Why are progressives afraid of teaching values?

The indentured servants at Blaska Stately Manor did not observe Juneteenth, a federal holiday that marks the day the Emancipation Proclamation actually kicked in for most slaves. If any of you platinum subscribers did, you’re better people than we are. (An admittedly low bar.)

But neither did our children shoot each other, which is what too many young people in Milwaukee were doing at that city’s “Juneteenth Peace Day” event Wednesday evening (06-19-24). A 17-year-old boy — shot dead. A 15-year-old boy was injured. The shooting began when 50 young people began to rumble near the Washington Park playground, cutting short the event. Eight firearms have been recovered.

The event had been billed as “a day of peace and unity” and a chance “to give Milwaukee youths a safe outlet,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

 → Multiple people shot, officers hurt during Juneteenth gatherings in Oakland CA.

 If it ain’t working, can we fix it?

We keep giving young people safe outlets, excuses, gift guilt passes, and transferable blame packages like so much swag at a teachers union convention. Maybe we should start giving them — I don’t know — CHORES! Duties! Volunteer work! Part-time jobs! Rakes and shovels!

The 17-year-old accused of the shooting had been previously arrested for felonious possession of a firearm but had been freed on $750 cash bail. Anyone suspect concern for “disproportionality” was at work?

We’d like to know what school did this frequent flier attend (or was supposed to attend)? Because we are guessing that this walking embarrassment is not a graduate of Holy Redeemer Christian Academy or any of the other religious schools eligible for Wisconsin’s parental choice voucher program that Democrats so wish to snuff out. 

Because religious schools teach what our public schools under Gov. Tony Evers and his Department of Public Instruction are forbidden to address. It is the most important lesson of all: values. Diligence, responsibility, accountability, cooperation, truthfulness, respect, and sacrifice. Get those things right, and you’ll probably learn how to read and do figgers despite modern pedagogy. 

Which is why we’re pleased that St. Ambrose Academy here in Madison is dipping its toe for the first time in Wisconsin’s Parental Choice Program. The private school “built on core values” this fall moves into the former Holy Name Seminary and its capacious grounds. St. Ambrose expects enrollment of 220 in its 6-12 grades next fall — up from about 180. All choosing, not being mandated.

 Check the right boxes

Contrast that with a public school system here in Madison in which so-called safety monitors try to prevent police from removing pistol-packing pupils from the hallways of La Follette high school in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Read & Weep!) 

In the spirit of transparency, our new superintendent of schools gave an interview to our favorite local morning newspaper in which he manages to talk much and say little. Asked about Jennifer Cheatham’s Behavior Education Plan, however, Joe Gothard acknowledges:

“People would like to support a complete upheaval and change … but I haven’t been directed by the board and I certainly haven’t heard it as a priority.”

Blaska’s Bottom Line #1: And you won’t hear it as a priority if you’re a new hire who reports to the likes of school board members Ali Muldrow, Savion Castro, and their allies at Progressive Dane and Freedom Inc.! 

Blaska’s Bonus Bottom Line: As we told Dave Zweifel of The Capital Times in the last thrilling episode, not exposing students to Woke ideology is a feature, not a bug.

How about we track criminal arrests by school
along with reading test scores?