As a lawyer, you know that you cannot use an unsubstantiated third party testimony. That is called Hearsay. It is bogus on its face.

Also, Downtown Rez isn't alone by a far cry. He/she is just fighting the following universal rule. If someone is happy they "might" tell one person. If someone is mad, they "will" tell 15.

I agree with Rhee, even if she did choose to fire the teachers. How could you have confidence in someone that would rather cut out summer school than lay off teachers? That is like a football team cutting their roster by six playes to pay the coaches. No one would do that. What kind of vindictive morons would put her it that position.

They are politicians and tried to catch her in a "damned if she does, damned if she doesn't position". If she had cut summer school, people like you would scream that she is a phoney that doesn't care about kids.

She choose the "damn" that was in the long-term interest of the kids. But either way, this still falls on the shoulders of the council.

However, given the tactics of the entire DC government, it is relevant. Your zeal to defend DCPS and Rhee is amazing. However, this post is likely to be as true as comments any other person makes, to include a great many of yours.

To everyone, let's put an intelligent twist on the possibility that people were paid to sit in the lime-green t-shirts at the RIF hearing.

1. Is it ethical to pay people to demonstrate?
2. If this is happening, who is paying?
3. Is it a DCPS fund of Rhee's?
4. Is it a business partner with 'special
interests?'

This was printed in the Examiner. Talk about shady practices!!

Here's the link for the article.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Council-members-accuse-Rhee-of-breaking-law-in-teacher-showdown-8458568-67380292.html

Here is a comment posted from a parent:

put kids first
Oct 30, 2009
I am a parent with children in DCPS. I was offered money to attend the DC City Council hearing in support of Ms.Rhee. I attended for this reason only. I do not support Ms.Rhee but I did wear a lime green shirt saying put kids first.

The same kind of access that you, and others like you, have with Fenty/Rhee to get their kids into schools like Walls, successful for nearly two decades despite a crumbling physical plant. Fenty wasn't even on the radar screen when the rehab and new addition for SWW were planned and approved.

In the last administration I with my own hands patched bullet holes in elementary schools. Not a few, either, more like 40 or 50. You don't see that kind of neglect (or violence) under Rhee/Fenty.
It's simply not there.
Because I'm a DCPR parent and have been involved, I'm confident of my perspective. And because of that, can not take some of the obviously ignorant and hateful comments on this thread for anything other than sour grapes.
By the way, Marciela, no one got paid to wear those T-shirts. I was not there but know the organizers and several who did attend, and those that came did so because they support reform for childrens' sake.
Unlike the union hacks who just feel entitled to a guaranteed job.
My kids love to go to school. They are eager to get there in the morning, and don't want to leave in the evening. They are learning, their class is bright, cheerful, and welcoming. I'm amazed every day.
What more could a parent ask for?
Rhee is a success in my book.

To attempt to answer your questions, perhaps the struggling schools under Adderley are part of the group who allegedly cheated, likely out of fear for losing their jobs. Rhee can't rely on the NAEP scores because Councilman Brown caught her half-truths about the scores. It seems she didn't think he was smart enough to have gotten a report of the scores. Here's a link to the real NAEP scores from their website:

Fourth Grade:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/stt2009/2010454DC4.pdf

Eighth Grade:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/stt2009/2010454DC8.pdf

No one can seem to get the DC CAS scores the way they are traditionally put out because Rhee won't show a comparison. Most of the time test scores are put out where they compare multiple years and people can't even get a single year's report now.

There is a HUGE disparity between SAT scores and DC CAS high school test scores. DC Achievement Test Scores also have not risen.

Very interesting since Rhee and McGoldrick served and continue to serve on St. Hope Charter Board for Kevin Johnson, Rhee's boyfriend. Here's the link to that information:
http://www.sthope.org/press_releases/rhee1.pdf

put kids first

Oct 30, 2009

I am a parent with children in DCPS. I was offered money to attend the DC City Council hearing in support of Ms.Rhee. I attended for this reason only. I do not support Ms.Rhee but I did wear a lime green shirt saying put kids first.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Council-members-accuse-Rhee-of-breaking-law-in-teacher-showdown-8458568-67380292.html

SNEAKY, SNEAKY, SNEAKY!! You know you're wrong when you have to pay people to be on your side. Is that lunch money extortion in reverse?

People are rewarded with honours & medals. Winners of honours are showered with sexual favours.

Everyone is happy. Everyone works hard. Society advances. Society evolves.

Aux armes, citoyens! To the future!

Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes !

Refrain :

Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons !

2

Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter !
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer
De rendre à l'antique esclavage !

3

Quoi ! des cohortes étrangères
Feraient la loi dans nos foyers !
Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires
Terrasseraient nos fiers guerriers ! (bis)
Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées
Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient
De vils despotes deviendraient
Les maîtres de nos destinées !
4

Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides
L'opprobre de tous les partis,
Tremblez ! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis)
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre,
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros,
La terre en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prets à se battre !

5

Français, en guerriers magnanimes,
Portez ou retenez vos coups !
Epargnez ces tristes victimes,
A regret s'armant contre nous. (bis)
Mais ces despotes sanguinaires,
Mais ces complices de Bouillé,
Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié,
Déchirent le sein de leur mère !

6

Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs
Liberté, Liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis)
Sous nos drapeaux que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents,
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !

7

Nous entrerons dans la carrière
Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus,
Nous y trouverons leur poussière
Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis)
Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre
Que de partager leur cercueil,
Nous aurons le sublime orgueil
De les venger ou de les suivre

NB: le septième couplet, dont l'auteur reste à ce jour inconnu, a été ajouté en 1792.

Aux armes, citoyens... To arms, citizens...