Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
8-25-25
Big Education Ape: Back to School: When August Hijacked September and Summer Got Short-Changed https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/back-to-school-when-august-hijacked.html
The article discusses the shortening of summer vacations in the U.S. due to earlier school start dates, particularly in August, and explores the historical, logistical, and practical reasons behind this trend. It reflects on the nostalgia for traditional post-Labor Day school starts and examines the trade-offs involved in this shift.### Key Points
- The shift from post-Labor Day school starts to August openings has shortened summer vacations, causing nostalgia among older generations.
- Historically, summer vacations were introduced for practical reasons, including saving money and concerns about overexertion in students.
- Earlier school starts allow more instructional time for standardized test preparation, improve semester alignment, and provide more breaks throughout the year.
- Ending the school year before Memorial Day avoids the productivity drop seen in June and aids students with summer internships or college courses.
- Concerns about higher air-conditioning costs during August openings are largely offset by existing summer programs and maintenance needs.
- Some states like Michigan and Virginia preserve post-Labor Day starts, but August openings are the norm for most of the U.S.
Big Education Ape: THE RISE AND FALL OF EMPEROR DONALD I: A CAUTIONARY TALE OF DEMOCRACY UNHINGED https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-rise-and-fall-of-emperor-donald-i.html
The article is a satirical depiction of a dystopian future where Donald Trump declares himself Emperor Donald I, dismantling democracy and replacing it with authoritarian rule. It humorously outlines the absurd transformations in government, society, and economy under his regime, culminating in a rebellion that restores democracy.### Key Points
- The satire imagines Trump renaming the White House to "Trump House" and declaring himself Emperor Donald I, abolishing the Constitution and replacing it with the 'Magna Trumpa.'
- Federal agencies are repurposed into Trump-centric operations, such as the Department of Education becoming "Trump University Annex" and ICE renamed as MASK.
- Social media and government systems are manipulated to suppress dissent and promote pro-Trump propaganda.
- The billionaire class pledges loyalty to Trump, taking on absurd titles and roles that further his authoritarian agenda.
- Resistance grows as citizens unite across political divides, leading to a rebellion against Trump’s regime.
- Trump is ultimately overthrown, democracy is restored, and reforms are implemented to prevent future authoritarianism.
Big Education Ape: DONALD TRUMP: THE BAD BOY OF HISTORY’S HALL OF INFAMY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/donald-trump-bad-boy-of-historys-hall.html
Donald Trump: The Bad Boy of History’s Hall of Infamy
### Key Points
- The article draws comparisons between Donald Trump and historical figures like Andrew Jackson, Millard Fillmore, Herbert Hoover, Grover Cleveland, and King George III, highlighting similarities in populism, nativism, outsider status, and authoritarian tendencies.
- Trump’s second term is portrayed as a blend of authoritarian tactics, controversial appointments, and divisive rhetoric, further solidifying his reputation as a polarizing figure in U.S. history.
- The article explores global parallels, likening Trump’s style to figures like Mussolini and Henry VIII, emphasizing his unique ability to remix historical traits with modern media mastery.
- Trump’s legacy is framed as a chaotic yet impactful phenomenon, blending elements of historical “bad boys” with his own brand of spectacle, defiance, and resilience.
Big Education Ape: LET'S CHECK THIS WEEK'S TOP NEWS AND OTHER STORIES 8-23-25 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/lets-check-this-weeks-top-news-and_0641018748.html
Big Education Ape covers diverse topics ranging from political controversies involving Donald Trump to the evolving role of AI in education. It highlights issues such as gerrymandering, the privatization of public schools, and the importance of medically accurate sexual education. Additionally, it explores the intersection of technology, climate solutions, and education reform, along with weekly blog roundups and public education advocacy.
### Key Points
- Donald Trump is portrayed as a controversial figure in American political history, with discussions on his impact.
- The growth of fascist police power and public resistance in Washington D.C. is highlighted.
- The importance of tailored educational approaches for community success is emphasized.
- Only 37% of U.S. states mandate medically accurate sexual education, revealing inconsistencies in state policies.
- AI integration in classrooms is explored, focusing on its benefits and challenges, including teacher bots and math quizzes.
- School choice policies are critiqued as potentially reinforcing segregation, referencing historical parallels with Jim Crow laws.
- Advocacy for expanding the U.S. House of Representatives to address gerrymandering is discussed.
- Rooftop solar energy is promoted as a key climate solution, tying humanity and AI to sustainability efforts.
- Public education is defended against privatization efforts by billionaires, emphasizing grassroots resistance.
- Diane Ravitch and other public education advocates are featured, promoting equity and reform.
Big Education Ape: COLD OPEN: HUMANITY, AI, AND THE CARBON CLOCK: Why Rooftop Solar Is Our Best Bet https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/08/cold-open-humanity-ai-and-carbon-clock.html
CURMUDGUCATION: ICYMI: Fallish Edition (8/24) https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/08/icymi-fallish-edition-824.html
### Key Points- Analysis of the burdens parents face in navigating school choice, highlighting a paper with valuable research links despite a small sample size.
- Exploration of connections between theater, student producers, and cell phone bans in education by John Merrow.
- Criticism of uncritical promotion of AI in education, urging thoughtful adoption.
- Discussion on classroom structure and its reflection on societal ideals by Jose Luis Vilson.
- Florida's continued dismantling of public education and its push for free-market programs.
- Examination of KIPP NYC's manipulation of school rankings by Gary Rubinstein.
- Advocacy for viewing learning as a social activity by Michael Pershan.
- Concerns about AI promotion in education and critiques of former Google CEO's op-ed.
- Rebuke of Oklahoma's Ryan Walters by a Trump-appointed judge over a religious freedom lawsuit.
- A court ruling protecting DEI initiatives in public schools against federal defunding threats.
- Analysis of the implications of Trump’s anti-DEI guidance being struck down.
- DOJ decision deeming aid for Hispanic-serving institutions unconstitutional.
- Persistent straw man arguments regarding literary skills in education.
- Criticism of the Education Department's removal of English learner teaching rules.
- Florida's phase-out of certificates of completion for students with disabilities, risking erosion of special needs services.
- Issues with improper enrollment of voucher recipients in South Carolina public schools.
- Arguments supporting the importance of public schools by Sidney Shapiro and Joseph Tomain.
- Tennessee's funding disparity favoring voucher participants over public school students.
- Illinois law protecting immigrant students' access to public education.
- Insights into AI skepticism and its perceived delusions in education.
- Story of a teen band calling Donald Fagen for musical collaboration, showcasing intergenerational music sharing.
CURMUDGUCATION: Moms For Liberty Draws No Crowd For Nancy Mace https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2025/08/moms-for-liberty-draws-no-crowd-for.html
Moms For Liberty Draws No Crowd For Nancy Mace### Key Points
- Nancy Mace, a GOP candidate for South Carolina governor in 2026, spoke at a Moms for Liberty event in Horry County, but only eight people attended despite expectations for 100 attendees.
- Mace has a controversial anti-LGBTQ stance, including using trans slurs and promoting transphobic policies.
- The event was reframed by Moms for Liberty as a "meet and greet," and Mace shifted to engaging directly with attendees and reporters.
- Mace emphasized Horry County's political significance, citing its role in electing Donald Trump and her strong polling numbers.
- The lack of turnout raises questions about Moms for Liberty's influence and organizational capabilities in the upcoming election.
New TED-Ed Video: “The rights you might not realize you have” - Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/
The article provides an overview of a blog focused on education, featuring resources, posts, and tools for educators, particularly those teaching English Language Learners (ELLs). It highlights weekly updates, republished posts, infographics, and instructional strategies, along with information about books authored by the blogger and additional content like radio shows, videos, and curated teaching practices.### Key Points
- The blog shares weekly updates, posts, and resources for educators, including TED-Ed videos, infographics, and social-emotional learning (SEL) tools.
- It repurposes past blog posts daily for several months, covering topics like student communication and classroom instruction.
- The blog highlights research showing ELLs possess better problem-solving skills and internal assets compared to English-proficient students.
- Resources include curated Pinterest pins, teaching strategies for various subjects, and insights into parental involvement initiatives.
- Books authored by the blogger provide practical, research-based instructional strategies for Social Studies, Math, Science, and ELL classrooms.
- Additional content includes radio shows, Q&A posts, British Council articles, and contributions to the New York Times Learning Network.
Why Change Makers Are Fired First – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/08/24/why-change-makers-are-fired-first/
Why Change Makers Are Fired First### Key Points
- Leaders focused on maintaining the status quo often redefine organizational decline as stability, avoiding meaningful change for the sake of efficiency and predictability.
- Change makers challenge entrenched assumptions, prioritize serving the organization's mission, and expose the inadequacies of status quo leadership by achieving measurable results.
- Status quo leaders often resist change makers by downplaying their success, labeling their work as unsustainable, or drowning their initiatives in bureaucratic processes.
- Organizational mastery depends on the ability to adapt quickly, but status quo obstruction often hinders progress under the guise of caution and prudence.
- Resistance to change leads to tangible harm in education, healthcare, and community services, as missed opportunities result in lost time, trust, and lives.
- Effective leadership requires rewarding transformative results rather than longevity or rhetoric, encouraging bold vision and fearless action.
- The future belongs to leaders who rebuild systems in decline and prioritize meaningful impact over maintaining comfort and familiarity.
BAD BOYS OF HISTORY PARALLELS TO THE RISE AND REIGN OF DONALD TRUMP https://ru4people.substack.com/p/bad-boys-of-history
BAD BOYS OF HISTORY PARALLELS TO THE RISE AND REIGN OF DONALD TRUMP explores historical comparisons to Donald Trump's presidency, analyzing his populist, controversial, and norm-breaking leadership style. The article draws parallels between Trump and figures like Andrew Jackson, Millard Fillmore, Herbert Hoover, Grover Cleveland, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Benito Mussolini, while emphasizing Trump's unique blend of traits and his transformative impact on political communication and discourse.### Key Points
- Donald Trump is compared to historical figures like Andrew Jackson, highlighting shared populist themes and cults of personality, but diverging in areas like military service and democratic commitment.
- Millard Fillmore's nativist policies are likened to Trump's hardline immigration stance, though their personal styles differ significantly.
- Herbert Hoover's outsider status and economic crisis management are contrasted with Trump's more theatrical and polarizing approach during COVID-19.
- Grover Cleveland's non-consecutive terms parallel Trump's 2024 comeback, though Trump amplifies media dominance and drama.
- Trump shares Napoleon Bonaparte's ego and ability to dominate rivals but operates within democratic constraints, unlike Napoleon's military conquests.
- Benito Mussolini's nationalism and theatricality are compared to Trump's political branding, though Trump remains within democratic boundaries.
- Recurring themes in Trump’s presidency include populism, polarization, norm-breaking, and reshaping political communication via social media.
- Trump combines traits from various historical figures but remains uniquely impactful, redefining political norms and discourse.
WILL WE RUN OUT OF JUICE BEFORE AI FIGURES OUT HOW TO SAVE OUR BACON? HERE'S WHY ROOFTOP SOLAR COULD BE OUR ULTIMATE LIFESAVER! https://ru4people.substack.com/p/will-we-run-out-of-juice-before-ai
Will We Run Out of Juice Before AI Figures Out How to Save Our Bacon? Here's Why Rooftop Solar Could Be Our Ultimate Lifesaver!### Key Points
- Rooftop solar offers a scalable, cost-effective solution to mitigate climate change without relying on AI to solve energy crises.
- Climate change poses existential threats, including mass displacement, food shortages, and system failures, with global temperatures rising above 3°C being a critical tipping point.
- Installing rooftop solar panels saves homeowners significant money on electricity bills and increases property value, making it a financially attractive option.
- Solar panels produce zero emissions, offset carbon, and require minimal water, offering substantial environmental benefits.
- Rooftop solar enhances grid resilience during extreme weather events, especially when paired with battery storage.
- Mandating rooftop solar in new construction reduces costs, tackles energy demand spikes (duck curve), and ensures equity through alternative compliance pathways like community solar.
- Rooftop solar balances accessibility, environmental impact, and long-term savings compared to other clean energy models like utility-scale farms or community projects.
- Recommendations include mandates with flexibility, battery storage integration, financial assistance, and consumer education to drive widespread adoption of rooftop solar.
TIME TO SUPERSIZE THE HOUSE WHY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NEEDS A BIGGER SPEEDO (GERRYMANDERING) https://ru4people.substack.com/p/time-to-supersize-the-house
TIME TO SUPERSIZE THE HOUSE: WHY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NEEDS EXPANSION### Key Points
- The U.S. House of Representatives has been capped at 435 members since 1929, despite the population growing to 340 million, leading to representatives serving far larger constituencies than originally intended.
- The Founding Fathers envisioned a House where representatives would serve smaller constituencies, fostering closer connections with constituents. Today, the average representative serves 760,000 people, creating inefficiencies and a lack of personal representation.
- Gerrymandering worsens the problem by manipulating district maps to favor political parties, distorting representation and diluting voter power, particularly in large districts. Smaller districts could make gerrymandering harder to execute.
- Expanding the House to include more seats (e.g., 585 or 700 members) would improve proportional representation, reduce campaign costs, and allow for better connection between representatives and constituents. It could also address Electoral College biases favoring smaller states.
- Critics argue logistical challenges, costs, and fears of inefficiency, but proponents highlight benefits like better governance, fairer representation, and alignment with the Founders’ vision.
- Grassroots campaigns, legislative efforts, and public awareness are necessary to push for expansion and address issues like gerrymandering.
The article is a compilation of blog posts and discussions covering diverse topics such as education reform, AI integration, climate solutions, political controversies, and societal challenges. It highlights systemic issues in public education, the role of technology, environmental efforts, and political dynamics, while emphasizing solutions and advocacy for equity and democracy.
### Key Points
- MAGA influence is countered through resistance strategies like protests, civil disobedience, and organized noncompliance to defend democratic rights and ensure fair elections.
- Donald Trump is portrayed as a polarizing figure, with comparisons to historical leaders and analysis of his controversial tactics during his presidency.
- The importance of medically accurate sexual education is emphasized, with only 37% of U.S. states mandating accuracy, highlighting disparities and political influences.
- Rooftop solar energy is promoted as a cost-effective solution to combat climate change, with AI playing a role in optimizing systems. Challenges and policy recommendations are discussed.
- Expanding the U.S. House of Representatives is proposed to improve representation and reduce gerrymandering, with reforms like the "Wyoming Rule" suggested.
- Cellphone bans in schools are advocated to address negative impacts on mental health and academic focus, alongside proposals for creative and engaging extracurricular activities.
- Pennsylvania's school privatization efforts are heavily influenced by Jeff Yass, showcasing the impact of wealthy donors on public education policies.
- Oakland Public Education Fund raises concerns about privatization and corporate influence on public schools, despite signifi
cant contributions to the district.
- Grassroots resistance in Washington D.C. counters federal occupation under Trump, emphasizing solidarity and mutual aid.
- AI integration in classrooms is explored, with benefits and challenges such as teacher bots and systemic bias discussed.
- School choice policies are critiqued for reinforcing segregation and undermining public education.
- Community-tailored educational approaches are emphasized for fostering equity and emotional safety among students.
- Political dynamics in the NYC mayoral race highlight the role of social media strategies and authenticity in campaigns.
- Advocacy for public education reform is featured, with discussions on resisting privatization efforts and promoting grassroots initiatives.
- Studies highlight issues like bullying, media literacy gaps, and police presence in schools, affecting student mental health and equity.
