Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor

A list was recently printed in businessinsider.com.  It gave the incomes needed to be considered “middle class” in each of the 50 states.  The range is very wide but the parameters consider a town such as Gloucester City to be lower middle class while Voorhees or Haddonfield are considered higher middle class.  Listed below are only a few states which stood out.  New Jersey?  For once we aren’t the most expensive state; we came in second.  The incomes listed below are for two people in a family.

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Are You in the Middle Class?” →

Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor

There were recent articles in newspapers claiming that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targets the poor for auditing far more often than the rich.  Is it true?  After what we’ve been through with the federal government over the past few years, I think anyone would say “yes.”

I’m sure most people have heard that the vast majority of auto accidents happen within five miles of home.  That is true, also.  These statistics, though true, come from a philosophy called “how to lie by statistics.”  I am in no way defending the Internal Revenue Service or the federal government as a whole.  My goal is only to explain the lying by statistics.

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY : Does The IRS Target The Poor?” →

by Dorothy Philbin | CNBNewsnet Contributor

WASHINGTON, DC–I scanned an article this week but didn’t spend much time on it because I thought it was a joke.  I should have known better.  It’s the government!

There are a lot of problems that our government should be working on – inflation, gas prices, war in Ukraine, the border crisis.  These are all very important.  They affect all of us every day.  So, what is our Congress going to work on this week?  Hair Discrimination!  Yes, you read that correctly, Hair Discrimination.

Continue reading “The Story Behind The Story: Congress and Hair Discrimination” →

Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ–New Jersey 101.5 announced recently that the graduation exam will be made harder starting with this year’s junior class.  Fear not.  Despite all the panic there is really nothing to worry about. 

 The State Board of Education wants the passing grade to be set at 750 but the state Department of Education feels that score is too high and wants it lowered to 725, once again dumbing down our schools’ standards.  Even state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex said “725 is just way too low. It makes me cringe…725 for me I think takes New Jersey [sic], lowers our standards.”  

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY:New Jersey Dumbing Down Our Schools’ Standards” →

Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 20, 2022)(CNBNews)In the past weeks I have been bringing attention to the deficiencies of our school system.  Most of the comments have been along the lines of surprise and in some cases, shock.  I only got one negative comment and that was from a former GHS teacher.  “Why are you trashing Gloucester?  STOP IT!”  How about “No as an answer?”

Continue reading “An Estimated 600 Students A Day Are AbsentTHE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Why Am I Trashing GHS?” →

Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 17, 2022)–The easy answer is “No.”  Let’s look at the Pre-K (3 and 4 year old) program first.  The state pays 100% for the Pre-K program for all Abbott districts.  But what are they paying for?  After 25 years in education, I can tell you

Research shows that an estimated $19 million per year is being spent on students who just don’t come to school. (Pinterest image)

“nothing.”  It is a babysitting service that is funded as education.  Even the Department of Education admits “In 2012 [DOE] determined that score gains in the Abbott districts were no higher than score gains in high poverty” non-Abbott districts.”*

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Several 100 Students Absent Daily in the Gloucester City School District” →

DOROTHY PHILBIN | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 10, 2022)(CNBNewnet)Last week when my Social Security check came, I bought double of everything in the grocery store.  I may go back this weekend and do the same.  Why?  What does grocery shopping have to do with Canada?

Even if you have been following the Canadian truckers’ convoy online you probably haven’t gotten the full story.  As was the case in America, truckers, health care workers, police, and the military were considered heroes during the pandemic.  A year later many of these same people are losing their jobs if they refuse to get vaccinated, regardless of the reason.  Canadians, however, are going a step farther.  They are not protesting having to get vaccinated, most are vaccinated, they are protesting their right to make their own decisions.

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: What does grocery shopping have to do with Canada?” →

The final aspect of American education that we will study is the Scholastic Aptitude Test. 

Dorothy Philbin | Exclusive for CNBNewsnet 

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (FEBRUARY 9, 2022)(CNBNEWSnet)–These tests, also known as College Boards, have been in existence for 96 years, since 1926.  They are standardized tests traditionally used by colleges and taken by about 1.5 million students.*  Some colleges are starting to rely less on SAT scores and more on the student’s progress in school and out-of-school activities. Students now have the option of sending the scores to colleges or not.

As has been the case with so many aspects of education, the SATs have also been dumbed down or, as the company prefers to call it “fully redesigned” in 2016 and the results were seen in the test scores of 2017.  There are also reports that the tests will be “redesigned” again in 2024.**  Once again they are supposed to be shorter, easier, and completely online – FOR THE USA!  The article doesn’t mention making the tests easier for the 25 other countries which scored higher than we did in worldwide educational surveys.

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The Scholastic Aptitude Test Known As SAT (Part four)” →

Gloucester High School, 1300 Market Street, Gloucester City, NJ (CNBNewsnet photo credit)…The local school district became an Abbott District in 1997. Since that time the school district has received millions of dollars, if not more, from the residents of New Jersey. 

YOUR MONEY: After the original ruling in 1985, New Jersey increased spending such that Abbott district students received 22% more per pupil (at $20,859) vs. non-Abbott districts (at $17,051) in 2011.^[3] 60% of New Jersey’s education aid goes to the Abbotts.^[4] Throughout the state there are 31 Abbott Districts.  Despite 40 years of increased funding, the gaps between Abbott Schools and the suburban counterparts has widened significantly.^[6](source Wikipedia)

Dorothy Philbin | CNBNews Contributor

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 8, 2022)(CNBNewsnet)–Most Gloucester City residents, especially those with children, know that our school district is an Abbott District.  Many may know that with the Abbott designation comes a lot of money.  Our town couldn’t afford to provide the level of education or the buildings we have without the state’s Abbott designation and funds.

The history behind “being an Abbott District” goes back to the 1980s and the various court cases continue to today.  In Camden, NJ a former high school graduate by the name of Ralph Abbott was arrested and in the process that followed it was discovered that he couldn’t read a word.  Naturally, the next question is “how did he graduate from high school if he can’t read.”  We all know the answer – he was pushed through.  Years ago it was called “social promotion.”

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: A LOOK AT ABBOTT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEW JERSEY” →

(The SECOND of a four-part CNBNEWS  series Dumbing Down American Education)

Should students be able to do this?  Are they learning as much by taking AP courses online as they would in a college classroom?  No, absolutely not!  High school is high school and college is college.  They are different.  They are not interchangeable.   Internet courses are not of the same quality of classroom courses.  We know that as a result of closing schools during the pandemic.  When so many students are in an Advanced Placement program either the school is exceptional or the criteria for the AP program are not college level.

The Advanced Placement program was started in 1955 but didn’t get much traction until the late 1980s into the 1990s.  At that time suddenly every parent I knew was bragging that his/her children were in an Honors Program or Advance Placement.  Do I have that many exceptional friends?  I don’t think so.  

Continue reading “THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY …(X)Advanced Placement Courses–Part Two” →