Education

Unrealpolitik

October 13, 2004 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who boasted to the Legislature last July that “there is no one that can stop me. Anyone who pushes me around, I will push back,” was stopped cold in his efforts to hold the line on a state loan to a school district. What turned the former action-movie star around was not a political action committee or missile-shooting alien but a couple of people who refused to eat. Cesar Cruz, 30, and Israel Haros-Lopez, 27, fasted on liquids for 25 days, much of it in a park next to the state Capitol, until Schwarzenegger agreed to refinance the loan to the West Contra Costa Unified School District, knocking the interest rate from 5.7 percent to 2 percent, the Los Angeles Times reported.

See Also

Return to the main story,

The States of NCLB

Officials at Illinois School District U-46 in Elgin had better spend fast. House Speaker Dennis Hastert presented officials with a symbolic $722,943 federal check in July to enhance the district’s American history instruction, but a House subcommittee had voted to kill the program four days earlier. Hastert, a former history teacher whose congressional district includes Elgin, spent more than an hour at Harriet Gifford Elementary School talking to students and having his picture taken, but he never mentioned that the federal program may go bust. Then again, it might not. “The process for 2005 is just beginning,” said Hastert spokesman John Feehery. He told the Associated Press that the program is “very popular with a lot of Republicans,” so it might come back to life before the final budget is signed into law.

Humbling the Governator

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who boasted to the Legislature last July that “there is no one that can stop me. Anyone who pushes me around, I will push back,” was stopped cold in his efforts to hold the line on a state loan to a school district. What turned the former action-movie star around was not a political action committee or missile-shooting alien but a couple of people who refused to eat. Cesar Cruz, 30, and Israel Haros-Lopez, 27, fasted on liquids for 25 days, much of it in a park next to the state Capitol, until Schwarzenegger agreed to refinance the loan to the West Contra Costa Unified School District, knocking the interest rate from 5.7 percent to 2 percent, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Teacher Versus Teacher

It’s axiomatic that nothing is certain in politics,but one thing is certain in the 91st District race for North Carolina state representative: The winner will be a history teacher from West Stokes High School. Both candidates, Republican Bryan Holloway and Democrat Robert Mitchell, share that job description, as well as many of the same campaign positions. The teachers are friends as well as colleagues, sometimes playing basketball and tennis after school. Each says he doesn’t plan to incorporate his candidacy into his civics lessons, but both are getting pressure from other educators to debate in front of students. “Obviously it’s a teachable moment,” Stokes County Schools superintendent Larry Cartner told the Associated Press.

A version of this article appeared in the October 02, 2004 edition of Teacher Magazine as Unrealpolitik

Events

Reading & Literacy K-12 Essentials Forum Reading Instruction Across Content Disciplines
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts implementing innovative strategies in reading across different subjects.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by Panorama Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Spark Minds, Reignite Students & Teachers: STEM’s Role in Supporting Presence and Engagement
Is your district struggling with chronic absenteeism? Discover how STEM can reignite students' and teachers' passion for learning.
Content provided by Project Lead The Way

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Nov. 26, 2024
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Small Business Administration administrator Linda McMahon attends a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 16, 2018, in Washington.
Small Business Administration administrator Linda McMahon attends a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on Aug. 16, 2018, in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Education Briefly Stated: October 23, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: October 2, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: September 18, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read