What do you think of California wanting to pass legislation to revise textbooks to include?
537124
I am just Wilde about it Oscar. Let me put down my beer stein, Gertrude, and my Alice B. Toklas brownies so I can answer your question. Isn't it queer you should ask? I know nothing of this. I don't believe one's sexuality should include anyone or exclude anyone as far as historical significance is concerned. I don't think gays should be villified or glorified. The only thing that gives me pause is that it raises homophobia to the same level as racism. One cannot choose one's skin color, except for George Hamilton and Michael Jackson.
185386
It should be left up to the individual states to decide.  Gun control measures that might seem reasonable in New York or California would be much more impractical or burdensome in other states.
630584
Where are you located? Or, what state are you wanting to know about, legislation varies by state so I can't really help without at least knowing that much.
1091405
I agree with you.  Many states have an initiative process where people are allowed to vote on issues -- my state, California has this and there are always a lot of issues on the ballot for the people to vote on.  There are many issues where the politicians in Washington somehow are out of step with the people as a whole.  A nation-wide initiative process would be a great solution to this.
196978
i don't know.  in CA it's completely legal no matter what anyone tries to say.  As long as there is no child endangerement/abuse/neglect going on, it's fine.  I am proof that homeschooling works and that the government should keep it's hands off of something that they've managed to mess up beyond repair.  I think it's admirable that you would dedicate yourself to teaching your children.  It will pay off in the end and will be appreciated.  Good luck!
527255
Try this:\nhttp://www.gop.com/States/StateDetails.aspx?state=CA
219970
Yeah, I grew up in NE Ohio, and the Cleveland City Schools are just a mess. Same with my school district down in Canton. I think that we just need to completely revamp the entire school system for many of the schools not just in NE Ohio.\n\nWe need motivated teachers, curriculums that focus on helping our students become well-rounded students, rooms that are setup for our students to be the best that they could be, but, most of all, we need parents who are behind their kids and act as their motivation and give them a good kick in the ass when they need it.\n\nThings need to change, and while we might not be up to the standards that Europe or the Far East might have, I still think that American schoolchildren are just as good in numerous aspects of intelligence and schooling.\n\nWe need change now!
258099
May/June 1998\n\nBilingual Education and California's "English for the Children" Initiative: Researchers, Practitioners, and Policymakers Debate the Issues\n\nOn June 2, California voters will decide whether to eliminate bilingual education in their state. Proposition 227, also known as the "English for the Children" initiative or the Unz initiative after the name of its chief sponsor, proposes replacing current bilingual programs with a maximum of one year of "sheltered English immersion" (see "Models of Language Instruction"). In this case, parents would have to explicitly ask for their children to be placed in native-language programs.\n\nIf Proposition 227 passes, it could lead to a seismic shift in educating the nation's largest population of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students. With 1.4 million LEP students in the state, California is home to nearly half of the nation's population of young English learners. In March 1998, the state board of education gave school districts local control of decisions about educating LEP students. However, if Proposition 227 passes, it would override any other provisions.\n\nIn an effort to advance the dialogue about how best to educate students who do not speak English, the Harvard Education Letter asked some key supporters and opponents of the California ballot initiative to share their perspectives:
545924
A group of House Republicans wants to do away with bilingual ballots and translation assistance at the polls, a reflection of how tensions over immigration are pervading other issues. \n\nAs Congress readies to reauthorize the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the lawmakers are lobbying their colleagues to let the act's language assistance provisions expire. \n\nThere are 56 lawmakers who support the act but say the language assistance to voters -- provided throughout much of California -- undermines national unity, increases the risk of election fraud, and puts an undue burden on state and local governments. \n\n"We believe these ballot provisions encourage the linguistic division of our nation and contradict the 'melting pot' ideal that has made us the most successful multiethnic nation on Earth," the members said in a letter earlier this year. \n\nThe group's effort probably won't succeed, in part because of other Republicans' concerns that it could further offend Latino voters upset by the enforcement-only immigration legislation the House passed in December. \n\nPolicy analysts said the focus on bilingual ballots illustrated a hardening of positions within the GOP as the debate on illegal immigration evolved. \n\n"It's reflective of the broader divide in the Republican Party on the immigration issue and related cultural questions," said Marshall Wittmann, a former GOP Senate aide who is a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council. "This division is now being reflected in collateral issues, like the Voting Rights Act." \n\nUnder President Bush, the GOP has emphasized courting Latino voters. But many Republican lawmakers also have spotlighted illegal immigration as a key concern, contending that the continuing flow of illegal immigrants into the United States is transforming the nation culturally and must be stemmed. Such attitudes led to the passage of the House bill that would significantly upgrade border security, make illegal presence in the United States a felony and make aiding illegal immigrants a felony. \n\nBush is urging Congress to pass a bill that, along with beefed-up border security, includes a guest-worker program and some legalization measures for illegal immigrants. He also is encouraging immigrants to learn English. \n\nThe Senate and House are to conduct committee hearings on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, prime sponsor of allowing the language assistance provision expire, plans to submit his proposal as an amendment in the House Judiciary Committee this week. \n\nThe Voting Rights Act was designed to prevent discrimination from interfering with a citizen's ability to vote. When the act was extended in 1975, Congress added the section that requires some jurisdictions to provide bilingual ballots and translators. \n\nThe proposal's backers say that U.S.-born or naturalized citizens should know enough English to vote, particularly because a command of the language is a requirement for citizenship. \n\nKing said another provision of the Voting Rights Act allows voters who need help, including translation, to bring someone with them. \n\nBut Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., the main author of the enforcement-only House immigration bill, staunchly defended the language assistance provision in the Voting Rights Act. \n\n"If (immigrants) want to achieve the American dream, they better learn how to read and function in English," Sensenbrenner said. "But this deals with the right to vote, and these people are United States citizens; they are not illegal immigrants. It seems to me these people should not be confused because they don't have the proper instruction about how to vote on ballots for the candidates of their choice."
230642
If you have a Books-A-Million store around you'll find those things in the Children's Homeschooling section and/or Children's Education section.  I believe Barnes & Noble should have a section like that.
252533
If you are looking for a particular state, then do a search for that state's legislative website.  Usually, the site will have a search engine where you can type in a particular search (for example, "child abuse"), and then the site will give you House and/or Senate Bills currently being debated or voted upon.\n\nIn California, the website you would go to is:\nhttp://www.leginfo.ca.gov/\n\nI found that site by doing a simple Yahoo! search for the terms California legislature.  From there you would go to "Bill Information" then type in your search for child abuse.\n\nGood luck!
545562
I don't usually harp on errors but you have some typos that make your question confusing.\n\nFirst of all, I understand that perhaps 3/4 of California Senators have supported various illegal immigrant benefits, such as the driver's license benefit you mentioned, which the Governor has vetoed twice on National Security grounds.  (I think he wants a secure border so we aren't giving drivers licenses to terrorists.)\n\nI don't think that regardless of what the Senate says, the United States would let California succeed from the Union.  Look what happened to the Southern States when they tried it.  \n\nIf it did happen, the repercussions would be great, and the Minutemen would build a fence on the Nevada, etc. border. I would help them, as long as they let me run to their side with my family before it went up.\n\nIt won't happen, though.  Amongst other things, I think people are right when they say that if Mexican illegal immigrants wanted to be in Mexico, they would have stayed there.  They want to be in the United States so that they can benefit from the opportunities inherent in the United States' culture and economy.   Mexico does not offer those benefits, and adding a new 'state' wouldn't change the basic nature of the country.
669642
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Subcommittee on Children and Families, I was one of the key negotiators of The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), the comprehensive overhaul of our nation’s elementary and secondary education policy that made New York schools more accountable to New York’s families. And today I am holding the Administration accountable for not providing the resources that it promised to allow the landmark law to succeed. \n\n\n\nI will continue to work tirelessly to support early childhood education, improve teacher training, lower class size, eliminate environmental hazards in schools, make college affordable and accessible, reward innovations in education, and protect the programs that work for all of New York’s children. Read on to learn more.\n\n\n\nEarly Childhood Education\n For almost 40 years, Head Start has helped prepare children to succeed in school by empowering their parents and providing comprehensive services that address all the barriers children in poverty face. Today, almost 50,000 of New York’s lowest-income families benefit from the educational, health, mental health, dental, nutritional, and parent involvement services provided by Head Start. more»\n\n\n\nElementary and Secondary Education\n When the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA) was enacted, I viewed it as a historic promise between the federal government and educators – schools would be held to higher standards than ever before and the government would make a record investment in those schools to ensure that they would be able to meet the new expectations confronting them. Today, that promise has been broken. President Bush’s budget for 2006 provides $12 billion less than was promised by the No Child Left Behind Act, including $947.5 million less for New York. more»\n\n\n\nSpecial Education\n I co-sponsored the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act, which was signed into law on December 3, 2004. This bill will strengthen the IDEA by improving access to professional development for all teachers, expanding monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, resolving disputes equitably, improving students’ transitions from high school to adulthood, and involving parents more thoroughly in the education of their children. more»\n\n\n\nHigher Education\n Each additional year of post-secondary education increases a person’s income by 5 to 15%. Over a lifetime, a person with a college degree will earn close to $1 million more than those who only have a high school diploma. more»\n\n\n\nNational and Community Service\n I have been a consistent supporter of Americorps.  In the 107th Congress, I introduced legislation to increase opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps for individuals aging out of foster care. I co-sponsored legislation to support schools that provide service learning opportunities to elementary and secondary students. And Ifought for an emergency appropriation of funds when AmeriCorps was in danger of being cut by close to 70 percent. I will continue to advocate for strengthening AmeriCorps and for continuing the federal investment in this important program.
934919
You can download an explanation here:\n\nag.ca.gov/publications/2003_Intro_BrownAct.pdf\n\nEnjoy!
938385
It's not working because it wasn't written by educators. It was written by beaurocrats.\n\nThe only way to fix the educational system is to let educators write the laws. Not the beaurocrats.
977904
No it's probably time for a rational review of drug laws. But don't count on our politicians to propose changes. They can't be seen as "soft on crime". Better to build more jails and get reelected than to solve our society's problems.
237643
Wow, thanks for the update.\n\nI am assuming you mean the California congress.\n\nIt is an interesting proposition, but the Constitution grants the United States Congress with the power to control Naturalization. \n\nIt would be interesting to see if it could be passed, that would definitely seem like a separation of powers issue between the federal and state government.\n\nBut, of course if you are talking about the Federal Congress, they would seem to have the power.\n\nTo be honest California is in a unique situation though, they have a huge illegal immigrant problem, and once the child is a citizen, the parents may claim a need to stay to raise child.  \n\nIs California becoming that overpopulated?  And even if that is the issue that doesn't deal with the failure to detect illegal immigrants, and that would seem to be the real issue there.