School Me Why Are Billionaires Messing With Public Education? Part 1
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Aug 12, 2025 
In this thought-provoking discussion, Lisa Graves, founder of True North Research, sheds light on the influence of wealthy donors and corporations over public education. She exposes the historical agenda to privatize schools and weaken unions, revealing their motivations and long-term impact. The conversation highlights the troubling rise of charter school fraud and the ideological push behind the school choice movement. Graves emphasizes the necessity of collective action to protect public education against billionaire-driven agendas and uphold democratic values.
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Brown Sparked A Lasting Backlash
- Brown v. Board forced integration and exposed deep resistance across US politics and society.
- That backlash seeded long-term efforts to undermine public schools and preserve racial hierarchies.
Schools Shut Down To Avoid Integration
- Some governors literally shut down public schools to keep white children separate, spawning private "independent" segregation academies.
- Lisa Graves describes Little Rock and the rise of private schools as direct reactions to enforced integration.
Ideology Framed As Critique Of Public Schools
- Milton Friedman and early libertarian donors argued public schools caused problems and promoted vouchers as alternatives.
- That intellectual movement provided longstanding justification for defunding and privatizing public education.