Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
5-24-25
My New Book is Now Available for Pre-Order on Amazon! | Diane Ravitch's blog https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/23/my-new-book-is-now-available-for-pre-ordering-on-amazon/
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch’s memoir, covering her life story and ideological evolution, is now available for pre-order, with an official release date of October 10, 2025.
- The book highlights her transformation from supporting standardized testing and privatization to advocating for public schools and addressing poverty as the root cause of educational inequality.
- Readers and followers express excitement and praise for Ravitch’s courage, intellectual honesty, and contributions to education reform.
What Can the Federal Government Do to Promote Learning? https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/23/what-can-the-federal-government-do-to-promote-learning/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Education has faded as a national political priority, with both major parties failing to propose meaningful reforms.
- Trump’s administration focuses on privatization, ideological conformity, and cutting federal education funding, neglecting traditional federal roles.
- Past federal policies like NCLB and Race to the Top emphasized standardized testing, leading to negative consequences such as narrowed curricula and ineffective reforms.
- Charter schools, heavily promoted by federal initiatives, have shown high closure rates, financial mismanagement, and limited success in improving outcomes.
- The federal government should focus on equitable funding, supporting disadvantaged students, and collecting reliable data while avoiding past policy failures.
What's Missing from the Story About the Qatari Jet That Trump Wants https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/23/whats-missing-from-the-new-york-times-story-about-the-qatari-jet-that-trump-wants/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Trump wanted to accept a luxury jet from Qatar to replace Air Force One, despite constitutional restrictions under the Emoluments Clause.
- The media, particularly The New York Times, framed the story as a response to Boeing delays, downplaying constitutional and ethical concerns.
- Critics argue that the problem of replacing Air Force One is exaggerated and that retrofitting the Qatari jet would cost taxpayers significantly.
William Kristol: A Permanent Stain on Our History https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/23/william-kristol-an-unprecedented-assault-on-american-greatness/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- William Kristol criticizes Trump’s administration for its unprecedented and harmful policies targeting foreign students, immigrants, and institutions like Harvard.
- Actions such as revoking international student programs and Temporary Protected Status for immigrants are described as cruel and damaging to U.S. innovation and productivity.
- Trump’s administration is accused of prioritizing nativism and ideology, undermining core values like the rule of law and openness to foreign talent.
- Commenters express concern about the broader implications of Trump’s policies on democracy, education, and societal cohesion, comparing them to historical authoritarian regimes.
An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else: Ravitch, Diane: 9780231220293: Amazon.com: Books https://www.amazon.com/Education-Changed-Schools-Almost-Everything/dp/0231220294/ref=sr_1_1?
This article discusses Diane Ravitch's upcoming memoir, "An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else," set to be released on October 21, 2025. Ravitch, a historian and former conservative education reform advocate, recounts her ideological shift from supporting standardized testing and privatization to advocating for public schools and addressing systemic inequality in education. The book blends personal reflections with decades of research, making a compelling case for greater investment in public education.
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch's memoir explores her ideological transformation from a proponent of conservative education reforms to a critic of privatization and standardized testing.
- The book highlights her belief that poverty, not failing schools or bad teachers, is the root cause of educational inequality.
- Ravitch shares her personal and professional journey, including her government service and advocacy for public schools.
- The memoir combines personal anecdotes with research to argue for systemic changes in education, including better support for professional teachers.
- Published by Columbia University Press, the book is 240 pages long and will be available in multiple formats.
79 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2025/5/22/2323569/-79?pm_campaign=blog&pm_medium=rss&pm_source=teacherken
### Key Points
- The author reflects on their birth in 1946 and their upbringing in a politically liberal family in New York.
- They describe their childhood experiences, including moving to Larchmont, New York, and their early involvement in music.
- The author recalls moments of segregation they witnessed and their liberal family background, despite their parents being Republicans.
- They discuss their educational journey, including being considered exceptionally bright but struggling with boredom and dyslexia.
- The author shares their varied academic background, including attempts at multiple degrees, their passion for learning, and their eventual career as a teacher.
- They recount their spiritual exploration, engaging with different religious traditions, and eventually finding a home with the Quakers.
- Reflections on societal changes over decades, including gender roles, racial integration, and evolving views on sexuality.
- The author highlights their career shifts, from data processing to teaching, and their commitment to principles over financial gain.
- Personal anecdotes about missed opportunities, such as declining roles in the Marines and Peace Corps, and how these shaped their life path.
- The author expresses concerns about current political and environmental challenges, including threats to democracy, climate change, and global instability.
- They emphasize their impact as a teacher, inspiring students who have gone on to various successful careers, and their hope to continue teaching despite their age.
- Reflections on the importance of collective action, using the metaphor of drops of water creating the Grand Canyon, and their desire to make a difference.
- The author shares stories of influential people in their life, including teachers, students, and significant figures from their spiritual and professional journeys.
- They recount personal interactions with former students and the satisfaction of seeing their growth and success.
- The author discusses the challenges of being different, socially awkward, and misunderstood, and how cultural perspectives can lead to misinterpretations.
glen brown: That "One Big Beautiful Bill" https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/05/that-one-big-beautiful-bill.html
### Key Points
- The House bill cuts Medicare by $500 billion and Medicaid, leading to 8.6 million Americans losing coverage.
- Tax cuts in the bill disproportionately benefit the wealthy, with top earners gaining $390,000 annually, while lower-income groups face financial losses.
- The bill adds $3.8 trillion to the federal debt over ten years, burdening taxpayers with higher interest rates.
- Media distortions, public overwhelm, and fear of retaliation under Trump’s regime contribute to limited awareness of these issues.
- Glen Brown emphasizes the writer’s role in resisting oppression and engaging in moral critique of societal and political injustices.
- The blog discusses topics like public pensions, Trump’s governance, healthcare reform, environmental issues, and social justice.
The Muscle of Moral Strength: Maya Angelou, Courage, and the Battle for Public Education – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/05/23/the-muscle-of-moral-strength-maya-angelou-courage-and-the-battle-for-public-education/
### Key Points
- Maya Angelou’s philosophy on courage emphasizes its necessity for consistently practicing virtues like kindness, justice, and love, particularly in the context of public education.
- Courage is developed through small, persistent acts, much like building physical strength over time. Educators, students, and leaders face increasing challenges that require this kind of incremental courage.
- Teachers demonstrate courage by resisting censorship, advocating for inclusion, and teaching the truth despite political and systemic pressures.
- Educational leaders must show courage in defending academic freedom, standing against ideological interference, and protecting their institutions and communities.
- Students are at the forefront of activism, leading protests, resisting censorship, and challenging systemic injustices, often at personal cost.
- Public education challenges are intertwined with democracy, requiring collective courage from parents, community members, and organizations to resist injustice and support truth and equity.
- Angelou’s metaphor of building courage as a muscle serves as a call to action for educators, students, and leaders to prepare for greater challenges by practicing courage in smaller, everyday moments.
Teacher Tom: "The One Rare Thing You Possess" https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-one-rare-thing-you-possess.html
### Key Points
- Teacher Tom emphasizes that individuality and eccentricities are what make people unique and valuable.
- He critiques the standardization of education, which often suppresses these differences and teaches children to conform.
- Standardized education labels unique traits as deficiencies, while an alternative perspective, such as the Māori term "takiwātanga" for autism, celebrates individuality.
- Teacher Tom reflects on how adults often rediscover their suppressed eccentricities later in life, which could have been nurtured from the beginning.
- He advocates for an educational approach that prioritizes celebrating uniqueness and helping children find their passion and purpose.
- Teacher Tom promotes play-based learning as a method to support authentic self-expression in children.
Vouchers Eat State Budgets, by @TheAndySpears https://open.substack.com/pub/theeducationreport/p/vouchers-eat-state-budgets?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- Tennessee’s universal school voucher program, starting in the 2025-26 school year, is projected to cost nearly $150 million, with concerns about its impact on state budgets and public schools.
- Arizona’s school voucher program could surpass $1 billion in costs, potentially affecting funding for other state priorities like disability programs and public safety salaries.
- Florida’s voucher program consumes 23% of state education dollars, costing taxpayers $3.9 billion annually, up from 12% in 2021-22.
- Texas’s universal voucher program is expected to cost $1 billion over two years, possibly reaching $5 billion by 2030.
- Data from Ohio shows students using vouchers experience a significant academic decline, with proficiency dropping from 75% to 54% over three years.
- Long-term evidence from states like Arizona, Florida, and Indiana suggests voucher programs strain budgets and fail to deliver educational improvements, potentially harming public schools.
THE COMMON GOOD—please subscribe | Bill Ayers https://billayers.org/2025/05/23/the-common-good-please-subscribe/
- The Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE), led by Karen Lewis, transformed the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) in 2010 with a focus on "organizing for the common good," prioritizing broader social justice issues beyond wages and benefits, such as arts, libraries, and nurses in schools.
- CORE's initiatives included creating a research department and shifting staff roles to emphasize organizing efforts with parents, community members, and teachers collectively.
- Elizabeth Todd-Breland, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, discusses CORE’s work and co-authored Karen Lewis's posthumous memoir, "I Didn’t Come Here to Lie," which reflects on the transformation of CTU into a force for systemic change.
- Resources and references include writings on CORE’s history, the 2012 CTU strike, and broader lessons for labor movements, as well as archived interviews and speeches by Karen Lewis.
Court Rejects Reading Lawsuit, Media Accountability Must Follow | dr. p.l. (paul) thomas https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/05/23/court-rejects-reading-lawsuit-media-accountability-must-follow/
### Key Points
- The Supreme Court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s rejection of religious charter schools and a federal judge blocked President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department, signaling hope for public education.
- Scholars criticize the “science of reading” (SOR) movement, which claims a literacy crisis caused by insufficient phonics instruction, arguing this claim lacks scientific evidence.
- Misrepresentation of NAEP data contributes to false claims about U.S. reading proficiency, with 67% of eighth-graders meeting basic state reading standards in 2024, contrary to SOR narratives.
- Decades of education reform and misinformation surrounding a so-called reading crisis are failing to address the actual needs of students, teachers, and schools.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Has Miles to Go Before It Powers Down https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/05/seattle-schools-has-miles-to-go-before.html?spref=tw
### Key Points
- Seattle Public Schools faces a $100 million structural deficit for 2025-2026, despite recent levy approvals and increased state funding.
- The district plans to gather community input for the superintendent search but has made little progress, with limited engagement opportunities scheduled.
- Long-term challenges include declining enrollment, rising costs, labor agreements, and the need to rebuild financial reserves.
- Concerns about administrative inefficiencies, lack of oversight, and nepotism within the district persist.
- The district's slow pace in addressing community input and implementing strategic initiatives undermines its stated goals.
- Discussions about school closures have sparked controversy, with unclear savings and insufficient data transparency.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: One Anonymous Superintendent Lets Secretary of Education Have It... https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/05/one-anonymous-superintendent-lets.html?spref=tw
Seattle Schools Community Forum discusses various issues in Seattle Public Schools, including equity in education, nepotism, and school closures. A superintendent strongly criticizes the U.S. Department of Education's directive to curtail equity programs, highlighting its contradictions and impact on marginalized students. The blog also covers nepotism in school leadership and debates over potential school closures for cost-saving purposes.
### Key Points
- A superintendent denounces a federal directive that undermines equity programs, arguing it threatens support for marginalized students and contradicts civil rights principles.
- Concerns about nepotism in Seattle Public Schools, particularly in leadership roles, are raised, suggesting promotions and job movements are influenced by personal connections.
- The blog critiques plans to close 20 schools for financial savings, questioning the district's transparency and the feasibility of maintaining unused buildings.
Classified School Employees of the Year Honored - Year 2025 (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel30.asp
### Key Points
- State Superintendent Tony Thurmond recognized nine classified school employees for their dedication to public education.
- The honorees represent diverse roles, including clerical, custodial, food services, health, security, technical services, and more.
- The awards are part of the Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) program, with winners chosen from 135 statewide nominations.
- A special event in Sacramento celebrated the recipients, highlighting their critical contributions to student success.
Celebrating California School Meals Photo Contest - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/schoolmlsphotocontest.asp
### Key Points
- The CDE is organizing a photo contest to celebrate California school meals, emphasizing healthy, locally sourced, and scratch-cooked meals.
- Seven photo categories include school gardens, meal presentations, staff interactions, kitchen environments, and creative signage.
- Winners receive certificates, web badges, and recognition on the CDE website and at Town Hall meetings.
- Submissions are accepted until November 3, 2025, with detailed guidelines and resources available for participants.
- Contact information and related resources, such as the Farm to School program and a photography guide, are provided.
High School Career Push: For Whom and For What? - Nancy Bailey's Education Website https://nancyebailey.com/2025/05/23/high-school-career-push-for-whom-and-for-what/
### Key Points
- Public school students are often pressured into either Career and Technical Education (CTE) or college paths, influenced by privatization and business needs. Both options should be equally accessible for students to explore.
- Rising college costs and challenging application processes have made higher education elitist and inaccessible, particularly for low-income and underrepresented groups. The U.S. has fallen behind other developed nations in bachelor's degree attainment.
- The push for college attendance as a universal goal has been controversial, with some parents opposing it due to their children's alternative career preferences. This movement has also been tied to broader school reform efforts.
- Programs like Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment are promoted to save on college costs, but they may pressure students unnecessarily and limit their developmental needs.
- Aligning high schools with business-driven career pathways has raised concerns about students being used as cheap labor and narrowing their future opportunities.
- CTE can provide valuable life skills and job opportunities but should not overshadow traditional academic subjects or college preparation. A balanced education is crucial for students' growth and long-term success.
- Public policy should focus on making universities more affordable and accessible while ensuring high school education remains broad and meaningful.
Making the Cash Register Ring – Dad Gone Wild https://norinrad10.com/2025/05/23/making-the-cash-register-ring/
### Key Points
- Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) faces criticism for budget cuts affecting teachers while spending on out-of-state retreats for principals.
- The education system often prioritizes bureaucratic interests over the needs of students and teachers.
- Individual educators remain a saving grace within a flawed system, working tirelessly to maintain the human element in education.
- Former Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn’s nomination for a federal role has raised concerns due to her financial disclosures and affiliations with various organizations.
- Schwinn’s financial ties to at least 25 organizations, including advisory boards and real estate, highlight potential conflicts of interest.
- The debate over the U.S. Department of Education’s role continues, with advocates emphasizing its importance in ensuring educational equity.
- Federal rulings have temporarily halted attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, sparking discussions on its necessity.
- Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program is criticized for its financial implications but sees significant application numbers.
- Critics argue that voucher programs, like Tennessee’s, could harm public education and strain state budgets.
- The shift in MNPS’s substitute teacher policy to prioritize “classroom associates” is controversial, with concerns about its impact on teacher absences.
- Communication and implementation of policies by MNPS leadership are criticized for lacking clarity and inclusivity.
Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice; Billionaires’ Love Affair With School Reform without Accountability (Part 1) | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/billionaires-love
- The article discusses the role of foundations in U.S. school reform, highlighting their funding efforts and the challenges they face in improving education.
- A key theme is the widespread belief among policy elites that U.S. schools are in crisis, a notion often generalized from issues in urban and rural schools with low-income and minority students.
- The article critiques the conflation of struggling urban schools with the entire U.S. education system, which perpetuates a crisis mentality and undermines trust in public schools.
- It acknowledges the positive impact of foundation funding for under-resourced schools but criticizes the lack of accountability for the outcomes of such investments.
- The author shares personal experiences with foundation grants, reflecting on the benefits and limitations of such funding in addressing educational challenges.
Education Research Report: Social media might be making kids depressed https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/05/social-media-might-be-making-kids.html
- A study by UC San Francisco found that increased social media use among preteens correlates with a rise in depressive symptoms, but depressive symptoms do not lead to more social media use.
- Over three years, kids' social media usage increased from 7 to 73 minutes daily, alongside a 35% rise in depressive symptoms.
- The study utilized within-person longitudinal data to track changes over time, providing evidence that social media may contribute to developing depressive symptoms.
- Risks like cyberbullying and disrupted sleep may explain the link between social media and depression. Cyberbullied kids aged 11-12 were 2.62 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts or attempts a year later.
- Cyberbullied kids were also more likely to experiment with substances such as marijuana, nicotine, and alcohol.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using tools like the Family Media Plan to encourage healthier digital habits for kids and parents.
- Parents are encouraged to lead by example, engage in open conversations about screen use, and establish screen-free times for the family.
Big Education Ape: WE DON'T DO KINGS: NATIONWIDE PROTESTS TO RAIN ON TRUMP'S $45M BIRTHDAY MILITARY PARADE #NoKingsDay #DefendDemocracy #AmericaStrong https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/we-dont-do-kings-nationwide-protests-to.html
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
5-23-25
The article compiles a variety of educational, political, and societal issues, including discussions on school funding, public education policies, political decisions, and systemic challenges. It highlights controversies, reforms, and the impact of leadership on education and broader societal values.
### Key Points
- The California Department of Education’s Farm to School program is hosting a photo contest to celebrate school meals.
- The U.S. Supreme Court split 4-4 on an Oklahoma religious charter school case, leaving lower court rulings intact and raising concerns about the separation of church and state.
- A federal judge blocked President Trump’s executive order to shut down the Department of Education, citing that Congressional approval is required.
- The Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, affecting 27% of its student body and escalating tensions with the university.
- Michael Hiltzik criticized RFK Jr. for promoting antivaccine rhetoric and implementing controversial health policies that undermine public trust in vaccines.
- School voucher programs are expanding in some states but have sparked backlash due to financial strain on public schools and inequities in resource allocation.
- Trump’s presidency is critiqued for reshaping American values, including individualism, diversity, and patriotism, often negatively.
- Cory Booker’s political career has faced criticism for his role in controversial education reforms and his support for pro-Israel policies.
- Unity, a faction within the UFT, is accused of prioritizing power over member welfare, facing backlash from retirees and paraprofessionals.
- Ohio Senate Bill 113 seeks to ban DEI initiatives in public schools, sparking debates about equity and diversity.
- Teacher Tom emphasizes the importance of honoring children’s unique creativity and perspectives in education.
- A discussion on AI in education highlights its limitations, the importance of experienced teachers, and the evolving expectations of students.
- Jesse Hagopian’s Black Education Matters Student Activist Award recognizes Seattle students leading racial justice initiatives.
- The Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) will hold a meeting to discuss initiatives like behavioral health programs and policy amendments.
- A Supreme Court tie on religious charter schools raises concerns about privatization, segregation, and the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.
- The rise of school choice policies risks increasing inequities and undermining public education as a collective responsibility.
- Protests against Trump’s policies, such as his military parade, highlight grassroots activism and concerns about democracy.
- Seattle Schools face challenges such as nepotism, potential closures, and debates over police presence in schools.
- Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector in WWII, is celebrated for his bravery and principles, earning the Medal of Honor.
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