Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
6-22-25
Donald Trump: "I Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize" https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/21/donald-trump-i-deserve-the-nobel-peace-prize/ via @dianeravitch
- Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist, resigned from The Washington Post after her editor refused to publish her cartoon depicting plutocrats bowing to Trump, including Jeff Bezos.
- The article mentions controversial actions by Trump, such as slashing staff at Voice of America and claiming he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
- The blog highlights censorship issues, including the removal of a cartoon from a PBS special about artist Art Spiegelman.
- Diane Ravitch’s blog covers various topics like education, democracy, corporate reform, and political accountability, with frequent posts on Trump’s policies and actions.
In a dramatic move, President Donald Trump has authorized airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—marking his entry into the ranks of U.S. presidents who prioritize military action over diplomacy. This decision, framed as a step toward peace and protection of Israel, has drawn widespread criticism, with many questioning its motivations and legality.
#### Key Points:
- **Airstrikes Declared a Success**: Trump labeled the strikes a “spectacular success,” suggesting they are a historic moment for peace, despite critics arguing that such actions contradict the notion of peace. He warned Iran against retaliation, which many see as escalating tensions rather than de-escalating them.
- **Iran's Response**: Iran downplayed the impact of the strikes, claiming the sites were evacuated and vowing to continue their nuclear program for peaceful purposes. This has led to concerns about further escalation and retaliation.
- **Netanyahu's Influence**: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the strikes, indicating a strong alignment with Trump’s actions. Critics suggest that Netanyahu has effectively manipulated Trump into supporting military aggression against Iran.
- **Congressional Outrage**: The strikes have sparked anger among lawmakers from both parties. Democrats have labeled the action unconstitutional for bypassing Congress, while some Republicans express discomfort with the lack of legislative approval. Progressive figures are even suggesting impeachment based on Trump’s unilateral decision-making.
- **Support from Trump's Base**: Trump's supporters view the strikes as a patriotic duty, celebrating military action despite his prior promises to end “forever wars.” This loyalty raises questions about the implications of such fervent support for military intervention.
- **Risks of Escalation**: Critics warn that the strikes could jeopardize American troops and diplomats, destabilize the region further, and provoke retaliation from Iranian allies. The potential for increased tensions and higher oil prices adds to the concerns surrounding this military action.
- **Impeachment Discussions**: Some Democrats are calling for impeachment, arguing that Trump has overstepped his authority yet again. However, with Republican leaders largely backing Trump, the likelihood of impeachment remains low.
#### Conclusion:
Trump's recent military actions may serve as a distraction from domestic issues and declining approval ratings, but they also risk creating a legacy of chaos in U.S. foreign policy. Whether these actions will be seen as strategic successes or failures remains uncertain, but they underscore a presidency defined by bold, often controversial decisions.
Big Education Ape: FREAK OUT FRIDAY: AI IS PLOTTING TO TAKE OVER OUR CLASSROOMS AND THE WORLD https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/06/freak-out-friday-ai-is-plotting-to-take.html
Diane Ravitch's blog and other education-focused platforms discuss the implications of AI in education, highlighting concerns about its misuse, ethical challenges, and potential to exacerbate inequalities. The "Big Ugly Bill" proposed by Trump grants AI unchecked freedom in schools for a decade, raising alarms about student privacy and educational quality. Other critiques emphasize AI's inability to address students' social needs, its potential to increase teacher workloads, and its role in perpetuating societal biases. Experts call for ethical oversight and justice-driven AI development to prevent harm to the educational landscape.
### Key Points
- Trump's "Big Ugly Bill" allows unregulated AI in schools for a decade, sparking concerns about privacy and educational quality.
- AI struggles to engage students socially or provide meaningful motivation, limiting its effectiveness in education.
- Generative AI often increases teacher workloads instead of reducing them, contradicting its promise of efficiency.
- Experts warn that AI could amplify racism, rewrite history, and deepen inequities without proper oversight.
- Historical analysis shows the tech industry's unfulfilled promises in education, urging caution against AI hype
Big Education Ape: LET'S CHECK THIS WEEK'S TOP NEWS AND OTHER STORIES 6-21-25 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/06/lets-check-this-weeks-top-news-and_21.html
AI in classrooms, and political and societal issues impacting education. Key articles and blog posts explore these themes, providing insights into current challenges and debates in public education, such as privatization, democracy, and inclusivity.### Key Points
- AI's role in classrooms is explored, with discussions on its impact on teaching and learning.
- A collection of articles addresses political and societal issues, including Trump's policies, immigration, and the privatization of education.
- Educational blogs and resources, like Diane Ravitch's work and the Badass Teacher Association, advocate for public education and resistance to privatization.
What’s better than DEI? https://teacherinastrangeland.blog/2025/06/21/whats-better-than-dei/ via @nancyflanagan
### Key Points- The article critiques an anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) perspective, questioning the alternative proposed by the author, which emphasizes individual student agency, strong families, and a narrow success sequence.
- The author defends DEI principles as foundational to effective teaching, arguing that inclusion, equity, and diversity are essential for addressing disparities and tailoring resources to students' needs.
- The critique highlights the anti-DEI movement's tendency to promote exclusion, discriminatory resource allocation, and segregation, drawing parallels to historical injustices.
- The article discusses how anti-DEI initiatives weaponize public outrage and social media virality to enforce a limited vision of education, fostering fear and division.
- Structural shifts like job losses, social mobility erosion, and public education fragmentation are cited as contributors to the rise of anti-DEI sentiment, alongside the COVID-19 pandemic's impact.
- The author argues that abandoning DEI would regress public education by decades and undermine efforts to equitably serve all students.
From Moscow to Tallahassee: The Global Authoritarian Playbook is Being Executed – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/06/21/from-moscow-to-tallahassee-the-global-authoritarian-playbook-is-being-executed/
From Moscow to Tallahassee: The Global Authoritarian Playbook is Being Executed### Key Points
- Authoritarian regimes globally, including Turkey, Hungary, China, Russia, and Egypt, have reshaped universities to align with state ideology, undermining academic freedom and autonomy.
- In Turkey, President Erdoğan abolished democratic processes for university leadership, appointing loyalists, which led to protests, faculty purges, and suppression of academic independence.
- Hungary’s government transferred control of universities to politically aligned foundations, replacing academic autonomy with party-driven governance.
- In China, universities are controlled by Communist Party officials, enforcing ideological conformity, censorship, and surveillance.
- Russia has politicized universities by appointing loyal rectors, firing dissenting faculty, and suppressing protests, aligning education with state agendas.
- Egypt’s universities are tightly controlled by the security state, where leaders must pass government vetting, and activism is suppressed.
- Florida is following this global authoritarian trend by appointing political allies of Governor Ron DeSantis as university presidents, prioritizing political alignment over academic qualifications.
- Nearly half of Florida’s public universities are now led by GOP-aligned figures, with appointments tied to secrecy, high salaries, and partisan loyalty. Critics argue this politicization undermines academic freedom.
- Florida’s actions are seen as a prototype for other states, potentially transforming public universities into ideological tools, threatening the independence of higher education.
- The article calls for resistance against this trend, emphasizing the importance of protecting universities as independent, truth-seeking institutions.
Free Speech for Right Wing, Punishment for Protesters: A Two-Step of Hypocrisy – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/06/21/free-speech-for-right-wing-punishment-for-protesters-a-two-step-of-hypocrisy/
### Key Points- A law student at the University of Florida Levin College of Law allegedly submitted a paper advocating that the U.S. Constitution applies only to white people and Jews, calling for the abolition of nonwhite people, and was awarded the highest grade and a prestigious Book Award by a Trump-appointed federal judge.
- The university defended the decision as an exercise of “free speech,” while peaceful student protesters advocating for Palestinian human rights have faced surveillance, suspension, expulsion, and even arrests across Florida and the U.S.
- The article highlights the hypocrisy of protecting hate speech under the guise of free speech while criminalizing protest speech, revealing an asymmetry of power and institutional complicity in promoting supremacist ideologies.
- The Book Award is seen as an institutional endorsement that legitimizes and elevates harmful rhetoric, influencing professional and legal systems.
- The incident is contextualized within the broader “Project 2025” agenda under Donald Trump, which aims to consolidate power, dismantle institutions, and suppress dissent, including academic freedom.
- The article critiques the historical exclusionary roots of the U.S. Constitution and the institutional normalization of racialized rhetoric through elite credentials.
- It calls for reclaiming free speech and justice for all, advocating against selective speech and the weaponization of the First Amendment to protect authoritarianism.
“Four Ways To Give ELL Students Feedback on Writing” https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2025/06/21/four-ways-to-give-ell-students-feedback-on-writing/
"Four Ways To Give ELL Students Feedback on Writing" is an article by Larry Ferlazzo exploring strategies for providing effective feedback to English Language Learners (ELLs) on their writing. The author highlights methods such as peer review, improvement rubrics, concept attainment, and error pointing to help students improve their writing skills while fostering their confidence and independence.### Key Points
- Peer review allows ELL students to receive feedback from classmates, providing more time for revision and social support.
- Improvement rubrics focus on students' achievements rather than deficits, encouraging self-assessment and reflection on progress.
- Concept attainment involves identifying common errors and analyzing correct and incorrect examples to understand proper usage.
- Pointing out errors directly helps students recognize and correct mistakes immediately, aiding language acquisition.
Education Research Report: Addictive use of social media, not total time, associated with youth mental health https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/06/addictive-use-of-social-media-not-total.html
Addictive use of social media, video games, and mobile phones—not total screen time—is linked to worse mental health among preteens, including increased risks of suicidal behaviors and thoughts. Researchers recommend focusing on identifying and addressing addictive patterns rather than limiting total screen time.### Key Points
- Addictive screen use, rather than total screen time, is associated with worse mental health outcomes among preteens.
- High or increasingly addictive use of social media and mobile phones correlates with anxiety, depression, aggression, and suicidal behaviors.
- Video game use showed only high and low trajectories, without an increasing pattern over time.
- Intervention strategies should target addictive screen use patterns instead of generic screen time limits.
- Children entering adolescence should be repeatedly assessed for addictive screen use to identify emerging risks.
- Total screen time is not linked to suicide-related or mental health outcomes; addictive use poses the significant risk.
Education Research Report: Preschool intervention linked to high school performance https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/06/preschool-intervention-linked-to-high.html
### Key Points
- A preschool intervention focused on social-emotional development for low-income students showed long-term benefits, particularly in behavior and mental health during high school.
- The Head Start REDI program incorporated updated research on social-emotional development, early language, and emergent literacy skills to address disparities caused by poverty.
- The intervention included a curriculum on friendship skills, emotional knowledge, self-regulation, and interactive reading programs, which improved problem-solving and academic readiness.
- Longitudinal follow-ups revealed that students in the intervention group showed better social adjustment, cooperative behavior, and parental involvement during elementary school.
- High school data indicated fewer behavioral and emotional problems, with reductions in anxiety and better management of social pressures among intervention students.
- Although no direct academic outcomes were observed, improved social-emotional behavior correlated with higher GPAs and on-time graduation.
- The study continues to track participants into young adulthood to assess the long-term impact of early social-emotional skill development in college and the workplace.
glen brown: Congressional leaders react to Trump ordering strike attack on Iran https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/06/congressional-leaders-react-to-trump.html
This article discusses U.S. political reactions and controversies surrounding President Donald Trump's decision to order military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. It features opinions from both supporters and critics, highlighting constitutional debates, geopolitical implications, and the broader context of Trump's administration's actions.
### Key Points
- President Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, sparking polarized reactions from Congressional leaders.
- Supporters, including Republican leaders, praised the action as a decisive move against a nuclear threat.
- Critics, including Democrats and some Republicans, questioned the constitutionality of the strikes, citing the lack of Congressional authorization and potential risks of escalating conflict.
- Broader themes include ongoing debates over Trump's leadership, constitutional authority, and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
glen brown: Clusterf&$K https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/06/clusterf.html
A blog post by Glen Brown discusses a range of political, social, and environmental issues, with a focus on the Trump administration's actions, systemic injustices, and global challenges. It critiques corruption, racism, privatization, climate change denial, and misinformation while emphasizing the need for accountability and reform.### Key Points
- The Trump administration’s controversial actions, including nuclear threats, National Guard deployment, and Juneteenth criticisms, are critiqued as authoritarian and racially discriminatory.
- Privatization of Medicare into profit-driven “Advantage” plans harms retirees, highlighting corruption in healthcare policies.
- Corruption linked to Trump donors receiving military officer roles showcases misuse of power and public funds.
- Climate change poses a severe threat to global food production, with studies predicting significant crop yield declines due to warming.
- Anti-vaccine misinformation from figures like Robert Kennedy is debunked, emphasizing the importance of scientific accuracy.
- Broader reflections on systemic issues like racial injustice, education reform, and political manipulation are woven throughout.
A Teacher Tries AI with Student Writing https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/06/21/a-teacher-tries-ai-with-student-writing/ via @CubanLarry
A seventh-grade English Language Arts teacher, Katie Durkin, shares her experience using an AI tool, SchoolAI, to enhance student writing. Despite initial hesitation, she found AI helpful in providing immediate, specific feedback and supporting her teaching process without replacing personal interactions. She emphasizes the importance of teaching students to use AI responsibly while maintaining the human touch in education.### Key Points
- Katie Durkin, a seventh-grade ELA teacher, experimented with SchoolAI to support student writing and found it effective for feedback.
- Durkin ensured AI did not replace human feedback, tested it with a small group first, and avoided using it for final grades.
- The "Education Coach" feature provided tailored feedback on realistic fiction stories, prompting students to improve their work without offering polished examples.
- The "Essay Grading Assistant" feature assessed edited stories, offering grammar corrections and rubric-based evaluations, helping Durkin plan follow-up conferences.
- Durkin concludes that AI can positively impact education if used responsibly, without becoming a crutch for students or teachers.
With the LGBTQ+ community’s historically strained relationship with the LAPD, can it rely on protection from violence during Pride Month? https://www.changethelausd.com/pride_under_siege
### Key Points- The article explores the historically strained relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), emphasizing incidents of mistreatment and hostility from the police force.
- It highlights a 2023 apology from the LAPD acknowledging past wrongdoings against LGBTQ+ individuals and pledging that such actions should never have occurred.
- The piece refers to hostile environments faced by LGBTQ+ officers within the LAPD and mentions a settlement in 1993 related to discrimination.
- Broader societal issues, including far-right extremism within Los Angeles, are discussed as contributing factors to the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
- The article also includes commentary and reflections from other individuals on historical parallels, such as the behavior of the NYPD during Pride parades in the early 1990s.
Unity Declares Victory, Again https://open.substack.com/pub/arthurgoldstein/p/unity-declares-victory-again?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Unity's handling of retirees' health care, particularly the shift to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, has faced significant criticism. The article highlights Unity's repeated claims of victory despite ongoing struggles and controversies, including pre-approval issues and court rulings against Aetna's plans. Unity's leadership, particularly Michael Mulgrew, has been accused of undermining retirees' health care, opposing legislative solutions like Intro 1096, and prioritizing collective bargaining power over retirees' interests. Marianne Pizzitola and NYC retirees have emerged as key figures in resisting these changes, advocating for preserving traditional Medicare and exposing Unity's failures.### Key Points
- Unity declared multiple "victories" regarding Medicare Advantage plans, despite ongoing struggles and controversies.
- Aetna's MA plan faced backlash due to pre-approval issues, with a court ruling highlighting its potential risks.
- Mayor Adams announced a pause on transitioning retirees to Medicare Advantage, but his statement left room for future changes.
- Marianne Pizzitola organized NYC retirees to fight against Unity's push for inferior Medicare Advantage plans.
- Unity has been accused of opposing legislative solutions like Intro 1096, which could safeguard traditional Medicare.
- Retirees feel excluded from collective bargaining and believe Unity prioritizes dues over their well-being.
- The struggle to protect retiree health care is ongoing, with calls to support candidates backing Intro 1096.
Seattle Schools Community Forum provides updates on Seattle Public Schools, including events, superintendent search processes, and issues like nepotism and advanced learning discussions.
### Key Points
- Seattle Public Schools continues working on selecting a new superintendent with multiple engagement sessions scheduled, including virtual and in-person events targeting different language groups.
- A farewell event for Memorial Stadium is planned for June 26, 2025.
- Concerns about nepotism within Seattle Public Schools are highlighted, focusing on promotions and job shifts based on personal connections.
- Director Geary's views on advanced learning services in Comprehensive School Improvement Plans (CSIPs) were discussed at a past Board meeting.
- Seattle Public Schools is seeking community input through an online survey on alternative graduation venues for 2026 and 2027, as Memorial Stadium undergoes reconstruction.
- The district will host an open house on June 26, 2025, to bid farewell to the original Memorial Stadium and collect memories/photos for display.
- Concerns about nepotism within Seattle Public Schools are highlighted, with examples of personnel promotions and job transitions based on personal connections.
The article compiles a wide range of topics, including political controversies, education reforms, artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, healthcare challenges, and public education debates. It highlights concerns about the misuse of AI, the impact of federal policies on education and healthcare, and the need for ethical oversight in technology and governance. The article also addresses societal issues such as authoritarianism, inequality, and the role of compassion in education.
### Key Points
- Seattle Schools continue their search for a new superintendent during the summer.
- Concerns about AI's role in education include privacy risks, ethical issues, increased teacher workloads, and its inability to address students' social needs.
- Trump's "Big Ugly Bill" proposes unregulated AI in schools for a decade, sparking fears of amplified inequities and harm to educational quality.
- Medicaid cuts in Trump's budget threaten rural hospitals, risking closures and reducing healthcare access in underserved areas.
- Diane Ravitch critiques billionaire-backed education reforms, emphasizing their failure to improve outcomes and their prioritization of profit over genuine progress.
- A temporary anti-Trump sculpture, "Dictator Approved," critiques authoritarianism, featuring a gold thumbs-up crushing the Statue of Liberty's crown.
- Trump's administration slashes Voice of America staff, undermining independent journalism and U.S. efforts to counter authoritarian propaganda.
- AI in education perpetuates systemic biases, lacks empathy, and risks dehumanizing learning, requiring ethical regulations and justice-driven development.
- Generative AI increases teacher workloads despite promises of efficiency and narrows perceptions of good work, raising concerns about collaboration and equity.
- Public education faces debates over equity, political neutrality, and its role as a public good versus a commodity.
- A proposed bond scheme by Senate Republicans could limit access to federal courts, undermining constitutional rights and favoring corporations.
- Compassion is more sustainable and effective than empathy in supporting children's emotional needs, as logic often fails to address distress.
- Democrats are urged to define principles, focusing on public good, individual rights, and rebuilding America after Trump, with attention to AI and global challenges.
- Adolescents' motivation in education relies on social relationships and respect, which AI fails to provide, highlighting the importance of human interaction.
- California offers free culinary training for school food service staff, focusing on Mediterranean-inspired recipes and healthy meal preparation.
- Grassroots efforts remain essential in resisting authoritarianism, promoting justice, and fostering progressive political movements.
