1 00:00:04,879 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: What's going on. Thank you so much for listening to 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,640 this podcast. It is heard live every day from noon 3 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:12,519 to three on WBT Radio in Charlotte. And if you 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,719 want exclusive content like invitations to events, the weekly live stream, 5 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,239 my daily show prep with all the links, become a patron, 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,640 go to vpeteclendershow dot com. Make sure you hit the 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,160 subscribe button. Get every episode for free right to your 8 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,679 smartphone or tablet. And again, thank you so much for 9 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,719 your support. Story out of the Charlotte Observer and I 10 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:38,520 mentioned some of this data in the last hour twelve 11 00:00:38,679 --> 00:00:43,439 local districts. School districts in the Charlotte area all but 12 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,719 one saw a decrease in average daily enrollment between last 13 00:00:48,719 --> 00:00:51,640 school year and this school year. New data from the 14 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,960 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction show. Meanwhile, charter school 15 00:00:55,039 --> 00:01:01,799 enrollment continues to grow. Charlott mcklenburg Schools so a decline 16 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,400 of about one point seven percent, which equates to about 17 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,920 twenty four hundred students a little bit over twenty four 18 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:13,280 hundred students during the first two months. That also means 19 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:17,200 that cms's average daily membership, or the average number of 20 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,000 students currently on the rolls at a school on any 21 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,959 given day is down to one hundred thirty nine thousand 22 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,079 and four to seventy six. That is the lowest it's 23 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:31,400 been since the twenty ten school year twenty ten twenty 24 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:35,079 eleven school year one hundred thirty nine thousand, so the 25 00:01:35,239 --> 00:01:44,159 enrollment number hasn't been this low in fifteen years. That 26 00:01:44,159 --> 00:01:47,719 could have big implications for district funding because about eighty 27 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,959 percent of the state's funding calculations are based on average 28 00:01:51,079 --> 00:01:55,400 daily membership or ADM as they call it. The state 29 00:01:55,519 --> 00:01:58,359 uses the first two months of enrollment data for any 30 00:01:58,359 --> 00:02:02,760 given school year to determine the funding for the following year. 31 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,599 The other twenty percent is based on student populations, including 32 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,439 what percentage of a district students are low income, they 33 00:02:10,439 --> 00:02:16,080 have disabilities, and district characteristics like how big is the district, 34 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:24,240 how wealthy a county is. Statewide, enrollment dropped in one 35 00:02:24,319 --> 00:02:28,479 hundred and five of the one hundred and fifteen districts 36 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,800 all but so all but ten school districts out of 37 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,840 one hundred and fifteen saw a declining student population. That 38 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,360 is a total of a little bit more than twenty 39 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:44,639 four thousand total students down, or about one point eight percent, 40 00:02:45,199 --> 00:02:48,080 So that's the state wide number, one point eight percent decrease, 41 00:02:48,599 --> 00:02:51,520 and that's roughly what CMS saw, a one point seven 42 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,000 percent decrease. The Observer says, it's a continuation of a trend. 43 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:02,080 Enrollment has decreased in North Carolina's traditional public schools by 44 00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:08,479 over five percent pre pandemic twenty nineteen. Over the same period, 45 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:15,800 enrollment at charter schools and lab schools have increased forty 46 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:21,520 six point six percent, so almost forty seven percent. So 47 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,240 you have a lot more parents taking their kids to 48 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:29,039 the charter schools and parents taking their kids out of 49 00:03:29,479 --> 00:03:36,560 the public schools, the traditional public schools. Now, there is 50 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,759 an argument. Where is it here that that is made. 51 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,400 Let's see here. It is from Andrew Dunn's piece at 52 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:50,439 the Charlotte Observer. He says, big city superintendents have started 53 00:03:50,439 --> 00:03:55,719 to latch on to a theory here that it's the 54 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,400 declining birth rates. Okay, and I saw in one of 55 00:03:59,439 --> 00:04:04,080 the articles about the data that that is what CMS 56 00:04:04,159 --> 00:04:07,719 is saying, right, it's the declining birth rates, that's the reason, 57 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:12,759 and that can be part of the story. Sure, but 58 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:18,040 in fast growing places like Wake County, Mecklenburg County, and 59 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:24,959 Orange County, families are not disappearing, They're just choosing something else. Now, 60 00:04:24,959 --> 00:04:30,639 the Democrats will say it's the Republican's fault at the legislature, 61 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:36,480 it's their fault, but yeah, not really, because they've spent 62 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:41,360 much of the last decade increasing teacher pay every single year, 63 00:04:42,399 --> 00:04:46,519 and I know teachers don't believe that that's enough. And 64 00:04:48,319 --> 00:04:52,399 this usually whenever I have discussions about teacher pay, which 65 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,519 I did not like. I'm we had the call in 66 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,959 the last hour from a teacher and she mentioned teacher pay, 67 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,079 but we didn't go into that is an argument because 68 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,120 this is about something larger than just the individual or 69 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,399 specific argument about teacher pay. But it's why I usually 70 00:05:09,439 --> 00:05:12,279 will ask if I'm having a discussion with somebody about 71 00:05:12,319 --> 00:05:16,759 teacher pay, I will usually ask what is the optimal pay? 72 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:22,920 What is the number? Right, just like at the when 73 00:05:22,959 --> 00:05:26,399 you're having a discussion about per pupil funding, what's that 74 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,480 optimal number? Because some of the states that spend the 75 00:05:30,519 --> 00:05:33,839 most amount of money have the worst outcomes. Have you 76 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:40,040 heard of the Mississippi miracle? Mississippi does not spend more 77 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:45,800 money than Massachusetts, but for some reason, they are now 78 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,560 topping the charts across like we used to joke, thank 79 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,839 God for Mississippi because they always were at the bottom 80 00:05:52,879 --> 00:05:56,160 of the pile, bottom of the list, right, Their test 81 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,399 scores were terrible, graduation rates terrible, all of this. But 82 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,759 they have now turned around their education system in like 83 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,639 a matter of a couple years. How did they do it? 84 00:06:07,639 --> 00:06:12,199 It's a miracle, not really. They they went back to 85 00:06:12,199 --> 00:06:17,279 what worked. And this is part of the you know, 86 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,959 I don't understand sometimes when I do understand, it's like 87 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,959 this constant need to like find new ways to teach 88 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,000 for example, you know, reading and writing, and they abandoned 89 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,040 the phonics model and they went to the whole words 90 00:06:33,959 --> 00:06:37,439 model and it didn't work. And when you looked at 91 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:38,959 the research and we covered this, I think it was 92 00:06:38,959 --> 00:06:43,279 about two years ago the creator of this pedagogy, this 93 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,560 whole words thing, Like there's like no research to back 94 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,439 it up, but it took off and there was this 95 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:53,920 craze across the country. Oh this is the next big thing. 96 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,199 We all need to do this thing. And it didn't work. Sorry, kids, 97 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:02,639 you can't read, you know. And you know, honestly, I 98 00:07:02,639 --> 00:07:07,319 don't know if teacher pay connects to kids not knowing 99 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:12,600 how to do algebra. Right, that's more to me, that 100 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,439 sounds more of a policy problem in that if you 101 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,879 don't if you don't have the scores to graduate, you 102 00:07:18,879 --> 00:07:23,560 should not graduate. But we can't do that anymore, right, 103 00:07:24,079 --> 00:07:27,160 we socially promote the kids anyway, and then they go 104 00:07:27,199 --> 00:07:30,720 to college and now they they're unprepared for college, and 105 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,800 now they're having to put the kids through these remedial 106 00:07:32,839 --> 00:07:38,959 math classes. As I went over yesterday, it's obscene, right, 107 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:45,439 That's why I said the model is broken. So yeah, 108 00:07:45,519 --> 00:07:47,759 I mean, like that's the math side. Then there's the 109 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,160 history side, the civics side. And Andrew wrote about this 110 00:07:52,319 --> 00:07:55,959 also in that uh Andrew done at long Leaf Politics 111 00:07:56,839 --> 00:08:00,279 longleafpol dot com and he was, you know, talking about 112 00:08:00,279 --> 00:08:01,800 and we spoke with him last hour and he was 113 00:08:01,839 --> 00:08:05,879 talking about this comment that his daughter made when he 114 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,120 asked her, you know what you learned today about Columbus 115 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:11,759 Day or something, and she's like, oh, Columbus was the villain. 116 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,519 And if that's the one thing your third grader takes 117 00:08:16,519 --> 00:08:21,720 away from a history lesson about Columbus, like, there's something 118 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:27,680 wrong there, right. If that's if that's the headline that 119 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,080 Christopher Columbus was a villain. He said, in this piece, 120 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,159 North Carolina is still stuck in the assumption that quote 121 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:40,720 unquote experts should decide what children are taught, with parents 122 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,440 and legislators relegated to the sidelines, but it ought to 123 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,519 be the other way around. He's reading a book, he said, 124 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:51,159 called Rescuing the American Project. One of its main arguments 125 00:08:51,279 --> 00:08:56,759 is that a healthy, ordered nationalism, an appropriate love of country, 126 00:08:57,279 --> 00:09:01,200 is essential if the United States is going to hold together, right, 127 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,080 because it's always been thus, it's been an idea, it's 128 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:09,840 been this concept. Right, there's a thing that makes us American. 129 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,000 That doesn't mean pretending we're perfect. It means recognizing that 130 00:09:14,039 --> 00:09:17,960 we are a nation with a story that is fundamentally 131 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,039 a good one, one that's worth knowing, one that's worth defending, 132 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:29,080 one that's worth teaching, especially at the younger grades, especially 133 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,720 at the younger grades. If you start teaching kids that 134 00:09:32,799 --> 00:09:40,120 all of this is corrupt, it's inherently systemically bad, they're 135 00:09:40,159 --> 00:09:43,279 not going to love their country, and then you're not 136 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,799 going to have a country. You know, Stories are powerful. 137 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,960 They help us make sense of things, to understand experiences. 138 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,480 Stories connect us to the people of our past. While 139 00:09:52,519 --> 00:09:55,919 transcending generations. They help us process the meaning of life 140 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,840 and our stories are told through images and videos. Preserve 141 00:10:00,039 --> 00:10:03,360 your stories with Creative Video. Started in nineteen ninety seven 142 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,200 in Minhill, North Carolina. It was the first company to 143 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:10,240 provide this valuable service, converting images, photos and videos into 144 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:14,360 high quality produced slide shows, videos and albums. The trusted, 145 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,480 talented and dedicated team at Creative Video will go over 146 00:10:17,519 --> 00:10:20,360 all of the details with you to create a perfect project. 147 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,639 Satisfaction guaranteed. Drop them off in person or mail them. 148 00:10:23,639 --> 00:10:26,000 They'll be ready in a week or two. Memorial videos 149 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,320 for your loved ones, videos for rehearsal, dinners, weddings, graduations, Christmas, 150 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,639 family vacations, birthdays, or just your family stories, all told 151 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,399 through images. That's what your photos and videos are. They 152 00:10:38,399 --> 00:10:41,240 are your life told through the eyes of everyone around 153 00:10:41,279 --> 00:10:43,559 you and all who came before you, and they will 154 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,919 tell others to come who you are. Visit creative video 155 00:10:47,159 --> 00:10:51,759 dot com. Let's get Mark on the program. Hello Mark, 156 00:10:51,879 --> 00:10:54,720 Welcome to the shoe. Hey man. 157 00:10:54,919 --> 00:10:59,879 Speaker 2: Uh yeah, I just wanted to say my sister were 158 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:05,039 in special needs, uh for CMS and the and like 159 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:11,080 the special education department and one thing she doesn't. She 160 00:11:11,159 --> 00:11:13,639 no longer works there. She she went to school for 161 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,679 it and she ended up not doing it because of 162 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,360 the experience that she had with other teachers who were there, 163 00:11:19,519 --> 00:11:23,399 like for a very very long time. And I think 164 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:28,919 with your your point that made earlier that you brought 165 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,960 up you talked about how principles need to have more 166 00:11:32,519 --> 00:11:38,240 control over the hiring process and the firing process, especially 167 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:44,720 in CMS. I one hundred degree man, because in my opinion, 168 00:11:44,759 --> 00:11:47,720 and I know my sister would agree, teaching is a 169 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,039 is a passion and it is not an easy thing 170 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:56,200 to do. And I feel like from what she has 171 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,600 told me to stories that I'm not gonna like share 172 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,120 because I don't want to rabbit hole and there's only 173 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,360 a short amount of time. There's a lot of people 174 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:04,639 who are teachers who do. 175 00:12:04,519 --> 00:12:08,759 Speaker 1: Not care sure, just like in any profession, just like 176 00:12:08,799 --> 00:12:09,480 in any. 177 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:13,759 Speaker 2: Profession, Like I'm a chef, for example, and there's plenty 178 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,120 of other chefs who have been above me that I've 179 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,559 worked for, who I think have a terrible culture and 180 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,919 who are very rude and very mean. But you can't 181 00:12:21,919 --> 00:12:24,440 do anything about it, because that's just it is what 182 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,000 it is. 183 00:12:25,639 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: You know, YEA, If you don't want to work. If 184 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:28,919 you don't want to work under them, then you go 185 00:12:29,039 --> 00:12:32,600 find another job, working for another chef with a better 186 00:12:32,639 --> 00:12:34,159 culture exactly. 187 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 2: And you know, and one thing you talk about, like 188 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,279 these charter schools, where there's more people going to charter 189 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:42,480 schools is because you know, parents don't want to send 190 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:48,399 their kids to somewhere that is, you know, that has 191 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:53,840 a bad culture, and where that culture is continuously like promoted, 192 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,799 Like civics and economics isn't a thing anymore as far 193 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,600 as I'm pretty sure, like at least in CMS, they 194 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,320 don't teach that anymore. And that was my favorite That 195 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,600 was my favorite thing in high school, learning about civics 196 00:13:04,639 --> 00:13:05,200 and economy. 197 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,879 Speaker 1: So here's and this is another aspect in all of this, 198 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,840 which is the teaching profession is dominated by women, right 199 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:18,519 has been for a very long time, and boys learn 200 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:24,399 differently than girls, and boys need, generally speaking, need more 201 00:13:24,519 --> 00:13:27,240 time to go run around and do stuff and burn 202 00:13:27,279 --> 00:13:29,399 off some of their energy. Sitting them down in a 203 00:13:29,399 --> 00:13:32,840 classroom for forty five minutes or so not allowing them 204 00:13:32,919 --> 00:13:36,279 to you know, to break concentration or whatever. Especially today's 205 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:41,480 kids with you know, very short attention spans, like that pedagogy, 206 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,679 that method of teaching, that model of teaching that might 207 00:13:44,799 --> 00:13:48,279 not be the best thing for all kids. 208 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,279 Speaker 2: And exactly, and you know what, you know, I've built 209 00:13:52,279 --> 00:13:56,399 teams before, and I understand that whole concept, and that 210 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:00,679 is I agree with you one hundred percent, and I 211 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,759 would love to hear more people talk about it is 212 00:14:02,759 --> 00:14:07,120 the idea of principles building their team, building their teachers, 213 00:14:07,159 --> 00:14:09,200 you know, because that is the culture, like you want 214 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:12,559 to talk about, like bring in people who are like 215 00:14:12,639 --> 00:14:14,679 kids not able to read when they get to like 216 00:14:15,039 --> 00:14:16,799 not being able to read a high school level when 217 00:14:16,799 --> 00:14:21,120 they get to high school. That's embarrassing. And it's because teachers. 218 00:14:21,639 --> 00:14:25,559 Teachers are overworked, are underpaid, and now they don't care. Well, 219 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:30,440 you need an individual to build them up, man. I mean, 220 00:14:30,559 --> 00:14:33,399 you need someone to build somebody up, man, Like I mean, 221 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:34,759 at the end of the day, that's what it is. 222 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, now I got you, Mark. I appreciate the comments. Thanks, Yes, sir, Yes, sir. 223 00:14:39,039 --> 00:14:44,080 All right, take care. Regarding the population declines, I'm going 224 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:46,879 to kind of pivot here because I have a theory 225 00:14:47,879 --> 00:14:50,000 that may be connected. Okay, we hear. Oh, it's the 226 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,399 birth rates, right, The birth rates are declining, and that's 227 00:14:52,399 --> 00:14:55,840 why the student population is declining. At public schools in 228 00:14:55,879 --> 00:14:58,360 North Carolina. One hundred and five out of one hundred 229 00:14:58,399 --> 00:15:05,679 and fifteen districts lost students. CMS has as many students 230 00:15:05,679 --> 00:15:08,919 as it had in twenty ten. Right now, Okay, so 231 00:15:09,039 --> 00:15:12,320 all of those population gains, they've they've all gone down 232 00:15:13,159 --> 00:15:16,720 back to twenty ten levels. And the education officials are like, 233 00:15:16,799 --> 00:15:19,600 it's the declining birth rate, so it's not their fault. 234 00:15:19,679 --> 00:15:19,879 Speaker 3: Right. 235 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:26,639 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, I was seeing surges in charter schools. Whatever, here's 236 00:15:26,679 --> 00:15:29,879 another component. I'm not saying this is the main driver, 237 00:15:30,399 --> 00:15:34,159 but I would not be surprised if this had some 238 00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:38,559 kind of an impact. Here's a press release from the 239 00:15:38,559 --> 00:15:42,720 Department of Homeland Security announcing more than two point five 240 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:47,840 million illegal aliens have left the United States since January 241 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:53,559 of twenty twenty five. This year, DHS enforcement operations resulted 242 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:58,919 in more than six hundred five thousand deportations. Additionally, thanks 243 00:15:58,919 --> 00:16:02,679 to the comprehensive ft of DHS law enforcement, one point 244 00:16:02,799 --> 00:16:09,279 nine million illegal aliens have voluntarily self deported since January twentieth, 245 00:16:09,519 --> 00:16:17,559 twenty twenty five. And the CBP app their homepage, offers 246 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,279 a free flight home for Christmas and one thousand dollars 247 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,200 if people choose to self deport, and by the way, 248 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:30,240 that then preserves the ability for them to try to 249 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,679 apply to become a citizen and to do it legally. 250 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,240 If you self deport, you leave voluntarily, you won't be 251 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,480 you know, deported, and then you've got an illegal re 252 00:16:40,759 --> 00:16:45,240 entry on your record, so you would still be able 253 00:16:45,279 --> 00:16:48,279 to apply to be a citizen down the road if 254 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,519 you self deport now. So I'm just throwing this out there. 255 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:56,799 Maybe this has an impact as well. All right, if 256 00:16:56,799 --> 00:16:58,600 you're listening to this show, you know I try to 257 00:16:58,639 --> 00:17:00,440 keep up with all sorts of current events, and I 258 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,679 know you do too, And you've probably heard me say 259 00:17:02,799 --> 00:17:06,839 get your news from multiple sources. Why Well, because it's 260 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,559 how you detect media bias, which is why I've been 261 00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:13,160 so impressed with ground News. It's an app and it's 262 00:17:13,279 --> 00:17:16,119 a website and it combines news from around the world 263 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:19,599 in one place so you can compare coverage and verify information. 264 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:23,160 You can check it out at check dot ground dot 265 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,319 news slash Pete. I put the link in the podcast 266 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:29,359 description too. I started using ground News a few months 267 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,000 ago and more recently chose to work with them as 268 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,240 an affiliate because it lets me see clearly how stories 269 00:17:35,279 --> 00:17:38,480 get covered and by whom. The blind spot feature shows 270 00:17:38,519 --> 00:17:41,359 you which stories get ignored by the left and the right. 271 00:17:41,559 --> 00:17:46,240 See for yourself. Check Dot Ground, dot News slash pete. 272 00:17:46,319 --> 00:17:48,960 Subscribe through that link and you'll get fifteen percent off 273 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,279 any subscription. I use the vantage plan to get unlimited 274 00:17:52,319 --> 00:17:55,640 access to every feature. Your subscription then not only helps 275 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,440 my podcast, but it also supports Ground News as they 276 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,680 make the media landscape more transparent. Alrighty, So I saw 277 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,319 this story a couple of days ago at the Charlotte Observer. 278 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:11,079 I read it so you don't have to headline Charlotte 279 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:16,920 church adds ice agents to nativity scene. That aims to 280 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:24,799 disturb passers by. That's the goal, to be disturbed. It's 281 00:18:24,839 --> 00:18:29,880 disturbing in the sense that, like, you purport to be 282 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:32,640 a Christian church with a nativity scene and you're packing 283 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:38,640 a bunch of extra characters into the nativity. I mean yeah. Also, 284 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,319 some of your explanation make me wonder if you know 285 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,720 the stories you're supposed to know you're supposed to be telling. 286 00:18:46,759 --> 00:18:50,759 But uh, let's go to the article. This is again 287 00:18:50,799 --> 00:18:55,200 from the Observer, A Charlotte Church says it wants to 288 00:18:55,440 --> 00:19:01,640 disturb passers by this Christmas with a Nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary, 289 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:04,240 and Joseph. First off, you shouldn't put baby Jesus in 290 00:19:04,279 --> 00:19:08,880 the Nativity, yet you put the baby Jesus in the 291 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:14,559 Nativity on Christmas. So that's your first first problem with 292 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:22,640 this tableau. Yeah, so they got Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 293 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:28,079 out there along with masked immigration agents wearing bulletproof vests 294 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:35,519 and brandishing handcuffs. These are not actual people. They're mannequins. Okay, 295 00:19:35,599 --> 00:19:42,119 these are mannequins. The installation went up outside Mission Gathering 296 00:19:42,319 --> 00:19:47,279 Church all one word, Mission Gathering Church. This is in 297 00:19:47,319 --> 00:19:51,920 the Optimist Park area East fifteenth Street. It casts the 298 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:57,000 biblical Holy Family as targets of modern immigration enforcement, which 299 00:19:57,039 --> 00:19:59,599 is kind of bizarre because they lived like two thousand 300 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,559 years go and there was no ice. There wasn't even 301 00:20:02,559 --> 00:20:07,039 an America at the time. But so it's not really 302 00:20:07,079 --> 00:20:12,480 in keeping with the story. You know, the church is pastor. 303 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:14,759 Oh and by the way, in case you're not aware 304 00:20:14,799 --> 00:20:17,799 and you hadn't figured this out by now, this is 305 00:20:17,839 --> 00:20:21,839 a woke social justice warrior church. I don't know how 306 00:20:21,839 --> 00:20:24,079 many people it's got. It doesn't seem like a very 307 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:28,920 large church. But the church's pastor said that the goal 308 00:20:29,599 --> 00:20:34,000 is to force viewers to confront the fear that many 309 00:20:34,079 --> 00:20:38,240 immigrant families in Charlotte felt following recent immigration arrests in 310 00:20:38,279 --> 00:20:43,599 the city. Okay, well that's what it's not what it 311 00:20:43,839 --> 00:20:49,039 is doing, right, If that's the point of your art installation, right, 312 00:20:49,079 --> 00:20:54,039 this is what I refer to as art by explanation, right, 313 00:20:54,079 --> 00:20:56,920 where the message you're trying to convey is not a 314 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:01,319 parent and so you have to explain it to people. So, uh, 315 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,599 the explanation is that the goal is to force me. 316 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:08,000 If I'm a viewer, I'm walking down the road and 317 00:21:08,079 --> 00:21:11,160 I come across your church and I see, oh, there's 318 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,200 the Nativity. Wait, why is baby Jesus in the in 319 00:21:14,279 --> 00:21:17,680 the manger? He shouldn't be there. Oh, and then what 320 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:25,279 are these ice agents doing? That does not inspire me 321 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:30,440 to confront the fear of other people? That's not so 322 00:21:30,519 --> 00:21:32,960 I'm not sure you're aware, Like, if that was the 323 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:36,680 goal of the installation, that is, that's not the outcome. Okay, 324 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,279 so you missed the mark, which, by the way, is 325 00:21:40,279 --> 00:21:43,720 what the word sin means. When you when you miss 326 00:21:43,799 --> 00:21:47,400 the mark, just heads up on that. One Christian church. 327 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,240 The goal This is according to the UH the leader 328 00:21:52,279 --> 00:21:57,039 of the church, Reverend Andrew Shipley, who says the goal 329 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:03,880 is too disturb to make people feel so something. Didn't 330 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:08,400 do that either. It doesn't disturb me and it doesn't 331 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:12,720 make me feel something. It does make me think something 332 00:22:14,519 --> 00:22:21,039 about your church, about you. Yeah, but then again, a 333 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:25,319 quick visit to the Facebook page of the of the 334 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:28,400 church and they've got all sorts of posts up there 335 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,559 and events that they were running. I think they were 336 00:22:31,599 --> 00:22:38,839 selling t shirts that say Queerness saves like Jesus saves, 337 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:46,920 but queerness saves very much a proponent of the of 338 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:53,400 the transgenderism the LGBTQ plus two I A. They also 339 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:56,079 had some event about a Christmas potato which I'm not 340 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:59,000 really clear on, like if that's just a mascot or 341 00:22:59,039 --> 00:23:02,039 is it like some sort of a food drive where 342 00:23:02,079 --> 00:23:06,400 you bring potatoes or something. Not really clear on that one. 343 00:23:06,839 --> 00:23:12,480 They're all in on leftist liberation theology. Yeah, big on 344 00:23:12,519 --> 00:23:17,519 the liberation theology stuff. Environmental justice check that box as well. 345 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:23,440 Oh and they did the drag Bingo fundraiser. It's a 346 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,279 big deal. For the church as well, just as Jesus 347 00:23:26,279 --> 00:23:34,039 would do. Yeah, the the drag Bingo fundraiser. They never 348 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:36,839 said how much they raised for the drag or the 349 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,759 but yeah, for the for the drag Queens, I'm not sure, 350 00:23:40,759 --> 00:23:42,960 but it said save the Queens. That's the name of 351 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,680 the event. So you really get to think you got 352 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:49,519 a good grasp on what this church is selling, you know, 353 00:23:52,799 --> 00:23:55,079 I mean, yeah, well it's like basically like all of 354 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:58,920 the current direction of the Methodist Church. 355 00:23:59,000 --> 00:23:59,519 Speaker 2: Now is that? 356 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 3: Yeah? 357 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:01,799 Speaker 1: Sorry, too soon? 358 00:24:02,599 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 2: Too soon? 359 00:24:03,079 --> 00:24:08,599 Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, all right, the uh he says, what? Oh 360 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,119 so Shipley goes on to say, what's happening to Charlotte 361 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:15,039 Families is disturbing and is graphic and horrifying. He said. 362 00:24:15,039 --> 00:24:19,680 The installation was created by an outside artist collective called 363 00:24:19,759 --> 00:24:23,799 Task Force, which has created similar installations in cities across 364 00:24:23,839 --> 00:24:26,680 the country. Okay, now I also object to this being 365 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:31,480 called art. They're just mannequins. And now, unless you're gonna 366 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,000 say that when you walk through a department store and 367 00:24:35,039 --> 00:24:40,039 you see the mannequins wearing clothes and the different departments, 368 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,960 you know, for the men's and the women's and whatever, like, 369 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,160 if you're gonna call that art, then, okay, fine, this 370 00:24:46,279 --> 00:24:49,519 is art. But I don't call those art either. They're 371 00:24:49,559 --> 00:24:52,599 just mannequins. They're trying to sell me something, just as 372 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,880 you are in your church. You're trying to sell me something. 373 00:24:58,079 --> 00:25:01,319 Shipley said. The group contacted the church iPhone end email 374 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:06,039 with the idea, and local artists built to Charlotte display. Again, 375 00:25:06,599 --> 00:25:10,039 you just set up some mannequins. Okay, this isn't This 376 00:25:10,079 --> 00:25:15,559 isn't some massive art installation, Shipley said. The concept builds 377 00:25:15,559 --> 00:25:18,960 on the biblical account of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fleeing 378 00:25:19,039 --> 00:25:22,960 violence under King Herod's rule, a story he believes parallels 379 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:30,240 what many families are experiencing now. But wait a minute, now, 380 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:34,279 I may be a little rusty in my memory here 381 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:39,880 on what exactly happened that prompted Mary and Joseph to 382 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,279 end up in the manger of the stable or the 383 00:25:42,319 --> 00:25:45,960 barn or whatever like. But I seem to recall this story. 384 00:25:46,039 --> 00:25:49,440 I think I've heard it. I don't know, probably about 385 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,680 a thousand times at this point, so my recollection may 386 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:57,240 not be correct. But didn't they go back to Bethlehem 387 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:02,720 because they were following the law? Isn't that why they 388 00:26:02,759 --> 00:26:06,759 did that, I'll have to do some research. Here's a 389 00:26:06,799 --> 00:26:09,680 great idea. How about making an escape to a really 390 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,960 special and secluded getaway in western North Carolina. Just a 391 00:26:13,039 --> 00:26:15,599 quick drive up the mountain and Cabins of Asheville is 392 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,559 your connection. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, a honeymoon, maybe 393 00:26:19,559 --> 00:26:21,880 you want to plan a memorable proposal, or get family 394 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:24,640 and friends together for a big old reunion. Cabins of 395 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,480 Asheville has the ideal spot for you where you can 396 00:26:27,519 --> 00:26:30,720 reconnect with your loved ones and the things that truly matter. 397 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,960 Nestled within the breath taking fourteen thousand acres of the 398 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:37,839 Pisga National Forest, their cabins offer a serene escape in 399 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,640 the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Centrally located between 400 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,480 Asheville and the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 401 00:26:43,759 --> 00:26:47,799 It's the perfect balance of seclusion and proximity to all 402 00:26:47,839 --> 00:26:52,559 the local attractions, with hot tubs, fireplaces, air conditioning, smart TVs, 403 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,319 Wi Fi grills, outdoor tables, and your own private covered porch. 404 00:26:56,599 --> 00:27:00,640 Choose from thirteen cabins, six cottages, two villain and a 405 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,720 great lodge with eleven king sized bedrooms. Cabins of Asheville 406 00:27:04,759 --> 00:27:08,039 has the ideal spot for you for any occasion, and 407 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,480 they have pet friendly accommodations. Call her text eight two 408 00:27:11,519 --> 00:27:14,920 eight three six seven seventy sixty eight or check out 409 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:17,720 all there is to offer at Cabins Ofashville dot com 410 00:27:17,759 --> 00:27:21,839 and make memories that'll last a lifetime. David, Welcome to 411 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:26,319 the program. Hello David, Hello, how you doing. I am well, sir, 412 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:26,799 I am. 413 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:31,599 Speaker 3: Well, well, I just wanted to verify that you are correct. 414 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:35,119 They were observing the law to go and have their 415 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:40,279 names listed in the census. And that's because they're the 416 00:27:40,279 --> 00:27:43,759 city of David, and the lineage of David was at. 417 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: A besta hat That's what I seem to recall too. 418 00:27:47,759 --> 00:27:51,079 So I don't know why ICE agents would be surrounding 419 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:52,559 Baby Jesus. 420 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 3: You know, well, I think that we've confused our faith 421 00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:58,160 with our ideology. 422 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,319 Speaker 1: Ah, yes, I think you are correct, David. I appreciate 423 00:28:01,319 --> 00:28:01,799 the call, sir. 424 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:03,079 Speaker 3: You will kai. 425 00:28:03,960 --> 00:28:06,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, so Floyd says on the text line, Mary and 426 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:13,799 Joseph went back to Bethlehem going to pay their taxes. 427 00:28:15,839 --> 00:28:19,680 You do, okay? Yeah? Because then there was this this 428 00:28:19,839 --> 00:28:23,680 is off of Christian Today dot com, which maybe the 429 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:32,880 Mission Gathering Church might want to review Luke two. And 430 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:35,880 it came to pass in those days that a decree 431 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:40,319 went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should 432 00:28:40,359 --> 00:28:45,720 be registered. This census first took place while Kyarinius was 433 00:28:45,839 --> 00:28:50,759 governing Syria, so all went to be registered, everyone to 434 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:55,720 his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out 435 00:28:55,720 --> 00:28:59,720 of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city 436 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:04,119 of which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the 437 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:09,519 house and lineage of David, and he went there to 438 00:29:09,559 --> 00:29:14,119 be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 439 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,480 So it was that while they were there, the days 440 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:23,359 were completed for her to be delivered. Now, according to 441 00:29:24,559 --> 00:29:28,240 Christian Today dot com JB. Katchilla, the author of this piece, 442 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,519 the Roman emperor was able to call all the Jews 443 00:29:32,599 --> 00:29:37,400 back to their hometowns through the use of a census. 444 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:41,039 Since Joseph was a descendant of David, he had to 445 00:29:41,079 --> 00:29:44,599 go back to Bethlehem in order to comply with the 446 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:50,839 command of the ruler. See again, I'm not sure that 447 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:57,799 the Mission Gathering Church is really internalizing and understanding some 448 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:01,240 of the details of this story, and maybe they are 449 00:30:02,039 --> 00:30:04,799 not familiar. Maybe they're not as familiar with the story, 450 00:30:04,839 --> 00:30:08,799 but I kind of remember these details from many years ago, 451 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:13,400 and like I would think that the lead preacher of 452 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:17,400 the church would know some of these key details. It's 453 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:21,079 like one of the biggest days in the Christian calendar. So, 454 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:26,960 by the way, this also fulfilled the prophecy from Micah 455 00:30:27,119 --> 00:30:33,519 five to two, because the census that prompted Joseph and 456 00:30:33,559 --> 00:30:36,519 Mary to go to Bethlehem in order to comply with 457 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:40,720 the law. See. Because a corollary here would be if 458 00:30:40,759 --> 00:30:45,720 Mary and Joseph did not go back to Bethlehem, right, 459 00:30:45,839 --> 00:30:50,440 that would be the analogy that they would stay in Nazareth. 460 00:30:50,519 --> 00:30:53,240 They would not have gone back to Bethlehem. They would 461 00:30:53,279 --> 00:30:55,880 have stayed in the place where they were not supposed 462 00:30:55,920 --> 00:31:00,200 to stay. See, that would be more analogous to the 463 00:31:00,359 --> 00:31:06,200 ice thing that you're trying to, you know, use. But 464 00:31:06,319 --> 00:31:10,400 this census was the first of its kind to take place, 465 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:15,000 the very first census, which of course then fulfills the prophecy. 466 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:23,039 Now back to the Charlotte Observer article, the reverend of 467 00:31:23,079 --> 00:31:27,880 the Mission Gathering Church, Andrew Shipley, said that the concept 468 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:31,359 builds on the biblical account right of Mary Joseph and 469 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:36,640 Jesus fleeing violence, A story that fleeing violence under King 470 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:41,680 Herod's rule, A story he believes parallels what many families 471 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:49,079 are experiencing. Now, okay, didn't Herod order like the murder 472 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:55,839 of every young male? Didn't he send out the troops 473 00:31:55,839 --> 00:31:59,160 to go slaughter every kid? So it wouldn't be king? 474 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,559 What is that what we're doing in America right now? 475 00:32:02,759 --> 00:32:05,720 I must have missed all of the slaughtering or something 476 00:32:05,799 --> 00:32:07,720 I didn't see. I mean, look, I follow the news 477 00:32:07,839 --> 00:32:11,880 pretty closely, okay, but I have not seen I have 478 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:16,279 not seen all of the slaughtering. He said. Quote. The 479 00:32:16,319 --> 00:32:20,960 goal is to translate the Christmas story into a modern context. Okay, 480 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,559 Well you failed, okay because you missed it, missed the 481 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:28,839 mark aka sin. If the Holy Family had been in 482 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,440 Charlotte two weeks ago, they would have been putting the 483 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,559 baby Jesus in handcuffs because he wouldn't have his papers. 484 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,359 Well okay, no, see again, you like you either don't 485 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:44,960 understand the immigration law currently or you don't understand the 486 00:32:45,039 --> 00:32:48,880 Christmas story, but also you don't understand either that they 487 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:52,000 don't make handcuffs. That small dude. Okay, You don't need 488 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,599 to handcuff a baby. It's an infant, it's a newborn. 489 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,440 You can kind of just pick it up and take 490 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,559 it wherever you want. It's not going to fight back. 491 00:33:00,319 --> 00:33:04,119 Good Lord, all right, that'll do it for this episode. 492 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,279 Thank you so much for listening. I could not do 493 00:33:06,319 --> 00:33:08,480 the show without your support and the support of the 494 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,559 businesses that advertise on the podcast, so if you'd like, 495 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:13,759 please support them too and tell them you heard it here. 496 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:16,440 You can also become a patron at my Patreon page 497 00:33:16,559 --> 00:33:20,119 or go to thepetecleanershow dot com. Again, thank you so 498 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:26,839 much for listening, and don't break anything while I'm gone.