Trending News

BustED Pencils Trending News: DeVos is Keeping the “Last” Last.

So Ms. DeVos is a devout Christian who believes that if a parent wants their child to bask in the glory of God then damn it the government should pay for it.  And let’s be honest she is referring to the God of Christians—only! Ok.  I’ll work with her.  What does Jesus—the son of God—… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Teacher Licenses Under Attack.

Let’s be very clear. There is NO teacher shortage. There is a teacher Exodus. Loosening, tinkering, and doing away with teacher licenses will do NOTHING except kill the profession of teaching and dramatically increase systemic inequity. It is happening all across the country. Policy makers, pundits and idiots keep screaming teacher shortage.  And, in the… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Hold the Rigor and Pass the Play.

So called “kindergarten readiness” has transformed American early childhood education into  a disaster zone where “rigor” and “academics” rule the day. Why? Because as a nation we’re delusional at best and intentional at worst.  Delusional because we actually think that “rigor” prepares the mushy minds of toddlers for academic success at some future—yet to be… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Where Have All the Teachers Gone?

It’s not a shortage! It’s not a human capital issue! It’s a mass EXODUS! Change the narrative. 30 years of war against teachers and the casualties are now insurmountable. THAT IS NOT A SHORTAGE! It’s a warning that public schools are close to being privatized and our most vulnerable children will be thrown to a… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: DeVos Dump.

Here it is in the middle of March and Betsy DeVos has been on the job for about two months.  Some questioned whether a woman with no real work experience let alone experience working in the education field could actually handle the responsibilities that come with being the Secretary of Education. Question: Is Betsy DeVos… Read more »

UPDATED! BustED Pencils Trending News: Howard Zinn Banned in Arkansas!

Let’s make a difference! Here at BustEd Pencils we have a special place in our hearts for Howard Zinn.  Hell every show ends with our Moment of Zinn—a quote from Howard that encourages “civil disobedience.” However it seems that some dolt in Arkansas thinks that book banning should make a come back and authored a… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Vouchers Suck.

It’s been decades since a bunch of blockheads decided to listen to Milton Friedman’s idea that public education should be funded through a voucher system that allows parents a school of their “choice.”  After all the invisible hand of the free market would make American schools “great again.” However, just this week we find out… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Resistance!

Stark.  Bleak. Depressing. etc. Have you used any of these words to describe your sense of the world lately?  Hey it’s hard not to.  But let’s not forget that the solutions we seek and the remedy for this malaise is within each of us. So in that spirit here are three stories of resistance—with endings… Read more »

BustED Pencils Trending News: Betsy Blocked!

Brand spanking new Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was blocked from entering a public school in Washington D.C.  Don’t believe us?  Take a look for yourself.   http://wjla.com/news/local/video-protesters-block-education-secretary-devos-from-entering-dc-school http://patch.com/district-columbia/washingtondc/protesters-greet-betsy-devos-outside-dc-middle-school http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/betsy-devos-blocked-protesters_us_589de192e4b03df370d5b4aa

Last posting

Earlier today I passed along word to Tim Slekar that while I’ve appreciated the chance to be a part of the BustED Pencils group, growing responsibilities in other areas of my life will make it hard to be consistent with the Trending News here. I am sneaking in one last post, though, with two requests… Read more »