WELCOME TO FLORIDA: STRANGE WORLD

 

WELCOME TO FLORIDA

 STRANGE WORLD

In a world where Disney movies are loved by all, it's hard to imagine anyone having a problem with the film "Strange World." But apparently, one Hernando Co. school board member, Shannon Rodriguez, just can't seem to handle the fact that the movie includes an out, gay character.

In response to her blatant lack of support for those working in schools, an online petition has been created to remove Rodriguez from her position. And it seems that the complaint has hit a whopping 18,000 names - that's a lot of people who don't want a Disney villain on their school board!

It's not just the petitioners who are outraged, either. Even Gov. Goofy DeSantis, who famously declared "don't say gay," seems to be on board with the idea that Rodriguez needs to go. It's almost as if all the Disney villains have come to life, and one of them just happens to be sitting on the school board.

But let's be real - why would anyone have a problem with a gay character in a Disney movie? It's not like they're promoting anything harmful or inappropriate. In fact, they're just promoting love and acceptance - something that we could all use a little more of in our lives.

So, Shannon Rodriguez, if you're reading this, it's time to get with the program. Embrace diversity and inclusion, and stop being a Disney villain in real life. Or else, you might just find yourself out of a job.

Petition to remove Hernando Co. school board member for Disney movie complaint hits 18K names https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2023/05/26/petition-to-remove-hernando-county-leader-for-disney-complaint-hits-18000-names/70260425007/ via @tdonline 

Florida teacher investigated by state agency for showing Disney movie in class https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2023/05/14/florida-teacher-investigated-by-desantis-admin-for-showing-disney-film-strange-world/70211841007/ via @tdonline 

BLOG THIS: BLOGGER UPDATE

 BLOG THIS: BLOGGER UPDATE

Are you a blogger? Do you use Google Blogger? Well, hold on to your hats, folks, because changes are coming! And no, I'm not talking about the change in weather, I'm talking about the changes coming to Google Blogger. 

Now, before you start panicking and thinking you'll have to learn a whole new platform, let me assure you that the changes are designed to make your life easier. That's right, Google is actually trying to be helpful for once. 

So, what are these changes, you ask? Well, let me tell you. First up, a new design for the Blogger homepage. This new design will make it easier for you to find and manage your blogs. And let's face it, anything that makes our lives easier is a good thing. 

Next up, a new editor. The new editor is designed to make it easier for you to create and edit blog posts. It features a new toolbar that makes it easy to access all of the formatting options, and a new preview pane that makes it easy to see how your post will look before you publish it. It's like having a personal assistant, but without the annoying small talk. 

But wait, there's more! Google is also adding new features for managing comments. These features include the ability to approve or delete comments, and the ability to reply to comments. That's right, folks, you can finally tell that troll who keeps leaving nasty comments on your blog what you really think of them. 

And if that wasn't enough, Google is also adding new features for managing your blog's appearance. These features include the ability to change the blog's theme and layout. So now you can finally make your blog look like that dream you had where you were a unicorn flying through a rainbow. 

All these changes are designed to make Google Blogger a more user-friendly and powerful platform for blogging. And let's face it, we could all use a little more user-friendliness in our lives. 

So, if you're a Blogger user, get ready for these changes to be rolled out over the next few weeks. And if you're not a Blogger user, well, maybe it's time to give it a try. After all, with all these new changes, it's like having your own personal genie granting your every blogging wish. Except without the blue skin and weird accent.

Official Blogger Blog: A better Blogger experience on the web https://blogger.googleblog.com/2020/05/a-better-blogger-experience-on-web.html 

WINNIE THE POOH: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT

 

WINNIE THE POOH: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT

In the latest news from the Lone Star State, a Winnie-the-Pooh book is causing quite the stir among parents and educators. Why, you ask? Well, it seems that this beloved children's classic has been given a rather unexpected update.

According to reports, a Texas school district has distributed a version of the book that includes a new chapter on how to respond to an active shooter situation. Yes, you read that correctly. Winnie-the-Pooh is now teaching kids to "run, hide, fight" in the event of a shooting.

Now, we know what you're thinking. This has got to be a joke, right? Unfortunately, it's not. The book, which was created by the Texas-based company Security Voice Inc., is meant to help young children understand what to do in case of an emergency.

But let's be real here. Is Winnie-the-Pooh really the best source for this kind of information? We can't help but picture the lovable bear waddling around in his red shirt and no pants, trying to outrun a gunman. It's a comical image, to say the least.

And what about the other characters? Can you imagine Tigger crouching behind a desk, trying to stay quiet? Or Eeyore attempting to fight off an armed intruder? It's all just too ridiculous.

But in all seriousness, we understand the importance of teaching children how to stay safe in dangerous situations. It's just a shame that it has to come to this. We live in a world where schools have to prepare for the worst-case scenario, and that's just not okay.

So, while we can't help but laugh at the thought of Winnie-the-Pooh teaching kids how to dodge bullets, we also can't ignore the fact that this is the reality we live in. It's up to us as adults to make sure our children are prepared for anything that may come their way.

In conclusion, if you see your child reading a Winnie-the-Pooh book with a new chapter titled "Active Shooter Situations," don't panic. Just take a deep breath and remember that we live in a crazy world. And who knows? Maybe Winnie-the-Pooh will end up being the hero we never knew we needed.

Dallas school issues Winnie-the-Pooh book on school shootings - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/26/winnie-pooh-school-shooting-book/ 

Winnie-the-Pooh book teaches Texas kids to ‘run, hide, fight’ in a shooting | Texas | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/25/winnie-the-pooh-books-teaches-texas-kids-run-hide-fight-shooting

Big Education Ape: CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023: YOU DIDN'T DIE AT SCHOOL, SOME DID http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/05/congratulations-class-of-2023-you-didnt.html 

CALIFORNIA- RICHEST STATE HAS 5TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD IS STIFFING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

 

CALIFORNIA- RICHEST STATE HAS 5TH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD IS STIFFING PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS

California public school funding? More like California public school FUN-ding, am I right? But seriously folks, did you know that California has been stiffing public school students since 1990? That's almost as long as it's been since MC Hammer was relevant. 

But what's driving this lack of funding? Is it a deep-rooted systemic issue? Nope, it's just good old-fashioned racism! As soon as California became a majority minority system, funding was slashed faster than a samurai sword through a watermelon. 

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But wait, isn't California a super progressive state? Surely they wouldn't let something like racism dictate their funding decisions." Well, my dear reader, let me tell you something. Just because you wear Birkenstocks and recycle doesn't mean you're not capable of some serious discrimination. 

So what can we do to catch up? Well, it's going to take years of hard work and dedication. Or, you know, we could just start a Kickstarter and hope Elon Musk takes pity on us. Hey, stranger things have happened. 

In all seriousness though, it's time for California to step up and give our public school students the resources they deserve. Because if we don't, we're just perpetuating a cycle of inequality that will continue for generations to come. And that's not funny at all.

Public Policy Institute of California

The majority of funding for California K–12 schools is provided by the state.

• Since 1990, the state share of school funding typically has hovered between 54% and 61%, with the local share between 32% and 36%. These shares vary across school districts.
• The state share was lower in 2020–21 (51%) than at any point in at least 30 years.
• In 2020–21 and 2021–22, the state also invested over $5 billion in one-time COVID-19 recovery funds.

California’s per student spending is slightly above the national average . . .

• In 2018–19 (the most recent school year for which we have nationally comparable data from the US Department of Education), spending per student on current operations (e.g., staff, materials) was $14,913 (in 2021$), roughly $1,000 more than the average in the rest of the nation ($13,831 per student).
• California spent less than three of the five next most populous states: less than Illinois and Pennsylvania, and far less per student than the top-spending state in 2018–19, New York ($26,828). California spent more than Texas and Florida, which both spent nearly $10,000 per student in 2018–19.

. . . after per student spending lagged behind most other states for nearly two decades.

• While California currently ranks 19th in spending per student among states (including Washington, DC), its rank ranged between 25th and 35th from the mid-1980s until the recovery from the Great Recession.
• Adjusting for differences in labor costs across states, California’s rank drops to 35th.
• During recessions, California’s K–12 spending typically falls more than spending in other states—but rises more quickly during economic recoveries.

Financing California's Public Schools - Public Policy Institute of California

https://www.ppic.org/publication/financing-californias-public-schools/ 

California’s K-12 Funding Expected to Grow Despite Declining Enrollment https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/californias-k-12-funding-expected-to-grow-despite-declining-enrollment-26-04-2023 

CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS: CALIFORNIA'S NEWEST CORPORATE WELFARE QUEENS

CALIFORNIA CHARTER SCHOOLS

 CALIFORNIA'S NEWEST CORPORATE WELFARE QUEENS 

In California, we love our corporate welfare queens. We've got Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and now, we've got charter schools. That's right, folks, charter schools are the newest addition to California's elite group of welfare recipients.

But what are charter schools, you ask? Well, they're basically private schools that receive public funding. And boy, do they receive a lot of funding. In fact, in the 2019-2020 school year, charter schools received $1.2 billion in state funding for facilities. That's more than double what traditional public schools received. Talk about unfair advantage.

And what are these charter schools doing with all this money? Building lavish facilities, of course. Because nothing says "quality education" like a marble foyer and a swimming pool.

But let's not forget about the poor public schools for BIPOC students. They're struggling to meet the needs of their students while charter schools are living it up with their fancy facilities. It's like the Hunger Games, but instead of districts fighting to the death, it's public schools fighting for scraps while charter schools feast on caviar.

And let's not even get started on the segregation and division that charter schools promote. Rich, white private and charter schools for the privileged few, and poor public schools for everyone else. It's like a modern-day caste system.

But don't worry, folks, the proponents of charter schools have an answer for all of this. They say the funding is necessary to ensure that charter schools have access to the same resources as traditional public schools. Hmm, I don't remember my public school having a helipad.

And let's not forget about the lack of transparency when it comes to charter school finances. They're not required to disclose their financial information to the public in the same way that traditional public schools are. It's like they're hiding something. Maybe they're using all that money to build a secret underground lair.

So what can California do to fix this mess? Well, for starters, we can stop giving so much money to charter schools. Let them fend for themselves like the rest of us. And we can also demand more transparency when it comes to their finances. If they're receiving public funding, we have a right to know where that money is going.

In conclusion, California charter schools are the newest addition to our elite group of corporate welfare queens. They're building lavish facilities while public schools struggle to meet the needs of their students. They promote segregation and division and lack transparency when it comes to their finances. It's time for California to stop playing favorites and start holding charter schools accountable. Otherwise, we might as well rename our state "Corporationland."

Opinion: Mia Bonta bill attacks charter school construction funding - The Mercury News https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/25/opinion-mia-bonta-bill-attacks-charter-school-construction-funding via @GoogleNews 

The Charter School Facilities Program (CSFP) was enacted in 2002 by Assembly Bill 14, amended by Senate Bill 15 and Assembly Bill 16, and funded through Proposition 47 ($100 million), Proposition 55 ($300 million), Proposition 1D ($500 million), and Proposition 51 ($500 million) for the purposes of constructing, acquiring, or renovating new facilities for site-based charter school students throughout California². Under California law, the Charter School Facilities Program authorizes the State Allocation Board to provide per-pupil facilities grant funding for 50% of the total project cost for new construction or renovation of charter facilities¹.

The CSFP is jointly administered by the CSFA and the Office of Public School Construction (OPSC)². The CSFP 2022 Filing Round is now open. The application filing period will close on June 3, 2022. No late applications will be accepted. Applicants must apply with the Office of Public School Construction and the Charter School Finance Authority to qualify for funding².

(1) CSFA Charter School Facilities Program - California State Treasurer. https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa/charter.asp.

(2) Funding Options | Local Initiatives Support Corporation. https://www.lisc.org/charter-schools/funding-options/state/california/.

(3) Access Charter School Facilities Funding - DGS. https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OPSC/Services/Page-Content/Office-of-Public-School-Construction-Services-List-Folder/Obtain-Charter-School-Facilities-Funding.

(4) About the California School Finance Authority (CSFA). https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/csfa/.