There is yet another reason to wash your hands and clean up surfaces touched by children-- a brand new species of ring worm fungus that will not die. Even with oral anti-fungal drugs and topicals at the same time, many children with this new species of ring worm fungus are still contagious and it just keeps coming back. Worse it is linked to increases in asthma and allergies among susceptible children (and adults?).
I hate to bring more bad news but school nurses and teachers should be aware of this new and incredibly resistant fungus.
Thirty years ago, cat ring worm which was the common species was easy to cure with a few applications of a topical anti-fungal. No more. And this new fungus is even more resistant than cat ring worm. Scary.
Sadly it is not the only fungus which has virtually incurable strains spreading across the nation. Many new strains of athlete's foot fungus are completely resistant to most topical anti-fungals. Be careful and be caution in common areas where lots of folks walk barefoot. Be sure to wear sandals in public showers and at public pools or where ever there are moist surfaces that other folks walk barefoot on.
Oral anti-fungals were considered the big guns for resistant strains. Orals were the last line of defense. Now apparently the human fungi pathogens are defeating all of our fungicides, just as the bacterial pathogens like MRSA are defeating our antibiotics. We are unlikely to get new anti-fungals any time soon. Fungus cells unlike bacteria cells are close relatives to our own body cells. With so few differences between them and us, it is devilishly difficult to find an effective target that will kill fungus cells without killing our own cells.
Scary stuff. Just as with resistant bacteria, resistant fungi will be naturally selected for the most virulence once it is unchecked by medication. The more virulence, the more spores (or infections cells) are produced and the more chance the pathogen has to spread and to infect others. It is a winning strategy for a pathogen. Evolution sadly is working against us.
All we can do is be extremely careful when working with children and aggressively treat fungal infections. In the old days we soaked infected body parts in vinegar solutions. Fungus hates vinegar.
Remember to clean common surface areas. These are places that many people touch with their hands or with their feet. Use 10% bleach solution and clean often.
These fungus spores are not only cling to hats and combs, they will cling to any surface an infected child touches after scratching the infected area on his or her body. They will linger on common surfaces for quite some time, perhaps weeks. Think of the spores like tiny invisible bubbles covered with Velcro that sticks to surfaces until the next potential host touches that surface, then the Velcro releases and the spore infects the next host.
Study finds treatment-resistant ringworm prevalent among children in metro elementary schools
Kansas City, Mo – April 19, 2010 – Approximately 7 percent of elementary school children across the bi-state, Kansas City metropolitan area are infected with the fungus Trichophyton tonsurans (T. tonsurans), the leading cause of ringworm in the U.S., according to a new study published today in Pediatrics. This is the largest study to date aimed at defining infection prevalence of the scalp fungus in children living in a metropolitan area and has implications for children nationwide.
"The organism T. tonsurans has become the leading cause of scalp infection in the U.S., and we believe it is on the rise in inner city areas," said Susan Abdel-Rahman, Pharm.D., lead study author and professor of pediatrics and pharmacy at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. "This study supports what I and many of my peers are seeing – children with scaly, itchy scalps and hair loss are prevalent in metropolitan areas. If not treated, ringworm can lead to permanent hair loss, which can damage a child's self image. There is also some evidence that it may worsen seemingly unrelated problems such as asthma and allergic rhinitis."
Although its name suggests otherwise, ringworm is caused by a fungus, not a worm. In the past, Microsporum species were the main cause of ringworm, often passed to humans from cats and dogs. However, in recent years, T. tonsurans emerged, which spreads directly between humans, and is more challenging to screen for and treat.
The study of 10,514 children in grades K through 5 across 44 schools found that 6.6 percent of the children evaluated were infected with T. tonsurans. Infection rates varied markedly based on age and race, with African American children at greatest risk. More than 18 percent of the youngest African American children evaluated (kindergarten and first grade) were infected, with that number dropping to 7 percent by the time they reached fifth grade. In contrast, infection rates in Hispanic (1.6 percent) and Caucasian children (1.1 percent) were significantly lower. The reason for the dramatically higher prevalence in African Americans is not clear.
Current treatment regimens for T. tonsurans require a course of oral antifungal medicine typically for six to eight weeks until the symptoms resolve. However, in many of these children the fungus will not be completely eliminated. Consequently, children can still spread the infection to their classmates after being treated. "T. tonsurans has learned how to stay on the host and avoid eradication. This can be very frustrating for children who keep getting re-infected and for their parents who are doing everything they can to prevent this," added Abdel-Rahman. "We have only recently started to appreciate just how many children carry this pathogen so we don't yet know the best way to tackle this problem. However, I do advise parents to limit the sharing of items that come into contact with the scalp such as hats, combs, brushes and pillows. Watch closely for signs of infection such as flaking that looks like dandruff, white patchy scaling, itching, hair thinning or loss, and small pus-filled bumps, especially when your child has come in contact with another infected child. Make an appointment to see your doctor if you suspect that your child is infected and make sure to take the prescribed medicine as directed along with the application of a medicated shampoo two to three times a week."
###
About Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, located in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the nation's top pediatric medical centers. The 314-bed hospital provides care for children from birth through the age of 18, and has been recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services, and ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Children's Hospitals." Its faculty of 600 pediatricians and researchers across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research, and educating the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. For more information about Children's Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org. For breaking news and videos, follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
New ANTI lie: VTA spent more money on school board races
The newest lie by our ANTI friends is that the VTA spent more money on our local school board campaigns than is typically spent on these races in other districts statewide.. This new false allegation goes along with their other assertion that ordinary citizens do not have any chance against the VTA because of all the money the VTA spends. They fail to tell the truth that the VTA has been outspent by ANTI candidates in virtually every school board race since 1994. My response to the latest lie of our angry ANTI friends is below.
--------------------
Vista Teacher at 9:10am is wrong when she asserts that the VTA provided more support to school board candidates than in any other district in California.
She incorrectly wrote that, "They (the VTA) spent more money on the campaigns of these candidates than is typically spent by any other candidate for any other district in CA (even LAUSD!)."
In truth Gibson and Guffanti and their supporters have outspent the VTA in every election in the last ten years with the exception of the last one in November of 2008. The few thousands that Vista Teachers voluntarily contribute pale in comparison to the millions spent in Los Angeles and other large school district. Millions, thousands--good thing Vista "Teacher" did not teach math if she really was a teacher at all.
Here is a URL and the first title and first sentences of a Los Angeles Times article that Vista "teacher" might like to read before she makes any more false allegations regarding the Vista Teachers campaign contributions:
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-campaignfunds1aug01,1,2378070.story?coll=la-news-learning&ctrack=1&cset=true
From the Los Angeles Times
Mayor spent millions on school board races
Villaraigosa's efforts to gain school allies breaks record. He won't have to cover LAUSD legal fees.
By David Zahniser and Joel Rubin
Times Staff Writers
August 1, 2007
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spent $3.5 million on behalf of three candidates who recently won seats on the Los AngelesUnified School District Board of Education,breaking the record set eight years ago by then-Mayor Richard Riordan, another politician who installed a board majority, according to reports filed Tuesday.
--------------------
Vista Teacher at 9:10am is wrong when she asserts that the VTA provided more support to school board candidates than in any other district in California.
She incorrectly wrote that, "They (the VTA) spent more money on the campaigns of these candidates than is typically spent by any other candidate for any other district in CA (even LAUSD!)."
In truth Gibson and Guffanti and their supporters have outspent the VTA in every election in the last ten years with the exception of the last one in November of 2008. The few thousands that Vista Teachers voluntarily contribute pale in comparison to the millions spent in Los Angeles and other large school district. Millions, thousands--good thing Vista "Teacher" did not teach math if she really was a teacher at all.
Here is a URL and the first title and first sentences of a Los Angeles Times article that Vista "teacher" might like to read before she makes any more false allegations regarding the Vista Teachers campaign contributions:
http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-campaignfunds1aug01,1,2378070.story?coll=la-news-learning&ctrack=1&cset=true
From the Los Angeles Times
Mayor spent millions on school board races
Villaraigosa's efforts to gain school allies breaks record. He won't have to cover LAUSD legal fees.
By David Zahniser and Joel Rubin
Times Staff Writers
August 1, 2007
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spent $3.5 million on behalf of three candidates who recently won seats on the Los AngelesUnified School District Board of Education,breaking the record set eight years ago by then-Mayor Richard Riordan, another politician who installed a board majority, according to reports filed Tuesday.
ANTI blogger, "Roxy" falsely asserts that VUSD has the most sanctioned schools and highest dropout rate in California
Another of our ANTI public education friends falsely asserted without any substantiation that VUSD is worst district in the state for dropouts and sanctioned schools. Her allegations are so silly. VUSD dropout rates are very similar to surrounding districts and is not even close to the dropout rates in some of our state's more economically deprived areas like Oakland and Compton but truth or even the appearance of truth is not important to our ANTI friends only their angry accusations. Below is my response to Roxy. I really should have looked up drop out rates in California school data base. I will do that later and update this post but I am tired now, so I will just paste my response in the North County Times blogs.
------------------------------------------
Roxy, has made another of her famous unsubstantiated allegations at 12:07 pm April 16.
Just as her silly charge of a few days ago that state funding for running school districts including VUSD had not changed, this new charge is equally false.
Roxy wrote: "Well, VUSD is the school district who has the most sanctioned schools and the highest dropout rate in the STATE."GOT THAT!!!!!"
Read all of Roxy's wild comments here:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_3b4b42be-89ac-5279-b9af-fbbb912d687c.html?mode=comments
If VUSD did have either the most sanctioned schools or the highest drop out rate, she could provide documentation, but of course, she cannot. One has to wonder why she posts such wild allegations. All I can figure is that it seems she gets great satisfaction in making up angry allegations. Perhaps "righteous" anger makes her feel better so she creates stories in her mind that allow her to feel angry. Who knows?
Roxy knows that the state of California named Vista Unified a model for others districts in the state for drop out prevention. I hardly think the state would give that award to a district with "the highest dropout rate in the STATE."
For the article about VUSD being named one of only ten model districts in the state for drop out prevention, read: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_b594a65d-1eac-5507-b0ef-792408e088e9.html
Title, date and first sentence from the above article:
"VUSD named model district for dropout prevention"
North County Times
Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:00 am
VISTA - A state panel recently named Vista Unified one of 10 school districts across the state that will be considered a model for keeping kids in school."
Gee Roxy, facts are so difficult for your hateful viewpoint, aren't they?
------------------------------------------
Roxy, has made another of her famous unsubstantiated allegations at 12:07 pm April 16.
Just as her silly charge of a few days ago that state funding for running school districts including VUSD had not changed, this new charge is equally false.
Roxy wrote: "Well, VUSD is the school district who has the most sanctioned schools and the highest dropout rate in the STATE."GOT THAT!!!!!"
Read all of Roxy's wild comments here:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_3b4b42be-89ac-5279-b9af-fbbb912d687c.html?mode=comments
If VUSD did have either the most sanctioned schools or the highest drop out rate, she could provide documentation, but of course, she cannot. One has to wonder why she posts such wild allegations. All I can figure is that it seems she gets great satisfaction in making up angry allegations. Perhaps "righteous" anger makes her feel better so she creates stories in her mind that allow her to feel angry. Who knows?
Roxy knows that the state of California named Vista Unified a model for others districts in the state for drop out prevention. I hardly think the state would give that award to a district with "the highest dropout rate in the STATE."
For the article about VUSD being named one of only ten model districts in the state for drop out prevention, read: http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_b594a65d-1eac-5507-b0ef-792408e088e9.html
Title, date and first sentence from the above article:
"VUSD named model district for dropout prevention"
North County Times
Posted: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:00 am
VISTA - A state panel recently named Vista Unified one of 10 school districts across the state that will be considered a model for keeping kids in school."
Gee Roxy, facts are so difficult for your hateful viewpoint, aren't they?
Prop O money lost due to "graft" or actions of our local ANTI crowd? You decide.
Our angry friends continue to slander, write false narratives and hurl baseless charges.
Today in the North County Times blogs Vista Watchdog 1 accused all the administrators who left VUSD after Joyce Bales was hired of being involved in a massive graft scheme. Yes, I know preposterous. But that is our ANTI public education friends for you. Preposterous over the top and angry always angry but about nothing about stuff they have made up in their own fevered imaginations. Sad really.
My wife and I knew quite a few of the 37 administrators who left after Bales took over. This was the greatest loss of administrators in VUSD history. We talked to a number of them. Those who were retired were the most candid but even those who found jobs in nearby districts also weren't very shy about telling their reason for leaving. To a person they said it was Dr. Joyce Bales and her management style. They could not have been happier getting out of the district.
Accusing all of those fine administrators of stealing public money is so crazy and out of bounds only our ANTI friends could create such an obvious lie and pretend it was true. Vista Watchdog 1 is one of our more notorious and most fact challenged ANTI posters. VWdog is the one to make this charge in today's North County Times blog.
VWdog at 10:00pm slandered with a broad brush when he wrote: "I should also note here that the 38? administrators who left VUSD all were part of the graft that took place at VUSD during the building program of Prop O."
Find his full comments here:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_3b4b42be-89ac-5279-b9af-fbbb912d687c.html?mode=comments
Can anyone besides VWdog say that makes any sense at all? Every administrator that left was part of a great scheme of graft? If VWdog has knowledge of this graft, it is his duty as a good citizen to inform the district attorney. If he is making up over the top charges just so he can feel justified in his baseless anger, then he is pathetic. So which is it, VWdog is failing to do his duty or is he just pathetic? I will let others judge.
As VWdog knows VUSD used prefab classrooms for several reasons. (1) they can be moved to where they are most needed as student populations in the district change. (2)they are cheaper (3) they have more bells and whistles then traditional classrooms--independent heat and air, microphone systems, AV centers, etc. Teachers prefer these new modern prefabs over the 'brick and mortar' classrooms.
Most school districts in California for the last twenty years that have passed bonds only use these prefab classrooms for just those reasons. VUSD is doing NOTHING different than virtually every other district in the state.
As to building costs going up, yes after vwdog and his angry friends three times "defeated" our earlier school bonds by getting slightly over one third of the vote, costs for new schools did increase. When the money for Prop O came in from 2002 through 2007, we were in the middle of the most expensive construction cost cycle in history here in the North County.
Had VWdog and his small group of angry friends, voted in favor of Prop LL in 1999, that school bond would have passed. It lost by the narrowest of margins in the absentee balloting counted after Election Day. It actually won among the voters who voted on Election Day. In fact it had a two thirds majority or better in every one of our eight VUSD precincts on Election Day. Very few of VWdog's angry friends voting in favor of this school bond, Prop LL. Had it passed, we would have had our desperately needed school bond three years earlier when costs of construction were far less. Think how much could have been saved in building costs for those schools had they been built in 1999! Then there was Prop L a couple of years before Prop LL. It was defeated by this same tiny group of angry, disgruntled folks. They again got slightly more than one third of the votes. Before that in the late 80's the angry ones knocked off Prop K for Kids.
Each time our angry friends managed to defeat these bonds, the VAST majority of VUSD voters were in favor of passing them. Sadly California state law required two thirds in favor, majority does NOT always win in California school bond elections. Each "defeat" meant the cost of building our desperately needed VUSD schools got ever more expensive.
Of course the greatest waste of money was the delay in the start of construction of the third high school caused when Jim Gibson and Dr. Stephen Guffanti refused to support the purchase of the last cheap (zoned agricultural), level, fully graded, vacant, and qualified 50 plus acre tract of land in the district. No matter how many times the thrifty three majority trustees came to them and asked the wasteful duo to vote to save taxpayer money, Gibson and Guffanti refused. G and G would not allow the taxpayers the ability to purchase the land behind Strawberry Hill (State law required four of five school board members).
As a result a new site had to be found for the third high school, the decidedly more expensive, ungraded and very hilly site on Melrose was finally found. It had jurisdictional and boundary issues that the primary site did not have but G and G would not allow the primary site to be purchased.
The delays resulted in at least five more years of over crowded campuses at VHS and RBVHS. But worse for the taxpayers was the increase in cost. The third high school was projected to cost between 50 and 54 million dollars to construct in 2002. Today it is still not complete and will cost almost 100 million dollars. Nearly fifty millions dollars wasted by two trustees whose school age children attended private religious institutions and not public schools. With none of their five school age children in VUSD schools, Gibson and Guffanti had nothing at stake when they delayed the third high school and increased the costs.
VWdog has repeatedly written in support of the actions of Jim Gibson and Dr. Stephen Guffanti. He has frequently criticized what he calls wastes of taxpayer money. Yet he has NEVER criticized Jim Gibson and Dr. Stephen Guffanti for the delay in construction and increased cost of the third high school. Is VWdog really concerned about taxpayer money or does he have a different agenda? I think the answer is obvious.
Today in the North County Times blogs Vista Watchdog 1 accused all the administrators who left VUSD after Joyce Bales was hired of being involved in a massive graft scheme. Yes, I know preposterous. But that is our ANTI public education friends for you. Preposterous over the top and angry always angry but about nothing about stuff they have made up in their own fevered imaginations. Sad really.
My wife and I knew quite a few of the 37 administrators who left after Bales took over. This was the greatest loss of administrators in VUSD history. We talked to a number of them. Those who were retired were the most candid but even those who found jobs in nearby districts also weren't very shy about telling their reason for leaving. To a person they said it was Dr. Joyce Bales and her management style. They could not have been happier getting out of the district.
Accusing all of those fine administrators of stealing public money is so crazy and out of bounds only our ANTI friends could create such an obvious lie and pretend it was true. Vista Watchdog 1 is one of our more notorious and most fact challenged ANTI posters. VWdog is the one to make this charge in today's North County Times blog.
VWdog at 10:00pm slandered with a broad brush when he wrote: "I should also note here that the 38? administrators who left VUSD all were part of the graft that took place at VUSD during the building program of Prop O."
Find his full comments here:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/vista/article_3b4b42be-89ac-5279-b9af-fbbb912d687c.html?mode=comments
Can anyone besides VWdog say that makes any sense at all? Every administrator that left was part of a great scheme of graft? If VWdog has knowledge of this graft, it is his duty as a good citizen to inform the district attorney. If he is making up over the top charges just so he can feel justified in his baseless anger, then he is pathetic. So which is it, VWdog is failing to do his duty or is he just pathetic? I will let others judge.
As VWdog knows VUSD used prefab classrooms for several reasons. (1) they can be moved to where they are most needed as student populations in the district change. (2)they are cheaper (3) they have more bells and whistles then traditional classrooms--independent heat and air, microphone systems, AV centers, etc. Teachers prefer these new modern prefabs over the 'brick and mortar' classrooms.
Most school districts in California for the last twenty years that have passed bonds only use these prefab classrooms for just those reasons. VUSD is doing NOTHING different than virtually every other district in the state.
As to building costs going up, yes after vwdog and his angry friends three times "defeated" our earlier school bonds by getting slightly over one third of the vote, costs for new schools did increase. When the money for Prop O came in from 2002 through 2007, we were in the middle of the most expensive construction cost cycle in history here in the North County.
Had VWdog and his small group of angry friends, voted in favor of Prop LL in 1999, that school bond would have passed. It lost by the narrowest of margins in the absentee balloting counted after Election Day. It actually won among the voters who voted on Election Day. In fact it had a two thirds majority or better in every one of our eight VUSD precincts on Election Day. Very few of VWdog's angry friends voting in favor of this school bond, Prop LL. Had it passed, we would have had our desperately needed school bond three years earlier when costs of construction were far less. Think how much could have been saved in building costs for those schools had they been built in 1999! Then there was Prop L a couple of years before Prop LL. It was defeated by this same tiny group of angry, disgruntled folks. They again got slightly more than one third of the votes. Before that in the late 80's the angry ones knocked off Prop K for Kids.
Each time our angry friends managed to defeat these bonds, the VAST majority of VUSD voters were in favor of passing them. Sadly California state law required two thirds in favor, majority does NOT always win in California school bond elections. Each "defeat" meant the cost of building our desperately needed VUSD schools got ever more expensive.
Of course the greatest waste of money was the delay in the start of construction of the third high school caused when Jim Gibson and Dr. Stephen Guffanti refused to support the purchase of the last cheap (zoned agricultural), level, fully graded, vacant, and qualified 50 plus acre tract of land in the district. No matter how many times the thrifty three majority trustees came to them and asked the wasteful duo to vote to save taxpayer money, Gibson and Guffanti refused. G and G would not allow the taxpayers the ability to purchase the land behind Strawberry Hill (State law required four of five school board members).
As a result a new site had to be found for the third high school, the decidedly more expensive, ungraded and very hilly site on Melrose was finally found. It had jurisdictional and boundary issues that the primary site did not have but G and G would not allow the primary site to be purchased.
The delays resulted in at least five more years of over crowded campuses at VHS and RBVHS. But worse for the taxpayers was the increase in cost. The third high school was projected to cost between 50 and 54 million dollars to construct in 2002. Today it is still not complete and will cost almost 100 million dollars. Nearly fifty millions dollars wasted by two trustees whose school age children attended private religious institutions and not public schools. With none of their five school age children in VUSD schools, Gibson and Guffanti had nothing at stake when they delayed the third high school and increased the costs.
VWdog has repeatedly written in support of the actions of Jim Gibson and Dr. Stephen Guffanti. He has frequently criticized what he calls wastes of taxpayer money. Yet he has NEVER criticized Jim Gibson and Dr. Stephen Guffanti for the delay in construction and increased cost of the third high school. Is VWdog really concerned about taxpayer money or does he have a different agenda? I think the answer is obvious.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
"Hot for Teachers" must see video--on line
Hot for Teachers is a short, funny four minute professional quality video about education cuts in California. The video is a must see for all California teachers, parents and students. My only quibble is that the blame for the billions in cuts is placed entirely on Arnold Schwarzenegger. There are others who are far more responsible--State Senator Mark Wyland, Assembly member Martin Garrick, Nathan Fletcher, and Diane Harkey. Our local state Assembly members and State Senator.
While Schwarzenegger is part of the problem. He is the smaller part. He cannot sign bills or budgets that are not passed by the California State Senate and State Assembly. My fellow Republicans in Sacramento have over and over refused any solutions to our California State Budget crises except massive cuts.
Even easy fixes like a tax on oil production equal to the one Sarah Palin imposed on oil producers in Alaska have been flatly refused by the Sacramento Republicans. Their only solution is cuts and more cuts to education and to health and welfare for the poor, elderly and disabled.
Here is the URL to find the video:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/hot-for-teachers-video-produced-by-la-parents-protests-school-budget-cuts-.html
'Hot for Teachers' video produced by L.A. parents protesting school budget cuts
April 7, 2010 9:18 am
The parents at Wonderland Avenue Elementary in Laurel Canyon were irate about the proposed education cuts from the state budget. So instead of going to Sacramento, they went straight to Hollywood.
The school’s PTA president came up with the idea of creating a video, and one parent suggested they ask Brian Austin Green (of "Beverly Hills, 90210" fame) to star in it. Green, whose son attends the school, agreed, and he got his girlfriend, actress Megan Fox, to costar.
The result was a four-minute short called “Hot for Teachers” that went live on Funny or Die, a viral comedy video site, on Wednesday. It begins with the Wonderland principal addressing a group of parents yelling about the budget cuts. Then Green gets a call on his phone from Fox.
“People are freaking out about these budget cuts,” he says into the phone. “It’s like Attica in here.”
Green tells Fox to wait for him in the library, and on her way there, she encounters a group of fifth-graders sprawled on the floor and on top of cabinets because of overcrowding. They mistake her for their new teacher. The kids tell Fox their teacher was laid off and their class was combined with another.
“The kids in this class are multiplying faster than my head lice,” said one of the students as she scratches her head.
“It’s no wonder so many of us end up in prison,” laments another.
The video ends with Green and Fox urging viewers to sign a petition on the Say No to Cuts website and to “call, write, and annoy the governor until he cries for his mommy.”
Wonderland parents wrote the script and and produced the video with the help of Funny or Die, said John Koch, an entertainment public relations expert whose daughter attends the school. He helped write the script.
“The video is an exaggeration. It’s meant to be funny, but the question is, when is enough enough?” Koch said. “How far are these cuts going to go? It’s a tough situation for a lot of people.”
-- My-Thuan Tran
While Schwarzenegger is part of the problem. He is the smaller part. He cannot sign bills or budgets that are not passed by the California State Senate and State Assembly. My fellow Republicans in Sacramento have over and over refused any solutions to our California State Budget crises except massive cuts.
Even easy fixes like a tax on oil production equal to the one Sarah Palin imposed on oil producers in Alaska have been flatly refused by the Sacramento Republicans. Their only solution is cuts and more cuts to education and to health and welfare for the poor, elderly and disabled.
Here is the URL to find the video:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/04/hot-for-teachers-video-produced-by-la-parents-protests-school-budget-cuts-.html
'Hot for Teachers' video produced by L.A. parents protesting school budget cuts
April 7, 2010 9:18 am
The parents at Wonderland Avenue Elementary in Laurel Canyon were irate about the proposed education cuts from the state budget. So instead of going to Sacramento, they went straight to Hollywood.
The school’s PTA president came up with the idea of creating a video, and one parent suggested they ask Brian Austin Green (of "Beverly Hills, 90210" fame) to star in it. Green, whose son attends the school, agreed, and he got his girlfriend, actress Megan Fox, to costar.
The result was a four-minute short called “Hot for Teachers” that went live on Funny or Die, a viral comedy video site, on Wednesday. It begins with the Wonderland principal addressing a group of parents yelling about the budget cuts. Then Green gets a call on his phone from Fox.
“People are freaking out about these budget cuts,” he says into the phone. “It’s like Attica in here.”
Green tells Fox to wait for him in the library, and on her way there, she encounters a group of fifth-graders sprawled on the floor and on top of cabinets because of overcrowding. They mistake her for their new teacher. The kids tell Fox their teacher was laid off and their class was combined with another.
“The kids in this class are multiplying faster than my head lice,” said one of the students as she scratches her head.
“It’s no wonder so many of us end up in prison,” laments another.
The video ends with Green and Fox urging viewers to sign a petition on the Say No to Cuts website and to “call, write, and annoy the governor until he cries for his mommy.”
Wonderland parents wrote the script and and produced the video with the help of Funny or Die, said John Koch, an entertainment public relations expert whose daughter attends the school. He helped write the script.
“The video is an exaggeration. It’s meant to be funny, but the question is, when is enough enough?” Koch said. “How far are these cuts going to go? It’s a tough situation for a lot of people.”
-- My-Thuan Tran
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)