New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed a law in June that eliminated the basic skills test requirements for aspiring teachers.The law, Act 1669, cleared the state Senate in a 34-2 vote as part of the state's 2025 budget and went into effect on January 1, 2025.'Teachers unions don't want teachers to demonstrate basic competency.'The legislation states, "The State Board of Education shall not require a candidate seeking any instructional certificate, except in the case of a limited certificate of eligibility or a limited certificate of eligibility with advanced standing … to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills including, but not limited to, the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test, in order to obtain an instructional certificate."Democratic lawmakers argued that removing barriers to obtaining teaching certificates would be the best way to address the state's teacher shortage. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Jim Beach (D), stated, "We need more teachers. This is the best way to get them."While the basic skills test is no longer required, some certification tests remain in place for specific subject areas, according to the New Jersey Monitor. For example, aspiring mathematics teachers must pass a Praxis subject matter exam, and aspiring biology teachers must complete both general science and biology subject matter tests.The New Jersey Education Association, a teachers' union representing roughly 200,000 active and retired education professionals, led the effort to eliminate the basic skills test and several other initiatives to reduce certification requirements for aspiring teachers.The NJEA has called the basic skills test "an unnecessary barrier to entering the profession." It claimed that the "one-off standardized test" could not "effectively measure the knowledge or skills needed to be a great teacher."Nicki Neily, the founder and president of Parents Defending Education, reacted to the elimination of the basic skills test. "New Jersey teachers will no longer be required to pass a basic skills test to become a teacher. The New Jersey Education Association was the driving force behind the bill. Teachers unions don't want teachers to demonstrate basic competency in reading, writing, and math before going into the classroom," Neily stated.In 2023, Murphy signed a similar law, Bill S1553, which formed an alternative pathway for certification that circumvented the basic skills test. Murphy also previously signed legislation removing the Education Teacher Performance Assessment as a requirement for aspiring teachers. He claimed the move would "streamline a process that has previously acted as a barrier."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In response to T-shirts that say "Save Girls Sports," a San Francisco Chronicle opinion writer claimed that not all women have female chromosomes and that the shirts themselves are "terrorizing" the local transgender community.The remarks are in response to two female high school athletes who have sued a California school district over the very same shirts being likened to Nazi symbols. The girls wore the shirts in protest of a male athlete participating in female athletics who bumped one of the girls from their cross-country team. The students claimed their athletic director said wearing the shirts around a transgender student was like wearing a swastika around a Jewish student.At a subsequent Riverside Unified School District board meeting, another cross-country runner said the school had stabbed students in the back after they expressed concerns over boys being in their change room."I have been around the females and just my team in general who have felt almost silenced to speak out about it because the whole LGBTQ is shoved down our throats; it is put in our face," the young girl explained.The Chronicle's writer, Soleil Ho, disagreed, however, calling the ordeal an "empty spectacle that demeans us all," taking particular issue with the shirts themselves.Ho pointed out that one of the young girls' fathers prints some of the shirts with his custom printing company, while also condemning apparel brand XX-XY Athletics for printing shirts that read "XX (does not equal) XY."The writer specifically mentioned the brand's CEO, Jennifer Sey, and claimed her "sole purpose is to pump out anti-trans activewear and fund right-wing influencers."Sey said the contrary, that her brand's mission is to "stand up for female athletes" and protect women's sports."No other athletic brand is doing it despite claiming to champion female athletes. [Other brands] don't care about women's sports or female athletes. They market wokeness and forsake women. We're providing an option so that consumers can buy a brand that aligns with their values," Sey told Blaze News.'Women are XX. Men are XY.'In her criticism of Sey, Ho did not mention the former gymnast's work defending girls who were abused while on the USA gymnastics team, a case that rocked the nation in 2016.Instead, the self-described "queer" "pansexual" said those selling the shirt have used "real human pain and humiliation" to further their brands by spreading the "hatred of trans people" through "anti-trans influencers."At the same time, the writer claimed that "not all cis women even have XX chromosomes" and therefore the shirts made no sense. Sey vehemently disagreed with this specific scientific claim:"There are no studies which state this. What kind of propagandistic 'newspaper' lets a 'journalist' write such lies, even in an opinion piece?" Sey asked. "Women are XX. Men are XY. Chromosomal abnormalities are rare and do exist, but they do not constitute a 3rd or 4th sex."Noting that Ho mentioned Algerian boxer Imane Khelif as an example of how different women can look, Sey simply responded, "Imane Khelif is a man."Sey concluded, "It's not hard. XX does not equal XY. It makes perfect sense."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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Though Clint Eastwood enjoys his demanding work schedule, he has surprisingly been spending more time with his family in his vacation home in Hawaii, and fans and loved ones are speculating whether he might be quitting. However, despite the contrasting public opinion, the 94-year-old director has not officially made an announcement. In the past, he had taken breaks from movie projects before and then returned with great ideas and skills. But in recent interviews, some of his friends admit that “this time feels different,” even if Clint Eastwood himself has not decided to quit or be open about it. Clint Eastwood is reportedly not done making films even after ‘final’ movie dropes JUROR #2, (aka JUROR NUMBER 2), from left: Nicholas Hoult, director Clint Eastwood, on set, 2024. ph: Claire Folger /© Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Juror No. 2 is Clint Eastwood’s recent project. Although he did not appear in the movie, he directed it outstandingly as usual, and critics scored it 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie had a limited release, which hinted to fans that Clint Eastwood might truly be retiring or perhaps taking a short break. Despite this rumor, his fans and colleagues still believe that he may surprise viewers with another movie soon. Some actors from Juror No. 2, including Gabriel Basso and Toni Collette, have also given their opinions on the retirement rumors. “You can’t count him out,” one actor noted, which reflects the love and appreciation of Clint Eastwood’s followers. ENNIO, Clint Eastwood, 2021. © Music Box Films /Courtesy Everett Collection Will he return to filmmaking? Whether this marks a turning point in his career, one thing is certain, his legacy as a Hollywood legend continues, as fans keep giving their opinions, “Nothing would make the people who love Clint in Hollywood happier than if he suddenly re-emerged with a new movie or acting project, especially after people were so impressed with Juror No. 2.”  DIRTY HARRY, Clint Eastwood, 1971/Everett For now, it seems he is enjoying being with his family life and taking a well-deserved rest, but this could just be the beginning of another new chapter in his career. Next up: ‘Dynasty’ Star Linda Evans Shares Super Inspiring New Years Message We All Need To Hear Right Now The post New Updates On Clint Eastwood’s Retirement Drops… He’s Not Done appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A