In Pennsylvania, Serpents and School Boards and the Independence Law Center, Again
Christian Right culture warriors are doing “a better job at being clever as serpents” in their war on public education.
Christian Right culture warriors are doing “a better job at being clever as serpents” in their war on public education.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania School Directors Coalition founder Christina Brussalis is tight-lipped about who’s funding the organization, who’s on the board, and whether they are working with the Independence Law Center.
PA remains a state of wide educational contrasts between wealthy and poor, rural and urban, and large and small school districts, as well as the contrast between those that welcome and support diversity and others that are repressive and discriminatory.
The law firm has quietly helped districts draft policies for banning books, discriminating against LGBTQ students, and promoting reactionary Christian values.
Yet the Shapiro administration approves one anyway.
If the right-wing Supreme Court majority gives Oklahoma the green light to open the nation’s first religious public charter school, the already crumbling wall separating Church and State will have a gaping hole in it.
A new report by Education Voters of Pennsylvania found a pattern of discrimination based on LGBTQ+ status, disability, religion, and more – discrimination that would never be allowed in public schools.
Public education is a pillar of democracy that the right has long had in its crosshairs (kind of like Roe vs. Wade). The 2024 election may just determine whether this next domino falls.
This Bucks County District serves as a warning to the nation about the consequences of far-right takeovers of school boards.
Education reporter Peter Greene breaks down Mahmoud v. Taylor.
“Head Start has been called one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in American history and continuing this comprehensive program is a reason for hope,” said Adam Clark, region advocacy coordinator for Pennsylvania State Education Association.
“This bill would allow you to set aside any state law, you could pollute the air as much as you want, you could pollute the water as much as you want, you could do anything essentially that you wanted that would ordinarily violate the law,” said former Secretary for PA’s Department of Environmental Protection David Hess.
Look for ruby red strawberries and tomatoes, rich leafy greens, carefully crafted coffee, artisan breads, cupcakes, cookies, granola, field-grown flowers, local honey, and more at Bucks County’s farmers market offerings.
At town halls across Pennsylvania, rank-and-file Democrats and allied progressive groups are inviting Conor Lamb, a former U.S Congressman who voters rejected in May 2022 when he ran against Fetterman in the Senate primary. Now he is serving as a stand-in for the embattled Senator.