4 chapters across the catalog
Chicago and New York Implement New Lockdown Measures
Chicago's Public Health Commissioner warned that one in 15 residents is currently infectious, urging the cancellation of Thanksgiving plans. In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has cancelled in-person classes for the public school system, despite keeping bars and restaurants open.
Chicago School Fraud and Universal Behavioral Screening
Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty to a $23 million fraud and kickback scheme. Simultaneously, a listener provided a "parent waiver" form for a new "universal behavioral emotional screening system" in schools. The hosts argue these screenings are designed to identify "risk factors" in children to justify early pharmaceutical intervention and drugging.
Charter Schools, Corporate Education Pipeline
The rise of charter schools, particularly in cities like Chicago, is viewed as a corporate strategy to "skim" the best students from the public system. Companies like Cisco are funding these schools to create a direct pipeline to their workforce. This trend leaves public schools with fewer resources and more challenging student populations, eventually leading to school closures and the further privatization of the education system.
Unschooling and the Slave Ship Exercise in Chicago Schools
A discussion on "unschooling" leads to a report of a controversial educational exercise in a Chicago grammar school. Students reportedly had their hands bound and were forced to lie side-by-side in a dark auditorium to simulate the experience of a slave ship, leading some parents to pull their children from the school.
