Target $62
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
K-12 Education Satisfaction In US Ties Record Low
By Gallup,
Americans’ satisfaction with the quality of K-12 education in the U.S. has fallen six percentage points in the past year to match the record-low 36% reading on this measure, which Gallup has tracked for 24 years.
In contrast, parents of K-12 students remain largely satisfied with the quality of the education their oldest child is receiving, as 76% say they are “completely” or “somewhat” satisfied, significantly higher than the 67% low on that measure from 2013.
Since 1999, when Gallup started asking these two questions every August, there has been a consistent, significant gap between parents' satisfaction with their child's education and Americans’ views of U.S. education in general, averaging 31 percentage points.
The latest readings, from an Aug. 1-23 poll, find that Americans’ overall satisfaction with the nation’s K-12 education quality is nine points below the 45% historical average for this metric. At the same time, parents’ satisfaction with the quality of their school-aged child’s education matches the historical average for the measure.
All told, 35% of parents of K-12 students are “completely satisfied” with their child’s education, 41% are “somewhat satisfied,” 12% are “somewhat dissatisfied” and 9% “completely dissatisfied.” Meanwhile, 8% of Americans are completely satisfied with K-12 education nationally, 28% are somewhat satisfied, 38% somewhat dissatisfied and 25% completely dissatisfied.
Parents’ more-positive views on education are reserved for their direct experience with their own children. They are only a bit more satisfied with education nationally (41%) than the public at large is (36%).
Parents of K-12 students are not just satisfied with the quality of the education their children are receiving but also with their children’s teachers. Nearly three-quarters of parents say the performance of their children’s teachers is “excellent” (36%) or “good” (37%), while 20% offer a “fair” and 7% a “poor” rating. These ratings, which are similar to the previous time the question was asked in 2018, may explain, at least in part, why parents rate their children’s education so positively.
Satisfaction With K-12 Education in Both Parties at or Near Record Lows
Lower satisfaction from Republicans and Republican-leaning independents since Joe Biden became president has driven the overall decline in ratings of the nation’s K-12 education quality. The 25% of Republicans who say they are at least somewhat satisfied with U.S. education is the lowest recorded for the group, five points below the previous low recorded last year and about half of what it was in 2019 and 2020.
While partisans on both sides of the aisle have not been overwhelmingly satisfied with education in the U.S. throughout the trend, Republicans’ latest satisfaction is 18 points below the 43% historical average for the group.
Meanwhile, the 44% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who are at least somewhat satisfied with the nation’s education is five points lower than the average since 2000.
The latest divergent readings among partisans are in stark contrast to 2000, the last time overall satisfaction among U.S. adults was at today' level. At that time, there was little difference between partisans’ satisfaction levels.
The intensity of partisans’ satisfaction also differs, with more than three times as many Republicans (38%) as Democrats (12%) in 2023 saying they are completely dissatisfied. For their part, a 43% plurality of Democrats say they are somewhat dissatisfied.
Bottom Line
Americans’ satisfaction with the quality of K-12 education in the U.S. has fallen to a record low point as a new school year begins. Both party groups are at or near record-low satisfaction levels, but Republicans are significantly less likely to be satisfied than Democrats are.
Still, parents of elementary and secondary school students remain quite satisfied with the education their child is getting, and they offer mostly positive reviews of the performance of their children’s teachers. If parental satisfaction wanes, however, parents may choose to move their child to a different school.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/k-12-education-satisfaction-us-ties-record-low-gallup
Turley Sounds Alarm On Attempts To Disqualify Trump
by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times,
An attempt to disqualify former President Donald Trump from appearing on 2024 presidential ballots based on a theory derived from the Constitution's 14th Amendment was dismissed by a prominent law professor on Tuesday.
A theory that has recently been floated in the media claims that the former president could be blocked from ballots under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment via the Disqualifications Clause, which states that individuals who "have engaged in insurrection or rebellion" cannot hold office. Proponents of the claim say that President Trump engaged in "insurrection" during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach.
But George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley stated that the new theory is "not simply dubious but dangerous."
"The amendment was written to deal with those who engage in an actual rebellion causing hundreds of thousands of deaths," Mr. Turley told Fox News.
"Advocates would extend the reference to ‘insurrection or rebellion’ to include unsupported claims and challenges involving election fraud."
The professor, who had served as an expert impeachment witness in favor of Republicans defending President Trump, said he didn't favor the former president's speech on Jan. 6. However, he said that the Jan. 6 incident was merely "a protest that became a riot" and not an insurrection against the United States.
"According to these advocates, Trump can be barred from the ballot without any charge, let alone a conviction, of insurrection or rebellion," Mr. Turley said.
Mr. Turley added that he views that some people who proposed the theory also "argue that there is no action needed from Congress" and that "state and federal judges could just bar those who are deemed as supporting rebellion through their election challenges and claims."
Over the weekend, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, stated that there was a "powerful argument" for barring President Trump under the 14th Amendment.
"The language (of the amendment) is specific: If you give aid and comfort to those who engage in an insurrection against the Constitution of the United States—it doesn’t say against the United States, it says against the Constitution. In my view, the attack on the Capitol that day was designed for a particular purpose … and that was to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power as is laid out in the Constitution," he told ABC News.
The former president has long denied Democrat allegations that he initiated a riot or insurrection at the Capitol. He has often pointed to a portion of his speech on Jan. 6 where he called on rally attendees to “peacefully and patriotically” protest.
Former President Donald Trump boards his private airplane, also known as Trump Force One, as he departs Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after being booked at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 24, 2023. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Also, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who had promoted often false claims that the former president colluded with the Russian government during his administration, also said that the disqualification theory “fits Donald Trump to a T" during a recent MSNBC interview. He also cited the incident at the Capitol on Jan. 6, again claiming it was an insurrection led by President Trump.
Some Democrats, including state officials, have said that the theory likely doesn't hold water.
Among them, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes told a podcast several days ago that the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that there is "no statutory process in federal law to enforce Section 3 of the 14th amendment" and that "you can't just enforce it."
"That’s what the Arizona Supreme Court said, so that’s the state of the law in Arizona. Now, do I agree with that? No, that’s stupid," Mr. Fontes said, saying that he disagrees with the ruling but would follow the law in that case.
Other than Mr. Turley's comment to Fox News, another constitutional scholar and political science professor told ABC News that the 14th Amendment theory faces an uphill battle.
"The challenge here is that the 14th Amendment isn't necessarily self-executing. In other words, it doesn't just automatically happen and there is some question about what it means to be engaged in insurrection or rebellion and how that is defined. The challenge for us is that historically, it hasn't been well-defined," Kevin Wagner, a professor at Florida Atlantic University, told the outlet.
Mr. Wagner also noted that many "have suggested that this was a protest that may have gotten out of hand" during Jan. 6 and "didn't rise to a level of a rebellion or an insurrection." Elaborating, he said that the provision in the 14th Amendment also "really turns on how it is that we assess what happened."
Previously, a Trump campaign spokesperson called the possible use of the 14th Amendment to disqualify the former president as election interference ahead of the 2024 contest.
"What these undemocratic organizations are doing is blatant election interference and tampering," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told the Washington Post last month. "They are not even trying to hide it anymore and it is sad they want to deprive the American people of choosing Donald Trump—the overwhelming front-runner by far—as their President. History will not judge them kindly."
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/dangerous-law-professor-sounds-alarm-attempts-disqualify-trump
Teachers' Union To Teachers: Destroy Evidence Of Student Gender-Identity Survey
A Colorado affiliate of the nation’s largest teachers union, the National Education Association, told its teachers to destroy any evidence of having given students a gender identity survey, according to a recent report.
CBS Colorado notes that while the JeffCo Public Schools district says it is “unclear” whether surveys about “preferred pronouns” are in violation of state law, it advised teachers against using them as lawsuits are ongoing.
Federal and state law forbid mandatory surveys that ask about kids’ “protected information,” and voluntary surveys must include a parent opt-out.
But an email from the Jefferson County Education Association told teachers that if they give such surveys, to make sure to they are pencil and paper … because “any digital records are more permanent and may be requested under federal law.”
The email also “encouraged” teachers to “make […] notations about students and not hold on to the documents.”
The union claims the district has “given contradictory directions” about such surveys; however, information sent by the district to teachers clearly states “please no preferred pronoun/gender identity questionnaire. Do not promise to keep information from parents.”
JeffCo parents claim that since the union’s guidance, “dozens” of district teachers have made use of gender identity surveys. Parents say they’re not opposed to students using preferred pronouns and respect transgender students’ right not to be “outed,” just to the union telling teachers “to break the law and hide the evidence.”
“The leadership actually provided an avenue to get around the law and basically saying it was OK,” says school board member Susan Miller.
She says the union put teachers’ jobs at risk – those that violate the law can lose their licensure.
[Parent Denice] Crawford says it also put teachers relationship with parents at risk.
“I don’t feel I can trust the teachers,” she said.
She says she reported her son’s survey to his principal but hasn’t heard back. She says she’s not anti-LGBTQ. Her nephew, she says is transgender and her daughter is gay.
“This is not political. It’s just they’re breaking the law,” she said.
When asked what action should take place she responded, “the same thing that would happen to anybody breaking the law accountability and correction.”
Miller agrees, “I want parents to know the district takes this very seriously.”
JCEA President Brooke Williams (pictured) avoided the issue of telling teachers to trash evidence of gender-related surveys, and instead reiterated district policy and complained about the “politicization” of the matter.
“By allowing students an optional avenue to share their preferred pronouns while maintaining student privacy, we can better ensure that students feel safe, respected, and validated,” Williams said in a statement.
“Transgender and gender nonconforming students have the right to discuss and express their gender identity and expression openly and to decide when, with whom, and how much to share private information.”
Ensign Group Strengthens Footprint: Acquires Two Skilled Nursing Facilities In SC
The Ensign Group, Inc.
acquired the operations of South Carolina-based skilled nursing facilities Ashley River Healthcare and The Reserve Healthcare and Rehabilitation. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Ashley River Healthcare is a 125-bed skilled nursing facility in Charleston, while The Reserve Healthcare is a 135-bed skilled nursing facility in Hanahan.
In the recently reported Q2, total skilled services revenue jumped 25.9% Y/Y to $884.2 million.
Chad Keetch, Ensign's Chief Investment Officer, and Executive Vice President, had said during Q2 that Ensign's overall strategy will continue to include leasing and acquiring real estate and that the company is actively looking for performing and underperforming operations in several states.
The latest buyouts bring Ensign's growing portfolio to 295 healthcare operations, 26 of which include senior living operations across 13 states.
"These buildings present a great geographical and strategic fit within this particular market," said Barry Port, Ensign's Chief Executive Officer.
No evidence McConnell has seizure disorder - Congress physician
There is no evidence that U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has a seizure disorder or suffered a stroke, the attending physician for Congress said on Tuesday after the senator froze for the second time in recent weeks.
In a one-paragraph letter to the Kentucky Republican, Dr. Brian Monahan said he reached his conclusion after a comprehensive neurological assessment including several medical evaluations that included brain MRI imaging, EEG study and consultations with several neurologists.
"There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or
that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease," Monahan said.
"There are no changes recommended in treatment protocols as you continue recovery from your March 2023 fall."
Last Wednesday, McConnell, 81, froze up for a second time in little more than a month.
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