Gadfly Bites 1/17/25—Gambits

News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full. Just sayin’.

1. The media whining about school funding in Ohio—especially as regards the false “voucher vs. public schools” dichotomy—is starting to get a little deafening. This piece is a pretty screechy case in point, mainly due to the lengthy voucher groucher misinformation included. But what’s interesting is that it leads off (in true local TV news fashion) with a parent’s story in her own words. This mom was, from her own admission, a “never voucher” person…until her public school situation became untenable. (Very quirky situation as related here, I must say, but “political” in a way that I’m sure is not unique to her and which other voucher haters can relate to). And in response to her child’s need, she took the voucher and ran. Classic. In fact, once you read the phrase “Our daughter has always been a bookworm and a very strong student, but unfortunately, her school situation was wearing on her as far as mentally”, I reckon everything the grouchers say after that becomes irrelevant noise. (NBC4 News, Columbus, 1/14/25)
   
   

2. There's also the other side of the coin: Folks who speak a bit more quietly and like to link and cite voucher supporters—such as us—in their pieces to demonstrate balance. All while presenting the same arguments as their shriller peers. (Ohio Statehouse News Bureau, 1/16/25)
   
   

3. Then there’s the combo of shrill, political, and Fordham-y. Definitely don’t love that one. (Ohio.news, 1/16/25)
   
   

4. But you really know you’re in for a long and bumpy ride around here when the business press gets in on the act. Crain’s jumped in to the school funding noise-fest with no less than four pieces yesterday—three opinion pieces and one news item. First up is an op-ed from Policy Matters Ohio that says “adequate school funding is more than just dollars and cents”, but then spends its entire length before and after that sentence talking about nothing but money, lots of it, and the imperative to give more of it to public schools. (Crain’s Cleveland Business, 1/16/25) Next there’s a professor who, while not opining directly on the need for more money for education, does opine on a bunch of student support efforts well outside of the classroom that currently cost someone a lot of money to run, and that will likely require a whole lot more of that money if they are to be expanded as the good doctor proposes. (Crain’s Cleveland Business, 1/16/25) Then State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney opines that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. (Crain’s Cleveland Business, 1/16/25) And finally, the news item is a selective curated list of “three obstacles to student achievement”, and how tho$e problem$ might be re$olved. Oh wait. Better just make that four opinion pieces. (Ȼrain’$ Ȼleveland Bu$ine$$, 1/16/25)
   
   

5. Finally today, just to end the week on something of an up note: I am heartened to see that not only is this district-sponsored chess tournament in Toledo open to all students in the area, Toledo City Schools seems to be actively recruiting for those charter, private, STEM, and home school students to show up. Hope it’s a legit invitation and not some kind of Albin Countergambit leading to a Lasker Trap! (Toledo Blade, 1/15/25)

Did you know you can have every edition of Gadfly Bites sent directly to your Inbox? Subscribe by clicking here.