My oldest has reported that many of her teachers are, for the first time, asking about pronouns and name preferences and DD was thrilled. It’s not something I’ve ever done or routinely done but, for her and her peers, this was a welcome change. This isn’t a think in ES/MS here.

The U.S. 'system' isn't nearly as sweeping as it's been made out to be. Generally, states/localities have their own rules. When we went to NYC last week, we were required to bring our vax. ID cards for entertainment and indoor dining purposes. If we'd dined outdoors (an option everywhere we went) we wouldn't have needed the cards. Where I live, vax is only required for private employers over 100 employees *who elect that option* and fed/gov contractors/healthcare workers.

Where employment opportunities (and university admissions since that is such a hot topic) in the U.S. are concerned, that information may be requested, but it is not required to be provided.

Yeah, I should have added that the regulations only apply to employers with more than 100 employees too. This is a whole lot of hoopla, IMO, for nothing.

Unfortunately, the supremacy clause means that any state charter in the area of human rights is limited only to the residents of that state and subject to being overridden by federal action/inaction in this area. The OSHA regulations require testing **or** vaccination. That's it. The federal government requires its employees and contractors be vaccinated too. Some private employers are choosing vaccine mandates over testing, presumably for ease of implementation *and* worker-protection/cost-savings. That is their right.

In general, the U.S. version of 'human rights' doesn't line up well with the rest of the world. We aren't a party to the global human rights charter either so that's irrelevant. We incarcerate children, allow corporal punishment in schools, execute the mentally ill/incapacitated, have no 'actual innocence' provision for writs of habeas corpus, and are awash in guns/homicides. We've lost nearly 700K souls to COVID. We don't have a good balance but the balance we do have is NOT in favor of human rights (as understood globally).

The bolded makes so much sense it's almost too good to be true. I have these questions too. It's a conundrum. How much local control do you allow and how do you justify that decision? Particularly with the modern history book, we made A TON of modifications. I want public schools to be able to make those modifications too, to respond to the needs of their students, but not at the expense of losing larger narratives.

I don't think the bolded is the sense through which decision-makers are working tho. You can also reach the conclusion that 'encourage vaccine or routine testing' is the right approach by adopting a 'protecting workers' lens. DOT cares about public health in so far as it effects transportation (for example, alcohol use and speed limits). So too is OSHA concerned with transmission in the workplace. The alternative testing regime provides employers and out. That they are choosing not to go that route is THEIR choice, not OSHA's and not the feds.

The lead paint rules advance public health policy. They are connected. The OSHA rules on air quality (respirator use) advance public health policy. They are connected. It's impossible to separate public health goals from workplace safety regulation just as you cannot separate public health goals from transportation safety rules (seatbelts anyone?). This whole conversation is bonkers tho because OSHA is *****NOT***** requiring vaccination. Employers are. OSHA rules ONLY require mitigation (either testing or vaccination).

ITA. It's why it's so difficult to draw direct parallels with other national systems. My Canadian friends have had issues with local LEOs and such but they are not on the scale that we have dealt with. One friend has multiple children enrolled in high-quality, well-funded, adequately-resourced tribal/band schools. That's not a reality most Americans can relate to.

That *AND* you have to balance the strength of the academic offerings with the community's opposition to diverse story telling in English classes and accurate history instruction. It's never one or the other. There's always a tipping point which is different for each family.

It's not just funding tho. It's also involvement. The people we see advocating so strongly have both the time and the resources to wait hours to speak, to sign up/plan in advance, to fund political action committees dedicated to advancing their causes. That plays out in district decision making as well WRT where the most skilled teachers are placed and which students they serve.

This isn't about lead paint (or the equivalent) in the employee's home but in the workplace. If they KNOW employees are contaminated and do nothing to prevent it being sprinkled around their other employees (for example, with remediation work). We've seen the data about transmission through workplace ventilation systems. That's a known hazard/risk. We mandate disclosure of lead paint risks. We mandate remediation when it's disturbed (both for the home's residents and any workers involved in remediation). This seems more like the remediation work to me.

So OSHA shouldn't have lead paint rules?

I really don't get the point you're making here. In the U.S. anyway, the bulk of teachers 'speaking' are white women. The bulk of people speaking at school board meetings are white women and men. They're doing plenty of speaking. The voices that aren't being heard are the working class people who are actually WORKING during these events. perhaps Australia is different.

And again, that pesky circle rears its ugly head, where the left wing of the left makes common cause with the rightest of the right. The corollary to that is that, in some parts of the country, the minority view/minority needs are completely ignored as non-existent or irrelevant. I've been amused by the push-back to the remake of the Wonder Years, currently airing on ABC channels. People are both upset and shocked by the presence of a whole different 'wonder years' experience (covering the same time period) unlike that of Fred Savage's original character. The presence of one story doesn't negate the other. Both deserve to be told and we need to hold space for that.

That is exactly the kind of care/concern that I'm rooting for. I also like that they are actively recruiting DD with more than a random postcard. She fits their target demo to a T. They do not have her preferred major but I think that can be overcome with classes at neighboring institutions.

The Pfizer is authorized for boosters in the US if the patient is immunocompromized or high risk. I carry extra lbs. so I qualify.

I do not think you said nothing at all, Mercy. What I quoted wasn’t your first post. I think what you’ve observed is that the people who usually claim the ‘pro-life’ label define life as egg meeting sperm so the hypocrisy is more evident. You might assume a similarly black/white view on the other side. In reality, the pro-choice side includes people who define life that way (but also want safe/legal/rare), people who don’t define life that way, and people for whom there are no religious or ethical issues at play (and everything in between). It’s a lot more diverse than you allowed. So when you say ‘people don’t value life enough’, yes, the question of ‘what is life?’ is critically important.

Just made my appointment!

When you said this: It's fair to believe that you were painting hypocrisy with a broad brush. The assumption was/is that we all share the same definition of life. We don't.

It's getting cooler here. We've eaten soups the last two nights. I have at least two more in me, lol. Tomato bisque and grilled cheese Pho w/brisket and oxtails Veggie chili Chicken and dumplings If you need to use up that boiled chicken, try: green chili chicken enchiladas ginger/scallion shrimp lemongrass chicken is always big here b/c a little goes a long way with veg stir-fry gyro meat (like meatloaf) with all the veggie and yogurt (tzatziki) fixings w/wo pita For healthy stuff, my go-tos are summery... bruschetta portobello pizzas big antipasto platters

Your posts are seriously encouraging. DD said this week that AS is rising on her list of possibles. I LURVED! the campus but DD has other options. I'm rooting for Scotty purple!

Kinda like my children and I in NYC this weekend. BTW-- Wicked was AWESOME! Fit it in if you can! Vaccine proof was required for all indoor dining and the show, also masks for the duration of the performance.

I’d plan on her getting a local SIM card upon arrival. Carry cash to pay. They sell them in the airport. Congrats! Sounds like fun!