ICYMI: Springtime Whiplash Edition (5/17)

Last weekend, we bought some hanging plants for the porch. Last week, we had to take them in a couple of nights because of frost warnings. We put on coats to go to school in the morning and shorts for playing after school in the afternoon. There was a thunderstorm with pea-sized hail. One day it never got above 45. Tomorrow it's supposed to be 90. Springtime in NW PA is just super swell. 

But yes, I still have reading for you. For you who are new, a couple of clarifications. This list usually doesn't include any articles that I referenced in other pieces during the week. Also, your mission is to help promote and amplify the pieces and writers here that you think people should see. It's rough to find hour audience on the interwebs, and you can help connect writers and readers, which is absolutely God's work.

Here we go.

What Does a “Learning Recession” Mean?

Anne Lutz Fernandez has this excellent take on the new report chicken littling about the "learning recession." She covers both the good news (politicians might finally believe in the issues that teachers have been announcing for a decade) and the bad news (some folks really really want to bring back "test and punish").

"Talkin' 'Bout My Generation": On the New "Learning Recession"

Paul Thomas takes a look at the "learning recession" and some of the stellar reactions to it.

Teachers Aren’t Burnt Out. They Are Being Set Up to Fail

Alexandra Robbins wrote a great book about teaching. Here she is at Ed Week explaining what "teacher burnout" is really about.

The K-12 Public Education Double Standard: One System, Two Sets of Rules

Greg Wyman calls out the double standards behind ho some states handle public v. private and charter schools.

AI in the Classroom Is Our Most Senseless Education Experiment Yet

                                        

One sign that AI ed tech is in trouble is that voices are complaining about it from all across the political spectrum. Here's Andy Smarick of the Manhattan Institute writing for the National Review making the right-tilted case against AI in school.\

MontCo school district pushes back as some parents don't want kids using tech

Sharon Lurye is reporting from a Pennsylvania district for a look at how school districts are dealing (or not) with parent pushback. 

The latest ruling on the Ten Commandments in Texas threatens religious freedom

Andrew Koppelman writes for The Hill about how the Texas Ten Commandments law should bother religious folks as the state extends its power over the church.

Bill would ban private equity 'vulture investors' from youth sports.

Yes, if you missed it, the equity crowd has been squeezing money out of youth sports, too. There's a bill to stop that (and it will probably fail) but Kenny Jacoby and Stephen Borelli look at the issue for USA Today.

Watertown High School students walk out after controversial band concert song ban

You can read the start of this story here. The follow-up is that the board voted to ban the piece, and students walked out in protest. 

What Do Teachers Do? Legislators and Govt. Officials Who Disparage Public Schools Betray Their Ignorance

Jan Resseger revisits the work of Mike Rose as an answer to dopey legislators who just don't get it.

Dunleavy’s Handpicked State Education Board Usurps Local Control - Pearl Creek

Blogging in Alaska, Matthew Beck reports on the attempt by the state education chief to force a school district to approve a charter school that they can't afford (and which has no plan).

Community Schools Are at the Forefront of a ‘Neighborism’ Movement

Jeff Bryant at The Progressive with more insight on the community schools movement, this time from New York City.

Educators Should NOT Teach Students How to Use Technology with a Purpose: They Should Teach

"Do we teach students how to use a pencil, an eraser, or paper with a purpose?" John Robinson's post is short but sweet. 

Recess: Still Denied!

For those who want to go back to test and punish, Nancy Bailey has news about one aspect of school that has never left those days behind-- America's children are still under-recessed.

Archbishop’s call helps sink oversight changes to Missouri private school voucher program

Yes, an archbishop can make a few calls and put the kibosh on a move to add some accountability to the state's voucher program.

AI goes Office Space

Benjamikn Riley looks at what it means that the AI industry is dropping chatbots for agents. (Spoiler alert: nothing good).

24 hours with 3 teenage birders: Welcome to the World Series of Birding

For NPR, Natalie Escobar and Ava Berger hang out with three teenaged birders. 

Every once in a while you see a performer who just breaks past the boundaries of what a human being can do. This woman is amazing.

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