Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
5-11-25
Trump Plans Deep Cuts to Interior Department, National Parks Service https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/10/trump-plans-deep-cuts-to-interior-department-national-parks-service/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The Interior Department, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, plans to cut thousands of jobs, including 1,500 at NPS, with reductions also impacting USGS and BLM.
- Consolidation of functions at headquarters is seen as a means to facilitate layoffs, with science and cultural resource teams at NPS particularly affected.
- Critics warn the cuts will harm essential services like fish surveys and park operations, with some statutory functions potentially left unfulfilled.
- Employees and stakeholders express concerns about low morale, operational failures, and the inability to support Trump administration priorities like leasing and resource management.
- Critics view the changes as a deliberate attack on effective government functions, with legal challenges likely to follow.
Senator Chris Murphy Gives a Master Class in Cutting Through B.S. https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/10/senator-chris-murphy-gives-a-master-class-in-cutting-through-b-s/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Senator Chris Murphy accused Kristi Noem of illegal practices, including budget overspending and violating due process rights.
- The post reflects criticism of Trump-era officials, describing them as harmful to democracy and governance.
- Readers praised Murphy’s speech as direct and impactful.
Arkansas: Supporters of Abortion Rights Meet, Protestors Don't Show Up https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/10/arkansas-supporters-of-abortion-rights-meet-protestors-dont-show-up/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Arkansas has banned abortion, with supporters of abortion rights facing challenges in getting a referendum on the ballot. Despite setbacks, advocacy persists.
- Anti-abortion protests at Planned Parenthood events have diminished, with the focus shifting to other issues like transgender rights and immigration.
- Arkansas has some of the worst maternal and child health outcomes, yet continues to implement restrictive policies on reproductive health.
- Planned Parenthood in Arkansas is adapting to restrictions, sharing strategies with affiliates in other states, and seeing a rise in patients for non-abortion services.
- Advocates at events like the Planned Parenthood Garden Party emphasize resilience and creativity in fighting for reproductive rights despite federal and state-level challenges.
NAEP: A Modest Proposal https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/05/10/naep-a-modest-proposal/ via @plthomasEdD
### Key Points
- NAEP is a misunderstood and misrepresented test, often misused to declare an educational crisis.
- Achievement levels like "proficient" are misleading and create false perceptions of failure.
- NAEP originated from accountability-focused education reforms tied to the Reagan administration.
- Standardized testing results are heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors, which schools cannot control.
- Policies relying on test results unfairly reward advantaged schools and penalize disadvantaged ones.
- The author proposes renaming achievement levels to "below age level," "age level," and "above age level" for clarity.
- Excessive testing has failed to improve education and instead perpetuates a state of crisis for political and market agendas.
Vallas takes a poke at Trump's D.O.E. But it was just a head fake. https://open.substack.com/pub/klonsky/p/vallas-takes-a-poke-at-trumps-doe?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Paul Vallas, a policy adviser and CEO of a charter school start-up group, critiques Trump’s Department of Education but ultimately supports privatizing schools, vouchers, and weakening teacher unions.
- Vallas criticizes Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and advocates for replacing them with charter schools, claiming they are failing due to systemic issues tied to income and ZIP codes.
- His argument relies on standardized test scores to label CPS schools as failing, ignoring the correlation between test scores and family income. Wealthier districts perform better globally, while poorer districts struggle.
- Research shows charter schools and vouchers do not outperform public schools and often underperform. Vallas’ claims about teachers' unions shutting down charter schools are misleading, as unions have worked to support and unionize charter schools.
- Vallas’ alignment with MAGA policies and his attacks on teacher unions suggest his criticism of Trump’s education policies is a diversion, aligning with broader goals to privatize public education.
Schools Matter: Tell Congress to Stop the Presidential Crime Wave http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/05/tell-congress-to-stop-presidential.html
- The blog highlights the importance of classmates' characteristics over teachers in influencing a child's learning, referencing James Coleman's statement from 1972.
- It discusses political activism, urging Congress to impeach Trump and address a "Presidential Crime Wave."
- The article critiques corporate education reforms, including "No Excuses" teaching and charter school models, linking them to systemic issues like poverty and compliance-driven systems.
- The blog emphasizes poverty as a key factor affecting education outcomes, contrasting it with the focus on teacher quality.
- It references Hillary Clinton's alleged role in promoting corporate charter schools in Haiti, as revealed by WikiLeaks.
- The blog archives contain extensive commentary on educational policies, testing, and reforms over the years, with critiques of standardized testing and NCLB (No Child Left Behind).
- Reviews and essays on various educational themes, such as teacher renewal, qualitative research, and the impact of testing, are included.
Schools Matter: Nationalize, Stigmatize, Penalize: Corporate Education's Recurring Fever Dream Recast http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/05/nationalize-stigmatize-penalize.html
### Key Points
- The blog critiques corporate-driven education reforms, highlighting their focus on standardized testing and penalization rather than addressing systemic issues like poverty.
- It references the recurring push for privatized education models, including corporate charter schools, and their detrimental effects on public education systems.
- The article discusses broader societal issues tied to education, such as economic inequality, political agendas, and the influence of corporate interests in shaping education policy.
- The blog emphasizes the need for systemic change, including resistance to over-testing and a focus on equity in education.
CURMUDGUCATION: The Failed Case for Super-NAEPery https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-failed-case-for-super-naepery.html
### Key Points
- The proposal to expand NAEP into a universal, annual test repeats past failed attempts at national standardized testing.
- Standardized test scores are incorrectly expected to rise perpetually, which is an unrealistic and flawed assumption.
- Using NAEP for accountability and federal control over local curricula is criticized as intrusive and counterproductive.
- The belief that standardized tests can provide actionable data to improve education is challenged, as past efforts have not yielded meaningful results.
- The article questions the practicality of using NAEP for multiple purposes, such as informing parents, educators, and policymakers simultaneously.
Big Education Ape: BIG EDUCATION TOP READS THIS WEEK: 5-4 TO 5-10 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/big-education-top-reads-this-week.html
Schools, education policy, and societal issues dominate the article, discussing topics such as school vouchers, charter schools, abortion rights protests, and critiques of education reform. It also highlights various blog posts, books, and resources related to public education advocacy and political commentary.
### Key Points
- Discussion on Paul Vallas's stance on school vouchers, charter schools, and teacher unions.
- Arkansas abortion rights supporters gather signatures for a vote, reflecting political activism in a conservative state.
- Overview of the influence of standardized testing, particularly the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
- Highlights from "Big Education Ape," including critiques of billionaire-funded education reforms and the separation of church and state.
- Mention of Donny Trump’s book and commentary on Trump-era policies.
- Blog series "Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights" curates notable education-related articles.
- Resources and organizations supporting public education, such as Diane Ravitch’s blog and the Badass Teachers Association.
- Advocacy against privatization in education and promotion of public education reform.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
5-10-25
The article compiles a wide range of topics spanning education, politics, religion, and social issues. Key discussions include Pope Leo XIV's progressive election, critiques of education policies, the challenges of AI in education, Trump's controversial proposals, and systemic issues affecting democracy and inclusivity. The overarching themes emphasize activism, reform, and the importance of protecting democratic principles.
### Key Points
- Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born and Peruvian pope with Afro-Caribbean roots, continues Pope Francis's progressive legacy, focusing on social justice, workers' rights, and inclusivity.
- Critics label Pope Leo XIV a "Woke Marxist," reflecting polarized reactions to his progressive ideals.
- Former President Trump proposed reopening Alcatraz prison, a costly and impractical idea criticized as a distraction from political controversies.
- New York Governor Hochul faced criticism for compromising with ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshivas that fail to meet educational standards, undermining equality in education.
- A federal judge ordered the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts graduate student detained by ICE for writing an op-ed critical of Israel, citing violations of free speech and due process.
- Over-reliance on AI in education risks undermining critical thinking, perpetuating inequality, and damaging intellectual growth.
- Proposals to expand NAEP into universal standardized testing are criticized for federal overreach and failing to address systemic educational issues.
- Teacher Tom emphasizes the value of play-based learning, dignity, and respect in fostering independent and cooperative children.
- Trump administration policies weakened protections for marginalized students, dismantling civil rights offices and reducing diversity initiatives.
- Bill Gates’s influence on education policy, driven by technology and corporate interests, often undermines democracy and perpetuates inequality.
- Activism and grassroots efforts are essential to resisting authoritarian policies and promoting democratic values.
- Seattle Public Schools' enrollment practices harm equity and drive families away, leading to funding losses and program cuts.
- Teacher appreciation is undermined by systemic disrespect, privatization, and reduced teacher roles in public education.
- Community schools in Wisconsin are highlighted as transformative models addressing systemic inequalities.
- STEM stereotypes and limited early exposure hinder gender diversity in engineering and computer science.
- Eating disorders on college campuses are a hidden crisis, with programs like Body U addressing the issue.
