THREAD: Email from @Hillsdale's Larry Arnn highlights questions about what charter schools would teach and Hillsdale's complicated history on race. 1/ newschannel5.com/news/newschann…
A look at @Hillsdale's Imprimis newsletter reveals an institution that, in 1973, gave voice to the opposition to majority Black rule in Rhodesia, arguing that the right for individuals to practice racial discrimination is a "fundamental human right." 4/ imprimis.hillsdale.edu/an-open-letter…
Remember, this notion appears in @Hillsdale's 1776 Curriculum where it is stated that civil rights laws against discrimination in public accommodations "was where the line between private conscience and government coercion began to blur." 5/
In March, I tried to get @GovBillLee to answer the question of whether he agrees with @Hillsdale that business owners have a right to practice racial discrimination; he refused to answer that direct question, only saying he thinks discrimination is bad. 6/ newschannel5.com/news/newschann…
In 1989, then-president George Roche explained Hillsdale’s decision not to accept federal funding after passage of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988 requiring compliance with laws against racial and sexual discrimination. 8/ imprimis.hillsdale.edu/the-price-of-i…
Here is an excerpt: “Few politicians have the courage to go on record as voting against any bill related to civil rights, even if it may actually encourage unequal treatment before the law or other abuses of individual rights.” 9/
In 2020, @Hillsdale highlighted an essay blaming the nation's current political divide on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. "It revoked – or repealed – the prevailing understanding of freedom of association as protected by the First Amendment.” 10/ imprimis.hillsdale.edu/roots-partisan…
Again, there's that notion of a fundamental constitutional right for businesses and others to practice racial and other types of discrimination. 11/
At @Hillsdale, CRT provocateur Chris Rufo argued: "To get universal school choice, you really need to operate from a premise of universal public-school distrust – because, in order for people to take significant action, they have to feel like they have something at stake.” 13/
One of the resources suggested for charter school teachers is @Hillsdale's Civil Rights in America series, including this one by David Azerrad that describes the threat of Black Lives Matter and other "identify politics" groups. 14/
.@Hillsdale's Azerrad also delivered this speech, arguing: "Black people are collectively absolved of any responsibility for their actions. It is never their fault."
Yes, he's the one teaching the previously mentioned civil rights course. 15/
.@Hillsdale's Azerrad was also a speaker at the CPAC conference in Hungary defending White Nationalism. 16/
Rather than backing away from controversy, @Hillsdale appears to capitalizing on it with digital ads pushing its CRT agenda, presumably thinking that will help it get charter school approval. (Remember Rufo's message!) 17/
As our most recent story noted, @Hillsdale's faculty is virtually all White, certainly not reflective of the states where they are trying to reshape education. 21/
And @Hillsdale charter schools, as a whole, tend to be more affluent and more White than the districts they serve. 22/
In a recent news release, @Hillsdale falsely claims its "1776 Curriculum is NOT related to the 1776 Commission" appointed by Donald Trump. The truth: the 1776 Curriculum repeatedly cites the 1776 Report by the 1776 Commission as support for what it teaches. 23/
.@Hillsdale even falsely claims that its curriculum "does NOT condemn the rise of progressive politics." Have they read their own curriculum? 24/
If this is not condemning the rise of progressive politics... 25/
PS: @Hillsdale says it stands by Arnn's comments, insisting he was only talking about subjects like "critical race theory and gender transformation."
The number of times those specific words are mentioned in his email: 0.
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🧵 TWO WEEKS OF BREAKING BIG NEWS IN TENNESSEE!🧵
Hidden-camera video reveals a recent closed-door reception with Tennessee's governor and a key education ally who repeatedly mocks the intelligence of public school teachers. newschannel5.com/news/newschann…
The reaction was immediate! Educators 'offended and disgusted' by comments from Lee's charter school friend 2/newschannel5.com/news/newschann…
NEWS: House Speaker @CSexton25 says, just like legislature took power to appoint State Board of Ed members from @GovBillLee, they will look in 2023 at limiting his administration's ability to approve curriculum not approved by the Board.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Education Association calls on @GovBillLee to sever ties with @Hillsdale College and support legislation limiting power of the state charter commission.
Still processing response from Senate Education Chair @lundbergjon. My first story noted the 1776 Curriculum offers high praise for GOP initiatives, but tells students that progressive initiatives were bad. Not sure how failing to mention the name of the Act is such a bad thing.
THREAD: Summarizing a bonkers couple of days that began with this exclusive about how a prominent charter school advocate talked about public school teachers w/ @GovBillLee when they didn’t know the public would hear what was said behind closed doors! 1/
To minimize the chance of anyone accusing us of taking anything out of context, I posted extended clips from our video. Here’s @Hillsdale’s Larry Arnn saying public school teachers come from “the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges” - twice! 2/
Here is @Hillsdale’s Larry Arnn saying that diversity officials get education degrees because “it’s easy” and they “don’t have to know anything!” 3/
ICYMI: Our on-going @NC5 investigation is taking a hard look at the power of money on Tennessee's Capitol Hill. Special section here: 1/ newschannel5.com/news/newschann…
REVEALED: Special interests spend estimated $60 million every year to influence Tennessee state officials 2/ newschannel5.com/news/newschann…
REVEALED: Legislative leaders engage in fundraising frenzy, hitting up special interests for money 3/ newschannel5.com/news/newschann…