News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full. Just sayin’.
- Fordham’s Aaron Churchill is among the folks talking about math education again in this piece. (Kudos to the Dispatch/USA Today Network folks for sticking with this topic so diligently as the budget clock counts down). Aaron joins the chorus of folks glad that the Ohio Senate has proposed a science-of-reading-style approach to math curriculum in the state budget, but he hopes that automatic enrollment of high-achieving eighth graders into Algebra I might still be in the cards before budget season ends. Tick tock. (Columbus Dispatch, 6/23/25)
- Speaking of folks looking for a win before time expires, former state representative John Patterson (he of Cupp-Patterson school funding renown) took to the pages of Cleveland.com this weekend to urge current lawmakers to fully implement the Fair School Funding Plan as he and his collaborators envisioned. The plan is “the most thoughtful, student-focused formula Ohio has ever had,” he writes, directly and unapologetically. “It was adopted with broad bipartisan support and crafted by practitioners with proven expertise and a shared commitment to fairness and fiscal responsibility.” That outcome is not certain as the budget bill stands right now, so as with the math nerds, Patterson and pals are looking for—and working for, it seems—a last-minute win: “All they ask is the opportunity to continue that effort, working with lawmakers to refine the formula so that it remains responsive to both the educational needs of students and the financial realities of the state.” Tick. Tock. (Cleveland.com, 6/20/25)
- Finally today: For anyone inclined to be bothered by Ohio State University’s plan to teach responsible AI use to all of its students starting next fall, I suggest you take a look at the alternative, as embodied by this coverage of Cleveland State University’s newest “staffer”, Ava. Not only is this “fundraiser” powered by artificial intelligence, but so is the article introducing Ava to us. Classic. To me, this feels a step closer to problematic than OSU’s plan, but YMMV. (
Skynet Industries Ltd.Cleveland.com, 6/22/25)
Did you know you can have every edition of Gadfly Bites sent directly to your Inbox? Subscribe by clicking here.
