Trans Rights + Nurses Strike

GLOBAL NEWS

The U.S. Women’s National Team made a shock exit from the world cup yesterday, losing in penalties to Sweden in a score of 5-4. The 4 time winner’s were unable to win their third cup in a row, but hey, at least they filmed some cool videos of them dancing along the way. (LINK)

IN TODAYS NEWS:

• New transgender issues to be addressed in schools

• Nurses on strike, was it expected?

• The 50th anniversary of hip-hop

• Ideas to get you out of the house this week

TRANS RULING REEMERGES IN SCHOOLS

The New Jersey State Board of Education (NJ SBOE) came to a decision to update its “equity” code on Thursday, August 3rd, 2023. The 42 page proposal is highlighted by two main decisions.

ONE, allow students to participate in sex education based on their gender identity, and not their biological sex.

If a biological male identifies as a female, they are now able to participate in a female specific sexual education class, even if they do not share the anatomy that applies to the rest of the class.

The state reacted to 263 comments regarding the changes. Some of those who opposed stated that the changes were “anti-god”, to which the state replied that all sex-ed classes that are separated must still teach the same material. Plus, parents can opt their students out of sex education at any time if they are uncomfortable with the circumstances.

TWO, the NJ SBOE’s decision to remove gendered language completely from their code.

Instead of using the terms minority, male, and female, they will refer to the groups as “all” in an attempt to completely remove the language from their decision making.

While the proposal includes more content including school sports and African American studies, these two topics take the spotlight as they hit close to a parental rights movement that is sweeping the country. The movement is spearheaded by parents who refuse to allow school districts to overstep their boundaries in what they are teaching children, and make active decisions in their children's education.

What next?

Since the year 2019, the number of students in New Jersey public schools who identify as “non-binary” has risen by over 4,000%. It is clear that school boards are doing what they can to accommodate this new subclass of students through many of the changes made in this proposal. In the time it will take for new policy to be introduced, those who oppose the jurisdiction will continue to make their voices heard.

BAGEL BITES

• Overnight fire burns through homes in Elizabeth

🍺Celebrate 50 years of hip-hop at this Montclair brewery

👩🏽‍🏫This teacher who’s been working for 53 years, finally retires

🥖Longtime diner in Paterson shuts its doors

🌇Newark houses over 100 kids displaced by collapsed crane

🏢Historic building could transform into… even more apartments

A STRIKE HAS ARRIVED

Last week, we warned of an issue in the medical industry. Nurses were being overworked and undervalued in hospitals all throughout the state with nurse-to-patient ratios at up to 1 to 10.

One week later, the nurses of Robert Wood Johnson are striking.

Why?

The United Steelworkers Local 4-200 union that represents the nurses has been struggling to come to an agreement with RWJ for months now due to the complications of the issues at hand.

Most strikes can be solved with pay, where a healthy and deserved raise is more than adequate to get people back to work.

In the case of understaffing this serious, a pay raise is nothing but a bandage. Nurses will still be required to work extended shifts in high stress environments, continuing in these conditions will only push the problem further down the line, to a place that may be even harder to come back from.

What Next?

The 1,700 nurses will continue to pursue a contract that fits their needs of more staffing. This may take time though as RWJ has secured outside nurses to remain operational for 60 days.

In the mean time, the nurses are in it for the long haul and will continue to fight for a fair work space that will be better for both their career, and the patients.

COMING UP FOR THE WEEK

NORTH⤴️: The Keyport Fireman’s Fair starts this Tuesday. The 5 day long event will feature classic food, rides and entertainment that everybody loves. The perfect stop on the way home from the beach

CENTRAL🔄: The Redbank Pedestrian Plaza is continuing through the week, and the rest of the summer. With a whole block being shut down, to allow restaurants to fill the street with seating and games, there may be no better week night dinner spot down the shore.

SOUTH⤵️: Forget Shark week, the Camden Aquarium is hosting a shark summer. See the largest collection of sharks in the country and maybe even name one on your way out.

¼ DOZEN BAG OF GOODIES

@njgov

Comment if you’ve ever been personally victimized by the NJ Turnpike #CapCut #nj #newjersey #turnpike #njturnpike #njgov

Thats all for today,

This week do me a favor, make some money and put it away for a rainy day. But if not:

“If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.” – Earl Wilson

Somebody will appreciate you soon, till’ Friday.

-The Daily Bagel😚