Friday Snippets: 8/22/08 - Waiting on the Choice of the Next President

The most important story today is probably the VP selection of Barack Obama, expected later this afternoon (not like you didn't know). Whomever Barack chooses is likely to at least have a decent chance at becoming President in 8 years. This election reminds me so much of the 1980 election, and in that election the party that won (Reagan) stayed in power for 12 years and the Vice President (George H. W. Bush) became President. From the beginning (waaayyy at the beginning when people didn't know their names) I thought the best possible ticket for the Democrats this year was Obama/Warner in one form or the other, so I am still holding out hope for a surprise Mark Warner selection at the last minute as he seems clearly the second brightest star in the Democratic Party. Anyway, the point is that it is an important day in American politics today when we might find out who will be the next, next president.

Hawaii, still in the reform mood, tweaks their school calander to provide more summer.

Another school funding lawsuit in Illinois. Third times' a charm?

No using state dollars to sue ... the state in South Dakota.

Conservates preparing for the end of NCLB?

Why we need technology instruction for teenagers. They already know how to use the tools, but they don't know what is considered misuse.

A good article on Texas school finance.

I have been talking about Louisiana's reform tendencies all year with vouchers and charters and whatnot ... now it hits closer to home. Principal Prep. and the Wallace Foundation, entities I know a lot about.

Major mergers in Maine.

Lot of talk this week about lowering the drinking age. We'll see how far that goes.

School business officials have joined the New Jersey Superintendent pay limit lawsuit.

Beginning this year, twins can stay together in Penn. schools.


Around the Ed. Law Blogosphere ...

I redesigned my Netvibes page to match the new look, but it is still as effective as ever at delivering all the best education law blog posts in one spot.

Mark Walsh has Riehm v. Engelking, an 8th Circuit case on a student creative writing story not protected by the First Amendment. Mark also has Barr v. Lefon, where a ban on the Confederate Flag in a school with racial tensions was upheld. You can find both of these cases in the Cases section of this website.

Wrightslaw has Milwaukee Public Schools having to pay $450,000 in legal fees for a challenge to their special education system.

Mitchell R. has a great week. First, a whole new use for MySpace. Next, commentary well worth reading on Corporal Punishment. Also, a case on special education discipline.

Jim Gerl has a good post on on the IDEA language (or lack thereof) regarding mainstreaming. And, Jim is waiting impatiently for the response from the candidates. My feeling is that they would not respond without a little pressure. Perhaps, Jim, you should talk to Michele McNeil at Campaign K-12 and get her to do a story on the candidates ignoring you. 

Jim Walsh has a court in Texas throwing out a Assistant Principal's defamation case against students who created a fake and sexually graphic MySpace page in her name.

Howard Friedman has a partial dismissal of a pledge case and dismissal of a free exercise claim against Pennsylvania's homeschooling policies.


And for your Friday Fun:

Biden is trading the highest right now on Intrade. Still time to get in on the Republican Vice Presidential betting.

Google Document Link: Waiting on the Choice of the Next President