this. Will you? I mean really...what's it gonna take?

PTOs and PTAs, I implore you to get this through your network with a real sense of urgency.

 

Comments

[Carol]

So this lobbying is facilitated by tax-payer money?

[Julie]

I am a homeowner in the Scottsdale Unified School District and live near one of the schools listed as a take off point. If I showed up with my sign that says, "I'm a homeschool parent who wants tax relief and a responsible public school budget.", do you think I'd get a ride to the capitol?

[Jack]

And they probably used publicly funded roadways to get to the Capitol, so once again, government is subsidizing the spending lobby!

[ron]

Of course, no one on the right would ever do this.

You all did see that Gov Palin didn't pay her taxes in Alaska?

[Name:]

Where on earth did they get the 18% cuts number? If they did the rest of the state agencies would be on easy street.

[todd]

Got a source on the Palin story, ron-the-illegal-alien?

[ron]

todd,

Drudge report:

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Palin Didn't Pay Taxes on Per Diem Pay

Since she became Alaska's governor in December 2006, Sarah Palin hasn't paid taxes on the more than $17,000 she received in controversial per diem payments for working out of the family's lakeside home in Wasilla, according to her recently released tax returns for the past two years.

I guess Drudge is a moron, too.

[Travis]

I'm willing to bet that anyone, if audited by the right people, could be found to have "unpaid" taxes. Of course, the reason is that the government, lead by the Dems, will not be happy until all of our money is turned over to the government.

[Patrick]

By the way, it's not against the law to use school resources to lobby in the manner described, including the use of e-mail to announce rallies -- so long as it doesn't interrupt the operations of the school. It is only against the law to use school resources to influence the outcome of an election (A.R.S. 15-511). For someone who is a new lawyer, maybe you should check the law before you spout off.

[DGN]

Patrick,

It may not be against the law, and I understand that educators want to preserve funding but...

I send my kids to school to learn math, science, reading, etc., NOT to be used as fodder for lobbying activity. This is akin to hearing that a teacher spent a portion of the school day griping about his or her low salary. Save that stuff for the teacher's lounge. Kids go to school to learn - period.

[Teacher]

The teachers are paying for the buses. It is being held after school. Nothing is being communicated to or through children. AND this is all being done to preserve the very basics that those students are receiving now. Netx year will have 5 more in all classes and reduction in after school sports, fine arts and supplies.

[Do as I say...]

I really enjoy the outrage from the right about innocent school children being "used as fodder for lobbying activity."

Where was their outrage when thousands of private school children (many receiving scholarships funded by tuition tax cuts) spent most of school day at the Capitol on February 10th for School Choice Legislative Day and Rally?

Wait, I’m sure the experience helped the kids “learn math, science, reading, etc.”

[blank]

Furthermore, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." Like most sayings, this is only half true. Those who can, teach; those who can't -- the bitter, the misguided, the failures from other fields -- find in the school system an excuse or a refuge.
--Bel Kaufman, _Up the Down Staircase_ (1974)

Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.
--George Bernard Shaw

(And those who can't teach, teach the teachers.)
--Laurence J. Peter, _Peter's Quotations: Ideas for our Time_ (1977)

[ron]

blank,

If you can read this, thank a teacher. :)