Gadfly Bites 8/6/25—Fix what you broke

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1. Following on from Monday’s awesome bombshell news that United Schools Network will be providing transportation to its own students this school year, here’s a look at what some other charter school leaders here in central Ohio are thinking and feeling in terms of transportation as the start of the year looms closer. They say they are optimistic for a good year, with a tiny bit of evidence to back that up. But I mean, what else can you do but say you’re optimistic at this point? Maybe that optimism will be borne out at some point, despite years of experiencing the opposite. But here’s hoping that United Schools’ decision will help to make everyone else’s busing situation just that little bit easier. (NBC4 News, Columbus, 8/5/25)
   
   

2. Speaking of the start of the new school year, here’s a look at how one school district in northwest Ohio is going to actuate the state’s new, stricter, cell phone rules. In describing those rules, the supe says, “The new policy definitely gives us more structure for our students to use their cell phones during the school day.” Say what?! Pretty sure that was meant to be the opposite. Later on, a student tells WTOL-TV that the district had a similar policy on the books last year but “it didn't really happen in any but one class.” She goes on to say that cellphone usage is “more of a respect thing” in their district. “Go on your phone when you want to and don’t do it when a teacher’s talking.” If after reading all this you suspect that I am discussing a bougie, big-dollar, high-performing suburban school district, then you get a gold star for using textual evidence and finding supporting details to determine the main point of a text. Good job. If not, then what rock have you been living under? (WTOL-TV, Toledo, 8/4/25)
   
   

3. I think we’ll have to take the University of Akron’s word here that they have been “leading” in the move to make sure reading teachers are fully up to speed on the science of reading over the last two years. But I do have to quibble with the notion that their “new” way of teaching is going to revolutionize education for adult students who can’t read. Because I’m pretty sure whatever you were teaching with as late as two years ago is the reason those adults can’t read now. It’s the least you can probably do to try and fix what you broke. (Akron Beacon Journal, 8/5/25)

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