Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-20-25
8-20-25
Texas: Governor Abbott Hands Out Millions to Voucher Schools with No Oversight or Accountability https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/19/texas-governor-abbott-hands-out-millions-to-voucher-schools-with-no-oversight-or-accountability/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Texas Governor Abbott's voucher program channels taxpayer money to private schools, including religious institutions, with little accountability.
- Investigations reveal conflicts of interest, nepotism, and questionable financial practices in private schools receiving public funds.
- Private schools are exempt from regulations imposed on public and charter schools, such as financial audits and conflict-of-interest laws.
- Critics argue that the program defunds public education and lacks transparency in how taxpayer money is spent.
- Oversight for private schools under the voucher program is limited to accreditation organizations, which have less rigorous standards than state agencies.
Heather Cox Richardson: Trump Goes Off the Rails https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/19/heather-cox-richardson-trump-goes-off-the-rails-2/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Trump abruptly left a summit with European leaders to hold a private call with Putin, raising concerns about his reliance on the Russian leader.
- Trump shared self-congratulatory posts and QAnon-related content, attempting to rally his supporters despite mounting criticism.
- Trump falsely claimed mail-in voting is rife with fraud and announced plans to sign an executive order to restrict its use.
- Republicans are using voter fraud claims to manipulate election mechanics, including redistricting efforts in Texas led by Governor Abbott.
- Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare under Republican legislation will impact millions, contradicting earlier promises not to harm these programs.
- Rising costs for essentials like electricity and health insurance are eroding public support for Trump’s administration.
- Trump’s behavior at meetings with foreign leaders, including confusion and reliance on Putin, signals his inability to manage the presidency effectively.
Trump Wants to Ban Mail-In Voting Because Putin Told Him So https://dianeravitch.net/2025/08/19/trump-wants-to-ban-mail-in-voting-because-putin-told-him-so/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Former President Trump announced plans for an executive order to ban mail-in voting and voting machines, claiming they undermine democracy, despite their proven security and reliability.
- Trump’s justification for this move allegedly stems from advice by Vladimir Putin, who blamed mail-in voting for Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.
- Mail-in voting increases voter participation, especially for hourly workers, seniors, military personnel, and people with disabilities, making it a target for suppression by the GOP.
- Republicans have introduced numerous laws and tactics to suppress voting, including gerrymandering, voter roll purges, and understaffing polling places in minority neighborhoods.
- Trump’s proposal violates the Constitution, which delegates election administration to states and Congress, not the president.
- This attempt to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines is seen as an authoritarian power grab aimed at shrinking the electorate to favor Republican victories.
- Critics argue that this move threatens democracy and calls for resistance from citizens, state officials, and legal institutions.
Big Education Ape: AI MODELS IN THE CLASSROOM: POE-ETIC JUSTICE AND THE BATTLE OF THE BOTS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/ai-models-in-classroom-poe-etic-justice.html
### Key Points
- AI models can create engaging pop quizzes and parodies, making learning more interactive and fun.
- Comparing AI outputs helps students learn poetic meter, rhyme schemes, and critical thinking skills.
- AI-generated parodies of "The Raven" reveal differences in tone, structure, and creativity among models.
- The use of AI in education can foster engagement and humor while teaching complex topics like poetic meter.
- Students can analyze AI biases, errors, and fabrications, which is essential in combating misinformation.
- AI's impact on education is explored, with debates on whether it serves as a Trojan horse or a teacher’s ally.
- The article humorously reimagines "The Raven" with political satire involving Trump, Putin, mail ballots, and Ukraine.
- The parody uses Poe’s trochaic octameter and rhyme scheme to blend gothic style with modern political humor.
- AI-driven creative tasks can highlight public perceptions and documented events without spreading falsehoods.
- The parody reflects Trump’s personality and political controversies, contrasting with Putin’s stoic demeanor.
Big Education Ape: AI MODELS IN THE CLASSROOM PART II: MATH POP QUIZZES AND THE PERILS OF TEACHER BOTS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/ai-models-in-classroom-part-ii-math-pop.html
### Key Points
- AI tools like Gemini Grok Copilot and ChatGPT are being used to create instant math quizzes for 5th graders, showcasing the potential of AI in education.
- Despite advancements, AI models like GPT-4.0 and GPT-5.0 still require teacher guidance to produce effective educational content.
- Teachers face a choice between paper and digital quizzes, each with its own pros and cons, but the decision should remain in their hands rather than AI's.
- Billionaire profiteers and tech developers, who lack classroom experience, may shape AI tools if teachers don’t take the lead in guiding their development.
- AI lacks the empathy and classroom management skills necessary to address students' individual needs and emotional challenges.
- Replacing teachers with bots would strip classrooms of the human connection essential for effective learning and student support.
- Teachers should collaborate with AI developers to design tools that complement their work, such as personalized lesson plans and instant feedback systems.
- AI in education should empower teachers rather than replace them, ensuring it serves as a supportive tool.
- Examples of AI-generated quizzes demonstrate the capabilities and limitations of current AI tools in creating educational content.
- The philosophical debate over AI's role in education highlights the need for careful integration guided by educators.
Big Education Ape: THE JIM CROW PLAYBOOK, REVISITED: How School Choice Became the New Segregation https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-jim-crow-playbook-revisited-how.html
Big Education Ape: WHO WILL TEACH AI? AMY AND IAN: THE AI WUNDERKIND CHRONICLES https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/who-will-teach-ai-amy-and-ian-ai.html
The AI Takeover of Education Is Just Getting Started (Lila Shroff) https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/the-ai-takeover-of-education-is-just-getting-started-lila-shroff/ via @CubanLarry
- The integration of AI in education has rapidly transformed classrooms, with tools like ChatGPT enabling students to complete tasks such as essay writing, exam prep, and personalized study guides.
- Teachers are also adopting AI to streamline administrative tasks, create assignments, and enhance curricula, saving significant time and energy. Platforms like MagicSchool AI are widely used for these purposes.
- Some schools and districts, such as Miami, are embracing AI for innovative uses like role-playing and tutoring, while others, like Iowa, provide AI-powered tools for younger students. However, rural and lower-income schools are less likely to permit AI usage.
- Missteps in AI implementation include error-prone materials and backlash from parents, as seen in the Houston Independent School District, highlighting challenges in quality control.
- Government and private sector initiatives, including funding from Microsoft and partnerships with organizations like the American Federation of Teachers, aim to expand AI literacy and teacher training nationwide.
- There is ongoing debate about the role of AI in education, with concerns about overreliance, cheating, and the need for balanced integration to prepare students for the future.
Trump’s Anti-DEI Guidance Crusade Just Got Struck Down – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/08/19/trumps-anti-dei-guidance-crusade-just-got-struck-down/
### Key Points
- A U.S. District Judge ruled that the Department of Education unlawfully issued guidance to dismantle DEI programs, violating the First Amendment.
- Colleges preemptively cut scholarships, DEI statements, and cultural center budgets due to fear of losing federal funding, even though the guidance lacked legal force.
- The ruling highlights the limits of executive overreach and clarifies that guidance documents cannot redefine civil rights laws like Title VI or Title IX.
- The Trump administration framed DEI initiatives as discriminatory without evidence, weaponizing civil rights language to undermine equity efforts.
- Fear and intimidation, rather than enforcement, led institutions to dismantle DEI programs, showcasing the chilling effect of authoritarian tactics.
- Colleges now have legal cover to restore DEI initiatives, but many may hesitate due to potential political backlash or appeals.
- Grassroots organizing and stronger statutory protections are essential to ensure DEI programs are less vulnerable to political shifts.
- The ruling underscores the importance of DEI in higher education as a public good, vital for fostering equity, democracy, and intellectual exchange.
Important New Court Ruling Protects Equity and Inclusion in Public Schools and Students’ Civil Rights https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2025/08/19/important-new-court-ruling-protects-equity-and-inclusion-in-public-schools-and-students-civil-rights/ via @janresseger
### Key Points
- A federal judge struck down two Trump administration actions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools and universities, blocking efforts to cut federal funding from institutions with DEI initiatives.
- Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled the administration’s actions unconstitutional, citing violations of free speech rights and improper administrative procedures.
- The Trump administration had attempted to redefine DEI efforts as discriminatory and illegal, using threats to withhold Title I funding from schools serving disadvantaged students.
- The ruling eases fears among school leaders and prevents enforcement of measures demanding schools eliminate DEI programs.
- The administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws to ban racial equity efforts was rejected as novel and untested.
- The case draws parallels to the landmark 1943 decision protecting free speech in schools, emphasizing the importance of avoiding government-compelled speech.
glen brown: "It’s absurd to use Trump in the same sentence as 'guarantee'" https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/08/its-absurd-to-use-trump-in-same.html
### Key Points
- The U.S. provided Ukraine with "security guarantees" after the Soviet Union's dissolution, but these were not upheld during critical moments like Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
- Donald Trump’s history of broken promises undermines the credibility of any guarantees he offers, including those related to Ukraine and NATO.
- Trump’s leadership has weakened U.S. alliances, diminished its global influence, and shifted the world toward what some call a "post-American world."
- The author argues that Trump prioritizes personal gain over national or international commitments, making him an unreliable ally.
Schools Matter: Massive Fraud in AZ School Voucher Program http://www.schoolsmatter.info/2025/08/massive-fraud-in-az-school-voucher.html
### Key Points
- Arizona's school voucher program faces accusations of massive fraud, with systemic corruption and thievery exacerbated by voucher laws.
- The blog critiques the emphasis on poverty as a key factor in educational outcomes rather than solely focusing on teacher quality.
- Concerns are raised about corporate and political influences hijacking public education reform.
- Broader discussions include the impact of standardized testing, AI in education, and the privatization of schools under NCLB.
Teacher Tom: Misspent Leisure https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2025/08/misspent-leisure.html
### Key Points
- Norman Douglas emphasized the importance of schooling to prepare individuals for both work and leisure, highlighting their interconnectedness.
- Jonathan Haidt links modern parenting trends and smartphone usage to rising childhood mental health issues, attributing anxiety and depression to overprotective parenting and limited freedom.
- Smartphones are seen as a symptom rather than the cause of children’s reduced independence and leisure quality, as parenting fears restrict outdoor and unsupervised activities.
- Schools should focus more on fostering leisure and curiosity rather than solely preparing children for work, as leisure plays a vital role in happiness and mental health.
- The nonprofit Let Grow advocates for childhood independence through school programs, emphasizing curiosity-driven activities free from adult judgment.
- Modern children are often left with smartphones as their primary source of freedom due to restricted leisure opportunities, highlighting the need to reintroduce curiosity and play into their lives.
Education Research Report: College students feel coerced into participating in animal experiments despite objections https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2025/08/college-students-feel-coerced-into.html
- A survey found that 83% of U.S. college students oppose the use of animals in teaching labs if they are killed afterward, with 90% of science majors agreeing.
- Many students feel coerced into participating in animal experiments due to fear of consequences, with 44% expressing discomfort about opting for nonanimal alternatives.
- 79% of students expressed concern for animal welfare, highlighting ethical dilemmas in college labs.
- Fatal animal experiments at Macalester College, including prolonged water deprivation and drugging, have sparked a lawsuit led by alumnus Dr. Neal Barnard.
- Prestigious universities like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford have already ceased similar practices, while Macalester defends its experiments citing adherence to the federal Animal Welfare Act.
- The lawsuit accuses Macalester of violating its own ethics policies and calls for an end to animal labs where nonanimal methods are available.
- Macalester’s dismissal motion claims its ethics statements are "puffery" and not binding, drawing public criticism for undermining its ethical commitments.
Persistent Straw Man Claims about Literacy Skills: Grammar Edition https://radicalscholarship.com/2025/08/19/persistent-straw-man-claims-about-literacy-skills-grammar-edition/ via @plthomasEdD
### Key Points
- The "science of reading" and "science of learning" movements often rely on anecdotes and oversimplifications that misrepresent teaching and learning methods.
- Direct instruction can be effective for recall but is insufficient for fostering deeper understanding and application, especially in literacy.
- Stephen Krashen's categorization of phonics views highlights the complexity of literacy instruction, debunking the idea of a "Zero Grammar" position, which no credible professional supports.
- Research shows isolated grammar instruction does not transfer to writing and can negatively impact its quality. Grammar should be taught in the context of student writing with purposeful engagement.
- Effective grammar instruction includes contextual teaching based on student needs, avoiding error-hunting and traditional grammar exercises, and emphasizing writing workshops and student choice.
Curmudgucation: The Failed Case for Super-NAEPery | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/failed-case
- The article critiques the idea of using the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) as a universal annual standardized test for all 4th and 8th graders, arguing that similar initiatives have failed in the past.
- It questions the assumption that test scores should continuously rise and highlights the flawed logic behind expecting consistent improvement across student cohorts.
- The authors propose repurposing NAEP to promote transparency, academic rigor, and accountability, but the article challenges its practicality and effectiveness.
- The critique emphasizes that standardized tests like NAEP often fail to resolve systemic issues and are misused for purposes beyond their original design.
- Concerns are raised about tying Title I funding to compliance with NAEP mandates, which could lead to federal control over local curricula.
- The article disputes claims that a national benchmark would support local autonomy and flexibility, arguing that such mandates are inherently restrictive.
California Attendance Guide When our students are at school every day, they have access to the instructional support that they need to succeed, and they build strong relationships with caring adults who support their healthy development and wellbeing https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ai/ag/index.asp
California Attendance Guide emphasizes the importance of daily school attendance for student success, healthy development, and access to resources. Chronic absenteeism peaked at 30% in 2021–22 but has since decreased to 20.4% in 2023–24 due to sustained efforts. The state aims to return to pre-pandemic absenteeism levels by 2030. The guide compiles best practices and lessons learned for reducing absenteeism, offering models for local decision-making. Gratitude is extended to educators and partners for their contributions.
### Key Points
- Daily attendance ensures access to instructional support and fosters relationships with caring adults.
- Chronic absenteeism dropped from 30% in 2021–22 to 20.4% in 2023–24 due to reengagement efforts.
- California aims to achieve pre-pandemic absenteeism levels by 2030, supported by shared best practices.
- The California Attendance Guide provides resources, terminology, laws, and strategies for reducing absenteeism.
- Acknowledgements are given to educators and contributors to the guide's creation.
State Superintendent Thurmond Announces Commitment to Reduce Chronic Absence by 50 Percent, Releases New Guidance https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr25/yr25rel38.asp
### Key Points
- California aims to reduce chronic absenteeism by 50% over five years, supported by new attendance guidance.
- Chronic absenteeism dropped from 30% in 2022 to 20% in 2024 due to family engagement and Community Schools strategies.
- CCSPP grants are credited with improving attendance in districts like Folsom Cordova Unified School District.
- Superintendent Thurmond emphasized the role of schools in addressing family needs and actively engaging students.
The Party of Neglect: When Democrats Forget About Kids While children may be only 22% of the population, they are 100% of the future. https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/the-party-of-neglect-when-democrats
### Key Points
- The Trump Administration’s policies have been openly hostile to children, cutting programs and targeting vulnerable groups.
- Democrats have failed to effectively counter Republican policies and have neglected to prioritize children’s issues in campaigns.
- In the 2024 elections, parents shifted to favor Republicans due to Democrats’ silence on child and family issues.
- Public education is a winning issue, but Democrats have failed to embrace it strongly, despite public support for rejecting privatization and vouchers.
- Democrats have allowed Republicans to dominate campaign narratives through divisive culture wars, particularly targeting transgender youth and immigration.
- The concept of “deservingness” in political psychology shows framing policies around children increases public support, cutting through stereotypes and prejudice.
- Democrats often fail to highlight their better policies for children, such as the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid, CHIP, and universal pre-K, leaving them vulnerable to Republican counter-framing.
- Children are politically popular and evoke bipartisan empathy, yet Democrats continue to center adults in their messaging, weakening their campaigns.
- Campaigns should focus on the future, with children at the center, as they are the most powerful representation of hope and shared responsibility.
- Democrats need to adopt a coherent Children’s Agenda, including universal health coverage, quality education, and poverty eradication, while framing children as central to national priorities.
CURMUDGUCATION: PA: Mastraino'a Latest Voucher Bill https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/08/pa-mastrainoa-latest-voucher-bill.html
- Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano proposed SB 969, a short voucher bill focused on "Educational Freedom for Families Accounts," targeting families in low-performing school districts and offering funds for private schooling or homeschooling.
- The bill claims to provide flexibility for parents and improve educational equity, but critics argue it could increase segregation and negatively impact educational outcomes.
- Funding for the vouchers would come from the state's General Fund, raising concerns about cuts to other areas and the overall cost of implementing the program.
- The bill mandates annual audits and reporting for families using vouchers but lacks clarity on vendor qualifications and oversight. Homeschoolers may face additional reporting requirements.
- It aims to streamline the charter school application process, potentially lowering requirements, and proposes vague provisions for STEM resources for homeschooling families.
- The "Teacher Excellence Incentive Fund" would offer bonuses or loan forgiveness based on standardized test score improvements, but details on implementation remain unclear.
- Critics question whether the bill is a genuine policy effort or merely a publicity stunt, noting Pennsylvania's long history with voucher programs since 2001.
Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s InsightsA Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-19-25
8-19-25
The article is a compilation of blog posts and news pieces covering diverse topics like education, politics, social justice, technology, and global issues. It highlights critical debates on AI in classrooms, school choice policies, public education funding, authoritarian governance, and systemic inequities. The content emphasizes the need for reforms, accountability, and collective action to address societal challenges.
### Key Points
- AI integration in classrooms, including pop quizzes and teacher bots, raises concerns about equity, bias, and the role of educators.
- School choice policies are criticized for worsening segregation, privatization, and undermining public education.
- Voucher programs in Florida and Arizona divert significant funds from public schools, benefiting affluent families while creating financial strain.
- Pennsylvania's largest cyber charter school stopped sharing detailed financial data, raising transparency concerns.
- Trump’s Alaska summit with Putin is criticized for undermining Ukraine and damaging U.S. global standing.
- Arizona faces a historic funding shortfall for schools, with chronic underfunding exacerbated by voucher programs.
- Teachers face financial burdens, using personal funds for supplies and taking second jobs, while public education remains a cornerstone of equity.
- Liz Cheney and Gavin Newsom unite in bipartisan resistance against authoritarianism, emphasizing creative strategies to defend democracy.
- Sarah Inama's inclusive classroom poster controversy highlights tensions between diversity promotion and political sensitivities in schools.
- The Trump administration’s attempts to rewrite civil rights laws and censor lessons were deemed unconstitutional, marking a victory for public education.
- Systemic racism and inequities persist under modern policies, with privatization efforts fueling disparities in public education.
- A federal judge ruled Arizona underfunded schools by $2.2 billion, emphasizing the need for equitable distribution of resources.
- The role of imagination and play-based learning is emphasized as crucial for children’s cognitive and emotional development.
- The Great Leap Forward’s failures serve as a cautionary tale about authoritarianism and ignoring expertise.
- Global support for Israel erodes due to its actions in Gaza, with protests and dissent highlighting a shift in public opinion.
- Public skepticism about AI in education persists, with actionable strategies for educators suggested.
