Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
4-18-25
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
4-18-25 AI-generated podcast
š Listen here: https://monica.im/ai-podcast/share?id=6cb8e318-dfde-45c7-9e2d-13b786888d7f
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Texas: Republican Legislators Endorse Vouchers https://dianeravitch.net/2025/04/17/texas-republican-legislators-endorse-vouchers/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Governor Abbott achieved voucher legislation after defeating rural Republicans who opposed it.
- Out-of-state billionaires and Trump supported Abbott's efforts to pass vouchers, bypassing public referenda which historically reject them.
- Voucher schools can choose their students and are not bound by anti-discrimination laws, often benefiting private religious schools.
- The Texas House voted to create a large taxpayer-funded voucher program, a significant win for private school choice advocates.
- Critics argue vouchers will strain public school budgets and primarily benefit wealthy families already using private schools.
IRS Considering Revoking Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status, New York Times Reports https://dianeravitch.net/2025/04/17/irs-considering-revoking-harvards-tax-exempt-status-new-york-times-reports/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Harvard is threatened with losing its tax-exempt status after refusing Trump administration demands.
- The IRS is reportedly investigating Harvard, a move seen as politically motivated.
- Harvard argues that losing tax-exempt status would harm its educational mission.
- Legal experts believe any attempt to revoke Harvard's status would face legal challenges.
- The situation is viewed as a significant attack on academic freedom and university independence.
Department of Homeland Security Demands Harvard Turn Over International Student Disciplinary Records https://dianeravitch.net/2025/04/17/department-of-homeland-security-demands-harvard-turn-over-international-student-disciplinary-records/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- CNN reports that Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard demanding international students' disciplinary records or risk losing the ability to enroll them.
- Harvard stands firm against the government's demands, emphasizing its independence and constitutional rights.
- The article criticizes Trump’s administration for its authoritarian tendencies and interference in private institutions.
- The discussion includes comments on the importance of immigrants and the dangers of government overreach in education.
- The article draws parallels between Trump's actions and authoritarian regimes, highlighting concerns about democracy and freedom.
The Freedom Flip: When the Right Became the Left (But Not Really) https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/04/17/the-freedom-flip-when-the-right-became-the-left-but-not-really/
The article by Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig discusses the shifting dynamics in American politics, particularly in the context of education and ideological narratives. It highlights how the political right has adopted rhetoric traditionally associated with the left, such as anti-discrimination, while simultaneously undermining true equity and freedom. The piece argues that this is a strategic move to control public education and reshape democratic discourse. Meanwhile, the left is reclaiming patriotism and democratic ideals to defend academic freedom and resist authoritarian influences.
### Key Points
- The political right claims to champion anti-discrimination while using it to suppress dissent and consolidate power.
- The left is now invoking the First Amendment and patriotism to protect academic freedom and democratic values.
- The right's tactics are seen as a strategic costume change rather than a true reversal of roles, aiming for control over public education.
- The article calls for building coalitions to protect public institutions and reclaim the language of liberty and equity.
Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000: Pushback and Accountability | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/pushback
### Key Points
- Emily M. Bender discusses the persistent AI hype amid political chaos and stresses the need for accountability.
- Denise Utochkin critiques the University of Copenhagen's rush into AI, questioning the reality it invites students to consider.
- Ann Leckie comments on the excitement around ChatGPT, offering a critical perspective.
- Cadbury provides insightful analysis of AI in an ad campaign.
- Researchers find that AI literacy inversely correlates with AI receptivity, suggesting that demystifying AI may reduce its appeal.
- Ada Ada Ada's performance art questions Instagram's nudity filter, highlighting the arbitrariness of AI algorithms.
- Lina Khan's FTC work exemplifies effective regulation of tech companies.
- Bookshop.org expands into ebooks, challenging Amazon's dominance and supporting local booksellers.
### Key Points
- The debate between traditional and progressive teaching methods has persisted for over a century, with both types of schools being considered "good."
- Traditional schools emphasize order, authority, academic standards, and regular assessments.
- Progressive schools focus on freedom, personal growth, multiage classrooms, and narrative assessments.
- Both schools aim to instill democratic values and civic participation, a core duty of public education.
- The article argues against the idea of a single "best" school system, advocating for diverse approaches.
Lawsuit to Deny Federal Funding to Maine Public Schools in Transgender Athlete Case Tests President Tump’s Definition of Civil Rights | janresseger https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/threat-to-deny-all-federal-funding-to-maine-public-schools-in-transgender-athlete-case-tests-president-tumps-definition-of-civil-rights/
### Key Points
- Trump administration sues Maine over transgender athletes in women's sports, claiming violation of federal law.
- Maine's human rights law protects transgender students, conflicting with Trump's executive order.
- Trump threatens to cut federal funding for Maine, including education and school meals programs.
- Legal experts question the administration's interpretation of Title IX and civil rights laws.
- Maine challenges the administration in court, winning preliminary rulings to restore some funding.
- The administration's approach to civil rights enforcement and investigation processes is criticized.
Trump's 'Mad Man' China trade war..., by @mikeklonsky https://open.substack.com/pub/michaelklonsky/p/trumps-mad-man-china-trade-war?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
### Key Points
- Trump's trade war with China is based on the "madman theory," aiming to create economic chaos for political gain.
- The ban on Nvidia products to China has caused a $5.5 billion loss for the company and affected its stock.
- China has stopped shipping rare earth elements to the U.S., impacting the tech industry and supply chains.
- The trade war risks escalating into broader conflicts, with some Trump advisors pushing for aggressive actions.
Piccolo's persistent penis stalks women and storms Richard Corcoran's ivory tower: a timeline and questions , by @BillyTownsendEd https://open.substack.com/pub/billytownsend/p/piccolos-persistent-penis-stalks?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
The article discusses the controversial hiring of Fred Piccolo by Richard Corcoran at New College of Florida, despite Piccolo's history of inappropriate behavior and legal issues. It outlines a timeline of events leading to Piccolo's eventual termination after multiple arrests related to indecent exposure. The piece questions the decisions made by Corcoran and the lack of immediate action against Piccolo, highlighting the potential dangers of such behavior being overlooked.
### Key Points
- Fred Piccolo, known for his inappropriate behavior, was hired by Richard Corcoran as New College's director of marketing, despite a history of legal issues.
- Piccolo faced backlash for a controversial COVID-19 tweet in December 2020 and resigned shortly after.
- A lawsuit was filed against Piccolo in October 2022 for sending inappropriate messages, which was later dropped in April 2023.
- Piccolo continued to face legal troubles, including multiple arrests in 2024 for indecent exposure incidents at retail stores.
- Despite these issues, Piccolo was not immediately fired, raising questions about Corcoran's decision-making and the lack of transparency regarding Piccolo's arrests.
- Piccolo was finally removed from his position at New College in April 2025 after his fourth arrest.
glen brown: "History is not merely warning us. It is demanding that we act" -Henry Giroux https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/04/history-is-not-merely-warning-us-it-is.html
### Key Points
- The rhetoric of erasure under Trump has become policy, targeting immigrants, dissidents, and institutions, branding dissent as terrorism.
- Trump's regime has normalized cruelty and exclusion, with language echoing racial purity ideologies reminiscent of fascism.
- Citizenship is weaponized, creating a brutal politics of disposability and enforced invisibility for marginalized groups.
- Education and media are repurposed to glorify war and normalize cruelty, contributing to social homelessness.
- Universities have capitulated to neoliberalism and political pressure, failing to defend academic freedom and human rights.
- Historical parallels are drawn with Nazi Germany, warning against the erosion of moral courage in educational institutions.
- The Trump administration's attacks on Palestine activists, immigrants, and universities are part of a broader fascist politics.
- Resistance is growing, with protests signaling opposition to authoritarian measures, but it requires sustained and organized action.
- The necessity of collective nonviolent direct action and solidarity among various groups to disrupt authoritarian rule is emphasized.
- The article calls for a revival of radical imagination and collective power to resist fascism and uphold democratic ideals.
Teacher Tom: Learning to Be Alone With Your Thoughts and Reveries https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/learning-to-be-alone-with-your-thoughts.html
### Key Points
- Teacher Tom shares childhood experiences of outdoor play and solitary imaginative activities, emphasizing their role in developing comfort with solitude.
- Reflects on how modern distractions, particularly screens, prevent people from being alone with their thoughts, potentially contributing to loneliness.
- Discusses the importance of learning to embrace one's thoughts and reveries, suggesting it might help combat loneliness.
- Offers resources and insights from his extensive experience in play-based learning, encouraging support for his blog.
EPISODE #123—please pass it on | Bill Ayers https://billayers.org/2025/04/17/episode-123-please-pass-it-on/
To be ruled is to be spied upon and inspected, quantified, measured, and ranked, and then registered and regulated with all the inherent structural violence packed into those arrangements. To be free is to abolish all of it, to reject that system’s hold over our minds as well as to defeat its power in the world. … Continue reading
RFK Jr. wants to "cure" us of our human differences. Autism is not a disease., by @fklonsky https://open.substack.com/pub/fredklonsky/p/rfk-jr-wants-to-cure-us-of-our-human?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
### Key Points
- RFK Jr. claims autism is a condition that needs curing and makes derogatory statements about the abilities of autistic individuals.
- The author, with extensive experience teaching autistic students, argues against Kennedy's views, stating that autism is not a disease.
š️ Jesse Hagopian’s New Substack: Teach Truth & Sing the Blues – I AM AN EDUCATOR https://iamaneducator.com/2025/04/17/%f0%9f%8e%99%ef%b8%8f-jesse-hagopians-new-substack-teach-truth-sing-the-blues/
šš¾ Subscribe here: https://jessehagopian.substack.com/
### Key Points
- Jesse Hagopian launched a Substack newsletter, "Teach Truth & Sing the Blues," combining education justice with creative work.
- The newsletter addresses "truthcrime" laws and includes creative content like poems and blues songs.
- Hagopian collaborates with The Blue Tide and is working on a documentary about his family's history.
- The newsletter is for those interested in education justice and the cultural impact of the blues.
CURMUDGUCATION: Yes, Middle Schoolers Are Hard To Teach, and Nobody Is Really Lazy https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/04/yes-middle-schoolers-are-hard-to-teach.html
### Key Points
- Middle school students often lose interest in learning due to developmental changes, not laziness.
- Adolescents experience emotional and physical changes that affect their learning engagement.
- Students are not lazy; they make choices based on a cost-benefit analysis of learning.
- Teachers should guide students in understanding the benefits of learning and make lessons genuinely relevant.
- The educational system should avoid labeling students as lazy and instead focus on reducing the perceived cost of learning.
Cold As Ice: Update #3, The Posse – Grumpy Old Teacher https://grumpyoldteacher.com/2025/04/17/cold-as-ice-update-3-the-posse/
### Key Points
- Florida has enacted laws requiring local law enforcement, including campus police, to assist with ICE efforts by screening individuals for immigration status.
- Florida universities, such as Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida, are entering agreements with federal authorities to deputize campus police for immigration enforcement.
- Students express concerns about feeling unsafe and targeted due to the new enforcement measures, fearing racial profiling and unwarranted detentions.
Big Education Ape: OG BERNIE AND AOC: THE POWER PAIR DEFENDING AGAINST THE OLIGARCHY WITH COURAGE, HONESTY, AND A TOUCH OF ATTITUDE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/04/og-bernie-and-aoc-power-pair-defending.html
In the grand theater of American politics, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) have emerged as a dynamic duo, leading a "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" across the United States. This tour is akin to a political rock concert, aiming to dismantle the oligarchy and restore power to the people. Their rallies attract massive crowds, even in conservative areas, highlighting their message of economic justice and corporate accountability. AOC is seen as a potential frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, while Sanders continues to champion grassroots mobilization and collective action. Despite criticism, their tour seeks to ignite a movement transcending party lines, offering hope and action in a politically divided landscape.
### Key Points
- Bernie Sanders and AOC lead a "Fighting Oligarchy Tour" to challenge economic inequality and corporate power.
- Their rallies draw huge crowds, even in conservative areas, emphasizing a message of economic justice and grassroots mobilization.
- AOC is considered a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, while Sanders focuses on rejecting billionaire influence.
- The tour aims to inspire a movement beyond party lines, despite criticism of populist tactics.
Big Education Ape: MY GREAT FACEBOOK/META BREAKUP: LOVE, LOSS, AND ALGORITHMS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/04/my-great-meta-breakup-love-loss-and.html
The story of OldMan_Advocate, a digital warrior who faced a 'breakup' with Facebook/Meta. Despite setbacks from algorithmic misinterpretations, he continues to advocate for public education and seeks new platforms for his humor-infused activism.
### Key Points
- OldMan_Advocate's humorous yet tumultuous relationship with Meta and his advocacy for public education.
- The impact of algorithms on digital expression and community building.
- OldMan_Advocate's continued efforts to engage with the public through various platforms.
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