TOP BANANA: TOP READS THIS WEEK 6-17-23
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OTHER GREAT READS THIS WEEK FROM THE BIG EDUCATION APE
STRAWMAN OUTRUNS DUH-SANTIS
Governor DeSantis, or as I like to call him, "Duh-Santis," has been in the news lately for his latest feud with the College Board. Apparently, he's not a fan of their Advanced Placement courses on African American studies and psychology. Why, you ask? Well, according to Duh-Santis, they're promoting ideology over truth and violating Florida laws and regulations on teaching about race and LGBTQ issues.
Now, I don't know about you, but I always thought that learning about different perspectives and experiences was a good thing. But I guess Duh-Santis knows better than the College Board and the American Psychological Association (who have both rejected his demands).
In fact, Duh-Santis's crusade against these AP courses could have some serious consequences for Florida students. If he gets his way and the courses are slashed or banned altogether, it could affect their college admissions and opportunities. But hey, who needs college when you have Duh-Santis telling you what's true and what's not, am I right?
In all seriousness though, it's concerning to see a governor trying to limit education in this way. It's important for students to learn about different perspectives and experiences, even if they don't agree with them. And as the American Psychological Association pointed out, topics like gender and sexual orientation are foundational for any college-level course in psychology.
So, what can we do about Duh-Santis's latest straw man argument? Well, for starters, we can educate ourselves on the issue and support organizations like the College Board and the APA who are standing up for education. And who knows, maybe one day we'll have a governor who actually values education and critical thinking over their own political agenda. A girl can dream, right?
DeSantis kicks off feud over College Board's AP psych class - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/15/college-board-psychology-course-stirs-new-fight-with-desantis-administration-00102240
BILLIONAIRES ARE WINNING THE RACE TO DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA
Well, well, well, looks like California is in a bit of a pickle. The Golden State is experiencing a decline in student enrollment, and it's not because the kids are getting smarter and don't need school anymore (although one can always hope). No, no, no, it's because of corporate education reform and privatization.
You see, there are these billionaires and their front groups and foundations who are using the billionaire's playbook to destroy public education. They're using products and services set up to further dismantle districts. It's like they're playing a twisted game of Jenga, but instead of removing blocks, they're removing students from the education system.
One of the culprits is a consortium of nine California school districts called CORE. They're partnering with charter management organizations like Charter Schools USA, which uses SchoolMint SchoolFinder to showcase its charter schools. Families can search for charter schools or public schools based on their preferences and compare them on SchoolMint SchoolFinder. It's like online shopping for education, but instead of buying clothes, you're buying your child's future.
But wait, it gets worse. California has experienced a substantial decrease in enrollment since the 2019-2020 school year due to a variety of factors related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and families. The fall 2021 undergraduate enrollment dropped by nearly a quarter-million students since pre-pandemic fall 2019. That's a lot of students who decided they'd rather stay home in their pajamas than go to school. Can you blame them?
The K–12 public school enrollment data for the 2021–22 academic year shows a fifth year of decline as the state emerges from two challenging years of the pandemic. The annual snapshot of fall enrollment shows that it is the first time since 2000 that the state’s K-12 population has dipped below 6 million, with large urban districts accounting for one-third of the drop. That's a lot of empty desks and sad teachers.
And it's not going to get any better. The California Department of Finance is projecting an 11.4% decline in statewide enrollment by 2031, a loss of 703,000 students from pre-pandemic 2019-20. The biggest losers will be in coastal counties, especially Los Angeles County, which is projected to lose 20% of its students. That's a lot of future Californians who won't know how to surf or eat an In-N-Out burger correctly.
The history of enrollment decline in California since 2000 varies by region and district. Some districts have seen steady growth, while others have faced significant challenges. For example, Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest district in the state, has lost more than 200,000 students since 2000, mainly due to declining birth rates, rising housing costs, and increased competition from charter schools. On the other hand, Fresno Unified School District, now the third-largest district, has maintained stable enrollment over the past two decades.
So what does this all mean? Well, it means that California is in trouble. The education system is being dismantled piece by piece, and students are disappearing faster than a burrito at a potluck. We need to do something about it before it's too late. Maybe we can bribe the billionaires with some avocado toast or convince them that education is cool again. Or maybe we can just hope that the kids start getting smarter and don't need school anymore. Hey, a girl can dream.
In conclusion, it looks like those pesky billionaires are winning the battle to destroy and privatize our California public schools. But we won't let them! We'll fight back with our pencils and textbooks and show them that public education is worth fighting for. After all, who needs billionaires when you've got knowledge?
Northern California public schools battle enrollment decline | abc10.com https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento-school-districts-enrollment-decline/103-4f041c89-04bb-41ca-bbe8-67096417308d
Big Education Ape: THE UNCOMMON CORE: CALIFORNIA OFFICE TO DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION (CORE California Office to Reform Education) https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-uncommon-core-california-office-to.html
2021–22 Statewide School Enrollment Data - California Department of .... https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr22/yr22rel20.asp.
Projected K-12 drops in enrollment pose immediate upheaval ... - EdSource. https://edsource.org/2021/projected-k-12-drops-in-enrollment-pose-immediate-upheaval-and-decade-long-challenge/662531.
California K-12 enrollment plunges again, falls below 6 million. https://edsource.org/2022/california-k-12-enrollment-plunges-again-falls-below-6-million/670111.
Bing, 6/15/2023
GREAT NEWS CHIEF YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR KIDS
SCOTUS UPHOLDS NATIVE AMERICAN ADOPTION LAW
In a surprising turn of events, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Native American tribes being able to keep their own children. Yes, you read that right – apparently, some people thought it was okay to take Native American children away from their families and give them to non-Native American families for adoption. But thankfully, the court has put a stop to that nonsense.
The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was enacted in 1978 to give preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings involving Native American children. But some white couple from Texas thought they could just waltz in and adopt a Native American boy over the objections of his tribe. They argued that the law violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and discriminated based on race. But the court shut them down, saying that Congress had the authority to pass the law as part of its power to regulate Indian affairs. Boom.
This victory for Native American tribes is especially important given the history of Indian schools in the U.S. In case you didn't know, the U.S. government established a network of boarding schools for Native American children in the late 19th century with the goal of "civilizing the savage" and erasing their tribal ways. Yeah, that's right – they thought it was their job to "kill the Indian in him, and save the man." The schools separated children from their families and communities, cut their hair, changed their names, forbade them from speaking their languages, and taught them vocational skills and Christian values. Many children faced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the schools, and many died from disease, malnutrition, or suicide. It's a pretty messed up part of our history.
Thankfully, the boarding school policy was eventually replaced by other forms of Indian education that gave more autonomy and choice to Native American families. But the legacy of trauma and loss still affects many Native American communities today. So it's good to see the Supreme Court taking a step in the right direction by upholding the ICWA.
In conclusion, let's all take a moment to appreciate the fact that Native American tribes will be able to keep their own children. It's a small victory in a long struggle for justice and equality, but it's still something to celebrate. And maybe we can all learn something from this – like, maybe we shouldn't try to "civilize" people who have been living on this land for thousands of years. Just a thought.
Supreme Court Upholds Native American Adoption Law https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/us/supreme-court-native-american-children-tribes.html
Supreme Court upholds adoption law aiming to keep Native American children with tribes https://www.yahoo.com/news/supreme-court-upholds-adoption-law-143709892.html
SICK SISTER SARAH SMASHES UARK DIVISION OF DIVERSITY EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)
Breaking news, folks! Governor Sanders, also known as Sick Sister Sarah, has made a bold move and ditched diversity for right-wing dogma at the University of Arkansas. That's right, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is getting the boot and its resources and personnel will be spread out like peanut butter on bread to other departments across the university.
Chancellor Charles Robinson, the first Black chancellor of the university and a former vice chancellor for diversity, made the decision to restructure and align resources directly to the 'front lines' of the university's student and employee support structures. Apparently, this move will achieve better outcomes for equal opportunity, access, and belonging.
But what about the DEI division's programs and resources for students and faculty of color? Don't worry, they'll be reassigned to a new position in a different unit focused on student or employee recruitment and success. Easy peasy, right? Wrong. It's unclear how this dissolution will affect the continuity and quality of the existing programs and resources that were offered by the division.
The university also said that the reallocation of resources will strengthen its ability to achieve measurable results that enhance opportunity for all Arkansans. But again, it's unclear how the university will monitor and evaluate the impact of the change on its DEI goals and outcomes. We'll just have to trust them on this one, folks.
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. DEI initiatives are facing pushback nationwide and in Arkansas, where Republican lawmakers have attempted to ban affirmative action and diversity hiring practices for state and local government jobs, including in public universities. This may create a challenging environment for students and faculty of color who may feel marginalized or unwelcome on campus.
But hey, who needs diversity when you have right-wing dogma, am I right? Let's just hope this move doesn't come back to bite Governor Sanders in the butt. And if it does, we'll be here to report it with our witty commentary. Stay tuned, folks.
P.S. Don't forget, the University of Arkansas may no longer has a DEI division, However, it still has its Walton-funded Department of Education Reform.
University of Arkansas to dissolve Division of DEI; staff to transfer to other departments https://www.nwahomepage.com/university-of-arkansas-news/university-of-arkansas-to-dissolve-division-of-dei-staff-to-transfer-to-other-departments/
NEOLIBERAL BILLIONAIRES GAVE US BATSHIT CRAZY
REACTIONARY CLASSICAL EDUCATION MOVEMENT
Ladies and gentlemen, gather around for a tale about the neoliberal education reform movement, AKA the "Destroy Public Education" movement. Yes, you heard that right. These folks are all about dismantling our beloved public education system and replacing it with something, well, quite terrifying.
What's even scarier is that this movement has opened the door to Christian nationalist education and reactionary far-right schooling. And who's leading the charge? None other than Hillsdale College, a small liberal arts school in Michigan.
But wait, it gets even better. Enter Chris Rufo and Ron DeSantis, the dynamic duo of education destruction. Rufo is a filmmaker and writer who has made it his mission to expose what he calls "critical race theory indoctrination" in schools. And DeSantis, the governor of Florida, is all about pushing his own brand of conservative education policies.
So, what exactly is this "Christian nationalist education" that these folks are pushing? Well, it's basically a fancy way of saying they want to inject their religious beliefs into the classroom. Because apparently, separation of church and state is so 20th century.
And as for the reactionary far-right schooling, let's just say it's not exactly a celebration of diversity and inclusivity. Instead, it's all about pushing a narrow-minded agenda that only serves to further divide us as a society.
But back to Hillsdale College. This tiny school has somehow managed to become a major player in the world of education reform. And while they may espouse some lofty ideals about classical education and the liberal arts, make no mistake – they're all about promoting their own brand of conservatism.
And then there's Rufo and DeSantis. These two are like the Batman and Robin of education destruction. Rufo spends his days making inflammatory documentaries about how schools are brainwashing our children with liberal propaganda. And DeSantis? Well, he's busy pushing legislation that would allow parents to opt their kids out of any lesson they deem "objectionable."
So, what's the endgame here? Are these folks really trying to destroy public education as we know it? It certainly seems that way. But let's not forget that there are still plenty of us out there who believe in the power of a good education – one that's inclusive, diverse, and free from religious or political agendas.
So, to all you education reformers out there – keep dreaming your dreams of Christian nationalist schooling and far-right indoctrination. But know this: we won't let you destroy our public education system without a fight.
Neoliberal Education Reform Paved the Way for Right-Wing “Classical Education” https://jacobin.com/2023/02/desantis-florida-hillsdale-classical-education-neoliberalism?fbclid=IwAR0g5pCwbt6O6VyFz-zcsks91IN7v_wrc_NLTx_X_VT-VQK34QRlZHyH7Dc
BREAKING NEWS: TRUMP ADMONISHES THE FLOCK
SEND MORE MONEY!
Former President Donald Trump is at it again, folks. He's a 24/7/365 grifting machine, and he's not afraid to admit it. In fact, he recently told his supporters that grifting is better than money laundering or the gambling business. And why not? It's easier, and you don't have to worry about getting caught. Just ask his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
But I digress. The real story here is that Trump has raised a whopping $18.8 million in the first quarter of 2023 through his joint fundraising committee and his campaign. That's a lot of dough, folks. Especially considering he's not even running for president... yet.
So, what's he doing with all that money, you ask? Well, according to sources close to the former president, he's using it to fund his lavish lifestyle. You know, the one where he golfs every weekend and lives in a gold-plated penthouse.
But that's not all. Trump recently sent out a message to his supporters, admonishing them to send more money. Yes, you read that right. The man who has already raised almost $19 million wants more. And he's not being subtle about it either.
In a recent tweet, Trump wrote: "My fellow Americans, I need your help. The deep state is after me, and I need your financial support to fight back. Send me your money now, and together we will make America great again... for me."
It's hard not to laugh at the audacity of it all. But let's be real here, folks. Trump knows how to play his supporters like a fiddle. He knows they'll do anything for him, including giving him their hard-earned money.
And it's not just his supporters who are contributing to his grifting machine. According to reports, Trump has been receiving large sums of money from wealthy donors who want to curry favor with him. You know, the same people who helped fund his failed reelection campaign.
But hey, who needs ethics when you have money, right? That seems to be Trump's motto these days. And if he keeps raising funds at this rate, he might just have enough to buy his way back into the White House.
So, what's the moral of this story? Well, there isn't one really. It's just another day in the life of Donald J. Trump - a man who knows how to grift like nobody's business. And if you're one of his supporters, you might want to hold on to your wallet... or send him more money. After all, he needs it more than you do, right?
Trump raises $7 million for 2024 campaign since federal indictment | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-raises-7-million-2024-campaign-since-federal-indictment-2023-06-14/
Donald Trump uses his legal woes to plead for money from supporters – again | Donald Trump | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/10/trump-indictment-supporter-fundraising-strategy-donation-money
Trump raised $2 million hours after arraignment - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/14/trump-2-million-arraignment-fundraiser-00101931
THE BROKEN WORLD OF CALIFORNIA ARTS EDUCATION
SACRAMENTO WE MUST HAVE MORE COWBELLS
Are you ready for a wild ride? Because we're about to do a deep dive into the broken world of California arts education. And let me tell you, it's a hot mess.
According to California's state-mandated arts standard, students from grades first through sixth are supposed to receive instruction in dance, music, theater, and visual arts in each grade level. And from grades seventh to 12th, they're supposed to have the choice from these four buckets of arts education. Sounds great, right? Wrong.
A 2019 report by Create CA found that a whopping 89% of public schools in California were not meeting the state standards for arts education. That's right, folks. We're failing our kids when it comes to the arts. But don't worry, we've got a solution. And it involves more cowbell.
First things first, let's talk about why arts education is important. Sure, we need to focus on the three R's (reading, writing, and arithmetic), but what about the three A's (art, music, and acting)? Studies have shown that students who participate in the arts have higher GPAs, better attendance records, and are more likely to go to college. Plus, they're just happier people. Who doesn't want that?
So why are we failing our kids? It all comes down to funding. California education is underfunded, which means that schools have to make tough choices about where to allocate their resources. And unfortunately, the arts often get left behind. But fear not, because we've got a plan.
Step one: more cowbell. That's right, we're proposing a statewide initiative to bring more cowbell into the classroom. Not only is it a fun and easy instrument to play, but it also has been scientifically proven to increase happiness levels. And who doesn't want happy kids?
Step two: let's get creative. We need to start thinking outside the box when it comes to arts education. Maybe instead of traditional music classes, we could have DJ workshops. Or instead of painting classes, we could have graffiti art lessons (don't worry, parents, it'll be supervised). The possibilities are endless.
Step three: let's get the community involved. We need to start partnering with local artists and musicians to bring their expertise into the classroom. Not only will this give students a chance to learn from professionals, but it will also help build relationships between schools and their communities.
In conclusion, California arts education may be broken, but it's not beyond repair. With a little more cowbell, some creative thinking, and community involvement, we can turn things around. So let's get out there and make some noise (literally).
The way Sacramento pays for arts education is broken. Here’s what could help. https://www.capradio.org/articles/2023/06/14/the-way-sacramento-pays-for-arts-education-is-broken-heres-what-could-help/
