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No Child Left Behind
The No Child Left Behind Act is demanding that by the 2013-2014 school year 100% of all children in the USA be proficient. Sounds like a great goal, but it doesn't sound realistic. At least not the way this federal legislation approaches the job, with pages and pages of standards but with no budget to support achieving them.
This act grades schools and students based on one reading test and one math test. And, it assumes each child has the same abilities and learns the same way. Children aren't made from a cookie cutter are they? Some learn visually, some are better readers than others, some develop early than others. Some children don't do well at standardized test no matter how much they have learned. Joel Packer from the National Education Association says we need a plan which puts some common sense and flexibility into the law to recognize diversity in students and schools. Sounds good to us!
He also says if 90% of schools are failing to make "Adequate Yearly Progress" as defined by the act, then there's nothing wrong with 90% of the schools, but instead there is something wrong with the standard.
Are you worried your child will not be educated enough to enter college or learn a technical skill or trade? Listen to this show on our Criminal Justice Radio Archive page to find suggestions on how we can make this plan work. And hear Mark Pudlow, spokesperson for Florida Education Association explain how 84% of Florida schools failed to meet the standard while at the same time Jeb Bush brags that more schools than ever (48%) got an "A" grade under his plan.
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Covering the Uninsured
Forty-four million Americans are without health insurance. Are you one of them? Sherry Crader and Barbara Chaparro, Resource Coordinators from HealthNet Pinellas, 211 TampaBay Cares, Inc., joined Criminal Justice Forum to talk about Cover the Uninsured Week, nationally recognized in May, and specific resources in Pinellas County.
They say that people are finding it tougher to get affordable health care. Even for people are who healthy, the rates for private insurance are either unaffordable or plans don't cover "pre-existing" conditions like asthma or even allergies.
While there just aren't resources for everyone, Pinellas County is fortunately helping children, seniors, and low-income people find affordable health care and reduced cost prescriptions. But if you make more than $749 per month after taxes, there is no plan for you. You'll have to find and fund your own private insurance if you don't receive it through your employer.
We know we need to be selective in choosing our battles. And let's face it, many people just don't concern themselves with issues until they or their loved ones are personally affected. Who has the time or energy to do it all? Among the uninsured are professionals, working people from the middle class with families and responsibilities in their communities. This issue may just reach out to you soon, so speaking up!
Is nationalized health care a good solution? Listen to more on our Criminal Justice Radio Archive page to find how you can get help and get involved.
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Seeds of Deception
Can you spot a genetically modified organism, or GMO, in your food? Can you even define the term? Jeffrey Smith, author of Seeds of Deception, says our nation's corn, soy and cotton is growing from genetically engineered seeds and the FDA is not doing its job of monitoring the safety of products made from them.
Mr. Smith also warns that we should be concerned about altering the DNA of our foods. He says genetic modification is so new we don't even understand it completely yet. And the consequences of it are making Americans extremely sick.
When these products were fed to pigs in a study, the pigs wouldn't eat them. And products made from GMOs cover the shelves of our local grocery stores. But you probably don't know which ones, because there are not mandates to label genetically engineered foods.
Seems like proper food labeling will please everyone. Farmers can continue to grow genetically engineered foods, food producers can continue to use them, and consumers can CHOOSE if they want to eat them and feed them to their families.
You can find this show in the Criminal Justice Radio Archive page where you can hear more about Mr. Smith's research, learn where to find good information, and hear details of one whistle blower's participation in exposing the cover-up. Of course there was a cover-up!
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Prison Ministry
There are 2.1 million people incarcerated in the USA. And 650,000 are being released each year. One in five has a mental illness, many have drug and alcohol addictions and they are not receiving care nor have any arrangements been made for care after their release. Most inmates are middle class or poor with little education and no job skills. Most are parents - 2.3 million children are affected by their parents' incarceration - and 85 percent are incarcerated for non-violent crimes.
According to L. Elaine S. Mbionwu, a Certified Correctional Health Professional and owner of Covenant Collaborative Consulting & Training, LLC, prison ministry is about serving the whole person. Departments of correction are not designed to accommodate an individuals plan for after their release and churches need to get involved, whether they do so for religious, moral, or economical obligations.
Churches can help meet some of a discharged inmate's needs including employment, housing, counseling, family reunification, medication, and depression and suicide prevention counseling. And doing so will reduce recidivism which will keep us all more safe.
Don't think your church should try to meet all of these needs. Minister Daniel E. Davison of The Body of Christ Ministries, shares stories of his congregation's involvement and offers suggestions of how to get yours involved. Listen to this show on our Criminal Justice Radio Archive page.
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Forensic FACT
The Forensic Florida Assertive Community Treatment Team, or Forensic FACT Team, has a goal of helping everyone with a mental illness to live independently and work in some way in their communities.
And their program is successful! They serve Pinellas and Hillsborough county residents with severe and persistent mental illnesses who have had a conflict with the criminal justice system and who have been found either "incompetent to proceed to trial" or "not guilty by reason of insanity."
Renee' Kilroy, the Director of Case Management Services with the Suncoast Center for Community Mental Health, Inc. says that clients find difficulty functioning in the community. They aren't able to live on their own or to find and keep employment.
And according to Lynda Wagner, Forensic FACT Program Manager, many families have trouble offering help for extended periods of time. Clients sometimes don't take their medications as instructed and families can get worn out. The team can help clients manage their illness and learn to live independent lives, offering support for as long as they need it.
One client, Joe F., has benefited significantly from the FACT team's services. He shares his personal story of finding the Forensic FACT Team and independence and encourages others in his situation to accept their help. Hear more in the Criminal Justice Radio Archive.
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What the Future Brings...
"Fraud: the Strategy behind the Bush Lies and Why the Media Didn't Tell You"
airing June 5th
Author, Paul Waldman, named his book 'Fraud' for a reason. He says Bush's deception is unique because he doesn't lie when he's in trouble, instead, he starts off with a lie to gain public support of his agenda. Listen to hear more about Mr. Bush's skills of deception.
HIV/AIDS disclosure, preventions, and education, airing June 12th
Knowingly exposing another person to HIV/AIDS can land you in prison! Non-disclosure of HIV status is leading to infecting 40,000 Americans each year. Sixty percent are girls under 19 and 11% are heterosexuals over 50! Education can prevent these numbers from increasing and a little bit of honesty can make this epidemic go away.
Mentoring, airing June 19th
Lorrie Briggs from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay says you don't have to be a saint in training to be a good volunteer mentor and positively impact a child's life. With so many single parent homes, due to failed relationships, death or incarceration, mentoring is helping to keep kids out of trouble.
Close the School of the Americas, airing June 26th
The recent torture in Iraqi prisons was not an isolated incident executed by a few "bad eggs". The USA Army has been training these torture tactics for more than 50 years! Hear more about the training school and one woman's brave attempt to close it.
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