Author Archives: chadphillips

The Problem with Prisoners vs. Students.

Posted on December 30, 2011 by chadphillips

Last May Ithica Public School’s Superintendent Nathan Bootz wrote a letter to Governor Snyder that was printed in the Gratiot County Hearld.  Someone copied that letter into an email and soon after it went viral.  Mr. Bootz’s letter was discussed in the traditional media and also in many blogs … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Leave a comment

Banned by the Cadillac News!

Posted on August 18, 2011 by chadphillips

I live just outside Cadillac.  I grew up there, went to high school there, and spend most of my money there.  I am a subscriber and avid reader of the Cadillac News.  The Cadillac News does a great job of … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Lakes Education Project | Leave a comment

The Usual Suspects

Posted on August 2, 2011 by chadphillips

Someone who follows Michigan politics but doesn’t watch Off the Record is akin to a sports fan that doesn’t watch Sportscenter. In the July 29th edition of the show, host Tim Skubick discussed the Representative Paul Scott recall effort. Representative … Continue reading →

Posted in DeVos Family, Great Lakes Education Project | Leave a comment

The Children are Leaving, the Children are Leaving!

Posted on July 9, 2011 by chadphillips

Governor Snyder, and his town criers (a.k.a. your elected officials), tell us that one of their top priorities is to stop college graduates from leaving the state.  In 2007, the last year I could find hard data on, the state lost about … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Taxes | 2 Comments

What He Said!

Posted on June 24, 2011 by chadphillips

In a previous post, I discussed 102nd Representative Phil Potvin’s blow-up printed in the Big Rapids Pioneer.  Jim Crees, the editor of the Osceola Edition of the Pioneer, took offense to Potvin’s bullying of teachers in a very well written editorial.  Thankfully, Mr. Cress gave me permission to … Continue reading →

Posted in Phil Potvin, Schools | 1 Comment

Burning on Biggby Coffee & Snyder’s Tax Giveaways

Posted on June 23, 2011 by chadphillips

I was driving through Grand Rapids and noticed a new Biggby Coffee billboard.  The billboard says something like “maybe you’ve heard, Biggby Coffe is accepting new franchise locations.”  While I’m a big fan of Michigan businesses, I am not a fan of Biggby Coffee.  Here is why. You may remember that … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Taxes | 5 Comments

Kids are Collateral Damage in Mackinac Center’s War.

Posted on June 17, 2011 by chadphillips

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy publishes “The Michigan Capitol Confidential” and has the nerve to call it “news.”  A recent edition praises the Snyder tax cut that eliminates the “horrible” Michigan Business Tax.  However, the Mackinac Center is now trying to convince the legislature that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Mackinac Center, Schools | 4 Comments

The Truth Be Known

Posted on May 29, 2011 by chadphillips

The truth has a way of finding its way to the surface.  Sometimes it just kind of pops out, defying the lips of its keeper.  Sometimes it takes a twist of fate to free it.  Recently, the truth has surfaced in … Continue reading →

Posted in Phil Potvin, Schools | 4 Comments

Dread Scott!

Posted on May 23, 2011 by chadphillips

It is not uncommon to hear a teacher complaining about the Michigan Education Association (MEA) and their lack of support for Republican candidates for office.  A good number of teachers have a hard time getting behind the MEA just for that reason.  After all, … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | 5 Comments

Great Lakes Education (Read DeVos) Project

Posted on May 15, 2011 by chadphillips

In a recent post, I questioned why the Chamber of Commerce would donate to a pro school privatization group called the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP).  I first noticed the GLEP when I was researching contributions to my state Senator Darwin Booher, who I classify … Continue reading →

Posted in DeVos Family, Great Lakes Education Project, Schools | 19 Comments