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Sunday, July 2, 2023

ICYMI: Glass Slipper Edition (7/2)

 Wrapping up the first weekend of the local production of Cinderella. This time I'm just doing some trombone honking in the pit. Find a way in your life to make something, whether it's music or art or a cabinet or a project. I added this to my rules for life list years ago because for a teacher, who rarely gets to see the end project of what you work on, it's nice to have a project that makes something and has a finish point. It is particularly helpful during weeks when people are chiseling away at some of the progress we have made as a country. 

Anyway, here's some reading from the week.


Steve Nuzum watched some of that thing going on. He has both some reporting of what was said, and some good insights into the baloney that was sliced.

Vermilion Education’s Debut At Pennridge School District Flops

The Bucks County Beacon (which has a once-a-month spot for me) has been on an absolute tear this week. Here's a great piece about Vermilion, the baby consulting company (aka one guy who used to work for Hillsdale) and their first contract. It's a mess. Fun fact: the one guy is with the Moms for Liberty this weekend for a session on how to get your "flipped" schoolboard on the right ideological path. You should read about this guy if for nom other reason than he could be coming to your district some day.

A breaking point: A look at the reasons why some Rochester-area teachers have left education

That's Rochester, Minnesota. This is a good nuts and bolts look at the teacher exodus in that state. No surprises here, but at least it confirms what we already know.

The teaching profession is facing a post-pandemic crisis

Matt Barnum (the most reliably on-the-ball reporter at Chalkbeat) did a two-part series at Chalkbeat looking at the troubles with the profession. Some solid data here. The follow-up piece proposes some solutions.

As Always, Budgets Reflect Priorities. For Florida’s Public Schools, the 2023-24 Budget Is NOT Worth Celebrating.

Sue Kingery Woltanski breaks down the Florida budget, and separates depressing truth from the hype. Oh, Florida.


This piece ran on All Things Considered on NPR. Beth Wallis looks into an under-discussed issue with the lousy family leave policy in so many schools. (E.G., the board of directors were born in early June, just as summer vacation started, and that was no coincidence.)

Teacher Gregory Sampson got some email from the College Board folks. Apparently they intend yet another expansion of their product line. 

What Feeds Bias in Education World?

Nancy Flanagan takes a thoughtful look (which is what she does with great regularity) at bias of all kinds in the education world.

Pulling Back The Curtain On The Leadership Institute’s Dominion Over Moms For Liberty

Another Bucks County Beacon piece, this time from Maurice Cunningham, a leading scholar of dark money in education. This time he takes a look at what's really going on with the Moms.

Charter school lost case over skirts rule for girls, but debate over charter autonomy isn’t over

The AP's take on the Peltier case, including an observation from Preston Green. Good summary of the issues at play.

Is Mississippi Shifting to Online Teacher Education with Reading Universe?

It's just amazing how so many states, faced with a teacher exodus and trouble filling spots, makes stupid decisions. Nancy Bailey looks at the latest bright idea in Mississippi.

What makes a social studies textbook "woke" in Ron DeSantis' Florida

Judd Legum at Popular Information takes a look at what, exactly, bothers the DeSantis administration about some of those naughty textbooks getting woke cooties on people.

Why state schools Supt. Ryan Walters sees an opening to push Christianity in schools

Ben Felder at The Oklahoman with a good piece placing context around Education Secretary Dudebro's drive to push Christianity into public schools.

The Blessings of Liberty Still Exist– But for How Long?

Yes, there was already a Nancy Flanagan piece on the list. But they're both good. And with the Supreme Court shredding on this July 4, it's worth thinking about. Also, I totally play in the local version of the band concert she describes.

When One in Nine Children Lives in Poverty

At Notes from the Education Trenches, some thoughts about poverty and its impact on students and learning, plus some disturbing stats.

Judge Strikes Down AR Law Banning Gender Care: Details from the Ruling

The indispensable Mercedes Schneider takes a look at the decision that struck down (and struck it down hard) the Arkansas anti-trans care law.

AI-Generated Books of Nonsense Are All Over Amazon's Bestseller Lists

Yes, this is happening. Amazon pay for play added to AI nonsense equals more nonsense

Summer Schools Can Boost Learning, But Only If Students Attend

At EdWeek--don't use a free paywall pass for this. I just wanted to show you the leading contender for the silliest headline of the year, so far.

This week at the Bucks County Beacon, I did a big fat deep dive into the Moms For Liberty story. And at Forbes, I was doing news-- the SCOTUS decision not to weigh in on Peltier and the nature of charter schools, and the attempt to get vouchers in PA

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