Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
House Republicans Plan to Recast January 6 to Absolve Trump https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/24/house-republicans-plan-to-recast-january-6-to-absolve-trump/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- House Republicans created a subcommittee to reinterpret the January 6 Capitol attack, claiming it was staged by anti-Trump forces and the FBI.
- The subcommittee is led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, with members who have promoted conspiracy theories.
- Democrats added members to counterbalance the subcommittee's narrative.
- Loudermilk has unilateral subpoena authority, enabling him to pursue investigations without majority approval.
- The subcommittee aims to downplay the Capitol attack and validate Trump's claim it was a "day of love."
NOLA Parent: After 20 Years of "Ed Reform," a $1 Billion Failure https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/24/a-nola-parent-after-20-years-of-ed-reform-a-1-billion-failure/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- New Orleans' education reform after Hurricane Katrina has led to increased inequality and modest academic improvements, despite significant funding and resources.
- Charter schools in New Orleans struggle to provide adequate services, particularly for special-needs students, and face high teacher turnover rates.
- The system disproportionately benefits administrators while disempowering communities, with racial disparities worsening.
- Issues like falsified grades and exclusionary practices reveal flaws in the charter system, undermining its promise of "school choice."
- Special-needs students continue to face systemic violations, and economic inequities persist, exacerbating racial wealth gaps.
- Charter schools often neglect essential programs and focus solely on tested subjects, limiting holistic education.
- The overall assessment of the experiment is that it failed to deliver substantial benefits, leaving vulnerable families and communities struggling.
The Failure of "School Choice" in Denver https://dianeravitch.net/2025/09/24/the-failure-of-school-choice-in-denver/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Education reform policies have shifted public education toward privatization, treating schools as commodities rather than community investments.
- Charter schools and vouchers segregate students by class and race, weaken community ties, and drain resources from public schools.
- Both Republican and neoliberal Democratic agendas promote privatization through different mechanisms, such as vouchers and the charter-centric portfolio model.
- Denver Public Schools became a national model for privatization, implementing unified enrollment, school closures, and charter expansion, funded by billionaire-backed initiatives.
- Decades of research show that standardized test scores reflect socioeconomic disparities rather than school quality, and replacing schools with charters has not closed racial achievement gaps.
- Philanthropists and wealthy donors like the Walton Family Foundation, Koch brothers, and Reed Hastings have funded privatization efforts, influencing school board elections and policies.
- The portfolio model in Denver led to significant churn, instability, and loss of democratic control, sparking community backlash and teacher strikes.
- Trump’s administration has intensified privatization efforts, pushing for federal vouchers and dismantling public governance of education.
- Privatization policies deepen inequality, destabilize communities, and treat education as a marketplace rather than a democratic public good.
- The article calls for public action to protect education as a right, emphasizing its importance for democracy and social cohesion.
Big Education Ape: THE MYTH OF GUN VIOLENCE AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE: A BITTER RECIPE FOR DIVISION #NoKings #ProtestOct18 #DemVoice1 #WeWontStop https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-myth-of-gun-violence-as-american-as.html
### Key Points
- Teachers in 2024 earned 26.9% less than similarly educated professionals, highlighting the worsening teacher pay penalty.
- Gun violence is critiqued as falsely being portrayed as intrinsic to American identity, with Trump’s divisive rhetoric exacerbating societal tensions.
- Trump’s language is linked to spikes in hate crimes, threats, and political violence, undermining unity and amplifying division.
- Movements like No Kings 2.0 aim to counter division by promoting peace and community-driven initiatives.
- Historical leaders like MLK and RFK are cited as examples of using rhetoric to heal rather than divide.
Big Education Ape: THE GREAT AI NEWS SMACKDOWN: WHO NAILED IT AND WHO FLOPPED? SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-great-ai-news-smackdown-who-nailed_24.html
### Key Points
- Teachers in 2024 earned 26.9% less than similarly educated professionals, marking a record high in the teacher pay penalty.
- AI revolution impacts are becoming more evident, with cartoons on AI reflecting societal concerns.
- Denver's "School Choice" reforms are criticized for negatively affecting public schools and students.
- The Great AI News Smackdown compares the effectiveness of AI news models: Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT 5, and Copilot. Grok is deemed the winner for its comprehensive coverage.
- Gemini focuses on dramatic and political stories but lacks international depth, making it akin to tabloid reporting.
- Grok excels in international coverage, tying together geopolitical, economic, and environmental threads effectively.
- ChatGPT 5 offers concise summaries but lacks depth, making it feel vague.
- Copilot provides localized updates and quirky stories but fails in global news reporting.
- Major global headlines include Typhoon Ragasa’s devastation in Asia, Russia’s attack on Ukrainian civilians, and Israel’s escalated assault on Lebanon.
- Trump’s UN address highlights U.S. support for global initiatives while pushing controversial claims about vaccines and Tylenol.
- Nepalese Prime Minister resigns amid protests, reflecting political instability.
- The U.S. Supreme Court considers expanding presidential power over federal agencies.
- Norway’s left-wing coalition wins elections, marking a political shift.
- WHO rebukes claims linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, citing lack of evidence.
- Cardiovascular disease deaths rise globally, attributed to modifiable risk factors.
- The "One Piece" flag becomes a symbol of youth-led resistance worldwide.
- Local updates from Rosemont include fatal crashes and community auctions.
Big Education Ape: NO KINGS II -TECH TITANS AND TRUST BUSTERS: HOW AMERICA'S GADGET FETISH IS HANDING DEMOCRACY TO THE BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/no-kings-ii-tech-titans-and-trust.html
Lawmakers and activists are calling for investigations into alleged corruption involving Trump administration officials and broader concerns about the erosion of democracy due to corporate monopolies, media consolidation, and unchecked technological advancements. The article highlights historical trust-busting efforts and advocates for renewed antitrust action to counter the growing influence of billionaires and tech giants.
### Key Points
- Allegations of corruption in the Trump administration spark calls for investigations and impeachment proceedings.
- The article critiques America's "gadget fetish," which enables tech billionaires to dominate democracy through monopolies and AI.
- Historical examples of monopolistic practices, such as Standard Oil's dominance, illustrate the dangers of unchecked corporate power.
- Trust-busting laws like the Sherman and Clayton Acts historically curbed monopolies, but deregulation since the 1980s has weakened antitrust enforcement.
- Supreme Court rulings, including Citizens United, have amplified corporate influence in politics, undermining democratic processes.
- Media ownership concentration by figures like Rupert Murdoch and Elon Musk threatens unbiased journalism and civic discourse.
- AI tools are enabling oligarchs to manipulate public opinion and further entrench monopolistic control.
- The article calls for a new wave of trust-busting reforms to dismantle tech monopolies, regulate media mergers, and curb political donations.
Try Out My New Free AI Chatbot For ELL Teachers - Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/
- A new free AI chatbot for ELL teachers has been launched, utilizing a specific knowledge base.
- Videos and resources on topics like nuclear arms race, alien life, and global economies are being added to curated lists for educational purposes.
- Funding for English Language Learners is under threat from the Trump administration.
- Google’s AI-powered Mixboard tool has been released, but there are concerns about its practicality compared to Jamboard.
- Infographics and videos on water stress and feedback performance are added to educational resources.
- Chicky, a free AI-powered language-learning tool, is introduced for learning multiple languages.
- Books and resources offering instructional strategies for subjects like Social Studies, English, Math, Science, and ELL classrooms are highlighted.
- Insights and strategies for motivating students through engaging lesson plans and parental involvement initiatives are shared.
- Blog posts, radio shows, and articles on education topics are available, including contributions to major platforms like Education Week and the New York Times.
- The blog has received 53,772 page views between Aug. 24th and Sep. 24th.
King Mike's Used Cars They're better than new! https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/king-mikes-used-cars
- The article humorously critiques King Mike's Used Cars, which symbolizes questionable practices in leadership and decision-making, particularly regarding health care plans.
- It highlights manipulative tactics such as offering cash incentives for votes and misleading promises about pensions and refunds.
- The author sarcastically describes a health care plan where decisions are made by a hand-picked committee, with no transparency or user input.
- It criticizes the lack of accountability, privacy violations, and the threat of reverting retirees to Medicare Advantage if they don't comply.
- The article underscores the author's frustration with union leadership and their resistance to meaningful reforms.
Schools Matter: Jimmy Kimmel is Back! http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/09/jimmy-kimmel-is-back.html
- The blog highlights the importance of peer influence in a child's learning over teacher characteristics, referencing James Coleman’s 1972 statement.
- The blog includes various posts and topics such as "No Excuses" teaching, the impact of poverty on education, and critiques of corporate education reform.
- The archive showcases a wide range of educational and social issues discussed, including testing, teacher experiences, and systemic challenges in education.
- Specific posts from September 2025 address topics like Jimmy Kimmel's return, social media controversies, political events, and educational reform debates.
- The blog reviews books and essays on education, highlighting issues such as public school challenges, testing policies, and teacher development.
THE GREAT AI NEWS SMACKDOWN: SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 EDITION https://ru4people.substack.com/p/the-great-ai-news-smackdown-september-63a
### Key Points
- Gemini was praised for its detailed and accurate reporting, including the Ryan Routh trial verdict, Trump’s UN address, Typhoon Ragasa, and other major stories.
- Grok provided dramatic and detailed coverage but included less-prominent headlines and sensational spins, slightly lowering its score.
- Copilot excelled in bite-sized summaries and local news but failed to cover critical stories like the Routh trial.
- ChatGPT 5 missed key stories and delivered overly abstract, analytical summaries that lacked specific details.
- Major stories covered included the Routh trial verdict, Trump’s UN speech, Typhoon Ragasa’s destruction, drug-resistant bacteria rise, Jimmy Kimmel’s return, Russia-North Korea agreement, and United Airlines ground stop.
- Gemini stood out for its comprehensive coverage of international and business news, including Disney’s price hike and the Supreme Court’s review of presidential power expansion.
- Grok highlighted dramatic global stories such as Israel’s Gaza operations, Nepal PM resignation, and heavy rains in India.
- Copilot uniquely covered local news from Rosemont, California, showcasing its ability to provide granular updates.
- ChatGPT 5 focused on high-level narratives but failed to provide actionable details, such as in its coverage of Trump’s UN address and Ukraine war.
Teacher Tom: Partnering With Parents One Preschool at a Time https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/partnering-with-parents-one-preschool.html
### Key Points
- Human dependency periods are longer than most species, but this isn't necessarily due to superior intelligence or social complexity.
- Other long-lived species often maintain lifelong interdependence, showcasing the importance of communal care.
- Modern society isolates children, depriving both them and adults of mutual growth and care, which contributes to societal issues.
- Interaction with children can inspire adults to make better choices and become more creative, playful, and empathetic.
- Teacher Tom advocates for creating "learning villages" through active community engagement and parent partnerships to foster healthy development.
glen brown: Trump's administration's actions violated fundamental constitutional rights https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/09/trumps-administrations-actions-violated.html
- The article discusses the role and consciousness of a writer, quoting Ambrose Bierce, Albert Camus, and Bertha Brown, emphasizing resistance to oppression and detachment from societal constructs.
- A satirical bronze statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein was installed on the National Mall, critiquing Trump through artistic symbolism, including references to past sculptures mocking his presidency.
- The blog explores political issues such as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, his undermining of free speech, and controversial policies, including his stance on antifa and healthcare.
- Various societal and global issues are covered, including pensions, social justice, climate change, healthcare, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reflecting the blog's wide-ranging focus.
- The blog library spans years of content, with recurring themes like domestic terrorism, education reform, racial injustice, and union-related matters.
Are You Ready for Even More Cartoons on AI? https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/09/24/are-you-ready-for-even-more-cartoons-on-ai/ via @CubanLarry
- The article discusses the early stages of the AI revolution, emphasizing its potential impacts, dangers, and consequences, which are gradually becoming more apparent.
- Humor, specifically through cartoons, is highlighted as a unique way to convey insights about AI that are not easily captured in traditional formats like essays or op-eds.
- The author shares cartoons to illustrate society's growing dependence on AI, emerging awareness of machine learning, and accompanying fears about its implications.
- The post includes references to previous entries on AI-related cartoons and broader themes in education, teaching practices, and policy reform.
Education Research Report: The teacher pay penalty hit a record high in 2024 https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/
- Teachers faced a record 26.9% pay penalty compared to similarly educated professionals in 2024, as reported by the Economic Policy Institute and CEPR.
- Over three decades, teachers’ real weekly wages dropped by 5.3%, while wages for other college graduates increased by over 30%.
- Gender disparities in the teacher pay penalty were noted, with men experiencing a 36.4% gap and women a 21.5% gap.
- Teachers earned less than other college graduates in every state, with pay gaps ranging from -10.0% in Rhode Island to -38.5% in Colorado.
- The teacher pay penalty exceeded 25% in 20 states, and better benefits packages did not offset the wage gap.
- In 2024, the total compensation gap for teachers was -17.1%, emphasizing the need for competitive pay to attract and retain qualified educators.
- Report author Sylvia Allegretto stressed that closing the pay gap is vital for improving teacher recruitment, retention, and public education outcomes.
NYC Employee PPO - Getting Information It's easy to know who not to trust https://jd2718.substack.com/p/nyc-employee-ppo-getting-information
- The article discusses the proposed new healthcare plan for NYC in-service employees and pre-Medicare retirees, highlighting the polarized views between Unity supporters and opponents who base their stance on political motives rather than the plan's actual content.
- The Professional Staff Congress (PSC) held a Zoom meeting where strengths, concerns, and questions about the healthcare plan were explored. Trustworthy insights were provided during the session, including a summary by James Davis and Q&A with healthcare policy expert Barbara Caress.
- PSC strongly advocates for self-insurance as a cost-saving strategy.
- The article mentions updates and discussions around UFT activities, including election results and leadership changes within the Retired Teachers Chapter.
Poem: bloodied 2:31 am https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/09/24/poem-bloodied-231-am/ via @plthomasEdD
The article is a reflective and poetic piece by Dr. P.L. Thomas, blending personal memories, emotions, and imagery. It centers on themes of mortality, familial connections, love, and existential contemplation. The author recounts an early morning experience involving physical discomfort and bleeding, which evokes memories of his father and a deep connection to his partner. The narrative intertwines physical sensations with emotional and symbolic reflections, creating a poignant exploration of vulnerability and human relationships.
### Key Points
- The author wakes up at 2:31 AM, noticing dried blood on his earlobe, leading to a moment of self-reflection and memories of his father.
- Observations of his partner and the environment evoke sensory details and emotional connections, such as her perfume and a strand of hair.
- The author recalls a traumatic memory of finding his father covered in blood due to a bleeding ulcer, reflecting on the inevitability of mortality.
- Themes of aging, existential worry, and the desire for permanence in relationships are explored deeply.
- The article also includes references to broader topics like education, social issues, and literature through its categories and tags.
My Imaginary Friend Is a Soulless Machine - Stu https://bloom2.substack.com/p/my-imaginary-friend-is-a-soulless
- Peter Greene critiques the idea of teaching kids to be polite to AI, questioning why such a topic is even considered relevant.
- Greene argues that AI is a soulless tool, not a living being, and treating it as such could mislead children into anthropomorphizing machines.
- The author agrees with Greene, emphasizing that children are vulnerable to manipulation and should not be encouraged to view devices as conscious companions.
- The author personally uses polite language with AI out of habit but distinguishes this from the risks posed to children by such behavior.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
This article provides a comprehensive overview of various topics, including education reforms, political controversies, AI advancements, societal issues, and global conflicts. It discusses challenges in public education, critiques authoritarian policies, evaluates AI models for news reporting, and highlights the importance of critical thinking and democracy.
### Key Points
- Teachers face a record pay penalty in 2024, earning 26.9% less than similarly educated professionals.
- Authoritarians suppress satire and dissent, fearing ridicule as a potent delegitimizing force.
- Post-Katrina education reforms in New Orleans led to conflicting narratives about success, increased segregation, and high teacher turnover.
- ICE's aggressive tactics under Trump’s administration raise concerns about rights violations and professionalism.
- Trump’s UN speech included false claims, self-praise, and dismissive remarks about climate change and global diplomacy.
- Allegations of corruption and monopolistic practices spark calls for trust-busting reforms to counter tech billionaires' influence on democracy.
- AI models like Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT 5, and Copilot are evaluated for news reporting, with Grok declared the winner for balanced coverage.
- Randi Weingarten’s book highlights public education’s role in democracy and counters authoritarian attacks.
- Ohio’s legislature underfunds public schools while granting billions in tax breaks to businesses, exacerbating inequities.
- Body language is a critical indicator of trust and betrayal in leadership contexts.
- Success Academy charter schools face allegations of legal violations, coercion, and misuse of public funds.
- School privatization in Ohio through EdChoice vouchers disproportionately impacts poorer districts and exacerbates inequality.
- Seattle School Board addresses enrollment loss, budget issues, and inequities in resource allocation.
- America’s gun culture perpetuates school shootings and gun violence, with lax regulations contributing to the crisis.
- Jesse Hagopian’s poem critiques oppression and highlights activism in education and justice.
- NYC Comptroller audits reveal challenges in reducing class sizes and ensuring equitable public education funding.
- Fascists target educators to suppress critical thinking, which is essential for democracy and resisting propaganda.
- Federal school vouchers undermine public education by redirecting funds to private schools and increasing federal control.
- AI advancements in education tools and reporting are reshaping news consumption and instructional strategies.
- The normalization of school shootings reflects America’s peculiar attachment to guns and failure to enact preventative measures.
- Public resistance grows against Trump administration policies targeting education, free speech, and dissent.
OPERATION DESTROY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOILED BY RANDI WEINGARTEN'S NEW BOOK 'WHY FASCISTS FEAR TEACHERS' - A SATIRE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/operation-destroy-public-schools-foiled.html
The article humorously critiques the Trump administration's efforts to undermine public education, focusing on the release of Randi Weingarten's book *Why Fascists Fear Teachers*. The book highlights how education is essential for democracy and counters authoritarian attempts to defund public schools, promote private academies, and ban critical thinking. Through satire, the narrative explores the cultural and political battles over public education and emphasizes the importance of teachers and unions in preserving democratic values.
WHY FASCISTS FEAR TEACHERS: A WITTY EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION’S ROLE IN DEMOCRACY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/09/why-fascists-fear-teachers-witty.html
### Key Points
- Randi Weingarten’s book, *Why Fascists Fear Teachers*, explores the critical role of public education in preserving democracy and why authoritarian regimes target schools and educators.
- Public schools are described as incubators for democracy, teaching critical thinking, inclusivity, and collaboration among diverse groups, which authoritarian forces see as threats.
- Teachers are portrayed as defenders of truth and democracy, empowering students to question authority and understand systemic inequality, making them targets for authoritarian regimes.
- The book critiques Trump administration policies like defunding schools, promoting private school vouchers, and misusing critical race theory (CRT) to undermine public education.
- Historical examples show how fascist regimes have consistently attacked education to suppress dissent, from Nazi book burnings to modern censorship.
- Teachers’ unions are highlighted as defenders of democracy and public education, with their importance growing post-COVID due to improved public perception.
- The book emphasizes critical thinking as a cornerstone of democracy, making educated citizens harder to manipulate and resistant to propaganda.
- Weingarten calls for protecting public education, supporting teachers, and encouraging teaching as a transformative career for society.
