skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump will name more conservative judges. He may even pick a majority of the Supreme Court; Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban Literacy initiative to implement 250 new early-education activations in PA.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

President Biden asks Americans to turn down the temperature, House Speaker Mike Johnson promises an aggressive first 100 day agenda and Democratic governors vow to push back on Trump's plan for mass deportations.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Texas women travel some of the longest distances for abortion care, Californians the shortest, rural living comes with mixed blessings for veterans, an ancient technique could curtail climate-change wildfires, and escape divisive politics on World Kindness Day.

Detroit teacher fears GOP agenda could undermine public education

play audio
Play

Thursday, October 10, 2024   

A Detroit educator recently told a congressional committee he is "terrified" at what a second Trump term as president could bring for America's public schools.

Rodney Fresh, a high school social studies teacher in Detroit, said parts of the Republican agenda appear to call for dismantling the public education system. He added the transition plan known as Project 2025 would "kick the ladder out from under" students who need it the most and eliminate the federal Department of Education.

"Why do they want to weaken public schools? If you ask me, it's because they fear what public schools do - we teach critical thinking, honest history and tolerance - and because diverse, educated citizens threaten their power," he asked.

Project 2025 is a 900-page blueprint by the conservative Heritage Foundation for reorganizing the federal government under a Republican administration. It calls for privatizing the public school system and cutting funding for more than 180,000 teaching positions.

Former President Donald Trump has denied any connection to the plan.

Fresh, who is a second-generation instructor, teaches ninth-grade U.S. history, 11th-grade world history and Advanced Placement African American studies. He warned that under Project 2025, classes on African American history would be censored, help for students with disabilities would be eliminated, and programs like Head Start, one of the most successful preschool programs of its kind, would be cut.

"This would shut off access to high-quality early childhood education for students in Detroit. It would also take away a lifeline many parents count on to give their kids a real opportunity and fair shot at overcoming poverty," Fresh added.

Fresh told members of the U.S. House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee that under the plan's guidelines, millions of public school students whose families can't afford to send them to private schools would be deprived of the benefits of a quality public education.

"We can and must do better for the sake of our students. We cannot - and I repeat - we cannot allow Project 2025 to dismantle public education and destroy such an essential pillar of our democracy," he said.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
While Amendment 3 protects the right to abortion in Missouri, it does not mandate state funding for abortion procedures, so Medicaid and state funds are not used for most abortions. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides as Missouri voters made history by adding abortion rights to the state constitution. The decision to …


Social Issues

play sound

If the election season made one thing clear, it is neither side can hear what the other is saying and one expert believes it is because most of us …

Social Issues

play sound

Roughly 30% of Minnesota's private-sector employees do not have a work-sponsored retirement plan but some business owners and consumer advocates hope …


Pima and Maricopa counties are the only ones in Arizona currently offering vouchers to residents and commercial users for electric lawn equipment. (Tyger Gilbert/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

It is finally cooling down in Arizona, which means more leaves on the ground as well as heightened use of lawn equipment to keep Arizona properties …

Social Issues

play sound

Connecticut voters approved an amendment enshrining no-excuse absentee voting in the state's constitution. Passing by a little more than 57% of the …

Social Issues

play sound

New federal loan adjustments aim to ease financial burdens for farmers but advocates said lasting change requires legislative action. The U.S…

Social Issues

play sound

Young people in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or fees. Chanell Hasty, program …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021