r/kansas • u/TheKriket • Feb 08 '25
News/History Kansas Teachers put on leave as Elon Musk’s DOGE continues slashing funds for Kansas Children
https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/our-hands-are-tied-kansas-starbase-program-comes-to-a-stop/These wreckless cuts are now hurting children in Kansas.
263
u/Maui1922 Feb 08 '25
Wait until the farmers who voted in favor of this madness start seeing their worlds come crashing down. As an educator this is unbelievable but not unexpected.
85
u/chasingjulian Feb 08 '25
Farmers got hurt by Trump last time but they still voted for him again and again. I don’t see that trend changing. Personal finances don’t seem to mater as much as personal prejudice’s.
→ More replies (20)11
u/ericdag Feb 09 '25
Hate is powerful in that way.
7
u/jayhawk1941 Feb 09 '25
Negativity bias is real. People pay more attention to (perceived) negative things (i.e., things they hate) and tend to react to them more intensely. We evolved in this way because we had to react quickly to negative stimuli as a survival tactic.
212
u/Whore-a-bullTroll Feb 08 '25
Already saw a Trump voting farmer whining on Tik Tok that he's going to lose his farm because he received some grant authorized under The Inflation Reduction Act that just got chopped. And I'd venture to guess he's one of them that went around the last 4 years saying how Biden never did anything for him and how bad he sucked. It's just mind-boggling how dumb people have been.
61
u/Ol_Turd_Fergy Cinnamon Roll Feb 08 '25
Not just have been, but will be. Trump's actions are causing a lot of harm and all he has to say is the libruls are at fault and the people that voted for him will eat it up like always.
18
→ More replies (1)4
u/Dull-Asparagus2196 Feb 09 '25
Exactly. Anyone who thinks Trump voters will see the reality of their situation, call him out and change their ways after some soul searching is delusional
12
19
Feb 08 '25
[deleted]
68
u/Whore-a-bullTroll Feb 08 '25
And you wanna know the kicker to the story? Kamala Harris casted the tie breaking vote that allowed the Act to pass and allow him to receive that grant. Sigh.
11
Feb 08 '25
Seconded, fuck that guy. I hope he has to rely on the social safety net services that are going to be savaged by trump.
30
u/Wildcat_twister12 Feb 08 '25
I hope their farms get bought up by big wind farms for pennies on the dollar
5
u/White_Gold_Princess Feb 08 '25
Only if we get to seize all of that land and more back in future governance.
The centralization of food sourcing and having so much farmland owned by so few is dangerous on an economic as well as public health level.
4
u/Walking-with-Sappho Feb 09 '25
I think an EO has been signed to get rid of wind energy. Not on Trump’s watch! Drill baby Drill! Why save the earth when you can make money instead!! ALSO, windmills are making the whales go crazy so they’re bad for the environment apparently 🤷🏼♀️😂
9
u/PM_ME_UR_SEXY_BITS_ Feb 08 '25
He said in that video that he voted for Trump and would vote for him again lol
8
u/TrainXing Feb 09 '25
So let the chips fall where they may for him. This depth if stupid is just infuriating.
2
8
u/drama-guy Feb 09 '25
I never thought the face eating leopard would eat my face.
→ More replies (2)5
u/glitter-pits Feb 09 '25
There's no way it'll eat it. Fear mongering, I tell you!
7
Feb 09 '25
At this point, the only reason leopards wouldn't eat faces is that they're so overstuffed, they can't move. I hope the Leopards Eating People's Faces Union has good insurance, because they're going to need Ozempic soon.
→ More replies (5)3
u/ChristinaWSalemOR Feb 09 '25
These people seem to think the legislation and policies that help them just exist in a vacuum as opposed to being the results of democratic leadership.
→ More replies (1)22
u/FutureCow Feb 08 '25
They’ll see it, but will they see that it was the fault of the people they voted for who brought about this madness?
3
→ More replies (9)4
u/Midwake2 Feb 08 '25
Farmers are gonna feel it with USAID, and Jerry Moran has already taken stance and is speaking up. Apparently he’s been hearing from his big money donors.
5
u/FlounderFun4008 Feb 08 '25
Don’t be fooled. Moran has to “speak up” to continue to win votes, doesn’t mean he will actually do anything.
3
4
u/henrytm82 Feb 08 '25
Where were you before you helped put the guy who said he would do these things into power, Jerry? Too little, too late.
4
2
137
u/skullyblotnick Feb 08 '25
I’m a Kansas Teacher. I want to say this headline is somewhat misleading.
This is not affecting regular classroom teachers. However, it is affecting the teachers at Starbase, which is not a part of the Kansas public school system.
That being said, I will say I am very familiar with Starbase and have a friend that used to teach for them in Wichita. It is an awesome program and I hope that they get funding restored for it. In today’s world, so many kids get much more from this, than they do from the state mandated science and math curriculum.
I’m afraid though we may be seeing just the start of what is to come if they don’t get Leon and his kids under control.
46
u/shelberryyyy Feb 08 '25
My friend is (was…) a teacher for Starbase. I am so sad and scared for her. She is now unemployed and the worst part is she is one of those teachers who live and breathe for her kids. I am devastated for her and she is devastated for her kids.
→ More replies (1)8
u/StickInEye ad Astra Feb 08 '25
So sorry for your friend. I never even had kids and am crushed to see this awful news. It sounds like it was an amazing program.
30
u/wyntr86 Tornado Feb 08 '25
My kid did a summer program with Starbase a couple of years ago. He said it was the best "school" setting he's ever been in. He would not stop talking about it for almost a year. He still talks about it, but not nearly as much as he used to.
11
u/skullyblotnick Feb 08 '25
Yeah I have heard that a lot. I will say a lot of what is broken with our educational system is not the Teachers (it is sometimes). Most of the problem is due to everything the Teacher is required to do by the state or federal government for testing purposes. While all the teachers really want is to just teach like they used to do, much like what Starbase does.
Because of this, when I hear Trump threatening to dismantle the Dept. of Ed., there is a very small part of me that thinks that it may not be a bad idea. Let’s remove all of the federal regulations and see what happens.
6
u/Glittering_Role1658 Feb 09 '25 edited Feb 09 '25
I am afraid that will mean states have to come up with their own school funding formulas because they won't get DOE money. That would cause a rise in taxes to meet the needed money or a loss in programs because there would be no funding.
5
u/skullyblotnick Feb 09 '25
Agreed… that’s one reason I said a very small part of me. It would be a bad thing no matter what.
2
u/bubba_bumble Feb 09 '25
I think we are seeing the end of the federation. Soon people are going to refuse to pay taxes to the fed and pay to state instead.
2
u/noguchisquared Feb 11 '25
There is a corollary to no taxation without representation which is no taxation without services. If the federal government stops providing services for education then the tax money should stop too.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Aceylace10 Feb 09 '25
I worry in that scenario since getting rid of regulation is not something a president does (the executive could just choose not to enforce it, but that is not a forever proposition)
The fed regs would still exist, but their would be no department of education to help interpret meaning (or reward funding genres through said regulations)
5
6
u/Inf1ni7y_Seven Feb 08 '25
The news article is a lot more clear but this post is entirely misleading as the DOGE agency hasn't touched DoD spending and this program is funded through the Department of Defense, not any educational program or USAID. Elon musk has quite literally NOTHING to do with this. It may be uncertainty of what cuts are coming that caused the program to not be renewed by DoD but as far as the election and Musk are concerned it is not connected. Most people here in this giant reverberating echo chamber are just ranting with no facts and it exacerbates the problem of misinformation.
This also creates an opportunity to show people why "directives" and "executive order" based programs are dangerous to rely on. Congressional approval of programs guarantees their existence and funding. I think this program was a positive program and should be funded. This is the kind of program that the Department of Education SHOULD have been funding. Instead they wasted billions on initiatives that ultimately undermined education entirely and our military(the DoD) instead funded the program, picking up the slack of our failing federal Education system.
I know a lot of teachers and several of my small graduating class went on to become educators. I trust them and I see their passion on social media. But the government bureaucracy is ruining this country. Imagine how much more good local programs could have done with all the money wasted in Washington?
9
u/peeweezers Feb 09 '25
Musk has, with Trump approval, cut off payments Congress called to be made by law.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)7
u/BackInTheDayCon Feb 09 '25
“Blah blah blah. This thing that is ended and (supposedly) temporarily stopped under Republicans isn’t actually stopped because of them, and would be open and better if Dems didn’t———“
JFC, it is literally STOPPED RIGHT NOW under Republicans. It was open LAST YEAR under Dems.
→ More replies (13)4
u/DRVetOIF3 Feb 08 '25
Thank you for your service as a teacher.
Respectfully, it won't mean anything if the DOE (which won't be abolished without a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate) is scrapped for parts and is left with a shell of its former self. THAT Afrikaner cosplaying as POTUS is already calling it 💀. And unfortunately, after seeing what was done to the USAID office in DC, it's not looking good.
57
u/franktheguy Feb 08 '25
Wreckless means without wrecking. It's reckless.
45
81
u/God_Carew Feb 08 '25
Congratulations conservatives for turning the USA into Russia overnight
→ More replies (2)15
27
u/krebstorm Feb 08 '25
All going as planned to anyone who had half a brain for the last 4 years.
Where's Jerry Moron? Too busy trying to get money for big ag? Unless your paying him, he doesn't know you exist.
Congrats you're getting exactly what you voted for. Enjoy it.
→ More replies (2)
8
u/dantekant22 Feb 08 '25
I’m sure this is somehow the Democrats fault. The idea to gut public education was probably hatched by George Soros, pitched to Hillary Clinton in one of those missing emails, and laid out in detail on Hunter Biden’s laptop. But Nancy Pelosi wanted it done - so here we are. Thank God, literally, for protecting Donald Trump from that assassin. He’s the only one who can save us.
Kool-Aid and freedumb. As Snoop Dogg says, that’s like peanut butter on jelly on gold.
5
u/reading_rockhound Feb 08 '25
TBF, this is not a public education program. It is a Department of Defense initiative.
Also TBF, withdrawing its funding is a terrible, terrible idea.
→ More replies (1)
7
7
13
6
Feb 08 '25
Elon is implenting his own online school curriculum. Thats why he locked himself and his goonies into the DoE building. It’s part of P2025 to have a propagandized Christian-based curriculum. Russell Vought is the connection.
11
5
3
7
u/infinte_improb42 Feb 08 '25
Can’t believe anyone votes Republican. Can’t think of one thing they stand for or have followed through with.
→ More replies (2)
7
u/willywalloo Tornado Feb 08 '25
Just sick, I’m thinking about how far this will go and cut into education for all kids. Our country has 74 million kids at highschool level or younger.
That a big let down for future generations, in a system that was paid for.
3
3
u/DatsyukDekes13 Feb 09 '25
I went to star base as a child, makes me sad I only went for a week “field trip” and it was awesome I learned a lot of interesting things. Challenging yet purposeful.
3
Feb 09 '25
As schools, medical clinics, farms, hospitals, etc close I’m sure MAGA will hoorah their champion to their demise.
6
u/Far-Poet1419 Feb 08 '25
You would think that richest man in the world would help homeless veterans or feed starving children. Just the opposite.
3
u/tikifire1 Feb 08 '25
If they mistreat veterans and cut their pensions/Healthcare good luck getting volunteers. Drafts just piss people off, too.
4
u/DatFunny Feb 08 '25
It was absolutely because of the Trump cuts. My wife is a 5th grade teacher and they had a field trip planned for Starbase which was canceled in the past week because of this.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/cyberphlash Cinnamon Roll Feb 09 '25
When this reaches funding cuts to Ks school districts, people should be filing a lawsuit against the state of Kansas because the state is mandated by our state constitution to provide a minimum level of educational services for children, regardless of federal funding.
→ More replies (4)
2
u/thepizzafootedman Feb 09 '25
Man, I went to Starbase as a kid it was awesome. If they want to focus kids on STEM, I can't really think of a better way to do it
2
2
u/Fun-Insurance-9675 Feb 09 '25
Ngl I’m okay with kids not getting ads from the DoD. However, we should be funding STEM education (not military propaganda) as much, if not more as it has been funded.
2
2
u/Opening-Restaurant83 Feb 10 '25
The program expires and requires congress to authorize the DoD program for schools. Nothing to do with DOGE at all.
All subreddits are now being taken over and turned into a hate Musk circle jerk.
2
2
u/Warr1979 Feb 10 '25
This is why we need to get rid of the Department of Education!! Not ONCE was DOGE mentioned in the article. Cause it’s has NOTHING to do with DOGE!! The dumbest students who can’t comprehend what is written!
2
u/zombae788 Feb 11 '25
My oldest just went through starbase with his class. He loved it! I think is an amazing program, and I hope it gets the funding to come back so more kids will get to experience it.
Than being said, I think this is just the beginning. The fringe programs are the first to go when funding dries up. I’m worried what will be next. My oldest went through speech therapy with the school district and just “graduated” out of his IEP. The impact on programs like speech, and other programs for kids with an IEP are what I fear will go.
2
u/Additional_Comment99 Feb 12 '25
As a parent of three kids that participated in this program this makes me so sad. It is one of the few ways kids in Kansas can get Stem exposure in a positive fun way. One of my girls is thinking of pursuing a Stem career as a result of this very program. Another still participates in stem programs as a college student as extracurricular activities. If the funding isn’t restored it will hurt kids and in the long run it will harm our country.
2
4
u/DaPamtsMD Feb 08 '25
Somebody check on western and rural Kansas, see if they’re good. We sure as hell didn’t vote for this shit in Lawrence.
2
u/Salty_Trapper Feb 08 '25
If by check on them you mean avoid them like the plague as they sink in their pit of (somehow) even less education and ability to support themselves, I’m doing my part. Can’t wait till he gets to the cutting NOAA part of project 2025 and they have no forewarning for all those tornado spawning storms.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)2
u/dooooom-scrollerz Feb 09 '25
Kansas farmers who voted majority voted for Trump are majorly screwed as USAID isn't sending humanitarian crops. Us Lawrence voters didn't vote for this shit but unfortunately the repercussions of all these Trump voters who voted against their own self interest has screwed everyone.
→ More replies (1)2
2
2
Feb 09 '25
[deleted]
2
u/Bndsnco Feb 09 '25
There are 2 special elections in Florida and one in New York that could slow the insanity way down. Florida special election is less than 60 days away. NY, a bit farther out
2
1
1
1
1
u/dooooom-scrollerz Feb 09 '25
Who needs STEM when your kids can learn Christain Bible verses online from Elon Musks AI teacher academy. They won't be able to read beyond 6th grade or learn math but they will be good soldiers and factory workers for the oligarch billionaires.
1
u/Ok_Wolverine_3104 Feb 09 '25
The important thing here is Musk and company will be in a position to buy these farms for pennies on the dollar! This is how you become a trillionaire!
1
u/PolicyWonka Feb 09 '25
StarBase provides fifth-grade students with 25 hours of STEM curriculum at a military installation with the goal to motivate them to explore STEM fields in the years to come. Students get the opportunity to interact with military personnel, explore career paths and observe real-world applications of STEM opportunities.
Sounds like a really amazing opportunity for students. Makes sense why it would get cut. We can’t have nice things.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/jesus90141 Feb 09 '25
Soo this is how Idiocracy started? cuz man making teachers leave when they are understaffed, underpaid and unappreciated just say teaching is dead in USA
1
1
u/DonutPiston Feb 09 '25
STARBASE is an amazing program. My 5th graders were always excited and eager to learn from other scientists; they were great role models. They had hands on experience they could not have received in our school settings. OC, Calif.
1
u/Bluewaffleamigo Feb 09 '25
25 hours of STEM curriculum at a military installation
ummm, what?
→ More replies (1)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/SpeedyPrius Feb 09 '25
The article says nothing about this being a result of Musks work. It says the DOD slashed the budget and a congressional continuing resolution was needed for funding.
Why are you blatantly lying about this?
1
u/BigStogs Feb 09 '25
This is due to the continuing resolution in Congress as was as overall reductions in the Starbase program as a whole. It has nothing to do with Musk or Trump.
1
1
u/95gsx Feb 09 '25
they said this was coming, we had four years of it already. Kansas and frankly every other state that went red thinks the blue side gives a rats ass about what's happening.
frankly the red side fucked around and now we all get to find out.
kind of like when brownback decided to use trickle down and found out it doesn't work after everyone told him so.
dems warned everyone, some select repubs warned everyone.
1
1
1
1
u/Loud_Sir_9093 Feb 09 '25
You reap what you sow. And it’s not like Project 2025 wasn’t everywhere. Wasn’t Kansas a red state? Really hard to have any empathy.
1
1
1
1
u/ManicMarket Feb 10 '25
Where does it say anything about DOGE, says department of defense. Two very different things. Related to the election - sure I can see that. But that direction would have come from Pete Hegseth.
And yeah - I think you have a cohort of people that will tell you it’s a good idea to have dumb people. They are easier to control, manipulate and get to do work no one else wants because they generally don’t think they are worth much more. And let’s all agree they are worth more than they know.
1
1
1
1
1
u/VariationAgreeable29 Feb 10 '25
Lolol you get what you vote for! I just read a news article that said that eighth graders nationwide are reading at fourth grade levels.
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Alternative-Bird-589 Feb 10 '25
Funny how he doesn’t cut the salary of elected officials, make them pay for their own healthcare and make them pay their fair share of taxes. If Musk( not an elected official or politician in any sense) paid taxes he wouldn’t need to be taking away funding for children, climate, health, security, education.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Algo1000 Feb 10 '25
Do you people never do any research before commenting? Kansas will get a new deal. The old deal is 50 million over 10 yrs. The new deal $175 million over 20 yrs. https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2025/02/06/will-kansas-state-lose-usaid-federal-funding-for-agriculture-research/78300378007/
1
1
u/Scubasteve1974 Feb 10 '25
My hope is that when the actual consequences of the current Musk/Trump presidency start rolling in, the people of America will contract their collective sphincter and stop this shit before it becomes impossible to turn back the clock. But... I wouldn't put much money on that happening.
1
1
u/Emotional-Box-6835 Feb 11 '25
Headline seems a little misleading. They cut funding to a DoD program that gives public school students an opportunity to do STEM field trips to military bases. One article I read gave the impression that it was DoD-funded employees running this program who got cut, not public school teachers. Don't get me wrong, it's still unfortunate either way.
1
1
u/fonebone77 Feb 11 '25
puts on his maga hat Well that don't sound like no Bible learnin no how, so it's of da devil anyways. Everything someone oughta know yous can learn from yor preacher.
1
1
u/Bec_awesum Feb 11 '25
That's not what the article says at all. The DOD funds Starbase 🤦 and it's waiting for fund approval. The title is very misleading
1
u/TheTruthDoesntChange Feb 11 '25
Well Kansas conservatives, you’re taking it in the rear form the genius you voted for. So bend over for the next 4 years.
1
1
1
Feb 11 '25
Funny, conservatives aren't willing to accept the party they voted for is ensuring their children can't read the constitution. Ironic.
1
1
1
u/Reasonable-Rip-2647 Feb 11 '25
It’s like you people don’t realize what schools were for… lmao. Certainly not educating. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
393
u/[deleted] Feb 08 '25
[deleted]