Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
6-6-25
The Insane Killing of Medical Research by Trump https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/05/the-killing-of-medical-research-by-trump-and-rfk/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Trump canceled numerous medical research grants, affecting research on vaccines and cancer.
- NIH has ended 1,389 awards and delayed over 1,000 projects, with a funding reduction of $1.6 billion.
- The cuts affect research across various diseases and institutions, including those in states that supported Trump.
- The article questions the rationale behind these cuts and their broader implications.
Jan Resseger: Trump Guts Civil Rights Laws https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/05/jan-resseger-trump-guts-civil-rights-laws/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The Trump administration has reversed civil rights policies, targeting DEI efforts and reinterpreting protections to address perceived discrimination against white men.
- Federal agencies, including the Department of Education, have cut resources for investigating traditional civil rights violations and shifted focus to punishing DEI initiatives.
- Executive orders and directed investigations have been used to enforce the administration's agenda, including bans on affirmative action and disparate impact standards.
- The administration created an "End DEI" portal to collect complaints about diversity programs, bypassing traditional civil rights processes.
- Investigations into schools and districts have targeted policies supporting racial equity, transgender students, and Native American mascots, often misinterpreting civil rights laws.
Heather Cox Richardson: GOP Budget Bill Is Packed with Deadly Cuts and Lies https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/05/heather-cox-richardson-gop-budget-bill-is-packed-with-deadly-cuts-and-lies/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- The GOP's budget bill proposes over $700 billion in Medicaid cuts, targeting expansions and state funding, potentially leaving 10.3 million Americans without healthcare.
- Republicans falsely claim the bill reduces waste and fraud while actually cutting vital services and increasing the deficit by $3.8 trillion, contrary to their claims of deficit reduction.
- NOAA and FEMA face severe staffing and funding cuts, jeopardizing disaster response, weather forecasting, and public safety during hurricane season.
- NIH faces drastic 43% funding cuts, endangering biomedical research, including cancer studies, and undermining scientific progress.
- The administration's executive order allows political appointees to suppress scientific research, drawing comparisons to historical abuses of science under ideological regimes.
Elon's Tweets Today About Trump, Trump's Responses https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/05/elons-tweets-today-about-trump/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Elon Musk criticized Trump's budget bill for increasing the national debt and excessive spending, calling it a "disgusting abomination."
- Musk urged lawmakers to reject the bill, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and criticizing the inclusion of pork-barrel spending.
- Trump expressed disappointment in Musk, citing past support, and threatened to cut Musk's government contracts in response to his criticism.
- Musk claimed his efforts were crucial to Trump's election success and retaliated with accusations involving Jeffrey Epstein.
Robo-teachers? https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/robo-teachers-3/ via @CubanLarry
### Key Points
- The film "The Robot & Frank" explores the use of a caregiving robot but fails to fully address the emotional consequences of dementia.
- Robots can assist in caregiving and education but cannot replicate the emotional and cognitive bonds between humans.
- Sherry Turkle critiques the idea of robots as caregivers, emphasizing their inability to genuinely empathize or understand human experiences.
- Cuban highlights that teaching involves personal connections that robots cannot replicate, such as fostering character virtues and emotional bonds.
- David Kirp underscores the importance of personal relationships in successful educational initiatives, rejecting the notion that technology or markets can replace human interaction.
Boulder Attack Shows Racism Is Still on Fire in America https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/06/05/boulder-attack-shows-racism-is-still-on-fire-in-america/
### Key Points
- A violent attack in Boulder, Colorado, reflects the ongoing crisis of racism and hate in America.
- Hate and racism are fueled by political hypocrisy, selective outrage, and systemic dehumanization.
- The article highlights the privilege of not experiencing anti-Semitism firsthand and the importance of listening to those who bear its weight.
- True allyship requires challenging hate across all communities and avoiding political co-optation.
- Confronting hate demands moral courage, accountability, and consistent action, not selective outrage or exploitation.
Ohio Senate Budget Plan Released on Tuesday Bodes Ill for Ohio Public School Funding https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/ohio-senate-budget-plan-released-on-tuesday-bodes-ill-for-ohio-public-school-funding/ via @janresseger
Ohio Senate Budget Proposal Criticized for Undermining Public Education and Equity
### Key Points
- The Ohio Senate's budget proposal includes tax cuts for the wealthy, underfunds public schools, cuts Medicaid, and reduces guaranteed funding for public libraries.
- The Senate's plan undermines the Fair School Funding Plan by using outdated 2022 data to calculate school district costs, which fails to address rising expenses.
- Only 60-63% of school districts would see funding increases, leaving nearly 40% further behind, while voucher program costs continue to rise.
- The Senate proposes limiting school district carryover balances, restricting their ability to plan long-term and forcing frequent levy campaigns.
- The budget rewards districts with high standardized test scores, favoring wealthier areas, and neglects schools in impoverished regions or those serving students with disabilities.
- A $1.4 billion income tax cut primarily benefits the top 20% of earners, reducing the state's capacity to fund public services.
- The budget allocates $600 million for a new Cleveland Browns stadium, prioritizing corporate interests over public needs.
Josh Cowen's Newsletter: Vouchers and the Rest of the Right-Wing, Anti-Family Agenda: Looking Back and Looking Ahead | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/josh-cowens-newsletter-vouchers-and-rest-right-wing-anti-family-agenda-looking-back-and
- The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Oklahoma State Supreme Court's decision, preventing directly funded religious public charter schools for now.
- The GOP's budget bill includes school vouchers, Medicaid cuts, and reductions in public investments, which could harm public education and social programs.
- Vouchers predominantly benefit students already in private schools and allow schools to choose students, undermining the concept of school choice.
- Federal disinvestment in public schools and programs like Head Start poses risks to educational and social equity.
- The Education Law Center (ELC) plays a crucial role in defending public education and investments, often relying on legal avenues to protect these rights.
- The author, Joshua Cowen, reflects on his time at ELC and emphasizes the importance of continued advocacy for public education.
glen brown: 13 Old Coins That Could Make You Rich https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/06/13-old-coins-that-could-make-you-rich.html
### Key Points
- Rare coins such as the 1913 Liberty Head Nickel, 1943 Copper Penny, and 1955 Doubled Die Penny hold significant value due to their rarity, historical significance, or mint errors.
- Coins like the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar and 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle are highly valuable collectibles, with some selling for millions at auctions.
- Other notable coins include the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny, 1925-S Lincoln Penny, and 1932-D Washington Quarter, which are sought after by collectors for their unique features and limited mintage.
- Variants like the 1943 Steel Penny, 1943-S Jefferson Nickel, and 1967 Kennedy Half Dollar can also be valuable depending on condition and specific errors.
- Modern coins like the 1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime and 2004 Wisconsin State Quarter with unique mint errors can fetch high prices among collectors.
Schools Matter: Debunking DEI Misconceptions [and Lies] http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/06/debunking-dei-misconceptions-and-lies.html
- The article critiques misconceptions and misinformation surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), highlighting its importance in education.
- It emphasizes that a child's learning is influenced more by their peers than by their teacher, referencing James Coleman's 1972 statement.
- The blog discusses various educational and social issues, including poverty's impact on education, over-testing, and corporate influence on education systems.
- It mentions historical and ongoing critiques of "No Excuses" teaching models and charter schools like KIPP.
- The blog includes a variety of essay reviews, such as critiques of testing policies, teacher education, and literacy legislation.
Teacher Tom: Play is How Children Practice Making Real Decisions https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/play-is-how-children-practice-making.html
### Key Points
- The author reflects on the instinct-driven behavior of a moth, comparing it to human decision-making, which involves choices and the ability to override instincts.
- Humans develop "executive function," the ability to make decisions, which requires practice and is often taught during early childhood.
- The article questions whether adults are teaching children true decision-making or simply replacing instincts with commands, likening it to dog training.
- The development of the pre-frontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, depends on environmental factors, with play being crucial for children to practice decision-making in a safe space.
- Play allows children to learn from natural consequences, emphasizing the importance of exploration and independent decision-making rather than adult-imposed commands.
Book-banning, Book-burning, Book reading—and Truth https://teacherinastrangeland.blog/2025/06/05/book-banning-book-burning-book-reading-and-truth/ via @nancyflanagan
### Key Points
- The author recounts her experience starting as a music teacher in a small Michigan town and her connection to the Cromaine Library, a cherished community hub.
- The Cromaine Library, once a symbol of learning and community, has been co-opted by right-wing figures pushing anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas.
- Bill Bolin, a pastor and new library board president, advocates for labeling and restricting books deemed controversial, removing LGBTQ+ Pride displays, and implementing stricter library policies.
- Bolin's actions align with broader right-wing political and religious movements, aiming to bring such cases to higher courts, reflecting a shift in legal discourse under Trump-era influence.
- The author compares these censorship efforts to historical events like Nazi book burnings, emphasizing the importance of citizen engagement to protect free reading and cultural freedom.
Episode # 130: Please pass it on and repost | Bill Ayers https://billayers.org/2025/06/05/episode-130-please-pass-it-on-and-repost/
- The podcast episode discusses the U.S. mass incarceration system, highlighting its disproportionate impact on marginalized and poor communities, with comparisons to historical systems of oppression.
- Patrick Hoffman, a writer and private investigator, joins the discussion to talk about his latest novel, "Friends Helping Friends," which explores themes of corruption, friendship, and societal marginalization.
- Hoffman's novel portrays two young men entangled with a corrupt legal system and a white nationalist group, testing the strength of their friendship.
- Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "Chicago Picasso" is referenced, emphasizing art's ability to inspire and challenge individuals to embark on personal journeys.
- Additional resources and readings are provided, including works by Patrick Hoffman and Alec Karakatsanis, and a Vice News report on Charlottesville.
NM: Stride Caught Misbehaving Yet Again https://open.substack.com/pub/curmudgucation/p/nm-stride-caught-misbehaving-yet?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
CURMUDGUCATION: NM: Stride Caught Misbehaving Yet Again https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/06/nm-stride-caught-misbehaving-yet-again.html
### Key Points
- Stride Inc., formerly K12, was terminated by a New Mexico school district for legal and academic violations, with a history of prioritizing profits over education.
- Stride has a controversial history, including fraud allegations, lawsuits, poor academic outcomes, and unethical practices like ghost enrollments and inflated student-teacher ratios.
- The company has faced repeated scandals, including financial settlements, misleading investors, and failing to meet educational standards in multiple states.
- Gallup-McKinley County Schools reported a sharp decline in graduation rates, math proficiency, and high student turnover under Stride's management, leading to the contract termination and legal actions.
- Stride CEO James Rhyu, criticized for his leadership style, admitted to failing to meet legal requirements, raising concerns about nationwide unethical practices to boost profits.
- The district seeks a new online provider but faces challenges in finding a trustworthy, non-profit-focused alternative.
Choosing Democracy: Injunction Stalls Trump / MAGA Assault on Education Department https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2025/06/injunction-stalls-trump-maga-assault-on.html
Choosing Democracy: A discussion of major issues facing our democracy with an emphasis on public schooling.
### Key Points
- A coalition of educators, unions, and school districts successfully obtained a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's mass firings at the Department of Education, halting efforts to dismantle the agency.
- The court emphasized that mass layoffs would render the Department unable to perform its legally mandated functions, effectively hollowing it out.
- The Trump administration's actions aimed to reduce the Department's workforce by nearly half, threatening critical services like funding for students with disabilities, civil rights protections, and affordable higher education.
- The decision is seen as a victory for students, families, and public education advocates, reaffirming the importance of the Department's role in ensuring equitable opportunities for all.
- Public education leaders and unions expressed relief but noted ongoing harm caused by the administration's actions, pledging to continue fighting for students' rights and resources.
- The administration had planned to relocate essential programs like Special Education and Federal Student Aid to unrelated federal agencies, further undermining their effectiveness.
- Democracy Forward, a legal organization, led the case against the administration, advocating for democracy and social progress.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Public Schools High School Graduation Safe... https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/06/seattle-public-schools-high-school.html?spref=tw
- Seattle Public Schools (SPS) has announced enhanced security measures for 2025 high school graduations, including bag checks, metal detector screenings, and no in/out privileges without additional checks.
- Prohibited items for graduation ceremonies include balloons, Pop-Its, and confetti devices. Guests failing to comply with rules will be removed from the event.
- Families are advised to arrive early due to security measures, with doors opening one hour before ceremonies. Additional security will be provided by Seattle Police.
- Concerns about nepotism in Seattle Public Schools (SPS) were raised, pointing to promotions and job shifts based on personal connections, especially among principals and senior staff.
- Updates on specific personnel changes within SPS, including a principal being promoted despite a recent scandal, highlight transparency issues.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Good News From Seattle Schools https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/06/good-news-from-seattle-schools.html?spref=tw
- Seattle Public Schools celebrate teachers with awards like the Foster Award for Excellence and the Adrienne Weaver Science Teaching Award.
- The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund has provided $720,000 in scholarships to 72 students since its founding in 1974, recognizing both academic achievement and personal perseverance.
- Superintendent Brent Jones attended the scholarship event and encouraged students to "embrace their greatness," sparking mixed reactions in the comments section.
- The upcoming Board meeting speaker list includes discussions on high school boundaries and zoning issues related to Green Dot schools.
- Concerns about nepotism within Seattle Public Schools highlight promotions and job shifts based on personal connections rather than merit.
- Former principals involved in controversies are being reassigned within the district, raising questions about accountability.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Wrap-Up From the Seattle School Board Meeting, June 4, 2025 https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/06/wrap-up-from-seattle-school-board.html?spref=tw
### Key Points
- Directors Rankin and Sarju raised concerns about harassment by Central Office staff and called for independent investigations.
- Public testimony focused on police presence in schools, with mixed opinions from students, parents, and staff.
- The Board introduced changes to public testimony policies, potentially reducing student voices in meetings.
- Confusion and disorganization were evident during the meeting, particularly around agenda items and voting.
- Memorial Stadium's redevelopment plans were discussed, with questions about funding and community benefits.
- Budget discussions highlighted growing deficits, rising legal expenses, and the need for long-term financial planning.
- School safety concerns were addressed, with calls for inclusive decision-making and community engagement.
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.
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!
6-5-25
The article is a comprehensive roundup of various topics, including education policies, political developments, social issues, and activism. It highlights key events, critiques, and insights surrounding public education, systemic inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, tax policies, and more.
### Key Points
- Trump targeted law firms representing his political opponents, threatening to cancel their federal contracts, with some complying and others challenging him in court. Legal experts argue these actions were illegal.
- Oklahoma's State Superintendent redefined "proficiency" in testing to misrepresent student outcomes, drawing bipartisan criticism for lack of transparency.
- Jeff Bezos shifted The Washington Post's editorial stance to avoid antagonizing Trump, leading to staff departures. He introduced "Ripple," a program using diverse writers and AI editing, raising concerns about journalistic quality.
- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro criticized Russ Vought’s Project 2025 policies, advocating for labor rights and public education funding.
- China's paradoxical economic model fosters billionaires under communist rule, blending capitalism with socialism, with tax policies supporting corporate growth while aiming for "common prosperity." [29-35]
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon faced backlash for policies undermining public education and inclusivity, including redefining Title IX and aligning funding with Trump’s agenda.
- House Democrats resisted a GOP tax and spending bill, highlighting its unpopularity due to Medicaid cuts and green energy rollbacks, leveraging public protests to amplify their message.
- Thom Hartmann's article warns against the normalization of authoritarianism, citing historical examples and emphasizing the need for active resistance to preserve democracy.
- Senator Chris Murphy criticized Republican tax cuts benefiting billionaires at the expense of social programs, urging public mobilization to protect democracy.
- The 5th Annual #TeachTruth Day of Action aims to resist censorship in education, promoting critical thinking and honest history through events like teach-ins and rallies.
- State Superintendent Tony Thurmond reaffirmed California's commitment to protecting students' rights under CIF's gender identity policy despite DOJ challenges.
- Diane Ravitch’s upcoming memoir discusses her shift from supporting privatization to advocating for public education, addressing systemic inequality.
- The LAPD’s handling of LGBTQ+ protests highlights ongoing issues of discrimination and the need for better safety protocols during Pride Month.
- Teacher professional development in math and science positively impacts student achievement, with teacher-level improvements linked to greater student success.
- Classroom culture, shaped by teacher-student interactions, fosters critical thinking and engagement, emphasizing the co-construction of knowledge.
- Plants and humans communicate through non-verbal cues, a concept applied to early childhood education, where observing children’s play reveals their thoughts and emotions.
