BILLIONAIRES ARE WINNING THE RACE TO DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA

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. 

THESE ARE THE CORE DISTRICTS

ANYONE SEE A PATTERN

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

 

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)

 

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

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