How’s everyone’s weekend going? Thanks for spending a portion of it with the Six.
One of the most widely covered culture war stories this week had a dateline in Chicago.
Francis W. Parker School is a pre-K through 12th grade private school located on the city’s north side. It is known for being a progressive school and this week, made headlines for comments made by a employee of the school.
Joseph Bruno, the dean of students, was caught on film talking about teaching students how to use sex toys such as “butt plugs” and in an almost braggadocios tone, explained the actions creepily nonchalantly as “that’s queer sex.”
As someone who once lived near Francis Parker in the early ‘aughts and knew people who went there and sent their kids there, I’m not shocked by the revelations. The school always had a reputation for left-leaning teaching curriculum and methodology.
(I remember attending an event at Parker and the speaker talked about “raising independent thinkers.” We were invited to a post-event gathering on a private deck where weed smoking was open and encouraged. I had no problem with it, I don’t partake but don’t judge. But there were students mingling with faculty while weed was ingested which struck me as peculiar. We’re progressive at Parker!)
That’s the thing about private schools – they can create whatever environment they want. Parents can decide if the experience is worth the cost. The outrage over what Bruno said has not come from those inside the school. Rather, those in charge at Parker defended Bruno and blamed the media company that shot the video for “deceptively editing the video with malicious intent.”
Whatever. It’s pretty clear what Bruno said. The only follow up question to the school leaders should be “do you endorse what Bruno said and do you believe that behavior is appropriate for children?”
We know administrators at Parker do think it is. Otherwise Bruno would not have revealed what he did. The parents who send their kids to Parker know what the school is and affirm the culture by paying the hefty $42k yearly price tag. They adhere to the values of the school, a mission that promotes ‘queer sex’ and the use of ‘dildos.’
The outrage for those on the outside – who know nothing about Parker – was predictable and also appropriate. The whole thing is weird and gross. But energies are now best re-directed in a more thoughtful perspective:
“there are people in this country who have a much different world view than I.”
And when the outrage subsides and the next culture war subject takes front and center (and it will), a lesson to carry forward from Parker.
Pay attention to our schools, our boards. Learn about the decision makers and who is in charge. Get involved with our local elections, invest time in the communities in our backyards.
Who gives a rip about some nutty school in Chicago.
Lead where you are.
Let’s proceed with the Six.
1. The American Press is Destroying Itself.
Friday, more of the “Twitter Files” were released. Matt Taibbi of the TK News newsletter tweeted out the latest news dump via Elon Musk, showing how Twitter intentionally suppressed information and shadow-banned certain commentators regarding the Hunter Biden laptop story. Musk trusted Taibbi, formerly of Rolling Stone, and ex-NY Times reporter Bari Weiss, with the leaked documents as they are independent journos and outspoken critics of corporate media. Taibbi first wrote about the collapse of the legacy press in this prescient column from 2020.
2. Ron DeSantis: Running for President or Running Florida?
As 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump dines with Kanye and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, presumed GOP rival Florida Governor Ron DeSantis runs the state of Florida. DeSantis has not officially announced he will run for president in 2024 and if so, is not expected to do so until sometime next year. Between organizing the clean up of Hurricane Nicole, battling with Wall Street and general day-to-day operations of governing the Sunshine State, DeSantis is a busy man. He has yet to take the bait when asked about Florida resident Trump, recently stating, “I also got 22 million others…and we like to look out for everybody and say we're focusing on getting things done, doing our job, and that's a great thing to do." US News with a story on DeSantis’ strategy to build up his Florida governor resume rather than look ahead to any future presidential plans.
3. Lucky’s Last Run.
Two middle-aged men run across America: one a salesman, high achiever, ultramarathoner. The other is a chef, a recovering alcoholic who lives with his mother. They tell one another their life stories, cook food, get blisters, meet strangers. The salesman has brought his dog, Lucky. The dog becomes a cherished companion to the two men. The story’s headline in this fantastic read from Runner’s World teases the heartbreaking ending.
4. Someone Paid a Boatload of Cash for a Pair Jeans From 1857.
A pair of men’s jeans found in the wreckage of the SS Central America after it sank in a hurricane in September 1857 have sold at auction for $95,000 (almost a full year’s cost of attendance at Northwestern). The jeans were found in a trunk of a San Francisco merchant, and show a striking similarity to the Levi’s signature brand (invented a few year’s before). There are folks who obsess over ‘breaking in’ jeans and I’d be curious if this method – submerged in seawater for over a century and a half – would pass any legitimacy test.
5. Lionel Messi, Pavement Artist.
Although interest in this country has waned after the United States got bounced last weekend, the World Cup rolls on in Qatar. One of the best matches of the Round of 8 was Argentina-Netherlands, won dramatically by Argentina in penalty kicks on Friday. It’s star, Lionel Messi, has said this WC will be his last. If interested in watching one of the sport’s greatest all-time players perform his craft, try and carve out time to watch Argentina this final week of the tournament. I’m a casual soccer fan but appreciate excellence in any sport, and this piece from The Guardian attempts to explain the artistic brilliance of Messi: "The thing that made the goal was the touch; one of those touches where Lionel Messi doesn’t so much trap the ball or kill it but lets it come and nestle, falling asleep on his toe like a fond old cat.”
6. Mama Bear Saves Daughter from Raccoon Attack.
Mothers will go to all sorts of lengths to protect their kin. A raccoon attack? It’s probably happened before but never captured so dramatically on film (thank goodness for home security systems, dropping gold nuggets of home video entertainment each and every day). This video is about 45 seconds and wildly engrossing the entire length. Don’t mess with The Mama Bears, you crazy varmints.
Thanks for reading everybody and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Have a suggestion for The Sunday Six? Send email to jonjkerr@gmail.com.