Back to Edu

So I haven't really been blogging about education policy, as you might have noticed. Intellectually I'm tied up by statistics, and emotionally - well, you can see I'm a bit distracted.

Besides all that, summer seems to be a bit of a slow time for education policy. Congress is in session, but not much has happened since the House and Senate committees voted on the Higher Education Act.

The NEA voted to endorce Obama. They weren't, like, THRILLED about it - but mostly because there was only one name on the ballot. Just like in Michigan's "Soviet-Style Primary."

OK That's the thoughts for the day. I'm adding Twitter updates to my blog. FYI.

And another thing....

I just watched Meet the Press, and was reminded that I saw this rainbow. Tim Russert's funeral was on Wednesday, and after the memorial service at the Kennedy Center, everyone walked out and saw this rainbow over Washington. I was on Capitol Hill, looking for a new apartment with my boyfriend. I dropped him off at Union Station to catch the metro back home, and turned the corner. Right in front of me was a beautiful rainbow, the kind that takes your breath away.

It was the same rainbow everyone exiting Russert's memorial service saw, having just listened to the ukulele version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow (which also happened to be one of 'my best friend's and her husband's first dance song). A "Russert Miracle," everyone said.

I'm so glad I saw it. I couldn't go to the wake - had already left work so many times to look at apartments. Because I saw it, though, I feel like I was able to say goodbye to Tim Russert as well.

From Haddad, T. "Stumper: The Russert Miracles." Newsweek, 6/19/08: "When asked his reaction to explain the sudden appearance of the rainbow at the exact moment, Luke Russert, his sparkly smile so reminiscent of his father's, said: "Is anyone still an atheist now?"

Zimbabwe

I normally don't write about international issues - partly because I think my focus is on domestic education policy, but also because the US media doesn't tend to focus as much on international issues. Well, except for Iraq. I usually get my international news from NPR in the mornings on my way to work.

This morning, though, I saw this on the cover of the online NY Times... and what struck me was how heroic this decision was. Morgan Tsvangiari dropped out of the run-off election in Zimbabwe, saying he could not ask people to vote for him and die. On one hand, it's terrible that the situation in Zimbabwe is so dire. On the other had, Tsvangiari realized that by putting himself forward, many would die - and so chose for them to live.

I saw the movie Hotel Rwanda a few weeks ago. We got it from Netflix and it sat there for a coule of weeks - I really wanted to see it, but knew how hard it would to be to watch. And it was. The worst part was when Western countries came to pick up their foreign nationals in the country, and left all the Africans behind. The man in the movie saved so many - but so many more died because of an arbitrary tribal distinction. Well, arbitrary to me. Maybe it meant something at some point. After it was over, I just sat there and cried.

I think what Tsvangiari has done has allowed Zimbabwe to perhaps avoid worse killing, to avoid Rwanda - and maybe find another path to healing, if the world will pay attention and help.

Still Sad

I can't believe how sad I still feel about Tim Russert.

This morning Meet the Press will be on, but Tim won't be there. It's hard to believe how quickly heart disease can take people. The same thing happened with my first boss - a different kind of heart problem, but a similar sudden passing. He was away on a trip with our 9th grade students in the Grand Canyon, and a weakness in his artery just gave way. I think how all the folks at NBC feel must be how we felt at our school. Somone who nurtured our careers, who made a family of the place, was suddenly taken from us and we couldn't quite understand how or why. We went on teaching - I remember my face feeling tight and sad, but getting up there in front of my students and teaching them a real lesson, because I thought that was what was best for them and for me. You get up in front of the class, in front of the camera, and you work - because for some reason it calms the tight sadness in your chest and holds back the tears.

What's so strange about the modern world is how we have so many people come into our homes on a regular basis, so much so we feel like we know them. As a news junkie, Tim Russert was one of those people for me. But Keith Olbermann, Andrea Mitchell, Tom Brokaw, and Matt Lauer are too, and seeing the sadness in their faces just makes me know that they feel what we felt when we lost John at 46. Just like Tim Russert, John Cosentino was a vibrant man who loved life, and we felt at our school, loved us.

So if you can, say a little prayer for Tim Russert and his family - and say one for John Cosentino and his family. I always try to remember that at every Mass, from baptisms to weddings to funerals, the priest says, "Let us give thanks to the Lord our God," and we respond, "It is right to give him thanks and praise." Our time here is so short, and it is right to give Him thanks and praise that we were here at all.

Shock

I can't believe how sad I feel about Tim Russert's passing.

My mom called me, to make sure I knew, because every time I come visit her I watch Tim Russert. It's rare that a Sunday goes by when I don't watch him on Meet the Press. For the past six years, I watched him every week. I feel like he's a familiar friend, even though I never met him. His enthusiasm for politics and true goodness shone through to those of us watching on TV. I think about 1/2 of the conversations my boyfriend and I have involved Tim Russert. "Well, Tim Russert said this about it." He was the authority. We trusted him, we believed him, and we knew he would always ask the right questions and tell the truth. And we always knew he would root for the Buffalo Bills and the Boston College Eagles.

I feel for his family - so many people who had never met him loved him and are terribly sad, and how awful they must feel at this sudden and shocking loss. May God take care of them, and welcome Tim to heaven. Maybe he and my Gram can have a chat.

'Meet the Press' Host Collapses at Work.

Is it really over?

Apparently, it's all over but the shoutin'... or, in this case, speechmakin'. Obama wins, Clinton concedes, life goes on. And still, is education a big issue in the race?

78% of voters call it a top priority - see the quote and link from the Pew Poll below. Maybe the candidates will start paying better attention. Obama has come out and said that everyone should be bilingual or trilingual. I agree. Let's fund it.

Overview: McCain's Negatives Mostly Political, Obama's More Personal: "The survey finds that just 18% say they are satisfied with state of the nation - the lowest percentage in two decades of People-Press polls. Reflecting the widespread unhappiness with the national economy, an overwhelming proportion of respondents say the economy (88%) and jobs (78%) will be very important in their vote. In addition, roughly three-quarters each name healthcare, education, energy and Social Security as very important."

InsideCatholic.com - Chaput on 'Catholics for Obama'

This is interesting. I'm not too keen on the Catholic Church telling me who to vote for, but I feel that my conscience tells me that voting for someone who cares about the preservation of life in Iraq and providing for the poor is important. More important than pro-life issues.

InsideCatholic.com - Chaput on 'Catholics for Obama': "Chaput on 'Catholics for Obama'"

PS It's written by my friend from college!

Disappointed

I'm disappointed in how seldom any of the presidential candidates talk about education. Michelle Obama has said a few things (she's a great speaker, by the way), but my girl Hillary has said nada. I mean, at least in a big way.

Of course, in many ways, that's because traditionally education is a more local issue. Our school boards and local councils and mayors have more of an impact on education than the president does. I know Fenty being the mayor of DC has had a greater impact on schools than Bush.

In a lot of ways the president sets the symbolic tone - sort of the "theme" that will impact education. Accountability, access... whatever the theme is, that's what "street level bureaucrats' (Weatherly and Lipsky, from 1977) will enact on the ground. The reality, of course, ends up being quite different from the goals set on high.

Haters

I knew I liked Stanley Fish.

"A Calumny A Day to Keep Hillary Away." (Fish, S. The New York Times. 2/10/08)

"All You Need is Hate." (Fish, S. The New York Times. 2/3/08)

Trip to NH

So I haven't posted in awhile, but I wanted to document my campaign journal!

Yesterday I left my house at 8am to take a trip to Manchester NH to campaign. Those of you who know me will know for whom I'm campaigning.... I don't want to get the campaign in trouble, so I will leave it at that!

In any case, I boarded the first leg of my trip to Philly. I arrived and grabbed a slice of pizza, and then headed to the gate for the Manchester flight. Upon arriving I saw that it was "Cancelled." Due to heavy snow, the Manchester airport was closed. Snow had been predicted for that evening, but arrived early. I've found in my time in New York that snow never quite behaves the way the forecasters expect it to.

Great. So with a bunch of New Hampshirites, I got in line to re-book. A few started asking me why I was going to New Hampshire, and I told them to campaign for my candidate! This elicited a few eye rolls, but for the most part they were true to the stereotype of New Hampshire voters - grumpy but engaged. One woman started talking about the factory in her town that recently closed. Another thought that we should spend more money in the US than abroad. A third joked he was going to put a big sign on his barn, which is off of I-93 with my candidate's name - and an "X" through it.

I managed to get another flight, this one to Laguardia. After a few hours of layover, I finally boarded a cold flight for Manchester. We touched down in a snow covered airport, and I made the hairy drive up to the Lakes Region.

I arrived in the Laconia office and immediately started doing data entry. Most of the people in the office are the age of my students. or a little older... but fun. They told me that "this is the best office - the nicest people!" It's certainly better than Dover, where I was four years ago for another presidential campaign. Apparently the vistas while out canvassing are quite lovely.

At about 10:30pm, after doing a ton of data entry, I headed on the snowy and dark roads to my "supporter housing," a beautiful red and green house on one of the lakes up here. I had a cup of tea, chatted for awhile with the woman hosting me, took a shower, and then fell fast asleep.

When I woke up, it was sunny and bright - no longer the blizzard that canceled my flight yesterday. The leftover snow, however, did prevent me from getting my car up the steep driveway. I started smelling burning, and I decided to stop at that point. It was either dig out, wait for the plow.... which meant missing the morning meeting and canvassing.

So a couple of interns came to pick me up. They're both college students, and one was pissed about yesterday's canvassing experience. They were out until 8pm (which I will be today, once we get going!), and the roads and long driveways of the Lakes Region were pretty treacherous. The young man (God, I'm getting old) launched into a lengthy description, peppered with curses, about his day. "I'm not getting paid for this sh** - and I wasn't going to risk my life driving down these driveways. F'ing black ice..."

And so on.

We arrived 45 minutes late for the morning staff meeting - 9:30am. The staff meeting began with an org chart - ah, the org chart - presented by some consultants from a grass roots firm. Morning individual meetings took place, and Joey, my canvass buddy, and I watched Bill Clinton's campaign video to inspire us.

Now it's 11:05am, and I'm here, hanging out, waiting to go canvas.

More updates from the campaign trail - my own personal one, through the snow and ice, to individual voters.

InsideCatholic.com

A friend of mine (from Sewanee, no less) wrote the headline column for 9/11. I was disappointed that I couldn't respond, but maybe they'll get that feature up.

InsideCatholic.com