Some dismal education-related news emerged last week that placed the administration in a poor light with a large segment of the public.

First, came news that average scores for fourth and eighth graders showed the largest declines in mathematics in the history of the assessment. Average reading scores declined as well, although not as dramatically.

Although Pennsylvania and New Jersey fourth graders performed above the national average in math, both states still saw a decline from pre-pandemic testing. This year, 76 percent of Pennsylvania students scored at or above the basic benchmark, down from 81 percent in 2019.

The latest report card showed the gap between higher and lower performing students widened during the pandemic, when schools were shut down and teachers turned to online learning.

Beverly Perdue, chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, stated however that the pandemic hit everyone, and there was hardly any difference between the scores in a poor, economically deprived rural community and a very sophisticated area.

Perdue said it would be a mistake to blame the results entirely on the pandemic, calling the poor performances the result of a “realized generational decline.”

Another piece of disturbing education news that crossed our desk crossed into geopolitics and involved the U.S. State Department’s approach to sexual and gender norms.

A report published on Fox News Digital stated that in order to “promote diversity and inclusion,” the State Department awarded a $20,600 grant to a nonprofit supported by the U.S. Embassy and the Consulate in Ecuador. The grant will allow CEN to host three workshops, 12 drag theater performances, and produce a two-minute documentary.

The State Department explained in an email that the funds will further “tolerance.”

According to American Military news, the grant for drag performances was part of the State Department’s “public policy programs,” aimed at supporting national interests and security by “influencing foreign publics” and “strengthening” their relationship with the U.S.

There was an immediate backlash from conservatives.

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert immediately demanded that the U.S. Department of State stop grant money used for putting on a drag show.

“The Biden regime is spending $20k on drag shows in Ecuador,” she tweeted. “Note to self: the Department of State has excess funds that need to be cut next year.”

Austin Ruse, the president of the Center for Family and Human Rights, called the drag shows “an inappropriate use of American taxpayer money and that “such programs show the world the perverse nature” of current priorities for American foreign policy. He said this isn’t the only such program funded under the Biden administration and that this president “seems determined to export and impose the sexual revolution on the rest of the world.”

James Lindsay, an author, mathematician and political commentator, called the State Department’s use of drag queens to do cultural transformation in other countries an “act of political warfare” and that it’s not surprising since the administration is doing the same to America’s school children.

President Biden has actively promoted “diversity and inclusion” in his administration. In June, he signed an executive order requiring “chief diversity officers” in every federal agency.

During the summer, the Air Force canceled a “Drag Queen Story Time” event for young children after Sen. Marco Rubio spoke out, calling it “completely insane.”

“I urge you to immediately cancel this politically divisive event, and take appropriate disciplinary action against all involved in allowing this gross abuse of taxpayer funding to place children in a sexualized environment,” Rubio wrote. “These inappropriate events are extremely divisive at home for good reason; in all cases, they place young children in proximity with adults who are intentionally and explicitly sexualized.”

Conservatives need more strong leaders courageous enough to stand up on culture war issues, including the woke attempt to expose children to drag queens.

By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com