Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
7-28-25
7-28-25
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Wedding Edition (7/27) https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/07/icymi-wedding-edition-727.html
### Main Ideas
- The author reflects on personal challenges, including family health issues, a nephew's wedding, and technical problems with a desktop computer.
- Federal education funding was released, but future budget cuts remain a concern.
- Mercedes Schneider discusses the pitfalls of using AI tools like CheatGPT in education.
- Pew Research highlights that about 1 in 6 U.S. teachers hold second jobs.
- Pennsylvanians express support for fair school funding following a court ruling, though the state budget remains unresolved.
- Oklahoma's Ryan Walters faces controversy, including inappropriate office incidents and failing grades from a partnered charter school.
- Texas introduces stricter censorship policies for school libraries.
- Voucher programs negatively impact rural schools, per NEA Today.
- Jennifer Berkshire explores wealth transfer policies and their effects on education.
- Akil Bello clarifies misconceptions about AI's use of em dashes in standardized testing.
- Florida’s voucher system is criticized for misuse of taxpayer funds.
- Ohio's EdChoice debate highlights political tensions over school choice.
- AI companies stop disclaimers about chatbots not being medical professionals, raising educational concerns.
- International educators push back against AI in education, including an open letter on the topic.
- The author invites readers to subscribe to his newsletter for updates.
CURMUDGUCATION: AZ: Families Are Banking Taxpayer-Funded Voucher Money https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/07/ar-families-are-banking-taxpayer-funded.html
### Key Points
- Arizona’s universal school voucher program benefits wealthy families, not poor students as originally intended.
- Voucher funds are being spent on luxury items and private activities, while public schools face resource shortages.
- Oversight is lacking, with funds distributed before audits, and many families banking voucher money for future use.
- Critics highlight the program’s inequity and its potential to harm public school funding and state finances.
Big Education Ape: LET'S CHECK THIS WEEK'S TOP NEWS AND OTHER STORIES 7-26-25 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/07/lets-check-this-weeks-top-news-and_26.html
Larry Cuban discusses the persistence of traditional teaching practices in public schools, attributing this continuity to "dynamic conservatism," which balances innovation with maintaining established norms. Meanwhile, various educational and political topics are covered, including campaigns, public education challenges, and controversies surrounding figures like Ryan Walters and Donald Trump. The article also highlights Diane Ravitch's transformation into a defender of public education and explores issues such as privatization, charter schools, and immigration policies.
### Key Points
- Larry Cuban explains why teaching practices in public schools remain familiar across generations, citing "dynamic conservatism."
- Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters faces criticism for his actions and personal controversies.
- Diane Ravitch evolves from a conservative advocate to a staunch defender of public education against privatization efforts.
- Charter school issues, particularly at St. HOPE Charter Schools in Sacramento, are examined.
- Donald Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein and broader political controversies are discussed.
- AI integration in classrooms sparks debates about progress versus ethical concerns.
- Immigration enforcement under the Trump administration is criticized for its harshness.
- Weekly educational news roundups and blog highlights provide insights into public education developments.
Big Education Ape: "I WAS JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS": DOES THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE THEORY SHIELD TRUMP'S HENCHMEN https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/07/i-was-just-following-orders-does.html
"I WAS JUST FOLLOWING ORDERS": DOES THE UNITARY EXECUTIVE THEORY SHIELD TRUMP'S HENCHMEN
### Key Points
- The article explores the legal implications of the "just following orders" defense, focusing on whether the Unitary Executive Theory can shield Trump administration officials from accountability.
- The Unitary Executive Theory posits concentrated executive power in the president, potentially granting immunity to officials carrying out presidential orders.
- Historical precedents, such as the Nuremberg Trials, reject the "just following orders" defense, emphasizing individual accountability for illegal actions.
- Courts have traditionally been reluctant to extend immunity to lower-level officials acting on presidential orders, citing obligations to disobey unconstitutional or illegal directives.
- The Supreme Court's recent trend of expanding executive power raises concerns about undermining accountability and constitutional checks.
- Trump's administration faced numerous allegations of constitutional violations, including immigration policies and budgetary redirections.
- Psychological studies reveal that while coercion may reduce the sense of agency, ethical obligations remain intact, reinforcing the need for accountability.
Using the First Amendment to Abolish the First Amendment – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/07/27/using-the-first-amendment-to-abolish-the-first-amendment/
The First Amendment is being weaponized by the far right to undermine its original purpose of protecting democratic freedoms. Under the guise of defending liberty, free speech, and academic freedom, actions are being taken to silence dissent, rewrite history, and consolidate power. The article warns of authoritarian tactics disguised as patriotism and emphasizes the need to protect pluralistic democracy by defending education, dissent, and the true meaning of freedom.
### Key Points
- The far right uses the First Amendment to suppress opposing views, silencing dissent and criminalizing disagreement.
- Legislative efforts across the U.S. target diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, erasing collective memory and accountability.
- Project 2025 outlines plans to reshape governance, centralize education control, and defund initiatives supporting marginalized communities.
- Authoritarianism redefines liberty and rights, aiming to dominate rather than debate, undermining democratic pluralism.
- The erosion of academic freedom and censorship of books and educators reflect repression disguised as liberty.
- Fascism begins with language and laws that prioritize certain rights over others, threatening democracy incrementally.
- Defending the First Amendment and pluralistic democracy requires proactive action in education, public discourse, and advocacy.
What Marvel's Black Widow Helps Us Understand about Women in Pop Culture https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/07/27/what-marvels-black-widow-helps-us-understand-about-women-in-pop-culture/ via @plthomasEdD
### Key Points
- Charlize Theron criticizes Hollywood’s double standard in action movies, where male actors get more chances despite flops, while female actors face higher risks and fewer opportunities.
- Black Widow’s evolution over 60 years reflects the ongoing underestimation and hypersexualization of women in pop culture, both in comics and films.
- Scarlett Johansson acknowledges Black Widow's early hypersexualization in the MCU, noting parallels with comic book depictions catering to the male gaze.
- Despite Marvel’s limited commitment to Black Widow solo titles, the character has grown in prominence, showcasing the tension between market forces and social biases like sexism.
- Women creators, such as Kelly Thompson and Elena Casagrande, bring depth to female characters, but their contributions remain outliers in mainstream superhero media.
- Theron and Johansson’s voices highlight sexism in Hollywood, emphasizing the need for systemic change rather than placing responsibility on women victims of these biases.
In the Name of Dismantling Public Schools, Let Us Pray – Accountabaloney https://accountabaloney.com/in-the-name-of-dismantling-public-schools-let-us-pray/
### Key Points
- The Florida State Board of Education has started its monthly meetings with an invocation for the past two years, with Chair Ben Gibson aiming to set the "right posture."
- Chief Kelvin Cochran, a Senior Fellow at the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), delivered a recent invocation, representing a group known for conservative Christian legal advocacy.
- ADF is funded by conservative entities like the DeVos family and Koch brothers and is designated an anti-LGBT hate group by the SPLC due to its stances against LGBTQ rights, abortion, and transgender rights.
- ADF actively works to dismantle public education, promoting school vouchers that divert public funds to private religious institutions and pushing legal arguments against secular public schooling.
- Leaked documents reveal ADF's long-term goal to reshape education by enabling parents to claim public funds for religious or home schooling, aiming to dismantle the current education system.
- The article questions the rationale behind the Florida State Board of Education's collaboration with organizations like ADF that seek to undermine public education.
Schools Matter: AFT, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Public School Guinea Pigs http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/07/aft-microsoft-openai-and-public-school.html
### Key Points
- Microsoft partnered with AFL-CIO unions to promote AI adoption and train workers, including a focus on education through the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
- AFT received $23 million from Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to establish an AI training hub for 400,000 teachers, integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into classrooms.
- Concerns arise about the potential negative effects of AI tools on students' critical thinking, overreliance, and diminished problem-solving skills, as highlighted by Microsoft’s own research.
- Meghan O’Rourke’s reflections on AI reveal its ability to blur boundaries between tool and collaborator, raising concerns about emotional influence and dependency.
- The article questions the rush to implement AI in education and critiques Silicon Valley’s impact on children, suggesting potential harm and a loss of humanity.
Choosing Democracy: Where Do WE Go From Here ? https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2025/07/where-do-we-go-from-here.html
### Key Points
- Donald Trump's political influence is eroding due to scandals and internal dissent, though his MAGA base remains significant.
- Kamala Harris narrowly won the popular vote, highlighting the importance of voter turnout in battleground states.
- The Congressional Progressive Caucus holds 20% of the House and 5% of the Senate, with potential for expansion at local levels.
- Grassroots movements like the "50501" protests, involving over 10 million participants, are key in driving political and cultural change.
- Antonio Gramsci's theories of "war of position" and "war of movement" provide a framework for understanding the left's defensive strategies and tactical offensives.
- Trump’s scandals, including connections to Jeffrey Epstein, fuel legitimacy crises within the right-wing coalition.
- Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, such as "Pizzagate," reflect historical prejudices but require careful handling to avoid amplifying harmful narratives.
- Local elections serve as critical battlegrounds for both sides, fostering new strategies and diverse political leadership.
- The left must balance momentum, grassroots mobilization, and policy translation to reshape societal norms and achieve lasting change.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
7-27-25
7-27-25
This collection of articles and blog posts provides insights into various issues surrounding public education, politics, social justice, and cultural topics. It covers federal funding delays, controversies in public and charter schools, legal accountability, activism, and the implications of political decisions on democracy and equity.
### Key Points
- The Trump administration withheld $6.8 billion in federal education funding, causing uncertainty for school districts, but released $5 billion after public and congressional outcry.
- Larry Cuban explains the persistence of traditional teaching practices in public schools through "dynamic conservatism," which balances innovation with established norms.
- Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters faces allegations of displaying inappropriate content during a closed meeting, sparking bipartisan calls for investigation and accountability.
- The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) prioritized charter school expansion over student safety and academic success, renewing failing schools despite evidence of misconduct.
- Diane Ravitch evolved from a conservative advocate to a defender of public education, opposing privatization and advocating for equity.
- The Unitary Executive Theory is explored in the context of shielding Trump administration officials from accountability for controversial actions.
- Public health crises, including Medicaid cuts and rural hospital closures, threaten American society, alongside allegations of corruption in the Trump administration.
- Florida schools face controversies over book censorship and voucher programs lacking transparency, which undermine public education.
- Advocacy for public education emphasizes resistance to privatization, systemic inequality, and preserving democracy.
- Zohran Mamdani leads in the NYC mayoral race, challenging the Democratic Party's direction and sparking discussions on resistance movements.
- Teaching remains a mix of old and new methods due to flawed reform strategies misunderstanding the interaction between continuity and change.
- Cultural reflections include lighter content like poems, recipes, and personal anecdotes, alongside activism and media critiques.
- Unity leadership is criticized for spreading misinformation and undermining retiree health benefits, highlighting the need for union reform.
- Tennessee laws undermining bodily autonomy reflect broader attacks on democracy and civil rights.
- Supreme Court rulings on religious charter schools and disability rights raise concerns about inclusivity and equity in public education.
