Paxton Smith, valedictorian of the class of 2021 at Lake Highlands High School in Texas, has received national attention for her three minute address at the graduation ceremonies. She had submitted her original speech to school authorities–about the media–and it was approved. But when the time came to speak, she whipped out a different speech, about the so-called “Heartbeat Bill,” which is the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation. Texas does not permit abortions after six weeks, before women know they are pregnant, even in cases of rape and incest.
A new generation of young people is coming along, and they will change America for the better.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you, Diane. Paxton Smith’s valedictorian speech is stunning! Good for her.
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and wonderful to know that through social media her words went out to young people all over the world
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“A new generation of young people is coming along, and they will change America for the better.” As long as the Fascist Party, aka Republican Party in its current form, doesn’t seize control.
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so much damage done to the rights of women and the LGBTQ community and thereby to America, the result of conservative religious politicking- “Biden Justice Dept. throws support behind religious schools on LGBTQ discrimination (WaPo and Daily Beast 6-9-2021)
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Good for her. Meanwhile, Biden’s Justice Department is supporting the right of private schools to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students. https://www.thedailybeast.com/justice-department-throws-support-behind-religious-schools-on-lgbtq-discrimination?source=cheats&via=rss
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Did you want to weigh in on the DOJ’s past involvement in Brazil, the “Car Wash” story that paved the way for the far-right Bolsonaro’s election ?
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Apparently the discrimination issue was written into the law . The Justice department apparently has to defend the law. But this was not going to end well in the Courts anyway. .
Now as for LuLa, America’s history in Latin and South America has been horrendous and that has been bi partisan. Watch out Pedro.
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“Joel Rose is co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit New Classrooms Innovation Partners.”
Yet another lavishly funded and promoted ed reform org.
You’ll recognize all the names. It’s the exact same ed reform echo chamber members who have been directing US public education for the last 20 years.
Public schools have to bust out of this. If they stay within this echo chamber another 20 years there won’t be a solid public school left in this country.
It is the EXACT SAME people, over and over and over. Lockstep.
90% of this self-promotion and promotion of the edu-product they developed. Public schools should run, not walk, away from this and find their own path. Ed reform does not offer anything of value to students who attend public schools. Hiring them as consultants is not serving public school students. Find someone from outside of this echo chamber who actually supports public education.
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You go, girl!
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