George Rebane

Liberals ignorant of decline in students’ performance.  This was highlighted by local liberals who dismissed my 10sep25 report of the government’s assessed and nationally reported decline in the academic skills of our public schools’ students as a “doctrinaire assessment of lowering test scores in our schools” (see NAEP and NCES reports).  He further considers the yearslong decline being currently highlighted as an “isolated set of scores … heavily salted (by) partisan spin.”  Even leftwing teachers are apparently totally unaware of the recorded impact that their unions have had on academic performance.  These unions continue to promote and defend the jobs of their underperforming members, and repeat claims that we are underfunding our schools – more money applied to the same ‘ol same ‘ol policies will fix the problem.  For reference consider that California spends $23,791 per pupil who rank 37^th among states.  Urban areas like LA spend $26,900 per pupil.  And the US average is $16,526 per pupil.

And closer to home the downtrend continues.  In data from CAASPP scores in the most recent reporting year (2024) Nevada County saw a decrease in students meeting or exceeding state standards for both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math, with 41.18% proficient in ELA and 26.73% in Math.  In our idyllic corner of the state, insulated from the social and educational morass of our urban centers, one would expect our students’ academic performance to rank high among California’s public schools.  But this is not so because the focus is not on providing high classroom performance with a proficient academic staff.  Consider that the Nevada Joint Union High School District’s college/career readiness indicator shows that only 33.3% of our students are prepared for what awaits them after graduation.

Rightwing riots burning buildings and assaulting police to protest the assassination of Charlie Kirk again have not materialized.  As history shows, had this been the death of drug-addled criminals like George Floyd, or a number of other equally credentialed worthies, the city streets across the country would have been filled with progressive rioters burning buildings and demanding ‘justice’.  Instead, we witnessed Charlie’s widow Erika delivering an emotional speech in front of thousands (millions) forgiving his killer.  In the meantime, the lamestream liars are totally misrepresenting Kirk’s message as calls for racism and white supremacy.  And rightwing media are broadcasting interviews with politicians and other notables again repeating their usual pious pabulum for us to “come together” and “get along” because “we are all Americans” – shades of Rodney King.

(Have yet to figure out how to add color to the bold type. The WP user interface was designed by rank amateurs.)