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Editorials/Columns
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60 Seconds
mpowered Greet-
ings. I was walking pass a door in a hospital and no- ticed a sign that said, Warn- ing: Strong Magnetic Force. I thought to myself, what it would be like if people felt the same way about their life. What would happen if people had to put forth a disclaimer for all that come into close proximity of them? Warning: I am a strong magnetic force for success. If you come close to me there is great possibility that what’s on me will affect you.
It is scientifically proven that exposure to magnetic fields for long periods of time come with demonstrated risk. Does your life expose people to the calculated risk of winning in their own life? When people deal with you for a long period of time will they find them- selves exposed to better: a bet- ter way of living, a better way
of thinking, a better way of managing their finances, a better way of viewing life? The risk of being around you should be a risk for the better. It should be a risk that people are willing and wanting to take because they know that they will be better due to the expo- sure.
Investigations of strong magnetic fields are shown to cause abnormal growth. Are you or those connected with you growing mentally, spiritu- ally, developmentally in vari- ous areas of life at an enormously abnormal rate of success? The magnetic force you are endowed with should alter the course of your life and others dramatically in a posi- tive way. The way a person looks at first glance before be- coming associated with you, will not be the way they look after being associated with you, as the hands of the clock
of time continue to turn. They will be stronger, better, wiser and more confident. Your growth will spark them to grow. Your desire for success will attract magnetically pull them to a place of success, too.
Although a magnetic field is an invisible line of force it’s still attractive. To make this applicable to you, even though one may not see the force you possess visibly it will still draw them to you because you are a strong magnetic force that cannot be repelled.
Selphenia would love to work with you to attract the success you desire and deserve. Call 813-603- 0088 to get the help you need to succeed. Invite Selphenia to speak, train or facilitate your next event.
Stay connected with Selphenia on social media.
Facebook fan Page: Selphenia Nichols Success Coach To Women Twitter:
@queenofsuccess1 Instagram: @Selphenia email: selphenia@suc- cesscoachtowomen.com
POSTMASTER: Send Address Change To: Florida Sentinel Bulletin,
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
PTC Commission Protects Consumers: Thank You
e citizens should thank the Public Transportation
Commission (PTC) for its recent rulings. What with the incidence of mental illness, the number of citi- zens with anger and aggression problems, the frequency of identity theft and scams, as well as a multitude of peo- ple who are simply “on the edge,” we fail to understand why anyone would not want Uber, Lyft and other rideshare companies to fingerprint, conduct background checks, and confirm insurance for, and the safety of vehi- cles of individuals hired by such companies.
Imagine you or your loved-ones having to be picked up by a rapist, pedophile, violent felon, exhibitionist, an in- toxicated bully or worse. Numerous incidents of violence or potential violence against passengers have been re- ported – women being driven deliberately to dangerous parts of towns, sexual overtures, drunken drivers, car ac- cidents due to recklessness, shootings, threats with guns and knives, robberies, thefts, beatings and stabbings - both nationally and internationally.
Currently, organizations serving children and the Hillsborough County School System require background checks for their employees and volunteers. Therefore, why not insist on regulations that protect children and adult consumers using public and private transportation companies?
While some of the PTC’s earlier regulations may have seemed overbearing (minimum wait time, minimum fares, etc.), the PTC has placed other necessary minimum standards (less than those required of taxicab companies) to help keep customers safe. Therefore, regardless of pos- sible corporate lobbies and political pressure from elected officials, we urge the PTC to stay the course and to continue being our transportation sentinel.
Connecticut Education Ruling Is Endorsement For Main Street Marshall Plan
Marc H. Morial President and CEO National Urban League
spending scheme really can't be said to be aimed at elementary and sec- ondary school education when the state doesn't even enforce a coherent idea of what these words mean. The state's defini- tion of what it means to have a secondary education is like a sugar-cube boat. It dissolves before it's half launched." – Connecticut Superior Court
Judge Thomas Moukawsher Connecticut Superior Court last week didn’t just tell the state to fix its broken funding system – it essentially rele- gated the system to the ash heap of history. Instead of try- ing to even out the funding gap, Judge Thomas Moukawsher told the General Assembly to figure out how to even out the achievement gap, then fund
that.
Moukawsher’s ruling
echoes the education plan of the National Urban League’s Main Street Marshall Plan, which calls for increased fed- eral funding to local school dis- tricts to help eliminate
resource equity gaps. Moukaw- sher’s ruling also endorsed uni- versal high-quality preschool, another plank in the Plan.
In Bridgeport, one of Con- necticut’s poorest cities, the graduation rate is 63 percent. Many fifth-graders read at a kindergarten level and some high-schoolers arrive reading at a third-grade level. The dis- trict cannot afford school buses. While Bridgeport spends about 88% of what neighboring wealthy Fairfield spends per-pupil, the funding gap is not enough to explain the achievement gap.
What Moukawsher’s ruling means is legislators should not focus on raising Bridgeport’s per-pupil spending to Fair- field’s level, but raising Bridge- port’s student outcomes to Fairfield’s level.
The ruling has implications for the entire country, where disparities are even greater than in Connecticut. A recent analysis found that sixth- graders in the nation’s wealth- iest school districts read at a level four full grade levels above those in the poorest dis- tricts.
In a well-known illustration
that has become a symbol for the plaintiff in this case, Con- necticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding, three chil- dren of differing heights are depicted standing on boxes of equal height, trying to peek over a fence. Only the tallest child is able. The caption: “Equality.” In the second panel, children of differing heights are depicted standing on boxes of varying heights, each lifted enough to see over the fence. The caption: “Equal- ity.”
Judge Moukawsher essen- tially told the General Assem- bly is, don’t consider simply the size of the boxes, but whether the boxes are boosting the chil- dren high enough.
The Urban League Move- ment has been focused on the issue of equity in education for many decades. Last year’s State of Black America included a state-level education equality index. Our research found reading proficiency gaps among children of color that ranged from 80% in Hawaii - where 100% represents parity with white students – to 19% in the District of Columbia. Only 14% of Black fourth-graders in D.C. tested at or above profi- cient in reading. Math profi- ciency gaps ranged from 69% in West Virginia to 21% in Wis- consin. The relatively small gap in West Virginia, however, is due to lower achievement among students of all races. Only 35.6% of white West Vir- ginia fourth-graders tested at or above proficient in math, compared with 24.7% of Black fourth-graders.
A Little Boy And A BB Gun
nd here’s the scenario: You are a police officer on pa-
trol when a 9-1-1 message from Dispatch tells you a man has just been robbed by three suspects. You arrive on the scene, are given description of the suspects, two of which are fleeing apprehension. You give chase and upon catching the two suspects, one of them reaches into his waistband and pulls out what appears to be a semi-automatic pistol.
The suspect turns in your direction. The next second may determine who dies or goes home. So, police officer who has no time to think or to be philosophical, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
According to police sources in Columbus, Ohio, that’s what happened to a police officer who shot a suspect, only later to find the possible felon was a 13-year-old boy with a police-pistol look-alike BB gun. Yes, Columbus is in an up- roar. But the reason for its anger may be more than meets the eye.
Meanwhile, you’re angry with us because we put you in a pickle. We placed you in the midst of a no-win, life-or-death situation, and then asked you, “WHAT WOULD YOU DO? DON’T THINK, OR DEBATE, BUT JUST DO!”
It isn’t fair, you say. But in a situation that is becoming far too common where young Black men and veteran white po- lice officers seem somehow to be singled out by fate to carry
out some pre-ordained waltz to societal oblivion, what is the meaning of fair? When toy man- ufacturers make BB guns that look absolutely real, what is fair? When police departments ei- ther refuse or drag their heels regarding wearing body-cams, what’s fair? When parents allow their children to be out on the streets late at night when they should be at home studying for school, what is fair? Indeed, there is enough unfairness to go around, wouldn’t you say?
Meanwhile, another funeral is attended; another child is laid to rest, and another officer is ruined for the rest of his life. But never mind. If it was your call, what would you do?
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5
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