Defund Public Education

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It’s time to dismantle the publicly funded institutions hijacked and weaponized by the to destroy this country.

oy the ‘Public’ Education System
By David Harsanyi, July 7, 2020 6:30 AM

It’s largely a left-wing propaganda machine that funds Democratic politicians and entrenches racial segregation.

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‘Public” schools have been a catastrophe for the United States. This certainly isn’t an original assertion, but as we watch thousands of authoritarian brats tearing down the legacies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, it’s more apparent than ever.

State-run schools have undercut two fundamental conditions of a healthy tolerant society. First, they’ve created millions of civic illiterates who are disconnected from long-held communal values and national identity. Second, they’ve exacerbated the very inequalities that trigger the tearing apart of fissures.

If you’re interested in ferreting out “systemic racism,” go to a big-city public-school system. No institution has fought harder to preserve segregated communities than the average teachers’ union. And I don’t mean only in the schools.

Prosperous Americans already enjoy school choice — and not merely because they can afford private schools. Anyone who has ever tried to buy a suburban home in a major metro area can tell you how acutely school districts influence home prices. Many middle-class and working-class families are priced out of areas with good schools because of inflated home values and high property taxes. And families who might otherwise choose to live in more diverse areas are kept out because of failing schools.

This entire dynamic is driven by the antiquated notion that the best way to educate kids is to throw them into the nearest government building. It’s the teachers’ unions that safeguard these fiefdoms through racketeering schemes: First they funnel taxpayer dollars to the political campaigns of allies who, when elected, return the favor by protecting union monopolies and supporting higher taxes that fund unions and ultimately political campaigns. So goes the cycle, decade after decade, one failed student after the next.

Even in cities where limited choice exists, most poor parents, typically black or Hispanic, are compelled to send their kids to inferior schools, even if there are better-suited schools within walking distance. More than a decade ago, I sat in a Denver auditorium with a single Hispanic mom who was, quite literally, praying that her kid’s number would be picked in a charter-school lottery. The mother wept as her number was passed over, not because she was a partisan reactionary — she didn’t care about politics — but because she knew her son would now be forced to attend a subpar and unsafe high school rather than one specifically designed to help first-generation kids assimilate.

It was a heartbreaking scene. And it’s only gotten worse. Colorado has since become a blue state, and Democrats have killed or obstructed numerous school-choice initiatives once supported by moderates in their party. In Denver, schools systems have helped solidify segregated communities, and the achievement gap between white and minority students is one of the worst in the country.

Nevertheless, Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden says he’ll create not a child-oriented Department of Education but a “teacher-oriented Department of Education.” By teachers, Biden means unions. Teachers unions spent $30 million on federal elections alone in 2016 — virtually all of it on Democrats. It’s about more than the money they give, however. Unions organize, campaign, and march for liberal causes. As a Washington Post piece (“Teachers’ unions may not raise pay — but they do bolster the Democratic Party”) aptly put it not long ago:

But teachers’ unions do accomplish something politically notable: They are a vital part of liberal coalitions and the Democratic Party. Teachers’ union organization and mobilization, like that of other government workers’ unions, have long compensated for the declining membership in traditional organized labor. What’s more, they’ve advanced the causes of women’s and LGBTQ rights — rights that are important to many or most of their members. They’ve done that by delivering money, mobilization and organization to both the Democratic Party and to feminist groups.

It’s likely that left-wing ideologues run your school district. They decide what your children learn. They are the ones who decide that your kid can protest the Second Amendment of the Constitution, but never, not in a million years, march for any cause the Founders might have championed.

Anecdotally speaking, I can confirm that the teaching of American history in at least one D.C. suburb — perhaps a better way to put it would be the un-teaching of American history — is detestable. Most events are couched in relativism; or, worse, the textbooks accentuate every sin and downplay every accomplishment. It would be one thing if this kind of ideological shading were relegated to history class, but it has infected plenty of other things.

If you have no interest in funding campaigns for “women’s and LGBTQ rights” (euphemisms for pro-abortion and anti-religious-liberty causes), well, that’s too bad. If you can’t homeschool your kid or send her to a pricey private school, you lose.

The embedded left-wing nature of big school districts is so normalized that parents rarely say a word. Mom and Dad can buy virtually anything from anywhere in the world, but they can’t use their tax dollars to buy Timmy an education that aligns with their values.

It was one thing when these schools were producing mere Democrats, and it’s quite another now that they’re churning out hordes of chillingly ignorant voters.

A recent study found that 60 percent of Americans couldn’t pass a U.S. Citizenship Test. It comes as no surprise that those 65 or older scored the best, with 74 percent correctly answering at least six out of ten questions. Of those 45 and younger, only 19 percent passed the exam — and the younger the test-takers, the less likely they were to pass. Sixty percent of those tested didn’t know which countries their grandparents fought during World War II. And only 24 percent knew why Americans colonists had fought the British.

Now, I’m under no illusion that higher education is the sole driver of common sense and patriotism — intellectuals are susceptible to some the dumbest ideas ever conceived–– but if state-run schools can’t even teach the Founding, how are we going to move forward as a nation?

Some pundits point out that elite private schools have even worse problems with progressivism than the average public schools. That’s probably true — and also largely irrelevant. But a voucher system creates opportunities for all kinds of students, not just wealthy ones. It stands to reason, when one considers virtually every other marketplace in existence, that competition in education would generate a diverse array of schools offering an array of teaching methods and cultures to meet the needs of consumers. It would also pressure traditional public schools to do a better job retaining students.
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There is no panacea. School choice won’t instantaneously fix our problems. Yet without closing the gap in educational achievement, it seems unlikely we’re going to fix inequality. Without fixing the corrosion of civic education, it’s unlikely that American liberalism is going to survive. We can’t fix either problem without smashing “public education” as it exists. It might already be too late

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Daniel FX Dravot
Daniel FX Dravot
3 years ago

We got a snottily aggressive call from a school district administrator. “Why isn’t your daughter in school?” My response was that we home schooled. When asked why, I stated that I encounter products of our Public School system daily, and that if my daughter ran wild in the woods for eight years, she would still emerge with an education superior to that provided by the public schools.

I was then informed that home-schooled students are not suitably socialized for today’s society. That translates as home-schooled kids are not covered in obscene tattoos, they speak in grammatically correct complete sentences, are literate, law abiding and are able to get and keep a job. Yeah, that is so not cool.

Update: My daughter graduated university with honors, then graduated law school, also with honors. Today she is a successful attorney.

Liberalism_IS_INSANITY
Liberalism_IS_INSANITY
3 years ago

A SIMPLY AWESOME REPLY!

We had many encounters with our local school Administrators who were simply ignorant of COMMON SENSE. We refused A LOT OF THINGS here in NE OHIO and it made us their enemies. They did everything they could to do things against our kids which had nothing to do with how we felt. They were punished because of our Conservative and Christian values. At that time, both of us had to work, so we could not homeschool, but if I could do it all over, I WOULD FIND A WAY, even if we had to sell our home and live in a cheaper area.

SCHOOL IS EVERYTHING. Without GOOD MORAL SCHOOLING, your kids will be ill-equipped to do anything meaningful. Luckily, my kids survived all that because they were fairly popular with their classmates, but their peers in Teachers were simply LIBERAL FOOLS.

You must be soooooooo proud! AND, rightly so!

Achmed Mohandjob
Achmed Mohandjob
3 years ago

You are located in Northeast Nohio (special emphasis upon the “No”)?

Fortunately, our children were in university, prior to being stuck in this hell-hole.

Although South Russell Township is filled with uber liberal doctors, lawyers, and injun chiefs … At least I can step out my back door and legally discharge a firearm. Saves a trip to the range.

MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
3 years ago

In Long Beach, Californication, street gang members would commonly step outside and discharge not only semi-automatic pistols but fully automatic weapons with high rates of fire (maybe Mac-10’s) on New Year’s Eve — although in their cases I’m guessing target practice is not normally the goal.

James Jones
James Jones
3 years ago

How dare you…take a stand
How dare you…sacrifice for your children’s sake
How dare you…tell the ‘system’ it has failed
How dare you…judge (there’s a word that’s been twisted)

You likely are a Believer, so thankfully you had the opportunity to do what you did, even though the ‘costs’ are there, it was well worth it.

CreoleGumbo
CreoleGumbo
3 years ago

My story is similar to yours. Both of my daughters are successful attorneys today too:

My kids did go to public school but my husband and I gave then assignments and homework that we saw fit.

In summer my husband would leave a math problem for each of them to solve before he went to work. Once a week he would allow them to eat at a fast food place but they had to calculate the bill. My husband and I never watched TV. We read book each evening and we read epic stories, like Mitcher, together.

I also demanded that the school test my daughters to determine which classes would be appropriate for them. They were sent to some college classes while enrolled in high school as a result of my pestering.

When my youngest was in 3rd grade she told me one day that the teacher has assigned her to teach the other kids because she had mastered the assignment. I went to the school to tell them that my child is not there to teach. That is your job. If she masters the assignment then you give her something more challenging but it is not for you to put her to work,

Daniel FX Dravot
Daniel FX Dravot
3 years ago
Reply to  CreoleGumbo

You have done well. Good on you. I hope your children appreciate what you’ve done for them.

mtman2
mtman2
3 years ago

Well what did the ” skrewl ” rep say…?
Good parenting on your part- tho the so called legal system and juciary is far more dangerously corrupted then public skrewls.

Hopefully she can help reverse that for WE need Patriot lawyers to clean house there same as DC needs it…!

Liberalism_IS_INSANITY
Liberalism_IS_INSANITY
3 years ago

#DEFUND_PUBLIC_EDUCATION

AWESOME COUNTER TO THE BLM, ANTIFA, AND DEMOCRATS!

AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!

moneekwa
moneekwa
3 years ago

They harm more blacks than police ever did.

geirsmith
geirsmith
3 years ago

Breaking headline news!!!!!

Abbas says ready to resume peace talks with Israel
jpost.com – By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
The Palestinians are prepared to return to the negotiating table with Israel under the auspices of the Quartet, which comprises the US, EU, UN and RUSSIA!!!!…https://flipboard.com/topic/israelipalestinianconflict/abbas-says-ready-to-resume-peace-talks-with-israel/a-jBWLbvEnSsWdwl7N0TSqJw%3Aa%3A2066076051-22ae9fd587%2Fjpost.com

Spread this: it’s the biggest Bible-News ever. it’s the end times’ prophecy come true. It’s the fabled Biblical prophecy of “Peace in the Middle East.”

Poppey
Poppey
3 years ago

As I remember pointing out months ago, the hard left are going to keep attacking the fabric and people who are the glue of your nation until either they’re stopped or there’s nothing left to tear down.

Public schools are now the target, tomorrow what’s next, how low will they stoop to conquer ?

How much more of these haters tirades are conservative Americans going to suck up before something goes snap and some lefty “teacher” is confronted by a twenty minute “exchange of views” delivered by some irate parent ?

If many more people thought like me and thought national but acted local, many millions of lines would be drawn right across the toes of those who are pushing for it.

Would that be a bad thing ?

A good row helps clear the air.

James Jones
James Jones
3 years ago
Reply to  Poppey

Otherwise known as the “Titanic Chair Arranging Committee”, hurry on board.

As the article queries, even from a solely secular perspective, it is far too late…the rot is entirely systemic, but just as significantly, it is completely in-sync with the ‘big picture’ that is laid out in scripture. The ‘great falling away’ could only happen in the absence of knowledge, and the education system has contributed to that like no other institution could have.

If it mattered anymore, it would need to be completely dismantled and begun anew… “Give me just one generation and I will change a nation”, well they got more than one, and now you can’t tell today’s society from a nuthouse.

Dave Jensen
Dave Jensen
3 years ago

I can’t believe how clueless the kids are today. We certainly are not getting much value for the money spent on their education, or more correctly said, indoctrination. There are a few good kids left that can think for themselves but fewer each day.

Lunch_Money
Lunch_Money
3 years ago

I would rather take back take educational system and fire all those that force feed our children their communist, anti-American, LGBTQ, poisoning propaganda. But if defunding is the only way than I’m all for it

tituspullo
tituspullo
3 years ago

Public school was a noble concept when the local school board ran it and local property taxes paid for it and you couldn’t vote if you didn’t pay property taxes, aka pre-1960 America. When the dems grabbed control via state govt and dept of education, the schools became democrat propaganda warehouses

BettyO
BettyO
3 years ago
Reply to  tituspullo

I was out of school when the word came down that teachers were being unionized. My Dad said, “Well, there goes our public school system.” I had no opinion on the matter at the time, but I have heard his words echo over and over as the years go by.

mtman2
mtman2
3 years ago
Reply to  BettyO

Your dad was one astute man to realize those ramifications…!

BettyO
BettyO
3 years ago
Reply to  mtman2

Yes. His suspicions about the value of unionization were the result of observation. Mine, too, in later years, watching the difference in work ethic between union members and non-members.

mtman2
mtman2
3 years ago
Reply to  BettyO

Sadly most people are about the “Benjamins” not the future harm to America or their own children that will stuck with the damage + debts for their selfish choice of mammon over God + country…!

Even socialist shill FDR “friend of Stalin” stated there should never be “Public Unions” for the harm it would cause…!

mtman2
mtman2
3 years ago
Reply to  tituspullo

Which was the Marxist agenda…!

JD
JD
3 years ago

I agree with you,David Harsanyi, But for most of us, our kids were/are stuck at the local K-12 government school. It was our experience that segregation did exist there, but not in the way you may imagine.

At my kids NC high school there were three academic tiers. They were non-honors/AP, honors, and AP in almost every subject. The kids that my sons were later to see literally flipping burgers long after high school took the only courses they could pass – non-honors/AP courses. The majority of the non-honors/AP course taking kids were kids of color.

The somewhat better students, many of which ended up in the skilled trades and/or technical 2-year colleges, took the honors courses.

Finally, the college bound kids took the AP courses. And, if they excelled in them, they were likely to successfully complete their college studies at the end of 4 years with a BA/BS degree.

In addition to the AP courses our kids took, we ensured that they had the benefit of Sylvan Learning Centers for SAT Prep, many after school and summer enrichment programs and they played at least one “letter” producing sport.

Nevertheless, because our kids were able to get into some great colleges, they discovered right away that even the AP courses hadn’t prepared them for at least some of their lower division courses. That made that 1st year of college a tortuous one as they played catch up to the rest of the kids that attended largely private high schools.

The sad truth is that the kids taking the non-honors/AP courses were marking time. They knew they were at the bottom of the heap and that their likelihood of getting a well paying job was slim to none. They knew that the education system had all but discarded them. It was painful to look on their faces and know the reality they had already realized many years before in their young lives.

Bitter Klinger
Bitter Klinger
3 years ago

De-fund public education? Mkay. Better late than never, I suppose.

stephen5970
stephen5970
3 years ago

Saw a man-in-the-street interview of a school “teacher”. The question was when did Independence take place. The teacher didn’t know 1776. When asked what she teaches, she said that she doesn’t teach the curriculum but replaces it with social issues, BLM, and white supremacy.

Why are public funds being used for indoctrination of children? Why are teachers not teaching the curriculum they are paid to teach?

Fifty years of schools pushing Marxist/socialist/communist propaganda.

CreoleGumbo
CreoleGumbo
3 years ago

One of the big issues however, not addressed in this essay is the impact of Affirmative Action in public education. I believe that this single issue was highly instrumental in lowering the standards of public education. Make no mistake about it. Many Black “educators” have an agenda to deprive White and Asian children of education by “lowering the achievement gap.”

I live in The Peoples Republic of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The community has about a 10% Black Population but the Board of Education is 30 to 50% Black (possibly more) and the Whites who are obsessed with Diversity and Inclusion make up the other 50%.

In spite of this being a highly educated community our BOE will not allow “gifted and talented” programs in the public schools because they fear that it would be “discriminatory” because not enough Black kids would test into the programs. Gifted and talented programs are available in Detroit schools, which are over 90% Black but are not allowed in AA which is over 90% White – and there never has been organized objection to this Black agenda driven Board of Education obsessed with “lowering the achievement gap.”

turkeychoker
turkeychoker
3 years ago

to damn little , to late. Shut down public schools. Be the best that happens to kids. Wife & I have been fighting this garbage in schools since early 90`s.See the ” Delphi Technique ” for a taste of what awaits those who do. Now it`l be even worse. The Communists are firmly entrenched , from the Department of Education, to the local school board.

mtman2
mtman2
3 years ago

Hard to understand why folks send their children into a “public sewer” from pre Head Start to Head Start + K -12 then to Stalinist/Mao higher Ed…..then wonder why their now grown childrens mindset stinks…?

AlgorithmicAnalyst
AlgorithmicAnalyst
3 years ago

Yeah, it is time. In the 1950s schools were locally funded and locally controlled. Much better system.

Andy_Lewis
Andy_Lewis
3 years ago

Anarchist rubbish.

MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
MuhamMUDTheFakeProphet
3 years ago

Atheist Babylon falls.

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