Win for Oregon Parents: Thwarting Woke Legislators’ Bid with SB 1583’s Defeat
In a momentous victory for champions of educational autonomy, parental rights, and the sanctity of local school governance, SB1583—a contentious bill that threatened the very fabric of our educational principles—is officially dead. This bill, cloaked in the guise of preventing book bans, was a direct assault on the foundational elements of our community’s control over educational content, the inviolable rights of parents, and the inherent dignity of our children.
The demise of SB1583 is not merely a legislative failure but a testament to the power of collective advocacy, transparency, and our community’s unyielding spirit. It was a misguided attempt to centralize educational control, stripping away the nuanced understanding and respect for the diverse values parents bring to our children’s academic journey.
This victory underscores a crucial message: the rights of parents to oversee their children’s education, the importance of local control in adapting to the unique needs of each community, and the protection of children from one-size-fits-all mandates are principles that stand resilient against the tide of overreach.
March 15th Marks a New Chapter in Parental Authority
Get ready for a seismic shift in educational empowerment coming this March 15th.
A new framework will place unparalleled authority in the hands of Oregon’s parents. Prepare to take the reins as we unveil something that will transform your role in your child’s education. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for—where your values directly shape your child’s learning. Stay tuned; the future of education is about to get personal.
As the Legislative Curtain Falls, Oregon Parents Gear Up for Action
The clock is ticking on the Oregon legislative session, which is set to conclude its current run with sine die on March 10th. As legislators wrap up their problem-solving efforts for the year, a determined group of Oregon parents is poised to seize the moment, marking March 15th as a pivotal day for action.
A compelling video from a North Carolina Board of Education meeting shows a glimpse into this mobilization effort. While the footage originates from the Tar Heel State, it echoes a familiar sentiment felt nationwide, including in Oregon. This scene, replicated in various forms across the United States, illustrates the collective resolve of parents to advocate for their children’s educational futures.
As the legislative session draws close, Oregon parents are not content to sit on the sidelines and wait for another year. They’re ready to take back control, steering the ship towards meaningful change in their children’s education on March 15th. Stay tuned and witness the power of parental engagement in action.
In the heart of Oregon’s vibrant educational discourse, Senator Lew Frederick’s recent legislative endeavor, SB 1583, has sparked a contentious debate, proposing to prohibit book bans on the grounds of discrimination. At first glance, the bill appears to be a noble effort to ensure inclusivity and representation within our schools’ libraries. However, a closer examination reveals a troubling undercurrent: the erosion of local educational control and the diminishing voice of Oregon parents and school boards in shaping the educational materials accessible to their children.
Lew’s Whack-a-Mole
The incessant battle against the ever-growing library of controversial books has exasperated many Oregon parents trapped in an endless game of “whack-a-mole.”
Each new library publication seems to bring forth another round of debates, stretching resources thin and diverting attention from the core mission of education. The stark reality is that with new books and resources proliferation, the attempt to curate a universally acceptable library is futile and unsustainable.
While well-intentioned in its aim to combat discrimination, this legislative push inadvertently sidelines the most crucial stakeholders in education: the parents, local educators, and school board members, who understand their community’s needs best.
We’re Mad as Hell and Were Not Going to Take it Anymore
It’s high time for a paradigm shift. Oregon parents are rallying to reclaim their rightful place at the helm of their children’s education. Starting this March 15th, coinciding with the symbolic Ides of March, a new movement is afoot.
This March 15th initiative is not about banning books or stifling diversity of thought. On the contrary, it’s about empowering parents with the tools to curate an educational experience that aligns with their values and aspirations for their children. It’s a call to action for parents to assert their apex authority over their children’s education to remove the classroom from the grips of one-size-fits-all policies that have left us with lackluster test scores and disillusioned students.
As we stand at this crossroads, it’s clear that the path forward is not through restrictive legislation but through empowerment and choice. Let’s chart a course toward an educational system where parents and local communities are partners in crafting a learning environment as diverse and dynamic as the students it serves. The future of Oregon’s education is not in legislating uniformity but in celebrating individuality and providing parents with the sovereignty to guide their children’s educational journey.
Mark your calendars for March 15th.
ODE and the Oregon Legislative Progressives have had their chance; now it’s our turn.
A Peek Inside Oregon Department of Education’s Hiring Chronicles
The Grand Stage of DEI
After spending years in the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) committee chambers, I’ve had a front-row seat in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring theatre. It’s a spectacle that unfolds with the drama of a Shakespearean comedy, where the quest for diversity often leads us down a path more crooked than a politician’s smile. This narrative is not just mine but a shared saga of ambition and, occasionally, amusing missteps in the pursuit of inclusivity over, say, the ability to spell “inclusivity.”
The Unconventional Ensemble
In its noble quest for DEI, the ODE has turned hiring into a high-stakes “Guess Who?” game with a twist. Here, the characters come to life, each bringing their unique blend of backgrounds, experiences, and sometimes a fascinatingly tenuous grasp on the job they’re applying for. It’s a world where the spirit of diversity imbues every decision, leading to moments of pure serendipity—and, admittedly, the occasional comedy of errors.
A Reflection on Excellence and Errors
Yet, amidst the laughter and the head-scratching decisions, a question lingers like the last guest at a party: Are we genuinely fostering excellence, or are we weaving a tapestry of well-intentioned follies? It’s a question that begs for contemplation, perhaps over a cup of fair-trade, organically sourced coffee, in true ODE fashion.
In this light, Candace Owens’s commentary on DEI hiring emerges not as a critique but as a critical lens through which we might examine our biases and assumptions. Her take, as sharp as it is insightful, offers a counterpoint to the prevailing narrative, inviting us to ponder whether we’re perhaps overlooking the merits of meritocracy in our quest for diversity.
The ODE In-Depth Analysis Begins
This marks the beginning of an in-depth analysis and review of ODE leadership, embarking on a journey to truly understand the fabric of our educational leaders. We’ll dissect the degrees, credentials, and educational experience of those at the helm, juxtaposing their qualifications against their actual roles. It’s a deep dive into whether the ODE has placed the right people in charge or if the allure of DEI has skewed the scales of competence.
Coming Soon: “Las Vegas Odds on the New Superintendent of Portland Public Schools”
As we gaze toward the horizon, the next chapter in our DEI saga looms the hiring process for the new Superintendent of Portland Public Schools (PPS). With the stakes higher than ever, we’re not just watching a hiring process; we’re placing bets on a future where DEI principles could redefine leadership in education. The Vegas odds are in, and the betting pool is diverse—will the next superintendent embody the spirit of DEI, or will traditional qualifications tip the scales?
In this upcoming spectacle, humor and sophistication will guide us as we navigate the twists and turns of a hiring process that promises to be as unpredictable as it is unprecedented. Stay tuned as we track the odds, weigh the contenders, and perhaps place a friendly wager on the future of PPS. Who knows? In the world of DEI hiring, the next leader could be just a diversity statement away. Let the betting begin!
Welcome to the not-so-mysterious case of Oregon’s vanishing white students. It’s like a magic trick, but without the applause. Amidst the fervent pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Oregon’s educational landscape is experiencing a demographic shift as conspicuous as a litter box in a classroom. But let’s be honest; the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) seems more lost in translation than an average Oregon calculus student.
Unintended Consequences: A Sophisticated Omission
Here’s the catch: as the number of white students declines, so do the graduation rates.
Shocking? Perhaps not. But it’s the plot twist that ODE seems reluctant to acknowledge. According to Julia Silverman of The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon’s high school graduation rate plateaued in 2023 at 81.3%, mirroring the rate of 2022. However, when you peek behind the curtain of DEI initiatives, you find that the rates for Indigenous and Black students have slipped, and alarmingly, nearly 5,800 students have untethered themselves from the school system entirely. Now, that’s a statistic that deserves more than a footnote in ODE’s report card.
The Chart Tells a Tale
Behold the graph above! It’s not just lines and numbers; it’s a story of decline. From 2018 to 2022, we saw corresponding stability in graduation rates, but from 2024 onwards, it’s a downhill ride on the graph. This isn’t just a statistical hiccup; it reflects the exodus of white students and its impact on overall graduation rates.
Are We Missing the Educational Boat?
With Oregon requiring more credits for graduation than almost all states, one might expect stellar outcomes. Yet, here we are, navigating through the choppy waters of educational mediocrity. The focus on DEI, while noble, seems to have steered us away from addressing the core issue – academic excellence for all. Are we so busy changing lanes in the race to inclusivity that we’ve forgotten to check our blind spots?
Oregon’s Education Forecast: Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Unicorns
Looking into our crystal ball, Oregon’s education budget balloons like another Russian weather station. As for our white students, they’ve turned into academic Amelia Earharts, leaving behind a trail of mystery and the occasional punchline for education parodies. Will we find them all cozied up in the “calming sensory room,” the one spot no one thought to check?
The Culinary Side-Effect: A Flavorful Future Benefit
And as we wave goodbye to the White Student Migration, let’s welcome a future with less cultural appropriation and more authentic flavors in the cafeteria.
Back to Basics
In the whirlwind of identity politics and the race to redefine ourselves, we’ve lost sight of the basics: reading, writing, and math. Education should be less about how we identify and more about how we multiply!
An overemphasis on social engineering is overshadowing the fundamentals of education. The key to unlocking a student’s potential lies not in how they see themselves in the mirror but in how they see themselves in the world of numbers, literature, and scientific inquiry.
In Search of Experienced Captains
As ODE continues to sail these turbulent waters, one must wonder if we have the right captains at the helm. As recent test scores and graduation rates suggest, the state of education in Oregon is crying out for experienced educational administrators who can balance the ship. It’s time to ask the hard questions: Are we focusing on the right metrics? Is our educational compass pointing in the right direction?
So, dear readers, as we navigate this vibrant new world of education in Oregon, let’s keep our pencils sharpened and our sense of humor even sharper. After all, in the ever-changing halls of academia, the only constant is change itself.
Until Next Time: Stay Curious, Stay Colorful!
While Oregon’s educational journey is commendable for its inclusivity goals, we must pause and reassess. The vanishing act of white students and the resulting impact on graduation rates is a wake-up call. It’s high time we bring back the focus on academic achievement and prepare all students, regardless of their background, for a successful future. After all, education is not just about filling classrooms; it’s about fulfilling potential.
