Second Amendment not assessed in Mesa School District, ANYONE CARE?

[Dale Langkilde]

Mesa School District staff admit that the Second Amendment is not assessed in their required government exam. 

DOES ANYONE CARE?

[Harry Mathews]

Interesting. Please elaborate

[Peggy McClain]

I'm curious--a district employee said this?  Do you have a name?  Have you gone up the chain of command?  School board?  What is the name of the class this exam applies to?  Is this a common exam throughout the district? 

 

Maybe email those in charge a copy of the Constitution.

 

Anybody know if this is the case in other districts?  Patriots, It sounds like we have ANOTHER project to do this summer.

 

 

 

[Dale Langkilde]

[Dale Langkilde]

This is an old issue that I thought had been resolved, however, apparently it has not. I could use some help if there is any interest.

Here are the latest emails between Terri Welsh (Mesa School District, Secondary Social Studies Specialist) and I in reference to the subject.

--------

Mr. Langkilde,

I am responding in regards to our telephone conversation on April 17th.  I've investigated the technical issue you spoke about in relation to the 2nd Amendment and have found the following information.

• Our district administered criterion referenced test for SS51 (American Government) does not contain any items which state the 2nd Amendment is a community or militia right. This test was created during the 2008-09 school year.

• The Mesa Public Schools' curriculum guide for SS51 (American Government) aligns to the Arizona Social Studies Standard, in which the following performance objective states:
  •  Strand 3, Concept 4 - Performance Objective 1. 

  • Analyze basic individual rights and freedoms guaranteed by Amendments and laws:

    a.     freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition in the First Amendment

    b.    right to bear arms in the Second Amendment

    c.     Ninth Amendment and guarantee of people’s unspecified rights

    d.    civil rights in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments

    e.     voting rights in the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-sixth Amendments; Native American citizenship and voting rights (Arizona, 1948); Voting Rights Act of 1965

    f.     conflicts which occur between rights (e.g., the tensions between the right to a fair trial and freedom of the press, and between majority rule and individual rights)

    g.    right to work laws

• This can be found at the following link:  http://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/social-studies-standard/

Due to test security, if you wish to view the SS51 district criterion referenced test, you are welcome to set an appointment to review the assessment in our office.

Thank you,

Terri Welsh

Secondary Social Studies Specialist

Mesa Public Schools
549 N. Stapley Dr., Bldg. 3
Mesa, AZ  85203

phone:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]

-------------

Dear Terresa Welsh,

From your comments it appears the changes Dr Duvall assured me would be made, was done.

Can you tell me if there is a 2nd Amendment question and what it does contain or what information it is asking for?

Dale Langkilde

---------------

Mr. Langkilde,

The American Government (SS51) test does not include a question regarding the 2nd Amendment.

------------------

Dear Terresa,

Thank you for the information.

Your statement in the previous email referencing the curriculum guide to be aligned to the Arizona Social Studies Standard  is encouraging, however, it appears that the district administered criterion referenced test for SS51 (American Government) is LACKING ALIGNMENT to the Arizona Social Studies Standard if it does not contain a VITAL (historically important) question concerning the Second Amendment?

In the previous test (prior to 2008) there was a question and it was asking for a misleading answer, i.e., the Second Amendment granted a community or militia right. I filed a complaint with the Mesa School District prior to 2008 claiming that it was an individual right, but to no avail. 

After the District of Columbia v. Heller, (2008), landmark case in which the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to bear arms, I called Dr Duval in reference to the issue and she assured me that a new complaint would not have to be filed, that she personally would see that the answer to the question would be changed to reflect, that the Second Amendment was an individual right.

This raises a concern!

I feel confident Dr Duval requested a change, however, was the question purposely omitted due to the SS51 assessment committee's bias, or to give the teachers cover (non accountable) for teaching the students a misleading understanding of the Second Amendment?

I don't mean to be cynical, however,  I have been on some of the State and District Committees and understand they can be very self motivating, not to mention dominated by the teachers union per the Mesa School District's Bargain Agreement.  

Do you have any recommendations at this point on how to get an appropriate Second Amendment question and answer added to the SS51 Assessment or should I file another complaint?

[Peggy McClain]

Can this be brought up at a Board meeting? It certainly seems you've done your homework.

[karen gevaert]

I attended the Mesa School Board meetings and came away so frustrated that I had to stop attending the "Get-A LONG- BRAIN DEAD  members.  Remember this is the "Board that was going to omit prayer at their meetings, Also Michelle Udall who is a strong advocate of common-core is actually running for Congress!!!  The Mesa school system is a Government loving district, and I personally feel that this is Huppenthal favorite school district.  I could go on, but just remember when dealing with this "liberal" run district you will need all the "Big Guns" in your corner.

[Dale Langkilde]

I have brought the issue to the attention of Dr. Michael Cowan and also the Mesa Tribune. We shall see what response I get.

If you want to open another can of worms get a copy of the Mesa School District Bargain Agreement and read it. You might be surprised that it contains clauses (at least it used to) that permit the local teachers union to seat at least fifty (50) percent of their members on the text book, curriculum and assessment committees, etc. I have more details on this issue too, if anyone is interested.

There needs to be a good solid group of parents who will commit to be proactive, get informed in specific areas of interest, i.e., social studies, math, etc., then be willing to serve on these committees that make the recommendations to the Board. Prior to that though, the teachers union monopoly of these committees have to be broken!!!!!

I tried back in 2006 to have the monopoly language stripped out of the Agreement. To appease me the District set up a Parent Oversight Committee (it may still exist), however, the District staff took control of its agenda and therefore it lost its independent parental power. The parents on the committee were always being mislead as to its origin, purpose and authority too. Each Board member was to select two members of the community to be on the committee. It had possibilities to help remedy the problems, but the parents didn't have the confidence to assert themselves. 

[karen gevaert]

Dale Langkilde said:

I have brought the issue to the attention of Dr. Michael Cowan and also the Mesa Tribune. We shall see what response I get.

If you want to open another can of worms get a copy of the Mesa School District Bargain Agreement and read it. You might be surprised that it contains clauses (at least it used to) that permit the local teachers union to seat at least fifty (50) percent of their members on the text book, curriculum and assessment committees, etc. I have more details on this issue too, if anyone is interested.

There needs to be a good solid group of parents who will commit to be proactive, get informed in specific areas of interest, i.e., social studies, math, etc., then be willing to serve on these committees that make the recommendations to the Board. Prior to that though, the teachers union monopoly of these committees have to be broken!!!!!

I tried back in 2006 to have the monopoly language stripped out of the Agreement. To appease me the District set up a Parent Oversight Committee (it may still exist), however, the District staff took control of its agenda and therefore it lost its independent parental power. The parents on the committee were always being mislead as to its origin, purpose and authority too. Each Board member was to select two members of the community to be on the committee. It had possibilities to help remedy the problems, but the parents didn't have the confidence to assert themselves. 

[karen gevaert]

karen gevaert said:

Dale Langkilde said:

I have brought the issue to the attention of Dr. Michael Cowan and also the Mesa Tribune. We shall see what response I get.

If you want to open another can of worms get a copy of the Mesa School District Bargain Agreement and read it. You might be surprised that it contains clauses (at least it used to) that permit the local teachers union to seat at least fifty (50) percent of their members on the text book, curriculum and assessment committees, etc. I have more details on this issue too, if anyone is interested.

There needs to be a good solid group of parents who will commit to be proactive, get informed in specific areas of interest, i.e., social studies, math, etc., then be willing to serve on these committees that make the recommendations to the Board. Prior to that though, the teachers union monopoly of these committees have to be broken!!!!!

I tried back in 2006 to have the monopoly language stripped out of the Agreement. To appease me the District set up a Parent Oversight Committee (it may still exist), however, the District staff took control of its agenda and therefore it lost its independent parental power. The parents on the committee were always being mislead as to its origin, purpose and authority too. Each Board member was to select two members of the community to be on the committee. It had possibilities to help remedy the problems, but the parents didn't have the confidence to assert themselves. 

[karen gevaert]

Good luck with Dr. Cowan, the Mesa Ed. Committee took a complaint re. a teacher problem, nothing was done.  The Tribume is a "weak" paper.  I wish you "luck."  Who do I contact to read the MSD bargain agreement?  To break-up the teachers union, we need to get "CONSERVATIVES" on the school board.  Check out Gilbert Board, they have done some great legislation re: unions.

[Harry Mathews]

time to elect conservatives to the Mesa school board

[Dale Langkilde]

To get a copy of the Bargain Agreement start with Human Resources Supervisor, Certificated Personnel - Christi Chapman [phone]. The person I used to deal with is not list on the web site. They are always reluctant to give it out, but as a local citizen you have a right to a copy. Let me know how it goes. Its fun to see them squirm.

• 63 East Main Street #101
• Mesa, Arizona 85201-742