Michigan Schools Superintendent Calls for Dramatic Increases In Student Standards

In a bold declaration in a Michigan Department of Education News Release (poasted May 4, 2009), State Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Flanagan explained that national and state standards need to be increased dramatically:

"We are testing basic skills here, not what students need to compete at a global level," Flanagan said. "If schools only have low or moderate numbers of students being proficient at the basic skills level, what does that say about those schools and the chances for those students to succeed?"

Flanagan noted that even though Michigan's curriculum standards are among the best and most rigorous in the nation, its state tests are scored at a scale below international standards. He expects those test scoring scales will be increased to reflect the level of proficiency Michigan students need to compete at global levels. Independent studies have concluded that Michigan test scores rate at the national average among all states, while globally, the United States rates lower than many other nations.

"Being an academically average state in an academically below-average nation doesn't offer much hope for the future," Flanagan said. "We need to raise expectations for our schools and our students, and reimagine how we educate all of our children to extraordinary levels so Michigan can lead with brain power as we did in manufacturing."

Tianamen Square - Not Forgotten

Today marks the anniversary of the crushing of the peaceful student led movement seeking reform of China's corrupt communist led government. For weeks, up to a million Chinese protesters - from all walks of life - joined together in Tianamen Square to demand reform. In China, in which the authoritarian government has almost always been the norm, such a mass protest was unheard of. Tianamen Square is a huge area in the capital city of Beijing dedicated to celebrating the Chinese Communist Party. The protests following the death of Hu Yaobang, a government official who championed internal reform. The protesters even created a replica of the Statute of Liberty. After internal debates about how to address the situation, the regime decided to quash the gathering, and ordered the Chinese Army to use force to crush it. Likely thousands died on the square, and the protest movement was suppressed with a wave of arrests.

Those who died should be remembered today. They are the symbols of freedom, and an inspiration for us even decades later. They died only because they wanted what we take for granted in America - our First Principles of the rule of law, equality, the Social Compact, unalienable rights, and a limited government.

Although today the Chinese government considers them traitors, someday the corrupt regime of China will fall, and the heroes of Tianamen Square will take their rightful place in Chinese history.

For more on the importance First Principles and why they are worth fighting for, visit www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com

The Need for Principles and Virtue

Samuel Adams wrote that "A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose
their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first
external or internal invader."

Today, Adams' warning is particularly important. We have done an exceedingly poor job in remembering our First Principles, and "virtue" appeared to gone out of fashion long ago. Do we really think we can survive as a free people if we are unprincipled and without virtue? That appears to be a fools' hope.

For more on our founding First Principles and history, check out www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.

Memorial Day - Time to Renew the Spirit of America

As we approach Memorial Day, it should be a time for something more than an excuse for a three day weekend and "once in a lifetime" carpet sales. Of course, we all benefit from a break from the hustle and bustle of our lives, but it is also a time to reflect on the sacrifices that our sacred dead have made.

We are the beneficiaries of hundreds of thousands of servicemen and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. On Monday, let us remember them, and let us renew our commitment to ensuring that that their sacrifices were not in vain. We need to deepen and renew the Spirit of America by defending our way of life, our Constitution, and our freedoms and liberties. We can do so by relearning our Founding First Principles and history, and ensuring that those power do the same.


For more on our founding First Principles and history, visit: www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com. for more on holidays and holiday reform, visit http://patriotsweek.blogspot.com

Time to Renew the Spirit of '76

On May 15, 1776, the Virginia Legislature passed instructions to its delegates to the 2nd Continental Congress to propose to Congress that it declare the colonies “free and independent states.” The resolutions reached Congress on May 27. Barely a month later, on July 2, the Congress approved independence, and on July 4, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Where is that Spirit of ’76 today? Our forefathers placed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor at risk to rebel against an oppressive British Empire. Today, more people are interested in reality tv, the dysfunctional lives of celebrities, and sports than our freedom.

We are fools to think that we can continue to be a free people without a vigorous defense of our founding First Principles of the rule of law, unalienable rights, equality, the Social Compact, and limited government. America, follow the example of our Virginian Founding Fathers and act, before it is too late.

For more on our founding First Principles and history, visit: www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.

A Tribute to PaPa – A Man of Character

Today mark’s my grandfather’s birthday, may he rest in peace. I can’t but help to moved by the life he lived. Honest, hardworking, joyful, religious, and patriotic – he was a true man of character. A 100% blue collar worker, he labored his entire life so that his family could live the American Dream. And he succeeded. Among his family are successful business executives, accountants, lawyers, nurses, and public officials.

100% Sicilian, he joined the US Army as a teenager and fought in the European theater – including in the Battle of the Bulge. His unit was all but wiped out, but he survived to come home and build a wonderful, loving home for his wife and family. We grandchildren are truly blessed by PaPa’s legacy.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, he was among the “iron men, they fought for the principle that they were contending for; and we understood that by what they then did it has followed that the degree of posterity that we now enjoy has come to us.” His generation – what many dub the greatest generation – made huge sacrifices so that we might enjoy the blessings of liberty. It is incumbent upon us, therefore, to live up to that great responsibility so that our children and grandchildren can continue the legacy.

Let us pray we are up to the challenge.

May Day v Law Day

Today is May Day v Law Day. Many communist regimes used to celebrate "workers" rights on May Day. They also referred to May 1 as International Workers Day. The bottom line is that these regimes oppressed the unalienable rights of their people under the guise of elevating workers' rights, and even celebrated such oppression with a national holiday.

The American Bar Association (ABA) responded with "Law Day" - which celebrates the First Principle of the Rule of Law on May 1. Today across the nation, lmany awyers worked to celebrate and respect the Rule of Law through various service projects and other activities. I'm with the ABA 100% on this one!

For more on the importance of the Rule of Law, check out www.AmericasSurvivalGuide.com.