09-04-2006, 10:15 PM
Hi Mudy, did u see this? <!--emo&:eager--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/lmaosmiley.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='lmaosmiley.gif' /><!--endemo--> Came in the email.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bharatiyaexpertsforum/message/20476
<b>Subject: Re: California textbook scandal-- shadow of kickbacks?</b>
Septemeber 4, 2006
<b>Underground processes, Hostile academics</b>
Courts Slam the Harvard Ethics and Antics of the California Education Board
 Â
The headline above that appeared following the Calfornia court ruling on the Michael Witzel orchestrated, but possibly railroaded by the California Education Secretary Alan Bersin, the CSBE's shady textbook adoption process summarizes the predicament in which California Education authorities find themselves in. The whole process has raised eyebrows about a possible nexus between Harvard and California Department of Education, for Secretary Bersin sits on the Harvard Board of Overseers. The last minute entry of Michael Witzel of Harvard in the textbook preparation process and the extraordinary privilege accorded to him in preparing the textbooks has raised the specter of conflict of interest and worse in the $400 million textbook market.
 Â
The court has ruled that the process was in violation of procedures, but the enormous financial stakes invloved raises other questions.
Â
Part of Bersin's job is to raise funds for Harvard, while his position as California Secretary of Education puts him in position to arm-twist publishers through the Harvard Professor Michael Witzel whose career has been in the doldrums since he was forced to step down as chairman of the Sanskrit Department at Harvard. Recently, his standing as an 'expert' received another blow when both science (genetics) and British admission of complicity demolished his favorite (and Nazi favored) Aryan theories.
 Â
This makes his scramble for publicity and political lobbying perfectly understandable. In his desperation, he even tried to sell his services in the Paksitani media!
 Â
Witzel of course claims that he was not aware that Secretary Bersin was on the Harvard Board of Overseers. He would, wouldn't he?
 Â
The report goes on to observe: "Given the devastating import of that finding for the entire California School System, the State Court has given the State lawyers some time to consider how they will remedy the fraud. The Federal Court had ruled that the State as such has sovereign immunity (or whatever) from the civil rights suit, but that members and employees who violated the law, must stand trial."
 Â
Where does this leave Messrs Witzel and Bersin? In the court room or the Board room?
 Â
Beyond the court rulings, what is the nature of their relationship to the $400 million California textbook market? It is known that Witzel at one time wanted to write books for California schoolsâ has he renewed the proposal to the publishers, with the help of some arm-twisting by the helpful Secretary-cum-Harvard Board member Bersin?
 Â
No doubt lawyers and the media will look into this juicy story, but in the meantime, California school children and parents are stuck with these highly compromised and publicly discredited textbooks.
 Â
Recognizing the very great difficulty of the school boards to discard these books and come up with new ones, the report noted: "The State court Judge has agreed to the State's desperate plea â for time to correct the SBE's illegal processes. Stalling? Foot-dragging? ENRON-type fraud? Only time will tell."
 Â
In the meantime, "California teachers know that textbooks approved through Bersin's shady process are grossly inadequate for a 21st century education. The State and taxpayers are stuck with the reminders of the SBE's fraud and arrogance."
 Â
Just another thing: what about teacher morale? As a former educator in Indiana, Ohio and Texas, I see the damage to teacher morale as the greatest casualty. One hopes it will not come down to the same level as Witzel's morals.
N.S. Rajaram
For more details visit: http://www.india-forum.com/articles/145/1/...stile-academics<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bharatiyaexpertsforum/message/20476
<b>Subject: Re: California textbook scandal-- shadow of kickbacks?</b>
Septemeber 4, 2006
<b>Underground processes, Hostile academics</b>
Courts Slam the Harvard Ethics and Antics of the California Education Board
 Â
The headline above that appeared following the Calfornia court ruling on the Michael Witzel orchestrated, but possibly railroaded by the California Education Secretary Alan Bersin, the CSBE's shady textbook adoption process summarizes the predicament in which California Education authorities find themselves in. The whole process has raised eyebrows about a possible nexus between Harvard and California Department of Education, for Secretary Bersin sits on the Harvard Board of Overseers. The last minute entry of Michael Witzel of Harvard in the textbook preparation process and the extraordinary privilege accorded to him in preparing the textbooks has raised the specter of conflict of interest and worse in the $400 million textbook market.
 Â
The court has ruled that the process was in violation of procedures, but the enormous financial stakes invloved raises other questions.
Â
Part of Bersin's job is to raise funds for Harvard, while his position as California Secretary of Education puts him in position to arm-twist publishers through the Harvard Professor Michael Witzel whose career has been in the doldrums since he was forced to step down as chairman of the Sanskrit Department at Harvard. Recently, his standing as an 'expert' received another blow when both science (genetics) and British admission of complicity demolished his favorite (and Nazi favored) Aryan theories.
 Â
This makes his scramble for publicity and political lobbying perfectly understandable. In his desperation, he even tried to sell his services in the Paksitani media!
 Â
Witzel of course claims that he was not aware that Secretary Bersin was on the Harvard Board of Overseers. He would, wouldn't he?
 Â
The report goes on to observe: "Given the devastating import of that finding for the entire California School System, the State Court has given the State lawyers some time to consider how they will remedy the fraud. The Federal Court had ruled that the State as such has sovereign immunity (or whatever) from the civil rights suit, but that members and employees who violated the law, must stand trial."
 Â
Where does this leave Messrs Witzel and Bersin? In the court room or the Board room?
 Â
Beyond the court rulings, what is the nature of their relationship to the $400 million California textbook market? It is known that Witzel at one time wanted to write books for California schoolsâ has he renewed the proposal to the publishers, with the help of some arm-twisting by the helpful Secretary-cum-Harvard Board member Bersin?
 Â
No doubt lawyers and the media will look into this juicy story, but in the meantime, California school children and parents are stuck with these highly compromised and publicly discredited textbooks.
 Â
Recognizing the very great difficulty of the school boards to discard these books and come up with new ones, the report noted: "The State court Judge has agreed to the State's desperate plea â for time to correct the SBE's illegal processes. Stalling? Foot-dragging? ENRON-type fraud? Only time will tell."
 Â
In the meantime, "California teachers know that textbooks approved through Bersin's shady process are grossly inadequate for a 21st century education. The State and taxpayers are stuck with the reminders of the SBE's fraud and arrogance."
 Â
Just another thing: what about teacher morale? As a former educator in Indiana, Ohio and Texas, I see the damage to teacher morale as the greatest casualty. One hopes it will not come down to the same level as Witzel's morals.
N.S. Rajaram
For more details visit: http://www.india-forum.com/articles/145/1/...stile-academics<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->