Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
6-10-25
Florida: College Presidencies Go to Grifters and GOP Cronies. Merit Doesn't Count. https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/10/florida-college-presidencies-go-to-grifters-and-gop-cronies-merit-doesnt-count/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Florida's GOP leaders have politicized the state's university system, prioritizing loyalty over merit in appointing college presidents.
- Politicians with no higher education experience are securing high-paying roles, often by attacking diversity and inclusion initiatives as a distraction.
- Examples include Richard Corcoran, who received a $1 million salary despite lacking qualifications, and other political appointees receiving lucrative contracts.
- The trend extends to other colleges, with unqualified GOP figures being appointed to leadership roles, sometimes requiring rule changes to accommodate them.
- A recent incident revealed hypocrisy, as a board member exposed Paul Renner's secret attempt to secure a $3 million presidency while criticizing diversity.
- Qualified candidates like Santa J. Ono and Vice Admiral Sean Buck are often overlooked or undermined in favor of political allies.
- Former GOP House Speaker John Thrasher was an exception, demonstrating statesmanship and effective leadership, contrasting with current trends.
Brookings Analysis: Trump's "School Choice" Plan Enables Waste, Fraud, and Abuse https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/10/brookings-analysis-concludes-that-trump-school-choice-permits-waste-fraud-and-abuse/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- ECCA creates a $5 billion federal tax-credit scholarship program, allowing wealthy individuals to exploit tax shelters and avoid capital gains taxes.
- The program risks redistributing funds from poor and rural areas to wealthier communities, exacerbating inequality.
- ECCA offers minimal regulation for scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs), enabling potential fraud, discrimination, and misuse of funds.
- The bill lacks transparency, quality-control measures, and evidence of improving educational outcomes.
- Critics argue it diverts public education funds, disproportionately benefits the wealthy, and may increase federal deficits.
Gary Legum: ABC Punishes Reporter for Accurate Description of Stephen Miller https://dianeravitch.net/2025/06/10/gary-legum-abc-punishes-reporter-for-accurate-description-of-stephen-miller/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- ABC News suspended reporter Terry Moran for a tweet criticizing Stephen Miller, citing a breach of journalistic objectivity.
- The tweet described Miller as a hateful figure whose actions align with Trump’s political agenda, sparking backlash from the White House.
- Critics argue that ABC’s response reflects corporate interests and fear of political retaliation, undermining journalistic honesty.
Big Education Ape: WHY DOES TRUMP KEEP REPEATING HIMSELF? PROPAGANDA, THE BIG LIE, AND LESSONS FROM HISTORY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/06/why-does-trump-keep-repeating-himself.html
Child Tax Credit Buried the “Big Beautiful” Bill Will Leave Out Millions of Poor Children https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/child-tax-credit-buried-the-big-beautiful-bill-will-leave-out-millions-of-poor-children/ via @janresseger
### Key Points
- The proposed tax and reconciliation bill increases the Child Tax Credit to $2,500 per child but excludes millions of low-income children due to income requirements and lack of full refundability.
- Families with low or no income are disproportionately denied the full credit, while middle- and upper-income families benefit fully.
- The lapse of the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion thrust 3.7 million children back into poverty, highlighting the inadequacy of current policies.
- Poverty is identified as a root cause of educational challenges, with children from impoverished families facing systemic barriers like food insecurity, lack of healthcare, and homelessness.
- Federal policies prioritize punitive measures for poor families rather than expanding opportunities for children trapped in poverty.
Fail Fast, Learn Deep: Reckless vs. Responsible Failure in Education https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/06/10/fail-fast-learn-deep-reckless-vs-responsible-failure-in-education/
Wisdom Fail Fast, Learn Deep: Reckless vs. Responsible Failure in Education
### Key Points
- Education often avoids failure due to fear of scrutiny and political costs, unlike Silicon Valley, where failure is seen as part of progress.
- Reframing failure as a learning opportunity can foster innovation and transformation in education systems.
- Responsible failure must be evidence-based, piloted on a small scale, and centered on equity and reflection, unlike reckless failure.
- Public education often functions as a legacy institution, prioritizing tradition and avoiding risk, whereas learning organizations embrace experimentation and evolution.
- Leaders must model courageous failure, prioritize community engagement, and create safe spaces for educators to innovate and grow.
- Justice and equity work in education require risk-taking, transparency, and a willingness to learn from failure.
Teacher Tom: In Today's World, That is Radical https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/06/in-todays-world-that-is-radical.html
### Key Points
- The phrase "I like you just the way you are," popularized by Mister Rogers, is a radical message in modern parenting and education.
- Society often expects parents and teachers to shape children into specific molds, rather than accepting them as they are.
- Alison Gopnik's book "The Gardener and the Carpenter" highlights the shift in parenting from a relationship of love to a judged activity based on child outcomes.
- Parenting and teaching should focus on providing a nurturing environment for children to explore their individuality and flourish.
- Love's purpose is to help children find their own path, not dictate or shape their destiny.
- Robin Wall Kimmerer and Howard Thurman emphasize individuality and self-discovery as essential for flourishing and contributing to the world.
- Play-based learning and exploration are key to allowing children to learn and grow naturally.
Phone banking for Zohran., by @fklonsky https://open.substack.com/pub/fredklonsky/p/phone-banking-for-zohran?r=kja7f&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
- The author reflects on his experience phone banking for Zohran Mamdani in Brooklyn as part of an election campaign, highlighting the transition from traditional methods to modern online tools.
- Early voting for the election begins on June 14, with election day on June 24, and Mamdani is closing the gap in polls against Andrew Cuomo.
- The phone banking process involved online training, using a call-generating website, and following a provided script to engage voters about ranking Mamdani as their top choice.
- The author shares diverse responses from voters, including support, resistance, and personal anecdotes about Mamdani's campaign.
- The post emphasizes the effectiveness of phone banking as an alternative to door-to-door canvassing.
glen brown: "How Corporate Greed Harms Children" https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/06/how-corporate-greed-harms-children.html
Schools Matter: A New Lucrative Wrinkle for Wealthy in MAGA’s “kill public education” Voucher Movement http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/06/a-new-lucrative-wrinkle-for-wealthy-in.html
- The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 has been renamed to "tax credit for contributions of individuals to scholarship granting organizations" and is framed as a tax relief measure rather than an education proposal.
- The program establishes a federally mandated network of scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) in each state, funded by private donations from individuals and corporations, which are incentivized with dollar-for-dollar tax credits up to 10% of the donor’s income.
- Unlike standard tax deductions, these credits directly reduce tax liability, making the program more attractive to wealthy donors compared to other charitable causes.
- The measure provides an unprecedented level of tax incentives, surpassing those offered for other causes such as cancer research or disaster relief, raising concerns about its fairness and intent.
Seattle Schools Community Forum: This and That, Tuesday, June 10, 2025 https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/06/this-and-that-tuesday-june-10-2025.html?spref=tw
### Key Points
- Portland Public Schools closed early due to heat, highlighting limited air conditioning in schools and the allocation of bond funds for seismic safety. Seattle's response to heat conditions remains unclear.
- Elma School District uses alternative methods to assess students, leading to increased college enrollment and national recognition for career pathway preparation.
- Debate over reintroducing SROs in Seattle schools focuses on funding sources and the need for clear policies and community involvement.
- Concerns about nepotism in Seattle Schools, with examples of personnel movements based on relationships rather than merit.
Epic Teachers Left in the Dark After Layoffs - Network For Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/epic-teachers-left-in-the-dark-after-layoffs/
### Key Points
- Epic Charter Schools laid off 357 employees, including teachers and administrators, due to budget and enrollment issues.
- Remaining staff face pay cuts and unclear leadership, with principals’ roles eliminated.
- Teachers question the morality and effectiveness of the charter school model, expressing concerns about its impact on students.
NEW: Haruki Murakami and Philosophical Concepts https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/06/10/new-haruki-murakami-and-philosophical-concepts/ via @plthomasEdD
This article introduces the book "Haruki Murakami and Philosophical Concepts," edited by Joseph Thomas Milburn. The book explores the philosophical dimensions of Haruki Murakami's works and their interdisciplinary significance. It examines topics such as existentialism, psychoanalysis, and the intersection of philosophy and literature, offering insights into Murakami's contributions to both literary and philosophical fields. The collection includes 20 chapters written by various scholars, addressing themes like gender philosophy, cosmopolitanism, existential liberation, and semiotics in Murakami's novels.
### Key Points
- The book focuses on the interdisciplinary analysis of Haruki Murakami's works, emphasizing their philosophical, psychoanalytic, and literary aspects.
- It raises questions about the philosophical content in Murakami's writing and its importance to both literature and philosophy.
- The collection includes diverse perspectives, such as existentialism, aesthetics, and semiotics, across 20 chapters.
- Topics explored include Murakami's gender philosophy, cosmopolitanism, existential liberation, and semiotics of love.
- The editor, Joseph Thomas Milburn, is a scholar in philosophy and psychoanalysis, contributing significantly to Murakami studies.
President Patton's Last Stand? https://exceptionaldelaware.com/2025/06/10/president-pattons-last-stand/ via @ExcptlDelaware
### Key Points
- The Christina Board of Education will hold its final meeting for Fiscal Year 2025, with elections for Board President and Vice-President scheduled for July. Current Vice-President Alethea Smith Tucker is stepping down, while current President Donald Patton may be re-elected or take the Vice-President role.
- The author expresses strong disapproval of Donald Patton’s leadership, citing unresolved personal issues and past conflicts, including being denied the opportunity to give public comments at a board meeting.
- Despite stepping down from leadership roles, Patton will remain on the board for a few more years, but the author predicts the board will function better without him in a leadership position.
- The district has a new Superintendent who will face significant challenges, particularly in special education, and the author emphasizes the importance of minimizing internal board politics.
- The author criticizes Patton’s use of authority, comparing it to wielding power irresponsibly, and expresses relief at his reduced influence.
Breaking News: Naveed Baqir Will Resign From Christina Board After July Meeting https://exceptionaldelaware.com/2025/06/10/breaking-news-naveed-baqir-will-resign-from-christina-board-after-july-meeting/ via @ExcptlDelaware
- Dr. Naveed Baqir will resign from the Christina Board of Education after the July meeting, as announced by Board President Donald Patton during a heated discussion at the meeting.
- The announcement was part of a contentious exchange involving Patton and departing board member Alethea Smith-Tucker.
Weak Data and Analyses Prop Up Claims of Cost-Effective School Choice in Wisconsin | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication-announcement/2025/06/apples
- The National Education Policy Center (NEPC) reviewed a report by the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) that claimed private voucher schools and charter schools in Wisconsin perform as well or better than public schools while using fewer resources.
- NEPC’s review, conducted by Professor Benjamin Shear, criticized the report for lacking data transparency, using flawed statistical methods, and omitting a comprehensive fiscal analysis, which undermines its claims of cost-effectiveness.
- The WILL report provides an overview of school choice options in Wisconsin but offers limited practical guidance for policymakers due to its methodological shortcomings.
- NEPC emphasizes the importance of rigorous, transparent, and evidence-based analyses for informing education policy decisions.
- NEPC is a research center at the University of Colorado Boulder that aims to support democratic governance of education through sound evidence and inclusive policy recommendations.
Pro-choice Penny Nominated to Ed https://tultican.com/2025/06/10/pro-choice-penny-nominated-to-ed/
### Key Points
- Penny Schwinn's career includes roles in education across Baltimore, Delaware, Texas, and Tennessee, with a focus on school choice and assessment.
- Schwinn faced controversies, including no-bid contracts, alleged personal relationships influencing decisions, and significant staff turnover during her tenure in Tennessee.
- She implemented Governor Bill Lee’s school voucher program in Tennessee and awarded contracts to organizations tied to her or her family.
- Schwinn's nomination has received criticism from conservatives for her perceived alignment with left-leaning policies, while supporters praise her reform efforts and school choice advocacy.
- Financial disclosures reveal significant earnings from edtech companies and organizations, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Choosing Democracy: The Logic of Protests on June 14- No Kings https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-logic-of-protests-on-june-14-no.html
### Key Points
- Protests are a tactic to counter the MAGA movement's assault on democracy, and they must be strategically utilized to avoid becoming stale.
- The concept of "autocratic breakthrough" is discussed, highlighting the danger of allowing Trump's aura of inevitability to go unchallenged.
- The supposed inevitability of Trump's power is a lie, and resistance requires diverse tactics and collective action.
- The "No Kings" protest aims to disrupt Trump's narrative, bring in new participants, and build a sense of community and courage.
- The protest is a response to Trump's anti-immigrant actions and attempts to manufacture chaos for military crackdowns.
Choosing Democracy: It’s Grade-School Graduation Week in L.A. Send in the Marines! https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2025/06/its-grade-school-graduation-week-in-la.html
### Key Points
- Los Angeles schools are safeguarding graduation ceremonies to prevent federal immigration agents from targeting students and families.
- Protests in L.A. are divided into community mobilizations, peaceful demonstrations, and minor incidents of vandalism.
- The Trump administration’s deployment of troops has escalated tensions, provoking further protests.
- ICE agents have previously attempted to enter schools, raising concerns about their presence at graduations.
- The article criticizes the fear-inducing tactics of the Trump administration towards immigrant communities.
Cooperative Agreements or Piggyback Contracts Key Steps - Nutrition (CA Dept of Education) https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/piggybackcontracts.asp
- Piggyback contracts simplify procurement for School Food Authorities (SFAs) by allowing them to use existing contracts that comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
- SFAs originating the contract must include a piggyback clause in the solicitation and contract, ensure proper procurement procedures, and document all records for compliance and future reviews.
- SFAs wanting to piggyback must review the original contract to confirm the inclusion of a piggyback clause, verify compliance with procurement regulations, and monitor vendor performance.
- Contact information for further assistance is provided by the Nutrition Services Division, along with related resources on procurement in child nutrition programs.
- Additional recently posted updates include training opportunities, recall notices, and procurement reviews for upcoming school years.
Big Education Ape: WE DON'T DO KINGS: NATIONWIDE PROTESTS TO RAIN ON TRUMP'S $45M BIRTHDAY MILITARY PARADE #NoKingsDay #DefendDemocracy #AmericaStrong https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/we-dont-do-kings-nationwide-protests-to.html
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
6-10-25
The article covers various political, educational, and social issues, including Trump’s controversial actions, public education challenges, student-led activism, and environmental and health concerns. It highlights the ongoing debates over privatization, federal overreach, and the role of equity and inclusion in governance and education.
### Key Points
- New Hampshire's GOP is accused of undermining public education through voucher expansions, reduced funding, and punitive legislation targeting educators.
- Russ Vought, a former Trump advisor, is criticized for pushing Christian nationalist policies, reshaping federal governance, and advocating for spending cuts in public services.
- Trump’s attempt to defund NPR and PBS and control public broadcasting was met with resistance, affirming CPB’s independence.
- Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles without state consent, citing protests against ICE as insurrection, which critics view as federal overreach.
- RFK Jr. dismissed the CDC vaccine advisory panel, raising concerns about public health risks and vaccine policy changes.
- Aspira High School students demand accountability from school leadership over teacher dismissals and lack of transparency.
- Teacher Tom emphasizes reusing plastic items in preschools to reduce waste while supporting environmental ethics.
- A Utah judge rejected a school voucher program, ensuring public education funding remains equitable and inclusive.
- The Louisiana Senate approved temporary pay stipends for teachers and staff, with efforts to make them permanent failing earlier in the year.
- California defended its inclusive athletic policies against DOJ claims, emphasizing support for transgender students.
- Critics argue that the Southern Regional Education Board’s AI classroom guide lacks depth and raises ethical concerns about AI use in education.
- Nationwide protests opposed Trump’s $45M military parade, highlighting concerns over authoritarianism and misuse of federal resources.
- The August Egg Company recalled 1.7 million dozen eggs due to Salmonella contamination, advising consumers to dispose of affected products.
