Saginaw Schools Graduation Rates Among Worse in the Nation

According to the State of Michigan's Official Website, Michigan.gov only 51.33% of freshmen who entered high school in 2006 went on to graduate high school in Saginaw Public Schools. Saginaw High School leading the pack in underperformance at a graduation rate of 55.74%. This is the school right next to Stacey Erwin Oakes alleged address is; her Alma Mater.

This is nothing new in 2008; MLive reported how poorly Saginaw City Schools were doing with Buena Vista underperforming at a 52.27% graduation rate and Saginaw High with a 61.11% graduation rate (McFarland, 2008).

None of the public schools in the district passed the State's Annual Yearly Progress, in fact Buena Vista dropped in all of its categories. This is alarming because what will happen with these students who are not able to complete school? What kind of jobs will they be prepared to perform? According to the 2010 Census Saginaw had a poverty rate of 22%.

Teachers have to be held accountable and appeasing of teachers unions to earn votes just does not cut it. We have to change this in a hurry otherwise we are headed for a Detroit like district.

McFarland, J. (2008). Saginaw County graduation rates highlight achievers, troubles.    The Saginaw News (MLive). Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2008/08/long_before_he_began_his.html

Michigan.gov (2012). Michigan Cohort Graduation and Dropout Reports. Center for Educational Performance and Information. Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,1607,7-113-21423_30451_51357---,00.html

This is nothing new in 2008; MLive reported how poorly Saginaw City Schools were doing with Buena Vista underperforming at a 52.27% graduation rate and Saginaw High with a 61.11% graduation rate (McFarland, 2008).

None of the public schools in the district passed the State's Annual Yearly Progress, in fact Buena Vista dropped in all of its categories. This is alarming because what will happen with these students who are not able to complete school? What kind of jobs will they be prepared to perform? According to the 2010 Census Saginaw had a poverty rate of 22%.

Teachers have to be held accountable and appeasing of teachers unions to earn votes just does not cut it. We have to change this in a hurry otherwise we are headed for a Detroit like district.

McFarland, J. (2008). Saginaw County graduation rates highlight achievers, troubles.    The Saginaw News (MLive). Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2008/08/long_before_he_began_his.html

Michigan.gov (2012). Michigan Cohort Graduation and Dropout Reports. Center for Educational Performance and Information. Retrieved April 10, 2012 from http://www.michigan.gov/cepi/0,1607,7-113-21423_30451_51357---,00.html

Stop Bullying

“Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems” (Stop Bullying.com, 2011).

Bullying has become a problem in our district, in many districts.  The problems associated with bullying are no longer just being teased at school but our children have to worry about a world of technology. Bullying is no longer the biggest kid picking on the little kid.  Bullying is physical, mental, emotional, and verbal abuse.  Bullying can be done against someone of a different race, handicap, disability, or even the outer appearance.  When I was growing up, many moons ago, I had to wait until I got home or to a land line to find out I was being bullied.  These days’ rumors spread faster than wild fires. 

You ask yourself as parent what I can do to stop it.  Educate yourself and your children.  Teach them that it is not cool to bully.  I know for some of us out there it is hard to reach our children with so much outside influences but you can reach them.  They are listening, they are hearing the words and one day they will be saying those exact words and remember you. “Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can help kids understand bullying, keep the lines of communication open, encourage kids to do what they love, and model how to treat others with kindness and respect.” (Stop Bullying.com, 2011)

Our main goal is working in the community, educating everyone; get the information out there to everybody.  “Bullying can be prevented, especially when the power of a community is brought together. Community-wide strategies can help identify and support children who are bullied, redirect the behavior of children who bully, and change the attitudes of adults and youth who tolerate bullying behaviors in peer groups, schools, and communities.” (Stop Bullying.com, 2011).  These are strong words and it makes me think of the coke commercial where it was talking about bringing all the nations together.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2msbfN81Gm0).  I guess it is because we all are singing as one instead of hurting each other.

Stop Bullying.com. (2011). Retrieved April 14, 2012, from Bullying: http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-bullying/definition/index.html

PUBLIC SAFETY IS # 1

By Keena Baker 4/13/2012

According to Neighborhood Scout Saginaw, Michigan is ranked #4 out of 100 cities for the most dangerous cities (NeighborhoodScout’s ® Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S., 2012). In order to stop us from reaching #1 we have to make safety a priority.

When comparing the crime rate it saddens me to see the numbers.  Saginaw was the highest, with numbers reaching at least three times more the surrounding neighbors.  Crime has to stop and Stacy cannot stop it while sitting her house in Lansing. 

Stacy has no idea what is going on in your backyard.  She doesn't have to care because it does not affect her in LANSING.  Since Stacy took office the first time crime has escalated and now there is more talk about her wanting to give ID's to the prisoners.  They already live better than some of the people in the district.  They have air conditioning, food, a bed, and at times cable TV.  How many of you have cable TV or food for every meal? 

People are moving away from District 95 and most of them are moving out of Michigan.  Why? The crime is so bad and they feel alone and helpless.  When they turn to the police for help they are told that their problem just is not that important.  We can build a stronger police force if we can stand up to the crime spread and say "ENOUGH".  But, we cannot do it alone, we have to become united; we have to help our neighbors in a time of need.  We have to hold the public safety department accountable for not taking our calls serious.

Because of these issues we formed, Saginaw West Amalgamated Team, (SWAT 989) INC. a nonprofit organization that has helped bring our community closer together.  Our goal is to stretch it even further out through this great district.  Since we have started this page on Facebook we have taken on 78 members and each of them share.  We have members that report issues happening in their area.  We have members that discuss the celebration of events happening in their area.  But the one thing we all do on this page is support each other.  We know that no matter what someone is always watching after us and we are never alone. Feel free to join us at http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/swat989/ or you can contact Keena Baker at http://www.facebook.com/#!/keena1

NeighborhoodScout’s ® Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in the U.S. (2012). Retrieved April 10, 2012, from Neighborhood Scout: http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/neighborhoods/crime-rates/top100dangerous/

Planned Parenthood
Jeff Baker April 2012

So what is all the fuss about this so called Republican War on Women?  Planned Parenthood stands to lose all of its Federal Funding with the election of Mitt Romney as President. Romney makes no secret of his desire to defund them if elected. According to the 2008-2009 annual report from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the American taxpayers borrowed $363.20 million from China to fund provide partial funding to their operations. That is one aspect of the issue; the money. We are deep in debt to China right now and in August we had to vote to raise the debt ceiling just so the government could continue operating.

The other issue is Planned Parenthood provides services for: abortions, morning after pills, birth control pills and contraceptives. Planned Parenthood also provides sexual education to our teens without the consent of parents. Though their information and services may prove to be helpful in certain situations, it undermines the rights of parents to regulate what our children are exposed to.  Certainly if parents agree to an organization teaching their child about sex, sexual genitalia, sexual preferences, masturbation and what a healthy sex life is as a teen then that is their prerogative; however, I feel parents should have the choice as to what their children are exposed to and should be able to decide what is right for their family according to their customs and traditions or religious beliefs. In fact with Planned Parenthoods assault on parental rights they are far from respecting the idea of cultural relativism. The Susan G. Komen Foundation even cut off the funding for this organization On February 1, 2012 but soon caved to public pressure and restored their commitment to funding on February 3, 2012.

Some feel there is an obligation for the American people to provide free abortion services and contraception to everyone and some do not.  The big picture is these services cost money and eventually it will be time to pay for what we have borrowed. I feel relying on the government for free birth control and abortions as well as other lifestyle choice orientated expenses are just not fair to the hard working people who have to pay for them.

I certainly stand with Mit Romney on this issue. I do not believe the American People should be paying for the business of Planned Parenthood either. It is not an issue of women’s rights. It is a fiscal decision and a moral decision. Planned Parenthood is free to operate their firm but they need to rely on their own funds to do so.

Planned Parenthood should be restrained from providing any services or information to children without consent from their parents, both of them. The Democrat’s allegations of warfare on women are unsupported by facts. It is only a smear tactic aimed at associating the political party of Abraham Lincoln with unequal treatment based on gender which is a practice the Republican Party strongly disagrees with. Planned parenthood stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money, they are going to kick and scream the whole time to prevent this from happening, so unless you know the facts, take a moment to investigate them before you jump on anyone’s boat.