A Note on the “Success Sequence”

Perhaps an unintended consequence?

Chalkbeat reports:

Tennessee public schools could soon be required to teach the “success sequence” – that the keys to future success are to graduate high school; enter the workforce or pursue postsecondary education; marry, and then have children. The state joins others around the country introducing legislation around the controversial education idea.

That’s all well and good, but Peter Greene digs a little deeper to explain:

The clear, logical implication of the sequence is that teenaged girls should be on birth control until they have reached the proper moment in the sequence. Heck, the success sequence is practically a full-on endorsement of the “I’m not ready for a child yet” case for legal abortion. If you are pushing the sequence as a practical plan for success in life, then it only makes sense to allow teenagers the practical tools that will help them postpone having a child until they’re at the right point in the sequence.

Yes, many sequencers like to use the idea to sell abstinence, and that tips the hand of the real idea for many sequencers–that the success sequence is not a practical plan to achieve desired outcomes, but a moral test to see who deserves those “success” outcomes. For some it is another way to make the argument that poor folks are poor because of their own lousy choices, and if you don’t want to be poor, make better choices.

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Williamson County Teachers Speak Out on Disrespect from School Board

The Williamson County School Board recently made science textbook selections. In an unprecedented move, the Board rejected the science textbooks that received the most votes from teachers. Instead, the Board chose to implement/adopt material that was the last choice.

It’s not entirely clear why this choice was made, though it is worth noting that the Board is now solidly controlled by influences from Moms for Liberty and Americans for Prosperity.

One blogger took the time to review teacher responses to this action. I’ll note some examples here:

“During my time teaching in the district, we’ve lost many excellent teachers to other districts because of pay, climate, and decisions like those made at last night’s meeting regarding textbook adoption. How can you spend the first part of the meeting discussing things like increasing teacher pay and then come back from break so blatantly disregarding us as professionals?” – WCS high school AP teacher

“In my 18 years in public education, I have never witnessed a school board go against teacher input for a textbook adoption. This raises red flags as an employee, parent, and community member.” – WCS middle school instructional coach

The general vibe: Teachers are not happy. They feel disrespected. The school board asked them to do a job and then completely ignored their recommendation.

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Small Business Group Criticizes Lamberth/Watson Anti-Kids Bill

Lawmakers have turned cruelty into legislative proposals

The Tennessee Small Business Alliance celebrated a House subcommittee move that may signal delay or even defeat of legislation sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth and Sen. Bo Watson. The Lamberth/Watson bill in question would allow public schools to exclude certain children from access to education because of the perceived sins of their parents.

What better time than Holy Week for a rebuke to powerful oppressors?

In a statement to the media, the Small Business Alliance said of the committee’s move to place HB793 “behind the budget” –

“This is an admission that Sen. Watson and Rep. Lamberth’s attack on children isn’t just morally indefensible—it’s fiscally reckless,” said the Tennessee Small Business Alliance. “So we want to know: will they finally drop their crusade against these children?”

Some Republican lawmakers are also speaking out against Watson and Lamberth’s cruelty:

“Keeping immigrant families away from education and economic opportunities ultimately costs the state more than just providing an equal education,” said Rep. Mark White of Memphis.

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Pastors Dismayed as Senate Votes for Anti-Immigrant Education Bill

Lawmakers seek to punish kids to appease Trump

A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is speaking out against cruel anti-immigrant legislation sponsored by Senator Bo Watson and Rep. William Lamberth. The measure passed the Senate this week.

In a statement released to the media, the group explained their opposition to the measure that would allow public schools and charter schools to refused to educate the children of immigrants unless they can prove their legal status.

Rev. Monica Mowdy, United Methodist minister and former educator, said:

“As a Christian pastor and former teacher, I believe the words of Jesus when He tells us to care for the vulnerable and the children in our communities. I’m ashamed that Senator Bailey’s vote yesterday was in direct violation of our call as Christians. He refused to even hear the concerns of a constituent and pastor he’s represented for over 20 years.”

The group expressed hope that the vote will go differently in the House:

“It’s my hope and prayer that things go quite differently in the House,” said Rev. Mowdy. “We are called, above all, to love our neighbor and protect the vulnerable. This bill fails that test.”

low angle view of cross against sky at night
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

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Vouchers: Terrible Policy, Terribly Expensive

Bill Lee’s signature achievement as governor will be the destruction of TN public schools

Over at The Education Report I wrote about a new policy analysis exploring how vouchers impact local public schools.

The answer: It’s not good.

As if we needed even more evidence that vouchers are a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad policy idea – Public Funds for Public Schools is out with a new policy brief that includes case studies focused on the financial impact of school voucher schemes.

The bottom line: Voucher budgets suck limited funds out of education funding allocations and the result leaves public schools behind.

Gov. Bill Lee promoting school privatization

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Speaking Out Against Exclusion

Pastors continue to challenge lawmakers on bill that attacks children of immigrants

From NewsBreak:

Rev. Jean Norton of Madison, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, released a video statement explaining her opposition.

“My faith tells me that we are to support and welcome the least among us, and among the most vulnerable are children,”

exterior of school building in daytime
Photo by Mary Taylor on Pexels.com

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What to do About Shelby County Schools?

The legislature seems determined to subvert democracy

Chalkbeat reports that a pair of possible “solutions” are floating around – plans that would allow the General Assembly to intervene in Shelby County Schools:

One proposal in the House would take power away from the elected school board for at least four years, giving oversight of the school district to a state-appointed board of local residents. A proposal in the Senate would give the Shelby County Commission greater control over the school district — at a time when commissioners have already proposed creating an advisory board to consult with the school board.

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Vouchers Hurt Kids

Ohio data shows school voucher schemes lead to academic harms for students

Gov. Bill Lee’s top legislative priority since his election in 2018 has been a statewide school voucher scheme.

During a special legislative session in January, Lee’s dream was realized. While existing evidence suggested this plan would be both bad for taxpayers and harmful to kids, Lee persisted. Now, new data out of Ohio confirms that those warning of the harms of vouchers were onto something.

Let’s be clear: The data over more than a decade shows that vouchers are both very expensive and ineffective at improving academic achievement.

On all proficiency tests, students getting a voucher for one year or less overall are about 75% proficient. Three years later, they’re 54% proficient.

That’s a drop of nearly 1/3!

The Ohio numbers show that students did not improve in any subject – in fact, their scores declined!

Vouchers are bad.

They hurt kids.

And taxpayers will be on the hook for a program that doesn’t just “not work” it actually has negative impacts.

Bill Lee’s signature legislative achievement is a multi-billion dollar program that will hurt Tennessee kids.

Gov. Bill Lee promoting school privatization

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Fairness in Sports

Lawmakers introduce legislation promoting equity for girls’ sports in K-12 schools

Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper, both of Memphis, introduced legislation that would promote equity in sports in K-12 schools.

According to a fact sheet the sponsors provided, the law they are proposing will:

  • Dedicate state funding to ensure equal access to practice and competition facilities for girls.
  • Provide funding for equipment, uniforms, and training resources.
  • Ensure fair compensation for coaches of girls’ teams.
  • Support travel accommodations and per diem allowances for female athletes.
  • Promote girls’ sports to increase participation and visibility.

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Yes, This is Bad

Dismantling the Department of Education will have devastating impacts

Gov. Bill Lee yesterday celebrated Donald Trump’s “executive order” to dismantle and effectively end the U.S. Department of Education.

Unsurprisingly, the same Governor who relentlessly pushed to destroy public education in Tennessee through a costly and ineffective school voucher scheme also supports this latest very bad idea.

Here’s a bit of what I wrote about it over at The Education Report:

In short: This will be bad. All of it. The end of the Department of Education. The end of public school. The advent of “free market, choose your own adventure” education.

The end result: an exacerbation of income-based inequality. Or, the dream scenario of Project 2025.

Gov. Bill Lee promoting school privatization

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