How’s everyone’s weekend going? Thanks for spending a portion of it with the Six.
This week in Springfield, the Illinois assembly did as predicted in this space a few weeks ago.
It buried the Invest in Kids scholarship program.
Invest in Kids never came up during veto sessions. Not a peep from the legislature. On Dec. 31, the program that provided millions in scholarship vouchers to needy children, sunsets for good. Death by Indifference.
That part is not unsurprising. As other states trend towards school choice, Illinois once again galvanizes around authoritarianism. One party rules; that being the Chicago’s Teacher’s Union.
Shortly after the veto session concluded, the CTU issued a press release about the program’s demise.
Here’s a portion of the statement:
Today Illinois lawmakers made history by being the first state in the nation to eliminate a school voucher program, a “reform” effort started in 1956 by white parents in North Carolina seeking to stop public school integration. The dedicated efforts of organizers and advocates made this triumph for public education possible, marking a significant milestone in the fight for anti-racist, gender affirming, pro-immigrant, equitable and fully funded public schools.
This achievement is not just a win against a flawed voucher program, but it strikes an incredible blow to a movement that is dead set on destroying public education and destabilizing Black, Brown and working class communities. Willing to demonize educators and their families, defund their classrooms and attack their unions, those behind the push for the voucher program in this state have made it clear that their agenda came before the well-being of children and their families.
Press release or Marxist manifesto? Alabama 1963 or Chicago 2023?
Did a black church burn to the ground?
No, parents and their kids just wanted tax-deductible credits to use towards their school of choice. You know, options other than the local public school.
It’s the latest implementation of a often-used public relations strategy by the CTU and other leftist apparatchiks: hysterical histrionics. They are really good at it.
The Ancient Greeks called it “sophistry.”
When one doesn’t have the skill to argue against the policy––who can argue against scholarships for kids––they use rhetorical instruments.
They don’t care about making a good argument. Emotional appeal is all they seek.
Carjackings? Let’s sue the auto manufacturers. The kids aren’t safe! Cars should be made with love!
Metaphors are empowering. Sensation wins the audience.
What doesn’t play to fervent crowds are objective numbers.
Those stats reveal a cold hard truth: Chicago public schools aren’t teaching kids to read or write. Many districts in Chicagoland are failing to do the same.
Rather than admit mistakes and course correct, it’s full court press defense. The scheme? Demonize dissent.
The deficit is policy. They can’t win that argument.
So they just call you a bad person. Or fat. Or dumb. Or racist.
These people control the levers of government all over this country. And were are reminded daily of just how awful they truly are.
Let’s proceed with the Six.
1. Home Schooling Moms Create Micro-School in Texas.
Who benefits from school choice? The answer, of course, is everybody—except CTU. Everybody can benefit if they're allowed to choose schooling options that work best for parents and their children. This article from Texas Tribune perfectly captures that idea, about how black families in Texas hope to use school vouchers to launch microschools that they believe do a better job than the public school at teaching their children.
2. Biden Trip To Chicago: Can’t Escape Gaza Backdraft.
POTUS hit the road this week and spent time in Chicago and Western Illinois. He talked jobs and affirmed union support, but couldn’t run away from that nasty conflict in the Middle East. A large group of Pro-Palestinians caught wind of Biden’s West Side appearance and according to this article from Politico, “By the time Biden arrived at the Ignite Glass Studios, a glassblowing shop and gallery, more than 1,000 protesters had converged on the street, yelling “Joe Biden we’ll remember, no votes for you next November.” I’m sure Gov. Pritzker was able to recommend a good Mediterranean kabob restaurant on Ashland Ave.
3. The Opposite Of An Elite University.
Forget Harvard. Or Penn. Or even Wisconsin. How about Deep Springs College. You ask what? It’s a real school located in the White Mountains of Nevada. It’s selective––only 12 students are admitted per year––but Deep Springs is anything but elite. From this terrific personal essay via The Free Press: “The campus comprises a dorm building, a kitchen, and a schoolhouse, all arranged around a small, grassy circle about 100 feet across. I received a handbook with a copy of the student body bylaws and instructions for treating snakebites. This was my orientation.” No DEI at DPC, I can tell you that.
4. Watch This Guy Work And You’ll Understand Tik-Tok.
A revealing deep dive into the booming but fragmented creator economy, projected by 2027 to be worth $480 billion—yes, with a B. Wired profiles a talent manager who specializes in representing the TikTokers and influencers who are tomorrow's celebrities. He calls his company 25/7, an apt name for an enterprise that seems like a non-stop onslaught of sensation. The strategies are convoluted, devious but effective. The talent manager, named Ursus Magana, made famous a metal musician based on a five-second cough in the intro to a song. Overnight success is real in this space.
5. The Rise And Fall Of Mikey Williams.
University of Memphis basketball star Mikey Williams, considered the best player in his graduating class, wasn’t with his teammates when they opened the season at home against Jackson State earlier this past week. Instead, he’s in California awaiting trial next month on six counts of assault with a firearm and an array of other charges. If convicted, Williams faces up to 30 years in prison. A compelling profile and sad case study of what early fame can do to sports prodigies.
6. Outrageous Python Bite: Kings Of Pain.
The Six editorial staff preferred to insert the story of a porn star partner getting his wee-wee bit by a python. But no video. Darn it. Missed opportunity. So as sub, we link out one of the best sequences of the “Kings of Pain” show that ran for a couple of seasons on the History Channel. In the clip, a python bites the arm of a dude. Best line from the actor Adam Bloody: “Worst case scenario, we can die.” That’s worst case for all of us, Mr. Bloody. Python or not.
Thanks for reading everybody and have a great rest of your weekend.
Have a suggestion for The Sunday Six? Send email to jonjkerr@gmail.com.