Washington state Dems reject national education standards known as Common Core

SEATTLE –  Leaders of the state Democratic Party have passed a resolution condemning the national education standards known as the Common Core, nearly five years after the state adopted the new learning goals.

At a party meeting in Olympia on Saturday, the Democrats approved a resolution saying the state was unfairly pressured into adopting the new standards.

They are asking the Legislature and Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn to back away from the Common Core and return to a similar list of education goals created in Washington state.

Dorn said Tuesday that he continues to support the Common Core and wonders why Democrats are taking this stand now. He said national standards make sense because mobile families, including those in the military, should get a similar education for their children no matter where they move.

“I do not believe that most people understand what this is about. It’s become a political propaganda issue,” Dorn said. “This wasn’t just done overnight. This was done over a long period of time with a lot of input from teachers and administrators, and top education researchers.”

The Common Core is a list of math and English learning goals for every grade level. For example, the standards say when students should learn how to work with fractions. The new standards were adopted in Washington state in 2010, and some school districts have been using them for more than two years.

The state Democratic Party says the new standards give too much power to federal interests. The Democrats’ resolution says the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association were influenced by millions of dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other groups to support the Common Core.

The resolution says the U.S. Department of Education improperly pressured state legislatures into adopting the Common Core.

The resolution approved by the Democrats is similar to a resolution passed by Washington Republicans a year ago. The resolution mentions the new tests to gauge how much children are learning under the new standards, but the tests are a separate issue.

Dorn said he’s been pushing for national education standards for more than 20 years and believes the Common Core is beneficial to school children everywhere.

“This levels the playing field,” he said.

He said the new national standards are similar to Washington state’s previous standards but more challenging than standards in some states.

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Washington state Dems reject national education standards known as Common Core

Jamaica"s health sector a national emergency, doctors say

Tuesday, January 06, 2015 | 10:29 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) says it is urging the ministries of Health and Finance to jointly consult with public and private stakeholders on how to effectively and sustainably address issues affecting the nation’s health sector.

“The provision of good health care should be viewed by the Government as an investment in our citizens towards increased productivity and not simply a cost to the country,” the MAJ said in a statement in reference to two articles published by the Jamaica Observer on the 4th and 5th of January 2015 regarding the continued depressed state of public hospitals in Jamaica.

“The Medical Association of Jamaica has again noted and remains extremely concerned with these reports on the state of the country’s public hospitals.

“These stories have once again highlighted the sad and unacceptable circumstances under which patients and their relatives must access their care. This is compounded by the frustrating and demoralising conditions in which Health Professionals often provide this essential service,” the statement read.

The MAJ described the state of the health sector as a “national emergency” and said that the chronic underfunding and delayed reform of the public health sector in Jamaica is negatively affecting the outcomes of patients.

The doctors added that the personal and financial costs to patients and their families for delays, complications, pain and suffering will soon be incalculable.

“We hope that some significant improvements in the budgetary allocation to the sector will be made for the upcoming financial year (2015/16). Jamaica’s budget for public health service must be based on the health realities facing the country at this time.”

The association said that hospitals and health centres cannot function effectively or efficiently without the concomitant investment in the sector.

“We believe that the country’s stakeholders must act together and quickly to safeguard the health of our citizens. A collective and collaborative approach in addressing this challenge is the first step of many in achieving health sector reform and the sustainable financing of public health services in Jamaica.”

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Jamaica"s health sector a national emergency, doctors say

Westmoreland foster mom to get national recognition

MONDAY will be a special day for Miranda Judith Townsend.

The Holly Hill, Westmoreland, senior citizen will be presented with a Badge Of Honour For Long And Faithful Service to the Child Protection Sector at the National Honours and Awards ceremony, which will be held at King’s House.

Townsend, who worked as a basic school teacher and then as a member of the Post and Telegraph Department, has been a foster mother for over 45 years, during which she has nurtured and raised 18 wards of the State.

While caring for the children, she has also assisted hundreds of residents, both young and old, from the communities of Holly Hill, Dillon Bigwoods, Hopewell, Darliston, and other adjoining areas.

Affectionately called ‘Mama Sweetie’ by her foster children and members of the Holly Hill community, Townsend says despite doing this service for the nation for almost half a century, she has no plans to retire.

“I retired from the Post and Telegraph Department and have dedicated the last 20 years to the job of raising kids on behalf of the State. I truly enjoy this job and it has been really rewarding for me. I have watched these children who come to me, some even as infants, and they have matured and have grown into respectable, responsible citizens who are serving Jamaica in her development,” she says.

Born in Darliston, Westmoreland, Townsend says she will be a mother, friend and helper until she passes on.

She was honoured in 2006 by the Child Development Agency (CDA), under the national Foster Care Programme, as the most outstanding foster parent for the year.

Townsend began her role as a foster mother in 1965. “I was in church when I heard about a boy who was at one of the children’s homes and needed a home. I enquired and got the necessary information and documents, which enabled me to become a Foster Mother to the seven-year-old. My new ‘son’ quickly settled in the family and stayed until he became an adult,” she notes.

Reflecting on her life as a foster mother, Townsend says she could not have done what she did without the full support of the CDA, whose officers have been a tower of strength to her, even in times when things were not running smoothly.

She attributes her commitment to being a foster mother to her love for children and the energy she gets from seeing her “sons and daughters” thrive.

“I love to have children around me… even when they are noisy. I love to cook for them. I also enjoy when they get a good education, which prepares them for life. In other words, I love to see them ‘come to something,” she says.

A biological mother of three, two sons — a retired school principal and one currently in the classroom — and a daughter, who is a businesswoman — Townsend is also a farmer and an active member in the Moravian church.

She is very delighted about the national award. “I am truly thankful to the Government for this recognition. However, I am not doing this job for pay or for recognition… it’s for service. My payment and satisfaction come from seeing my children becoming responsible and respectable men and women in our society,” she adds.

The National Honours and Awards will be presented by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on Monday, which will be observed as National Heroes Day.

– JIS

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Westmoreland foster mom to get national recognition

PM calls for greater corporate support in national cleanup

Saturday, October 04, 2014 | 4:26 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Scores of residents from the community Payne Land, along Spanish Town Road, on Saturday joined in the Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller-led national cleanup initiative.

The move, designed to help rid the areas of mosquito breeding sites, was also supported by telecoms giant Digicel, whose staff members joined in the cleanup effort within several communities.

The maim of the cleanup exercise is to rid areas of the mosquitoes that spread the chikungunya virus.

Addressing the group during the exercise, Simpson Miller commended Digicel on its responsiveness and urged other corporate entities to follow suit in their own communities.

“I want to use Digicel as an example today for other corporates to join the national cleanup efforts in their communities. Let us all work together to clean up Jamaica,” she implored.?

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PM calls for greater corporate support in national cleanup

PNP national executive member on fraud charge returns to court

Monday, September 29, 2014 | 9:48 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – People’s National Party (PNP) member Donovan Bisasor and a co-accused arrested in August for fraud will again appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court today.

The 58-year-old Bisasor and his 31-year-old co-accused Jesse Gosse were both offered $1.5-million bail on their first appearance in court, on August 19.

Bisasor, who sits on the ruling party’s National Executive Council, is accused of trying to defraud the State-owned National Water Commission of $5 million.

Bisasor, an engineer who hails from Cherry Gardens in Kingston, and quantity surveyor Gosse, of Richmond Park are charged with attempting to obtain money by false documents, forgery, uttering forged documents, conspiracy to defraud, and demanding property on forged documents.

It is alleged that in January 2011 the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) served an enforcement notice on the NWC in respect to Barnes Gully, resulting in the company having to carry out an emergency procedure. As a result, a contract was allegedly awarded to XYZ Construction Company for $27.4 million with $2.3 million for security.

However, on completion of the project Bisasor allegedly told NWC that the money for security was insufficient and was instructed to provide documents to substantiate his claim.

It is further alleged that on August 15, 2011 Goss submitted a claim for $7.3 million for services provided by Secure Security Limited. However, checks made with the security company allegedly revealed that it was never contracted to work on the project.

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PNP national executive member on fraud charge returns to court

Full Court to rule on lawsuit against National Security Minister

A ruling is expected from the Full Court  on Tuesday on whether it will hear a lawsuit brought against National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, by Dutch national, Shurandy Quant.

Quant sued the Minister, following his controversial deportation from Jamaica last year.

He has applied for judicial review of  the decision of  the Minister to sign the deportation order, although a Magistrate had ordered a Stay of his removal.

However, when the hearing commenced on Monday, the Attorney General’s Department applied for the lawsuit to be struck out.

It argued, that it has not been properly served with a signed document by Quant, as required by law.

Quant’s attorney, Chuck Cameron, said his client  was unable to sign the document, because he had been deported and was in custody abroad.

The Dutch national, who was recently freed of  drug trafficking charges in Holland, has also filed Contempt of  Court action against Bunting, claiming he violated a court order.

The Security Minister ordered Quant’s deportation after the Dutch authorities declared there was an international warrant for his arrest.

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Full Court to rule on lawsuit against National Security Minister

Parchment smashes own National Sprint hurdles record

By Ricardo Chambers

Hansle Parchment joined an elite club of 16 men to have broken the 13 second barrier, when he set a Jamaican record to win the 110 meter high hurdles at the IAAF Diamond League meet in Paris on Saturday. The meet was shown LIVE as usual on Television Jamaica.

The 24 year old Parchment sped to 12.94 seconds, making him the tenth fastest man in history over the distance while improving on his previous national record of 13.05 secs.

In the process, he handily defeated the inform Frenchman Pascal Martinot Lagarde who logged a personal best 13.05.

The former Morant Bay High and Kingston College athlete was the only Jamaican winner at the meet.

Stephanie Ann McPherson was the next best placed Jamaican at the event. 

She produced a late surge to place second in the women’s 400 meters in a season’s best 50.40 seconds. Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross, who is Jamaican born,  continued her return to form by winning in 50.10 secs as Diamond race leader, National Champion Novlene Williams-Mills ended third in 50.68.

Meanwhile, world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce found the going tough on her return over 200 meters. She finished 5th in 22.63 with Simone Facey 6th in 22.75. Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare won in 22.32.

Nesta Carter 10.12 and Kemar Bailey-Cole 10.14 were 4th and 5th in the men’s 100 meters won by American Michael Rodgers in 10 seconds flat.

The event was marred by controversy, when national champion Nickel Ashmeade protested a false start and refused to leave the track for several minutes.

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Parchment smashes own National Sprint hurdles record

British national smuggles weed

A female British national who was caught smuggling cannabis worth ?51,000 ($9.6 million) from Jamaica through Gatwick Airport has been jailed for two years.

Margaret Simms, 57, of Peat Moors, denied bringing 17 kilograms of the drug into the United Kingdom in November last year.

According to a report on www.oxfordmail.co.uk, She was convicted by a jury at a previous hearing and sentenced on Tuesday.

The woman had flown to the Caribbean to visit her Jamaican husband. Inner London Crown Court heard she was acting under duress. She told the jury she was a victim of threats.

Prosecutor Francis Gaskin said: “The evidence heard in total about her role came from the defendant and must have been disbelieved by the jury. There is no credible evidence of threats or pressure. The prosecution said she knew exactly what she was doing and was motivated by financial gain.”

But Simms’ lawyer said there was no evidence of financial gain or a ‘criminal lifestyle’.

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British national smuggles weed

‘Fight fire with fire’ – T&T National Security Minister

Sunday, June 22, 2014 | 4:08 PM    

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Asserting that “these are desperate times”, the Trinidad Ministry of National Security plans “fighting fire with fire” and will be racking up its armoury to take on criminal elements.

This message came in a statement from the ministry late Saturday, following the killing of a man by police officers in a shootout, the subsequent shooting of a soldier in Desperlie Crescent, Laventille , and a confrontation between contingents of lawmen and residents earlier in the day.

National Security Minister Gary Griffith, was quoted as the Ministry of National Security would be adding to its arsenal very soon Armoured Personnel Carriers that would allow troops to enter these high risk hot zone areas and be able to stabilize any threat or attack on Law Enforcement.

Media reports, apparently based on information from police, indicated that just after midnight a police patrol attempted to approach three men, but was met by gunfire. The lawmen returned fire, killing a 19-year-old man, said to be among the three. The other two escaped.

According to the newspapers, hours later residents blocked access roads to Desperlie Crescent with debris and set it ablaze. Police responded in large numbers, explosions were heard, and an off-duty soldier was shot in the knee.

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‘Fight fire with fire’ – T&T National Security Minister

Schafer arrives today for new stint as national football coach

BY IAN BURNETT SPORTS EDITOR burnetti@jamaicaobserver.com

Tuesday, January 28, 2014    

WINFRIED Schafer is scheduled to arrive in the island today to begin a four-year stint as head coach of Jamaica’s senior men’s team leading to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Finals in Russia.

The German is slated to arrive at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, directly from his native Germany.

The 63-year-old, who has coached in his homeland, as well as Africa, Asia and the Middle East, agreed to terms with the Captain Horace Burrell-led Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) in recent days, after mulling over a contract presented to him last December.

Captain Burrell confirmed to the Jamaica Observer yesterday that Schafer would be returning and that the deal was reached after “extensive negotiations”, but he was not prepared to reveal much, only that “details would be announced at a later date”.

But the Observer understands that the man who led Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations title in 2002 and, on a golden run, steered the Africans to the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003, is expected to immediately announce his plans for the

senior men’s football programme, especially with the Caribbean Cup, a qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, slated for the back end of the year. He is also expected to lend his expertise and play a lead role in the restructuring of the JFF technical programmes and the operations of the age-group teams.

Part of the delay in re-signing Schafer was predicated on efforts to identify corporate partners to assist in covering his salary, but the Observer also understands that the coach was not only concerned about his own salary, but that the overall programme be supported sufficiently for him to seriously move it forward.

“He says he is not coming here (Jamaica) for a pension, but to work hard to improve the sport on the island,” the source told

the Observer.

Schafer joined the Reggae Boyz at the tail end of the failed Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign last August, after succeeding Theodore Whitmore, on a four-month contract which ran out on November 30.

The source added that Schafer wants to have all age-group teams playing under one philosophy, and that he could even ask to have direct control of the Under-23 team.

It is also thought that it is Schafer’s intention to have open dialogue and working relationships with all the National Premier League teams — coaches, physical trainers and managers in an effort to better prepare local-based players.

The Reggae Boyz are expected to face 1998 World Cup winners France in a friendly international on June 8 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, France, and could be in action earlier, as the JFF is is still in negotiations for other games, which could be finalised before long.

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Schafer arrives today for new stint as national football coach

UPDATE: Missing Indian national returns home

Latest News

Monday, December 30, 2013 | 12:29 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 32-year-old Indian national, Raju Narwani, who was reported missing on Sunday, December 29, has since returned home, the police say.He is said to be in good health.Narwani, of a Kingston 5 address, reportedly left his home to visit friends in Rockfort, Kingston 2 on Sunday, but did not show up. After efforts to contact him proved unsuccessful he was reported missing to the police.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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UPDATE: Missing Indian national returns home

Jamaica smashes National record to win women"s 4x100 relay

Sport

Sunday, August 18, 2013 | 9:20 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica scorched the track in a national record 41.29 to win the women’s 4×100 relay the penultimate event at the 14th World Championship in Moscow Russia Sunday morning.Anchor Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, way ahead of the field, was followed over the line by France in 42.73, while the US pulled off an unexpected 42.75 third.The Jamaican team was Carrie Russell, who handed to Kerron Stewart, Schillonie Calvert to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.amaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wins the women’s 4×100-meter relay final at the World Athletics Championships in the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2013. (Photo: AP)

HOUSE RULES

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2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

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Jamaica smashes National record to win women"s 4x100 relay

National team to compete in Constant Spring 36

Sport

Saturday, July 27, 2013

CONSTANT Spring Golf Club will be the venue for the next 36-hole qualifying tournament on the Jamaica Golf Association’s tournament calendar.Members of the national team are expected to compete in the Constant Spring Challenge, which will help them gain points in the rankings as well as warm up for the regional championships. Greg Chong, William Knibbs, Radcliff Knibbs, Sean Morris (captain), Jonathan Newnham, Paul Thompson and Michelle Gabay are among those entered.The tournament will be played over two days in the Stroke Play format, with participants in the Juniors, Ladies, Ladies Seniors, Men/Men Seniors and Men Super Seniors. Stableford scoring format will be used for those players whose handicaps are higher than 12.Constant Spring’s tight layout will test the skills of the national representatives, who will be leaving the island in early August for the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships in St Thomas, USVI, from August 5-11.

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National team to compete in Constant Spring 36

Montesso, Gama quit national programme — Burrell

DALLAS, Texas — Recently appointed technical director of Jamaica’s football Brazilian Alfredo Montesso has quit, the Jamaica Observer has learnt.

President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell confirmed that he has received and accepted the Brazilians’ resignation.The other Brazilian in the programme, Under-20 head coach Luciano Gama, will also be making his way home, bringing an end to an era of Brazilian coaching domination at the national level in Jamaica.“I have received the resignations of the men and have accepted them and I expect that both gentlemen will be returning to their homeland at the shortest possible time.“I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution to Jamaica’s football and I wish them all the best as they move to the next chapter of their lives as coaches,” Burrell told the Observer here yesterday.The JFF boss said that Montesso had indicated even as he was appointed technical director that he was interested in a full coaching appointment, preferably with the senior national team.“He had shown an interest in the head coaching job, but there was no vacancy for that position. When (Theodore) Whitmore left the position, we knew straight away that we needed someone who had the experience of leading a national team and one with success behind his name,” said Burrell, who is in the USA for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.Just a week ago, Whitmore’s successor as head coach of the Reggae Boyz was unveiled in the form of German national Winfried Schafer, the former head tactician of Cameroon, the team he guided to the African Cup of Nations title in 2006.“The Brazilians came and they did their best to help Jamaica’s football, but now it’s time for us to move on as we look to strengthen our ranks as we get ready for the remaining matches of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying play-offs beginning with a game away to Panama on September 6,” Burrell noted.However, when contacted last evening, Montesso said he was forced into a corner with a possible clash of philosophy, and the fact that Schafer would not be reporting to him, as technical director.“Once you have a particular philosophy, like you have a technical director from Brazil and then… once the president takes a decision to have a German coach, of course it’s something we have to discuss and we have to see if this can match,” Montesso said.“The coach says he wants to do the senior team in his way. He will not be reporting to the technical director and I don’t agree with that, and of course I have to take a position if I don’t agree.“This is what the president said in an interview that he (Schafer) will be reporting directly to the president. I don’t think that is the way I want to work,” he added.The departure from the programme by Montesso and Gama follows the dismissals of their countrymen, technical director Walter Gama (Luciano’s father) and goalkeeper coach Armando Bracali following a shambolic performance of the Boyz in the Caribbean Cup in Antigua and Barbuda last December.The decision to dismiss the senior Gama and Bracali was said to have emerged from what was deemed a technical review process by the JFF Technical and Development Committee headed by Howard McIntosh.That review of the disaster in Antigua was ordered by Burrell.Jamaica failed to make it to the semi-finals of the Caribbean tournament, which effectively eliminated them from the ongoing CONCACAF Gold Cup.Montesso, who has had two prior stints with the national programme, first came to Jamaica as a trainer on the Rene Simoes-led technical team that guided the Boyz to their historic France 1998 World Cup qualification.The Brazilian’s latest sojourn was enabled after he was handpicked by Whitmore to assist with the senior Boyz in 2011.But after the resignation of Whitmore, following the team’s 0-2 loss to Honduras on June 11, in the World Cup qualifying play-offs that threw the Boyz’ campaign in a tailspin, the JFF moved to a new course of action.As the search continued for a new head coach of foreign import, Montesso was diverted to focus more on the development side of the programme.MONTESSO… the coach said he will not be reporting to the technical director and I don’t agree with that

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Montesso, Gama quit national programme — Burrell