Archive for the ‘Dick Wood’ Category

On Monday, I wrote about Democrat candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dick Wood, taking a two week trip on an African Safari.  His campaign has denied it up and down with his campaign manager Kathy Dale saying that “Wood is in South Africa for two weeks visiting schools, learning about what is going on in education globally”.  They even have a nifty picture on their website (seen to the left) of him visiting the Lubasi Orphanage and School in Livingstone, Zambia to back up their story.  But here’s where the lie breaks down.

The caption next to the photo says:

Truly committed to life long learning, Dr. Wood and his wife Carol, on a Road Scholar Program in Africa where among other things, they are visiting schools and experiencing how children live and learn in other parts of our world. (emphasis added is mine)

Aha! We’ve been able to get a hold of Dick Wood’s African Safari itinerary and we’ve been able to see what these “among other things” actually are. They include:

(See what exactly happens on a two week tour of schools learning about global education after the leap) (more…)

Folks, with three weeks left in election season where do you think a candidate for any office needs to be?  One might say going door-to-door.  One might say, making phone calls.  And if you’re a statewide candidate one might think you would want to be, say….in the state!

Such is not the case for Democrat Dick Wood who wants to be the next Superintendent of Public Instruction. In fact, he’s not even in the country.  He’s on safari in Africa!  Yep, you read that right.  Africa.

From the Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette:

The rumors had him wearing a khaki outfit, riding in a jeep in the African bush looking for lions and elephants.

Richard Wood, Democratic candidate for Indiana’s superintendent for public instruction, is in Africa, but campaign manager Kathy Dale would not describe the trip as a safari. Wood is in South Africa for two weeks visiting schools, learning about what is going on in education globally, Dale said.

There was some apprehension about Wood being on another continent less than three weeks before the election, but the trip has been planned for more than a year, Dale said.

Don’t let the school line fool you.  Sources inform me that this had been planned for a year, before he was running for Superintendent and after he announced his retirement. This apparently was his retirement trip, and he had been telling people since last fall he was taking a safari.

So Dick Wood leaves his campaign with three weeks to go. I don’t care how far in advance you planned your “two weeks worth of visiting schools”, your running for office. Something either gets bagged. Your trip or your hopes at a higher office.

Guess we know what Dick Wood’s priorities are.

*Update* - Here is Matt Tully talking to Abdul of Abdul in the Morning about Dick Wood baggin’ cheetah’s in the plains of South Africa…I mean, going on Safari.

 

 Standard Podcast [2:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Cross Posted from Frugal Hoosiers.

The Indianapolis Star penned a lengthy article today that describes a problem in Indiana with regard to the state’s ability to revoke a teacher’s license.  It seems that once you have that thing, you can pretty much do whatever you want and not lose it.

The 7-year-old tried to keep her teacher’s hands off her.

She faked stomachaches, hoping to stay home from school.

When that failed, a prosecutor later said, the girl wore dresses so the teacher couldn’t slip his hand down the back of her pants.

It was a battle she might have been spared in another state: Four years earlier, two different girls in different classes accused the same teacher, Jeffrey Baber, of the same thing. Nothing happened after police discounted those claims.

In Georgia, the accusations would have been enough to spark a review by state investigators.

In Ohio, the allegations would have been put on record for parents to check.

In Utah and other states, the complaints likely would have cost him his educator’s license.

In Indiana, he kept teaching.

The case highlights flaws in the state’s approach to protecting schoolchildren. The Indiana Department of Education’s efforts are largely limited to conducting criminal background checks within Indiana and checking newspaper clippings for educators who have been arrested. That information helps the state revoke 10 to 20 licenses a year. — Indianapolis Star

So after laying out a compelling case for change, Dick Wood, the democrat candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, offers up this gem:

“You just have to deal with those situations on a case-by-case basis,” he said. “I’m not advocating any change. I would not initiate anything to make the process more lenient or anything to make it more stringent. The law we have in place is working at present.”

Working?  Tell that to the 7 year old whose teacher couldn’t keep his hands to himself.  I don’t think anyone is saying it should be easy to revoke a teacher’s license, but there has to be some basic standard that disqualifies you from teaching if you participate in heinous crimes.  The Dick Wood plan seems to be supporting the status quo where a felon can keep on teaching.  Someone should have mentioned to him that people want change this year from their politicians, especially when it comes to felons teaching their kids.

*Bumped to the top as a reminder.  Sorry to say, but we will not be able to cover the debate live. - Josh*

Tony Bennett, the Republican seeking to replace Suellen Reed as State Superintendent of Public Instruction will be debating his Democrat opponent, Dick Wood, this week:

What: Town Hall Debate between Republican Dr. Tony Bennett and Democrat Dr. Dick Wood

Where: Northview Middle School Auditorium, 8401 Westfield Blvd. in Indianapolis

When: Wednesday, September 10 from 7 to 8 PM

Yesterday Hoosier Access posted Governor Mitch Daniels’ latest campaign TV ad with Republican Candidates for Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Bennett and Attorney General Greg Zoeller showing unity and leadership in discussing important issues like restoring discipline in the classroom.  Bennett and Zoeller have both actually weighed in on the Governor’s proposals on education issues and just a couple of weeks ago Bennett and Zoeller joined together to stump across the state to affirm the Governor’s proposals and education platform.

Juxtapose that with this classic quote from Democrat Candidate for Supt. of Public Instruction Dick Wood in today’s Louisville Courier-Journal responding to Jill Long’s education proposals she released yesterday of which she ignored Wood’s input.

Thompson outlined her proposals at a news conference at the local office of the Indiana State Teachers Association. She was joined by several elected Democratic officials, including state Rep. Bill Cochran, state Sen. Connie Sipes, New Albany Mayor Doug England, Floyd County Clerk Linda Moeller and New Albany City Clerk Marcey Wisman.

Richard Wood, the Democratic candidate for superintendent of public instruction, said later that he had provided information for Thompson but was not involved in drafting her education proposals. He added, however, that “I think it’s a very well thought-out position, very positive,” and that he supports it.

My guess is that Hoosiers will want a ticket who will work together to get things done, especially when it comes to reforming Indiana’s failed public education system.  Even Jill Long agrees that something must be done.  Governor Daniels knows how to pull his team together while Jill Long apparently has problems communicating and working with her own team.  No doubt here which ticket will succeed in building progress in reforming public education in favor of Indiana’s students.