Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-21-25
8-21-25
Carol Burris: Charter School Movement Runs Out of Gas, Decline Sets In https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/21/carol-burris-charter-school-movement-runs-out-of-gas-decline-sets-in/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The charter school movement, once promising, is now in decline due to straying from its original vision of innovation and equity.
- Closures are accelerating, with 50 charter schools shutting down in the first half of 2025 alone, often with little warning.
- Federal funding for charter schools has grown to $500 million annually, yet many schools fail or misuse funds.
- A debunked myth of a "million-student waitlist" continues to justify federal funding, despite low enrollment being a primary closure reason.
- Scandals, such as fraud and poor student outcomes, plague the sector, with some schools exploiting taxpayers and at-risk students.
- Policymakers are urged to reconsider funding and focus on accountability rather than chasing the idealized vision of charter schools.
Oklahoma Creating Test for Teachers from CA and NY to Screen Out "Radicals" https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/21/oklahoma-creating-test-for-teachers-from-ca-and-ny-to-screen-out-radicals/ via @dianeravitch
- Oklahoma’s Superintendent Ryan Walters has partnered with PragerU to create a test for teachers from California and New York to screen for "radical leftist ideology."
- The test includes questions on patriotism, the U.S. Constitution, and freedom of religion, with some focusing on reversing gender ideology.
- Critics argue the test is a politically motivated "MAGA loyalty test" and could deter teachers from applying in Oklahoma, which already faces a teacher shortage.
- Concerns have been raised about the legality and validity of the test, as employment tests must be job-related.
- PragerU’s involvement marks a shift from being an optional resource to becoming institutionalized in Oklahoma’s education system.
- Critics, including educators and unions, worry the test undermines democratic values and prioritizes political agendas over education.
Trump Wants Smithsonian to Downplay or Eliminate Dark Portrayal of Slavery https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/21/trump-wants-smithsonian-to-cut-back-on-dark-portrayal-of-slavery/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Trump seeks to revise Smithsonian exhibits to focus on positive portrayals of American history, minimizing slavery and racism narratives.
- His administration has targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, aiming to reframe the nation's past with a sanitized perspective.
- Smithsonian leadership and experts express concerns over the feasibility and ethical implications of these demands.
- Trump's broader cultural agenda includes cutting funding for institutions and programs that conflict with his vision.
Supreme Court by 5-4 Approves Cuts to NIH Research https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/21/supreme-court-by-5-4-approves-cuts-to-nih-research/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The U.S. Supreme Court approved $783 million in NIH research grant cuts linked to DEI and "radical gender ideology," with a 5-4 split decision.
- Chief Justice John Roberts joined liberal justices in opposing the cuts, but the majority ruled in favor of the Trump administration.
- Critics argue the cuts will harm public health, disrupt scientific research, and perpetuate racial discrimination.
- The Trump administration defended the cuts as policy-driven and claimed judicial intervention in funding decisions is inappropriate.
- U.S. District Judge William Young deemed the cuts arbitrary and discriminatory, emphasizing their harmful impact on scientific progress.
- The decision has sparked ethical and political debates, with opponents highlighting its contradiction to Christian values of diversity and inclusion.
Big Education Ape: COLD OPEN: HUMANITY, AI, AND THE CARBON CLOCK: Why Rooftop Solar Is Our Best Bet https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/cold-open-humanity-ai-and-carbon-clock.html
### Key Points
- Rooftop solar is a cost-effective, resilient solution to reduce carbon emissions and stabilize the energy grid.
- Climate change projections show catastrophic impacts if emissions aren't peaked by the mid-2030s, with tipping points threatening ecosystems and humanity.
- AI can enhance renewable energy forecasting and optimize solar systems but requires clean energy to operate sustainably.
- Challenges include upfront costs, grid management issues, aesthetic concerns, and resistance from utility companies.
- Policy recommendations include mandatory solar installations, subsidies, battery incentives, and equitable access for low-income households.
- California's solar mandate serves as a model, demonstrating emissions reductions and economic benefits.
- Global examples show rooftop solar scalability, with countries like Germany and Australia leading adoption efforts.
Big Education Ape: TIME TO SUPERSIZE THE HOUSE: WHY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NEEDS A BIGGER SPEEDO (GERRYMANDERING) https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/time-to-supersize-house-why-us-house-of.html
The article argues for expanding the U.S. House of Representatives, highlighting that its current size of 435 members, set in 1929, inadequately represents a growing population of 340 million. This imbalance leads to disproportionately large districts, diminished constituent representation, and distorted democracy, exacerbated by gerrymandering. The piece advocates for reforms like the "Wyoming Rule" or "Cube Root Rule" to increase seats, improve representation, reduce campaign costs, and mitigate gerrymandering. It also addresses logistical concerns and political resistance while emphasizing grassroots efforts to push for change.
### Key Points
- The U.S. House of Representatives has remained at 435 seats since 1929, despite a quadrupled population, leading to oversized districts and diminished representation.
- Gerrymandering worsens the representation issue, distorting election outcomes through manipulative district designs.
- Expanding the House could reduce district sizes, improve fairness, and align with the Founders’ vision of proportional representation.
- Proposed reforms like the "Wyoming Rule" or "Cube Root Rule" could increase seats and enhance democracy without requiring a constitutional amendment.
- Critics cite logistical challenges, costs, and potential inefficiency, but solutions like new facilities and tech upgrades are feasible.
- Grassroots campaigns and advocacy are essential to drive the expansion of the House and combat gerrymandering.
Big Education Ape: AI MODELS IN THE CLASSROOM: POE-ETIC JUSTICE AND THE BATTLE OF THE BOTS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/ai-models-in-classroom-poe-etic-justice.html
The article explores the integration of AI in education, focusing on its role in creative learning, such as teaching poetic meter and fostering critical thinking. It humorously compares AI-generated parodies of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven," highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of different AI models in creative tasks. The piece also examines the broader implications of AI in classrooms, including its potential as an educational ally or a disruptive force.
### Key Points
- AI models can create engaging pop quizzes and parodies, making learning more interactive and fun.
- Comparing AI outputs helps students learn poetic meter, rhyme schemes, and critical thinking skills.
- AI-generated parodies of "The Raven" reveal differences in tone, structure, and creativity among models.
- The use of AI in education can foster engagement and humor while teaching complex topics like poetic meter.
- Students can analyze AI biases, errors, and fabrications, which is essential in combating misinformation.
- AI's impact on education is explored, with debates on whether it serves as a Trojan horse or a teacher’s ally.
- The article humorously reimagines "The Raven" with political satire involving Trump, Putin, mail ballots, and Ukraine.
- The parody uses Poe’s trochaic octameter and rhyme scheme to blend gothic style with modern political humor.
- AI-driven creative tasks can highlight public perceptions and documented events without spreading falsehoods.
- The parody reflects Trump’s personality and political controversies, contrasting with Putin’s stoic demeanor.
Big Education Ape: AI MODELS IN THE CLASSROOM PART II: MATH POP QUIZZES AND THE PERILS OF TEACHER BOTS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/ai-models-in-classroom-part-ii-math-pop.html
The article explores the integration of AI in classrooms, specifically focusing on the use of AI tools like Gemini Grok Copilot and ChatGPT for creating math pop quizzes. While AI shows promise in streamlining educational tasks, it raises concerns about the role of teachers, the limitations of AI, and the risks of replacing human educators with "teacher bots." The author emphasizes the importance of collaboration between teachers and AI developers to ensure technology enhances learning rather than undermines it.
### Key Points
- AI tools like Gemini Grok Copilot and ChatGPT are being used to create instant math quizzes for 5th graders, showcasing the potential of AI in education.
- Despite advancements, AI models like GPT-4.0 and GPT-5.0 still require teacher guidance to produce effective educational content.
- Teachers face a choice between paper and digital quizzes, each with its own pros and cons, but the decision should remain in their hands rather than AI's.
- Billionaire profiteers and tech developers, who lack classroom experience, may shape AI tools if teachers don’t take the lead in guiding their development.
- AI lacks the empathy and classroom management skills necessary to address students' individual needs and emotional challenges.
- Replacing teachers with bots would strip classrooms of the human connection essential for effective learning and student support.
- Teachers should collaborate with AI developers to design tools that complement their work, such as personalized lesson plans and instant feedback systems.
- AI in education should empower teachers rather than replace them, ensuring it serves as a supportive tool.
- Examples of AI-generated quizzes demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of current AI tools in creating educational content.
- The philosophical debate over AI's role in education highlights the need for careful integration guided by educators.
Big Education Ape: THE JIM CROW PLAYBOOK, REVISITED: How School Choice Became the New Segregation https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-jim-crow-playbook-revisited-how.html
Vikings field two male cheerleaders. MAGAs in a state of shock. This just may be the greatest national security threat since Tinky Winky and Bud Light. https://klonsky.substack.com/p/vikings-field-two-male-cheerleaders
### Key Points
- The Minnesota Vikings introduced male cheerleaders, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, as part of their cheer team, receiving mixed reactions.
- Approximately one-third of NFL teams now have male cheerleaders, reflecting a broader trend in sports.
- Conservative figures, such as Senator Tommy Tuberville, criticized the move, calling it an attempt to "take the men out of men’s sports" and push a "woke" agenda.
- Fox News commentators expressed discomfort, framing male cheerleaders as a cultural shift and invoking past controversies like Tinky Winky's perceived symbolism.
- The Vikings defended their decision, emphasizing Minnesota's legacy of challenging gender norms, referencing figures like Prince.
Donald Trump Wants to Rewrite History by Silencing Smithsonian – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/08/21/donald-trump-wants-to-rewrite-history-by-silencing-smithsonian/
### Key Points
- Donald Trump criticizes the Smithsonian and other museums as "woke" for teaching the brutal history of slavery, signaling a desire to control historical narratives.
- Authoritarian leaders throughout history, including Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao, Franco, Pinochet, and Saddam Hussein, have manipulated or censored museums to serve propaganda and consolidate power.
- Museums play a critical role in preserving truth and honesty, especially in democratic societies, by showcasing the complexities and failures of history.
- Trump's actions align with an authoritarian tradition, aiming to replace historical truths with flattering myths and restrict access to diverse narratives.
- The choice between confronting history honestly or allowing its erasure by political figures is vital for the survival of democracy.
Teacher Tom: Building a "Junk House" https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/building-junk-house.html
### Key Points
- Children dismantled the walls of a playhouse and filled it with various movable items, creating a "junk house" and showcasing teamwork, creativity, and playful mischief.
- Teacher Tom maintained a calm demeanor despite concerns about safety and the upcoming parent meeting, emphasizing the importance of child-led play.
- Younger children and adults later worked together to dismantle the junk house, demonstrating collaborative problem-solving and the cyclical nature of creation and destruction in play.
- Teacher Tom reflected on the joy and meaningfulness of repetitive play, drawing parallels to the myth of Sisyphus and emphasizing children's innate happiness in the process.
- The blog promotes play-based learning and offers resources, articles, and opportunities to engage with Teacher Tom's philosophy.
Education Research Report: New study identifies key conditions for amplifying student voices in schools https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/new-study-identifies-key-conditions-for.html
Education Research Report: Bullied teens less likely to be depressed if they feel connected at school, https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/bullied-teens-less-likely-to-be.html
Education Research Report: Few depressed teens getting treatment https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/few-depressed-teens-getting-treatment.html
Education Research Report: Police officers in schools may be doing more harm than good when tackling harmful sexual behaviour https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/police-officers-in-schools-may-be-doing.html
Education Research Report: Mandatory media literacy education impaired by digital divides https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/mandatory-media-literacy-education.html
CURMUDGUCATION: PA: School Choice Lobby (And Jeff Yass) Spends Big https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/08/pa-school-choice-lobby-and-jeff-yass.html
- Pennsylvania campaign contributions reveal significant funding from industries like energy, gaming, transportation, and K-12 education, particularly charter school operators.
- From 2023 to 2024, $42 million was raised by lawmakers, with $17 million from Governor Shapiro and $25 million from others. Nearly $9 million came from education-related groups, including teachers’ unions and privatizers.
- The Commonwealth Children's Choice Fund and Students First PAC, primarily funded by billionaire Jeffrey Yass, dominate contributions supporting GOP efforts to privatize education.
- Yass-backed PACs channel millions into campaigns, heavily influencing Pennsylvania politics, with notable funding disparities favoring GOP committees over Democratic ones.
- The article highlights the outsized influence of one individual, Jeffrey Yass, on Pennsylvania’s political landscape, particularly in education privatization efforts.
Second Breakfast: Bird of Pray | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/bird-pray
- The article critiques the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, arguing that it perpetuates inequality and prioritizes industry demands over meaningful learning experiences.
- It highlights the dangers of viewing education through the lens of technology, emphasizing that education is a human-centered practice of care, relationships, and freedom.
- The author questions the utopian vision of AI presented by industry leaders, suggesting that it leads to environmental harm, societal divisions, and a technocratic future that undermines human agency.
- The piece warns against the commodification of education, where students and teachers are treated as data sources for corporate profit, rather than as individuals in a community.
- The blog encourages readers to fight for a human-centered future in education and challenges the dominance of AI-driven narratives.
UFT, Unlike Other City Unions, Makes Retirees Pay Premiums Yet Unity claims we have the best Welfare Fund. That's chutzpah. https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/uft-unlike-other-city-unions-makes
### Key Points
- The author compares UFT retirees' premiums for prescription care ($150/month) unfavorably to DC37 retirees, who pay nothing, and criticizes Unity’s claim of having the best Welfare Fund.
- Unity imposes premiums on retirees despite other city unions providing pharmacy insurance for free, causing financial strain for some members.
- Paraprofessionals are burdened with premiums and denied meaningful representation, despite Unity’s performative gestures like non-pensionable bonuses.
- Unity introduced co-pays for retirees, complicating reimbursement processes and creating unnecessary hurdles.
- Unity’s support for Medicare Advantage (MA) and failure to back Intro 1096 in City Council contradict their claims of opposing MA and premium-free healthcare.
- The author calls for Unity to eliminate premiums for retirees, aligning with other city unions’ practices.
Cash in a potato chip bag. Memories of Chicago's Mama DeLucca. https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/cash-in-a-potato-chip-bag-memories
- The author reflects on living in Brooklyn for over a year, noting August's quieter atmosphere despite essential services and daily life continuing.
- Zohran Mamdani's campaign gains momentum after his Democratic primary win, with polls showing him leading over Andrew Cuomo, although the author warns of the challenges ahead.
- A controversy involving NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ associate, Winnie Greco, surfaced, where cash was handed to a reporter in a potato chip bag, sparking further corruption allegations.
- The author recalls similar corruption from their time in Chicago, drawing parallels between past experiences at Mama DeLucca’s restaurant and current events in Brooklyn.
- The author expresses concerns about Adams potentially withdrawing from the mayoral race, as his presence could split votes away from Cuomo.
- Nostalgia for Chicago is evident as the author reminisces about Mama DeLucca’s restaurant and its eggplant parmesan, contrasting the unchanged nature of corruption.
glen brown: Justice Department Investigation https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/08/justice-department-investigation.html
- The article critiques Trump's Justice Department investigation into alleged manipulation of D.C. crime data, suggesting it is politically motivated and aimed at justifying his controversial law enforcement tactics.
- It highlights the broader implications of using investigations as political weapons, likening such practices to those in authoritarian regimes.
- The writer emphasizes the importance of breaking down complex political and legal issues to provide clarity and insight for readers.
- The blog touches on various topics, including social justice, pensions, healthcare, education reform, and international conflicts, reflecting the diverse focus of Glen Brown's writing.
- References to famous writers like Ambrose Bierce and Albert Camus underline the philosophical perspective on writing and its role in resisting oppression.
Exceptional Delaware Hero of the Month: Bob Vacca https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2025/08/21/exceptional-delaware-hero-of-the-month-bob-vacca/ via @ExcptlDelaware
- Bob Vacca, CFO of the Christina School District, was recognized as Exceptional Delaware Hero of August 2025 for his efforts in addressing Delaware's property assessment challenges, particularly in New Castle County.
- Vacca played a key role in explaining the property assessment issues during the Special Session of the General Assembly, simplifying the complexities for legislators and the public.
- He appeared on the Rick Jensen Show on WDEL to discuss the legislative actions taken to address the property assessment mess.
- Vacca continued his efforts by speaking at the Citizens Budget Oversight Committee for Christina and will further explain the topic at Christina’s Board Workshop, where a vote on split rates between residential and commercial properties will take place.
- The article briefly mentions concerns about Tyler Technologies' involvement in the property assessment process and broader implications for Delaware.
Selling Florida’s Public Schools, Piece by Piece – Accountabaloney https://accountabaloney.com/selling-floridas-public-schools-piece-by-piece/
### Key Points
- Florida’s public schools face a threat as Step Up for Students promotes an “education marketplace,” aiming to privatize and dismantle public education.
- Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are central to the plan, turning education into a fragmented, market-driven system, reducing accountability and coherence.
- Despite expanded school choice options, most Florida families still prefer public schools, posing challenges for privatization advocates.
- Step Up for Students is urging school boards to sell courses and services à la carte via its new platform, EMA, targeting homeschoolers funded by vouchers.
- Concerns include payment structures, lack of protections for students with disabilities, and the normalization of education as a commodity.
- School boards must decide whether to defend public education or contribute to its privatization, risking the erosion of community-based schooling.
August 2025 Information Memoranda Background information and updates on issues of interest to the State Board Members. https://www.cde.ca.gov/be/pn/im/infomemoaug2025.asp
- Background information and updates on issues of interest to State Board Members are periodically provided through Information Memoranda, covering topics such as accountability workplans, assessment systems, and student score reports.
- Recent memoranda include the California Spanish Assessment Standard Setting Plan, communications plans for reporting achievement levels, and proposed revisions to student score reports.
- The California Department of Education offers resources and programs related to school performance, curriculum standards, funding, standardized testing, special education, and more.
- Popular areas of focus include school accountability, career technical education, child development, disaster management, and social-emotional learning frameworks.
- Contact information for the State Board of Education and California Department of Education is provided for further inquiries.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-21-25
8-21-25
