Republican Assault on Public Education (1 Viewer)

[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.

 

[Eeyore]

I understand why the Russians (Putin) would be interested in the U.S destroying public education but I don't understand why Americans would want to. People are barely functional now. At work I deal with people who are incapable of accomplishing anything without damage or injury. My phone rings constantly because, other than my boss who retires in March, I'm the only one who knows what I do. It sounds like job security but it's the opposite. They're going to run us out of business. It isn't just my department. We're loaded with ridiculously stupid people. It's difficult to explain and shocking to see. Who is going to do the work in the future?

 

[bird]

I understand why the Russians (Putin) would be interested in the U.S destroying public education but I don't understand why Americans would want to. People are barely functional now. At work I deal with people who are incapable of accomplishing anything without damage or injury. My phone rings constantly because, other than my boss who retires in March, I'm the only one who knows what I do. It sounds like job security but it's the opposite. They're going to run us out of business. It isn't just my department. We're loaded with ridiculously stupid people. It's difficult to explain and shocking to see. Who is going to do the work in the future?

It may be that Putin would like the U. S. to have a particular type of education. Radicalized white, religionist based education. Actual critical thinking is unacceptable.

 

[Optimus Prime]

What is going on in Oklahoma????
========================

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s education superintendent has sent an email to public school superintendents requiring them to show students his video announcement of a new Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism within the state Department of Education.

Ryan Walters, a Republican, announced the new office on Wednesday and on Thursday sent the email to school superintendents statewide.

“In one of the first steps of the newly created department, we are requiring all of Oklahoma schools to play the attached video to all kids that are enrolled,” according to the email.

Districts were also told to send the video to all parents of students.

In the video, Walters says religious liberty has been attacked and patriotism mocked “by woke teachers unions,” then prays for the leaders of the United States after saying students do not have to join in the prayer.

“In particular, I pray for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country,” Walters said.

In announcing the new department, Walters said it would “oversee the investigation of abuses to individual religious freedom or displays of patriotism.”

Two of the state's largest districts, Edmond in suburban Oklahoma City and Bixby in suburban Tulsa, said they have no plans to show students the video.............

Oklahoma schools superintendent mandates students watch announcement of new religious department

Oklahoma's education superintendent has sent an email to public school superintendents requiring them to show students his video announcement of a new Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism.

apnews.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

The U.S. Education Department reached an agreement with an Oklahoma school district this week to address repeated instances of discrimination and sex-based harassment of students — with little intervention by staff — that surfaced after the death of a nonbinary 16-year-old in February.

Among federal investigators’ findings in Owasso’s public schools: A teacher had been grooming female students on social media, and multiple students in both lower and higher grades were subjected to repeated sex-based slurs, harassment and physical assault.

“The district’s response to some families’ sexual harassment reports was deliberately indifferent to students’ civil rights,” the department said in announcing the findings.

Federal officials began investigating the northeast Oklahoma district after Nex Benedict died a day after being rushed to a hospital following a fight in a high school bathroom. Though the death was later ruled a suicide, the sophomore’s grandmother said Nex had been the subject of “relentless” bullying and slurs and criticized school administrators for not summoning police or an ambulance after the altercation...........

MSN

Oklahoma school district cited for indifference to students’ civil rights​

 

[bird]

The U.S. Education Department reached an agreement with an Oklahoma school district this week to address repeated instances of discrimination and sex-based harassment of students — with little intervention by staff — that surfaced after the death of a nonbinary 16-year-old in February.

Among federal investigators’ findings in Owasso’s public schools: A teacher had been grooming female students on social media, and multiple students in both lower and higher grades were subjected to repeated sex-based slurs, harassment and physical assault.

“The district’s response to some families’ sexual harassment reports was deliberately indifferent to students’ civil rights,” the department said in announcing the findings.

Federal officials began investigating the northeast Oklahoma district after Nex Benedict died a day after being rushed to a hospital following a fight in a high school bathroom. Though the death was later ruled a suicide, the sophomore’s grandmother said Nex had been the subject of “relentless” bullying and slurs and criticized school administrators for not summoning police or an ambulance after the altercation...........

MSN

Oklahoma school district cited for indifference to students’ civil rights​

That is a feature to many on the right, particularly the Religionist Right.

 

[Optimus Prime]

A preliminary vote held by the Texas state board of education indicates that the state is poised to pass its new controversial Bible-infused curriculum for elementary public schools.

Eight of the 15 board members gave their preliminary approval to the proposed curriculum, called Bluebonnet Learning, in advance of an official vote expected to take place on Friday.

Revealed this summer, the curriculum alludes heavily to Christianity in its English and language arts lessons and is aimed at students in kindergarten through fifth grade.


One of the controversial lessons within the curriculum includes teaching kindergartners about the “golden rule”, which would include a lesson on the story of the Good Samaritan, a parable that demonstrates how one should “love our neighbors as ourselves” and stems from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount from the Bible’s New Testament. Another is about the significant role Jesus played in renaissance artwork such as Leonardo da Vinci’s painting The Last Supper.

The curriculum has been criticized by some as disproportionately favoring Christianity over all others.

The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, a Republican, called the new instructional material “high quality” and said it “will also allow our students to better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the US Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution”.…..

Texas education board signals support for Bible-infused school curriculum

Eight of 15 board members give preliminary approval to controversial syllabus before official vote on Friday

www.theguardian.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

Yet again, freedom of religion interpreted to mean freedom to force my religion on others

Oklahoma is going hard on this, even Texas and Florida have to be "damn dude, slow down"
====================================================


(NewsNation) — Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters defended a controversial video he required public school superintendents to play for students where he prays over Republican President-elect Donald Trump, saying Tuesday that he has “religious beliefs as well that I get the freedom to express.”

In a video to announce the creation of the Education Department’s Office of Religious Freedom and Patriotism, Walters said he prays “for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country.”

According to a press release, the new office is meant to “oversee the investigation of abuses to individual religious freedom or displays of patriotism.”

Speaking on “Morning in America,” Walters said he made it “crystal clear” in the video that students don’t have to pray if they don’t want to.

“We all have the free exercise of our religious beliefs that was essential in the foundation of this country,” Walters said. “We’re going to protect that.”...........

MSN

 

[MT15]

Yet again, freedom of religion interpreted to mean freedom to force my religion on others

Oklahoma is going hard on this, even Texas and Florida have to be "damn dude, slow down"
====================================================


(NewsNation) — Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters defended a controversial video he required public school superintendents to play for students where he prays over Republican President-elect Donald Trump, saying Tuesday that he has “religious beliefs as well that I get the freedom to express.”

In a video to announce the creation of the Education Department’s Office of Religious Freedom and Patriotism, Walters said he prays “for President Donald Trump and his team as they continue to bring about change to the country.”

According to a press release, the new office is meant to “oversee the investigation of abuses to individual religious freedom or displays of patriotism.”

Speaking on “Morning in America,” Walters said he made it “crystal clear” in the video that students don’t have to pray if they don’t want to.

“We all have the free exercise of our religious beliefs that was essential in the foundation of this country,” Walters said. “We’re going to protect that.”...........

MSN

I have to conclude that Walters is a dangerous person with mental issues.