Saturday, March 30, 2013

Some Parents Will Let Students Skip State Tests | wgrz.com

Some Parents Will Let Students Skip State Tests | wgrz.com

BUFFALO, NY - School districts are trying to protect the much-needed state and federal dollars they rely on. They're challenged by families who think there's too much testing in schools and refuse to allow their kids to take mandatory tests.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Bullying kept off the books - Times Union

Bullying kept off the books - Times Union

Students use Facebook to tease a classmate. A boy shoves a kid in the hallway outside the cafeteria. A girl is bullied in gym class.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Officials join anti-data push, but Sheldon Silver sides with state | GothamSchools

Officials join anti-data push, but Sheldon Silver sides with state | GothamSchools

Parents concerned that a new student database could break privacy laws are getting the support from a new high-profile set of allies: elected officials.

Note: I agree with Michelle Malkin who "... has said the data project represents “yet another encroachment of centralized education bureaucrats on local control and parental rights.”"

Friday, March 8, 2013

4 Judges, 3 Private-Practice Lawyers in Line for Jones' Seat

4 Judges, 3 Private-Practice Lawyers in Line for Jones' Seat

ALBANY - Governor Andrew Cuomo will select the next associate judge of the state Court of Appeals from among seven candidates, including four appellate judges and three attorneys in private practice.

Note: Particular attention should be given to The New York State Commission on Judicial Nomination of, at the very least, 61 year old Eugene M. Fahey. In 2010, Justice Fahey was redesignated as an associate justice of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. In addition, both Justice Fahey and then New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, among others, were party to another shameful chapter in New York State Supreme Court history ~ a NYS Supreme Court Decision that speaks loudly on the 'system of justice' in New York State.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Penalties for Falsely Reporting Child Abuse - ChildLaw Blog

Penalties for Falsely Reporting Child Abuse - ChildLaw Blog

The Jerry Sandusky criminal trial is over; the civil lawsuits are in active settlement mode. Undoubtedly, the entire country is more tuned into child abuse than it ever was. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that about 105 bills on the reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect have been introduced in 2012 legislative sessions in 30 states and the District of Columbia. 1 All of them include a penalty for failing to report suspected child abuse.

Note: It is not always the case that those who file false reports of child abuse and/or neglect will be held accountable; particularly for false reports made by those in education. One classic example in New York State, where numerous agencies/individuals made every effort to cover-up the filing of false allegations and misuse of state agencies, among other things: City of North Tonawanda School District Files Second Charge of Educational Neglect to NYS Office of Children & Family Service.