Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-5-25
8-5-25
Trump Foolishly Fired BLS Commissioner Because He Didn't Like the Data https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/04/trump-foolishly-fired-bls-commissioner-because-he-didnt-like-the-data/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after a report showed disappointing job growth and revised previous estimates downward.
- Trump accused the BLS of producing "rigged" numbers without evidence, claiming the data was politically biased against him.
- Gene Sperling, a former economic advisor, and other commentators highlighted that BLS data is produced independently by professionals, making Trump's accusations baseless.
- Trump’s decision raised concerns about the politicization of government data and its reliability under his administration.
- The article compares Trump’s actions to authoritarian leaders like Stalin and Turkey’s Erdogan, who manipulated or suppressed inconvenient data.
- Trump's history of disregarding facts includes altering maps, pressuring officials to support false claims, and rewriting historical narratives.
- Critics argue that firing McEntarfer undermines public confidence in government agencies and sets a dangerous precedent.
- Trump’s administration has been accused of aggressively steering information to align with his narrative, including altering exhibits and removing references to diversity.
- The article emphasizes the importance of independent data for democracy and warns about the risks of authoritarian control over information.
Prominent Scholar Cancels Class at Columbia to Protest Capitulation to Trump https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/04/prominent-scholar-cancels-class-at-columbia-to-protest-capitulation-to-trump/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Rashid Khalidi canceled his Columbia University class, protesting the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which he views as stifling academic freedom.
- Khalidi criticizes Columbia's collaboration with the Trump administration, arguing it suppresses honest discourse on Middle East history.
- He plans to deliver public lectures, with proceeds aiding Gaza’s universities, destroyed in the ongoing conflict.
- Khalidi condemns Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank, labeling them as discriminatory and genocidal.
- Columbia faces backlash for its repressive measures, including surveillance and external monitoring, which infringe upon academic freedom.
Thom Hartmann: Time for Progressives to Become Active In the Democratic Party https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/04/thom-hartmann-time-for-progressives-to-become-active-in-the-democratic-party/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Thom Hartmann urges progressives to learn from the Tea Party's success in radicalizing the Republican Party by taking control from the grassroots level.
- Historical examples like FDR's New Deal and LBJ's Great Society demonstrate how transformative policies can emerge from within a party.
- Hartmann stresses the importance of Precinct Committeemen in influencing party leadership and advancing candidates aligned with progressive values.
- Progressives face obstacles, including limited funding, corporate Democrats, and conservative misinformation, but grassroots organizing remains a viable path forward.
- The urgency to act is underscored by the far-right's dominance in the GOP and the need to counter its influence.
Big Education Ape: WOLVES IN WOOL: THE GREEDY HUSTLE OF DFER AND THE BILLIONAIRES TRYING TO TURN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INTO A PRIVATIZATION PINATA https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/wolves-in-wool-greedy-hustle-of-dfer.html
### Key Points
- President Trump’s attacks on civil rights protections for students and press freedoms.
- Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) accused of promoting privatization under the guise of progressivism, funded by billionaire donors.
- DFER’s recent push for school vouchers and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) faces backlash from unions and Democratic base.
- Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS) emerges in Southern states to counter privatization but raises questions about its funders and charter-friendly stance.
- Billionaires’ influence on education policy, prioritizing profit over equity, sparks criticism and resistance.
- Teachers, parents, and students actively oppose privatization efforts, advocating for public education as a community lifeline.
The Uppity Minority: Dominate Your Box – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/08/04/the-uppity-minority-dominate-your-box/
### Key Points
- "Dominate Your Box" is a strategy for thriving within constrained systems by mastering one's role with precision and focus.
- The approach transforms limitations into platforms for growth and emphasizes building undeniable success to counter systemic inequities.
- It serves as a grounding force for leaders of color facing institutional resistance, focusing on purpose and results rather than compliance.
- The strategy rejects the myth of overcommitment and prioritizes core responsibilities to accumulate power and credibility.
- Rooted in cultural legacies of resilience, it is a modern articulation of survival and resistance through excellence.
- "Dominate Your Box" insists on strategic excellence and building a legacy that transcends institutional boundaries.
Part One: Decline Explained - Network For Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/part-one-decline-explained/
- The report "Doomed to Fail" analyzes charter school closures from 1998-2022, highlighting instability in the charter school sector compared to public schools.
- Using data from the Common Core of Data, the study examines closure rates, reasons for closures, and the impact on families, emphasizing that many charter schools were inherently set up to fail.
- Findings reveal that more than 25% of charter schools close within five years, with significant harm to students and families due to lack of stability and insufficient notice.
- Media coverage highlights startling failure rates, with examples including Michigan's 1-in-3 charter school failure rate and Ohio's financial challenges in the charter sector.
- The report calls attention to the negative consequences of "charter school churn" on the students these institutions aim to serve.
Weekend Quotables Trump's Wharton School Math https://michaelklonsky.substack.com/p/weekend-quotables-cb2
- President Trump made exaggerated claims about reducing drug prices, referencing implausible percentages.
- Trump's base is eroding due to controversies such as the Epstein scandal, labor commissioner firing, tariffs, and ICE roundups.
- Democratic support is declining, partly due to their stance on Israel's war on Gaza, which alienates voters.
- Texas Democratic lawmakers fled to Chicago to protest a Trump-backed redistricting plan; Governor Abbott threatened their removal.
- Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral primary with record votes, driven by his strong stance on Palestinian rights.
- Kamala Harris expressed disillusionment with the broken system and lack of democratic guardians.
- Amanda Litman criticized Biden for failing to communicate his achievements while facing backlash over unfulfilled promises and Gaza genocide.
- Lawrence Summers compared McEntarfer’s firing to actions worse than Nixon’s, signaling deep political turmoil.
Teacher Tom: Life is Messy https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/life-is-messy.html
### Key Points
- Preschool teaching is inherently messy, involving bodily discharges, emotions, social situations, and play, which contributes to its undervaluation in society.
- Life itself is unpredictable and messy, defying attempts to impose order or consistency, as seen in both education and everyday experiences.
- Efforts to systematize education often fail because they ignore the inherent complexity and unpredictability of human development.
- Embracing the messiness of life allows for deeper understanding and appreciation of its beauty and purpose, especially through the lens of young children.
- The author reflects on the futility of excessive organization, using anecdotes like an architect’s obsession with sock arrangements, to highlight the contrast between theory and real life.
- Preschool teachers play a unique role in embracing the chaos of life while nurturing new humans to see the world anew.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Oh Hell No https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/08/oh-hell-no.html?spref=tw
### Key Points
- Democrats are divided on school vouchers, with DFER supporting them and others opposing.
- Criticism of Arizona’s universal voucher system includes misuse of funds, exclusion of special education and homeless students, and discrimination by private religious schools.
- Concerns about privatization of education and its impact on public schools are raised.
- Seattle Public Schools faces issues of nepotism and controversies in leadership appointments.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Public Education News https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/08/public-education-news.html?spref=tw
Seattle Schools Community Forum discusses various topics on education, including budget planning, school supply costs, innovative reading programs, national education policies, space exploration initiatives, and local school district challenges such as nepotism.
### Key Points
- Seattle Public Schools Board formed a new Ad Hoc Budget Committee, with its first meeting scheduled for August 7th, 2025.
- Parents face financial stress due to back-to-school supply costs, averaging $144 per child, while teachers often spend their own money on supplies.
- Cloud Peak Elementary achieved over 80% reading proficiency through structured interventions, professional learning communities, and targeted support/enrichment programs.
- National education funding issues continue under the Trump administration, with delayed release of federal dollars to districts.
- NASA plans to expedite building a nuclear reactor on the moon and replacing the International Space Station amidst budget cuts and competition with China and Russia.
- Concerns about nepotism in Seattle Schools, with personnel being promoted based on personal connections rather than merit.
- Advanced learning services and their role in Seattle Schools were discussed by Director Geary during a past Board meeting.
Janresseger: Trump Undercuts Civil Rights Protection for Students Historically Denied Equal Educational Opportunity | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/trump-undercuts
### Key Points
- The Trump administration targeted DEI initiatives in public schools, threatening federal funding and closing regional civil rights offices.
- Investigations were redirected to prioritize complaints aligned with the administration's agenda, often bypassing traditional protocols.
- Policies supporting marginalized groups, such as transgender students and racial equity programs, faced scrutiny and legal challenges.
- The administration issued executive orders limiting the use of disparate impact in civil rights investigations and reinterpreting Title VI and Title IX.
- Native American mascots were controversially defended by the administration under the guise of preserving history, despite evidence of harm to Native students.
glen brown: Trump Seeks to Undo Press Protections https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/08/trump-seeks-to-undo-press-protections.html
- Donald Trump has filed defamation lawsuits against major media outlets, aiming to redefine libel laws and make it easier for public officials to sue for damages.
- The lawsuits challenge the precedent set by the Supreme Court’s 1964 ruling in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, which protects the press from defamation claims unless “actual malice” is proven.
- The Sullivan ruling emphasized the importance of free speech and press protections in a democracy, ensuring public officials cannot silence criticism through intimidation or litigation.
- The decision remains vital for safeguarding the press’s role in holding power accountable and maintaining open public discourse.
Dividing Lines Hurt Kids: How Gerrymandering Cuts Children https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/dividing-lines-hurt-kids-how-gerrymandering
### Key Points
- Gerrymandering allows politicians to choose their voters, creating unresponsive districts and eroding democracy.
- Safe gerrymandered districts suppress voter turnout, discourage candidates, and disenfranchise voters.
- Gerrymandering pushes political debate to extremes, catering to ideological fringes rather than pragmatic policymaking.
- Texas’ new congressional maps aim to create a Republican supermajority, ignoring demographic and political realities.
- The new maps dilute minority votes and divide communities, making representation harder for vulnerable populations.
- Gerrymandering reduces attention to issues affecting children, such as health care, education, and poverty.
- Hyper-partisan districts prioritize divisive cultural issues over bipartisan policies that benefit children.
- Gerrymandering contributes to less support for programs benefiting children, linked to racial and generational divides.
- Historical examples like Northern Ireland and Selma illustrate the dangers of exclusionary political practices.
- Gerrymandering distorts elections and values, failing to prioritize the needs of children and undermining democracy.
Webinar: Tuesday at 2 School Nutrition Town Hall Join us for the next California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) Tuesday at 2 Town Hall, scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 2 p.m. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/townhall2025aug26.asp
- The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division will host a free "Tuesday at 2 School Nutrition Town Hall" webinar on August 26, 2025, covering federal and state policies, funding opportunities, and best practices for Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs).
- Draft webinar slides will be accessible on the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS) web page by 10 a.m. on the day of the Town Hall, with final slides posted afterward.
- Registration is required for the webinar, and attendees will receive confirmation and reminders via email. Technical support for Zoom is available through the Zoom Help Center.
- Reasonable accommodations, such as live captioning, are available for individuals with disabilities; requests must be emailed seven days prior to the event.
- Resources shared during past Town Halls include links to School Nutrition Program Specialists, USDA Policy Memos, procurement review guidelines, and SUN Bucks resources.
- Contact information for various inquiries related to CNP operations, training, and procurement is provided.
- Trending topics in nutrition include SUN Bucks, income eligibility scales for 2025–26, the Universal Benefits Application, and updates on grant allocations.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-4-25
8-4-25
The article is a compilation of various blog posts and discussions related to education, politics, social issues, and cultural commentary. It explores topics such as the privatization of public schools, the stagnation in the charter school sector, Medicaid cuts, authoritarian tendencies in politics, humanitarian crises, and the legacy of figures like Ozzy Osbourne. The content reflects on systemic inequities, the influence of billionaires on public education, debates over teaching methods, and broader societal challenges.
### Key Points
- Billionaires and organizations like DFER are accused of attempting to privatize public education for profit.
- President Trump is criticized for undermining civil rights protections for students historically denied equal educational opportunities.
- Debates within the Democratic Party over school vouchers highlight divisions in education policy.
- Working with young children is described as messy but rewarding, emphasizing the emotional and physical challenges of preschool teaching.
- Thom Hartmann urges progressives to actively engage in the Democratic Party to counter the radical Right's success.
- A roundup of education-related topics critiques AI literacy for preschoolers, school takeover policies, and Christian nationalism's influence on schools.
- A report reveals stagnation in the charter school sector despite increased federal investment, with closures and financial abuses prevalent.
- Medicaid cuts under H.R. 1 threaten health coverage for millions of children, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups and school-based services.
- A Gallup poll shows 83% of Democrats oppose the U.S.-backed war on Gaza, highlighting a disconnect between public opinion and policy.
- Donald Trump’s actions, including dismissing officials and historical revisionism, are compared to Orwellian authoritarianism.
- Republican senators’ visit to Russia raises concerns about alignment with Russian goals amid election interference reports.
- Trump’s concessions to Russia, including discussions on recognizing Crimea, reflect controversial foreign policy decisions.
- Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy in heavy metal music is celebrated, with reflections on his impact, challenges, and farewell concert.
- Florida lawmakers repealed school start time reforms due to underfunded transportation, diverting funds toward private school vouchers.
- Competing traditions of teaching—teacher-centered vs. student-centered—continue to shape education debates, with hybrid approaches persisting.
- Climate change and water mismanagement are causing the Great Salt Lake to shrink, leading to ecological and economic consequences.
- AI ethics and its potential dangers, such as self-preservation tactics, are discussed in the context of societal risks.
- Penny Schwinn’s withdrawal from the Deputy Secretary of Education nomination reflects privatization debates and ideological divides.
