Arkansas Blog

Any word on the AAAhearing today concerning the multiplier?

Any news on the LRSD board meeting? I notice that it isn't being aired on television, which probably means they are planning to do something idiotic.

A resolution has not been reached; however, each side will present its final narrative on Wednesday. Even though Holt is not representing himself, he usually wins his cases.

The board meeting was slated for 5:30, so there will probably be coverage at 6:00 or 10:00. I think Brooks has been given a directive from those who call the shots in the city to honor the agreement. And, too, for it is worth, it has been reported Brooks will encourage the baord to approve the contract. He(Brooks) is not one to be trusted!!!!!

any news on the record tax receipts from State and Federal government for gas taxes?

We hear about the profits from the oil companies, but never about the government. Isnt' their receipts about 10-1 of the oil companies profit?

Something to check out...would like to see the 23% Hard Core respond. This drips with Bush's priorities...

Oh, sorry 23r's...just click on my name...

Did the AT seriously name Wally Hall as Arkansas' best sportswriter? He could very well be the least talented writer to ever grace the pages of the D-G, and that is saying a lot, since that includes such luminaries as Mike Masterson. This has to be a joke.

I agree about Wally. He must know something on the publisher .... just to keep his job.

Regarding the AAA lawsuit:

I think this all boils down to a select few Public Schools who are tired of the private schools doing so well. That is all. This was passed by 3A teams to get CAC, PA, LR Christian, and Shiloh Christian out of their league. That is why the 1.75 multiplier was chose, to get those schools out of the 3A. However, they failed to factor in that Springdale Har-Ber became a new school this year, thus bumping CAC back into their league.

I don't think the AAA needs to increase the multiplier to punish (they call it leveling the playing field) the private schools due to recruiting. There are far more Public Schools that Recruit than Private Schools. That is just a fact. If the Private School recruiting is the real issue, why not take action against those individual schools, and the Public who do the same?

Fact is the AAA doesn't know how to make the Public Schools as competitive as the Private Schools. The Private Schools have better disciplined kids, they tend to be better students, and they have to work out hard to make the team or play. Most public school kids just don't have the same drive. The AAA doesn't know how to change this fact, so they move the Private Schools up to get them out of the league.

Even with strings attached, I think it's amazing that Plan B, the morning after pill, may make it to store shelves after all.

As I understand it, the offer from the Bush admin. is that it be kept behind the counter and not available to those under age 18.

Being behind the corner forces girls to ask for it, but even if they picked it up off the shelf themselves, they still have to pay for it, so it's not going to be an anonymous situation anyway.

The under-18 deal is a shame, but it may be the best we can get from Bush. It will probably PO the far right, so that's a big plus!

what about the story on Halter loaning his campaign a HUGE sum of money?

While I've not seen statistics specific to Arkansas, public school students nationally perform better than private school students on national board exams. The assertion that "most public school kids don't have the same drive" is absurd. The multiplier is put in place as a deterrent to illegal recruiting, which many, many private schools practice.

What an elitist bitch

Regarding AAA lawsuit....
I would like for somebody to publish a breakdown on the state tournament appearances and wins over the last several years by the private schools in ratio to the public schools, in all of the major sports. Being that there are only 30 private high schools in the state, I think that people would be quite surprised to see the lop-sided amount of private schools that make it or win it every year, particularly in what has been the AA and AAA categories.

What the hell difference if Halter loaned his campaign money.......you nutball Holt supporter?

so you see no problem, right? I think you are the nutball.

You have two Democrats who put in big dollars for their primaries. Halter, who put in a million, and McDaniel who put in half a milliion. Neither would have won without this money.

Have the Democrats become the party of the highest bidder and all others fall to the wayside? Martha Shoffner was the exception to this rule.

Finally. Key Democratic congressional leaders have finally united in calling for phased re-deployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq by the end of this year. Wonder what their first clue was that the place just continues to unravel at the seams and that U.S. troops were dying for NOTHING? It's a damned shame that so many died after this fact had for so long been so apparent. Oh, and Sen. Pryor, you're going to pay for your complicity in this come 2008. Those bloodthirsty idiots who want our soldiers to keep on dying are going to vote for your Republican opponent anyway, so you may as well have done the right thing.

It is my hope that Dustin McDaniel and Bill Halter will put every possible nickel of their own funds into defeating Gunner Delay and Jim Hiolt. They will do Arkansas a great service by defeating these two bozos.

AAA lawsuit

How did Gary Holt rate so much coverage in the Dem/Gaz? Wouldn't one picture and one article be enough?

8:00 and has has any one heard from the LRSD board?

The contract between teachers and LRSD was approved unanimously, after much discussion about the length of the contract. I was unable to attend the meeting, but have this from reliable sources. Then, they went into executive session to discuss extending Brooks' contract. There should be coverage on ABC at 10.

Completely new topic

My trusty eleven year old TV died yesterday. Went shopping today--it's a nightmare of choices out there. HDTV-regular TV-regular TV with the capability of reading digital when everything switches in 2009, but will still have an analog picture. Expensive and more expensive. Has anyone taken the HDTV plunge, is anyone else concerned that there may be another BETA/VHS type of equipment battle? I'd hate to get a new pricey HDTV, and then have the powers that be decide to change broadcast rules. The pictures are great, but I noticed that all of the sets were broadcasting some kind of high level digitial signal (Discovery Digital Channel?), How do the HDTVs look when they're hooked up to regular cable?
Any advice?

Both private and public schools recruit. Both have access to the same coaching talent. Public school programs are probably funded better, from the palaces I've seen.

My hero is the PA football star who is going to play for Harvard next year. In any other school, it would have been Hello, U of A.

Hey Elitist Anonymous Bitch...

Check your stats. This is Arkansas. The reason there are so many private schools in Central Arkansas is because the Public School Systems suck ass. The only people who believe that the Public Schools are so superior, as you tried to assume, is the folks who can't afford to put their kids in Public Schools. So, you make up stats to make yourself seem more acceptable for having your kids in Public Schools. Face it, Private School kids perform better on SAT and ACT Scores, have higher graduation rates, get more scholarships, and overall, do better in sports.

If they didn't, there would be no mulitplier issue.

Based on the most recent mulitplier, even the AAA is saying that each Private School kid is 75% than your Public School kids....

Yay Halter...Boo Holt. Boo Asa too! Yay Morning After Pill, maybe it will replace abortion clinics someday.

Now about important things like TVs. For Christmas I bought myself a 27 inch Westinghouse flat panel LCD TV at Best Buy for 700 bucks and I love it! I love it even though I am not watching it in HD. I have Dish and while I have a HD dish in the yard, my receivers are not HD. I have a Sony HD video cam, so I have watched that in HD on the TV and it's beautiful. I suppose if I had regular Cox Cable a lot of the programs would be in HD.

I just haven't had the time to go back thru SBC who I get my Dish from and see what kind of hoops I have to jump thru to get an HD receiver. We also currently enjoy "letterbox" movies on the new TV, it's cool to see what is cut off on a regular TV. In 5 years everything will be HD, so get it now so you won't feel like a fool later.

I bought the Westinghouse because it was the cheapest 27 inch selling in the US at the time. I haven't had any trouble with it and think I got my money's worth. And best of all I can block the Fox News channel. Happy shopping.

Was trolling the 'net for some private school facts. Here you go:

Quick Facts from the National Center for Education Statistics:

80% of all private schools enroll less than 300 students compared to 29% of all public schools.
Private school teachers are more likely than public school teachers to report higher levels of influence on various teaching practices and school policies.
Private school teachers are more likely than public school teachers to report being satisfied with teaching at their school.
A majority of private school teachers express positive opinions about their principal and their school's management.
Private school students generally perform higher than their public school counter- parts on standardized achievement tests.
Private high schools typically have more demanding graduation requirements than do public high schools.
Private school students are more than twice as likely to complete a bachelor's or advanced degree by their mid-20's than public school students (52% versus 26%).
Private school students in the lowest socioeconomic quartile (i.e. students from the poorest families) are more than three times as likely to complete a bachelor's degree by their mid-20's than their public school counterparts (24% versus 7%).

". So, you make up stats to make yourself seem more acceptable for having your kids in Public Schools. Face it, Private School kids perform better on SAT and ACT Scores, have higher graduation rates, get more scholarships, and overall, do better in sports."

Hey 1.75 (your GPA or IQ?),

Let's see now. The private schools, except for Catholic High and St Mary's, didn't exist prior to 1957. They were part of the move of white students away from the public schools to keep from associating with those who might be different from them.

The private schools don't have to take problem students, special educatio students, those who don't speak English (no-ESL). What they can do is cherry-pick the best students who have the parents with the money to pay the tuition. They can recruit since there aren't attendance zones. In many cases, there are churches directing students to their schools. I assume that there are scholarships available for the "right" student.

More scholarships-of course, on a percentage basis but the big money still goes to Central, Hall, Mills and Parkview.

When the private school take everyone who wants to go, not just the "selected" few. and quit being the special club for those with the right background, then you can knock public education. Until then, maybe 1.75 is too low. Or just put them in a special conference and let them play each other and stay out of the tournaments.

As a former teacher, it must be great to have kids who all want to learn, who all are trying for that 5 point AP "A". The parents are really involved in school. But that isn't the real world and they need to be prepared for the new black or Hispanic female boss and get out of that protective bubble.

There are some very good reasons to go to prep schools but using them to avoid contact with a large group of the population shouldn't be one of them.

I realize how much this will look trollish (is that a word?), but this is a serious inquiry. I heard that LRPD units responded to (or to an area adjacent) the State GOP headquarters today. Any word on that? I was told this was at the building at the corner of 6th and some cross street.

Rumors flying that Paul Eels has been killed in a car wreck in Pope County.

Richard Roe, any update on the Paul Eels rumors?

Rumors flying that Paul Eels has been killed in a car wreck in Pope County.
Posted by: Richard Roe

Anybody else remember Razorback announcer Bud Campbell? His death in a car wreck hurt me as bad as losing Orville Henry.

Since 10:15 no mention on channel 7. Surely they would say something on the newscast.

I remember Bud Campbell. Those were the days.

"The Private Schools have better disciplined kids, they tend to be better students, and they have to work out hard to make the team or play. Most public school kids just don't have the same drive. The AAA doesn't know how to change this fact, so they move the Private Schools up to get them out of the league."

Hahahahahahaha. Lordy, how myths continue of abound. Won't even attempt to deal with the cliches.

Here's what I've got (and I promise you it's not much at this point. . .)

1) Multiple reports that Paul Eels was killed in a crash on I-40 around R'ville some time before 9:00 p.m. tonight.

2) KARK allegedly reported a traffic fatality on I-40 in Pope County after 8:00 p.m. tonight.

3) That's about it. Sports boards are debating this, but two "posters" claiming EMT ties to that area say this is true.

I feel bad for posting this now, because I hope it's not true, but true or not, if any family member read this I apologize for being an asshole. I should have kept my rumors to myself. KATV is all smiles and is reporting nothing at this point.

Richard, where exactly do these rumors abound?

BTW, Richard, I think the 6th street item you asked about was probably the robber shot at RB Causey on 6th near the Capitol.

Richard Roe...

Just wanted to say that you broke it...thru a LRPD update...just goes to show you how much the great state of Arkansas loves Paul...RIP...

Why in heavens name aren't we reading anything about the Rod Bryan for Governor campaign in the AT?

I'll hang up and listen.

I am so sorry to find this rumor confirmed.

Props to Richard Roe. This must have been a tough call. You know that everyone here loves Paul Eels, so to have the even unconfirmed word that he died and not share that with a community such as this blog, well . . . I think it was fine what you did. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the truth.

I like it when people keep their manners about them when posting on death announcement threads. Non-thinking folks sort of spoiled Win Paul's thread. It'll probably happen above, too.

I just saw Ned Lamont on the Colbert Report. I hope he kicks Lieberman's ass.

they need to be prepared for the new black or Hispanic female boss -- Posted by: Fed Up to Here

. . . who probably also went to a private school.

"The only people who believe that the Public Schools are so superior, as you tried to assume, is the folks who can't afford to put their kids in Public Schools."--1.75

Assuming that 1.75 is a private school alumnus/a, it seems apparent that private schools must neglect subject-verb agreement in English classes. That, or 1.75 attended public schools, and he/she is making the point by example.

Last time I checked, no private school in Arkansas recruits nearly as effectively as Parkview did in basketball. Why was it OK for Barton to steal all of the kids away from Helena-West Helena Central and use them to dominate A? Think FS Southside and especially LR Central haven't recruited? Think again.

Where are the multipliers for these schools?

The majority of private schools in Arkansas not only don't recruit but haven't had much real athletic success. They're being punished for the success of PA, CAC, and Shiloh Christian. I can tell you a big reason kids go to those schools is because they want playing time they wouldn't get at Catholic or Central and want to win more games than they would at Hall, Parkview, etc. It's not because they get free rides. That's even more true in Springdale, where everyone wanted to play for Malzahn and would pay to do so.

I guess the same creators of the multiplier are as much a racist/bigot as the segragationist before them.

You poor public school student athletes are only worth .57% of a private school student athlete.

Just like when blacks were only considered 6 tenths of a man.