Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-9-25
8-9-25
Dan Rather: The Absurdity of Installing a "Bias Monitor" at CBS https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/08/dan-rather-the-absurdity-os-installing-a-bias-monitor-at-cbs/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- CBS agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump and installed a "bias monitor" reporting directly to him to resolve a lawsuit and secure FCC approval for a merger.
- The "bias monitor" raises concerns about censorship, threatening CBS's journalistic independence and credibility.
- Paramount pledged to represent diverse viewpoints while eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, creating contradictions in its approach.
- Trump's administration is accused of using intimidation and extortion to control media narratives and suppress dissent.
- The far-right equates unbiased reporting with narratives that favor Trump, undermining journalistic objectivity.
- The broader implications of this deal threaten independent journalism and media freedom across the industry.
John Thompson: Immigrant Children in Oklahoma Live in Fear https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/08/john-thompson-immigrant-children-in-oklahoma-live-in-fear/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Immigrant children in Oklahoma schools live in fear due to ICE raids and strict immigration policies, causing absenteeism and anxiety.
- The Trump administration has cut funding for programs aiding migrant education and English language learners, destabilizing schools further.
- Students carry birth certificates to school, fearing deportation, and some see parallels with historical atrocities like the Holocaust.
- Schools face challenges in protecting students while providing essential services such as food, housing, and mental health support.
- Resistance to anti-immigration laws in Oklahoma offers a glimmer of hope, with only one of 20 proposed bills becoming law.
Jennifer Frey: College Students Are Eager to Engage in the Liberal Arts https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/08/jennifer-frey-college-students-are-eager-to-engage-in-the-liberal-arts/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Liberal arts education at the University of Tulsa’s Honors College was popular among students, requiring rigorous reading and discussion of classical texts.
- The program aimed to foster wisdom, self-knowledge, and reflection on truth, goodness, and beauty, rooted in classical philosophical traditions.
- Administrative shifts led to the closure of the Honors College, citing financial reasons and a pivot toward vocational education, despite student interest and donor support.
- Frey highlights the broader issue of liberal education being undervalued by university leadership, despite its transformative impact on students.
Big Education Ape: Who Knew Jeffrey Epstein? Apparently, Nobody and Everybody—But Only for a Hot Minute https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/who-knew-jeffrey-epstein-apparently.html
Big Education Ape's article delves into Jeffrey Epstein's complex social connections, revealing a web of high-profile individuals who interacted with him while distancing themselves after his crimes surfaced. It highlights unsealed court documents from 2024 that list over 150 names, including political figures, celebrities, and business leaders. Despite speculation about a "client list," the DOJ refuted claims of blackmail or extensive conspiracies, emphasizing victim privacy. The article explores Epstein's dual life—one as an elite socialite and another as a predator—and examines the reluctance of his acquaintances to acknowledge their ties, driven by shame and fear of scandal.
### Key Points
- Jeffrey Epstein's social circle included politicians, celebrities, and business leaders, yet many deny deep connections after his crimes were exposed.
- Unsealed court documents from 2024 revealed over 150 names linked to Epstein, including Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Leslie Wexner, and others.
- The DOJ dismissed theories of a "client list" or blackmail operation, citing victim privacy and lack of evidence.
- Epstein's dual life—hobnobbing with elites while committing heinous crimes—added to the difficulty of untangling truth from speculation.
- Ghislaine Maxwell and other close associates played pivotal roles in Epstein's operations, but many high-profile figures claim fleeting connections.
Big Education Ape: TONITE'S BIG MEETING TO REWRITE THE SCRIPT FOR THE FAILING EPSTEIN FILES SEASON 3 PREMIERE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/tonites-big-meeting-to-rewrite-script.html
The article discusses a chaotic meeting held at Vice President JD Vance’s residence on August 6, 2025, aimed at rewriting the narrative for the failing premiere of *The Epstein Files Season 3*. The meeting involved high-profile figures from the Trump administration brainstorming strategies to deflect attention away from controversial Epstein-related issues. The group considered various outlandish storylines, including conspiracy theories about RFK Jr. and Joe Biden, while focusing on shielding Trump’s reputation through carefully crafted distractions. Despite the creative efforts, the pressure from subpoenas and victims' advocates added complexity to the cover-up attempts.
### Key Points
- A meeting was held at JD Vance’s residence to rewrite *The Epstein Files Season 3* narrative amid its poor reception.
- The goal was to distract from Epstein-related controversies, particularly Trump’s alleged involvement.
- Outlandish ideas, such as RFK Jr.’s vaccine scandal and Biden being replaced by a bot, were proposed to divert public attention.
- Susie Wiles suggested releasing Maxwell’s testimony selectively and pairing it with conspiracy rumors to shift focus.
- The team faced challenges from subpoenas and advocacy groups demanding transparency regarding Epstein’s activities.
Back to School, Back to the Tests!? – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/08/08/back-to-school-back-to-the-tests/
### Key Points
- Standardized testing requirements, like the SAT and ACT, are being reinstated by elite institutions such as Stanford University, despite criticism that tests measure privilege rather than merit.
- The University of Michigan stands out by refusing to reimpose testing requirements, signaling a shift towards equitable policies and leadership.
- High-stakes testing in K–12 education continues to disproportionately impact marginalized students, denying diplomas based on narrow metrics despite academic achievement.
- Standardized tests are designed to create winners and losers, often disadvantaging students of color, low-income students, and multilingual learners.
- The testing industry profits from student failure, with tests intentionally structured to maintain a bell curve and monetize remediation efforts.
- Systemic racism in education is perpetuated by standardized tests, which reinforce inequities and exclude marginalized communities despite appearing race-neutral.
- Advocates call for alternatives like performance-based assessments, portfolio reviews, and collaborative projects to reflect student learning and creativity.
- Schools using innovative, human-centered assessment models demonstrate that meaningful change is possible.
CURMUDGUCATION: Oklahoma's Red-Blooded Teacher MAGA Loyalty Anti-Woke Test https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/08/oklahomas-red-blooded-teacher-maga.html
### Key Points
- Oklahoma's education leader plans a politically biased test for incoming teachers.
- The test questions reflect ideological bias, favoring MAGA-aligned perspectives.
- Criticism of the test highlights its irrelevance to actual educational needs.
- Broader commentary on Oklahoma's poor education rankings and misplaced priorities.
- The blog advocates for genuine reforms, such as resource allocation and pedagogy improvements.
Teacher Tom: Pro-Social Lies https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/pro-social-lies.html
### Key Points
- The article explores the concept of pro-social lies, which are small untruths told to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to maintain social harmony.
- Children naturally learn the nuanced differences between harmful lies and pro-social lies without explicit teaching, often prioritizing kindness over blunt honesty.
- Autistic individuals may find understanding pro-social lies challenging due to the conflicting societal messaging about honesty and lying.
- Lying is considered a product of language and social interaction, and while extreme honesty can lead to social ostracism, kindness often outweighs strict truthfulness in moral value.
- The author emphasizes the importance of balancing honesty with kindness to navigate social relationships effectively.
Unity Brings Retirees a New Benefit - by Arthur Goldstein https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/unity-brings-retirees-a-new-benefit
### Key Points
- The SHIP program, a supplementary insurance plan for retirees, offers benefits but has become increasingly complex and burdensome due to Unity's modifications.
- Unity's changes to SHIP resemble profit-driven insurance practices, potentially discouraging retirees from utilizing benefits.
- The process to claim reimbursements under SHIP is overly complicated, requiring extensive documentation and proof, which many retirees may struggle with.
- The author highlights the unreasonable demands for minor reimbursements, such as proving deductible payments and providing detailed receipts, creating unnecessary hurdles.
- Unity's approach appears designed to discourage usage of SHIP benefits, possibly as an election strategy rather than genuine support for retirees.
- The cumbersome process disproportionately affects retirees who are less tech-savvy or physically incapable of navigating the demands.
- The author criticizes Unity for making the program unnecessarily convoluted and suggests eliminating co-pays altogether for retirees.
ACSE Agenda August 20-21, 2025 Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda. - Administration & Support (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/acseag0825.asp
### Key Points
- The ACSE meeting will take place on August 20-21, 2025, at the California Department of Education in Sacramento, California.
- Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities to attend or participate in the meeting.
- Public comments can be submitted via email, phone, or in-person, with specific guidelines and time limits provided.
- Agenda item materials can be requested via the ACSE email.
- The meeting agenda includes strategic planning sessions to assess priorities and shape the Commission’s focus for the next year.
- Presentations on supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing students will address roles, responsibilities, and critical issues affecting their access to education.
- A discussion on reclassification and proficiency for dually identified students will focus on the role of IEP teams and available supports.
- Updates on the Student Commissioner recruitment process will be shared, including outreach, screening, and selection methods.
- The Office of Youth and Community Restoration will present initiatives to support justice-involved youth through education and health services.
- Reports from Commissioner Liaisons, State Board of Education, and State Special Schools will provide updates on ongoing activities.
- A session will be held to discuss future ACSE agenda items.
- The meeting will include committee study sessions on operations, planning, and bylaws adherence.
- Public participation is encouraged through general comments, with time limits established for presentations.
Kane Dennison-Gomez – Exceptional Delaware https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/kane-dennison-gomez/ via @ExcptlDelaware
- The author publicly apologizes to Kane Dennison-Gomez for mistakenly stating the nature of charges against him, clarifying they were terroristic threats, not assault.
- The article discusses Kane Dennison-Gomez’s public comment at a Christina School District board meeting and refutes earlier assumptions about his alignment with former board president Donald Patton.
- Kane Dennison-Gomez has announced his candidacy for the Christina School District board seat currently held by Dr. Naveed Baqir, with the election scheduled for May 2026.
Ireland Stands Tall Despite Trump's Threats 'Solidarity with the oppressed is not a crime, it’s a duty.' https://michaelklonsky.substack.com/p/ireland-stands-tall-despite-trumps
- Ireland has taken a strong stance by recognizing Palestine and supporting the Occupied Territories Bill, which boycotts trade with illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
- Ireland's actions align with the International Court of Justice's directive to prevent trade or investment that sustains illegal settlements.
- Trump threatens Ireland with tariffs and economic retaliation, targeting pharmaceutical exports, in response to Ireland's support for Palestinian rights.
- Ireland's defiance highlights the power of small nations to challenge larger powers through moral clarity and solidarity with the oppressed.
- Other nations like South Africa, Colombia, Chile, and Canada are also taking similar stands against imperial pressure.
Jeff Bryant: ZNetwork: How Charter Schools Promote ‘Development Off the Backs of Children’ | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/how-charter-schools-promote
### Key Points
- Charter schools are often located in industrial zones or environmentally hazardous areas, leading to safety and health concerns for students.
- In Watsonville, California, CEIBA College Preparatory Academy is situated in an industrial area with high-voltage power lines, a toxic site, and dangerous traffic conditions.
- A lawsuit against CEIBA and the City of Watsonville highlighted traffic safety issues and environmental risks in the school's location.
- Charter schools frequently bypass traditional zoning regulations, taking advantage of tax incentives and lowering operational costs.
- Community opposition to charter school locations is widespread, with concerns about traffic, loss of open spaces, and economic impacts on public schools.
- In Riverhead, New York, locals opposed the construction of a charter school in both agricultural and industrial zones, citing economic and environmental concerns.
- Charter schools divert resources from public schools, often creating parallel systems that serve fewer students at the expense of the majority.
- Public school advocates argue that charter schools operate like private businesses, with less transparency and community involvement in decision-making.
- Zoning laws are often manipulated to favor charter schools, sometimes with collusion from local government officials.
- Charter schools are framed as tools for economic development, but critics argue this comes at the cost of children's education and community well-being.
glen brown: Can Lithium be used to treat Alzheimer's disease? https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/08/can-lithium-be-used-to-treat-alzheimers.html
- Researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that lithium deficiency in the brain may be an early indicator and potential cause of Alzheimer's disease.
- Lithium plays a key role in brain health, supporting cognitive function and protecting against aging-related neurodegeneration.
- Lithium binds to amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's patients, reducing its availability and accelerating disease progression.
- A new lithium compound, lithium orotate, has shown promise in reversing Alzheimer's pathology in mice without toxicity.
- Higher natural lithium levels in the environment correlate with lower dementia rates, suggesting potential for early diagnosis and prevention.
- Clinical trials could explore low-dose lithium supplementation as a safe and effective treatment to delay Alzheimer's onset.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-8-25
8-8-25
The article provides a roundup of various topics related to education, politics, societal issues, and current events. It highlights key developments such as changes in public education policies, controversies surrounding privatization, executive orders affecting college admissions, and broader implications of Trump administration policies. Additionally, it covers discussions on health risks, technology misuse, climate change, and ethical concerns in AI and governance.
### Key Points
- College students are eager to engage in liberal arts education, emphasizing deep reading and vigorous discussion.
- Trump signed an executive order requiring colleges to prove they do not use race in admissions, impacting diversity outcomes.
- Jennifer Berkshire critiques Democrats for failing to fully support public education, highlighting privatization issues and rising leaders advocating for public schools.
- The collapse of Higher Ground Education, a for-profit Montessori chain, raises concerns about mismanagement and privatization in education.
- Science research in New England resumed after a court overturned the Trump administration's ban on DEI-focused grants, though challenges persist.
- Jeffrey Epstein’s social connections reveal a web of high-profile individuals, with many distancing themselves after his crimes surfaced.
- A meeting at JD Vance’s residence aimed to rewrite the narrative for *The Epstein Files Season 3*, focusing on deflecting controversies.
- Excessive screen time among youth is linked to cardiometabolic risks, with insufficient sleep amplifying the effects.
- Trump’s budget proposes $12 billion in cuts to public education, affecting vulnerable student programs nationwide.
- The Trump administration reinstated family separation policies for migrant parents refusing deportation orders.
- Trump's tariff policies are increasing consumer costs and straining international relations, isolating the U.S. economically.
- Voucher programs in Florida allow homeschool families to use tax-funded savings accounts for unconventional expenses, raising criticism.
- The decline of the charter school sector is marked by closures, slowed growth, and diminished public support.
- AI ethics and societal risks are discussed, including concerns about misinformation and self-preservation tactics in emerging technologies.
- Climate change impacts, such as wildfire smoke and ecological consequences, are emphasized as pressing issues.
- Public opinion consistently opposes privatization efforts like vouchers, which harm public education funding and outcomes.
- Libraries play a crucial role in combating misinformation and preserving intellectual freedom amid AI-driven distortions.
- Nashville schools face equity issues, systemic challenges, and criticism over leadership and accountability.
