On this day, July 27, 2020, the mayors of Portland, Oregon, and five other major US cities appealed to Congress to make it illegal for the federal government to deploy militarized agents to cities that don't want their presence.
Also on this day, July 27, 2020, US agents declared an unlawful assembly, and just after 1 a.m., confronted protesters on the street and worked for hours to clear the area. Several people were seen being detained, but it was not immediately clear how many may were arrested.
Also on this day, June 27, 1859 US General William S. Harney sent troops to San Juan island -- in what is now Washington State -- to face the British in the Pig War, which was a dispute started by a British pig eating potatoes out of an American farmer's field.
“It’s not extreme or bigoted to hold students to high standards”
After pulling the item off last month’s meeting agenda following backlash from parents, the Oregon State Board of Education, chaired by Guadalupe Martinez Zapata, has again proposed suspending graduation standards for the next four years of high school seniors.
“Our students deserve rigorous standards to ensure they are well-prepared for the challenges of the real world -- to allow them to achieve their hopes and dreams for a bright future,” former Oregon Republican gubernatorial nominee Christine Drazan said. “I am calling on the Board of Education to indefinitely table this proposal and work to identify how they plan to improve educational outcomes for Oregon students.”
“I found Board Chair Martinez Zapata’s comments last month extremely offensive to parents who want to ensure a high-quality education for their kids. Her dismissive tone and condescending attitude toward those who disagree with her were beyond the pale. That same approach is again on full display by resurrecting this proposal. It’s not extreme or bigoted to believe that Oregon’s education system should hold students to high standards and give them the support they need to achieve them.”
While Oregon graduation rates slowly climb, there is a corresponding decline in achievement.
The Legislature suspended the Essential Learning assessments in 2021 with no signs of better results for students. The proposal on tomorrow’s agenda would suspend the assessments through the 2027-2028 school year. According to the Oregon Department of Education Website, the assessment of the Essential Skills is suspended as a requirement for receiving a high school diploma during the 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 school years
Since running for Governor in 2022, Christine Drazan has founded
A New Direction – a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, described as "dedicated to connecting Oregonians with each other to advance policies and ideas that make Oregon a safer, more affordable place to live and raise a family, strengthen checks and balances."
--Staff ReportsPost Date: 2023-10-20 14:31:13 | Last Update: 2023-10-19 11:51:46 |