FROM BUCKEYES TO BUCKLE UNDER DEFUNDED OHIO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKE A DIVE IN ED RANKINGS

FROM BUCKEYES TO BUCKLE UNDER DEFUNDED OHIO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TAKE A DIVE IN ED RANKINGS

Remember the good old days when Ohio public schools were considered some of the best in America? Yeah, me neither. It seems like just yesterday when our state was known for its stellar education system, but now we're no better than those red states that everyone loves to make fun of. How did we get here? Well, it's a long and hilarious story.

According to a report from Policy Matters Ohio, our beloved Buckeye State has been defunding public schools left and right. And let me tell you, the impact has been...well, let's just say it's been less than ideal. Especially for those poor rural counties that have been hit the hardest. It's like they say, "You can take the funding away from the schools, but you can't take away the laughter from the children's faces." Okay, maybe nobody actually says that, but you get the point.

But wait, there's more! Not only are we slashing funding for public schools, but we're also handing out private school vouchers like they're candy on Halloween. You get a voucher! And you get a voucher! Everybody gets a voucher! It's like Oprah's "Favorite Things" episode, but instead of giving away cars and trips to exotic locations, we're giving away the opportunity for some lucky students to escape our failing public education system. Hooray!

Now, I know what you're thinking. "But Ohio ranks 21st in a U.S. News & World Report on K-12 education! That's not so bad, right?" Wrong! Dead wrong! We may be 21st overall, but when it comes to equitable distribution of education funding, we're a dismal 46th. It's like being the star of a B-list movie. Sure, you're technically famous, but nobody really cares.

So what can we do to fix this mess? Well, according to the report, we need a world-class education for Ohio students. That means safe and well-resourced schools with well-trained and fairly paid teachers. I mean, is that really too much to ask? We can put a man on the moon, but we can't give our kids a decent education? Come on, Ohio!

But fear not, my fellow Buckeyes! There is hope on the horizon. The report provides some policy recommendations that could make our schools better places to learn, grow, teach, and work. All we need is for our fearless leaders in Columbus to actually take action. I know, I know. It sounds like a long shot. But hey, stranger things have happened. Like that time we elected a reality TV star as president. Anything is possible!

In the meantime, let's try to find some humor in this situation. After all, laughter is the best medicine. So go ahead and laugh at the absurdity of it all. Laugh at the fact that our state has gone from being a shining example of educational excellence to just another punchline in the national joke. Laugh until your sides hurt and tears stream down your face. And then maybe, just maybe, we'll find the motivation to fight for change.

Because at the end of the day, our kids deserve better. They deserve an education that prepares them for the future. They deserve teachers who are passionate and well-compensated for their hard work. They deserve schools that are safe and well-funded. And most importantly, they deserve a state that values their education above all else.

So let's come together, Ohio. Let's demand better for our children. Let's fight for a brighter future. And let's never stop laughing along the way. Because if we can't find humor in this mess, then what do we have left?

In conclusion, Ohio's public schools may be struggling right now, but we won't let that dampen our spirits. We'll keep fighting for change and laughing in the face of adversity. And who knows? Maybe one day we'll look back on this moment and laugh even harder. Until then, stay funny, Ohio!

'Legacy of neglect' showcased in Ohio schools report - Ohio Capital Journal https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/10/06/legacy-of-neglect-showcased-in-ohio-schools-report/ 

State of Ohio Schools 2023 Policy Matters Ohio | Cleveland, OH  https://www.policymattersohio.org/ 

Controversy Has Not Been Resolved Over Ohio Legislature’s Effort to Undermine State Board of Ed’s Power and Politicize Education Governance Under Governor’s Office | janresseger https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2023/10/05/controversy-has-not-been-resolved-over-ohio-legislatures-effort-to-undermine-state-board-of-eds-power-and-politicize-education-governance-under-governors-office/ 

Seven Members of the Ohio State Board of Education File a Lawsuit to Protect Democratic Control of Public Schooling | janresseger https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2023/09/26/seven-members-of-the-ohio-state-board-of-education-file-a-lawsuit-to-protect-democratic-control-of-education/ 

MORE SCANDALS: CHARTER SCHOOLS THE DODO BIRDS OF SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO LEAVE A NASTY TASTE IN EVERYONE'S MOUTH

 MORE SCANDALS

CHARTER SCHOOLS THE DODO BIRDS OF SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO LEAVE A NASTY TASTE IN EVERYONE'S MOUTH

Another day, another charter school scandal. It seems like every time you turn around, there's another story about how charter schools are screwing over parents, students, and the community at large. And yet, somehow, we're still surprised when we hear about it. It's like watching a horror movie and being shocked when the killer jumps out from behind the door. We know it's coming, but we can't help but be scared anyway.

Take the case of John Zitzner, founder of Breakthrough Charter Schools in Cleveland, Ohio. Zitzner was recently arrested and charged with engaging in prostitution as part of a statewide human trafficking operation. And while we don't condone his actions, we have to admit that we're not entirely surprised. After all, when you hear about a charter school scandal, it's usually something pretty bad.

The problem with charter schools is that they lack accountability. Sure, they receive funding from the government, but they're not subject to the same regulations as public schools. And while some charter schools are doing great work and providing a valuable alternative to traditional public schools, others are run by greedy and dangerous individuals who care more about making a profit than educating our children.

The U.S. Department of Education has requested and received $440 million from Congress for the CSP grant every fiscal year, yet 14% of charter schools that received CSP State awards closed or never opened between fiscal years 2006 and 2020. That's a lot of taxpayer money going down the drain. Congress needs to take a closer look at how these schools are being run and put more regulations in place to ensure that our money is being spent appropriately.

But it's not just a matter of government oversight. Parents also need to do their homework before sending their children to a charter school. Just because it's a charter school doesn't mean it's automatically better than a public school. In fact, some charter schools are worse than their public counterparts.

Take Utah's Spectrum Academy, for example. This charter school for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders was recently federally investigated for violating civil rights concerns. The investigation found that the school repeatedly used restraint and seclusion practices on its students, which violated Section 504 of Title II of the Civil Rights Act. This is not okay. Our children deserve better than this.

Thankfully, Spectrum Academy has agreed to implement significant changes to its policies, procedures, and training requirements, and provide individual remedies for students who experienced restraint during that time. But this shouldn't have happened in the first place.

The Network for Public Education has updated their Another Day Another Charter Scandal page with a sorting feature that categorizes charter school scandals by state and 12 different categories. The list includes recent scandals from various states such as Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. Among the issues are financial mismanagement, fraudulent activities, enrollment disputes, and retaliation against whistleblowers.

It's enough to make you want to pull your hair out. But we can't give up hope. We need to keep fighting for our children's education and demanding accountability from charter schools. And in the meantime, we can at least find some humor in the absurdity of it all. After all, if we don't laugh, we'll cry.

'We don't even know how to feel,' Staff, parents express frustration over Las Vegas charter school’s closure https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/we-dont-even-know-how-to-feel-staff-parents-express-frustration-over-las-vegas-charter-schools-closure/ 

John Zitzner, Founder of Breakthrough Charter Schools, Arrested in Human Trafficking Sting AG Dave Yost announced the arrests of nearly 150 suspects in 'Operation Buyer's Remorse.' Zitzner was charged with engaging in prostitution https://www.clevescene.com/news/john-zitzner-founder-of-breakthrough-charter-schools-arrested-in-human-trafficking-sting-42860285 

Classes at local charter school canceled abruptly over administrative staffing, parents frustrated | KSNV https://news3lv.com/news/local/classes-at-local-charter-school-canceled-abruptly-over-administrative-staffing-parents-frustrated 

Charter Scandals - Network For Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/charter-scandals/ 

Big Education Ape: US DEPT. OF EDUCATION SENDS MISSOURI CHARTER SCHOOL CHAIN A 36 MILLION STARTUP MONEY BOMB http://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/09/us-dept-of-education-sends-missouri.html 

Big Education Ape: UTAH'S SPECTRUM ACADEMY: ANOTHER CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDAL (NUMBER 1,666,666) https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/09/utahs-spectrum-academy-another-charter.html 

ALL HAIL SATAN BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE NICE ABOUT IT

 

ALL HAIL SATAN BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE NICE ABOUT IT 

Welcome to the Satanic Temple, where we believe in individual liberties, secularism, and the right to not be physically or psychologically abused. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good Satanic ritual every now and then?

But in all seriousness, we have launched the Protect Children Project, which aims to provide students with a legal way to exempt themselves from abusive treatment in schools. We believe that no child should be subjected to corporal punishment, seclusion, restraint, or denial of bathroom access by school officials who violate their religious beliefs in bodily autonomy. And yes, we do consider bodily autonomy a religious belief. Don't question it.

Our project asserts that students who are members of The Satanic Temple, or any other students who share our religious beliefs, have civil rights that are being violated by school officials. And we're not just talking about a few isolated incidents here. The use of physical restraints and solitary confinement as a means of discipline in schools is abusive, and unfortunately, the number of incidents keeps rising.

But don't worry, we're not just here to complain about the problem. We're actually doing something about it. We're providing students with a "Student Rights Card" that legally exempts them from abusive treatment. And if anyone tries to mess with them, they can just whip out their card and say "sorry, can't touch this."

Now, you may be wondering why we're so invested in protecting children's rights. Well, let's just say that we have a soft spot for the little ones. Plus, we believe that compassion and empathy are fundamental tenets of our religion. So yeah, we're not just a bunch of evil Satan worshippers. We actually care about people. Who knew?

In addition to our Protect Children Project, we're also operating After School Satan Clubs in school districts where the evangelical Good News Clubs are already present. We aim to offer a contrasting balance to the students' extracurricular activities and promote plurality and true religious liberty. The Good News Clubs teach children sin, obedience, punishment, and hell, and strive to train children to evangelize to other children. The Satanic Temple's After School Satan Clubs, on the other hand, emphasize a scientific, rationalist, non-superstitious world view through games, projects, and thinking exercises.

And before you start freaking out about us brainwashing your children with our Satanic propaganda, let us assure you that our volunteers are selected for their professionalism, social responsibility, and superior communication skills. They have also passed a comprehensive criminal background check and received After School Satan Club training. So yeah, we're not just letting any old devil worshipper hang out with your kids.

But our advocacy doesn't stop there. We're also fighting for reproductive rights, protecting mental health patients, promoting self-directed education through the After School Satan Club, offering a Satanic approach to addiction recovery, promoting pluralism and fighting for religious liberty, collaborating with congregations to provide community works events, and providing post-secondary students with the opportunity to advocate for Satanic representation on their campuses.

And if you're still not convinced that we're not a bunch of evil Satan worshippers who want to destroy the world (spoiler alert: we're not), let's talk about Alabama's public schools. Did you know that teachers are still allowed to use corporal punishment in the form of paddling as a means of discipline? Yeah, you read that right. Paddling. In 2023.

And it's not just a few isolated incidents either. Around 40,000 children were paddled last school year alone. And while the state passed legislation in 1995 allowing such punishment, there are concerns that teachers may be using excessive force. One mother even reported bruises on her 7-year-old son's behind after he was paddled for picking his nose in class. Seriously? Picking his nose?

The state Board of Education defends the use of paddling as a tool to help ensure a good classroom experience. But let's be real here. There are plenty of other ways to ensure a good classroom experience that don't involve physical violence. Like maybe actually teaching your students something useful?

So yeah, that's what we're up against. But we're not giving up anytime soon. We'll keep fighting for children's rights, religious liberty, and a world where paddling is just something you do in a canoe.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a fun-loving group of Satan worshippers who actually care about people (shocking, we know), then look no further than the Satanic Temple. We may be a little unconventional, but hey, who wants to be conventional anyway? Join us today and let's make the world a better place (and maybe sacrifice a goat or two along the way).

Campaigns of The Satanic Temple - TST https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/campaigns 

The Satanic Temple - Official Website https://thesatanictemple.com/ 

Teachers Can Spank Kids Black and Blue - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=129974 

Big Education Ape: WHY DO WE STILL BEAT ON KIDS IN SCHOOLS: IT DOESN'T WORK https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/09/why-do-we-still-beat-on-kids-in-schools.html

Big Education Ape: BAN THE BOARD: 19 STATES - SCHOOLS STILL ALLOW HITTING KIDS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/05/ban-board-19-states-schools-still-allow.html 

Big Education Ape: Corporal Punishment: Inside the Education Week Analysis - Inside School Research - Education Week https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2016/08/corporal-punishment-inside-education.html 

George Edgar Worley

@no2hitting

Julie Worley

@JulieWorley14

Protect Children Project - TST https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/protect-children-project 

BONUS 

Supreme Courtship - TST https://thesatanictemple.com/pages/supreme-courtship