Of all the fucked up "feel good" news stories I've seen lately, this one takes the cake.
A third grade teacher in North Carolina, named Shelby Lattimore, is requiring her students to do jobs for her to earn fake dollar bills, which she then requires them to pay back to her as "rent" in exchange for being "allowed" to do other things she also requires them to do, like literally sitting in a chair. But it's totally cool, because they can also use any "money" they have left over to buy permission to do things they're apparently not allowed to do normally, like eat lunch with their best friend, "sit on the carpet", or switch to a different seat if they don't like the student she normally forces them to sit next to. They can also purchase "free time", or - the most expensive item on the list - exercise authority over their classmates that is normally reserved for the teacher.
Lattimore then posts videos of herself doing this on TikTok, which are apparently popular enough that between ad revenue and "brand collabs" (which I'm 100% sure all her students gave fully voluntary and informed consent to being exploited for), she makes enough money (six figures last year, she says in the video linked below!) that she can afford to just be a school teacher without having to get a second job! And her students are learning that all they need to do to escape "generational poverty" is to "think long-term" about budgeting their money. So see, it's a heartwarmer!
Been putting this off for a few days, but here goes nothing. #intro#introduction
My name is Kaylie, though many just call me Fox. I’m a 36 going on 13 year old trans girl originally from the desert now residing in the Midwest with my girlfriend Wednesday and our three cats, Mia, Nala and Harley.
This account is my alt, with my main being found at @LavenderPawprints. Expect some cross posting between the two, with longer posts coming from this one thanks to the much larger character limitations. Also expect this one to be somewhat more personal at times.
I’m #autistic,, #VisuallyImpaired, hard of hearing, struggle with mental health and a bunch of other little things, but I prefer not to have my worth weighed out by the extensiveness of my disability and challenge list. To me, life is life and we all godda make the best of what we got.
So what are my interests?
Well, I’m a #musician who writes and records my own #music. I play mostly #guitars, #synths and #keyboards, but can hold my own with other things like percussions and the like. I can’t really play any wind instruments though. I done smoked too much in my time. :P
I also love reading and writing, mostly fantacy and science-fiction, but will read just about anything if it’s something that sounds good.
Academically, I study generative #AI as well as #Elementary#education. I’m a strong supporter of #YouthRights and #YouthLiberation and believe with all my heart that kids are an oppressed minority who deserve to be able to show us all that they are capable of much more than just being those tag-alongs that so many parents treat them as. #Unschooling is a very valid form of education that doesn’t oppress youths but gives them the freedom to choose their own path and inform themselves through self-directed learning and play. Trust me, I can wax poetic about this stuff for hours. 😊
Though I don’t have kids myself, something that causes a lot of emotional distress to me, I’m still a supporter of #GentleParenting and live the #youthLiberationist ethics in practice. Kids, to me are as equal as anyone else. The only thing that separates us is lived experience and age.
I’m also a casual #PC#gamer who has considered streaming on and off for a while but has never actually done so. I play with a lot of emulators too and love reliving the old days. #retro
I do make some #AIArt from time-to-time using Stable Diffusion, though admittedly I haven’t been as active on that front lately due to mental health burnout.
Also love #anime, #cartoons, #TV when I actually have the money to pay for streaming services, and #movies are fun too when the #ADHD allows me to sit still long enough to get through one.
Other things that matter to me are making and keeping real #friendships. I’d rather have a few really solid people to call family than have a bunch of people who aren’t as in it for good as me.
I’m also a #stoner and am very pro #420, like my #Vodka and #RedBulls from time-to-time, and I’m a recovering addict who has over six years clean from most things that nearly claimed my life. I fully appreciate the struggles of #DrugAddiction, and will always listen to anyone who may be struggling or who needs someone who understands. #YourNotAlone
I judge absolutely no one for anything beyond observable behavior. I mean that too. I don’t judge anyone anything.
Am a #tea drinker and #coffee lover, I love #cooking, and I’m always doing experimental mad scientist things in the kitchen.
I also identify as a long-time #furry, though the community has grown stagnant, too commercialized and for public consumption in recent years. Some would probably say that my whiskers are grey, for all the time I’ve been around in one form or another. That’s to say, I’ve seen a lot in the furry fandom, and where it’s at now just makes me sad because it’s not like it used to be.
Otherwise, anything you may wish to know is always a DM away. I’m very approachable, or at least I try to be. The only dumb questions are the ones you don’t ask. As such, I invite your curiosity.
I usually write this blog 5-6 days/week, but every now and again, I take a break, and when I do, I get massive link backlogs of stuff I want to write about, but lack the time to address in depth. When that happens, I turn my Saturday edition into a #linkdump. Today, I present the sixth in the series - here's the other five:
This year's Masseys are shaping up to be the GOAT. They're presented by @AstraTaylor, an activist rock-and-roller turned documentary filmmaker who is one of the founders of #TheDebtCollective, fighting for #StudentDebt cancellation. Everything Astra does is amazing and her profile on #CBCIdeas gives some background on the role that #unschooling played in making her the powerful activist she is today:
Tipping Points Magazine is currently looking for original works of art related to the theme: “A World Without School.” This could include written work, paintings, drawings, videos, audio, etc.
I'm Kanna (KannaOphelia) pretty much everywhere. I write (fanfic and original work), I read, I love and support AO3. I never really got the hang of the Bird site, but I'm happy to be here. Feel free to talk to me!