In a nation that is continually working to eradicate bigotry and inequality, comments such as those made by Lauderdale County High School Head Football Coach Bob Grisham in the public classroom about LGBT Americans and the First Lady should not be tolerated. A coach's and instructor's influence is key to the shaping of a young person's world views and character- Grisham's comments do not reflect character that will advance our nation's youth. We must send a message to our public employees that we stopped tolerating this type of bigoted speech 50 years ago.

Stacey Campfield (R) Knoxville, proposed law SB132, to "breaking the cycle of poverty" by reducing Temporary Assistance to Needy Families benefits for children not making “satisfactory academic progress” in school.

I am an Instructional Aide. I would like to get my teaching cert. but I am unable due to finances. This petition is to work out a way for Instructional aides to become certified without having to pay to go to school.

My students who have grade point averages of 3.00 and above are denied college acceptance and financial aid even though they have completed Elementary, Middle and High school in the United States. These students came into the country with their parents from nine months to five years old. Education is of paramount importance for all. Please support our bright, young, future generation.

If there is a $1.8 billion surplus, do not give it as tax breaks until all of the more than $5 billion cut from Texas Public Education is restored. My children attend classes with larger numbers of students, fewer resources (materials and teaching staff) and reduced oportunities like art or even elective science classes.

As of Febuary 1,2013 all of the partime employees of the VCCS(Virginia Community College System) will have the equivalent of a two week reduction in salary. The partime employees receive NO benifits and have not received a raise in almost SIX years. Lets petition all government officials to make the same sacrifice.

Bullying is a big issue in today's society and I believe that we need to do something about it. My sister, my mother, my best friend and me have all been a victim of bullying. It needs to be stop before it ends a life.

Currently there is no way out of student loans other than death (or hardship). I propose capping repayment at double what you borrowed. So if you've repaid what you borrowed twice over, the rest will be forgiven.

Four people were brutally arrested by the UCPD during a peaceful demonstration this Sunday, including a student and an alumnus of the University of Chicago. This goes against the spirit and ideals of the University of Chicago, and thus as alumni, we must make our disapproval known.

On January 29th Governor Pat McCrory said publicly he would propose legislation to overhaul the way higher education is funded in North Carolina, putting the emphasis on job creation not liberal arts. Referring to a hypothetical gender studies course, McCrory said, "That's a subsidized course. If you want to take gender studies that's fine, go to a private school and take it. But I don't want to subsidize that if that's not going to get someone a job." The governor said he instructed his staff Monday to draft legislation that would change how much state money universities and community colleges receive, "not based on how many butts in seats but how many of those butts can get jobs."

All of the Nea Community Learning Center Learners are devistated after one of the most beloved, coolest, the ultimate in awesome, Angela Kramer being fired from the school. We need all the signatures we can get to bring AK back! Now WHO'S WITH ME?!?!

There is a growing movement against the over-use of standardized tests, and teachers in Seattle are leading the fight. Teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle are refusing to administer a district-mandated test (called the MAP test) on grounds that the test doesn't provide useful feedback and eats up valuable classroom time. Instead, Seattle teachers want the MAP test dropped. The Garfield teachers wrote in a recent letter, "We are not troublemakers nor do we want to impede the high functioning of our school. We are professionals who care deeply about our students and cannot continue to participate in a practice that harms our school and our students." The MAP test is also riddled with scandal. It was adopted at a cost of millions of dollars to Seattle taxpayers amid a serious conflict of interest. Former SPS Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson, sat on the board of the company that produced the MAP test--the Northwest Evaluation Association--when the MAP test was adopted by the Seattle School District. A state auditor found this to be an ethics violation. Teachers have been told they must administer the test by February 22nd. If they refuse, the Superintendent of Schools Jose Banda has threatened them with a 10-day suspension. Join students, fellow teachers and parents in sending a strong message to these school officials to halt any disciplinary actions and immediately address the teachers' concerns.