Rep. Bob Behning (Bennett’s Puppet) and Poverty This past spring, a group of AP Statistics students from Ben Davis H.S. presented an excellently researched and documented presentation on the “A-F Grading System” (previously posted here). The presentation showed, in graphs and charts, that there is a direct correlation between low ISTEP scores and high poverty rates. It was their recommendation, then, that the “A-F Grading System” be adjusted to include and reflect the complexity level of schools. Rep. Bob Behning attended this presentation. As he responded to the recommendation, he, quite literally, looked down his nose at the students and very coldly said, “We have already give you extra money for the free/reduced students. Poverty should, therefore, not have to be a part of this grading system.” With that comment, he simply dismissed, not only the students and their work, but the reality of the effects of poverty on our students. Behning’s district is west of Indianapolis, covering the southern part of Wayne Township ,which is 75%+ free and reduced ; a large portion of Decatur Township , 67% free/reduced ; a tip of Perry Township, 67% free/reduced , and a small portion of Hendricks County ,20% free/reduced. It should be noted here that Behning has publicly stated that he “no longer represents Wayne Township,” and has, at every opportunity, made that clear to residents in Wayne. (Wayne has apparently become too diverse and too poor for him to associate himself with.) Rep. Bob Behning, has, in fact, only REALLY represented his wealthy constituents; he just cannot be associated with poor people nor their problems. Rep. Bob Behning serves as the Chairman of the House Education committee. He is directly responsible for every bill that has passed that has harmed Public Education, and the puppet that has introduced every bill that Tony Bennnett, Mitch Daniels, and ALEC has asked to introduce and support. Why does he do this? One red flag: his children and now grandchildren go to private schools. Another, darker red, flag: While he took tens of thousands of dollars from wealthy special interest groups in his last campaign, he personally only contributed $540! To his own campaign! Who does that? Maybe he was the PERFECT person to be picked to be Chairman of the Education Committee. Just maybe he does understand being broke….he was just given the opportunity not to stay there!
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 11:47:10 +0000