ICYMI: I've Had Enough Edition (10/20)

If you don't live in a swing state, count your blessings. Pennsylvania is being overrun with political noise, all in service of a race in which to still be undecided you would have to be a very not-smart person who has been living under a rock. And we can't even put our heads down and power through, because either Beloved Leader will win and we will have to set our teeth for more years of struggle, or Beloved Leader will lose, which will trigger a long, ugly attempt to overturn the election. 

Well, some times don't ask much of us and some times ask a lot, and sometimes the only way out is through. Do what you can.

Meanwhile, there's still stuff about education to read. Her is some of it.

How a Struggling Boston School Found Success in the Roots of its Haitian American Community

Jeff Bryant at the Progressive with a story of a town that didn't lose its damned mind when Haitian immigrants came to live. And a school was at the heart of it.

Conservative megadonor Jeffrey Yass to fund South Carolina school choice voucher program

How rich is Jeff Yass? Rich enough to step in with funding for voucher students in South Carolina when the court takes the ax to the state's plan.

Oklahoma families, teachers and faith leaders file lawsuit to block Superintendent Ryan Walters’ Bible-education mandate

If you heard about edu-dudebro Ryan Walters mandating a Bible in every class and thought, "Well, that can't be legal," some parents and teachers and faith leaders and some powerful organizations agree with you, and they're taking Oklahoma to court in order to put the kibosh on it.

Oklahoma grand jury blames Ryan Walters, Gov. Stitt for COVID relief misspending

Also, Walters is still suffering consequences for the huge mismanagement he performed when he was just a baby grifter and not a state education tsar.

Far-Right Candidates Are Trying To Take Over Public Schools Across The Country

Before you spend all your worry on the marquee races, Nathalie Baptiste reminds us that there are critical local races on the ballot, too.

‘Money Matters. Now What?’: How Districts Get More Funding for Poor Students

Mark Lieberman at EdWeek says now that we've finally established that the reformster argument that money doesn't matter is, in fact, hooey, what can be a district's next steps?

California’s two biggest school districts botched AI deals. Here are lessons from their mistakes.

Boy, did they ever. Khari Johnson ay Cal Matters performs an autopsy on the cyber-messes at Los Angelos and San Diego. Maybe there are some lessons here (for humans, not AI).

Kentucky Board of Education approves resolution opposing Amendment 2

Kentucky's state board of education has come out publicly against the proposed constitutional amendment designed to open up funding for vouchers.

In Praise of Social Studies

Nancy Flanagan was a music teacher, but she calls social studies "the most critical field for K-12 students to explore."

Private school vouchers opposed by more than half of Pa. voters, poll shows

Hoping Governor Josh Shapiro gets the message. When you actually explain what vouchers do (send taxpayer dollars to private schools) they don't love them so much.

Florida: Defunding and closing Public schools while Encouraging The Building of More Private Options.

Sue Kingery Woltanski keeps an eye on Florida shenanigans, in this case surrounding school closures. "Recently, the narrative in Florida is that public schools are under-utilized because families are fleeing to other “school choice” options. I encourage you to be skeptical of that narrative."

Former Norman teacher Summer Boismier asks judge to reverse revocation of her license

Boismier is the teacher who was decertified by Ryan Walters because she dared to provide students with access to books. She's in New York now, following other professional paths, but she is not going to let Walters off the hook.

Parents stunned after Acero charter school network announces plans to close 7 schools

Acero is descended from failed charter chain UNO, and now they are leaving more families high and dry in Chicago.

Building the Bridge Between Old and New Math

Not that I spend a lot of time here working on Math Stuff, but as usual, Jose Luis Vilson is writing about more than just the math.

Techno-optimism as digital eugenics

Benjamin Riley takes a look at one tech CEO's vision for an AI future and finds it... not very serious.

It’s early days for AI. Here’s what we’ve learned

Here's a more serious look at AI developments.

To Parents of High School Seniors, What I See as a Teacher Every Year

From teacher Kara Lawler at Grown and Flown. It's nice.

Internet Personality? Thought Leader? Writer.

John Warner writes a lot of smart stuff about writing. This piece looks at the new problem--writing as a stepping stone to other sorts of roles in the world. What about those of us who just want to write?

Elsewhere this week-- At Forbes.com, I wrote about the three states where voters have a chance to squelch vouchers in their state. At Bucks County Beacon, a more in-depth look at the case of the Oklahoma Catholic charter, and what it could mean if the Supreme Court chooses to take it up. 

Also, given the latest update of terms in Musk-land, I've been reviving my participation at Bluesky. If you're over there, look me up at @palan57.bsky.social

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