Andy Markle requests IDOE records on Howard Zinn controversy

8/26/13 Gmail - IDOE APRA Requests
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=6ac8b99cda&view=pt&search=inbox&msg=140baebd567da21f 1/22
Andrew Markle <andymarkle@gmail.com>
IDOE APRA Requests
Katie Williams-Briles <kwbriles@doe.in.gov> Mon, Aug 26, 2013 at 9:59 AM
To: Andrew Markle <andymarkle@gmail.com>
Dear Mr. Markle:
Thank you for contacting the Indiana Department of Education (“Department”) to inquire as to the
statuses of your August 5th and August 8th records requests.
On August 5, 2013, you made the following records request of the Department:
1. Correspondence discussing Howard Zinn sent between Feb. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010. Sent to and from
Tony Bennett, Dale Chu, Zach Foughty, Ashley Gibson, Jon Gubera, Todd Huston, Will Krebs, Heather Neal
and Stephanie Sample.
2. Correspondence between Todd Huston, David Shane and Scott Jenkins sent between Jan. 1, 2010
and May 31, 2011 discussing teacher licensing.
3. Correspondence between DOE staff and officials and Cam Savage, Ross McMullin, Peter Deputy,
Eric Holcomb and/or Trent Hagerty sent between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2012.
4. Correspondence discussing Glenda Ritz sent between Jan. 1, 2012 and Nov. 5, 2012. Sent to and
from Tony Bennett, Dale Chu, Zach Foughty, Ashley Gibson, Jon Gubera, Todd Huston, Will Krebs,
Heather Neal and Stephanie Sample.
5. Correspondence involving Todd Huston, Cisco and TelePresence sent between August 1, 2010 and
August 1, 2012.
6. Correspondence involving Tom LoBianco sent between May 4, 2011 and Nov. 5, 2012. Sent to and
from Tony Bennett, Dale Chu, Zach Foughty, Ashley Gibson, Jon Gubera, Todd Huston, Will Krebs,
Heather Neal and Stephanie Sample."
On August 8, 2013 you made the following records request of the Department:
“Inspect or obtain copies of public records that involve the APRA request filed with the Department of
Education on by Niki Kelly of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. I am requesting all APRA requests and their
corresponding documentation (e.g.: letters, e-mails, phone logs, or other methods of communication
disseminated) with the Department of Education regarding their story titled "Bennett's emails show
dislike for Democratic opponent" published Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 12:24 a.m.
at http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130807/LOCAL04/130809595. Please provide any requests
made between February 2, 2013 and August 8, 2013 as it relates to comments made by former
Superintendent Tony Bennett and his use of Ms. Ritz's name in any correspondence.”
To date, I have neither released any additional records to Mr. LoBianco nor have I received any formal
records request from Ms. Niki Kelly. I have provided all records to you that were provided to Mr. LoBianco
pursuant to his requests of the Department through “Public Records.” Note that Mr. LoBianco still has
pending requests that have yet to be fulfilled or addressed by the Department, including the request you
cite above.
After careful review, it appears that the records requests exchange you reference (LoBianco & Kelly)
occurred within the Department’s Communication’s Office. Attached are records responsive to Part #1 of

your August 5th, 2013 request. I have contacted the Department’s Communication Office and inquired as
to records relative to the remainder of your August 5, 2013 request, as well as your August 8, 2013 records
request. Once that information becomes available to me, I will contact you.
Please do not hesitate to contact this office should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Katie M. Williams-Briles
Staff Attorney
Indiana Department of Education
ph: 317.232.6646
fax: 317.232.0744
kwbriles@doe.in.gov
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From: Andrew Markle [mailto:andymarkle@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 2:08 PM
To: Katie Williams-Briles
Subject: IDOE APRA Requests
[Quoted text hidden]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "MD" <md@gov.IN.gov>
To: "Shane, David" <>, "Jenkins, Scott" <>, "Tony Bennett" <tb@doe.in.gov>
Cc: "Todd Huston" <thuston@doe.in.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:44:54 -0400
Subject: Re: Howard Zinn
Go for it. Disqualify the propaganda and highlight (if there is any)the more useful offerings. Don't the ed schools
have at least some substantive PD courseware to upgrade knowledge of math, science, etc?
From: David Shane <DShane@LDILTD.com>

To: MD; Jenkins, Scott; Tony Bennett <tb@doe.in.gov>
Cc: Todd Huston <thuston@doe.in.gov>
Sent: Tue Feb 09 11:38:17 2010
Subject: RE: Howard Zinn
I’d nominate the state board, working off of the work of the IPSB just completed. We own the results, with Tony
& DOE. Would be useful (& fun) to work with Teresa quietly to do a “what’s needed” list (subject matter
knowledge plus results-focused pedagogy) & then “survey” each of the major institutions & see how it matches
up. Would force to daylight a lot of the excrement.
From: MD [mailto:md@gov.IN.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 11:35 AM
To: David Shane; Jenkins, Scott; Tony Bennett
Cc: Todd Huston
Sounds like we need a cleanup of what is credit-worthy in “professional development” and what is not. Who will
take charge?
From: David Shane [mailto:DShane@LDILTD.com]
To: MD; Jenkins, Scott; Tony Bennett
Cc: Todd Huston
The intersection that addresses your question is a combination of Tony (IPSB) & Teresa (ICHE), with Tony
owning the driving hand.
Here is the current IU Bloomington School of Education undergraduate curriculum – scroll down through it -- it
would be interesting to lay it up against what the Professional Standards Board just did (and in the process note
courses that actually teach someone how to cause another to learn, assuming subject matter knowledge in the
teacher) – the net result is not a lot of relevance; probably worse in the graduate school.
http://www.indiana.edu/~bulletin/iu/educ_ug/2008-2011/courses.shtml
To: Jenkins, Scott; Tony Bennett
Cc: Todd Huston; David Shane

This crap should not be accepted for any credit by the state. No student will be any better taught because
someone sat through this session. Which board has jurisdiction over what counts and what doesn’t?
From: Jenkins, Scott
To: MD; 'Tony Bennett'
Cc: 'Todd Huston'; Shane, David
On the good news front, I have been in contact with the core knowledge folks. They are excited about an
opportunity to look at our standards compared to Core Knowledge. They are sending me the curriculum
framework. Once we receive it, will work with the Department staff to schedule a call to discuss next steps with
Hirsch’s folks.
Oh, and this is why my children will not go to IU:
Social Movements in Modern America: Labor, Civil
Rights, and Feminism NEH Summer Institute for School
Teachers, July 11-31, 2010
And yes NEH is: National Endowment for the Humanities.
http://www.indiana.edu/~inst2010/institute_schedule.shtml
Zinn along with other anti American leftist readings are prominently featured.
Prima Facie evidence of why we need to change the incentive structure and content requirements of professional
development for teachers.
From the program guide
Upon successful completion of the summer institute “Social Movements in Modern America: Labor, Civil Rights,
and Feminism,” you will earn professional development points (PDPs or CEUs) according to the guidelines of
your own school districts. An easy, online form will be available so that you can print your certificate. If
needed, Indiana University also will provide a letter to your school district stating that you successfully earned
credits.

S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
Cc: Todd Huston; Jenkins, Scott; Shane, David
Subject: Howard Zinn
This terrible anti-American academic finally passed away. The obits and commentaries mentioned that his book
“A People’s History of the United States” is ‘the textbook of choice in high schools and colleges around the
country.” It is a truly execrable, anti-factual piece of disinformation that misstates American history on every
page.
Can someone assure me that it is not in use anywhere in Indiana? If it is, how do we get rid of it before any more
young people are force-fed a totally false version of our history?
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:44:54 -0400
Subject: Re: Howard Zinn
Go for it. Disqualify the propaganda and highlight (if there is any)the more useful offerings. Don't the ed schools
have at least some substantive PD courseware to upgrade knowledge of math, science, etc?
From: David Shane <DShane@LDILTD.com>
To: MD; Jenkins, Scott; Tony Bennett <tb@doe.in.gov>
Cc: Todd Huston <thuston@doe.in.gov>
Sent: Tue Feb 09 11:38:17 2010
Cc: Todd Huston

take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston
Hirsch’s folks.

credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.

From: "Jenkins, Scott" <scjenkins@gov.IN.gov>
To: "Shane, David" <>, "MD" <>, "Tony Bennett" <tb@doe.in.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:42:07 -0400
I second that nomination and agree. Logical next step to the recent work of the PSD.
s
Cc: Todd Huston
Cc: Todd Huston
take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston

Hirsch’s folks.

Upon successful completion of the summer institute “Social Movements in Modern America: Labor, Civil
Rights, and Feminism,” you will earn professional development points (PDPs or CEUs) according to the
guidelines of your own school districts. An easy, online form will be available so that you can print your
certificate. If needed, Indiana University also will provide a letter to your school district stating that you
successfully earned credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.
From: "Jenkins, Scott" <scjenkins@gov.IN.gov>
To: "Shane, David" <>, "MD" <>, "Tony Bennett" <tb@doe.in.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:42:07 -0400
I second that nomination and agree. Logical next step to the recent work of the PSD.

s
Cc: Todd Huston
Cc: Todd Huston
take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston

Hirsch’s folks.

Upon successful completion of the summer institute “Social Movements in Modern America: Labor, Civil
Rights, and Feminism,” you will earn professional development points (PDPs or CEUs) according to the
guidelines of your own school districts. An easy, online form will be available so that you can print your
certificate. If needed, Indiana University also will provide a letter to your school district stating that you
successfully earned credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.
From: "David Shane" <DShane@LDILTD.com>
To: "MD" <>, "Jenkins, Scott" <>, "Tony Bennett" <tb@doe.in.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:38:17 -0400
Cc: Todd Huston

take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston
Hirsch’s folks.

credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.

From: "David Shane" <DShane@LDILTD.com>
To: "MD" <>, "Jenkins, Scott" <>, "Tony Bennett" <tb@doe.in.gov>
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:38:17 -0400
Cc: Todd Huston
take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston

Hirsch’s folks.

credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:34:34 -0400
take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston

Hirsch’s folks.

credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.
Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 12:34:34 -0400
take charge?
Cc: Todd Huston

Hirsch’s folks.

credits.
S
From: MD
To: Tony Bennett
page.
...
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Andy Markle requests IDOE records on Howard Zinn controversy

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