Welcome to the Statehouse
150 Years as Serving as the Heart of Ohio Democracy! 1861 - 2011
The people of Ohio will celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Ohio Statehouse throughout 2011. The Ohio Statehouse has served as the heart of Ohio democracy for the last 150 years. Throughout the state, the Ohio Statehouse stands as a symbol of the legislative and executive branches of state government, and the people of Ohio.
After 22 years of construction, the Ohio Statehouse was completed in 1861 at the beginning of the American Civil War. One hundred and fifty years later, the Ohio Statehouse continues to serve as heart of Ohio democracy. The Ohio Statehouse is more than a monument to our past; it's where history happens. The building serves as both a place of learning and the state's working seat of government. Visitors to the Statehouse can experience Ohio's rich history and witness the making of history through the modern lawmaking process. We hope to see you at the People's House very soon!
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Click here for The Buckeye Institutes' lists of public employee wage and benefit information in Ohio
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Redistricting 2011
Click here for interactive maps and redistricting information.
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State of the States 2011
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Ohio Teachers Union Urging Members to Integrate Unionism and Progressive Politics Into Math Class
May 5, 2011
The Buckeye Institute has put up a copy of the Ohio Education Association's monthly newsletter, and it has to be seen to be believed. (The link also points to their most recent analysis of Senate Bill 5, which is also a must-read.)
They come right out and say, "it's essential that they not only become teacher unionists, but teachers of unionism. We need to create a generation of students who support teachers and the movements of teachers for their rights."
Really, OEA? What about creating a generation of students that isn't failing math, reading and science?
Speaking of math, the OEA believes that even mathematics should have their progressive views included in the lesson. Math! They encourage Ohio teachers to teach "Radical Math". I wish I was making this up, but I'm not.
They actually lament that the math textbooks out there...I can't even believe I'm typing this...aren't political enough!!
Good math isn't the same as good politics!
There are several good math textbooks (although there is much debate over which these are) that have great ideas about group work and skill development, and are set inside larger contextual problems, but have nothing political in their material.
Good politics isn't the same as good math!
It's easy to think that a unit or lesson is a great one just because it covers important issues.
The article actually continues with a new section, "How to integrate social justice into a math class." How best to accomplish this? Take a look at some of their suggestions.
One good way to design a project or unit is by partnering with a community-based organization and do a project on their behalf. For example, find a group that wants to learn about how the community feels about an important community issue (ie. pollution, police presence, affordable housing). Your class could survey the community and present the results to the organization.
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Identify the math concept/skill you want to teach, and download this chart to think about social issues that could help students understand this skill.
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A larger question students should be asking is: "What are the problems my community is facing, and how can I use math to understand and address them?" But more specifically, pick a question that will guide the math and give focus to the unit. For example: "Which neighborhoods in our city have the highest rates of incarcerated youth, and what can we determine about the economic and demographic make-up of these communities?" or "Does race play a factor in who is getting mortgage loans in our city?". The question should have both a mathematically and social component to it.
Unbelievable. Read More...
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| Local state representative to seek
soon-to-be vacant senate seat
May 7, 2011
State Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., announced Saturday that he will seek the Butler County GOP recommendation to fill the pending vacancy of Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp.
“Just like my local work prepared me for work I do in the House of Representatives, I wholeheartedly believe the invaluable experience I have as an effective representative has prepared me for work in the Ohio Senate,” Derickson said in a statement.
Derickson is serving his second term as State Representative for the 53rd House District, which includes Oxford, Trenton, parts of Middletown, and nine surrounding townships.
Prior to serving as state representative, Derickson served nine years as Hanover Twp. Trustee.
Cates has been appointed as Senior Vice Chancellor for the division of Innovation and Enterprise Development at the Ohio Board of Regents. His new post starts on May 23.
Cates’ replacement will be appointed by the Ohio Senate, but the Butler County Republican Party is expected to vote to recommend a replacement on May 18.
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Dennis Kucinich, Ohio's maverick congressman, considers switching states
May 4th, 2011
When the recently completed Census showed Ohio lost enough population to warrant downsizing its House delegation by two, from 18 to 16, speculation started about which Democratic congressmen would have their districts reconfigured or lost entirely, now that Republicans control the decennial task of redrawing legislative districts. Read More...
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MYTH
Teacher Layoffs
Senate Bill 5 will hurt our local schools and kids by making it easier for politicians to lay off teachers and cut funding for schools across Ohio.
Teacher Salaries
Teacher salaries will be cut in half.
Teacher Contracts
Senate Bill 5 would immediately end current teacher contracts.
Sick Leave for Teachers
Senate Bill 5 would eliminate sick leave for teachers.
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REALITY
By basing teacher performance evaluations on quality measures vs. longevity measures exclusively, SB 5 ensures that our children are receiving the highest quality education possible.
The bill does not establish a new minimum or maximum salary that teachers will be paid. SB 5 does not mandate any salary reductions.
Senate Bill 5 allows current contracts to continue.
Teachers will get up to 10 days of sick leave per year as determined by the local board of education.
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Click here for The Buckeye Institutes' lists of public employee wage and benefit information in Ohio
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Redistricting 2011
Click here for interactive maps and redistricting information.
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State of the States 2011
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Ohio Education Association Officials 'We Will Not Be Silenced'
May 6, 2011
On May 6, 2011, the Ohio Education Association (OEA), representing 128,000 teachers, education support professionals and higher education faculty, kicked-off its two day Spring Representative Assembly at Veterans Memorial in Columbus.
OEA members voiced their strong opposition to the proposed state budget, passed in an amended version Thursday through the Ohio House. "Legislators are still attempting to insert provisions of SB 5 into the state budget and silence the voices of the voters," said OEA President Patricia Frost-Brooks. The OEA president called the budget more of the same - billions in funding reductions for Ohio public schools, colleges and universities, with only slight modifications from the Kasich administration's original budget proposal, which left Ohio public schools with $3.1 billion less in state and federal funding.
"This budget will close neighborhood schools and expand state resources for charter schools run by private companies, as well as private school voucher programs that only serve a few students," said Frost-Brooks. "How can we do this at a time when we are cutting back overall state aid to nearly every public school district in Ohio? Surely we can find a different path that gives all Ohio students the opportunity to succeed, not drastic cuts that limit their future."
OEA members rallied behind the effort to repeal Senate Bill 5 by citizen veto referendum vote in November, citing not only its effects on OEA members, but also the effort by SB 5 to take key teaching and learning conditions out of the realm of collective bargaining. "Most Ohioans agree with us," said Frost-Brooks. "Our polls show more than 50% favor repealing Senate Bill 5, and less than 40% would let the law stand."
Outspoken critics of Senate Bill 5, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and OEA Friend of Education Award recipient Ohio Senator Scott Oelslager, addressed the delegates, offered their support for the voter's referendum and encouraged OEA to continue the fight against Senate Bill 5.
By an overwhelming majority, the OEA Representative Assembly voted to approve a one-time $54 dues assessment for active regular members and a one-time $25 dues assessment for education support professional members for the funding of the effort to pass the referendum petition and support of the We Are Ohio campaign. While exempting student and retired members, the assessment will raise approximately $5 million for the SB 5 repeal referendum campaign.
The Ohio Education Association represents 128,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals in Ohio's public schools, colleges and universities.
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NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!
Bill introduced to teach Founding Documents in Ohio Schools
House Majority Whip John Adams (R-Sidney) recently introduced legislation that will incorporate the study of historically significant government documents into the educational curriculum of Ohio students.
Specifically, House Bill 211 will require that the social studies curriculum for elementary and secondary students in grades 4-12 includes the study of the following:
- Declaration of Independence
- Northwest Ordinance
- Constitution of the United States (with emphasis on the Bill of Rights)
- Ohio Constitution
“We can’t expect our children to understand and defend the rights and freedoms the Founding Fathers intended for us—and that many people have died for—if they don’t have an understanding of how these documents led to the system of government we have today,” Adams said. “By giving these young people an understanding of our heritage, we are better preparing them to be active and productive citizens down the road.”
The study of these documents has recently been diminished in the standards and curricula developed by the Ohio Department of Education during the previous administration. If passed, the State Board of Education would be required to revise the standards and curricula to include the additional content.
Click here for the full text version of hb211.
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