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National Alerts 
"Expelled" and Academic Free Speech, by Professor Allen Quist April 23, 2008
The full title of the movie is Expelled:
(See details.)
Dawkins Crashes Screening of
Ben Stein challenges the elitist academic establishment for attacking our freedom of speech in the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." At a private screening of the movie, an angry Professor Dawkins crashed the screening.
(See details (pdf).)
Evidence of Harm March 19, 2008
Various studies provide evidence of academic and/or emotional harm to children from Preschool and All-Day Kindergarten programs.
(See details (pdf).)
Book Review: Walking Targets: How Our Psychologized Classrooms
are Producing a Nation of Sitting Ducks, by B.K.Easkman February 18, 2008
Beverly Eakman's new book, Walking Targets, is a detailed and accurate description of the troubling and dangerous state of education in contemporary United States of America.
(See details.)
International Baccalaureate: A Major Movement to Change Students' Values February 18, 2008
If the education establishment continues its agenda of undermining the American system through programs like the International Baccalaureate (IB), our young people will have no objection to global governance.
(See details.)
Federal Education: More Suggested Caucus Resolutions February 2, 2008
Precinct caucuses are coming up Tuesday evening, February 5th, at 7:00 PM. Showing up at precinct caucuses on Tuesday is very important, both to defend education freedom planks in the platform and to suggest resolutions to strengthen educational freedom. Attend your precinct caucus and get involved.
(See details.)
Join us at the Minnesota Precinct Caucuses January 28, 2008
Where is your caucus meeting? When is it held? What happens at there? Why should I attend?
Become part of the process -- and make a difference.
(See details.)
Transformational Education and the Global Warming Fantasy January 7, 2008
Al Gore's film "An Inconvenient Truth" has been challenged in UK courts and found to contain numerous errors in "the context of alarmism and exaggeration." As a consequence, it may be shown in England only when accompanied by guidance notes to balance Gore's "one-sided" views. But in U.S. schools, the film is given no balance.
(See details.)
MN Senate: Get MN out of NCLB December 13, 2007
Last week Minnesota state GOP senators held a press conference to announce their plans to introduce legislation in the 2008 legislative session to withdraw Minnesota from the federal No Child Left Behind law.
(See details.)
Getting Past 'No Child' December 11, 2007
National columnist George Will writes in his Sunday Washington Post column that "No Child Left Behind, supposedly an antidote to the 'soft bigotry of low expectations,' has instead spawned lowered standards. Tom DeWeese of the American Policy Center writes that "American Education Fails Because It Isn't Education."
(See details.)
Fuzzy Math Faces Revolt November 29, 2007
When the Texas State Board of Education abandoned Everyday Math this month, new controversy erupted across America. Texas curriculum sets the framework for the rest of the country.
(See details.)
Impact of Darwin on Education November 21, 2007
Come to an event on December 1st with Dr. John West of the Discovery Institute, author of Darwin Day in America. The Darwininian worldview has impacted critical areas of life, including education, politics, and the study of science with its "evolving" standards of right and wrong, an "evolving constitution," and the stifling of free speech. This is a great opportunity that we hope you won't pass up.
(See details.)
Head Start Passes November 14, 2007
On Wednesday, November 14th, both the House and the Senate passed the federal Head Start reauthorization without the requirement for parental consent for mental screening of their children that was in the version the passed the House last May. The actual language is here.
(See details.)
Mental Screening & Federal Curriculum for Preschoolers November 13, 2007
Votes happening this week in Congress would re-authorization of the federal Head Start program that includes social-emotional (mental health) screening of very young children. H.R. 1429 also requires Head Start curricula and assessments that include gender issues, diversity, multiculturalism, mental health, environmentalism, and careers for preschoolers.
(See details.)
French Revolt Over "Delinquency Prevention" Tests of 3-Yr-Olds
November 7, 2007
This weekend, a well-organized coalition of French professionals and parents will come together in Paris to mobilize opposition to the French Government's recent plans to screen very young children for "conduct disorder. " The event reflects intense public outrage. Some of EdWatch's materials will be presented.
(See details.)
No Child Left Behind Now Stalled November 7, 2007
Congressional re-funding of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is stuck, sunk in political quagmire. It should be ended, but an elite coalition of interests wants to "fix" it instead. In the 2008 congressional and presidential elections, support candidates who will "End it, not mend it."
(See details.)
National Multicultural Curriculum Standards November 3, 2007
An article about new college readiness standards in Texas describes exactly what adopting national and international standards would mean to every state in the country, if the new draft of No Child Left Behind is adopted in Congress.
(See details.)
Drugging our Poor October 23, 2007
Writing for Accuracy in Media, Bethany Stotts reports on how H.R. 3762 amends NCLB. Dr. Karen Effrem worries that this bill will increase government investigation into families' private lives. She argues "this is the kind of vague, subjective, intrusive kind of activity that the federal government absolutely should not be doing." Learn about how this bill could increase the use of psychotropic drugs on children, especially minority children.
(See details.)
Teaching Religion in Public Schools October 16, 2007
In the name of teaching "about religion," many public schools will be engaging in an all-out assault on Christianity and will, at the same time, be indoctrinating our children with the New Age/Pantheism of theologian Joseph Campbell.
(See details.)
NCLB Draft Imposes 'New Civics' on All Schools September 21, 2007
The federally authorized and funded civics textbook [the "new civics"] called, We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, says: "What advantages might be offered by world citizenship? What disadvantages? Do you think that world citizenship will be possible in our lifetime?" [p. 203] In numerous ways the CCE (Center for Civic Education) promotes global citizenship and global governance as being superior to American citizenship and national sovereignty.The Discussion Draft for re-funding No Child Left Behind expands the reach of this Federal Civics ..
(See details.)
More Comments submitted on NCLB Discussion Draft September 19, 2007
EdWatch submitted further comments on the NCLB Discussion Draft.
(See details (pdf).)
NCLB Welcomes Children to 1984 and the Village September 11, 2007
Federal education began in 1965, ostensibly as an effort to help poor children improve academic achievement. It has grown and spread like a monstrous cancer that is destroying academic achievement and freedom, parental autonomy, privacy, and the ability to maintain our republic for ALL public school children.
(See details.)
Comments submitted on NCLB Discussion Draft September 10, 2007
EdWatch submitted comments to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee on the Proposed Draft of No Child Left Behind.
(See details.)
New NCLB Plan is International Education for All September 5, 2007
Leaders of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee would institute international education standards in all public schools as part of their proposed changes to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). "International education standards" translated mean requiring that schools teach the beliefs and values of the UN. It does not mean having higher standards than we now have.
(See details.)
Funding Multiculturalism Education Through NCLB August 28, 2007
Transformational education is now deeply entrenched in Americas curriculum and teaching practices. Elan Journo calls it a concerted effort to portray the most backward, impoverished and murderous cultures as advanced, prosperous and life-enhancing. Congress isn't funding a Civics that teaches the American Creed. It's funding multiculturalism and global citizenship.
(See details.)
Coming Events August 24, 2007
A few coming events are opportunities to hear EdWatch views and commentary.
(See details.)
Foot-dragging on NCLB August 1, 2007
NCLB legislation hasn't been introduced in Congress in either the House or the Senate. After this week, Congress will be in recess until after Labor Day. NCLB expires September 30th. Why the foot-dragging on NCLB? The Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee told the National Press Club on July 30th, "I can tell you that there are no votes in the U.S. House of Representatives for continuing the No Child Left Behind Act without making serious changes to it."
(See details.)
Hate Crimes: What Happened? July 23, 2007
Senator Ted Kennedy announced he would attempt to add to the Defense spending bill. Kennedy and co-sponsor Sen. Gordon Smith call it a "hate crimes" amendment. Since all crimes are inspired by hate, the amendment is actually a speech crimes bill. It mandates federal involvement and extra criminal penalties for speech and thought against specially protected groups, such as homosexuals. What happened to the amendment?
(See details.)
Speech & Thought Crimes Plan July 17, 2007
Using the terms "sexual orientationî and ìgender identity," a whole range of sexual activities will being given special federal civil rights "protected" status just as race and gender are today. And they're tacking it onto a defense bill. What are they thinking? THE VOTE MAY BE AS EARLY AS TOMORROW OR THURSDAY!
(See details.)
S.761, America COMPETES (poorly) Act July 9, 2007
Last April, the U.S. Senate passed S.761, a bill with the bizarre title of "America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act," or the "America COMPETES Act." The supporters claim S.761 will make America more competitive in math and science. The fact is, it will do just the opposite.
(See details.)
Washington Immigration Politics & NCLB June 25, 2007
Political revolt against inside-Washington immigration politics may be an opportunity for real reform, but No Child Left Behind of 2001, the President Bush/Ted Kennedy/Hillary Clinton agreement, is cut out of the same cloth. The long term fallout from a rebellion of the voters may be the one thing that matters. Political revolt against inside-Washington politics may be an opportunity for real reform.
(See details.)
MN Session Report, Part III: IB & Others June 18, 2007
International Baccalaureate, Comprehensive Sex Education, STD vaccine for girls, and Minnesota's withdrawal from No Child Left Behind are addressed in this Part III of the three-part 2007 Minnesota Legislative Report.
(See details.)
MN Session Report, Part II: Psychological Screening June 6, 2007
The issues of informing parents of their rights to opt out of preschool screening, infant mental health, TeenScreen, discriminatory mental screening of poor children, and including mental screening in school interventions are all covered in Part II of the three-part 2007 Minnesota Legislative Report.
(See details.)
MN Session Report, Part I: The Good & The Bad June 4, 2007
EdWatch began the 2007 session bracing for a disaster. We avoided a disaster, thanks to the involvement of so many people. Yet we also lost important ground. The 2007 Minnesota legislature set some destructive policies in motion.
(See details.)
Capitol Report: The Day After May 22, 2007
Concern was widespread over the closing of the 2007 legislative session. New omnibus spending bills were hastily cobbled together in the Senate in the middle of the night, appearing suddenly for votes on the House and Senate floors. New provisions suddenly appeared in hundreds of page bills with staff and members scrambling to uncover what they were voting on.
(See details.)
Follow the Money on TeenScreen May 8, 2007
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) "black box" warning states: "Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents." With this clear and present danger, why has the use of antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs for children in general, for poor children on Medicaid, and for foster children skyrocketed in recent years? Follow the money and follow the state take-over of parenting.
(See details.)
House Roll Call Votes May 3, 2007
The Minnesota House of Representatives adopted the House Education omnibus bill (HF 6) on April 18th - 19th. On April 20th they adopted the House Health & Human Services omnibus bill (SF 2171). A number roll call votes were taken on a series of amendments. These are the results of some of those amendments...
(See details.)
A Federal Curriculum for Preschoolers May 1, 2007
Within hours of each other, Congress votes on both a federal curriculum for preschoolers requiring gender/diversity/ training, and they will vote on the dangerous Hate Crimes Bill to add special federal civil rights protections for homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgenders. It's a stark picture of where the new majority's priorities are.
(See details.)
Congress denying equal protection April 27, 2007
This week Congress moved forward with legislation that would drastically undermine the equal protection of heterosexual and traditional marriage advocates, whether students, teachers, or administrators by creating federally-protected minority group status for practitioners of all forms of deviant sexual behavior.
(See details.)
Freedom & Family Coalition Lobby Day April 27, 2007
The Freedom & Family Coalition Lobby Day drew an energetic, sign-waving crowd to the Capitol Rotunda to briefly rally and then spread out across the Capitol, each choosing which issues to discuss with their legislators.
(See details.)
Groups Urge Legislators to Oppose Education Bill April 18, 2007
EdWatch and the Minnesota Family Council realased the top reasons for legislators to vote against the unhealthy, anti-family, anti-parent provisions in the House K-12 education spending bill.
(See details.)
Minnesota Battles Mental Screening April 18, 2007
Anti-depressants are implicated in the massacre at Virginia Tech. Minnesota is one state battling legislative efforts to impose universal psychiatric screening on children and young people that will result in increased, dangerous drugging.
(See details.)
HIDING TEENSCREEN: Where's Waldo April 16, 2007
A Minnesota House Education bill disguises TeenScreen in a school levy.
(See details.)
Roll Call Votes on TeenScreen April 16, 2007
Find out how legislators voted on TeenScreen psychiatric screening of our children and amendments.
(See details.)
EdWatch Featured at Tax Cut Rally April 14, 2007
EdWatch President Renee Doyle told the 5,000 people at the Tax Cut Rally that the pending massive tax increases will be funding an assault on our families in the form of a new early childhood entitlement that is a backdoor takeover all of Minnesota's early childhood providers.
(See details.)
Comprehensive Sex Ed Violates Our Children April 5, 2007
What exactly Comprehensive Sex Ed? "Promiscuity is presented as commonplace and normal, while abstinence-until-marriage is actually scoffed at in the classroom," according to legislative testimony.
(See details.)
EdWatch President Speaks Out! April 2, 2007
If you thought that the Profile of Learning was a radical take-over of our schools, our children and our lives, then allow me to introduce you to the mother of all radical agendas, this years education agenda at our state capitol. It makes the Profile of Learning look like childs play.
(See details.)
Planned Chaos at the St. Paul Capitol March 30, 2007
Omnibus bills are flying through the Minnesota House and Senate at break-neck speed. The intentional chaos shuts out any meaningful public participation. With a single party controlling both the House and Senate, DFL leaders can insert just about any measure they choose at any time. See what you can do.
(See details.)
Boycott 'Day of Silence' March 30, 2007
Groups are calling on parents to keep their children home from school on April 18 to avoid the annual "Day of Silence," when some students and faculty members remain mute to "protest the oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth." NotOurKids.com Coalition "seeks to protect America's youth from being pressured to approve of homosexual, bisexual or transgender behavior."
(See details.)
MN House Democrats Spurn Parental Rights March 28, 2007
Sen. Betsy Wergin and Rep. Steve Gottwalt offered identical amendments in the Senate and House to require school districts to inform parents of what is already in law -- straightforward support of parental rights. It passed in the Education Finance Committee on a unanimous voice vote, but the House Democrats defeated the same amendment on a party-line vote.
(See details.)
Returning NCLB Accountability to Voters March 19, 2007
The A-PLUS Act would return educational accountability back to parents, taxpayers, and the state, where it belongs. "We expect an outpouring of public support for this bill," said Dr. Effrem, "and it will take that kind of effort."
(See details.)
The International Baccalaureate Curriculum March 17, 2007
IB critics say tha IB is "un-American", while supporters say schools write their own curriculum, so the content is really up to the school. Who is right?
(See details.)
TeenScreen Distortions Perpetuated in House Hearing March 6, 2007
An amendment to delete the TeenScreen grants was defeated after Rep. Greiling countered Dr. Effrem’s testimony with many statements that do not line up with the documented facts and there was no opportunity for Dr. Effrem to rebut. EdWatch counters Rep. Greilings misstatements here.
(See details (pdf).)
Terrorism as taught by International Baccalaureate February 19, 2007
Is terrorism real? Not according to the globalist education program known as International Baccalaureate (IB). According to IBO, terrorists only exist in the mind of the beholder.
(See details.)
Infant Mental Screening in Minnesota February 13, 2007
HF 169 would establish an appointed board to design and recommend the components of a statewide comprehensive early childhood program that includes a federally funded program involving the mental screening of all children, birth through age 5.
(See details.)
Minnesota Introduces Legislation to fund TeenScreen February 9, 2007
TeenScreen is a subjective and unscientific suicide screening instrument, with vague and leading questions. It continues to be promoted across the country at both state and federal levels. Drugs are all too frequently used in children and adolescents for treatment. These medications have shown little evidence of effectiveness and are associated with suicide and other dangerous side effects.
(See details.)
All Day Kindergarten Failing as Education Reform February 9, 2007
Are legislators looking at what improves education, or are they pursuing another agenda? A report published today by the Goldwater Institute examines Stanford 9 test scores and finds Arizona kindergarten programs initially improve learning but have no measurable impact on reading, math, or language arts test scores by fifth grade.
(See details.)
Bad Data Justifies Nanny State Expansion February 7, 2007
Legislators rarely, if ever, hear the "rest of the story" regarding the negative side of the early childhood data. They are being asked by groups that have large vested interests to spend millions, if not billions, of dollars for programs based on studies and assessments of dubious validity and effectiveness. For that reason, the state testimony by Dr. Karen Effrm may be useful for every state and other groups.
(See details.)
Writing the Tucker Plan Into Law February 6, 2007
Bills are being introduced in Congress that, if passed, will write much of the Marc Tucker education plan into law. The most significant of these bills so far is the SPEAK Act (S 224, HR 325), also referred to as the Dodd-Ehlers bill. Future bills will likely be forthcoming to implement other features of the Tucker plan.
(See details.)
Texas Governor orders STD vaccine for All girls February 3, 2007
Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, has issued an order to vaccinate ALL Texas girls with Merck's STD vaccine without a thought about the possible adverse side effects that may pose serious risks to these girls--especially their reproductive function.
(See details.)
Tucker Plan Includes Cradle Control January 23, 2007
Marc Tucher's new and improved School to Work opus, Tough Choices or Tough Times seeks to begin wresting control from parents about what our children think and believe as early as possible, even before kindergarten.
(See details.)
MN Senate Passes NCLB Resolution January 18, 2007
The MN Senate Education Committee passed a resolution critical of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. While the resolution is a good first step toward opposing NCLB, Minnesota needs much stronger legislation.
(See details.)
Marc Tucker's New Education Initiative January 13, 2007
Marc Tuck's new education proposal, Tough Choices or Tough Times, wants the nation to adopt internationally benchmarked standards for educating its students and workers. This means the UN will determine what our children will be taught, including specifying the attitudes, values and worldview.
(See details.)
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