Republican Assault on Public Education (2 Viewers)

[MT15]

This probably needs its own thread. It ties in with a lot of different R culture wars: Attacks on universities, attacks on CRT and “woke”. Classifying teachers and librarians as “groomers”. Pushing vouchers to send tax money to private, often religious, schools. Betsy DeVos was an advocate for all these policies that will weaken public education, and there are several billionaires who also want to dismantle public education. Public education may have its faults, but it is responsible for an amazing amount of upward mobility. Kids from poor areas can still get a college prep education in a public school.

Vouchers (sometimes disguised as “school choice”) are a particular peeve of mine. Public money is diverted from poor schools to wealthy private schools, which aren’t required to offer accommodations for special needs or challenged students. Families with special needs kids are left out. Rural areas often suffer disproportionately because there are no private schools to attend, but their public schools still see the reduction in funding. Often the families who take advantage of the voucher money are upper class and the private schools simply raise tuition knowing the families are getting taxpayer money now.

Greg Abbot is being particularly vile in this area. No surprise. Voters will have to make a statement about public education. If we want to halt the growing divide in this country between the “haves” and “have-nots”, we need to pay attention to public education.

 

[Dragon]

I don't even think you need to go as far as pagan most anything non Christian will do

Or even non-religious. Just look at the war against the teaching of "evolution"

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

I don't even think you need to go as far as pagan most anything non Christian will do

I agree. I chose pagan to make the point that "religious freedom" only for mainstream/common religions is not "religious freedom." It's the government promotion and approval of some religions which is absolutely a violation of the constitution.

 

[zztop]

Instead of addressing these disparities, school voucher programs make the problem worse. They siphon public funds away from struggling schools and redirect them to families who can already afford private school tuition. In practice, this drains resources from the students who need them most and further widens the gap between privileged and underprivileged children.

And I'll go so far as to say that these vouchers for private schools is just another form of discrimination and segregation. Most of these private schools are predominately white.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Marva Johnson, an ally of Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has been confirmed to serve as president of Florida A&M University, despite vigorous opposition from students and prominent alumni.

It’s the latest in a trend that now sees former Republican lobbyists or lawmakers leading five of the state’s 12 public universities……..

DeSantis ally ‘MAGA Marva’ named president at Florida HBCU despite campus concerns

Critics argued Johnson’s candidacy was part of larger attempt from Governor Ron DeSantis to move public education to the right

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Dragon]

Marva Johnson, an ally of Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has been confirmed to serve as president of Florida A&M University, despite vigorous opposition from students and prominent alumni.

It’s the latest in a trend that now sees former Republican lobbyists or lawmakers leading five of the state’s 12 public universities……..

DeSantis ally ‘MAGA Marva’ named president at Florida HBCU despite campus concerns

Critics argued Johnson’s candidacy was part of larger attempt from Governor Ron DeSantis to move public education to the right

www.independent.co.uk

All these attacks on education and scientific research risk dragging the U.S. back decades in innovation and progress. Trump and his backers have shown a profound inability — or unwillingness — to understand science, leading to the systematic dismantling of research in health, energy, renewables, and virtually every other scientific field. This won’t just result in massive job losses; it will also squander future trade opportunities and global competitiveness. Most disturbingly, it will shorten the average American lifespan. And for what? Because the country elected a man with zero grasp of science — driven not by public service, but by the pursuit of instant personal gratification.

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

All these attacks on education and scientific research risk dragging the U.S. back decades in innovation and progress. Trump and his backers have shown a profound inability — or unwillingness — to understand science, leading to the systematic dismantling of research in health, energy, renewables, and virtually every other scientific field. This won’t just result in massive job losses; it will also squander future trade opportunities and global competitiveness. Most disturbingly, it will shorten the average American lifespan. And for what? Because the country elected a man with zero grasp of science — driven not by public service, but by the pursuit of instant personal gratification.

The Catholic church dragged Europe into the Dark Ages. American Catholics are now fighting hard to drag America into it's own Dark Ages.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Educators across the U.S. have described their shock and outrage as the Department of Education looks to make good on its promise to slim down, costing billions in funding to local school districts.

Rumors of the move have been swirling for months, after President Donald Trumpannounced his plans to ultimately close the DOE, though some say the reality is “worse than [they] imagined” – having expected to begin receiving the grants on July 1.

Some education advocacy groups estimate that between $5 and $6.8 billion is at stake, Politicoreported, and will potentially impact afterschool programs, teacher training initiatives and education for migrant students, among countless other things……..

Maryland State School Superintendent Carey Wright said that some $360 million of federal funding committed to the state would now not be being granted, adding: “Shock does not begin to describe our reaction.”

“The USDE’s decision is catastrophic,” Wright said on Monday. “These funds have been spent or committed with every expectation of reimbursement. The federal government must keep its word to students, educators and families.”'

Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, said that the cuts would impact students immediately.

“There have been many rumors about the Trump Administration cutting education funding, and now that rumors have become reality, it is worse than we imagined,” Thurmond said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. “Trump is illegally impounding billions of dollars appropriated by Congress to serve students this fiscal year.……..

DOE withholds billions from school districts as it looks to trim agency

Educators some say the reality is ‘worse than [they] imagined’ – after having expected to begin receiving the grants on July 1

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

Next up: The treat everyone with respect sign
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BOISE (Idaho Ed News) — The “Everyone is Welcome Here” sign that sparked a viral nationwide controversy can no longer be displayed in Idaho schools, according to an Idaho attorney general’s office opinion released late Friday.

The revelation became public a day after Idaho EdNews received a redacted version of the opinion, which the Idaho Department of Education used to write its guidance on the flags-in-schools law.

House Bill 41, which goes into effect Tuesday, prohibits flags or banners depicting a political viewpoint from public K-12 schools. The law’s vague language led to questions from educators and school leaders.

The IDE asked the attorney general’s office on March 28 for guidance on the new law. It took the attorney general’s office until May 29 to provide a response. The department then took nearly another month to provide guidance to school districts, which it did Thursday.

That guidance said school employees cannot display flags or banners that show opinions, emotions, beliefs or thoughts about politics, economics, society, faith or religion. The guidance and the attorney general’s opinion did not define these terms.

The attorney general’s opinion, released to EdNews Thursday, had one section redacted, pertaining to signs West Ada School District teacher Sarah Inama had displayed in her classroom for years. One sign read “Everyone is Welcome Here.”

West Ada administrators said the signs — including one displaying open hands of different skin tones — violated district policy. Inama refused to remove the sign, and in March, her story attracted national media coverage.

The IDE asked the attorney general’s office if Inama’s signs in particular violated the new law.

The attorney general’s office said yes.

“These signs are part of an ideological/social movement which started in Twin Cities, Minnesota following the 2016 election of Donald Trump,” the attorney general’s response reads. “Since that time, the signs have been used by the Democratic party as a political statement. The Idaho Democratic Party even sells these signs as part of its fundraising efforts.”................

Attorney general: 'Everyone is Welcome Here' sign cannot be displayed in Idaho schools - East Idaho News

BOISE (Idaho Ed News) — The “Everyone is Welcome Here” sign that sparked a viral nationwide controversy can no longer be displayed in Idaho schools, according to an Idaho attorney general’s office opinion released late Friday. The revelation became public a day after Idaho EdNews received a...

www.eastidahonews.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

Some comments are asking what the difference is between "Everyone is Welcome Here" and "Make America Great Again"?

I'll respond more later but to me they are definitely different

 

[MT15]

Some comments are asking what the difference is between "Everyone is Welcome Here" and "Make America Great Again"?

I'll respond more later but to me they are definitely different

Absolutely. And that is why they cannot abide by the simple sentiment that “everyone is welcome here”. They’ve made it abundantly clear that everyone isn’t welcome. They have multiple issues with various types of people. It’s shameful and hateful.

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

Absolutely. And that is why they cannot abide by the simple sentiment that “everyone is welcome here”. They’ve made it abundantly clear that everyone isn’t welcome. They have multiple issues with various types of people. It’s shameful and hateful.

I wish somewhere in the US people who don't have white skin would put up an "All whites are welcomed here" sign somewhere, then not complain about it and get their empathetic family and friends who have white skin not to complain either. I'd like to see that happen to show that MAGA wouldn't complain at all about that, not even the MAGA who don't have white skin.

 

[fooferdoggie]

That guidance said school employees cannot display flags or banners that show opinions, emotions, beliefs or thoughts about politics, economics, society, faith or religion. The guidance and the attorney general’s opinion did not define these terms.

man sounds like Russia but I thought they were working on the ten commandments??? So they are scared of everyone huh?

 

[Optimus Prime]

California schools are scrambling as Trump administration withholds almost $811M

California districts have not received Congressionally appropriated money for after school programs, academic enrichment, English-learner services and more.

www.abc10.com

 

[Dragon]

California schools are scrambling as Trump administration withholds almost $811M

California districts have not received Congressionally appropriated money for after school programs, academic enrichment, English-learner services and more.

www.abc10.com

Apparently laws no longer apply to the current administration... California should just withhold a similar amount from their federal taxpayments

 

[LA 2 L.A.]

California schools are scrambling as Trump administration withholds almost $811M

California districts have not received Congressionally appropriated money for after school programs, academic enrichment, English-learner services and more.

www.abc10.com

I'm convinced Trump and his Republicans are doing a lot of the things they are doing as a way of crippling California. California is proof that their lies are lies, so they are trying to wreck us and then say "see I told you they were destroying their state." This will temporarily hurt us here in CA, but this will end in Trump's and his Republicans' demise.

Wrecking California is like cutting out your stomach to spite your torso

 

[MT15]

Thought provoking piece on a recent SCOTUS decision that was very poorly decided.

 

[bird]

I'm convinced Trump and his Republicans are doing a lot of the things they are doing as a way of crippling California. California is proof that their lies are lies, so they are trying to wreck us and then say "see I told you they were destroying their state." This will temporarily hurt us here in CA, but this will end in Trump's and his Republicans' demise.

Wrecking California is like cutting out your stomach to spite your torso

Personally, I hope it results in Trump’s complete political demise and the total destruction of the Republican Party as currently constituted.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Seriously, what is wrong with this dude??!
===========================

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — State Superintendent Ryan Walters is facing backlash for what critics call an unenforceable political stunt—demanding school districts provide every student free lunch without giving them a single extra dollar to pay for it, and threatening to strip districts of state funding if they don’t “comply.”

Walters made the demand in a social media video and email to parents Monday, warning schools they could lose funding or accreditation if they don’t comply.

But educators and lawmakers say he doesn’t have the power to issue such a directive—and that complying with it would be financially impossible.

In the video, Walters accused Oklahoma school districts of taking money away from school lunch programs and other services in order to pay administrators heftier salaries.

He did not cite any examples to support the claim.

“For far too long, we have seen public schools take taxpayer dollars that are there for students and continue to grow administrative costs, then turning around and charging parents for school lunches,” Walters said in the video. “We need less administrators and more of the taxpayer dollars going to kids directly.”

In his letter to parents, Walters wrote all public schools must begin covering lunch costs for all students starting when the new school year begins next month.

His attempted directive did not come with any increase in state funding to help districts comply. He demanded all districts find funding within their existing budgets, and ordered districts submit OSDE updated budgets reflecting how they reallocated money to fund lunch programs.

He warned districts—if they don’t follow his attempted mandate—the State Board of Education could revoke their state funding, district accreditation or even administrator certifications until they ‘comply.’

“You’re being triple taxed as parents,” Walters said. “And we’re not going to tolerate it any longer in Oklahoma.”

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) posted Walters’ letter to its website, while urging parents to sign a petition in support of Walters’ attempted mandate.

NewsNation local affiliate KFOR asked OSDE why they urged parents to sign the petition, and who they planned to present the petition to—but nobody responded to News 4’s inquiry.

On Monday, State Sen. Mark Mann (D-Oklahoma City) told KFOR Walters’ attempted order is “hypocritical and typical of Ryan Walters.”

Mann pointed to KFOR reports uncovering Walters has paid five and six-figure bonuses to his own OSDE administrative staff—many of whom are out-of-state political consultants already earning six-figure base salaries.

Mann also noted Walters supported Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to reject federal funding that would have covered summer meals for Oklahoma kids.

“I don’t think he’s serious,” Mann said. “I think this is political theater.”..................

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/southwest/oklahoma-superintendent-school-lunch-mandate/