My son attends Cedar Middle School in Hesperia CA. To hear that the school district has eliminated the 8th grade graduation ceremony is saddening. It robs our children of being formally recognized for their achievements. Elementary, middle and high school graduations have always been a long time tradition for all schools in the state of California. No one has the right to change that. Several schools in the district have now chosen to have an awards assembly to satisfy parents concerns. They say that they eliminated 8th grade graduation ceremonies because they want our kids to focus on high school graduation. High School graduation has NOTHING to do with an 8th grade graduation ceremony. ALL children should participate in a formal ceremony, promoting them to the next big stage in their life. Our kids help earn money for these schools and we as tax payers contribute a portion of our earnings as well. Our kids studied hard and EARNED the right to be promoted. There is NO reason why this rule should have ever been implemented. We are a community of families who should formally celebrate our children's accomplishments, no matter how old they are and certainly no matter what grade level they are in.

The State of Georgia grants citizens the right to drive, but prohibits drinking while driving as a matter of public safety. The State has recently expanded the rights of individuals to carry guns. The State should recognize its obligation to protect its citizens by prohibiting the sale of alcohol to persons carrying firearms.

Thanks to the leadership of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 350.org, and the Sierra Student Coalition, more than 50 U.S. cities, churches, and colleges have declared that they will not invest in fossil fuels! Big Coal is terrified of this movement, and they're striking back -- frantically trying to ban these campaigns and silence climate activists like you. The Minerals Council of Australia is trying to outlaw coal boycotts and criminalize speaking out for the climate. Think about that: Ask a retirement fund or university not to include coal stocks in their investment portfolio, and go to jail! Australia is the world's leading coal exporter, so if Big Coal succeeds in silencing their opposition and eliminating free speech there, they will try elsewhere -- even here. Australia is sensitive to world opinion, so your voice matters. Sign the petition to the Australian government: Defend our shared climate -- don't ban divestment campaigns!

Because I need to know how some things about source codes work. I am modifying the statement on this petition to test some stuff in the database. If that accidentally triggers vetting, I apologies --> if so, y'all should approve, no pileon, no right-wing flag

This week Gov. Brown neglected early learning. In his revised budget, he allocated no new money for early education and care, even though there are nearly 200,000 children stuck on wait lists for these programs. The budget must be finalized next month, so we need to show him he's making a huge mistake.

Governor Jerry Brown thinks fracking has zero impact on Californians, but we know a few towns in the Central Valley that beg to differ. Kern County is California's most-fracked county. It also has the worst air quality in the nation, and highly elevated rates of cancer and respiratory illness. Although the oil industry has been in Kern for decades, fracking has opened up new opportunities for expansion. For residents of towns like Shafter and Wasco, fracking means more oil extraction and more impacts on their health. Kern County residents are fighting back: they've invited Governor Brown to come see the impacts of fracking for himself. California is at a crossroads, and Governor Brown has a choice to make: go all-in on extreme energy, or finally say "enough is enough." We're calling on him to end fracking in California, but we don't want him to just hear it from us. We're urging the Governor to take Kern County residents up on their invitation.

John Boehner is the most powerful Republican and the GOP is stonewalling efforts to slow human-caused climate change. I fear that the US government will not act until it is too late to reverse climate change and that climate change could be catastrophic.

Lake Avenue in St. James is a very dangerous place to walk, drive or cross the street. Lake Avenue is also home to an Elementary School and many family friendly businesses. It is time to end speeding and dangerous driving and parking.

Four years ago our colleagues formed a union to provide a positive and stable learning environment for our students. They came together, just as we stand together now, for teacher voice at AECI. A contract will bring stability to our school community while at the same time enshrining what works at AECI and developing a framework to fix any concerns that may arise. A contract can create transparency and equity. The due process piece represents an important structure to implement all aspects of the contract. It has been a long road but we remain united in our goals to achieve fair pay and benefits, and a due process structure to maintain our rights. Please help support our school and our students. Let us focus on educating free from distraction and with a contract in place. When AECI's faculty has a voice, we can create a better learning environment for everyone. Please help us grow as educators with our students so we can build the best school possible together.

I have advocated for children for the past 20 years and this behavior is NEVER ok. That child or any other should not have to interact with her. The only thing she has taught others with this particular incident is Fear! Children have rights too!

Congresspersons now make $3,346.15 per week, and get extra money for expenses. The pay of the lowest paid workers in the US has not been raised in years, and is lagging behind inflation. If Congress gets a raise, then the lowest paid should get a raise. In my proposal, if Congress raises the minimum wage to $10.10, then they would make $3,535.00 per week, a small raise for Congress, a life saving raise for America.

Parents who would be willing to volunteer to serve on a "bulling" watchdog board or a combo student/parent bulling court. If you have a child who has been a victim of bulling and you feel you have no voice or appropriate action has been taken, help us bring this board to fruition.