NEIFPE Supports Glenda Ritz

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

October 23, 2012

Contact: neifpe@gmail.com

Northern Indiana Education Advocacy Group Backs Glenda Ritz for Superintendent of Public Instruction

Public Education supporters concerned over negative impact of high-stakes testing, vouchers, charter schools, and teacher evaluations.

FORT WAYNE, IN – Citing strong and growing concern over the negative impact the corporatization of Indiana’s educational system is having on public education in Indiana, members of Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education (NEIFPE) today announced their support of Glenda Ritz for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Formed earlier this year, NEIFPE is a group of citizens, teachers, administrators and parents who are united by their support for public education and by concerns for its future.

The group believes that Glenda Ritz is the best candidate to refocus Indiana’s educational efforts toward students and learning rather than corporate interests. NEIFPE finds that recent federal and state reform measures that have turned education over to private interests threaten the well-being of children and jeopardize their futures.

The group supports Ritz, who has taken a stand against high-stakes testing and is committed to providing more time for education and less time for testing in Indiana.

For additional information visit www.neifpe.blogspot.com, www.ritz4ed.com or https://www.facebook.com/NEIFPE.

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Caldecott and Newbery Medals 2005

Caldecott Medal, 2005

Kitten’s first Full Moon was written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes. This is his thirty-fourth book and has a very different look from his others with illustrations in colored pencils and gouache (opaque water colors). Kitten’s first adventure is trying to climb to the moon, thinking it is a bowl of milk. And the adventures continue … With a minimum of words and large pictures this is a perfect book for preschoolers.



Newbery Medal, 2005

Kira-Kira was written by Cynthia Kadohata and is the story of a Japanese family who moves from Iowa to the Deep South of Georgia. Written from the perspective of Katie, we learn about older sister Lynn, younger brother Sam and both parents who work in a chicken hatchery. The wise older sister Lynn (who taught Katie that “kira-kira” is the sky because its color is deep but see-through at the same time, just like the sea, just like people’s eyes) becomes very ill and life for this family changes again. This story is sad but very thoughtful. It is one you will not soon forget.

Book Reviews by Susan Berry