Christina Tonsing Joins "Changing Times" Host Lynn Morris & Dr Mary Byrne What Is Happening In Education Today?"Education Today?", host Lynn Morris, Dr. Mary Byrne, and guest Christina Tonsing (a Nixa school board member) discuss the current state of public education, emphasizing a perceived shift away from foundational principles toward indoctrination and government dependency.Core Arguments and ConcernsPurpose of Education: Dr. Byrne argues that public education was originally intended to educate citizens to preserve the republic, not just for "workforce development." 04:41Opens in a new window She stresses that students should be equipped with thinking skills and historical knowledge to make informed decisions as voters. 08:27Opens in a new windowIndoctrination vs. Education: The panel expresses concern that education is being used to indoctrinate students into "socialist/communist" values, which they describe as the "antithesis" of the US Constitution. 09:21Opens in a new window Lynn Morris notes a decline in patriotism and religious values in schools over the generations. 16:31Opens in a new windowErosion of Local Control: They critique the centralization of education through federal requirements and grant funding, which they believe undermines the sovereignty of local communities and school boards. 25:26Opens in a new window, 31:51Opens in a new windowEarly Childhood Concerns: Dr. Byrne discusses "universal preschool," arguing that pushing academics too early can rob children of their innocence and lead to behavior problems without providing long-term academic benefits for normally developing kids. 22:34Opens in a new windowSchool Board and GovernanceChristina Tonsing share her experiences as a school board member:Transparency: She highlights improvements in transparency, such as linking reports and recording meetings so the public can see how decisions are made. 40:15Opens in a new windowBoard Authority: There is a discussion about the "elitism" of bureaucrats who may try to marginalize elected boards. Dr. Byrne emphasizes that the board must exercise its statutory authority over the administration. 35:39Opens in a new window, 36:50Opens in a new window