It's like bragging about how many times you had to take the driver's test.

Here is the introduction to More, America. moreamerica.substack.com/p/more-ameri...

Plus the artist Emanuel Leutze added in an enslaved Black soldier and an indigenous soldier, making a point that Americans were always a multi-racial, dedicated band of patriots. Seems like Trump's fake patriots could take a lesson from it.

Hey kids! Trying to decide between Democratic Socialism and American Fascism? Well.....who looks happier?

Happy New Year! We love sharing these pro-book posters from the Works Projects Administration Poster Collection in the Library's Prints and Photographs Division. Of the 2,000 WPA posters known to exist, the Library of Congress's collection of more than 900 is the largest.

It's not "indoctrination" to tell children the truth about stories like this. Children deserve to know it.

New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok! So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...

Sometimes it seems like they are just messing with us. This New College piece says, "The conservative tilt is unusual for colleges with a liberal arts curriculum." Do they really not know or care about the long tradition of conservative liberal-arts colleges? The Wheatons and Hillsdales?

"Former Vice President Mike Pence’s political group is poaching top officials from the conservative Heritage Foundation amid growing ideological fights within the conservative movement and backlash at the prominent foundation." www.wsj.com/politics/ele...

Still love this one from @scribnerumcp.bsky.social and the NYT, 1908:

Like everything toxic, Trump gets more dangerous with proximity and length of exposure. [gift link:]

the main reward you are likely to get for total loyalty to trump is the destruction of your career and your reputation www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/n...

"We need to get back to basic American values. But every time Trump does something, he gets checked. So we need to find a way to get rid of these balances."

Big non-surprise. Billionaires keep failing when they try to open schools. Why? B/c they don't understand that human relationships foster human learning. [Gift link:]

Wow. A new archbishop for NY who calls Oscar Romero his "favorite saint." Gift link:

Excited to see the Korean edition of Mr. Lancaster's System coming soon! adamlaats.net/2018/05/09/t...

Another loss for MAGA schooling in Oklahoma: Walter's Bible-heavy, conspiracy-laden crapola is permanently out. oklahomavoice.com/2025/12/16/o...

Santa's got to be around here somewhere.....

Still love this one from @scribnerumcp.bsky.social and the NYT, 1908:

From the classroom perspective, it's pretty easy to get students to understand good v evil; simple heroism and simple villainy. But what @jeannetheoharis.bsky.social points out here is so important: students need to understand what it means to fight an evil SYSTEM, an "accumulation of injustice."

The U.S. Department of Education has asked hundreds of employees it fired months ago to temporarily return to work. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Linda "A1" McMahon talked a lot about parents' rights. But when she takes Turning Point ideas into public schools...she bars the parents from attending. [gift link]

This @chalkbeat article says NC Gov Stein announced his intention to opt into the voucher program. In fact, he vetoed a bill to do so & said he intends to opt in only after Trump's Treasury "issues sound guidance." He's waiting to see if the regs give NC flexibility www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...

TY @tktk.bsky.social for covering this and thank you to @lbyock.bsky.social and all the parents fighting this fight. There is little point to cell phone bans if students are on other devices all day.

Thanks to @pbump.com for pointing it out. Are they Nazis? Maybe, but there is a much closer parallel that carries just as much weight and is much closer to home:

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." --Jesus

What do knowledgeable GOP ed leaders think of Linda "A1" McMahon moving Ed programs to the Dept of Labor? "absurd on its face."

Sorry to inflict this on you, friends, but you should give it a read. It's a bummer in so many maddening ways. From @jillbarshay.bsky.social: "The damage is cumulative and will unfold over years."

Looks like Trump and Hegseth might be preparing to throw the military under the bus on the second strike. This is why you don’t execute illegal orders. Because you are responsible

Sorry for the self-promo, but there's a big sale today on my new book about the roots of US public schools. It's a big weird story. @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social called it "fascinating and timely." @palan57.bsky.social called it a "must-read." 50% off today only! Use the code: HCYB25

Department of Defense Law of War Manual, Sec. 18.3.2.1 states the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders. What’s its key example? Wait for it . . . It’s "orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."

"Public education is a foundational block in our democracy, both for informed citizens and to give everyone a chance to build lifelong skills." @warren.senate.gov on Secretary McMahon and US Ed www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...

I did, in fact, call it a "must read." If you don't already have a copy, here's a chance.

Sorry for the self-promo, but there's a big sale today on my new book about the roots of US public schools. It's a big weird story. @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social called it "fascinating and timely." @palan57.bsky.social called it a "must-read." 50% off today only! Use the code: HCYB25

Anyone have a little “books teachers should read about AI” list? Am reading Kate Crawford’s book now. Going to read Karen Hao’s. Things we should read/share with colleagues and peers.

Counter point: What if schools' "ultimate test" is whether or not a graduate is kind to people, even if those people aren't their bosses?

Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.

School people: Great article by @benjaminjriley.bsky.social deflating the "AI hype machine." Tech hype is literally the founding flaw of US public schools. If you want to read the full history, my book is now 40% off thanks to Johns Hopkins. Use the code: HHOL25

I can't help but wonder what the "today's-children-are-more-stressed-than-ever" crowd would say to this one from the NE Primer (1778 ed.):

I don't think I've ever disagreed and agreed more strongly with a piece, seesawing from one paragraph to the next. Will come back to dissect. #GiftLink #GiftArticle

Here's one in honor of Universal Children's Day. In 1827, white adult Thomas Hale visited the all-Black NYC African Free School. He was dismayed that the class was derailed due to students' "Levity and Laughter, which Seemed rather generally to prevail.”

In honor of Universal Children's Day, here is some student art n poetry from NYC's segregated "African Free School," c. 1819 and 1822:

Hey #skystorians, what are the classic or new books you're recommending when your non-specialist friends are watching Ken Burns and want to read more? I'm saying 1.) Elizabeth Fenn's Pox Americana and 2.) @michaelhattem.bsky.social 's Memory of '76.

Hey #skystorians, wasn't there a Hallmark Holiday movie featuring a history PhD character? I thought I remembered one, but now I can't find anything about it....

My statement on McMahon's plan to dismember the U.S. Department of Education. www.newamerica.org/education-po...

I was happy to be on the shortlist for the Hampel Outstanding Book Award from the History of Ed Society. The book looks at the original sin of public schooling: Thinking that a hi-tech shortcut can replace teachers on the cheap. Want a copy? Take 40% off with the code HHOL25.

It's a big deal. Florida has swallowed whole the Bill-Bennett-warmed-over school principles of the Heritage Foundation. But here's the thing: The "Phoenix Declaration" wants to ban climate-change science, but its wording leaves plenty of room to ban denialism. www.fldoe.org/newsroom/lat...

In case you missed this one: @vauhinivara.bsky.social looked deeper than the usual at AI in schools. For sure, AI can do some good things, but I get skeeved when billionaires hope to make more billions pushing anything on children.

Schools in England have become testing sites for AI. I know it's common to say education is now an experimental lab for AI, but in England it's more methodologically true. 3 examples of escalating seriousness and an explanation coming up 🧵