TOP BANANA: TOP READS THIS WEEK 6-10-23
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OTHER GREAT READS THIS WEEK FROM THE BIG EDUCATION APE
SMITH THROWS THE BOOK AT TRUMP
TRUMP INDICTMENT FULL TEXT
“We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone,” said Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith, who delivered a brief statement to the press on the indictment of former President Trump. Mr. Smith also urged the “defendants must be presumed innocent until proven guilty…in a court of law.” President Donald Trump was indicted on 37-counts, with 31counts related to violations of the Espionage Act
As news broke that former President Donald Trump had been indicted on 32 counts, the world collectively gasped. Finally, justice was being served to a man who had spent years flouting the law and thumbing his nose at authority. But let's be real, it was also pretty damn funny.
I mean, come on, this is a guy who once suggested injecting bleach as a cure for COVID-19. If anyone deserves to have the book thrown at them, it's him. And boy, did Smith throw that book hard.
The charges against Trump ranged from obstruction of justice to financial crimes, but let's be honest, we all know the real crime was his hair. Seriously, what was going on up there? It looked like a bird's nest made of cotton candy.
As we go to trial, we were treated to a never-ending stream of ridiculousness. From Trump's attempts to interfere with the investigation into his own actions to his lawyers' feeble attempts at a defense, it was all just one big comedy of errors.
But despite all of this, Trump remained defiant. He continued to insist that he had done nothing wrong, even as the evidence against him piled up higher than his combover. It was like watching a toddler deny that they ate the cookies even though there were crumbs all over their face.
And yet, if justice prevails, Trump will be found guilty on all 32 counts and sentenced to a lengthy prison term. It is a moment that many had been waiting for, but let's be honest, we were also kind of sad to see him go. Who besides the clown car of republican presidential hopefuls are we going to make fun of now?
As we move forward from this dark chapter in our nation's history, let's remember that no one is above the law. Not even a former reality TV star with a penchant for tweeting at 3am. And if we can learn anything from the downfall of Donald Trump, it's that karma is a bitch. So maybe next time, think twice before suggesting injecting bleach into your veins.
Read the full document here:
Read the full indictment text from the classified document probe https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/read-full-indictment-text-classified-document-probe-rcna88600
Read the full text of the Trump indictment in classified documents case - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/06/09/indictment-document-trump-classified-documents-pdf/
Trump indicted: Indictment unsealed, read it – KIRO 7 News Seattle https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/trump-indicted-indictment-unsealed/7LAGG3MWLVFQJPW7GFRKDYFTHA/
VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE LIKE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL
Virtual charter schools: the perfect solution for parents who want their kids to learn absolutely nothing while still technically attending school.
These online schools, run by for-profit companies that care more about their bottom line than actual education, have been growing in popularity in recent years. And why not? They offer students self-paced and asynchronous instruction, which is just a fancy way of saying "no instruction at all."
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows in the virtual charter school world. These schools have been plagued by scandals, controversies, and poor outcomes. And let's be honest, if you're going to go to a school where you learn nothing, you might as well do it in person.
Let's take a deep dive into the world of virtual charter schools.
## The Scandals
Virtual charter schools have been accused of everything from inflating enrollment numbers to misusing public funds for personal or corporate gain. And let's not forget about the unethical and illegal practices, like grade inflation, cheating, and plagiarism.
Some states have had more scandals than others. For example, California saw a network of 19 virtual charter schools agree to pay $215 million for inflating enrollment numbers, falsifying records, and spending public funds on non-educational purposes. Meanwhile, Ohio had its largest virtual charter school, ECOT, close abruptly in 2018 after owing $80 million to the state for overreporting student attendance. The school's founder was even indicted on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and fraud.
## The Ineffectiveness
Not only are virtual charter schools scandal-ridden, but they also consistently show lower academic performance than other types of public schools. According to multiple studies and reports, virtual charter schools have lower test scores and proficiency rates in math and reading, lower graduation rates and college readiness, and higher student turnover and dropout rates.
So basically, if you want your child to learn absolutely nothing while also having a lower chance of graduating and being college-ready, virtual charter schools are the perfect choice.
## The Pros and Cons
Despite their scandals and ineffectiveness, virtual charter schools do offer some benefits and advantages to certain students and families. For example, they provide flexibility and convenience for students who have special needs or family responsibilities. They also provide more options and opportunities for students who live in rural areas.
But let's not forget about the cons. Virtual charter schools limit social interaction, emotional support, and academic feedback for students, which can affect their motivation and well-being. They also lack sufficient regulation, monitoring, and evaluation by state authorities, charter authorizers, and parents, which can enable fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds and trust. And let's not forget about how they drain resources, enrollment, and funding from traditional public schools, which can worsen the conditions and outcomes of the public education system.
## Conclusion
In conclusion, virtual charter schools are a great option if you want your child to learn absolutely nothing while also having a lower chance of graduating and being college-ready. But if you actually care about your child's education (and we hope you do), it might be best to steer clear of these scandal-ridden and ineffective online schools.
And if you're still not convinced, just remember: if you want your child to learn nothing at all, you can always just keep them at home. It's cheaper and you won't have to deal with any scandals or controversies. Plus, you can teach them all sorts of important life skills like how to binge-watch Netflix and how to make the perfect cup of ramen noodles. Who needs education when you have that?
Peter Greene: Virtual Charters Are a Waste of Time and Money https://dianeravitch.net/2023/06/09/peter-greene-virtual-chaerers-are-a-waste-of-time-and-money/ via @dianeravitch
Many Online Charter Schools Fail to Graduate Even Half of Their Students on Time https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/many-online-charter-schools-fail-to-graduate-even-half-of-their-students-on-time/2019/04
How for-profit virtual charter schools are selling families on staying remote https://hechingerreport.org/despite-mediocre-records-for-profit-online-charter-schools-are-selling-parents-on-staying-virtual/
Stanford study shows that online charter school students are lagging - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/stanford-study-shows-that-online-charter-school-students-are-lagging/2015/10/27/c42dc502-7cce-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html
The problem with online charter schools https://youtu.be/tfNzMKvoVOU via @YouTube
Say “No” to Religious Charter Schools | Cato at Liberty Blog https://www.cato.org/blog/say-no-religious-charter-schools
NEW GEORGIA PUBLIC EDUCATION RULES
FREAK TEACHERS TF OUT
As the new public education rules in Georgia roll out, educators are feeling the fear. And who can blame them? With so many changes happening all at once, it's enough to make even the most seasoned teacher break out in a cold sweat.
But fear not, my dear educators! For I have taken it upon myself to do a deep dive into these new rules and regulations, and I am here to report back with all the juicy details.
First up, let's talk about the new grading system. Instead of the traditional A-F scale, Georgia schools will now be using a 1-5 grading system. This is supposed to make it easier for parents and students to understand their grades, but let's be real – it's just going to confuse everyone even more.
Can you imagine trying to explain to your grandma that your 3 in math is actually a good thing? Good luck with that.
Next on the list is the new emphasis on career readiness. Apparently, Georgia wants to make sure that all students are prepared for the workforce, even if they're not planning on going to college. Which is all well and good, but let's not forget that these are still kids we're talking about.
Do we really want our high schoolers to be worrying about their future careers before they've even hit puberty? I don't know about you, but when I was in high school, I was more concerned with getting my crush to notice me than with what I was going to do for a living.
And let's not even get started on the new teacher evaluation system. According to the new rules, teachers will now be evaluated based on student performance, as well as their own professional growth and development.
On the surface, this seems like a good idea. After all, we want our teachers to be constantly improving and growing in their field. But let's be real – this is just going to lead to even more stress and pressure for our already overworked and underpaid educators.
I can just picture it now – teachers frantically trying to improve their own professional development while also making sure their students are performing at their best. It's enough to make me break out in hives.
But fear not, my dear educators! For as much as these new rules may seem daunting, there is always a silver lining. Maybe the new grading system will actually make sense once we get used to it. Maybe the career readiness emphasis will inspire our students to pursue their passions and find success in unexpected places.
And maybe – just maybe – the new teacher evaluation system will lead to better support and resources for our hardworking educators.
So let's take a deep breath, my fellow educators, and remember that we're all in this together. With a little bit of humor and a whole lot of determination, we can navigate these new rules and come out stronger on the other side.
And who knows – maybe one day we'll even be able to look back on these changes and laugh. But for now, let's just focus on getting through the school year without pulling out all our hair.
Educators ‘fearful’ of new public education rules in Georgia https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/06/09/educators-fearful-new-public-education-rules-georgia/
WHAT FRESH HELL IS STITT AND WALTERS COOKING FOR OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
As if Oklahoma public education hasn't suffered enough, Governor Kevin Stitt and Education Secretary Ryan Walters are cooking up a new charter school hell for the Sooner State. And let me tell you, it's a real doozy.
First off, the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board is getting dissolved. Yes, you read that right. Dissolved. And what's happening to it? Oh, just being combined with another separate board. No big deal, right? Except when you consider that this move is being made by the same people who thought it was a good idea to give Epic Charter Virtual Charter School carte blanche to do a master class in corruption and mismanagement.
I mean, who needs accountability when you can just let MAGA run the show? That's right, folks. MAGA is in charge of Oklahoma's education system now. And they're doing their best to destroy it.
But let's not forget the history of underfunding of public education in Oklahoma. It's been going on for decades. And if you think that's bad, just wait until you hear about the Jim Crow era. That's right, folks. Oklahoma has a history of segregation and discrimination that still affects our education system today.
But hey, who needs a quality education when you can have a charter school that's run like a mafia organization? I mean, sure, your kids might not be learning anything useful, but at least they'll know how to dodge an audit like a pro.
And speaking of audits, let's talk about Epic Charter Virtual Charter School. This school has been under investigation for months now, and it's not looking good. They've been accused of embezzlement, grade inflation, and even enrolling students who don't exist. But hey, at least they're not boring, right?
In all seriousness, Oklahoma's education system deserves better than this. Our kids deserve better than this. We need leaders who actually care about public education and are willing to invest in it. We need leaders who won't let charter schools run amok and take resources away from our public schools.
So let's all take a deep dive into this new charter school hell that Stitt and Walters are cooking up. And let's demand better for our kids and our state. Because if we don't, we'll be stuck with a broken education system that only benefits the few at the expense of the many. And that's no laughing matter.
Oklahoma's Virtual Charter School Board to be dissolved https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-virtual-charter-school-board-dissolved/44132568
