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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>But, of course, Luna-the-Thug isn’t talking about partnering with anything quality like the Khan Academy, which I’m quite impressed with & have been “taking” some lessons from myself </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> For those not familiar with the Khan Academy but always interested in learning, check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.khanacademy.org/">http://www.khanacademy.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I’m also completely impressed with schools that are keeping computer labs open long hours (i.e., Eastside Prep in east Palo Alto) so that students who don’t have computer access at home can still benefit from Khan Academy tutorials.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>For more background, check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_Academy</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57503560/khan-academy-the-future-of-education">http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57503560/khan-academy-the-future-of-education</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I find it incredibly ironic that had Sal Khan decided to turn his fresh approach into a personal money-making scheme like conservative Bill Bennett & his crappola for-profit K12 online “education” corporation, everyone would know his name. But, since he chose instead to work for the greater good, very few people know anything about him or the Khan Academy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>It tells us, I think, a great deal about the values and morals of all too many people in this country.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>For an interesting read about for-profit online schools, check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/education/online-schools-score-better-on-wall-street-than-in-classrooms.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/education/online-schools-score-better-on-wall-street-than-in-classrooms.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Saundra Lund<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Moscow, ID<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>~ Edmund Burke<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Scott Dredge<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 19, 2012 12:31 AM<br><b>To:</b> philosopher.joe@gmail.com; thansen@moscow.com<br><b>Cc:</b> viz; cpenni@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Yes you need teachers. But a computer, an internet connection, and online instruction from not-for-profit Khan Academy can go a long way in empowering both students and teachers. It's already happening in some public schools for some of the math curriculum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center id=stopSpelling></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 07:27:17 -0700<br>From: <a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a><br>To: <a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a><br>CC: <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</a>; <a href="mailto:cpenni@gmail.com">cpenni@gmail.com</a><br>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming<br><br>Why do we need teachers or even schools? Just give them a computer and let them figure it out for themselves. Joe<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 3:37 AM, Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com">thansen@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;overflow:visible!important;outline:0px'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"After canceling a bidding process in June for lack of competitive bids, the state is now negotiating with up to a half-dozen potential providers of the computers, with hopes of picking one in the coming weeks. At stake is an eight-year contract worth more than $100 million, under which the provider would supply and maintain laptops for every Idaho high school student, provide technical support, and set up and maintain wireless networks in Idaho high schools."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;overflow:visible!important;outline:0px'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>- Spokesman-Review - October 18, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Courtesy of today's (October 18, 2012) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>-------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><h1 style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;font-weight:normal'>Superintendent says 'doomsday' not coming</span><span style='font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna came to speak at an event hosted by the University of Idaho College Republicans on Wednesday night, and used the opportunity to defend the Students Come First laws, which are being challenged at the polls in November.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Propositions 1, 2 and 3 would limit teachers collective bargaining, institute merit pay bonuses, provide laptops to every high school student and require online learning for graduation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Alexander Rowsen, vice president of the UI College Republicans, heard Luna speak at a previous event and organized an opportunity to bring him to campus.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"I was very impressed by his passion and knowledge of the issues," Rowsen said. "Education in this state should be a very important issue to all Idahoans, and I hope we get all different types of people to come learn about it."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Luna responded to hesitation from an audience of more than 100, a few of whom were wearing "No on Props 1, 2, 3" buttons, by saying Idaho is behind the curve in education reform, particularly in technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"Don't let anybody tell you that schools don't want this, that teachers don't see the value in it and that students don't need this," Luna said of the use of online learning and laptops in classrooms. "These are the 21st century learning tools we need to get into every classroom."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Luna did recognize that online learning is in need of improvement, which will come in the form of an online portal where students and teachers can evaluate courses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"Online and distance learning are not going away. We have to look at increasing the quality," he said. "We are going to make sure that before a class is ever offered it has to meet the standards and has to be taught by an Idaho certified teacher."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Luna also claimed the rumor that instructors teaching on the Idaho Digital Learning Academy were not Idaho teachers was false and blamed much of the push-back from educators across the state on bad information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"I can go through list after list after list of the misinformation that has been put out there about these laws, and I'm not surprised," he said. "What's happening now with pay for performance is that teachers across the state are finding out the things they've been told aren't true."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Luna gave examples of misinformation such as the merit bonuses resulting in pay cuts and computers replacing teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"Time is going to prove the doomsday scenario that was painted by the opposition just hasn't materialized. There's not a crater where there used to be a school," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Luna also explained teachers within the same school would not be competing for bonuses because merit pay based on student performance would be distributed to an entire school as opposed to individuals. The doomsday scenarios are more likely to come if the propositions are voted down, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"If you want to see disruption and chaos we can see all the things that will change if these laws will go away because of the impact that will have on school funding," said Luna, adding $40 million of funding for districts would go away, possibly including the merit bonuses teachers should receive in November.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>A major criticism Luna has received for the laws is that they took away the voice of Idaho teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"I've started hearing this recently, and I don't know where it's coming from," Luna said. "The argument that somehow we are limiting the opportunity for teachers to speak up on behalf of students is just not true."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Luna said the laws open more doors for teachers and there has not been a circumstance where a teacher has been denied the opportunity to speak on behalf of students.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='vertical-align:baseline;text-align:-webkit-auto;outline:0px;font-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"It's not the perfect path and we need to make changes going forward, but the worst thing we can do is go back to where we were before because of the disruption it will cause in our schools and our districts and the opportunities that will be lost for students," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>-------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><img border=0 width=330 height=222 id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CDAD92.9E1C55E0" alt=image.jpeg><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Seeya at the polls, Moscow, because . . .<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"Moscow Cares"<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.MoscowCares.com" target="_blank">http://www.MoscowCares.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Moscow, Idaho<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><br>=======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet,<br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br> <a href="http://www.fsr.net" target="_blank">http://www.fsr.net</a><br> mailto:<a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">Vision2020@moscow.com</a><br>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'><br><br>======================================================= List services made available by First Step Internet, serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <a href="http://www.fsr.net">http://www.fsr.net</a> <a href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</a> =======================================================<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></body></html>