Obama’s Education Secretary Loves Common Core for Your Kids, but NOT HIS

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By Eric Owens. Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s wife has moved to Chicago so the couple’s two daughters can attend the University of Chicago Lab School, arguably the most elite private school in Chicago — and certainly among the most expensive.

Duncan has led the Department of Education since the outset of President Barack Obama’s administration. He will shuttle between Washington and Chicago for the remainder of Obama’s second term, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

The former chief executive of the Chicago Public Schools has been a forceful cheerleader for the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a set of K-12 math and language arts curriculum benchmarks and high-stakes standardized tests now being used in public schools in most states.

Duncan’s family moved into a home in an affluent area in northern Virginia when he became education secretary in 2009. His children attended public schools there in the intervening years. However, Virginia is not a Common Core state . . .

Duncan, who has bragged that he seeks employment policy guidance from Chicago street gang leaders, is not the only powerful Democrat who preaches the benefits of Common Core for America’s kids but then doesn’t actually allow his own kids to take part. (Read more from “Obama’s Education Secretary Loves Common Core for Your Kids, but NOT HIS” HERE)

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House Votes to Revive No Child Left Behind

By Michael Tennant. The Republican-led House of Representatives voted Wednesday to revive the unpopular, long-dead No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act — but just barely. The vote was 218-213, with 27 Republicans and all Democrats voting against the bill.

Even then, only some arm-twisting by the House leadership managed to save the bill. “For most of the roll call, the bill had more votes against it than in favor,” reported The Hill. “Many Republicans either held out their votes until the last minute or changed their votes under pressure from GOP leaders.”

The original No Child Left Behind Act, passed in 2002, was hailed as a bipartisan achievement of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), then chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee; the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.); and President George W. Bush. The law expired in 2007, yet its mandates have continued in force.

“Why do states and schools continue to act as though No Child Left Behind is current law?” Representative Justin Amash (R-Mich.) asked in a Facebook post explaining his “no” vote on Wednesday’s bill. “Because Congress has continued to appropriate money for NCLB as though the funding authorization never expired! In other words, the program is legally dead, yet Congress continues to send federal funding to schools, with strings attached, as though the law remains in effect.”

The Obama administration has been all too happy to take advantage of the continued funding of NCLB, which has been despised by parents, teachers, schools, and states for its emphasis on standardized testing and centralization of education policy in Washington. The administration (probably illegally) granted NCLB waivers to states on the condition that they adopt Common Core standards. With 47 states having received waivers, it’s not hard to figure out why the allegedly voluntary, state-led Common Core has swept the nation. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Wacky World Continues: Dems Declare War on Words ‘Husband,’ ‘Wife’

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More than two dozen Democrats have proposed legislation that would eliminate the words “husband” and “wife” from federal law . . .

“The Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act recognizes that the words in our laws have meaning and can continue to reflect prejudice and discrimination even when rendered null by our highest courts,” Capps said. “Our values as a country are reflected in our laws. I authored this bill because it is imperative that our federal code reflect the equality of all marriages.”

The Supreme Court ruled in June that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution means all states have to license same-sex marriages, a ruling that effectively ended the same-sex marriage debate in America. Capps said her bill was aimed at taking the next step, which is to ensure the United States Code “reflects the equality of all marriages.”

She said her bill would also have other benefits if it became law. In one example, she noted that U.S. law says it’s illegal to threaten the president’s wife, but says nothing about the president’s husband. (Read more from “Dems Declare War on Words ‘Husband,’ ‘Wife'” HERE)

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Judge Jails Kids for Refusing Lunch With Dad

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Three Oakland County children who refused to go to lunch with their father, as part of a bitter divorce and custody battle between their parents, are spending their summer in the county’s juvenile detention center, according to court records.

“We’ll review it when school starts, and you may be going to school there,” Oakland County Family Court Judge Lisa Gorcyca told the children during a June 24 hearing, referring to the center in Waterford Township called Children’s Village, where authorities house as many as 200 juvenile offenders.

Gorcyca, who blamed their mother for poisoning the children’s attitude toward their father, ordered the children be sent to the center for defying her orders — while in court — that they go to lunch with their father.

The children — ranging in age from 9 to 14 — were deemed in contempt of court last month by Gorcyca for disobeying her orders to “have a healthy relationship with your father” . . .

“But I do not apologize for — for not talking to him because I have a reason for that and that’s because he’s violent and he — I saw him hit my mom and I’m not gonna talk to him,” the boy said, later telling the judge, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” (Read more from “Judge Jails Kids for Refusing Lunch With Dad” HERE)

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MADNESS: 15-Year-Olds to Get State-Subsidized Sex-Change Operations WITHOUT PARENTAL NOTIFICATION

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The list of things 15-year-olds are not legally allowed to do in this state is long: Drive, smoke, donate blood, get a tattoo — even go to a tanning bed.

But, under a first-in-the-nation policy quietly enacted in January that many parents are only now finding out about, 15-year-olds are now allowed to get a sex-change operation. Many residents are stunned to learn they can do it without parental notification — and the state will even pay for it through its Medicaid program, the Oregon Health Plan.

“It is trespassing on the hearts, the minds, the bodies of our children,” said Lori Porter of Parents’ Rights in Education. “They’re our children. And for a decision, a life-altering decision like that to be done unbeknownst to a parent or guardian, it’s mindboggling.”

In a statement, Oregon Health Authority spokeswoman Susan Wickstrom explained it this way: “Age of medical consent varies by state. Oregon law — which applies to both Medicaid and non-Medicaid Oregonians — states that the age of medical consent is 15” . . .

Members are appointed by the governor and paid by the state of Oregon. With no public debate, HERC changed its policy to include cross-sex hormone therapy, puberty-suppressing drugs and gender-reassignment surgery as covered treatments for people with gender dysphoria, formally known as gender identity disorder. (Read more from “This State Is Allowing 15-Year-Olds to Get State-Subsidized Sex-Change Operations” HERE)

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Pastor Urging Churches Across Nation to Join Him in Placing Christian Flag Above American Flag: ‘We Serve God Before Government’

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A North Carolina pastor is urging people of faith across the nation to raise a Christian flag above the American flag to demonstrate that God, and not the U.S. government, is the ultimate authority.

According to a report from WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, pastor Rit Varriale first installed a prominent flag pole outside Elizabeth Baptist Church last week, placing the Christian flag at the top and the American flag below it.

“Our typical flag etiquette is to have the American flag above the Christian flag. But when you stop and think about it, it should be our commitment to God first, then our commitment to country,” he told WBTV.

“We should be flying the Christian flag above the American flag as a demonstration that Christians will respect and obey the federal government up to the point that the government asks something that is inconsistent with what God has called His people to do,” Pastor Varriale told the Baptist Press, explaining that he got the idea from another church in Shelby, Focus Missionary Baptist Church, who raised the Christian flag several months ago.

“In large part we started going wrong when we stopped standing up for things that are inherently part of the Christian life, like prayer,” the pastor said. “The admonition from the government to stop praying in the public school system was packaged under the notion of rights — the rights of the individual.” The minority didn’t want to pray and felt they should not be asked to pray in a government institution, Varriale said. However, the public school is not only a government institution, he said, but a place that serves the people of the community. “Any institution should be able to reflect the values of the people who live there,” he said. (Read more from “Pastor Urging Churches Across Nation to Join Him in Placing Christian Flag Above American Flag: ‘We Serve God Before Government'” HERE)

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Kansas Governor Issues Executive Order Protecting Religious Organizations

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In a move that has been applauded by many in the Christian community, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued an executive order Tuesday prohibiting the state from taking action against clergy or religious social service agencies who refuse service to same-sex couples due to their religious beliefs.

According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, Executive Order 15-05, “Preservation and Protection of Religious Freedom,” argues that both the United States Constitution and the State of Kansas have provisions which restrict government interference with the right of individuals to practice religion according to their consciences.

Thus, Brownback’s order explicitly prohibits state officials from taking “discriminatory action” against both clergy members and religious organizations who apply that religious practice to facilitation of services for homosexual couples.

“The State Government is prohibited from taking any action inconsistent with the restrictions placed upon the State Government by the United States Constitution, or the Kansas Constitution, or the Kansas Preservation of Religious Freedom Act, against any individual clergy, religious leader, or religious organization on the basis that such person or organization believes or sincerely acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman,” the order reads.

[Listen to Kansas’s Secretary of State discuss the need for the states to resist the federal government]

Brownback’s order comes less than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry in all 50 states. Among other states, the SCOTUS decision overturned the will of 70 percent of Kansas voters who, in 2005, approved an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. (Read more from “Kansas Governor Issues Executive Order Protecting Religious Organizations” HERE)

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Subway Suspends Jared Amid Kiddie-Porn Probe

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The feds raided Subway sandwich-shop spokesman Jared Fogle’s home as part of a kiddie-porn probe Tuesday — and sources told The Post that the married 37-year-old is “a target’’ of the investigation.

“They got search warrants and raided his place and confiscated electronics,’’ a law enforcement source said of the 6:30 a.m. sweep at Fogle’s house in the Indianapolis suburb of Zionsville. “He is a target.’’

FBI agents, state police and US Postal Service investigators were seen entering the home and taking items out to a mobile forensics van in the driveway.

Subway announced it was suspending its relationship with the longtime spokesman on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Associated Press . . .

According to a criminal complaint, investigators found a 4GB thumb drive in the cache with a file called the Jared Foundation, and inside was a folder labeled “Good stuff,” TMZ said. The folder contained loads of child porn, the website said. (Read more from “Subway Suspends Jared Amid Kiddie-Porn Probe” HERE)

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Russell Wilson Appears in Church Question and Answer; Talks Faith [+video]

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson made an appearance for a question and answer session at The Rock Church in San Diego over the weekend. Wilson, who is openly devout (and often posts scripture from his official Twitter account) helped lead a discussion about about his faith, his family, and his relationship with singer Ciara.

The Church’s Pastor Miles McPherson and Wilson carried on with casual banter — McPherson even got a playful jab in about Wilson’s height (“What are you, about 5’9”? he asked; “Yeah, 5’8”’ joked Wilson).

Wilson admitted he wasn’t always as devout as he is today, saying that when he was young he used to go to church to see a crush; however, he began to foster his faith as he grew older. According to Wilson, at 14 he dreamt that his father passed away, and Jesus walked into the room and told him “I’m preparing you.” This moment, and a number of other moments Wilson discusses in the video, have helped shape his faith.

Wilson also spoke about his relationship with his girlfriend, singer Ciara [Harris].

“She’s everything you could ever want, honestly. She’s a special girl. I met her I don’t know how long ago… five, six months ago. Funny thing is, I told somebody ‘that’s the girl I want to be with’ before I even met her. (Read more from “Russell Wilson Appears in Church Question and Answer; Talks Faith” HERE)

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Latest Cosby Fallout: Comedian Admits He Got Drugs for Sex Targets

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Bill Cosby admitted in 2005 that he got quaaludes with the intent of giving them to young women he wanted to have sex with, and that he gave the sedative to at least one woman and “other people,” according to documents obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

That woman and a second woman testified in the same case that they knowingly took quaaludes from him, according to the unsealed documents.

The AP had gone to court to compel the release of the documents from the deposition in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed by former Temple University employee Andrea Constand — the first of a cascade of sexual abuse lawsuits against him. Cosby’s lawyers had objected on the grounds that it would embarrass their client.

Cosby settled that lawsuit under confidential terms in 2006. . .(Read more from “Latest Cosby Fallout: Comedian Admits He Got Drugs for Sex Targets” HERE)

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Heaven Help This Poor Child: Supposed Cutting-Edge Parents Let 3-Year-Old Son Decide He’s a Girl [+video]

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By Tom Tillison. Being transgender is hip in liberal circles today, yet another class of victimization to corral Democratic voters, but some parents appear a little too eager to see their children enter into the stage of perpetual confusion.

So eager that they encourage the transition from one gender to another as early as pre-school.

In a recent interview with NPR, Mary Carter, from Oakland, Ca., talked about “the day” her 3-and-a-half-year-old son, Jack, decided he wanted to be a girl.

“Jackie just looked really, really sad, sadder than a 3-and-a-half-year-old should look,” Carter told NPR. “This weight that looked like it weighed more than she did, something she had to say and I didn’t know what that was” . . .

“So I asked. I said, ‘Jackie, are you sad that you’re not going to school today?’ And Jackie was really quiet and put her head down and said ‘No, I’m sad because I’m a boy.’” (Read more from “‘Heaven Help This Poor Child’: Cutting-Edge Parents Let 3-Year-Old Son Decide He’s a Girl” HERE)

(Listen to a man who used to be “transgendered” hammer parents’ criminality for helping children choose their sex)

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Canada Court Rules Right to Gay Sex Trumps Religious Liberty

By Blake Neff. A court in Canada has upheld the denial of accreditation to a Christian law school, holding the private school’s prohibition of homosexual behavior is sufficiently discriminatory that its degrees can be invalidated for that reason alone.

Trinity Western University is a 4,000-student, evangelical Protestant college in the Vancouver suburb of Langley. It has been seeking to open a law school, but has struggled to obtain accreditation in several provinces. This difficulty is not based on the school’s academics, but rather is based on outside objections to the covenant the school makes all students and professors sign. The covenant, among other things, forbids all sex other than that within heterosexual marriage, a rule opponents say discriminates against both gays and those who do not believe in marriage.

Based on the rule, the Law Society of Upper Canada, which governs bar admission in Ontario, refused to accredit the school, meaning graduates would not be allowed to practice law in the province. Trinity sued, leading to Thursday’s decision.

In its ruling, the Ontario Superior Court found that the denial of accreditation did violate Trinity’s freedom of religion, but that this violation was acceptable because of the greater good of protecting equality. Trinity tried to argue that its covenant was non-discriminatory, because it only governed behavior rather than beliefs or innate traits, but the court said that explanation wouldn’t fly.

“Individuals who may not believe in marriage, or LGBTQ persons, may attend (Trinity) but they must first sign the community covenant and thus, in essence, disavow not only their beliefs but, in the case of LGBTQ individuals, their very identity,” the court said. “To assert that that result is not, at its core, discriminatory is to turn a blind eye to the true impact and effect of the community covenant.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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