Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights

A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-6-25

Ex-CIA Whistleblower: The 2024 Election Was Rigged https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/05/ex-cia-whistleblower-the-2024-election-was-rigged/ via @dianeravitch 

The article discusses allegations of election fraud in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, focusing on claims by a purported ex-CIA whistleblower and skepticism about voting machine integrity. It explores concerns raised about Trump’s re-election, potential involvement by influential figures like Elon Musk, and irregularities in voting results in certain areas. Historical reflections on voting machine accuracy and hacking vulnerabilities are also included, alongside critiques of the broader political environment and voter apathy.

### Key Points

- Allegations of the 2024 election being rigged to favor Trump, with claims from a CIA whistleblower about manipulated voting machines. 

- Speculation about Elon Musk's role in Trump’s victory, including financial contributions and influence over voting technology. 

- Investigation into voting irregularities in Rockland County, New York, highlighting surprising results and bloc voting concerns. 

- Historical insights on voting machine accuracy, emphasizing the reliability of mechanical lever machines over modern electronic systems. 

- Concerns about hacking vulnerabilities in electronic voting machines and the dismissal of such fears during technological advancements. 

- Criticism of the broader political climate, including voter apathy and strategies that benefit minority rule. 

- Debate over the credibility of whistleblower Adam Zarnowski's claims and the lack of concrete evidence supporting election fraud allegations. 

Jan Resseger: Senate Appropriations Committee Rejects Trump Plan to Slash Education Funding https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/05/jan-resseger-senate-appropriations-committee-rejects-trump-plan-to-slash-education-funding/ via @dianeravitch 

Diane Ravitch's blog discusses positive developments regarding education funding in the U.S. Senate. The Senate Appropriations Committee rejected former President Trump's proposal to cut education funding and dismantle the Department of Education. Instead, the committee approved a bipartisan spending bill for fiscal year 2026, increasing the Education Department's budget to $79 billion—$12.3 billion more than Trump's proposal. This decision reflects public resistance to abandoning federal support for schools, although concerns remain about the influence of key figures like Russell Vought and Linda McMahon.

### Key Points

- The Senate Appropriations Committee restored education funding cuts proposed by Trump and rejected his plan to eliminate the Department of Education. 

- The fiscal year 2026 budget for the Education Department will be $79 billion, higher than Trump's proposal of $66.7 billion. 

- Public protests and bipartisan efforts played a role in preserving federal funding for education. 

- Concerns remain about future threats to education funding from figures like Russell Vought and Linda McMahon. 

Tom Ultican: Christian Nationalism Comes for the Schools https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/05/tom-ultican-christian-nationalism-comes-for-the-schools/ via @dianeravitch 

Tom Ultican's post examines the rise of Christian nationalism in the U.S. and its influence on public education and politics. Christian nationalists advocate for laws promoting religious symbols in classrooms, funding religious schools with public money, and diminishing the separation of church and state. David Barton, a prominent figure in the movement, has been criticized for distorting American history to support the idea that the U.S. was founded on Christian principles. His organization, WallBuilders, and initiatives like Project Blitz have significantly influenced legislation in several states. This movement's growing power within the Republican Party raises concerns about its impact on democracy and religious freedom.

### Key Points

- Christian nationalism is advancing in the U.S., promoting laws that integrate religious symbols and funding into public institutions, threatening the separation of church and state. 

- David Barton, a central figure in Christian nationalism, distorts American history to claim the U.S. was founded on Christian principles, despite evidence to the contrary. 

- Barton’s organization, WallBuilders, and Project Blitz have influenced legislation in states like Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, embedding Christian nationalist ideals into law. 

- Barton’s historical claims, including his assertions about the Constitution and founding principles, have been widely discredited. 

- Christian nationalism's influence within the Republican Party is significant, with figures like Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump supporting its agenda. 

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 

The article delves into the ongoing battle over public education in the United States, focusing on the privatization push led by Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) and the emergence of the Center for Strong Public Schools (CSPS). It critiques DFER’s billionaire-funded agenda to promote school vouchers and privatization disguised as progressive reform, while questioning CSPS’s transparency despite its public education advocacy. The piece highlights the grassroots resistance from teachers, parents, and students, who are fighting to preserve public schools as essential community institutions amidst privatization efforts.

### 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. 

What We Stand to Lose: Black Teachers, School Closures, and the Civil Rights Issue of Our Era – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/08/05/what-we-stand-to-lose-black-teachers-school-closures-and-the-civil-rights-issue-of-our-era/ 

### Key Points

- Kristen Buras’s book *What We Stand to Lose* critiques the closure of public schools in historically Black and Brown neighborhoods, exposing how these closures are falsely framed as "reform" focused on performance and efficiency. 

- The book centers on George Washington Carver Senior High School in New Orleans, highlighting its legacy as a hub of academic excellence, cultural pride, and mentorship despite systemic racism and underfunding. 

- Buras documents how policies driven by racial supremacy and profit motives dismantled institutions like Carver and erased the contributions of Black educators, who were once pillars of public education in communities of color. 

- The author emphasizes that school closures are not just about governance or test scores but about memory, justice, and who shapes the future, urging a focus on the stories of Black teachers in discussions of educational equity. 

- The book is described as essential reading that combines rigorous research with lived experiences, community testimony, and historical documentation to challenge the narrative behind school closures and advocate for justice. 

- *What We Stand to Lose* serves as both a defense of one school and a broader declaration of the importance of Black teachers and their communities, urging readers to share and discuss its message. 

U.S. Sen. Committee Protects Dept. of Ed. in Proposed Budget; Impoundments and Rescissions Still a Worry https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2025/08/05/u-s-sen-committee-protects-dept-of-ed-in-proposed-budget-impoundments-and-rescissions-still-a-worry/ via @janresseger 

The article discusses the recent developments in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026, which protects and increases funding for key education programs. It highlights bipartisan efforts to reject the Trump administration's proposed cuts and consolidations, as well as concerns over potential impoundments and rescissions of appropriated funds. The article also underscores the importance of public advocacy in influencing policy decisions.

### Key Points

- The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan spending bill for FY 2026, protecting Title I and special education programs within the Department of Education. 

- The proposed education budget increases funding from $78.7 billion to $79 billion, rejecting Trump’s proposal to reduce it to $66.7 billion. 

- Modest funding increases were proposed for programs like Title I, IDEA, and Head Start, while maintaining existing K-12 grant programs. 

- New requirements for timely fund distribution and staffing maintenance were included to ensure accountability. 

- Concerns persist about the administration's use of impoundments and pocket rescissions to override congressional spending decisions. 

- The Trump administration restored $6.8 billion it had initially impounded after public and congressional pressure. 

- Congressional Democrats worry about future rescissions undermining negotiated budgets, citing distrust of OMB Director Russell Vought and Education Secretary Linda MacMahon. 

Education Research Report: The Changing Distribution of the Return to Higher Education https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-changing-distribution-of-return-to.html 

### Key Points

- Since 1960, the wage premium from attending college has diverged significantly between students from high- and low-income families, with higher-income students benefiting more. 

- Historically, college attendance reduced income inequality, but since the 1960s, the wage premium for lower-income students has halved compared to higher-income students. 

- By the end of the twentieth century, the college wage premium for top-income students was twice as large as that for bottom-income students. 

- Declines in funding, retention rates, and economic value at public universities attended predominantly by lower-income students account for much of the disparity. 

- Lower-income students increasingly attend community colleges and for-profit institutions, which tend to offer lower returns, contributing to the growing wage gap. 

- Major selection differences have widened the earnings gap, with higher-income students pursuing high-value fields like computer science and finance, while lower-income students concentrate in lower-value humanities fields. 

- Disparities in college returns today contribute up to 25% of income transmission between generations, a sharp increase from 1960. 

Education Research Report: Revenues and Expenditures for Public School Districts in 2022-23 https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/revenues-and-expenditures-for-public.html 

### Key Points

- A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provides data on revenues and expenditures for public school districts in the 2022-23 school year, based on the School District Finance Survey (F-33). 

- Federal funding for public elementary and secondary education decreased by 5.5% in FY 23 compared to FY 22, adjusted for inflation, totaling $126.4 billion. 

- The national median of total revenues per pupil was $18,715 in FY 23, an increase of 1.8% from FY 22, adjusted for inflation. 

- The national median of current expenditures per pupil was $15,684 in FY 23, reflecting a 0.7% increase from FY 22. 

- Current expenditures per pupil varied by geographic location: cities ($16,181), suburbs ($17,476), towns ($14,085), and rural areas ($15,554). 

- Among the 100 largest public school districts, per pupil expenditures ranged from $7,980 in Nevada's State-Sponsored Charter Schools to $33,387 in New York City School District. 

- Regional highlights of highest per pupil expenditures include Boston City Schools ($36,906) in the Northeast, Christina School District ($33,954) in the South, Indianapolis Public Schools ($23,197) in the Midwest, and Los Angeles Unified School District ($22,606) in the West. 

- Independent charter school districts had a national median expenditure of $15,050 per pupil, lower than noncharter and mixed school districts ($15,772). 

- Current expenditures per pupil were 4.7% lower in low-poverty districts compared to high-poverty districts nationally, though the trend varied in 4 states. 

Schools Matter: Stories from Summer Camp http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/08/stories-from-summer-camp.html 

### Key Points

- The blog discusses the impact of classmates' characteristics on a child's learning, referencing James Coleman's 1972 statement. 

- It highlights various educational topics, including poverty's influence on education, excessive testing, and critiques of corporate education reform. 

- Reviews and essays are included, such as those addressing teacher education, public school challenges, and testing policies. 

- The blog critiques "No Excuses" teaching methods and explores issues like child doping and the influence of Big Pharma in schools. 

- Archival data indicates extensive coverage of education topics over the years, showcasing consistent engagement with systemic issues. 

Teacher Tom: Perfect for this Moment on the Playground https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/perfect-for-this-moment-on-playground.html 

Perfect for this Moment on the Playground

### Key Points

- The article discusses the concept of "sharing" at Woodland Park, where children use phrases like "Next!" to signal their turn, inspired by unsupervised childhood play traditions. 

- A parent raised concerns about the lack of politeness in "Next!" due to modern children being raised in supervised environments, contrasting with the author's childhood experiences. 

- The school aims to foster a community where children resolve conflicts independently, reflecting unsupervised play dynamics while adults supervise minimally. 

- A single tennis ball on the playground became a coveted item, leading to disputes and negotiations among children, eventually resolved through a spontaneous agreement: "Whoever gets it gets it!" 

- The resolution exemplified children creating their own rules and adapting to limited resources without adult intervention, showcasing play-based learning principles. 

80 years ago, August 6th, the U.S. dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. It was meant as a message to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union got the message and the nuclear arms race was on. https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/80-years-ago-august-6th-the-us-dropped 

### Key Points

- The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, killing between 120,000 and 220,000 people, marking the start of the nuclear arms race. 

- The bombings were justified by the U.S. as necessary to end World War II and save American lives, but evidence suggests they were also a strategic message to the Soviet Union. 

- Japan was targeted instead of Germany due to fears that German scientists could reverse-engineer the bomb, raising questions about racial bias in the decision-making process. 

- The Hiroshima bombing served as a warning to the Soviet Union, signaling the beginning of global nuclear proliferation and the Cold War. 

- Historical discussions highlight that the Nagasaki bombing was partly an experiment to compare the effects of plutonium versus uranium bombs, and geopolitical agreements influenced post-war dynamics. 

Florida School Grades: Stasi vs. Jeb – Accountabaloney https://accountabaloney.com/florida-school-grades-stasi-vs-jeb/ 

Florida's school grading system sparks debate over its effectiveness and fairness. Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas views recent grades as proof of progress, while Jeb Bush’s Foundation argues they are inflated and suggests a bell curve is ideal. The system is criticized for reflecting socioeconomic disparities and for exempting private schools receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers from accountability. A proposed bill to align grading scales with classroom standards was rejected, highlighting the political nature of school grades. The article questions whether these grades serve accountability or political agendas.

### Key Points

- Florida’s Education Commissioner claims improved school grades show progress, but Jeb Bush’s Foundation argues they are inflated and prefers a bell curve distribution. 

- Critics say school grades reflect socioeconomic status more than actual school performance and stifle creativity through standardized testing. 

- Private schools receiving public funds are exempt from the grading system, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. 

- A proposed bill to revise grading scales was opposed, as it would have increased failing schools, further politicizing the grading system. 

- The article questions whether school grades are accountability tools or instruments for advancing political agendas. 

Nancy Bailey's Education Website: Chall’s Missing STAGES OF READING DEVELOPMENT in the Science of Reading | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/challs-missing-stages 

### Key Points

- Jeanne S. Chall’s research highlights developmental stages in reading, emphasizing phonics instruction starting in first grade rather than kindergarten, and argues against standardized testing pressures that disregard age-appropriate learning. 

- Chall’s Stages of Reading Development outlines prereading skills for children aged 0-6, advocating for enjoyable and developmentally suitable learning experiences rather than rote memorization. 

- Chall advises against rushing children to read early, emphasizing the importance of cognitive developmental theories (e.g., Piaget) and tailored instruction for individual progress. 

- Chall stresses the role of excellent teachers and varied reading activities, noting that phonics should not be isolated but integrated with broader literacy practices. 

- Third grade is pivotal for transitioning from learning to read to reading to learn, but Chall warns against retention based solely on grade-level reading performance. 

- Chall’s work suggests revisiting developmental psychologists’ approaches to reading instruction, allowing children to progress naturally without unnecessary pressure. 

Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights

A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-5-25

https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/yesterdays-gems-todays-insights-roundup_0602647959.html 

The article is a compilation of education, political, and social issues, with a focus on public education, privatization, civil rights, and systemic inequities. It includes discussions on Trump administration policies, grassroots activism, leadership strategies, and challenges in the education sector, alongside broader societal topics like gerrymandering, climate change, and AI ethics.

### Key Points  

- Trump fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after a report showed disappointing job growth and revised previous estimates downward.   

- Rashid Khalidi canceled his Columbia University class, protesting the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which he views as stifling academic freedom.   

- Thom Hartmann urges progressives to learn from the Tea Party's success in radicalizing the Republican Party by taking control from the grassroots level.   

- Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) accused of promoting privatization under the guise of progressivism, funded by billionaire donors.   

- "Dominate Your Box" is a strategy for thriving within constrained systems by mastering one's role with precision and focus.   

- The report "Doomed to Fail" analyzes charter school closures from 1998-2022, highlighting instability in the charter school sector compared to public schools.   

- President Trump made exaggerated claims about reducing drug prices, referencing implausible percentages.   

- Gerrymandering negatively impacts democracy, particularly in Texas, and highlights its detrimental effects on children.   

- The Trump administration targeted DEI initiatives in public schools, threatening federal funding and closing regional civil rights offices.   

- 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.   

- 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.   

- Seattle Public Schools faces issues of nepotism and controversies in leadership appointments.   

- Working with young children is described as messy but rewarding, emphasizing the emotional and physical challenges of preschool teaching.   

- Medicaid cuts under H.R. 1 threaten health coverage for millions of children, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups and school-based services.   

- 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.   

- Florida lawmakers repealed school start time reforms due to underfunded transportation, diverting funds toward private school vouchers.