Category: Education

When Ideology Collides with Good School Governance

Written by R.B.A. DiMuccio

Should schools be focused on providing children with a good education in a safe environment or should they be laboratories of partisan political agitation? The answer, of course, should be obvious. The National School Boards Association states that “education is not a line item in your school board’s budget, it’s the only item.” The principles of “governance and leadership,” such as those articulated by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, make no allowance for focusing on anything other than educating children.… Continue Reading

Laurier University and the Transsexual Pronoun War

Written by Ben Cohen

Wilfrid Laurier University teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd, never anticipated she would be at the center of a media firestorm. Earlier this year, Shepherd showed her class an excerpt of a panel discussion on gender neutral pronouns and Canadian anti-discrimination law. The panel featured five guests, including Canadian psychologist Jordan B. Peterson.

After one or more students complained, the university reprimanded Shepherd for creating a toxic environment. When Shepherd leaked secretly recorded audio of two professors and an administrator reprimanding her, the university faced widespread condemnation and apologized to Shepherd.… Continue Reading

School Funding Bill Compromise: ‘CPS Got Bailed Out and We Made Promises We Can’t Keep’

Written by John Biver

Earlier this month, the Illinois General Assembly approved a school funding bill compromise that Governor Bruce Rauner supports. The Illinois News Network reports:

“For far too long, too many low-income students in our state have been trapped in underfunded, failing schools,” Rauner said in a statement. “The system needed to change. We have changed it. We have put aside our differences and put our kids first. It’s a historic day for Illinois.”

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SPOTLIGHT: Repeal and Replace Common Core

Written by Benjamin Smith

In the Spotlight this week, Monte Larrick and David Smith speak with Lennie Jarratt, the project manager for the Center for Transforming Education at The Heartland Institute.

Jarratt is well-versed on Common Core and education choice. He’s been on Fox News, Breitbart, ABC Chicago and multiple radio outlets and newspapers across the United States. He has been a presenter on panels to discuss education choice, common core, homeschooling, and Illinois Freedom of Information Laws with groups such as American Majority, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), Illinois Tea Party groups, homeschool conventions, and state legislative hearings.… Continue Reading

Back-To-School Shopping That’s #AnywhereButTARGET

As heat of summer reaches a peak, many families are already preparing for back-to-school shopping in the coming weeks. Many will also be taking advantage of “sales tax free” weekends right around the corner.

Over the past year, millions of conservatives have pledged to shop #AnywhereButTARGET and are using 2ndVote’s research to make shopping decisions that align more closely with their values. We’ve put together a some of the best alternatives from our database for all your back-to-school needs.… Continue Reading

Strategy 2017: From Outrage to Action [Conference]

August 18th & 19th in Elmhurst!

Written by Jane Carrell and Carol Davis

OUTRAGED. That’s how most of us reacted over the Independence Day holiday, as many of our so-called “public servants” in Springfield betrayed the citizens of Illinois once AGAIN. In addition to outrage, many of us felt genuine fear: How much more will this cost me? What else will I have to cut from my budget, which is already so tight?! I don’t know about you, but as these thoughts raced through my mind, my fear was soon replaced by white-hot anger and determination.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Discussing Educational Choice with Lennie Jarrat

Written by Benjamin Smith

In the Spotlight with Monte Larrick and David Smith this week is Lennie Jarratt, who is the project manager for the Center for Transforming Education at The Heartland Institute.

Lennie was the former managing editor (2013-2014) of Champion News, an Illinois based news website focusing on education and Illinois politics, and the managing editor (2004-2011) of Education Matters which researched education in local school districts across Illinois.

Jarratt is well-versed on Common Core and education choice.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: Homeschooling in the State of Illinois

Written by Benjamin Smith

In the spotlight this week is Kirk Smith, the Executive Director of the Illinois Christian Home Educators. Kirk graduated from Greenville College, teaching and coaching for two years at the high school level before founding the House of Prayer church in Albion, IL, which he pastored for almost 25 years. Kirk and his wife Joely live in Bone Gap with their 11 children who range in age from toddler to young adult.… Continue Reading

Parents Decry Islamization in Schools Across U.S.

Written by Michael Haverluck

Pro-Islamic education is becoming a staple in public education from the Atlantic to the Pacific, where Islam is taught as a religion of peace, and those who do not embrace it as such are stigmatized as intolerant, bigots, haters or just plain ignorant – and some parents have had enough.

“In Florida … parents are protesting a newly approved textbook they say whitewashes Islam’s violent history of conquest and subjugation, while in San Diego, an angry father confronted the city’s school board about its partnership with the controversial Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR] in an ‘anti-bullying’ program,” WND reported.… Continue Reading

Professor Who Wants Trump to Hang Faces Probe

Written by Todd Starnes

Fresno State University said they will fully cooperate with any federal investigation after a professor posted a series of Twitter messages calling for President Donald Trump to be hanged and for Republicans to be executed.

“To save American democracy, Trump must hang,” Professor Lars Maischak wrote on his Twitter account in February. “The sooner and the higher, the better.”

“Has anyone started soliciting money and design drafts for a monument honoring the Trump assassin, yet?”… Continue Reading