VERBATIM: Passover, Earth Day, and diversity
Sharing the odds and ends in my timeline
What’s up, good people?
It’s been a while since I wrote a Verbatim update on what’s in my algorithm. No excuses. Life and work are a lot right now. As it turns out, plotting to save the world isn’t easy.
All my best to Jewish friends and family who start Passover today. I don’t know enough about these important observances, but I want to share a lesson I learned years ago about a part of Jewish life.
I worked as a vocational worker for a Jewish resettlement nonprofit in the early aughts. I was mentored by experienced, generous, and wise social workers and psychologists who opened the door for me to leave low-level corporate work and pursue the soulful rewards of a career in social services. One of the lessons I learned in that job was the insecurity of being Jewish in a world where anti-Semitism can jump out of any alley or closet to rob you of your peace—at any moment.
I am not Jewish. I was ignorant, and if I’m honest, I still am.
What stunned me was how credible death threats to our organization were a normal part of the work. On any day, we could get a message from our executive director that we weren’t safe. People in the shadows are dedicated to harassing and harming Jewish-serving organizations and Jews as if it is their life’s purpose. It’s sick and not uncommon.
Though I kept a manly, brave face, I was fearful and on edge in that job. I saw what my employers and mentors had lived their entire lives. And it was ugly.
Without wandering into the murky politics and seemingly unsolvable puzzle that lives in the Middle East, my only message - under-educated as it may be - is that nothing justifies being callous about eternal threats to Jewish people. There’s a way in which advocates for Palestinians pursue their cause, however righteous it may be, with an unacceptable disregard for the vigilance Jews must have merely to exist.
As an education activist, all I can say is that ignorance will kill us all.
Let’s do better.
Today
Empty chairs for Passover: This year, the "holiday of freedom" isn't the same for Israelis and Jewish families worldwide. While traditionally a time for family feasts and celebrating liberation, this year's celebrations are drenched in the anguish of war and the plight of over 120 hostages still held captive in Gaza.
Some 120,000 Israelis have been displaced due to fighting. Hotels are overflowing with families who won't be able to hold their traditional seders at home.
Even for those who haven't been displaced, the mood is grim. Families of hostages are calling this a Passover of "absence and anguish." Many families feel "held hostage" by both Hamas and their government.
This year's Passover seders will be a stark reminder that the struggle for freedom is incomplete. Empty chairs and pictures of missing loved ones will drive the point home. Special Haggadahs have been printed with messages of hope for the hostages' release.
This Passover contrasts the joyous celebration it's meant to be. But perhaps, by remembering the struggles of the past and those yearning for freedom today, the spirit of Passover can renew its meaning. [read]
Related:
DC-area children learn matzo making and Passover traditions ahead of the Jewish holiday [read]
How students at NYU find community during Passover [read]
Biden marks Passover with statement of 'ironclad' support for Israel [read]
Black achievement is real…possible: A while back, I became aware of Haley Taylor Schlitz, a Gen Z powerhouse whose homeschooling accelerated her academics. Recently, she became an attorney at age 21. The more I got into her story, the crazier it got (in a good way). Her brother Ian was CEO of a startup at age 16, and now, at 17, he's a Ph.D student. Their mother, Dr. Myiesha Taylor, grew up in Long Beach, where her father was shot and killed when she was 18. Yet, she became a medical doctor and the inspiration for Doc McStuffins. I interviewed her and her husband, William, about how they raised such phenoms. The short answer is that they pulled them from schools with low expectations and taught them at home. I asked them about the possibility that the two kids are prodigies and not representative of what parents could do for other kids. Dr. Taylor Schlitz's response was to tell me that explanation wouldn't work with their younger child, Hana, who lived through challenging circumstances in Ethiopia before being adopted. She is 16 and recently announced her acceptance into a Ph.D program. That pretty much settles it.
Pay to play: "When parents look for a home to set down roots, they often seek the best public school districts. Those homes tend to cost more, nearly $300,000 more on average, according to children's equipment manufacturer Chicco which analyzed Zillow home values with Niche's rankings of best school districts across the U.S." [read]
Bet on Black: It's one thing to complain about what schools aren't doing for Black students to get them to college. It's another to support those working on the problem. The Observer has a list of five groups that boost Black student achievement. "Some organizations are resources for students starting as early as ninth or 10th grade, partnering with some of the nation's leading schools to provide dual enrollment opportunities. Other organizations help underserved students pay for college tuition, textbooks, and supplies." [read]
Attacks on Blacks: Los Angeles school leaders are making changes to their Black Student Achievement Plan because the white rights group Parents Defending Education "filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education in July, claiming the program violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment because it specifically supports Black students." This is the twisted world we live in. Programs meant to advance people held back for centuries are attacked because they don't focus on those who benefited from the holding back. This brand of cynicism metastasizes in the body with too little knowledge in the head and too little compassion in the heart. What else could explaining fighting programs meant to help lagging students catch up? [read]
Red state problems: "Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's signature proposal for a statewide school voucher program is dead for the year, with Lee acknowledging there is no way forward for the legislation despite last-ditch negotiations through the weekend to revive the stalled bill." This part of the battle for school choice is between Republicans who want accountability, and those who are resistant: "Senate Republicans wanted to require students who participate in the program to take achievement testing and allow out-of-county public school enrollment. Lee pushed for establishing a voucher program without testing requirements." [read]
California's little-known choice program: In the early 90s, when California passed laws establishing charter schools, they also introduced another choice program that nobody knows about. Per Ed Source, "An underused, little-known public school choice program allowing students to enroll in other districts that open their borders has been reauthorized six times in the past 30 years. The state's District of Choice Program allows a student to transfer to a school district that participates in this program." Fewer than 10,000 students make use of this program, proving that it's one thing to pass laws; it's another to make sure they work.
In Vermont, school choice without charters: Vermont's secretary of education, Zoey Saunders, has worked in support of charter schools in several states. Yet, in her new leadership role, she says, "I'm not interested in bringing charter schools to the state of Vermont." That mirrors the state's governor, which is interesting since Vermont is a tuitioning state, a term used to describe a state that provides vouchers for parents to enroll in non-public schools, that gives vouchers for parents to enroll in non-public schools while resisting public schools of choice. [read]
Dumb Dems: Wrapping their anti-charter bill in the lace of "accountability," some Democrats in Colorado wanted to allow school districts with declining enrollment to revoke a charter school's charter. One former legislator involved in the efforts to kill charters wrote this in 2007: "There must be a special place in hell for these Privatizers, Charterizers, and Voucherizers. They deserve it!" I can't say with any degree of certainty how hell works, but I'm pretty sure it involves legislators who are so hopped up on union Khat that they write nuisance bills that help no one. [read]
Backing Black charters: Philadelphia's mayor nominated nine candidates for the city's Board of Education. They all took a grilling by the City Council in a session where "the overall tenor of the councilmember's questions and comments signaled many of them would like to see more charter schools — specifically Black-led charter schools — in the city." With so many big city Dems having no strategy for creating new, desperately needed school opportunities for kids in education deserts, it's hopeful to see some demanding more culturally affirming schools. [read]
Mathematicians did something cool—no, really: Researchers at the University of Amsterdam conducted an experiment involving a frictionless billiard ball programmed to remember its previous paths and avoid crossing them.
After running the simulation approximately 200 million times, the researchers observed that this system generated highly complex patterns, providing valuable insights into biological functions involving spatial memory (such as the navigation behavior of slime molds).
This experiment's conditions may not perfectly replicate biological systems. Still, it offers valuable insights into the potential of memory-driven behavior and opens up new avenues for exploring the behavior of living organisms and how they navigate their environments. [read]
From our YouTube channel, Shayna Terrell interviews Akil Parker, CEO of All This Math, about the importance of math in the black community. They discuss how math can be a tool for liberation and critical thinking, as well as the evolution of math education. Akil emphasizes the connection between math and problem-solving and how math can empower individuals and communities. They conclude by highlighting the role of math in black history and its significance in ancient civilizations like Kemet. This conversation explores the importance of math and math literacy, highlighting its application in everyday life and financial matters. Akil also breaks down the concept of Histematics, which connects math and history.
You found what?: 11-year-old Ruby Reynolds and her father, Justin, have been fossil hunters for years. It finally paid off. The duo found a partial bone from an animal that may have been the largest ever to roam Earth. In other news, my daughter and I went to Target this weekend. [read]
It's better to forget: "New research reveals that remembering something long-term comes at a cost – specifically, inflammation in the brain and DNA damage in nerve cells, as the memories get 'fused' into neurons and stored." [read]
Robots are suspicious: After much speculation, the US AI Safety Institute—part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)—has finally announced its leadership team. The head will be Paul Christiano, a former OpenAI researcher who pioneered a foundational AI safety technique called reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) but is also known for predicting that "there's a 50 percent chance AI development could end in 'doom.'"
From my friends at Great Schools: Parents often need help determining how much help to give their children on school projects. This is especially true for science projects, where the line between assisting and taking over can be blurry.
Imagine being a child tasked with creating a diorama of a Native American village. You work hard over the weekend, crafting a charming model. But when you bring it to school, you see a classmate's elaborate, clearly adult-assisted project, making yours pale.
This scenario plays out in schools nationwide, raising questions about parental involvement in homework. Teachers like Linda Eisinger, Missouri's Teacher of the Year in 2005, emphasize the importance of children doing their work with guidance from parents.
Ben Fohner, a science fair winner, credits his parents' support but highlights the need for students to lead their projects. He advises parents to facilitate connections and be a supportive presence.
Roger Falcone, a science fair judge, notes the harm of parents' over- and under-involvement. He stresses the value of students presenting their work, which fosters genuine learning and confidence.
Research shows parental support is crucial but should not overshadow a child's effort. Parents can assist by helping define ideas, providing encouragement, and offering editing help, but they should avoid taking over the project.
Ultimately, a science or any school project should be a child's opportunity to learn, grow, and shine independently. [read]
Earth Day: Happy Earth Day! 🌍 Having never celebrated this hidden holiday, I’m not sure what it entails. Do I get gifts? Send cards? Have a special meal?
Nah. It’s just a reminder to keep our planet habitable for future generations.
Here are some fast facts:
Earth Day was almost called 'Environmental Teach-in'
Earth is billions of years old
There have been 377 climate disasters since 1980
Close to 8 million metric tons of plastic go into the ocean annually
The earth isn't round
The U.S. generates 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day
The EPA was formed because of Earth Day
The book 'Silent Spring' was a catalyst for Earth Day
The date was chosen to appeal to college students
There's a flag for Earth Day
There is a theme song too:
NASA gets into Earth Day: The agency recently announced six new airborne missions, costing $120 million, to study various aspects of our changing planet. These missions will focus on arctic coastal change, wildfire weather creation, urban air pollution, impacts of changing weather patterns on landscapes, retreating glaciers, and agriculture.
In addition, NASA's recent launch of the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite will provide valuable data on phytoplankton and atmospheric particles, enhancing our understanding of our changing climate.
If you want to fall a time-sucking hole, go to the government’s Earth information site - which I didn’t know existed until today. [read]
With so much talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I took the matter to Sharif El-Mekki and Ismael Jiminez, my #FreedomFriday crew.
Take a look at our discussion:
Your Tik just got Tok’d: The fight to censor young voices continues as Congress moves to ban or force the sale of TikTok. The House has passed a bill targeting the app, which is part of a larger package related to sanctions on foreign adversaries and seeks to provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza. Including the TikTok bill in this package means that the Senate will need to consider it more swiftly than if it were a standalone bill. [read]
A home called jail: The Supreme Court's upcoming case on homelessness could have devastating consequences. Grants Pass v. Johnson will decide if it's okay to fine or jail people for sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go. With over 650,000 Americans homeless, this is a critical issue. Leaders must invest in housing and support, not punish the most vulnerable. #Homelessness #SupremeCourt #GrantsPass #HousingNotPunishment [read]
And that’s all, folks!