1 00:00:02,300 --> 00:00:03,270 Starting now. 2 00:00:03,890 --> 00:00:08,110 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:08,130 --> 00:00:11,790 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:11,890 --> 00:00:15,430 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:15,770 --> 00:00:18,390 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:18,730 --> 00:00:21,430 and today's guests commonalities. 7 00:00:23,660 --> 00:00:28,070 Well, everyone, thank you for joining us today on commonalities. 8 00:00:28,090 --> 00:00:32,630 I'm your host, Matt Doley, and I have a wonderful guest with me today. 9 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:33,870 Uh, Lois. 10 00:00:33,870 --> 00:00:38,590 Lois has been involved in local politics for over 20 years. 11 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:43,190 Um, she's been involved in school board elections. Uh, 12 00:00:43,190 --> 00:00:45,430 she's an advocate for school choice, 13 00:00:45,730 --> 00:00:49,030 and as many of you have come to know, uh, 14 00:00:49,030 --> 00:00:52,070 this new program is about, uh, 15 00:00:52,070 --> 00:00:54,310 seeing two sides to an issue. 16 00:00:54,310 --> 00:00:57,990 Today we're going to be talking primarily about, uh, 17 00:00:57,990 --> 00:01:00,390 school choice through a, uh, 18 00:01:00,980 --> 00:01:05,070 a school board member and a parent's eyes. Um, 19 00:01:05,070 --> 00:01:06,750 and then at a later point in time, 20 00:01:06,750 --> 00:01:11,590 we'll be talking with some of our advocates for public education, uh, 21 00:01:11,590 --> 00:01:15,910 even though they may not be in favor of the type of choice that we're discussing 22 00:01:15,910 --> 00:01:17,230 today, um, 23 00:01:17,230 --> 00:01:21,870 we'll get them on the show another time to talk about the flip side of this 24 00:01:22,270 --> 00:01:25,390 issue. Lois, thank you so much for being with me today. 25 00:01:25,660 --> 00:01:29,870 I wanted to give you a chance to kind of introduce yourself and to give us a 26 00:01:29,870 --> 00:01:31,550 little bit of background, um, 27 00:01:31,550 --> 00:01:34,830 because you are extremely experienced in what you're gonna be talking about 28 00:01:34,830 --> 00:01:35,663 today. 29 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:38,870 Well, thank you, Matt. Thank you for having me. I'm, 30 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:42,510 my name is Lois Kahiki and I, um, 31 00:01:42,750 --> 00:01:46,470 and the Pennsylvania State Coordinator for Moms for Liberty. 32 00:01:47,210 --> 00:01:51,910 And our goal is to defend parents rights and education at all levels of 33 00:01:51,910 --> 00:01:56,150 government. And I came on board, I'm the first state coordinator they've hired, 34 00:01:56,150 --> 00:02:00,510 uh, came on board in June, and we are organized at the county level. 35 00:02:00,510 --> 00:02:04,110 So we have county chapters. Uh, people can go to our website, 36 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:07,830 moms for liberty.org and see if you have a chapter set up in your county. 37 00:02:07,830 --> 00:02:11,110 And if not, you know, we want to start one. So <laugh>, 38 00:02:11,130 --> 00:02:14,710 I'd love to talk to you about people about that. But, uh, 39 00:02:14,710 --> 00:02:18,270 we're trying to empower, uh, parents, grandparents, 40 00:02:18,270 --> 00:02:23,230 community members on how they can have an impact and have a voice in their 41 00:02:23,510 --> 00:02:27,710 local schools. And, uh, of course advocate for, uh, 42 00:02:27,870 --> 00:02:30,830 parental rights and education. And, um, I've been, 43 00:02:30,940 --> 00:02:35,190 I've been interested in education issues forever. I just believe, you know, 44 00:02:35,190 --> 00:02:39,670 a good education is the great leveler of society no matter what it, uh, 45 00:02:39,670 --> 00:02:42,630 circumstances you're born into. If you get a good education, 46 00:02:42,630 --> 00:02:45,950 you can make better, uh, better, uh, life for yourself. 47 00:02:46,130 --> 00:02:50,070 And that's what America's all about, right? Is giving people opportunity, uh, 48 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:54,150 giving them a chance at the American dream, which I very much, uh, believe in. 49 00:02:54,370 --> 00:02:57,190 But, uh, you need to have a good start in life. You know, 50 00:02:57,190 --> 00:02:59,070 we spend a lot of money on public education, 51 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,000 and we deserve to have an excellent product, and I think we're falling short, 52 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,160 and I think a lot of people feel that way these days. 53 00:03:06,540 --> 00:03:09,470 Yeah, and, and I would tend to agree with you, uh, 54 00:03:09,470 --> 00:03:14,430 while I try to stay kind of neutral on this show as a moderator, there's, uh, 55 00:03:14,430 --> 00:03:15,263 you know, 56 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:19,510 no lying about the fact that I've been a strong proponent for school choice, 57 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,670 uh, because I think parents know best what their own kids need in the classroom. 58 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,630 Um, so, you know, sometimes I have to put my moderator hat on, but I, 59 00:03:29,630 --> 00:03:33,230 I think people already know my point of view, um, 60 00:03:33,230 --> 00:03:37,590 when it comes to education. And I think there's an important, uh, 61 00:03:37,590 --> 00:03:42,430 piece that we need to kind of mention up front. Um, you know, 62 00:03:42,430 --> 00:03:43,550 I don't wanna speak for you, 63 00:03:43,550 --> 00:03:48,190 but I don't think that those who are educators in our public school system 64 00:03:48,570 --> 00:03:52,830 are bad people by any, uh, stretch of the imagination. You know, 65 00:03:52,830 --> 00:03:56,830 I know we keep funding education at larger and larger, 66 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,350 uh, amounts each year in the, uh, in the state budget. 67 00:04:01,890 --> 00:04:06,310 And I know that we've run into a budget deficit when it comes to 68 00:04:06,510 --> 00:04:09,590 those school teachers retirement funds. Uh, 69 00:04:09,590 --> 00:04:12,510 and I think what's important to remember is that, you know, 70 00:04:12,510 --> 00:04:14,230 these are good people. For the most part. 71 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,310 They're people that are trying to do the best job that they possibly can. 72 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:22,190 They were made, uh, promises, I'll be them, 73 00:04:22,190 --> 00:04:26,310 bad promises about their retirement. And, uh, as politicians, 74 00:04:26,310 --> 00:04:28,190 we kind have to check the blame up to them, 75 00:04:28,190 --> 00:04:32,990 not to the teachers that we've fallen into the pension crisis that we have that 76 00:04:32,990 --> 00:04:35,470 is making, uh, education so expensive. 77 00:04:35,470 --> 00:04:39,110 So I just wanted to kind of lead with the fact that I, you know, 78 00:04:39,110 --> 00:04:42,510 I don't think educators are bad, and I don't think you do either, Lois. 79 00:04:42,510 --> 00:04:43,430 That's correct. Right? 80 00:04:44,660 --> 00:04:48,570 No, uh, uh, but educators are like every other profession, Matt, you know, 81 00:04:48,570 --> 00:04:53,010 there's a range of, uh, good and not as good, uh, uh, 82 00:04:53,290 --> 00:04:57,050 educators. The same there is in every other profession, right? I mean, uh, 83 00:04:57,050 --> 00:04:58,450 in most, uh, areas of life, 84 00:04:58,450 --> 00:05:02,570 you want to have choice and choose who you go to for your services, 85 00:05:02,570 --> 00:05:05,090 your professional services, whether it's getting your car fixed, 86 00:05:05,090 --> 00:05:07,170 your doctor or lawyer, um, 87 00:05:07,170 --> 00:05:11,530 and you wanna be able to choose who you think is right for you. And, uh, 88 00:05:11,530 --> 00:05:15,810 unfortunately, that, um, that that free market approach doesn't apply, 89 00:05:16,110 --> 00:05:20,370 unfortunately, in our education system. Um, you know, 90 00:05:20,370 --> 00:05:24,650 not all teachers are equally good. There are a lot of excellent teachers, 91 00:05:24,650 --> 00:05:28,730 but there are some that aren't, uh, uh, really measuring up. 92 00:05:28,730 --> 00:05:33,210 And that's the reality of it. And anyone in, in the public schools knows, 93 00:05:33,210 --> 00:05:36,650 knows that. And, uh, I've talked to parents every year, they're like, oh, 94 00:05:36,650 --> 00:05:40,650 we pray we don't get teacher X because the teacher X is no good. You know, and, 95 00:05:40,650 --> 00:05:43,770 and it's just the, it's just the fact. And teachers know it too, 96 00:05:43,870 --> 00:05:47,650 and they don't like the fact that there are teachers that aren't doing, uh, 97 00:05:47,650 --> 00:05:51,730 their job, but the union protects, uh, these, these people. 98 00:05:51,730 --> 00:05:55,740 And that's a blemish on the whole system. But yes, and. 99 00:05:55,740 --> 00:05:56,573 You. 100 00:05:56,580 --> 00:05:57,413 Knows. 101 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,780 You know, I think you made an excellent comparison there, 102 00:06:00,780 --> 00:06:03,260 and I've never really thought of it this way, but, uh, 103 00:06:03,260 --> 00:06:08,220 with the accent that I had last October, I've had to have subsequent surgeries, 104 00:06:08,670 --> 00:06:10,660 uh, several times throughout the last year. 105 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,500 And I've gotten a second opinion many times, uh, 106 00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:19,380 after I've met with one surgeon. And kind of getting that second opinion, 107 00:06:20,030 --> 00:06:21,740 uh, or another point of view, 108 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:26,620 is something that we don't always have the choice with as parents in the 109 00:06:26,620 --> 00:06:30,580 public education system. And, and I think that's a great comparison, uh, 110 00:06:30,580 --> 00:06:32,020 because even when it comes to doctors, 111 00:06:32,350 --> 00:06:36,700 we have that free market approach where we can pick and choose who our surgeons 112 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:41,620 going to be. And in education, we don't always get that opportunity. 113 00:06:41,660 --> 00:06:45,780 We're gonna have to pause for a quick commercial break, uh, 114 00:06:45,780 --> 00:06:49,220 just a minute or two to recognize our sponsors for today's show. 115 00:06:49,290 --> 00:06:50,340 When we come back, 116 00:06:50,610 --> 00:06:54,980 Lois and I will be talking about some of the most alarming trends that there are 117 00:06:54,980 --> 00:06:55,813 in education, 118 00:06:56,270 --> 00:07:01,180 as well as the importance to the upcoming school board elections 119 00:07:01,180 --> 00:07:04,900 and so much more. Remember, elections have consequences, 120 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,540 and that's why it's so important that we get ahead of the elections coming up 121 00:07:09,540 --> 00:07:13,340 and we start talking about them early. So we're gonna pause for just a moment, 122 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,380 and we'll be back after these messages from our sponsors. 123 00:07:16,810 --> 00:07:18,940 When it comes to buying a home, 124 00:07:19,290 --> 00:07:22,380 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 125 00:07:22,770 --> 00:07:27,140 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 126 00:07:27,140 --> 00:07:31,980 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 127 00:07:32,330 --> 00:07:37,300 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 128 00:07:37,710 --> 00:07:40,260 fleeing hardwood floors, and other touches. 129 00:07:40,570 --> 00:07:44,460 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 130 00:07:44,820 --> 00:07:45,980 dangerous wiring, 131 00:07:46,390 --> 00:07:51,220 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 132 00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:54,740 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 133 00:07:54,870 --> 00:07:59,300 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 134 00:07:59,410 --> 00:08:02,940 should be your number one concern. Dave Dowling, 135 00:08:02,940 --> 00:08:04,620 with Grand View Inspections, 136 00:08:04,830 --> 00:08:09,420 is an architectural engineer with over 30 years of commercial construction 137 00:08:09,420 --> 00:08:13,140 experience and hundreds of inspections under his belt. 138 00:08:14,050 --> 00:08:18,820 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 139 00:08:19,020 --> 00:08:23,980 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 140 00:08:24,210 --> 00:08:29,100 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 141 00:08:29,100 --> 00:08:32,540 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 142 00:08:32,750 --> 00:08:36,540 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 143 00:08:36,850 --> 00:08:40,700 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 144 00:08:40,700 --> 00:08:44,460 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 145 00:08:48,490 --> 00:08:53,140 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 146 00:08:53,460 --> 00:08:54,540 uncommon Conversations. 147 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,720 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 148 00:09:02,430 --> 00:09:06,540 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 149 00:09:07,070 --> 00:09:07,660 If so, 150 00:09:07,660 --> 00:09:12,340 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 151 00:09:12,340 --> 00:09:16,500 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 152 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:18,420 expertise with a holistic perspective. 153 00:09:19,220 --> 00:09:23,900 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 154 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,860 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 155 00:09:28,860 --> 00:09:33,260 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 156 00:09:33,260 --> 00:09:38,100 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 157 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,260 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 158 00:09:43,530 --> 00:09:47,580 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 159 00:09:47,870 --> 00:09:49,860 or visit us online at 160 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:55,180 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 161 00:09:55,180 --> 00:09:56,620 Instagram, and Twitter, 162 00:09:57,110 --> 00:10:00,700 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 163 00:10:02,850 --> 00:10:06,460 Well, thank you so much for sticking with us through that commercial break. 164 00:10:06,460 --> 00:10:10,980 I'm with Lois, uh, today, and we're talking about, uh, education, 165 00:10:11,060 --> 00:10:15,940 primarily school choice, and, uh, we wanna talk now, 166 00:10:15,990 --> 00:10:19,860 we were kind of at the, the 30,000 foot view when we open the show. 167 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,460 Now we wanna talk a little bit about the most alarming trends in education. 168 00:10:24,550 --> 00:10:27,940 So, uh, tell me what some of those trends are looking like, Lois. 169 00:10:28,810 --> 00:10:29,540 Well, 170 00:10:29,540 --> 00:10:33,900 probably the most alarming trend today is what is called social emotional 171 00:10:34,180 --> 00:10:37,820 learning, and that you'll hear the term thrown around a lot, 172 00:10:38,060 --> 00:10:41,860 and it sounds warm and fuzzy, and it sounds like it has good intentions. 173 00:10:42,170 --> 00:10:44,420 It's actually been around for a long time, 174 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:49,500 but it's being used to data mine. Our children collect a lot, 175 00:10:49,570 --> 00:10:54,300 a lot of data on them for the ultimate goal of grooming their attitudes, values, 176 00:10:54,300 --> 00:10:55,133 and beliefs. 177 00:10:55,310 --> 00:11:00,020 So education is becoming less and less about academic learning and 178 00:11:00,300 --> 00:11:03,900 academic achievement, and more about shaping the, 179 00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:07,060 what kids think and how they think it and what they believe. 180 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,620 And we see this time and time again in the schools, even with young children. 181 00:11:12,150 --> 00:11:15,260 So, uh, and, and this is being done in a variety of ways, 182 00:11:15,260 --> 00:11:20,260 and I want parents to really be on the lookout for surveys that children are be 183 00:11:20,260 --> 00:11:23,500 being given in the classroom. They may be on paper, 184 00:11:23,650 --> 00:11:26,500 they may be on their Chromebooks or their iPads. 185 00:11:26,610 --> 00:11:28,940 They could be done in a variety of different ways, 186 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,180 but you really need to be aware of this, 187 00:11:32,180 --> 00:11:34,140 and you need to talk to your teachers about it, 188 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,940 and it's being integrated into the curriculum. So, uh, 189 00:11:39,010 --> 00:11:43,220 it's, and it's, it could possibly be in every subject in every grade, 190 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,500 and it's being done, uh, standalone surveys, and again, 191 00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:52,180 as part of the curriculum. So, uh, you need to be aware of this. You should, 192 00:11:52,350 --> 00:11:53,840 in my view, uh, 193 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,880 you be well served and your children will be well served to opt out of these 194 00:11:57,880 --> 00:11:59,160 surveys. Uh, 195 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,760 they are relying on gathering lots and lots of data because 196 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:07,800 gathering this data is going to tell them it's going to, they're, 197 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:12,480 they're training themselves how they can best reach your child with the most 198 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:16,880 effective message to groom their attitudes, values, and beliefs. 199 00:12:17,010 --> 00:12:21,120 So they're doing personality surveys, personality tests, um, 200 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:25,120 they're finding out about your family because they're doing personality profiles 201 00:12:25,130 --> 00:12:30,040 so they can target individual messages through the internet, 202 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:34,560 through a computerization, uh, a technology, uh, 203 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,160 directly to your child. They can't do if they don't gather the data. 204 00:12:39,370 --> 00:12:44,360 So you should make every effort to opt out of these surveys. And, 205 00:12:44,490 --> 00:12:48,240 um, there are a lot of opt out forms that are available now. Uh, 206 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,760 we have a lot of optout forms, um, 207 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:55,640 and this is something that parents really need to be aware of. But, 208 00:12:55,770 --> 00:12:59,280 um, with our academic achievement on the decline, again, 209 00:12:59,420 --> 00:13:03,080 the National Association of Education Progress Report just came in. 210 00:13:03,180 --> 00:13:07,520 Our scores are worse than ever. And it's, it's not just covid, 211 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:12,320 it's because of Common Core that the General Assembly adopted in 2014. 212 00:13:12,540 --> 00:13:16,960 And it, this has been going back for, uh, over a generation, 213 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:19,400 but now it's just really come to a head. 214 00:13:19,610 --> 00:13:23,440 So the social emotional learning is a very serious problem. 215 00:13:23,530 --> 00:13:27,400 It should be outlawed, in my view. And, um, 216 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:31,240 and because of the data mining and what they're actually trying to achieve with 217 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,120 it, which is not academic achievement. 218 00:13:34,750 --> 00:13:38,250 And another very alarming trend, which is related, 219 00:13:38,860 --> 00:13:41,370 is the hypersexualization of our children, 220 00:13:41,550 --> 00:13:46,010 particularly at very young ages. And I just read in, uh, Lebanon, 221 00:13:46,380 --> 00:13:48,690 uh, school district, I think it was Lebanon School, 222 00:13:48,690 --> 00:13:52,650 just one of those Lebanon County, uh, Noal, Meer, excuse me, 223 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:57,690 they just adopted a K through 12 L G B T Q I A 224 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:02,010 curriculum starting in kindergarten. Matt and I, 225 00:14:02,010 --> 00:14:06,730 I don't know what parent thinks that they want their children learning about L G 226 00:14:07,050 --> 00:14:11,490 T Q, uh, uh, uh, subjects in kindergarten. If you do, 227 00:14:11,630 --> 00:14:13,570 you know, that's your prerogative. 228 00:14:13,570 --> 00:14:17,010 But I think the majority of parents would not want that in the classroom. 229 00:14:17,670 --> 00:14:22,650 And it's not being transparent to the parents about what is going 230 00:14:22,650 --> 00:14:26,810 on. And I'm very much in favor of a curriculum transparency bill, 231 00:14:27,180 --> 00:14:30,850 so that schools have to post curriculum at the beginning of the school year so 232 00:14:30,850 --> 00:14:34,690 parents can see what their kids are gonna be taught, because, uh, um, 233 00:14:34,690 --> 00:14:37,410 there's just no reason to have this in. Uh, 234 00:14:37,630 --> 00:14:39,810 particularly in elementary school, 235 00:14:39,930 --> 00:14:43,690 we're seeing more and more mental health issues, gender transition, 236 00:14:43,690 --> 00:14:48,330 gender confusion issues. This is not normal, that this is really not normal. 237 00:14:48,330 --> 00:14:52,920 And it's being instigated by people pushing subjects on children 238 00:14:53,290 --> 00:14:57,000 in an inappropriate way when they're most vulnerable, 239 00:14:57,340 --> 00:15:01,640 and just really trying to find out who they are. And, and, and it, 240 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:05,760 it's just very disturbing. We just had a suicide here in, uh, 241 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,600 I think it was the Gettysburg School District this past week. 242 00:15:08,740 --> 00:15:13,400 And then we think it's related to gender, uh, gender confusion issue. 243 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,400 I'm sure you're gonna be hearing more of that, but it's, um, it's just so sad. 244 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:22,120 We don't wanna lose any more children to this problem. And, uh, we, 245 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,320 we need, we're not following the science. 246 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,600 We're following a political agenda, 247 00:15:28,060 --> 00:15:31,840 and we need to stand up to it, Matt. Um, 248 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:36,600 and parents really need to talk to their kids in school, especi, you know, 249 00:15:36,670 --> 00:15:38,240 from the time they're very young. 250 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,840 You need to talk to your kids about what's going on in the classroom and, 251 00:15:41,860 --> 00:15:46,600 and keep that line of communication open, because this can happen to anyone. 252 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:51,560 And one day you wake up and your child just is not the same. And it, 253 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:55,840 it's just so, it's so sad. And I, I just, I, I just don't, you know, 254 00:15:55,840 --> 00:16:00,800 none of us really wanna see, none of us wanna see that at all. And, 255 00:16:00,810 --> 00:16:03,120 um, it's a very alarming trend, 256 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:07,880 something that must be fought and parents must be keeping 257 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:08,713 an eye on. 258 00:16:10,110 --> 00:16:14,680 Well, let me take off my, uh, my radio host hat for a second, 259 00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:19,400 and, uh, and the hat of the retired legislator, um, 260 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,640 and put on my parent hat because I have a nine year old and a 10 year old, uh, 261 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:28,520 little boys that are at home, um, they attend school at, at, uh, 262 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,200 Commonwealth Charter Academy. Um, but I, 263 00:16:31,310 --> 00:16:35,800 I think what you're talking about is about respecting other 264 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:39,760 people's way of life. And if you have, um, 265 00:16:39,790 --> 00:16:44,440 people like yourself or like myself who maybe lean, uh, to, 266 00:16:44,570 --> 00:16:49,480 uh, some traditional family values, if that's what we wanna call them, um, 267 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,160 when we send our kids to school, 268 00:16:51,230 --> 00:16:55,560 I don't think we want them hearing a message that is the 269 00:16:55,560 --> 00:17:00,520 antithesis or, or different from, uh, the message that we teach at home. 270 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:04,680 And, and I think respecting those boundaries is so important. 271 00:17:04,730 --> 00:17:08,960 If you choose to have a talk about the, uh, 272 00:17:09,120 --> 00:17:13,440 about a kid's sexuality with your own child, that's one thing. 273 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:18,120 When it's done in a classroom, I think that it's something very different. 274 00:17:18,620 --> 00:17:22,920 And, uh, and I think that, uh, when it really comes down to it, 275 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,880 the crux of the issue is, uh, as you would believe, or as I would believe, 276 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:31,800 is that there's simply no room for sexuality in our classrooms. Um, 277 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,600 you know, we, we wouldn't want our kids to know, uh, 278 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:37,360 about the sexuality of their teachers. 279 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:42,280 And we don't want our teachers talking about the sexuality of our kids while 280 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:43,960 they're at school in the classroom. 281 00:17:45,510 --> 00:17:47,280 It's actually worse than that, Matt. 282 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:52,000 It's not just a matter of conflicting with parents' values, which is bad enough, 283 00:17:52,180 --> 00:17:56,000 but it's a, it's a matter of psychological and mental health as well. 284 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:01,000 There are certain topics that are inappropriate age-wise for children at certain 285 00:18:01,030 --> 00:18:05,600 ages that not to discuss certain topics. I mean, in, in certain schools, 286 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:10,760 children are being exposed to graphic sexual acts in 287 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:15,280 literature before it, it is age appropriate. 288 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:19,480 If that's ever age appropriate, I don't know. But certainly at a certain age, 289 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:23,320 you can be exposed to something and it not have it affect you in a negative way. 290 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:27,640 But if you're a preteen or a child and you, you know, 291 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,080 these topics have not ever even been brought up or come into your mind before, 292 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,920 and all of a sudden you're, you're exposed to pictures of, uh, of people, of, 293 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:41,120 of children performing oral sex on adults. And I mean, that, 294 00:18:41,510 --> 00:18:45,800 that can be, if it's presented in, uh, a certain way, 295 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,800 it can be psychologically harmful to a child. 296 00:18:48,970 --> 00:18:51,880 Imagine that child who doesn't feel comfortable going home, 297 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,600 talking to a parent or guardian about this, these topics. And they, 298 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,760 they see it in school and they, they just are confused, right? And they, they, 299 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:04,560 they feel shame and guilt, and they, they don't know who to turn to. What, 300 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:09,120 what becomes of that child? Who does that child have? And they, they, 301 00:19:09,540 --> 00:19:14,320 you know, there is an agenda where they want the children to speak to government 302 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,400 employees when they're feeling vulnerable, not their parents. 303 00:19:18,820 --> 00:19:23,120 And that also is a dangerous trend, right? Because, uh, uh, 304 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:26,720 we want to hold families together. We want families to be strong. 305 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,760 We don't want state workers supplanting or, 306 00:19:30,970 --> 00:19:35,640 or becoming, uh, who children go to further support. 307 00:19:36,050 --> 00:19:40,760 So, uh, there, there's a lot going on that's very, that, 308 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:42,200 that's wrong on multiple levels. 309 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:45,680 And sometimes by the time parents find out the damage has been done. 310 00:19:45,860 --> 00:19:48,120 And we wanna try to prevent that by, 311 00:19:48,370 --> 00:19:53,120 by being proactive and making sure these materials don't go 312 00:19:53,150 --> 00:19:57,440 into schools, particularly in elementary schools to begin with. 313 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,720 Let's not wait till the damage has been done, 314 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,160 let's prevent it from happening in the first place. 315 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:05,250 Well, 316 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:09,090 you talked a little bit earlier in the program about opt out opportunities, 317 00:20:09,090 --> 00:20:12,170 and I wanna talk a little bit more about, uh, 318 00:20:12,170 --> 00:20:16,930 the specific opt outs that, uh, we want parents to be aware of, 319 00:20:17,340 --> 00:20:21,850 uh, in relation to these alarming trends that are happening in, in education, 320 00:20:22,030 --> 00:20:25,770 but also in regards to that data mining. And, uh, 321 00:20:25,770 --> 00:20:29,130 I'm gonna get to that as soon as we get back from our next commercial break, 322 00:20:29,130 --> 00:20:32,770 cuz we gotta get another sponsor recognition in here. 323 00:20:33,030 --> 00:20:36,570 But when we come back, I wanna, uh, jump on, uh, 324 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,690 alerting parents of some of the ways that they can opt out. 325 00:20:39,690 --> 00:20:41,690 So we'll be back after these messages. 326 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:49,440 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 327 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:50,920 uncommon Conversations. 328 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,920 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 329 00:20:58,610 --> 00:21:02,680 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 330 00:21:03,130 --> 00:21:03,720 If so, 331 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:08,640 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 332 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:12,680 professional consultation where we bring in depth knowledge and functional 333 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:14,600 expertise with a holistic perspective. 334 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:20,080 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 335 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:24,840 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 336 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:29,600 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 337 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:34,280 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 338 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:39,440 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 339 00:21:39,670 --> 00:21:43,640 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 340 00:21:43,970 --> 00:21:45,920 or visit us online at 341 00:21:46,580 --> 00:21:51,520 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 342 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:52,920 Instagram, and Twitter, 343 00:21:53,290 --> 00:21:56,880 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 344 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,370 When it comes to buying a home, 345 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,690 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 346 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:09,610 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at View 347 00:22:09,610 --> 00:22:14,570 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 348 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,890 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 349 00:22:20,180 --> 00:22:22,690 fleeing hardwood floors, and other touches. 350 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,770 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 351 00:22:27,130 --> 00:22:28,250 dangerous wiring, 352 00:22:28,540 --> 00:22:33,330 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire 353 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:37,370 a home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 354 00:22:37,540 --> 00:22:42,450 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed should 355 00:22:42,450 --> 00:22:43,850 be your number one concern. 356 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:48,930 Dave Dowling with Grand View Inspections is an architectural engineer 357 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,410 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and 358 00:22:53,410 --> 00:22:55,730 hundreds of inspections under his belt. 359 00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:01,530 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 360 00:23:01,530 --> 00:23:06,330 through the home and prepare a report out lining the home's major components. 361 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:11,530 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 362 00:23:11,530 --> 00:23:15,050 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 363 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:19,250 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 364 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,130 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 365 00:23:23,130 --> 00:23:26,730 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 366 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:32,210 You're listening to Commonalities. And I'm your host, Matt Dowling. Uh, 367 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,810 beside my guest Lois today. And it's not just that we are on first name basis, 368 00:23:36,830 --> 00:23:40,450 but she has an extremely difficult last name to pronounce, 369 00:23:40,550 --> 00:23:43,090 and I know I would butcher that. So Lois, 370 00:23:43,090 --> 00:23:46,640 if you wanna throw your last name out there, um, be my guest. 371 00:23:46,940 --> 00:23:51,160 Yes, it's Lois Kahiki and I'm with the Moms for Liberty. 372 00:23:52,150 --> 00:23:54,640 Well, it's so great to have you on the program today. 373 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:56,200 We were talking a little bit about, 374 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:01,200 about ways parents should be familiar to opt out their 375 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:06,200 students of data mining and some of the trends that are happening in education. 376 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:11,160 So why don't you educate us a little bit about how a parent can take those, uh, 377 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:16,040 important issues into their own hands and decide that they're gonna opt their 378 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:19,440 son or daughter, their student out of, uh, 379 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:21,720 conversations or testing in school. 380 00:24:23,330 --> 00:24:27,650 Right. Well, um, there's a couple things. Uh, there are some, uh, 381 00:24:27,650 --> 00:24:32,370 pre-made optout forms. There's one on courage is habit org. 382 00:24:32,980 --> 00:24:35,010 Courage is habit org. 383 00:24:35,670 --> 00:24:39,850 You can get ahold of someone at Mom's for Liberty and ask for a pre-made form. 384 00:24:40,150 --> 00:24:42,650 But most importantly, I think, uh, 385 00:24:42,650 --> 00:24:45,770 speak for like already into the school year, 386 00:24:45,770 --> 00:24:50,690 but speak to your teachers about surveys given in the classroom and 387 00:24:50,690 --> 00:24:54,370 assessments and social emotional learning assessments. 388 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,530 They are doing social emotional learning assessments. 389 00:24:57,530 --> 00:24:59,250 If your teacher says they aren't, 390 00:24:59,470 --> 00:25:03,370 the teacher either doesn't realize that they're doing it or they're lying, 391 00:25:03,670 --> 00:25:05,890 but they're doing it on the, 392 00:25:05,890 --> 00:25:09,010 they may be doing it on the computer and the teacher doesn't even know because 393 00:25:09,010 --> 00:25:12,010 of the programs that they're using. So, um, 394 00:25:12,010 --> 00:25:15,010 at first I would talk to the teacher, say, um, 395 00:25:15,010 --> 00:25:19,650 that you want to see any surveys before any surveys are given in class. 396 00:25:19,650 --> 00:25:24,290 You want to see the survey and be able to read the survey yourself, uh, 397 00:25:24,290 --> 00:25:28,210 before and you are going to approve any survey. Your, 398 00:25:28,210 --> 00:25:32,930 your child does not have advanced approval from you to give any survey 399 00:25:33,260 --> 00:25:37,450 without a notice in advance. And I would put that in writing. 400 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:40,850 I would maybe sit down with the teacher, talk to them about it first, 401 00:25:40,940 --> 00:25:43,570 if I put it in writing and, and give it to them, 402 00:25:43,570 --> 00:25:47,170 give them a copy and ask them to sign that they acknowledge and that they will 403 00:25:47,250 --> 00:25:51,490 honor your wishes. And I think it's very important, uh, 404 00:25:51,490 --> 00:25:55,690 to sit down with the teacher if you can, and discuss this in person. 405 00:25:56,380 --> 00:25:57,213 Um, 406 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,890 I just think it's better to look the teacher in the eye and let them know you're 407 00:26:00,890 --> 00:26:05,170 serious. Uh, and um, then, um, you know, 408 00:26:05,170 --> 00:26:07,650 depending on how that conversation goes with a teacher, 409 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:12,330 you'll get a good enough feel if you think the teacher is going to honor your 410 00:26:12,330 --> 00:26:16,530 wishes. Maybe if you're not sure, you can go up the chain of command. 411 00:26:16,530 --> 00:26:19,970 You can go to the building principal and the superintendent, 412 00:26:20,070 --> 00:26:23,610 but I would definitely go to the teacher first and, um, 413 00:26:24,030 --> 00:26:26,410 and address it in that way. 414 00:26:27,180 --> 00:26:31,130 If you see other material in the classroom that you don't want your child 415 00:26:31,130 --> 00:26:36,010 exposed to, you do have the right to opt out. Your, your, your, uh, 416 00:26:36,010 --> 00:26:39,810 school district should have a policy on curriculum and opting out. 417 00:26:39,980 --> 00:26:40,810 If you go to the, 418 00:26:40,810 --> 00:26:45,640 your school district website and you look under school board policies, uh, 419 00:26:45,650 --> 00:26:49,600 they're organized, but in the hundreds, like hundred, 200, 420 00:26:50,070 --> 00:26:54,280 I think it's in the 200 level, it'll help you find it. If you can't find it, 421 00:26:54,390 --> 00:26:58,920 call the administration office and ask for how to read the district, 422 00:26:59,130 --> 00:27:00,720 uh, policy on curriculum. 423 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:05,680 And it should be in there how you opt their policy and how you opt 424 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:10,160 out of cur of any particular curricula. They don't have a policy, 425 00:27:10,510 --> 00:27:15,320 then you should be able to opt out because, uh, uh, I think it's, you know, 426 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,600 you have the right, you have to assume you have the right, you are the parent, 427 00:27:18,740 --> 00:27:23,480 but you just sort of wanna go by their process to, uh, you know, 428 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:28,000 and they'll make it easier for you. But, um, always assume that as the parent, 429 00:27:28,340 --> 00:27:32,080 you have the right to do what's right for your child. Uh, 430 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:36,360 then the next question is, well, while the classroom is doing this curriculum, 431 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:40,400 what is your child going to be doing? And that's something you have to work out. 432 00:27:40,540 --> 00:27:44,840 You can maybe find something on your own that you would prefer your child to do, 433 00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:49,800 or then you're going to have to, um, you know, ask the teacher, uh, 434 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,320 what, what they're gonna provide. But, you know, 435 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,600 then you're getting into risky territory cuz they don't want the extra work. 436 00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:00,160 But, um, those are some, some tips and, you know, 437 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:01,840 that I would recommend where to start. 438 00:28:03,820 --> 00:28:07,200 And I think if a parent is currently saying, well, 439 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,400 maybe this is happening someplace else in the United States, 440 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:14,920 it's not happening in my kids' classroom in Fayette County 441 00:28:15,090 --> 00:28:19,200 or Somerset County or Bedford County, uh, I, I, 442 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:23,800 I unfortunately have to say that I think that assumption is, is wrong. 443 00:28:24,150 --> 00:28:29,000 I was speaking recently to a retired professor from, uh, 444 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:33,640 my college alma Mater Waynesburg University. And, uh, 445 00:28:33,750 --> 00:28:36,870 this, uh, professor in, uh, 446 00:28:36,870 --> 00:28:41,110 in particular was telling me that part of her decision to, 447 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:42,070 uh, 448 00:28:42,070 --> 00:28:47,070 retire from educating was that these kind of assessments were 449 00:28:47,070 --> 00:28:49,790 being forced upon her in her classroom. 450 00:28:50,370 --> 00:28:53,350 And the administration of the college, uh, 451 00:28:53,350 --> 00:28:58,230 was not giving her any choice as to whether or not to use these assessments. 452 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:01,830 Uh, they were being required. Now that's on someone, uh, 453 00:29:01,900 --> 00:29:06,710 students that are a little bit older that maybe have a little bit more of their, 454 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:07,550 uh, 455 00:29:07,550 --> 00:29:12,510 their own ability to know if they should complete an assessment or 456 00:29:12,510 --> 00:29:14,510 not, uh, their college-aged kids. 457 00:29:14,730 --> 00:29:19,310 But it is happening down to elementary school level, uh, 458 00:29:19,310 --> 00:29:22,190 from what I understand in some of our local classrooms. 459 00:29:23,090 --> 00:29:27,310 Yes, it is. And you should assume it's going on, even starting in kindergarten. 460 00:29:27,580 --> 00:29:32,150 I it, I mean, they're giving even kindergarten students these iPads. Uh, 461 00:29:32,150 --> 00:29:33,110 you know, kindergarten, 462 00:29:33,110 --> 00:29:37,630 there is no academic reason why K through third 463 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:42,000 graders. I I would say all of elementary school needs, uh, 464 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:44,200 iPads or Chromebooks. I mean, 465 00:29:45,020 --> 00:29:47,560 and in many ways they can be abused and they can, 466 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:50,280 they can hinder academic development. 467 00:29:50,490 --> 00:29:53,600 So they're only being used for data collection. 468 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:57,080 That is the only justification. They're not gonna tell you that, 469 00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:01,960 but that's really what it's all about. Um, so I, I, 470 00:30:02,060 --> 00:30:05,440 you know, I remembered when I was on the school board, uh, 471 00:30:05,550 --> 00:30:08,760 when that came up and I knew that it was going in the wrong path, 472 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:13,120 but I just knew I couldn't convince my colleagues not to buy those Chromebooks. 473 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:18,000 But, um, I, I would get rid of the Chromebooks in all of elementary school. 474 00:30:18,290 --> 00:30:21,160 Go back to, there was nothing wrong with textbooks. 475 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,800 There is nothing wrong with pen and paper, you know, uh, 476 00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:28,960 and kids learn better when they write anyway than when they type. So, 477 00:30:29,610 --> 00:30:33,890 um, that's, you know, that's another issue. If, if you, 478 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:38,370 it's funny if you read about the big tech mobiles, you know, in Silicon Valley, 479 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:43,690 they, they don't give their young children technology devices to work, 480 00:30:43,690 --> 00:30:45,810 to play on and work on. They don't want them. 481 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,290 They know that stuff isn't good for them. So, um, 482 00:30:49,290 --> 00:30:52,970 it's very interesting because that's their industry and they know not to put 483 00:30:52,970 --> 00:30:54,970 their young children on those devices. 484 00:30:56,850 --> 00:31:01,750 You know, and you talk a little bit about the, uh, the Silicon Valley companies, 485 00:31:01,750 --> 00:31:06,510 those high-tech, uh, organizations that are out there. And, uh, 486 00:31:06,510 --> 00:31:10,030 you know, I'm, it's not directly related to education, 487 00:31:10,030 --> 00:31:14,710 but I'm looking at our election process and the fact that, uh, 488 00:31:14,710 --> 00:31:19,030 companies like Facebook were putting money into our independent elections 489 00:31:19,260 --> 00:31:23,790 here within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Uh, we refer to that, uh, 490 00:31:23,790 --> 00:31:28,510 in the legislature as Zucker bucks, uh, that were being spent to help, 491 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:30,910 uh, help operate, um, 492 00:31:31,550 --> 00:31:36,430 elections and kind of gave an in, uh, unfair advantage. Uh, 493 00:31:36,430 --> 00:31:39,150 my question to you, and, and maybe you know this, maybe you don't, 494 00:31:39,370 --> 00:31:41,950 are some of those same tech companies, because remember, 495 00:31:41,950 --> 00:31:46,950 if we're not paying for something, uh, likely we are the product. And, 496 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,910 uh, my question is, are some of those tech companies, um, 497 00:31:51,260 --> 00:31:56,230 donating or facilitating the use of their technology to our 498 00:31:56,390 --> 00:32:00,630 children because they want, uh, some of that data that's being mined as well? 499 00:32:00,970 --> 00:32:05,630 And then in that process, our kids become the product, uh, 500 00:32:05,630 --> 00:32:07,790 that's out there for monetary gain? 501 00:32:09,210 --> 00:32:09,700 Yeah, 502 00:32:09,700 --> 00:32:13,900 I don't know if it's so much they want the data or that it's just a big money 503 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:16,940 for them and it's a multi-billion dollar industry right now. 504 00:32:16,940 --> 00:32:21,220 They want a piece of that, uh, public education pie. Um, 505 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:25,460 you know, I I, I may be different than other people. I, 506 00:32:25,460 --> 00:32:29,260 I know that they're collecting data on me every time I do a Google search. 507 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:34,300 And I kind of don't care that they're marketing to me cuz I'm an adult and I can 508 00:32:34,300 --> 00:32:38,260 choose what I wanna buy and what I don't wanna buy. But I, 509 00:32:38,260 --> 00:32:42,160 when it comes to our children and our education, it, 510 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:46,520 it bothers me a lot because we are substituting Ed 511 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:50,800 something else for what is supposed to be happening in school. It's a, 512 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,520 it's the biggest scam and rip off of our lifetime mat. 513 00:32:54,940 --> 00:32:57,920 And that is what really concerns me. 514 00:33:00,490 --> 00:33:03,500 Well, we do have to, we have to get one more break in here. 515 00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:07,220 It'll be our final break of the program, and then we'll close to, uh, 516 00:33:07,220 --> 00:33:10,300 come to close things up. And in our final segment, 517 00:33:10,410 --> 00:33:14,780 I wanna be able to get time in there to talk about upcoming school board 518 00:33:15,260 --> 00:33:19,380 elections and what people should know about their local school boards and the 519 00:33:19,660 --> 00:33:24,540 candidates that are putting their names forward to go on that ballot. Um, 520 00:33:24,540 --> 00:33:29,540 so we'll be talking about elections here in our final segment today. Also, 521 00:33:29,900 --> 00:33:34,420 we're talking about, um, the kind of right side, uh, 522 00:33:34,420 --> 00:33:37,420 not right or left, uh, right or left, excuse me, 523 00:33:37,420 --> 00:33:40,100 not right or wrong side of this issue. 524 00:33:40,430 --> 00:33:44,660 If you happen to disagree with anything that's mentioned on today's podcast 525 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:49,860 and you'd like to be a guest of mine in a future podcast to help debate both 526 00:33:49,860 --> 00:33:52,180 sides of this issue, please uh, 527 00:33:52,180 --> 00:33:56,860 drop me an email@infocommonalities.online or 528 00:33:56,890 --> 00:34:00,540 info coordinated three sixty.com. 529 00:34:00,950 --> 00:34:04,980 We have to get to a quick break and we'll be back to talk with Lois about school 530 00:34:04,980 --> 00:34:05,860 board elections. 531 00:34:08,730 --> 00:34:13,380 You're listening to commonalities or guests find Common ground through 532 00:34:13,740 --> 00:34:14,860 Uncommon Conversations. 533 00:34:15,380 --> 00:34:18,740 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 534 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:26,710 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 535 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:27,830 If so, 536 00:34:27,830 --> 00:34:32,590 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 537 00:34:32,590 --> 00:34:36,630 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 538 00:34:36,630 --> 00:34:38,430 expertise with a holistic perspective. 539 00:34:39,270 --> 00:34:43,870 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 540 00:34:44,130 --> 00:34:49,030 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 541 00:34:49,050 --> 00:34:53,550 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 542 00:34:53,550 --> 00:34:58,190 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 543 00:34:58,370 --> 00:35:03,190 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 544 00:35:03,500 --> 00:35:08,390 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12 or 545 00:35:08,390 --> 00:35:10,030 visit us online at 546 00:35:10,690 --> 00:35:15,470 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 547 00:35:15,470 --> 00:35:16,870 Instagram, and Twitter, 548 00:35:17,240 --> 00:35:20,630 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 549 00:35:23,260 --> 00:35:25,350 When it comes to buying a home, 550 00:35:25,700 --> 00:35:28,750 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 551 00:35:29,140 --> 00:35:33,510 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 552 00:35:33,510 --> 00:35:38,440 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 553 00:35:38,790 --> 00:35:42,000 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, 554 00:35:42,330 --> 00:35:46,640 granite countertops, fleeing hardwood floors and other touches. 555 00:35:46,950 --> 00:35:50,760 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 556 00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:52,240 dangerous wiring, 557 00:35:52,650 --> 00:35:57,600 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 558 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:01,280 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 559 00:36:01,450 --> 00:36:06,360 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed should 560 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:07,840 be your number one concern. 561 00:36:08,270 --> 00:36:12,880 Dave Dowling with Grand View Inspections is an architectural engineer 562 00:36:12,950 --> 00:36:17,920 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and hundreds 563 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:19,640 of inspections under his belt. 564 00:36:20,510 --> 00:36:25,400 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 565 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:30,280 through the home and prepare a report out lining the home's major components. 566 00:36:30,510 --> 00:36:35,440 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you move 567 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,960 in your home is one of your biggest investments. 568 00:36:39,170 --> 00:36:43,160 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 569 00:36:43,430 --> 00:36:47,040 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 570 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:50,720 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 571 00:36:51,310 --> 00:36:55,040 Well, thank you for tuning in today to commonalities, uh, 572 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:59,520 which is found any place that you download your podcasts or on 573 00:36:59,860 --> 00:37:04,640 WBS five 90 am 1 0 1 1 FM on 574 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:09,560 your, uh, radio dial. This is, uh, Matt Dowling, and, uh, 575 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:13,280 I'm your host for today's show and we're with speaking to Lois, 576 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:17,960 and we wanted to talk a little bit about elections and their 577 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:20,920 consequences and the school board elections, 578 00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:23,920 which are very important that will be coming up here in the near future. 579 00:37:25,820 --> 00:37:30,500 Yes, yes. So I know everybody's, uh, thinking about next week, 580 00:37:30,500 --> 00:37:34,420 which they should be. It's an important, very important election as well. Uh, 581 00:37:34,420 --> 00:37:37,500 but these elections keep getting more and more important it seems like every 582 00:37:37,500 --> 00:37:40,020 year. Uh, next spring already, 583 00:37:40,020 --> 00:37:42,980 we have primaries for local elections, 584 00:37:42,980 --> 00:37:47,300 which includes local school boards and half of your school boards. 585 00:37:47,710 --> 00:37:52,220 Uh, for directors, you have nine school directors in every school district and, 586 00:37:52,470 --> 00:37:52,820 uh, 587 00:37:52,820 --> 00:37:57,700 at least five of them will be up for election in the spring and anyone can 588 00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:02,620 run for school board. Uh, you just need to file the paperwork in, uh, 589 00:38:02,620 --> 00:38:06,860 March and you're on the primary ballot. Um, and, um, 590 00:38:06,870 --> 00:38:09,500 we need people who are going to, uh, 591 00:38:09,500 --> 00:38:12,980 stand up to these alarming trends that we've discussed in education, 592 00:38:12,980 --> 00:38:17,020 the hypersexual sexualization of our children, and, uh, 593 00:38:17,020 --> 00:38:21,500 data mining and social emotional learning. It's all, uh, it's all bad. 594 00:38:21,500 --> 00:38:23,620 And every day that goes by, uh, 595 00:38:23,620 --> 00:38:27,780 our children are losing more academic learning because we don't have school 596 00:38:27,780 --> 00:38:32,100 boards that are asking the tough questions or taking the bull by the horns. 597 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:33,580 You know, we have these, uh, 598 00:38:33,580 --> 00:38:38,400 this culture and school boards where school directors go to meetings and they 599 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:41,560 allow the superintendent to just throw a bunch of stuff in front of them, 600 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:44,880 and then they rubber stamp everything and then they go home. And, 601 00:38:44,980 --> 00:38:48,080 and I know I'm, I'm trivializing what school directors do. 602 00:38:48,190 --> 00:38:51,000 I was a school director for four years. But in, in essence, 603 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:55,360 that's what it mostly is, uh, with, with very few exceptions. 604 00:38:55,420 --> 00:38:57,680 And those days are over met. 605 00:38:57,730 --> 00:39:02,680 We need school directors to be proactive and to start developing 606 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:07,600 policies and procedures that are fighting back against, uh, the, 607 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:12,480 the stuff and making sure when they hire district administrators that they are 608 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:15,640 on the same page. And, uh, we, 609 00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:20,280 we have to hire district administrators that aren't going to put up with this. 610 00:39:20,280 --> 00:39:22,480 And I'll give you a quick example. Um, in a, 611 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,400 in a school district that I'm close to, um, 612 00:39:25,720 --> 00:39:29,720 apparently there was a brand new teacher in third grade that it got back to 613 00:39:29,720 --> 00:39:33,440 school director, I guess that first day of class, this new, 614 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:37,400 this new teacher asked her third graders, these are seven, 615 00:39:37,540 --> 00:39:41,440 six and seven year olds, Matt, which pronoun they wanted to use. 616 00:39:41,700 --> 00:39:43,640 Now can, can you imagine that? 617 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:47,240 So this got back to the superintendent and to his credit, 618 00:39:47,330 --> 00:39:50,560 he went to the teacher quietly and didn't make a big deal at him. 619 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,720 He went to the teacher quietly and said, we don't do that here, 620 00:39:54,030 --> 00:39:58,360 just very firmly. And she said, oh, okay. She said, 621 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:02,520 that's what they taught us to do in teacher school. You see, 622 00:40:02,520 --> 00:40:05,560 this is another problem is our teacher certification programs, 623 00:40:05,560 --> 00:40:10,120 which we could hopefully change legislatively, I, I hope in the future. Um, 624 00:40:10,340 --> 00:40:14,840 but because we had this superintendent that understood common sense, 625 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:17,520 in my view, he nipped it in the bud. 626 00:40:17,540 --> 00:40:22,320 But if you have a woke superintendent who thinks this is now what we 627 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:25,800 have to do in third grade for goodness sake, uh, you know, 628 00:40:25,860 --> 00:40:29,200 now you have a battle on your hands. You don't wanna hire people like that. 629 00:40:29,450 --> 00:40:34,120 So the school directors have to make sure the superintendent is on the same 630 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:37,360 page and that they have all these policies in place. 631 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:39,000 They know what's going on in the classroom. 632 00:40:39,450 --> 00:40:44,360 If you're hiring new teachers straight out of college, you better be careful. 633 00:40:44,550 --> 00:40:49,160 I I think they almost need re-education before they start in the classroom. 634 00:40:49,340 --> 00:40:50,520 But, um, 635 00:40:50,700 --> 00:40:54,440 but school directors are very important Next year we have a majority up for 636 00:40:54,720 --> 00:40:58,040 election, and we need, we desperately need, uh, 637 00:40:58,040 --> 00:41:01,240 citizens to run who will help us. It, it's, 638 00:41:01,310 --> 00:41:06,240 it's definitely giving back to your community. You are not paid. Um, we, 639 00:41:06,240 --> 00:41:09,040 we desperately need people who are gonna defend, uh, 640 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:13,680 what's right in education for our children. And, um, uh, I, 641 00:41:13,680 --> 00:41:17,600 I can't overemphasize. I think today, in my view personally, 642 00:41:17,620 --> 00:41:22,120 the most important people in our country are governors and school directors. 643 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:25,640 And I firmly believe that. And, uh, moms for Liberty, 644 00:41:25,820 --> 00:41:29,240 our chapters are looking for candidates and they, 645 00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:32,200 a lot of them will be endorsing candidates next year. 646 00:41:32,330 --> 00:41:36,720 So we gonna be watching these races very closely. And, um, 647 00:41:37,020 --> 00:41:39,120 and there's a lot at stake. 648 00:41:40,700 --> 00:41:45,040 You know, you mentioned, uh, the importance of school directors and, you know, 649 00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:47,600 sometimes it is a very thankless job. 650 00:41:47,930 --> 00:41:50,800 So we have to be thankful for the people that, uh, 651 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:54,560 put their name on that ballot and allow us to vote for them, uh, 652 00:41:54,560 --> 00:41:58,480 for that position because they're stepping up and, and they're taking, uh, 653 00:41:58,480 --> 00:42:00,760 a position that not everyone wants to do. 654 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:04,760 As someone who has put their name on a ballot before, uh, you know, 655 00:42:04,760 --> 00:42:08,920 I can attest to the fact that that's not always the simplest decision to make. 656 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:13,760 There's an old joke in politics that says that school boards are a place for 657 00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:16,560 good politicians to go to die, uh, 658 00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:21,080 because you can either raise taxes or cut services. Um, 659 00:42:21,100 --> 00:42:23,800 but those aren't the only things that they're able to do. 660 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:28,360 So I would have to say that that jokes a little, um, outdated. You know, 661 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:33,360 right now they are frontline defenders for basically our way 662 00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:37,520 of life. Uh, and so it's extremely important that we get, 663 00:42:38,210 --> 00:42:42,440 uh, valuable people, people that are willing to, uh, 664 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:47,400 stand up and make hard decisions for no pay and perhaps make some enemies in 665 00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:51,520 the process of doing it. Uh, but it is so important that those people step up. 666 00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:54,320 And, you know, in my local area, 667 00:42:54,390 --> 00:42:58,160 I would say if I can be a resource to anyone who's thinking about putting their 668 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:03,000 name on a ballot, you can always contact me. I'll give you my opinion, uh, 669 00:43:03,080 --> 00:43:06,320 about that and encouragement and help, uh, 670 00:43:06,320 --> 00:43:09,360 if we sit in the same location, uh, 671 00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:12,640 point of view on some of the issues. But, um, you know, 672 00:43:12,810 --> 00:43:16,480 it is so important that we get people geared up for these elections. 673 00:43:16,770 --> 00:43:18,800 We have just about two minutes left, 674 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:23,560 and I wanted to give you a chance to give your organization's website and 675 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:25,280 social media, uh, 676 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,960 contact information out so that people who have been listening today, 677 00:43:28,960 --> 00:43:31,280 if they wanna connect with you or get further information, 678 00:43:31,430 --> 00:43:32,560 they know how to do it. 679 00:43:34,410 --> 00:43:36,730 Great again. Well, I'm with Moms for Liberty, 680 00:43:37,030 --> 00:43:40,690 and our mission is to defend parents rights, 681 00:43:40,690 --> 00:43:45,650 parents rights in education at all levels of government. And, 682 00:43:45,860 --> 00:43:46,470 um, 683 00:43:46,470 --> 00:43:51,250 our website is moms for liberty.org and my email 684 00:43:51,250 --> 00:43:54,010 address is Lois, that's l o i s, 685 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:58,610 moms for liberty.org. And, um, 686 00:43:58,610 --> 00:44:01,130 these school board elections are so important. Uh, 687 00:44:01,130 --> 00:44:02,530 I just wanna add that quickly, 688 00:44:02,530 --> 00:44:06,610 that these school boards can do things the legislature refuses to do. 689 00:44:06,610 --> 00:44:11,250 They can enact curriculum transparency, get you good curriculum, and, uh, 690 00:44:11,250 --> 00:44:13,850 can oversee everything going on in this school. 691 00:44:13,850 --> 00:44:18,170 So it's really important that people step up and, uh, 692 00:44:18,170 --> 00:44:22,650 take the bull by the horns and really, really stand up to what's going on. 693 00:44:22,650 --> 00:44:27,610 And we're here to support those kinds of candidates and to give them whatever we 694 00:44:27,610 --> 00:44:30,290 can to, uh, make sure that they're successful. 695 00:44:31,980 --> 00:44:35,520 Hey, Lois, it has been great to have you on the program today. Uh, 696 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:39,680 maybe in the future you can be back to educate us more about what is happening 697 00:44:40,130 --> 00:44:43,960 in, uh, trends of education. Um, again, 698 00:44:43,960 --> 00:44:47,160 you were a great GU guest. Before you come on the next time, thank, 699 00:44:47,230 --> 00:44:51,920 I will learn how to pronounce your last name, I promise <laugh>. Uh, but, 700 00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:54,840 uh, but it's, it's a tricky one for me, so we'll, 701 00:44:54,840 --> 00:44:56,560 we'll learn that before you come on. Again, 702 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:59,840 just wanted to thank you for being with us today and, uh, 703 00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:03,360 if you have any questions for Lois, my guest today, she, uh, 704 00:45:03,360 --> 00:45:05,760 rattle off her contact info. You, 705 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:09,880 my contact info can be found@commonalities.online, 706 00:45:10,180 --> 00:45:14,680 and we'll also post the information that Lois gave you to get ahold of her or 707 00:45:14,680 --> 00:45:18,920 her organization. Thank you so much for listening today. Have, uh, 708 00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:20,600 a great week and God bless you all. 709 00:45:21,240 --> 00:45:23,920 Thank you, Matt. Starting now common. 710 00:45:29,370 --> 00:45:31,300 This has been commonalities, 711 00:45:31,610 --> 00:45:35,980 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 712 00:45:36,060 --> 00:45:38,900 Copyright 2022 coordinated 360. 713 00:45:39,080 --> 00:45:42,620 All publicly broadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 714 00:45:42,620 --> 00:45:47,380 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 715 00:45:47,380 --> 00:45:49,740 Thank you for listening to commonalities.
21Nov, 2022
