Thanks to Ali for the link. This is important information that in red states run by republicans it is illegal to teach to kids. In Florida, even 18-year-old seniors in high school and higher education college kids are too sensitive and delicate to learn that not all heroes are cis straight people. After all the important people in history were a cis straight people and it is important to never mention the LGBTQ+ people at all or people might think they were normal and great. Hugs
“Baron Von Steuben” was responsible for whipping the the U.S. military into shape when things were looking bleakest
Again none of what DeathSantis and the right is doing has nothing to do with protecting children from something that confuses them, sexualizes them, or makes them something they are not. This is about removing any representation from society of something Christian fundamentalist conservative dislike. This is about denying that LGBTQ+ people / kids exist. The goal is to indoctrinate kids into a 1950s social mindset in an attempt to lock them into a right wing republican way of thinking, of seeing the world. All because they can not accept nor adjust to the current society. They don’t want to allow others to live openly as who they really are with equality to themselves. They want a society where whites were automatically privileged and Christianity was forced on kids and prevalent in society. It is about forcing how they live on everyone. Republicans understand they are a minority party whose members are dwindling and dying out. Most conservatives are older white people. Instead of changing the party to appeal to more people, the party wants to force kids to be indoctrinated in to their views with no other representation. The republican leaders want to create their voters rather than appeal to those voters. Some religions are against higher education because their kids are exposed to different ways of thinking as adults than was forced on them as kids. That is why Christians had to create their own colleges and universities. Same with republicans and higher educations. Older teens would move away from restrictive conservative homes / communities to the wider more progressive view of looking at the world and they would often change their way of thinking before. Conservative religious republicans can not tolerate that and so again have to indoctrinate students at all levels. Florida is the first state that the experiment is being pushed, despite the majority of the public against it. Hugs
A quote from the article.“We are in the mind-changing business and few groups can say that,” Prager says in a promotional video for PragerU as a whole. He reiterated that sentiment this summer at a conference for the conservative group Moms for Liberty in Philadelphia, saying it is “fair” to say PragerU indoctrinates children. “It’s true we bring doctrines to children,” Prager told the group. “But what is the bad of our indoctrination?”
Critics of the material approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis say it aims to influence young minds. Its founder says that’s true.
In teaching materials from PragerU that were approved by the state of Florida, time-traveling brother and sister Leo and Layla are the main characters in animated videos that take them back into history to meet important people. In this video, they meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [ Courtesy of PragerU ]
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly says he opposes indoctrination in schools. Yet his administration in early July approved materials from a conservative group that says it’s all about indoctrination and “changing minds.”
The Florida Department of Education determined that educational materials geared toward young children and high school studentscreated by PragerU, a nonprofit co-founded by conservative radio host Dennis Prager, was in alignment with the state’s standards on how to teach civics and government to K-12 students.
The content — some of which is narrated by conservative personalities such as Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson — features cartoons, five-minute video history lessons and story-time shows for young children and is part of a brand called PragerU Kids. And the lessons share a common message: Being pro-American means aligning oneself to mainstream conservative talking points.
“We are in the mind-changing business and few groups can say that,” Prager says in a promotional video for PragerU as a whole. He reiterated that sentiment this summer at a conference for the conservative group Moms for Liberty in Philadelphia, saying it is “fair” to say PragerU indoctrinates children.
“It’s true we bring doctrines to children,” Prager told the group. “But what is the bad of our indoctrination?”
The governor’s office and the Florida Department of Education declined to say how PragerU’s mission and statements align with state law and DeSantis’ vow to ensure Florida classroom instruction does not indoctrinate or persuade students to accept a specific viewpoint.
PragerU is not an accredited university, and it publicly says the group is a “force of good” against the left. It’s a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that produces videos that touch on a range of themes, including climate policies (specifically how “energy poverty, not climate change” is the real crisis), the flaws of Canada’s government-run health care system (and how the American privatized system is better), and broad support for law enforcement (and rejection of Black Lives Matter). In some cases, the videos tell kids that their teachers are “misinformed” or “lying.”
Some videos talk about the history of race relations and slavery. In one video, two kids travel back in time to meet Christopher Columbus, who tells them that he should not be judged for enslaving people because the practice was “no big deal” in his time. Columbus argued to the kids that he did not see a problem with it because “being taken as a slave is better than being killed.”
In another video titled “A Short History of Slavery” and narrated by Owens, she says that the first thing kids need to know is that “slavery was not invented by white people” and that it also took place in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She also says “white people were the first to put an end to slavery” when it was abolished by Britain in 1834.
“After centuries of human slavery, white men led the world in putting an end to the abhorrent practice. That includes the 300,000 Union soldiers, overwhelmingly white, who died during the Civil War,” Owens says, while adding that “no one, regardless of skin color, stands guiltless,” noting that white slaves have also existed.
In a statement, Florida Department of Education spokesperson Cassie Palelis said the state agency “reviewed PragerU Kids and determined the material aligns to Florida’s revised civics and government standards.”
“PragerU Kids is no different than many other resources, which can be used as supplemental materials in Florida schools at district discretion,” Palelis said. She added that PragerU Kids did not submit a bid to be included in 2022-23 instructional material list, but did not answer when asked if it had submitted a bid for the 2023-24 school year.
In teaching materials from PragerU that were approved by the state of Florida, time-traveling brother and sister Leo and Layla are the main characters in animated videos that take them back into history to meet important people. In this video, they meet Thomas Jefferson. [ Courtesy of PragerU ]
Florida approves PragerU content for use in schools
That type of content can now be used in Florida classrooms at the discretion of schools. The option is becoming available as the DeSantis administration and Republican lawmakers add other right-leaning educational choices to students, including a Classic Learning Test, revised K-12 standards and an overhaul of college-level course offerings.
Adrienne McCarthy, a Kansas State University researcher who co-authored a case study on PragerU after viewing hundreds of its videos, said in an interview that the content has a “very strong agenda.”
“The videos have this very strong us-versus-them dichotomy, and it’s usually the evil, immoral leftists versus the moral Judeo-Christian right,” McCarthy said. “They are attacking culture and trying to change rhetoric.”
With colorful animation, catchy melodies and adventurous child protagonists, the content is seemingly harmless and friendly, she says. But she argued the content could potentially serve as a “gateway for right extremism.”
“If we’re teaching ideologies that overlap with far-right groups, and that becomes normalized, then it’s easier for those far-right groups to become more brave and grow,” McCarthy said.
Melissa Streit, the chief executive officer of PragerU, said in an interview that the group’s content is meant to “create an even playing field” in schools — and that the only ones accusing them of indoctrinating students with a right-wing ideology are “probably the teachers unions,” which she said don’t want to lose control of the system.
Teachers unions have criticized the organization. In a video posted on TikTok, Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar said the group has a “political agenda” as it goes over some of its content.
“We believe in teaching an honest history, a complete history. We believe in teaching the truth,” Spar says in the video. “Teachers are not pushing an agenda, they are pushing to educate children. This (PragerU) is pushing an agenda. You don’t have to take my word for it, check it out for yourselves. This is part of the agenda of Ron DeSantis.”
Streit defended the group’s content and messaging in a phone interview.
“To label PragerU as right wing, one should also label at the same time virtually 80% of what’s in American schools right now as extreme left wing,” Streit said. “The ideology that we promote is a pro-American ideology, the ideology of which America was essentially built upon that has created this nation. But we are not a political enterprise, we are a pro-American enterprise.”
Conservative activism in education
Streit said PragerU Kids was launched two years ago. Around the same time, groups like Moms for Liberty stepped into the mainstream political world, and school board meetings across the country became engulfed by partisan culture wars as parents and activists debated pandemic restrictions, race and gender issues.
“We launched because we realized that there are many parents who want their kids to learn more than what they’re learning in schools,” Streit said. “We are very, very big believers in education choice, and we believe that parents should be involved and have the right to really make sure that their kids are learning what it is that they believe that they should learn.”
In PragerU educational materials approved by the state of Florida, time-traveling brother and sister Leo and Layla are the main characters in animated videos that take them back into history to meet important people. In this video, they meet Supreme Court Justice John Marshall. [ Courtesy of PragerU ]
In Florida, the state approved the content to be used as a supplemental material in classroom instruction. It does not mean that PragerU will be writing the curriculum at a school, but that if a school approved the use of the material, a teacher could use it as an aid to teach a class.
The materials could be used starting in the upcoming school year, but some districts — including Broward, Miami-Dade, Pasco and Pinellas — say that curriculum guides remain under development and that no decisions have been made to accommodate PragerU content.
They said they have no plans to review the materials for inclusion, unless PragerU submits a bid to be considered.
Streit said the group believes in transparency and that anything that would be made available to classrooms would be made available online for parents to see.
The group’s website, prageru.com, includes links to dozens of video clips, its mission and information for those who want to learn and donate to their cause.
It also includes a list of its presenters, which include conservative activist and Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk; David Rubin, a conservative commentator and political supporter of DeSantis; and Will Witt, a longtime influencer for PragerU and the editor-in-chief of the conservative media outlet The Florida Standard, which DeSantis and his office turn to frequently to amplify their message.
The website does not include information on who is creating the content or its reference sources.
When asked for more information on the content creators, Streit said there “are a lot of people involved” with different expertise, but that the group does not intend to disclose their names or credentials on their website because “we live in a world where people attack people who they disagree with.”
How PragerU came to Florida
Streit has found supporters in Florida. She said talks of bringing PragerU Kids to Florida — the first state in the nation to approve its content — began over the summer with Education Commissioner Manny Diaz and K-12 Chancellor Paul Burns.
“The state did not approach us,” Streit said. “I would say that we got to know each other through mutual friends and we started talking about how we can be helpful. It is not that they came and applied for us to do something.”
Before the initiative was launched in Florida, Streit said she also crossed paths with Florida’s first lady, Casey DeSantis. Streit did not specify when or where, but she said that is how she learned that the DeSantis family showed PragerU videos to their young kids.
“So I imagine that if he thinks it’s good enough for his own children, why wouldn’t it be good enough for other Floridians?” Streit said.
DeSantis’ office did not respond when asked if this was true.
Times staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek contributed to this report.
.@GovRonDeSantis repeatedly has said he opposes indoctrination in schools. His administration has approved the use of materials from @prageru, whose founder says his group is all about indoctrination and “changing minds." https://t.co/FAeQjGI5NI
The REASON you have to indoctrinate children is because if you waited till high school or college to educate persons about religion, there would almost no religious people.
Seriously, a college class explaining (for the first time) to a student that the world was created in 6 days and woman from Adam’s rib, the ark, crucifixion, etc. The teacher would struggle to be heard over the laughter.
High school students are a MAJOR, MAJOR target. Young Life Ministries has it down to a science. They start by recruiting the cool kids, the jocks from the football and basketball teams especially. They then use the jocks to recruit the average kids that are dying to fit in. And then they gently pressure the kids to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Often with a version of Liar, Lunatic or Lord. ( conveniently leaving out the option of Legend). They got me and my sister. I got out. Not my sister.
Oh thank you for admitting it’s indoctrination. Makes the inevitable lawsuits easier when you come out and say you’re trying to use schools to indoctrinate kids
Yeah, this is clearly a violation of separation of church and state. Especially profiting off of taxpayers dollars. If only there was a SCOTUS that would enforce that..
Specifically, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. “Held: The Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in a personal religious observance from government reprisal; the Constitution neither mandates nor permits the government to suppress such religious expression.”
That is to say, while a school district cannot push religion, a teacher or group of teachers or teachers and administrators can as long as they at least make it seem like they are acting under their own authority and not under government order.
Unfortunately if they have people in the right positions of political power, it doesn’t matter how few in number they are – they still can wield incredible power over the lives of others.
I don’t know if the bigots that did this to a person’s home were driven by religious bigotry against the almost nude showing of the one woman’s boobs or the fact that a fully clothed Divine was also there, she was in a famous movie Hairspray and is a man in drag. I have no idea of their pronouns, and I apologize if I wrongly gendered them.
Regardless, this is a property crime. This is domestic terrorism causing harm to others for a political gain or point. No one had the right to do what these four individuals did, but due to their right wing or religious views, they felt they were entitled to do so. Their god’s happiness comes before the happiness or security of any human or people. The right demands total obedience to their views, or they feel free to hurt and harm those that won’t do as they say. This is how far the right has fallen into total fascism and dictatorship. Do as we demand, live as we tell you, or we destroy your home, and even threaten your health and life. It is very anti-democracy and the things the US use to be, but it is very much the way things went in the 1930s Germany. That was when Hitler supporting Brownshirts did just what the gang thugs enforcement arm of the Republicans are doing today, attacking those that resisted the restrictions and ascendancy of their preferred fascist leaders. It is a very scary time in the US as most people today don’t know or understand that history. Hugs
They were seen on surveillance taking their time to douse the mural for nearly five minutes. The paint rained down on the roof the art, the porch, and the windows. Nothing was spared.
The owners of the house say whoever did this seems intent on destroying iconic feminist images.
Every other time, the owners have been intent on restoring the murals. This time, the entire house will have to be repainted. Anyone with information is asked to call Seattle police.
Vandals targeted an iconic mural in Seattle early Sunday morning, according to the homeowner and video from the scene. The home – located off Interstate 5 near the Northeast 65th Street exit – has a mural on an outside wall that faces the freeway featuring 1950s pinup model Bettie Page and historic drag queen Divine.
Just after midnight Sunday, suspects approached the home with what appeared to be pressurized containers with red paint, which they used to cover the mural and much of the house. They were seen on surveillance taking their time to douse the mural for nearly five minutes. The paint rained down on the roof, the art, the porch, and the windows. Nothing was spared.
Read the full article. Watch the video. The owner of the home and his wife say repairs might cost $20,000, but the mural will stay.
It’s not the first time the home has been hit. Back in 2016, the mural was defaced with paint. https://t.co/U0E6PSEKq8
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) paid homage to RuPaul Charles, the superstar drag queen and host of the reality series “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” on the House floor Wednesday, praising the barrier-breaking performer and Emmy Award winner for his commitment to uplifting the LGBTQ community.
Robert Garcia is aggressively supportive of the community and a cage rattler (not always agree with him though) given the aggression coming from the GOP we need that level of energy.
Yesterday, I watched the 2000 documentary The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which RuPaul narrated. While it’s too bad that Tammy Faye isn’t alive anymore, it’s nice to know that she was totally the opposite of the Jerry Falwell types in terms of her social views.
“An Air Force official said that troops who have LGBTQ+ members in their families are being forced to move to new bases due to anti-LGBTQ bullying happening at schools.
Speaking at the Center for a New American Security’s annual National Security Conference, Assistant Air Force Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Alex Wagner said he’s worried about being forced to move families from bases due to their LGBTQ children experiencing bullying and harassment in schools.”
Schools on military bases would be subject to DoD policies, which include strong support for LGBTQ service members and their families. The best part is DoD can and does enforce these policies, regardless of the local laws. A friend who is a military chaplain gripes occasionally about getting saddled running a lot of the family support programs because he belongs to an open and affirming denomination — chaplains representing less inclusive faiths are no longer allowed to participate in order to prevent discrimination against LGBTQ families.
I wondered about that. DOD used to have a widespread school system. AF and Army bases stateside tend to be in rural areas and off-base schools would be a potential problem.
Gofundme to help cover the cost of restoring it. Leftover funds go to Lambert House. The gofundme cover image shows the Laura Palmer/Britney Spears mashup image, which isn’t featured in the news article, but it’s the same house.
“We also added a mural on our shed (a mashup of Britney Spears and Laura Palmer), also painted by Two Thangs and Mexcal. At the time, Britney had yet to be released from her oppressive conservator ship. Both Britney and the Twin Peaks character Laura Palmer are victims of abuse at the hands of their patriarchs. “
“Thanks to Two Thangs’ foresight [in adding graffiti-proof sealant], we will be able to clean Divine and Bettie. The Britney/Laura mashup is ruined. “
I live in the heart of Oakland County, surprisingly blue compared with where it was even ten years ago, and I won’t put out candidate or proposal lawn signs, or a rainbow flag, for fear of making my house a target for the crazies.
Who’s agitating this? Has there been an increase in right-wing chatter, more than usual for this time of year? Prosecute the immediate perpetrators, of course, but let’s try to connect some dots.
Scottie's Playtime 