LWV Teaneck

Join The League of Women Voters of Teaneck

2010-11-14T07:28:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Members, LWV-Teaneck, Sen.Loretta Weinberg (at podium) and Mayor Hameedudin. Proclamation of 90th Anniversary Women's Equality Day and LWV-Teaneck's contributions to the town, Town Council meeting, Sept. 28th, 2010.

The League of Women Voters Teaneck (LWV Teaneck)...is a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding all major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

LWV Teaneck’s members organize and run

---an Observer Corps,

---Candidate Forums for the Board of Education and Town Council elections and

---Voter Registration Drives.

The LWV are the proud descendents of the suffragists.
The League formed when the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing suffrage to women, was passed.

The LWV has been in Teaneck since April,1952.

LWV members look at current issues with resources to formulate balanced positions with facts. Click here for recent studies and LWV positions

2011: 91th Anniversary of the Passage of the Nineteenth Amendment
2012: 92nd Anniversary of the LWV of the United States
2012: The year you join the League?

Click here for more LWV Information

LWV Teaneck Contact Information

2010-09-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

League Information:
The LWV -US: http://www.lwv.org/ Policies, positions, all 50 state's contacts and resources.

New Jersey: http://www.lwvnj.org/ Blog, contacts for NJ, history and positions.

Bergen County ILO: http://lwvbergen.org/ Local contacts, photo gallery, county government

Save the Dates: LWV Teaneck Upcoming Events

2010-08-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

LWV Teaneck Current Event Calendar

March 5th: Women's History Discussion 8 PM Janet Austin's House
Memories of Our Awareness of Women's Place in the US

We will use decades-old Ms.
magazines and think about what progress has been made on women's issues
seen in the 80s. the issues are solved---or not. All are urged to bring
souvenirs of the days.

Anyone wanting to review Gail Collin's book:
When Everything Changed" is welcome to do so and share what was read.

April 23: Candidates Forum: Primaries, Town Council

May 1: Citizen Swearing In Ceremony, New Bridge Landing

June 8-12 LWV US Convention, Washington DC, Hilton Hotel Theme “Power the Vote.”

LWV Study Topics and Policy Positions

2010-07-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

LWV members look at current issues with resources to formulate balanced positions with facts. Topics are studied to provide policy positions for local, state and national levels The LWV US public policy positions guides future work in advocacy, investigation and education.

At the state level, these topics have been studied recently:
"In-State Tuition for Unauthorized Immigrants", NJ,(2010) and
"Health Care Reform" (2009) and "National Popular Vote Compact" (2009).
Look at the positions that LWVNJ Study and Action paper to see all the topics studied and positions adopted.

Two current studies done at the national level will be forming
positions at the 2012 convention.are linked below. The papers and resource materials are at these links.

"The Federal Government's Role in Public Education' (2010-2011)

Most current is the "Privatization" (US)
Privatization study.

Additional reading on the privatization of education
can be found here.

Privatization Study Resources (Education)

2010-02-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Links to articles discussed in the lwv-privation list

This assemblage of links to privatization resources is an example of the many kinds of information available on this topic--- evaluate carefully the sources of the articles linked.

Privatizing Education : Monthly Review "Education is an essential part of modern economic progress, yet in recent decades, the right wing has consistently been unfriendly to public education".

Public Schools: Make Them Private by M. Friedman - Jun 23, 1995 – "Such a reconstruction can be achieved only by privatizing a major segment of the educational system--i.e., by enabling a private, for-profit ..."

Research Center: Privatization of Public Education Oct 5, 2004 – "Privatization of Public Education. Turning the operation of public schools over to private companies is a controversial idea based on the ..."

ECS Education Policy Issue Site: Privatization "The privatization of K-12 public education is a multi-faceted issue. In one of its forms, school districts sell advertising space on school district property, such as ..."

Confronting the Challenge of Privatization in Public Education" by ...Jun 13, 1998 – "Proposals for privatization of public education in the United States are not new. The proposal to use government funded school vouchers to pay ..."

The One Minute Case For Privatizing Education - One Minute Cases
Jun 7, 2007 – "Public schools are immoral The title “public schools” is misleading. In almost all cases, these schools are run by the government, taught with ..."

From the lwv privatization discussion list:
"Following is an op-ed written by one of our delegates to the state house
and the head of the Baltimore Community Foundation - when schools get this
bad, is the proposed the way to go?"http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-school-construction-20111025,0,916522.story

The Path Not Taken, Krugman: www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/opinion/krugman-the-path-not-taken.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212

Gail Collins:Reading on the Privatization of Education
"Today, let’s take a look at the privatization craze and the conviction
that there is nothing about molding young minds that can’t be improved
by the profit motive."Follow the link for a witty overview of the latest moves in Educationhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/opinion/12collins.html?ref=privatization

"The goal of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education is to provide an independent, non-partisan source of analysis and information on privatization of education."

Research papers featured on the Center's website include
a href="http://www.ncspe.org/publications_files/OP196.pdf">What Makes KIPP Work? A Study of Student Characteristics, Attrition, and School Finance Gary Miron, Jessica L. Urschel, and Nicholas SaxtonCollege of Education and Human Development Western Michigan University."While several studies have considered the outcomes related to KIPP schools, this study examines two key inputs: students and funding. The study finds that while KIPP serves more students that qualify for free and reduced lunch than local schools districts, it serves fewer students with disabilities and students classified as English language learners.

The study finds high levels of student attrition in KIPP schools; a finding that is common for high poverty schools and in line with earlier research on KIPP. In its closer examination of attrition data, this study found that African American males were substantially more likely to leave KIPP schools. Alternative explanations for student attrition in grade cohorts over time—such as higher retention rates—could not explain the drop in enrollment since the size and demographic composition of students in entry grades did not change from year to year. The study found that while charter schools typically receive less in public revenues—largely due to spending on special education, student support services, and transportation—the KIPP schools were actually receiving $800 more per pupil in public sources of revenue than local school districts.

While KIPP schools reported no private revenues in the federal district finance data set, a review of IRS 990 tax forms revealed that KIPP schools were receiving an average of $5,700 per pupil in private sources of revenue in 2008. Combined, the evidence suggest that during the 2007-08 academic year KIPP schools receive—on average—$6,500 more per pupil than local districts. The per pupil estimates of private revenues exclude revenues received by the KIPP Foundation, and instead considers only private dollars given to the KIPP regional groups or independent schools. The study argues that KIPP is a model that serves public education by pushing the discussion of increased instruction for children in poverty and for its unique approach to training, mentoring, and supporting urban school administrators. The study finds, however, that because of selective entry and exit of students and the higher levels of funding received by KIPP this model may not be easily replicated in traditional public schools."October 11, 2011

Private and Public Education: A Cross-National Exploration with TIMSS 2003. 2010. Author: Leslie Rutkowski & David Rutkowski."This article investigates cross-national mathematics and science achievement differences between public and private schools. Using the TIMSS 2003 data, we empirically examine differences through a set of multilevel models that attempt to control for select student background factors. We also attempt to correct for selection bias using propensity score matching methods. A number of methodological issues including the treatment of missing data and the construction of a quality student background measure are also addressed. While our analysis generally supports previous findings of higher private school achievement, we have found that higher private school achievement is not uniform across educational systems or the content domains analyzed. This variation is significant in light of the blanket privatization policy currently promoted by large international organizations."

Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Her Birthday, Her Quotes

2010-02-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.

• Truth is the only safe ground to stand upon.

• The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.

• Self-development is a higher duty than self-sacrifice.

• The happiest people I have known have been those who gave themselves no concern about their own souls, but did their uttermost to mitigate the miseries of others.

• I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.

• Whatever the theories may be of woman's dependence on man, in the supreme moments of her life he can not bear her burdens. (from "Solitude of Self")

• Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another. (from "Solitude of Self")

• Because man and woman are the complement of one another, we need woman's thought in national affairs to make a safe and stable government.

• Woman will always be dependent until she holds a purse of her own.

• A mind always in contact with children and servants, whose aspirations and ambitions rise no higher than the roof that shelters it, is necessarily dwarfed in its proportions.

• It requires philosophy and heroism to rise above the opinion of the wise men of all nations and races.

• Womanhood is the great fact in her life; wifehood and motherhood are but incidental relations.

• Women have crucified the Mary Wollstonecrafts, the Fanny Wrights, and the George Sands of all ages. Men mock us with the fact and say we are ever cruel to each other.

• Men say we are ever cruel to each other. Let us end this ignoble record and henceforth stand by womanhood. If Victoria Woodhull must be crucified, let men drive the spikes and plait the crown of thorns.

• So long as women are slaves, men will be knaves.

• It would be ridiculous to talk of male and female atmospheres, male and female springs or rains, male and female sunshine . . . . how much more ridiculous is it in relation to mind, to soul, to thought, where there is as undeniably no such thing as sex, to talk of male and female education and of male and female schools. [written with Susan B. Anthony]

• To throw obstacles in the way of a complete education is like putting out the eyes.

• The prejudice against color, of which we hear so much, is no stronger than that against sex. It is produced by the same cause, and manifested very much in the same way. The negro's skin and the woman's sex are both prima facie evidence that they were intended to be in subjection to the white Saxon man.

• The heyday of woman's life is the shady side of fifty.

• I think if women would indulge more freely in vituperation, they would enjoy ten times the health they do. It seems to me they are suffering from repression.

At the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions] The new religion will teach the dignity of human nature and its infinite possibilities for development. It will teach the solidarity of the race -- that all must rise and fall as one. Its creed will be justice, liberty, equality for all the children of earth.

• The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women's emancipation.

• The memory of my own suffering has prevented me from ever shadowing one young soul with the superstitions of the Christian religion.

• Among the clergy we find our most violent enemies, those most opposed to any change in woman's position.

• I asked them why one read in the synagogue service every week the "I thank thee, O Lord, that I was not born a woman." "It is not meant in an unfriendly spirit, and it is not intended to degrade or humiliate women." "But it does, nevertheless. Suppose the service read, 'I think thee, O Lord, that I was not born a jackass.' Could that be twisted in any way into a compliment to the jackass?"

“The best protection any woman can have . . . is courage.”

Websites, Women and Politics

2010-02-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

1912 Suffragist Parade

Basic Information

League of Women Voters
Frequently Asked Questions about Registration and Voting, Know your State’s Deadlines, and sections on major issues (Campaign Finance Reform,
Civil Liberties, Election Administration, Ethics and Lobbying Reform, Global Climate Change, Health Care Reform, Tax Policy, etc.) make the League site an essential one for voters. Voter information is provided in English and Spanish.

New Jersey Board of Elections

To register to vote, turn to this central site. All the information you need, including downloadable registration forms (in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Gujarati.)

Research on Issues

League of Women Voters, above

American Association of University Women
Examine AAUW’s position statements on issues. Relevant to a voter examining issues is the AAUW report Where the Girls Are (2008). which examines gender parity in education. Pay equity, an issue since women’s suffrage began, is updated in the AAUW report Behind the Gap (2007, downloadable).

Center for American Women and Politics
Features to explore and use later in the election season include CAWP Election Watch. Those interested in fact-gathering about the voting populations by gender and race will find tables on this site.

International Women's Suffrage
Gain a wider perspective on woman’s suffrage. This site charts the dates women in each country in the world gained suffrage.

Living Room Candidate Look at the television-and Web- ads for presidential candidates, back to 1953.

Project Vote Smart
Look up a candidate’s position on issues (termed a Political Courage measure on this site.)

Women’s Vote

Emily's List: Women Vote .
This blog expertly summarizes political activity by women in support of women candidates.

The White House Project
“Add women, change everything.”
Use the “Research and Resources” section to focus on women political leaders, the skills needed and their representation in media.

Women's Voices, Women's Vote
This site provides materials and connections for single women to promote the vote to others.

Young Voters

Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a site on voting aimed at young people. The site uses music and high technology to engage the young voter.

Declare Yourself

Norman Lear designed and funded this site for young voters. The section on Issues contrasts candidates’ positions on each issue.

LWV NJ & Local Resources: Education Studies

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Local GovernmentTeaneck NJ website

Minutes Videos of meetings are available within one month of the meeting. You can borrow a CD from the Public Library. Minutes are archived on the Teaneck school site, BOE.
Teaneck, NJ school site
Board of Education Videos and Minutes

NJ Government; EducationBergen County School Directory
New Jersey Dept. of Education
NJ Education Data including School Reports 2010 NJ Legislature:
Assembly &Senate Education CommitteesCharter Schools Directory, Annual Reports, Legislation news

NJ Administrative Code Education

Advocacy Groups
Education Law Center

News SourcesLocal Education coverage:
Both The Bergen Record & The (Teaneck) Suburbanite use the northjersey.com electronic service.

Other NJ Education coverage: Education sections:nj.com Education
mycentralnj.com: Education
njspotlight.com Education
New York Times Education section