Podcast Summary
School Choice Laws Gain Momentum in Red States: Four states have broad school choice laws, enabling parents to use state funds for private education, tutoring, or homeschooling. Critics argue these programs divert funds from public schools and may use tax dollars for religious institutions.
More states are embracing school choice, allowing parents to use tax dollars for private education, and this trend is gaining momentum, particularly in red states. These laws, often referred to as "fund the student, not the system," enable parents to use a portion of the state money allocated for their child's public education towards private schools, tutoring, or homeschooling. Critics argue that these programs divert funds from public schools, disproportionately affecting minority and low-income students, and may use tax dollars for religious schools. Currently, four states have broad school choice laws, and many more are expected to follow suit. This shift towards school choice reflects a growing disagreement among families about how their children should be educated and raised.
School choice gains momentum amidst pandemic and partisan divides: Parents increasingly demand educational options due to pandemic awareness and values alignment, while the entertainment industry faces controversy over fairness in award nominations.
The issue of school choice is gaining momentum and transcending typical partisan divides, as evidenced by the actions of governors in various states and polling data showing parental demand for educational options. The pandemic has intensified this trend, as parents have become more aware of curriculum content and its alignment with their values due to remote learning. The controversy over the Oscar's best actress nomination of Andrea Riseborough, an English actress for the indie film "2 Leslie," highlights the complexities of the entertainment industry, with some questioning the fairness of her nomination and calling for an investigation into the campaign on her behalf. Despite the controversy, it's clear that school choice is a significant issue that continues to shape education and political discourse.
The Oscars' Best Actress Award: Merit vs. Politics: The Best Actress award at the Oscars is influenced by both merit and Hollywood insider politics. Stars can use social media to push for nominations, while some surprising nominations may result from fairness investigations.
The Best Actress award at the Oscars is influenced by a combination of merit and Hollywood insider politics. Stars like Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow used their social media platforms to push for nominations, while actresses like Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler gave highly celebrated performances. The Academy, which has made efforts to include more members of color since the controversy over all-white nominations, has become more complex. A quote from black film critic Robert Daniels questioned whether the award is truly based on the best performance or insider politics. Riseborough's nomination for her performance in "To Leslie" was surprising because she didn't follow the typical campaign process. An investigation was launched to ensure fairness, but Riseborough will still likely win the award. The conversation around the politics of the Oscars and the definition of a fair process will continue. Kate Winslet's praise for Riseborough's performance was one of many outstanding reviews, but the competition for awards is always fierce.
UNC creating new school for civic life and leadership: UNC responds to liberal faculty, creates new school to broaden political discourse and foster inclusivity for students with diverse political views.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is making strides to broaden political discourse on campus by creating a new school focused on civic life and leadership. This comes as a response to the overwhelmingly liberal faculty and the perceived constraints on political expression for students. UNC's board of trustees unanimously voted to expedite the creation of this new school, acknowledging the need for degree programs that focus on civic life and leadership. However, the announcement and subsequent implementation have sparked controversy, with some faculty expressing concerns about being left out of the decision-making process. It's important to note that UNC is not alone in having a predominantly left-leaning faculty, with studies showing that a significant majority of professors in higher education are registered Democrats. This imbalance can create an environment where students with conservative views may feel silenced. The new school at UNC is an attempt to address this issue and foster a more balanced and inclusive academic community.
UNC Chapel Hill establishes School of Civic Life and Leadership for right-of-center views: UNC Chapel Hill creates new school to promote equal representation for right-of-center views on campus, while health officials warn against using certain eye drops due to outbreak of drug-resistant infections, and North Carolina considers banning transgender medical procedures for minors.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is making an effort to provide equal representation for right-of-center views on campus through the establishment of the School of Civic Life and Leadership. This comes as many universities across the nation are known for having a predominantly left-of-center student body and faculty. Elsewhere, health officials are warning against using Ezdracare artificial tears and over-the-counter eye drops due to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections, which has affected at least 55 people in 12 states and resulted in one death. Additionally, North Carolina is considering joining a list of states that plan to ban transgender medical procedures for minors, including hormone treatments and surgeries. The bill, if passed, would also make it illegal for medical professionals to help minors present or appear in a manner that is inconsistent with their sex. These stories and more are making headlines this week. Stay tuned for more news tomorrow.
