Russia Steps Up Energy Wars With Gas Cuts to Europe’s Top Buyers
Russia stepped up the use of energy as a weapon by further cutting natural gas shipments via its biggest pipeline to Europe, prompting Germany to accuse the Kremlin of trying to drive up prices.Get more news about nitrogen compressor exporter,you can vist our website!
Gazprom PJSC is curbing gas supplies via its Nord Stream pipeline to Germany by 60%, increasing an initial cut to Europe’s top buyer announced on Tuesday. The move adds to a 15% reduction in flows to Italy, the continet’s second-largest customer of Russian gas, putting more pressure on already tight European energy markets and sending gas prices surging more than 25%.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Russia was trying to unsettle markets and prop up prices, but that security of supply was guaranteed for now. The curbs reignited tensions with Moscow, which had calmed down after several European countries found ways of paying for gas in rubles, meeting a demand from President Vladimir Putin.“The industry must prepare for zero Russian gas,” said Thierry Bros, a former energy analyst and a professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. “EU companies that accepted to twist the contract to continue to receive gas should now understand that political diktats can come anytime from the Kremlin.”
Gazprom PJSC is capping supplies via Nord Stream to 67 million cubic meters a day from Thursday. That’s down from a cut of 40% to a limit of 100 million cubic meters a day announced on Tuesday. Utility giant Uniper SE, Germany’s top buyer of Russian gas, said it had received 25% less gas than it had contracted from Gazprom.
The Dusseldorf-based company said so far it’s been able to replace the missing volumes with natural gas from other sources. A company spokesperson said it’s too early to tell how much the reduction will impact its finances.Gazprom blamed the curbs on technical issues with turbines manufactured by Siemens Energy AG that are crucial for the functioning of the pipeline.
Siemens said on Tuesday that one turbine that had been sent for repairs was stranded in Canada due to Ottawa’s sanctions that prohibit technical services to the Russian oil and gas industry. But Habeck dismissed the suggestion that technical issues were the main reason for the gas cuts.
Oliver Krischer, a deputy economy minister, said the curbs could be linked to Germany’s 10-billion euro ($10.4 billion) bailout of a former Gazprom unit now under the control of the country’s energy regulator since.“A connection between the two problems cannot be ruled out, one could be a reaction to the other,” Krischer told the lower house of parliament’s climate protection and energy committee on Wednesday.
Russia is also limiting supplies to Italy, another country that agreed to pay for gas under the new payment terms imposed by the Kremlin. Eni SpA said on Wednesday that Gazprom informed the Italian energy giant that it would curb supplies by about 15%. The St. Petersburg-based company didn’t provide a reason for the cut.
“Italy can rightly feel aggrieved at receiving reduced flows as one of the ‘friendlier’ allies to pay for Russian gas in rubles and not on Nord Stream’s direct route,” said Tim Partridge, head of energy trading at DB Group Europe.
The loss of Russian supply coincided with a drop in US capacity to ship liquefied natural gas to the region after a major export terminal in Texas was damaged by fire. The operator of the Freeport LNG export facility in Texas said on Tuesday that it may take 90 days for the plant to be partially back online, far longer than an earlier projection of a minimum three weeks. Full capacity isn’t expected to be available until late 2022.
Car Headphones: Bluetooth, IR, RF, and Wired
Headphones that are fit for car head units and infotainment systems include wired headphones, IR (infrared) headphones, RF (radio frequency) headphones, and Bluetooth headphones. We reviewed these four types of headphones so that you can make the best decision when choosing headphones to use in your car.Get more news about infrared headphone manufacturer,you can vist our website!
Many in-car entertainment systems support multiple headphones so that all passengers can enjoy movies, music, or video games. In some cases, each passenger can listen to their media while the driver controls their listening using the head unit.
While you should never listen to headphones while driving, passengers may be at a loss without these personal devices. Whether for music or video, headphones can transport you to another world without disturbing the driver.
There are ups and downs to each. The value of a pair of headphones depends on the situation in which it is being used. To decide which one is right for you, consider the compatibility and usage requirements of each headphone.
The simplest headphones you can use in a car are those that can be used in other listening environments. Wired earbuds, over-ear headphones, and on-ear headphones typically don't require batteries. These types of headphones are compatible with any system that has a standard 3.5mm headphone output (Aux).
The drawback? Most automotive multimedia systems don't support multiple sets of wired headphones. Some head units include one or more 3.5mm output jacks, and some vehicles provide multiple audio jacks for the passengers. However, that is more of an exception than a rule.
Wired headphones are also compatible with some displays and DVD players. If your multimedia system includes multiple DVD players and displays, inexpensive wired headphones may work fine.IR (infrared) headphones are wireless units that receive audio signals via the infrared spectrum. This is similar to the way a television remote or computer infrared networking functions. These headphones are only compatible with systems that broadcast on a specific IR frequency. However, some units can receive signals on two or more channels.
Since IR car headphones are wireless, these devices require batteries to operate. The main drawback is that IR headphones require a good line of sight with the transmitter to operate. Otherwise, the sound quality degrades quickly.
RF (radio frequency) headphones are also wireless, but these devices operate on a radio frequency. These headphones are only compatible with multimedia systems that broadcast on a particular frequency but are often set up to work on several channels. That means one passenger can listen to the radio, for example, while another watches a DVD.
Like IR headphones, RF headphones also require batteries to work. Unlike IR headphones, however, they don't require a line of sight to operate.
Bamboo lamp how to maintain clean
Bamboo has its own unique natural grain, its texture can be clearly visible, giving people a rustic, fresh and elegant feeling. Now add modern elements of bamboo lighting, not only can make the ancient craft began to glow "new luster", but also low-carbon environmental protection, natural quiet.Get more news about Bamboo Pendant Lamps Manufacturer,you can vist our website!
1. bamboo woven products in the maintenance of the two extremes of high humidity and high temperature to avoid, as far as possible, do not put in the cold and damp and sun exposure.
2. clean up, you can first use a chicken duster or vacuum cleaner to remove dust from the surface of the bamboo lamps and lanterns.
3. bamboo woven lamps and lanterns surface texture is fine, so the surface is easy to accumulate dust. So the woven lamp surface can be gently wiped with a soft rag, and the dust between the crevices can be cleaned with a paint brush or vacuum cleaner. Do not use cleaning agents or solvents that destroy bamboo and rattan.
4. bamboo woven lighting and lanterns stains, available light salt water wipe.
Did you get the way to clean the bamboo woven lampwork?
The factory is committed to inherit and promote the traditional Chinese folk handicrafts, the use of natural and renewable resources: bamboo, rattan and other materials, mining, employing a number of folk artisans, research and development and weave a series of art bamboo rattan lamps, woven lamp and lanterns suitable for the current needs of social life;
If you're looking for simple and stylish bamboo lamps, check out the lamps from Xin Shan Xing Lighting. Our wholesale bamboo lamps can bring style to any bedroom or living room. Of course. We also support custom lighting services, so if you have a new questionable lighting idea, we can help you with that too.
How U.S. Countertop Workers Started Getting Sick
Ublester Rodriguez could not have anticipated that his life would be profoundly changed by kitchen and bathroom countertops.Get more news about oem kitchen countertop,you can vist our website!
He says that he grew up poor, in a small Mexican town, and came to the United States when he was 14. He spoke no English, but he immediately got a job.
"In the beginning I was working in a Chinese restaurant, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It was all day, so I never had time to go to school," he recalls. "I was a dishwasher."
He labored in restaurant kitchens for about eight years. But he wanted Sundays off to go to church and play soccer. So when his brother-in-law offered to help him get a new job, he jumped at the chance.
That's how he ended up in a workshop that cuts and polishes slabs of an artificial stone to make kitchen and bathroom countertops.
"It was something totally different for me," says Rodriguez.
Back then, in 2000, the material he was cutting was also something totally different for the American countertop industry. The stuff looked a lot like natural granite. In reality, it was made in a factory, from bits of quartz bound together by a resin.
This kind of engineered stone, often marketed as simply "quartz," is now one of the most popular options for kitchen and bathrooms.The trouble is, workers have gotten sick, and even died, after cutting this engineered stone and breathing in its dangerous dust, public health officials say.
Overseas, some are even calling for a ban on selling engineered quartz for countertops.
Rodriguez, 42, is the first person known to have fallen ill in the U.S. His lungs are so damaged that he is on oxygen about six hours a day. Doctors expect that he will need a lung transplant.
And so far, physicians have identified at least 18 more countertop workers with silicosis in this country. They worry that more cases are out there, and more people are at risk, given that the countertop fabrication industry in the U.S. has around 100,000 workers.
"In the beginning I was angry, but I was angry with me," says Rodriguez, who sued his employer for allegedly causing his illness.When I moved from the restaurant to this company, I was getting more money. Because of that change, I ruined my life," he says. "Then I just realized that it wasn't just me. It was the whole company — that they don't protect their employees."
The shop where Rodriguez worked is run by Cosentino, a major player in the countertop industry.
"We are extremely committed to safety and continuously strive to improve our operations," a company spokesperson told NPR. "We hope your article raises awareness in the industry to follow a proper safety culture."
What is the Right Choice of Fabric for Ottomans?
Commonly associated with royalty, an ottoman is a versatile piece of furniture. Nowadays, ottomans come in different sizes, making them super attractive. Ottomans generally have no arms or backs and are used as tables or stools. They are also used as footstools, accompanying chairs or sofas.Get more news about upholstery pouf wholesaler,you can vist our website!
In recent years, ottomans have become very popular as stylish pieces of furniture because of their varied uses. Many home furnishing stores sell a variety of ottomans in varied hues, attractive prints and rich fabrics.
These upholstered stools can be used as statement pieces in the living room and are a great addition to a high chair. The right ottoman shouldn’t only be aesthetically pleasing but should also be comfortable. Therefore, fabric plays a key part in creating the perfect ottoman.
The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a piece of fabric for any furniture is its practicality. Many fabrics look or feel good, but they usually don’t hold up to regular wear and tear. Since an ottoman is likely to be used as a footstool or a table, it is likely to undergo quite a bit of wear and tear. Therefore, selecting the right fabric is key. Here are some all-season fabrics that could go well with your next collection of ottomans.
Cotton
The most trusted of all fabrics, cotton is durable and easy to clean. It is comfortable and classy. Cotton checks all the boxes when it comes to upholstering any piece of furniture. It also comes in different prints and textures. But there are a few drawbacks to cotton. It can sometimes shrink, even though the damage usually isn’t too extensive. Cotton also doesn’t fare too well under prolonged sunlight. Despite these minor drawbacks, it is still a hardy, durable and affordable fabric to use in an ottoman.
Linen
Linen is probably the strongest fabric as a cover for an ottoman. It is tougher than cotton and is easier to clean. Good quality linen can also resist dirt and stains, so this is a good alternative for families that have kids or pets. The only problem with linen is that it can wrinkle when washed. So, if you are considering linen for your range of ottomans, ensure that it is good-quality linen so that it is resistant to pilling, abrasion, and even moths. Other than these drawbacks, it’s an elegant option for an ottoman.
Viscose
A delicate yet exquisite fabric, viscose is a great choice for a statement ottoman. Viscose is a silky, synthetic fabric. Since it is made from regenerated cellulose, it is often confused with silk. Upholstering an ottoman with viscose might be a great option for a festive collection. Many people prefer this fabric because it is both lustrous and luxurious at the same time. There are a few downsides; viscose is prone to wrinkling, shrinking, fading, and bleeding. So, it might not be the most practical fabric for everyday use. However, there are still ways to use viscose blends with cotton or linen. So, you can still get the look and feel of viscose, and enjoy the durability of linen.
Wool
Wool is the most resilient fabric in the market to upholster any kind of furniture. A woolen cover for an ottoman might just be the perfect thing because it is one fabric that is cozy and comfortable. It is one of those fabrics that can easily withstand regular wear and tear, with minimal damage. It is also a fabric that creases way too little than other fabrics, and since upholstered wool these days has a special covering, it is also easy to clean as it gathers little to no dust. Apart from the usual goodness of minimum upkeep, wool is also one of the most comfortable fabrics to use for your ottoman as it is soft, smooth, and breathable. Wool also requires next to no cleaning, therefore making it the most suitable fabric for almost any furniture.
Velvet
One of the most luxurious of all upholstery fabrics, velvet is the best fabric one can use on any furniture because of its comfortability and rich texture. Velvet is naturally warm, so it suits any furniture, especially an ottoman. It suits any mood and can totally transform any furniture’s look and feel. There are a number of varieties to choose from when it comes to velvet which really makes it the best choice for your ottoman. The only downside to velvet is that it’s a little tough to clean. As it is naturally heavy, it isn’t the ideal fabric to wash. But velvet doesn’t get dirty easily and can also withstand daily wear and tear. Thus, if you want fabric that is comfortable but also practical to use, then go for velvet.
Best CBD Vape Cartridge
CBD is making waves in the self-care game, offering natural relief from stress and anxiety, easing pain, or helping us unwind after a long day. And what’s more, CBD vape cartridges make it easier than ever to get your daily dose.Get more news about Cbd Cartridge,you can vist our website!
But let’s face it, the market is saturated with options that are subpar at best. That’s why we’re taking the guesswork out of the equation and scouring the market to bring you the crème de la crème of CBD vape carts.
These 5 best CBD vape cartridges are the real deal — high-quality, effective, and accessible. So, it’s time to take charge of your wellness and enjoy all the benefits that CBD has to offer, in the most convenient and stylish way possible.
Are you in need of a little R&R after a long day? The White Fire OG full spectrum CBD vape pen cartridge by Secret Nature will give you the relaxing experience you’ve been longing for.
This luxurious Indica strain offers a classic OG cannabis flavor with notes of pine, gas, earth, lemon, and lime that will transport you to a chill state in no time.
Secret Nature only uses pure ingredients and organic full-spectrum CBD flower nectar to make his CBD vape cartridge. Apart from CBD, extra cannabinoids and real cannabis-derived terpenes enhance both flavor profile and relaxing effects.
Secret Nature’s products don’t contain cutting agents or artificial flavors. Plus, they are rigorously tested by independent laboratories for heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents ensuring they’re safe and potent.
While it possesses remarkable relaxing effects, this cartridge won’t make you drowsy. This makes it an ideal choice for creative and social activities. It’s also quite popular among patients suffering from pain, depression, anxiety and appetite loss.
Plain Jane is a reputable cannabis brand that sticks to CBD and hemp laws. Their aim is to deliver the purest, most potent, and safest CBD products for the enjoyment of their customers.
Their Plain Jane Girl Scout Cookies CBD vape cartridge is a full-spectrum product made using cannabis-derived terpenes and CBD distillate. This CBD vape oil is a potent blend of two popular strains: Durban Poison and OG Kush. This Indica hybrid offers the best of both worlds, with the powerful effects of Durban Poison and the energetic buzz of OG Kush.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxed buzz or a boost of energy, this CBD vape cart has got you covered. It’s great for keeping energy levels high. Users also report that it’s a potent anxiety relief agent, making it the go-to if you are looking to have more great days than bad.
The cartridge also boasts a rich and flavorful terpene profile comprising caryophyllene, limonene and humulene. Each of these terpenes gives this vape cart its unique flavor and benefits, making for a truly well-rounded experience.
The GSC CBD vape cartridges from Plain Jane feature full-spectrum CBD, providing you with the benefits of the entourage effect. This means the different compounds in hemp interact with each other to create a more powerful effect.
You see, CBD is just one of many compounds found in hemp, and when it’s combined with other compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids, it creates a synergistic effect that is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s what’s known as the entourage effect.
So, when you’re using a full spectrum CBD product, like the ones offered by Plain Jane, you’re getting the full benefit of the entourage effect and all the amazing benefits that come with it!
Which USB lamp is best?
A USB lamp is capable of solving two problems at once: illuminating your room and charging all of your necessary devices. With a reliable USB lamp, you can rest easy at night while having your phone, computer or tablet at a convenient arm’s reach. Gone are the days where you have to reach behind the headboard to plug in your devices to the only outlet on the wall. With USB lamps becoming the norm, it is essential to be aware of several things before committing to your next bedside companion. The BesLowe Industrial Touch Control Table Lamps is a top pick for its aesthetic appeal and bright bulbs that are included.Get more news about Table Lamp With Usb Charging Port And Outlet,you can vist our website!
What to know before you buy a USB lamp
Size
All USB lamps are not created equally. Just like traditional bedroom lamps, USB lamps come in a variety of sizes, and it is an important factor worth considering when purchasing the right one for your room. This depends on where you intend to place your USB lamp: Do you want to use it as a bedside lamp? If this is the case, do you have a bedside table large enough for the light? Do you want the room to place something like a book on the table, or will the lamp be enough?
Lighting range
Just like size, not all USB lamp ranges are the same. Some lights are brighter than others, and the lighting radius of a lamp can influence whether you need to purchase more than one. It is important to note that lighting range is also determined by the bulb the lamp utilizes and the color of the light.
Color
Some lamps come with shades that diffuse light, affecting the color of the light. Some LED-powered lamps come with touchpad options that can influence the quality and color of the light. Brighter colors like white and blue tend to be brighter and harsher, where colors like orange and yellow tend to be warmer and more inviting.
What to look for in a quality USB lamp
USB ports
A majority of USB lamps come with an average of two USB ports. However, this varies depending on the type of lamp. Some USB lamps have only one USB port, while others have three or more. This is often dependent on the size of the light, allowing for more or fewer places for ports to reside.
Style
USB lamps fit into every room aesthetic. Whether you are looking for a more traditional, box-shaped lamp or a more contemporary LED desk lamp, there are kinds that suit everyone’s tastes. There are even lamps designed to fit either retro or vintage styles, such as lamps that give off a somewhat industrial look with Edison light bulbs.
Settings
Some USB lamps come with a simple switch and one light setting. Some others come with several lighting options that can change both colors and brightness. Once more, deciding which choice is right for you will boil down to necessity, whether you want a lamp purely for illuminating large spaces or lamps with more specialized options for doing things like reading, watching TV or acting as a nightlight.
How much you can expect to spend on a USB lamp
The most affordable USB lamps cost less than $30 and generally come with one lighting setting and one or two USB ports. Mid-range USB lamps will cost between $30 and $60 and will come in a large variety of styles, ranging from desk LED lamps to more traditional, shaded lamps. The most expensive USB lamps will cost more than $60 and come with extra features or specific aesthetic designs, such as metal frames and industrial looks.
More than 1 million fewer students are in college
More than 1 million fewer students are enrolled in college now than before the pandemic began. According to new data released Thursday, U.S. colleges and universities saw a drop of nearly 500,000 undergraduate students in the fall of 2021, continuing a historic decline that began the previous fall.To get more news about undergraduate, you can visit wikifx.com official website.
"It's very frightening," says Doug Shapiro, who leads the research center at the National Student Clearinghouse, where the new data comes from. "Far from filling the hole of [2020's] enrollment declines, we are still digging it deeper."
Compared with the fall of 2019, the last fall semester before the coronavirus pandemic, undergraduate enrollment has fallen a total of 6.6%. That represents the largest two-year decrease in more than 50 years, Shapiro says.The nation's community colleges are continuing to feel the bulk of the decline, with a 13% enrollment drop over the course of the pandemic. But the fall 2021 numbers show that bachelor's degree-seeking students at four-year colleges are making up about half of the shrinkage in undergraduate students, a big shift from the fall of 2020, when the vast majority of the declines were among associate degree seekers.
"The phenomenon of students sitting out of college seems to be more widespread. It's not just the community colleges anymore," says Shapiro. "That could be the beginning of a whole generation of students rethinking the value of college itself. I think if that were the case, this is much more serious than just a temporary pandemic-related disruption."Graduate program enrollment, which saw an increase in the fall of 2020, declined slightly, down by nearly 11,000 in the fall of 2021.
Overall, enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs has been trending downward since around 2012, but the pandemic turbocharged the declines at the undergrad level.Many were hopeful that would-be undergraduates who chose to take a year off in 2020 would return in 2021, especially given the expanded opportunities for in-person learning. But the pandemic gap year appears to be a myth: The National Student Clearinghouse found that of the 2020 high school graduates who chose not to enroll in college after graduation, only 2% ended up enrolling a year later, in the fall of 2021.
"The easiest assumption is that they're out there working," says Shapiro. "Unemployment is down. The labor market is good. Wages are rising for workers in low-skilled jobs. So if you have a high school diploma, this seems like a pretty good time to be out there making some money."
Wages at the bottom of the economy have increased dramatically, making minimum-wage jobs especially appealing to young people as an alternative to college. In December, for example, jobs for non-managers working in leisure and hospitality paid 15% more than a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."It's very tempting for high school graduates, but the fear is that they are trading a short-term gain for a long-term loss," Shapiro says. "And the longer they stay away from college, you know, life starts to happen and it becomes harder and harder to start thinking about yourself going back into a classroom."
For Brian Williams, who graduated from high school early in the pandemic, the long-term plan is to go to college.
He postponed enrolling in 2020 because he was tired of remote learning; instead, he got a job at a Jimmy John's sandwich store near his home in the suburbs of Houston so he could start saving up. When it was time to enroll in fall 2021 classes, he postponed again — he says he was more interested in finding a job that paid more than in giving up much of his paycheck to go to school. In August, Williams left Jimmy John's and got a job at an Amazon warehouse; his hourly earnings jumped up by $4.50.
Deciding When to Start Kindergarten
The transition into kindergarten has always been a big one for kids. And as this first year of elementary school has become increasingly academic, some parents wonder whether it’s best to enroll children as soon as they’re eligible, or wait an additional year until they’re more mature.To get more news about kindergarten, you can visit wikifx.com official website.
Considerations may feel especially fraught now, as fewer kids attended preschool during the pandemic.
Experts say that delaying kindergarten – a practice known as “redshirting” – may benefit kids in certain circumstances, but caution that there are also disadvantages to waiting.
When Are Kids Required to Start School?
In most states, children must be 5 years old by August or September to enter kindergarten that academic year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
But the age when kids are legally required to start school is often older, and state laws and school districts’ policies can vary greatly. Sometimes the enrollment cutoff date falls after the school year has started, so children as young as 4 are eligible for kindergarten. Some states don’t require kindergarten, and some districts, such as New York City's, don’t allow redshirting. In practice, these disparate policies mean that caregivers are frequently given a lot of latitude around the decision.
“When you look across the country at children who are age-appropriate for kindergarten, the large majority are in fact going,” says Mary Kay Irwin, director of school health services at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A 2013 NCES report showed that 87% of kindergartners nationally enrolled on time in the 2010-2011 academic year, and only 6% had been redshirted (another 6% repeated kindergarten for a second year). That could be because for most working parents, delaying kindergarten means another year of paying for child care. The report found that more affluent households – those with incomes over 200% of the federal poverty line – were the most likely to redshirt.
Irwin notes there are cases in which delaying kindergarten might be a good idea. These include for children with developmental delays (though access to early intervention services, which are available in public schools, should be a consideration for these families); and for children who have experienced trauma.
She says some children with birthdays close to the cutoff date may be helped by another year of early learning and time to mature, but encourages families to talk to their pediatrician about their concerns first.For some parents, the decision is more about the long-term. Scott Odachowski, the father of a 4-year-old with a summer birthday in Broadview Heights, Ohio, decided to wait an extra year before enrolling his daughter in kindergarten. Though Odachowski says his daughter's pre-K teachers report she is academically and socially prepared, he is concerned about how her age might affect her future experiences. He says milestones like driving and puberty that he and his wife “didn’t want her to be last on,” were a factor in their choice.
Being young compared to other students in the grade has been associated with higher rates of certain diagnoses. A 2018 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed students who were young for their grade were more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. And research published by the education news site Chalkbeat in 2020 found New York City students born in the last two months of the year were more likely to be identified as having a learning disability than their older peers.
Preschool teachers often talk about a less tangible benefit of waiting: extending the experience of early childhood. Odachowski says teachers at his daughter’s pre-K program called it “gifting your child another year.”
Florida elementary school temporarily bars ‘Ruby Bridges’ film following parent’s complaint
A Florida school district has temporarily barred students from viewing a historical film about real-life civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges at an elementary school after a parent filed a complaint this month.To get more news about elementary, you can visit wikifx.com official website.
The film “Ruby Bridges,” a historical drama about 6-year-old Bridges integrating a New Orleans elementary school in 1960, was shown at North Shore Elementary in St. Petersburg, Florida, to approximately 60 second grade students on March 2. Each child required a signed permission slip to view the film, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The parents of two students declined to allow their children to watch the film, and one of those parents filed a complaint on March 6, after watching the first 50 minutes of the film. The parent alleged that the film teaches students about racial slurs and how “white people hate black people,” according to the complaint, which was acquired by NBC News.
After the parent requested that the school district remove the movie from the school’s list of approved films, Pinellas County Schools officials temporarily banned “Ruby Bridges” from the elementary school until it’s assessed by a committee. A link to the trailer was provided in the permission slips for all parents to review, Pinellas County Schools public information officer Isabel Mascareñas told NBC News.
After the complaint was filed, Mascareñas said in a statement to NBC News, “it was communicated with the parent that the school would not have any future showings during this school year as the movie had already been shown.” She also said the movie, which is not rated, remains available through the district’s licensed movie library.
The 1998 Disney film portrays Bridges experiencing racist encounters while seeking an education. Directed by Euzhan Palcy and written by Toni Ann Johnson, “Ruby Bridges” earned several accolades, including a Christopher Award and a Gold Apple from the National Educational Media Network. The film was also a 1999 NAACP Image Award nominee for outstanding television movie or mini-series.
Pinellas County Schools previously faced pushback earlier year after it banned Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye” from all high schools following a parent’s complaint about the book’s rape scene. Following the ban, several students protested for the book to return to their advanced literature curriculum.
Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the Stop WOKE Act, which restricts race-inclusive teachings in schools. In January, DeSantis’ administration blocked an Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in the state’s high schools.While “Ruby Bridges” is not permanently banned in the school district, the move has prompted some Black-led organizations, such as the Concerned Organization for Quality Education for Black Students, to implement a call of action to protect the teaching of Black history in schools. The organization’s efforts aim to ensure Pinellas County Schools provides quality education to Black students.
“Many from historically marginalized communities are asking whether this so-called integrated education system in Pinellas County can even serve the diverse community fairly and equitably,” Ric Davis, the organization’s president, wrote in a letter, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Goliath Davis III, a former police chief in St. Petersburg, also criticized the district’s move in an op-ed in The Weekly Challenger on Saturday.
“Isn’t it curious that the district purports to value ‘cultural competency and ‘integrity,’ encourage the celebration of Black History Month and within three months, ban a book by an award-winning Black writer and a film on the life of a 6-year-old Black girl attempting to obtain a quality education while facing death threats and racial epithets?” he wrote.