Dante Alighieri, May I Introduce Donald J. Trump?
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Although the Italian poet Dante Alighieri completed “The Divine Comedy ”
more than 800 years ago, the story of the journey through Hell and
Purgatory into ...
Read and Learn from the Past
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I just finished reading “The Boys in the Light” by Nina Willner. This is a
wonderful World War II story of survival, faith, and brotherhood. I highly
recom...
Sociopath-in-Chief
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From Newsweek:
In a post on Truth Social early Wednesday morning, Trump shared the picture
and wrote: "Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know...
I Write the Songs
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As a music educator, I was always interested in having my students create
music, a goal that gets a lot of lip service in the profession (including
being o...
2026 California School Recognition Program
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California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
celebrates award-winning schools during the 2026 California School
Recognition Program.
The Lefty Who Threw Me Curveball
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Throughout my youth and into adulthood I played and coached baseball.
Like about 90 percent of the other players, I am right handed, which meant
I threw...
John Oliver on Chatbots
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Just in case you missed this one.
Oliver plays this one as close to straight as I've ever seen him do, I
suspect because he seems seriously and deeply an...
Speaking Truth: And May Day
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*The only good way to take down an authoritarian is democratically. *Here’s
another truth: Every mass mobilization that Indivisible has helped organ...
When the Phone Rings and the Email Lands
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Sometimes your phone rings, and your life can change in an hour. It does
not announce itself as a turning point. It feels ordinary at first, just
another m...
Even More Cartoons on AI
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The impact of AI and its uncertain consequences for the economy, education,
and daily life unfold daily. All of that uncertainty, and even fears, shows
up ...
April’s Parent Engagement Resources
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‘Easy, Positive, and Judgment Free.’ How Families Can Support Their
Children is one of my Ed Week posts. Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
That Build Fami...
Problems with the DOE’s AI Guidance
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April 25, 2026 This one-page summary is also posted as a pdf here. The DOE
deadline for feedback is May 8, 2026 via their survey at
on.nyc.gov/AiFeedbackN...
Rosenberg Fund for Children
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I went to visit my mom. April 6 – April 11. We went to a lot of doctor’s
appointments. That was hard. But we had a lot of time to chat. She was
happy I vis...
No Need Rushing for AI in Education
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By Thomas Ultican 4/20/2026 School districts throughout America are being
pushed to spend huge dollars to implement artificial intelligence (AI).
This Sili...
I Want You to March With Me This May Day
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I invite you to march with me this May Day, then organize to win elections
and protect our right to vote. Together, we can prove the power of
organized peo...
Stop the Charter School Cash Grab
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NPE celebrates Women's History month by highlighting the accomplishments of
10 inspiring women from Jane Addams to Ida B. Wells to Christa McAuliffe.
The...
Reflections on America, the world, and life
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I acknowledge that I rarely post here anymore. Folks should remember that I
am approaching my 80th birthday in less than 9 weeks, I am still teaching
ful...
Margie Lopez-Waite Out As CEO Of ASPIRA
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In a letter sent to parents, students, and staff members, the board of Las
Americas ASPIRA Academy announced that effective yesterday, 3/23/2026,
Margie Lo...
Shutting Down The Site
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Ten years ago, I ran for a seat on the LAUSD School Board of Education with
the goal to *Change the LAUSD*.
I am proud of the campaign we ran. We achieve...
A colleague looks back at 2025
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Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I get knocked down But I get
up again BETSY WOLF DEC 31READ IN APP I’ve been quiet for most of 2025.
Much of ...
The Company You Keep
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Even though the filing period for the 2026 elections isn't until April,
let's all pay close attention. The candidates lining up to run will tell
you more a...
This Is What Democracy Looks Like
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The polls for Prop 50, CA’s ballot initiative that counters MAGA’s illegal
gerry-mandering in Texas, opened Tuesday, November 4, 2025,…
The post This Is ...
Blogoversary #19 — Time to Move on
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Times have changed. I had a nice long run here, but let’s face it, it ended
a while ago. So I’ve moved. I’m not writing much any more, but when I do it
wil...
Il Papa è Morto
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Francis brought a distinct pastoral outlook to his papacy. A simple man, he
lived in a small apartment in the guesthouse. He sought to make the church
acce...
Mike Shulman the ARISE UFT Judenrat
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I was surprised to learn that Mike Shulman has aligned himself with ARISE.
I previously supported him, advocating that the Castle Doctrine could have
bee...
How Do We Fight Trump?
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Dear Friends, I don’t know when and why it hit me. But I suddenly realized
how serious Trump is about changing the country into something that
horrifies. I...
AIN’T IT AWFUL
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As the terrible feelings of dread and angst spread across the world the
great majority of the American people feel powerless before the onslaught
of those ...
Vote NO on the UFT Contract. Here is Why:
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The best reason to vote no on this contract is this: UFT Unity* lied* to us
in 2018. They misrepresented that contract. It was predicated on deals we
wer...
Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force
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I prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago
Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation.
The meetin...
There Is A Teacher Shortage.Not.
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THERE IS A TEACHER SHORTAGE. And just to be sure you understand, it’s not
that teachers don’t want to teach. It’s not that there aren’t enough
teachers cer...
Book Banning Turns to Dick and Jane
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Breaking News: Dateline February 4, 2022 - Parents in Dimwitty, Alabama
have asked the Dimwitty Board of Education to ban the children's primer *Fun
with...
Have You Heard Has a New Website
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TweetHave You Heard has a new website. Visit us at
www.haveyouheardpodcast.com to find our latest episodes and our entire
archive. And be sure to check out...
Follow me at Substack
-
I've moved. Follow me at Substack
I'm now posting regularly at Substack. You can subscribe for free to my new
Edu/Pol blog at michaelklonsky.substack.com
...
I’ve moved.
-
I’m on Substack now. You can continue to receive periodic posts for free.
Or you can read every post and comment for $5 a month, $60 a year.
fredklonsky.su...
Aspiring Teachers Get New Help Paying For College
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[image: colorful classroom pattern]
*; Credit: shuoshu/Getty Images*
Cory Turner | NPR
New rules kick in today that will help aspiring teachers pay for c...
Tips Akses Situs Judi Qq Tanpa Perlu Takut Nawala
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Kegiatan berjudi slot melalui situs judi qq online, sekarang sudah
dilakukan oleh banyak penjudi Indonesia. Tentu, Kamu yang sedang membaca
artikel ini a...
The Threat of Integration
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I have lived in the same house in the Miracle Mile section of Los Angeles
for over 30 years, where up until now I have had little or no interaction
with th...
We fight for a democracy worthy of us all!
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The nation stands at a crossroads, said NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa
in her final keynote address to the 2020 NEA Representative Assembly and
it’s up...
The Passing Of Chaz 1951-2020 Age 69
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I am the son of Chaz and like to inform you that he passed away this
afternoon from the COVID virus. My father passed in peace beside his loved
ones. We ar...
The Fight For Our Children
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*The number of suicides among people ages 10 to 24 nationally increased by
56 percent between 2007 and 2017, according to a new federal report showing
the ...
Read to Self: Just a Kid and a Book.
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Date: Monday, January 5, 2020 Place: My classroom Student: Mrs.Mims, could
we start doing Read to Self again because I got this great book for
Christmas an...
Reminiscences
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I just finished dumping the rest of my lesson plans. I guess I held on to
the calculus ones for so long because I spent so much time working on them
an...
Just Asking for some Teachers I know.
-
Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers stated, We must … recognize that
part of supporting our kids in the classroom means supporting the educators
who t...
Cara Menang Bermain Judi Bola Online
-
Bermain judi bola online tentu saja memiliki kesenangannya tersendiri baik
itu mendapatkan keuntungan maupun ketika menantikan hasil skor pada sebuah
perta...
A Critique of Standards-Based Grading
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It first happened to me about ten years ago. I was beginning my third year
of teaching in a new school in Washington, DC. Social studies teachers were
si...
Reduced time for testing? Not so fast.
-
NYSED and Commish Elia continue to say that the NYS Assessments are of
reasonable length, I completely disagree.
Here is what NYSED states are average expe...
The World According to Michelle Rhee
-
The men behind the curtain fashioning the brave new world of corporate run
education in America! Michelle Rhee is the founder of StudentsFirst, The
New T...
Whose Opinions Matter in Education World?
-
It's hard to identify education heroes and sheroes. And perhaps even harder
to pinpoint just whose work is slanted, paid-for and dishonest.
New Local Businesses in Sacramento
-
Starting a new local business in Sacramento is a monumental task, but can
be accomplished with footwork, perseverance and knowledge. One must learn
the loc...
Lesson Plan: Rhyme and Rhythm in Poetry
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I’ve started a recent unit on poetry with my class. I’m not a poet, and I’m
not a poetry fan (I don’t hate it, but I’m a prose gal), so this makes it
harde...
The Apotheosis of Betsy DeVos
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Betsy Devos has drawn few headlines in recent months, and that is a good
thing for the Secretary of Education. Her tenure began with Vice President
Mike P...
Education Is a Civic Question
-
In their final post to end Bridging Differences' decade-long run, Deborah
Meier and Harry Boyte urge readers to put the energy, talents, wisdom, and
hard w...
Site News: New Home for Education News & Commentary
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Quick! Get over there! The daily education news roundup and education
commentaries that you're probably looking for are now being published over
at The Gra...
Should We Be Grateful?
-
In an odd turn of events, and with little explanation, Michigan Governor
Rick Snyder has decided to return the state’s School Reform Office back to
the Dep...
An Open Letter to NC Lawmakers
-
An Open Letter to NC State Lawmakers and NC State Superintendent Mark
Johnson: I am a NC native, voter, and public school teacher. I am
addressing you all ...
The Secret to Fixing Schools (My Next Bestseller)
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The Secret to Fixing Schools (My next bestseller) Prologue I just finished
watching a fascinating documentary on Netflix entitled, “The Secret”. The
film p...
Farewell, Sleep
-
Today is the official last day of my spring break. I've done a scientific
survey: My natural bedtime is 2 AM, and my natural wake up time is 9:41
AM. Tom...
REPORT: States With the Best and Worst Schools
-
States With the Best (and Worst)Schools
By *Evan Comen, Michael B. Sauter, Samuel Stebbins and Thomas C. Frohlich*
January 20, 2017- http://247wallst.com
...
Test Refusal = People Power
-
In recent months, social media has been ablaze with talk of regular folk
taking action to resist the Trump agenda. Protests are a daily occurrence,
and ev...
Random Musings and Observations. . . .
-
I’ve been gone a while from the blogging scene. Some of my more regular
readers no doubt noticed but did not hassle me about it. Thank you for
that. Sinc...
AB 934: A LEGISLATIVE FIX FOR VERGARA?
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By Michael Stratford | in the Politco Morning Education Report | via email
05/24/2016 10:00 AM EDT :: Two national education groups are backing a
Califor...
MY NEW BLOG
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My new blog will consist of fictitious headlines, meant to be a blend of
humor and satire. I apologize ahead of time if any other satirical site has
simila...
Thank you
-
Dear Readers,
Thank you for visiting *The Perimeter Primate*. This blog is being retired
for the time being. Although I no longer post here, I do still s...
I am Retiring
-
I have some news: I am retiring from the PBS NewsHour and Learning Matters.
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other
conte...
New Beginnings: Kickstarter and EdWeek Teacher
-
Greetings to InterACT readers one and all! If you’ve been following posts
here recently you might recall that I’m moving my blogging activity to
other loca...
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School
-
*“With Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School closing, Newark families must
move on.”* The Star-Ledger (NJ), 6/25/2013
NEWARK — Bobby and Troy Shanks saw the...
' ON MY MIND , a film by Petra Richterová & Jennifer Galvin , is an abstract, Afro-cosmic film, aesthetically and symbolically grounded in African culture and New York history. Based on vanguard saxophonist and composer Marcus Strickland ’s latest track "On My Mind remix," urbanscapes and spiritual objects bring these artists into a rare, contemporary dialogue, reflecting the song’s timeless cont
Jazz legend Joshua Redman joined Duke Professor and Left of Black host Mark Anthony Neal at one of Durham’s iconic pubs, T he Pinhook , for a stirring discussion about the state of jazz, his own musical journey, and the legacy of his father–– great jazz saxophonist Walter Dewey Redman . Duke Performances brought Redman to Durham to stage his ongoing tribute concert, Still Dreaming , dedicated to
' Spike Lee ’s new Netflix film, Da 5 Bloods , follows a group of Black Vietnam War veterans who return to present-day Vietnam to find the body of their Squad Leader, Stormin Norm, who died in combat. Through archival clips and flashbacks, the film highlights the complicated position that many Black soldiers found themselves in during the Vietnam War, fighting for a cause they didn’t necessarily
With George Floyd as muse, Jaki Shelton Green offers a tribute to Black lives, befitting the master poet that she is. "Oh My Brother" is featured on her new recording The River Speaks of Thirst .
' The destruction of Black property, combined with policies designed to keep Black Americans behind their white counterparts, resulted in the racial wealth gap this country is still facing today, says William Darity , a professor of public policy, African and African American studies and economics, and director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University. This is attribut
Music and vision for "Oh, What a Beautiful City" from Dr. Guy's Musiqology's latest recording A Spiritual Vibe, Vol. 1 . The song features vocals from Bridget Ramsey .
' Spike Lee 's film, Da 5 Bloods , follows four black veterans who go back to present day Vietnam to bring home the remains of their beloved former squad leader who was killed in combat.' -- Morning Edition
' Gabrielle Union is a force. But before she became an actress, activist, and businesswoman, Gabrielle was a Black girl from Omaha trying to find Black community, belonging, and love in a largely white suburb in California. After years of difficult relationships and trying to fit the standards other people had set for her, she finally feels like she’s come into her own. And now, she's trying to i
'There's a long tradition of white people trying to understand what it would be like to step into black people's shoes. But the journalist Grace Halsell went one step further: She attempted to step into black people's skin. Code Switch spoke to professors— Alisha Gaines and Robin D. G. Kelley —who have spent a lot of time thinking about Halsell's experiment. Gaines is an English professor at Flor
'Da 5 Bloods , Spike Lee's new film, follows five friends who shed blood, sweat, and tears together in the 1st Infantry Division during the Vietnam War — and who return, after 50 years, to bring home the body of a fallen friend, and perhaps a treasure buried with him. Actor Delroy Lindo stars in Da 5 Bloods . He says it was a tough film to make. "When we wrapped in Saigon. I was aware of being qu
'Jefferson Davis Day is one of three holidays celebrating the Confederacy, in Alabama, and as protests continue, and symbols of our country’s racist legacy come toppling down in cities and towns nationwide, Congresswoman Terri Sewell says it’s time to end this holiday. " We need atonement to heal," she wrote . Sewell represents the 7th Congressional District of Alabama, which includes Selma, Birm
' Zoocrü is a Durham progressive jazz combo embedded in African diasporic music. They describe themselves more simply — Zoocrü is Black American music . Drummer and founding member Jonathan Curry wants listeners to understand the different lineages in Black American music. Between songs, the audience learns about the band’s influences and intentions — how and why they draw on North Carolina legen
'Writer William C. Anderson explains how capitalist logic reframes oppressed people as looters while obscuring the structural robbery at the heart of society, and calls for organizing and building new ways of life - outside, and against the state's murderous grasp. Anderson wrote the article ' Forget “Looting.” Capitalism Is the Real Robbery' for Truthout .' -- This is Hell! This is Hell! · These
'Africana studies scholar Yannick Giovanni Marshall explains how Black liberals work to police the possibilities of Black politics -- co-opting and neutering the critiques of radicals, in service of their own position in a society built on centuries of exploitation of Black life and labor. Marshall wrote the op-ed "Black liberal, your time is up" for Al Jazeera English .' -- This is Hell! This is
Credit: AFP via Getty Images 'NPR's Michel Martin speaks with professor Keisha Blain , author Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom , about the history of policing in the United States.' -- All Things Considered
by Mark Anthony Neal | @NewBlackMan| NewBlackMan (in Exile) “the church is a great archive of Black music.” -- Nikki Giovanni Amiri Baraka once wrote that Black music, “to retain its freshness, its originality, its specific expression of its own history and contemporary reality in each generation creates a ‘new music’.” This was yet another articulation of what Baraka once called the “changing s
'Over the past several years, we’ve watched Don Lemon go from a semi-conservative broadcast journalist to an emotionally expressive, openly opinionated public figure. The CNN anchor has even drawn the ire of President Trump. And Lemon is OK with that. “If the President is exhibiting racist behavior,” he tells Come Through with Rebecca Carroll , “it is incumbent on journalists to point that behavi
' Imara Jones joins us to talk about creating a truly inclusive Black Lives Matter movement, and getting back to the roots of Pride. Imara Jones is an award-winning journalist, and the creator of TransLash , a multi-episode series about what it is like to be transgender, especially a trans person of color, at a time of social backlash.' -- Nancy
' Lisa Lucas , Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, discusses the Twitter hashtag #PublishingPaidMe, where writers of color have revealed their book advances as well as the long-standing issues in the publishing