Do Ohio’s children win when schools compete?

Plunderbund, a site dedicated to Ohio statehouse politics, has done a great analysis on whether Charter schools in Ohio have led to an increase in test scores in Ohio schools.  While charts have generally shown an increase in test scores,  those at charter school are below those of public schools in Ohio's four largest public systems.  Even those test scores remain well below the state average, which includes suburban and rural districts, where there is little competition from state funded charter schools.

The argument of supporters of charter schools is that unlike public schools that perform dismally, charter schools themselves do fail and close.  Here's the issue: if a charter school closes down due to poor performance, where do the children end up?  In many cases, back in traditional public schools, sometimes having to catch-up to their peers who were continuously enrolled in that public school.

Has the jump in test scores been the result of influence and competition from charter schools?  Maybe?  Then why do charter test scores remain below those of urban public districts, and still well below public districts in general?  If the charter system is to be intellectually honest, it's time to shut down many of the charters.

Or better yet, if Ohio is having a massive budget deficit, and needs to cut education funding, this would be the right time to pull the plug on a shaky free-market idea, and focus on reality, and make sure all our children are educated and become successful.  If innovation is needed, let's innovate from within, rather than against our own tax dollars helping to fund more administrators, executives, and facilities.  This goes against Governor John Kasich's campaign to "spend more dollars in the classroom."  But then again, look at Kasich's campaign funding trail, and that's where we see "priorities" means something different.

Do Ohio's children win when schools compete? - Plunderbund

The return of the Blog is near!

Some of you thought that the Allen Arena blog was dead... but thinking about this crazy world, I've decided to resurrect my blog as a place to keep and share articles I come across that I find interesting in these "Sports":

• Architecture
• Planning
• Politics
• Transportation

There will also be posts related to other topics of interest, like comedy, roller coasters and amusement parks, and (actual) sports.

I will work out details, like colors, schemes, and maybe even the name of the blog.  But one way or another, it is coming back!  I also plan to link updates to Facebook and Twitter.

One thing Bengals and Colts fans agree on...

It's not quite the rivalry that the Bengals have with the Steelers or Browns, but you think it would be since Cincinnati is only about two hours away from Indianapolis. There might be a debate on who has the better team, better QB, offense, defense, coach, etc.

But there seems to be a consensus on who has the better downtown. Last week, the Cincinnati Enquirer asked readers what city has a better downtown: they loudly responded that it's the hometown of the Colts that's on top.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061218/BIZ01/612180318/1076

Hundreds of specialty retailers, restaurants and clubs. Dozens of theaters, museums, parks and sports venues. More than 5,000 hotel rooms. A huge convention center that's being expanded - again. Nearly 10,000 single-family homes, condos and apartments. A supermarket.

That's not just a wish list for downtown Cincinnati; it's what downtown Indianapolis already has.

Ten years after its $319 million Circle Centre shopping mall opened, downtown Indianapolis has a multitude of downtown workers, shoppers, residents and out-of-town visitors who bring these places to life and keep them in business.

There's no doubt Cincinnati has some great qualities, even advantages, in its downtown and core: a great history, remarkable architecture, visual and performing arts, riverfront setting, great hills, major league baseball, and so on. Oh, and Kings Island is in Cincy's metro area.

Indianapolis, however, is much more vibrant after 5PM - and more than just an botique arts district full of young professionals. When it comes to football towns, not all the fans are hanging out in the parking lots tailgating in Indianapolis; they're shopping and dining at the restaurants at Circle Centre. Many of the hotels, stores, restaurants, and businesses are accessible via the skywalk to the Convention Center and RCA Dome - everything just seems more together. The Lucas Oil Stadium, to open in 2008, seems a little disconnected from downtown, but because of its retractable roof, can be used year-round and for events well beyond football.

However, in Cincinnati, the stadium just seems disconnected from downtown - it's surronded by a big parking lot, and whaterver is downrown seems hidden between shuttered office buildings. I know that potential is there, with the Banks, and new restaurants going in around Fountain Square, but it's going to be some time- even with residents moving into downtown. And we still have the Bengals and Hamilton County arguing over who is responsible for what at Paul Brown Stadium...

And don't forget about UniGov - Indianapolis and Marion County have worked together for about 40 years, while Cincinnati and Hamilton County are experts at the game of finger-pointing.

Viral Video: Barack Obama on MNF

Tonight on ESPN Monday Night Football, it's a big game that just about everyone I know will be watching - Colts vs. Bengals at RCA Dome.

But last week, it was the Rams vs. Bears, and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) had an important announcement prior to the broadcast. Let's say that some western Illinois constituents weren't too happy with his message...

New look for the blog, and other news tidbits.

This isn't the final version of what you may see, but I have changed the layout and colors of the AAblog, to make it look brighter, hopefully easier to read, and overall better.

Whether I'll update it consistently is another story.

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Glenn Beck is back on the air in Cincinnat after almost a year's absence - and clearer than ever before! He is now on 96.5 FM SuperTalk, which recently changed formats from country to talk. That's right, FM! Stereo!
However, 96.5 only carries the show's last two hours, from 10am to noon. If you want to hear the first hour, 9-10 am, you will either have to tune in to Columbus' 610 WTVN-AM, listen on XM satellite radio, listen to an online radio station that carries Glenn, or become an Insider at GlennBeck.com.
In January, 550 WKRC-AM, who carried Glenn Beck since late 2001, dropped Beck in favor of Fox News' political analyst Tony Snow. However, Snow, a Princeton HS graduate, like myself, accepted a position with the White House as the Press Secretary in April, and his radio slot again became vacant.
WKRC held an online poll - although the majority of the votes were for Glenn Beck, the station manager chose to ignore the poll because many of the votes came from outside the Cincinnati market, and instead chose Laura Ingraham for the time slot.

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Neil Patrick Harris had a life-changing event that made the news, and the top list of celebrities on AmIAnnoying.com - Legal troubles? Illness? Death? Break-up?

Nope. He's gay.

The actor, who rose to fame as the teenage doctor Doogie Howser, M.D. and currently starring in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, gave the following statement:

"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships. So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."

Chicago's Big Box ordinance vetoed, rejected

Chicago Sun-Times

The living wage ordinance, which targeted big-box retailers such as Wal-Mart, is dead. After a veto by Mayor Richard Daley, as well as some aldermen, who first supported the ordinance but decided to reverse, because of the adverse economic effects caused by not having such stores in the city.

A South Side alderman with an expansion promise from Wal-Mart and two of Mayor Daley's closest Hispanic supporters said Monday they will provide the crossover votes Daley needs to sustain his veto of an ordinance requiring "big-box" retailers to pay their employees at least $13 an hour in wages and benefits by 2010.

"I understand and share a desire to ensure that everyone who works in ... Chicago earns a decent wage. But, I do not believe that this ordinance, well-intentioned as it may be, would achieve that end," Daley said in his first-ever veto message.

"Rather, I believe it would drive jobs and businesses from our city, penalizing neighborhoods that need additional economic activity the most. In light of this, I believe it is my duty to veto this ordinance."

Even after Daley's veto, the aldermen had the option of overriding the mayor's decision. However, those who supported the ordinance would ultimately lose after some of the council members decided to cross-over and oppose the law. They, among others, have realized that many shoppers leave the city to shop at these discount stores - why not keep the dollars within the Chicago city limits?

While some activists and union/labor leaders won't truly claim defeat, this shows that
"progressive" policy has actually hurt the inner cities and their residents, forcing retailers to build new stores in farmland and greenfields, rather than on brownfields and urban vacant sites that deserve it more - and for residents who need job opportunities and more choices.

Beech Bend neighbor wants Raceway, Amusement Park shut down

From the "I Have Nothing Better To Do Department":

Matt Baker wants to shut down Beech Bend Raceway Park for good.

In the wake of a Kentucky Court of Appeals ruling that would likely reopen a lane past his house to heavy weekend race traffic, Baker filed suit Sept. 8 in Warren Circuit Court against Warren County, City-County Planning Commission Executive Director Andy Gillies and Beech Bend owner Dallas Jones.

Baker's suit says the planning commission hasn't enforced its own ordinance - that Beech Bend's land is zoned for agriculture - and so shouldn't be used for a racetrack or amusement park.

It demands Jones “forever cease and desist all use of this property as an amusement park, campground, racetrack, concession or other entertainment facility.”

http://bgdailynews.com/articles/2006/09/14/local_news/news/news1.txt


I'm not sure if Mr. Baker has a case, but I am sure he has some personal feud going on. Then again, they could re-zone the Beech Bend property, or simply toss the bleeping lawsuit out.