Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
5-25-25

This Cartoon Was Deleted from a PBS Special About the Artist, Art Spiegelman https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/24/this-cartoon-was-deleted-from-a-pbs-special-about-the-artist-art-spiegelman/ via @dianeravitch

### Key Points

- A cartoon by Art Spiegelman, critical of Trump, was removed from a PBS documentary two weeks before its scheduled airing. 

- The cartoon depicted scatological imagery and was deemed a “breach of taste” by PBS executives, who feared it might offend viewers. 

- Art Spiegelman is known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel “Maus,” which has faced bans in libraries. 

- The decision to remove the cartoon has raised concerns about public media bowing to political pressure, particularly as Trump pushes to defund public broadcasting. 

New Policy! No Posts Today or Tomorrow! https://dianeravitch.net/2025/05/24/new-policy-no-posts-today-or-tomorrow/ via @dianeravitch 

### Key Points

- Diane Ravitch announces no weekend blog posts, except for breaking news or pre-scheduled posts. 

- Diane shares her experience at her 65th college reunion at Wellesley College, emphasizing its diversity and inclusivity. 

- She recounts insights from her classmate Linda Gottlieb about the production of "Dirty Dancing." 

- Readers express gratitude and admiration for Diane's dedication to education and advocacy. 

Big Education Ape: THE BIRTHDAY COUP MOVIE PLOT: A POLITICAL THRILLER WITH A DASH OF TRUTH #NoKingsDay #DefendDemocracy #AmericaStrong https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-birthday-coup-movie-plot-political.html 

### Key Points

- A satirical movie plot describes a fascist U.S. president staging a coup during a military parade, with absurd and humorous elements. 

- Resistance grows as defecting soldiers and civilians unite to thwart the coup, leading to the restoration of democracy. 

- The sequel focuses on the trial of coup plotters, blending drama with humor and exposing corruption. 

- The article underscores the value of democracy and resistance against authoritarianism, linking to real-life protests like "No Kings Day." 

Big Education Ape: TRUMP'S AMERICA: THE PALL OF DARKNESS GRIPS OUR LAND https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/trumps-america-pall-of-darkness-grips.html 

### Key Points

- Trump's presidency transformed American individualism into narcissism, prioritizing self-aggrandizement over self-reliance. 

- Diversity suffered under Trump's rhetoric, fostering xenophobia and division instead of unity in the "melting pot." 

- Optimism was replaced with fear-mongering and despair, evident in his "American carnage" speech and policies. 

- Patriotism became tribal loyalty to Trump, culminating in events like the Capitol insurrection. 

- Truth and innovation were undermined by Trump's prolific misinformation, eroding trust in institutions. 

- Community spirit was fractured, with crises like the pandemic highlighting deep societal divisions. 

- Freedom of expression was stifled for critics, while Trump freely spread misinformation. 

- Trump's work ethic and global diplomacy were criticized as self-serving and damaging to America's reputation. 

### Key Points

- The article discusses the NYC mayoral race and United Federation of Teachers (UFT) elections, highlighting the connections between political endorsements and union decisions. 

- ARISE, a caucus within UFT, is not endorsing a mayoral candidate but mentions candidates Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander as frequently discussed among activists. 

- Unity Caucus, which has historically controlled UFT endorsements, has a record of poor political choices, including controversial decisions during Bloomberg’s third term as mayor. 

- Concerns are raised about Unity’s potential endorsement processes, lack of transparency, and past mistakes, including inviting Andrew Cuomo to speak despite his controversial policies. 

- Criticism is directed at another caucus for its "leave your politics at the door" approach, which raises questions about its stance on key issues like immigration, racism, and labor support. 

- NYCOPSR, supported by certain factions, backs Jim Walden, a technocrat labeled as "Bloomberg light," raising concerns about financial and political alignment. 

### Key Points

- The author attended two luncheons, noting better food at 52 Broadway compared to the Spring Conference at the Hilton, and criticized GOP policies like opposing teacher tenure and supporting school choice, which they believe harm public schools. 

- Criticism of Michael Mulgrew and the Unity caucus for undermining teachers' benefits, including health insurance, and for failing to support legislative measures benefiting retirees. 

- The author expressed admiration for Amy Arundell and her dedication to service, endorsing her for UFT President while criticizing Mulgrew's leadership and Unity's actions. 

- Discussion of past and present challenges faced by public school teachers, including systemic issues like overcrowded classrooms, standardized testing, and administrative interference. 

- Advocacy for protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and immigrant communities, and highlighting the importance of union solidarity and free speech. 

- Reflections on the 59th annual luncheon, the recognition of long-serving UFT members, and the importance of union power in resisting external threats to education and labor rights. 

### Key Points

- The concept of "classroom readiness" is criticized as a policy slogan that does not reflect the real challenges of teaching. 

- Standardized tests fail to prepare new teachers for the complexities of classroom environments and may contribute to teacher burnout and attrition. 

- Researchers argue that "classroom readiness" is not a one-time achievement but a continuous professional journey requiring mentorship and development. 

- Teaching performance assessments oversimplify the diverse demands of classrooms and often leave new teachers unprepared. 

- New teachers face unrealistic expectations, including managing complex student needs, curriculum changes, and classroom challenges without sufficient support. 

- Passing assessments does not guarantee effective teaching, as many graduates still need significant training and mentorship. 

- Structured support systems, mentorship, and real-world teaching experiences are essential for new teachers to succeed. 

- Investments in hands-on training and continuous professional development are more effective than relying solely on standardized testing. 

glen brown: Arresting political opponents amounts to fascism https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/05/arresting-political-opponents-amounts.html 

The article discusses the rise of authoritarianism, focusing on the abuse of state power to arrest political opponents and its implications for democracy. It draws comparisons between autocratic actions in countries like Turkey, Chad, and Tanzania and similar behaviors under Donald Trump's administration in the U.S. The piece criticizes the lack of media attention and public outrage over such actions, emphasizing the need for collective resistance to defend democratic norms.

### Key Points

- Autocratic leaders, such as Turkey's Erdoğan and Chad's government, use state power to arrest political opponents, sparking protests and international condemnation. 

- Donald Trump is accused of similar authoritarian tactics, targeting judges, mayors, and Democratic representatives with baseless arrests. 

- Democratic leaders and civil society organizations have condemned these actions as threats to democracy and the rule of law. 

- The article criticizes corporate media for not adequately covering these developments and calls for greater public and institutional resistance. 

- The author likens Trump's behavior to foreign autocrats and urges Americans to respond with the same vigor seen in global anti-authoritarian movements.

 glen brown: A Graduation Speech in Dark Times by Henry Giroux https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-graduation-speech-in-dark-times-by.html 

A blog post by Glen Brown reflects on societal and political issues, featuring a graduation speech by Henry Giroux in "dark times." The speech calls for resistance against authoritarianism, fascism, and systemic violence while advocating for education as a tool for justice, democracy, and empowerment. The blog also critiques corruption, right-wing agendas, and the erosion of social and cultural values, emphasizing the importance of collective struggle and civic courage.

### Key Points

- Henry Giroux's graduation speech urges youth to stand against authoritarianism, systemic violence, and fascism, promoting civic courage and education as tools for justice. 

- The speech critiques the complicity of political and cultural figures in perpetuating inequality and corruption, highlighting the need for critique, unity, and action. 

- Broader societal issues like public pensions, healthcare, education reform, and political corruption are discussed, with a focus on justice and empowerment. 

- The blog reflects on historical and current injustices, including genocidal violence, racial and ethnic hatred, and economic inequality under "gangster capitalism." 

Seattle Schools Community Forum discusses updates on the Superintendent search process, including public engagement opportunities, surveys, and student sessions. Issues like nepotism in school staffing and potential school closures are also highlighted, emphasizing transparency and stakeholder involvement.

### Key Points

- Updates on Seattle Public Schools Superintendent search, including a community survey available in multiple languages and student engagement sessions. 

- Criticism of the lack of focus on superintendent qualities and role understanding in the survey. 

- Announcement of a Community Engagement meeting on June 25, 2025, at James Baldwin Elementary. 

- Concerns about nepotism in Seattle Public Schools, particularly in staffing and promotions. 

- Discussion on potential school closures, with skepticism about cost savings and district transparency. 

Big Education Ape: WE DON'T DO KINGS: NATIONWIDE PROTESTS TO RAIN ON TRUMP'S $45M BIRTHDAY MILITARY PARADE #NoKingsDay #DefendDemocracy #AmericaStrong https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/05/we-dont-do-kings-nationwide-protests-to.html 

Yesterday’s Gems, Today’s Insights
A Roundup of the Web’s Finest Blog Posts!
5-24-25  

The article is a compilation of various educational, political, and societal issues, including critiques of policies, systemic challenges, and reflections on leadership and activism. It covers topics such as public education reform, voucher programs, memoirs by prominent educators, school system inefficiencies, and the role of courage and individuality in education.  

### Key Points  

- Diane Ravitch’s memoir reflects her ideological shift from supporting standardized testing and privatization to advocating for public schools and addressing systemic inequalities.   

- Federal education policies like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top have been critiqued for emphasizing standardized testing and neglecting equity-focused reforms.   

- Trump’s interest in accepting a Qatari luxury jet as Air Force One raises ethical and constitutional concerns under the Emoluments Clause.   

- William Kristol criticizes the Trump administration for policies targeting immigrants, foreign students, and academic institutions, undermining U.S. democracy and innovation.   

- Tennessee’s universal school voucher program and similar initiatives in other states strain budgets, harm public schools, and fail to deliver educational improvements.   

- Seattle Public Schools face a $100 million deficit, declining enrollment, and administrative inefficiencies, with controversial plans for school closures.   

- A superintendent criticizes federal directives undermining equity programs, highlighting their impact on marginalized students.   

- Maya Angelou’s philosophy on courage inspires educators, students, and leaders to resist censorship and advocate for inclusion in public education.   

- Teacher Tom emphasizes the importance of individuality and creativity in education, critiquing standardized systems that suppress uniqueness.   

- The Supreme Court upheld rulings against religious charter schools and blocked Trump’s order to dismantle the Education Department, signaling hope for public education.   

- Diane Ravitch’s memoir blends personal stories with research, advocating for systemic changes in education and addressing poverty as the root cause of inequality.   

- Glen Brown critiques a House bill for cutting Medicare and Medicaid, benefiting the wealthy, and increasing federal debt.   

- Social media use among preteens correlates with rising depressive symptoms, with cyberbullying and disrupted sleep identified as contributing factors.   

- Karen Lewis’s leadership transformed the Chicago Teachers Union into a force for systemic change, focusing on broader social justice issues.   

- The California Department of Education celebrates classified school employees and promotes a photo contest to highlight healthy school meals.   

- Public policy should focus on balancing Career and Technical Education (CTE) with traditional academics while making higher education more accessible.   

- Metro Nashville Public Schools face criticism for financial mismanagement and controversial policies, while debates over voucher programs and federal education roles continue.   

- Foundations funding U.S. education reforms are critiqued for lacking accountability and perpetuating a crisis mentality about public schools.