Gadfly Bites 9/12/25—VERY specific incidents, I reckon

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1. As I was reading this news coverage about the teacher pipeline situation in Ohio, one specific part of it leaped out at me: “However, it is hard to quantify the shortage in Ohio because the state has not required schools to report relevant data.” It even came with a voice attached to it in my head—that of my colleague Jessica Poiner. She’s not quoted or namechecked here, but this has been such a signature concern of hers for years—and her published analysis and commentary has been so widely quoted elsewhere—I can’t help but believe that this has helped reshape the conversation in a very good way. Even better: “Ohio’s teacher shortage will be more easily tracked in the coming years. Starting Sept. 30, the Department of Education and Workforce will collect employment, retention, and vacancy staff data.” Talk about an influencer! (NBC4 News, Columbus, 9/12/25)
   
   

2. Here’s another look at one of my favorite topics: Adults banning kids from bringing items into their schools. This time, it’s metal water bottles which are now forbidden—with consequences—in one Akron City Schools high school. (Actually, this makes two district buildings with such a ban if you read far enough into the piece, but it’s this one that’s making news right now.) Why? School leaders are a little cagey about that part, saying both that heavy, opaque, stainless steel bottles constitute a “significant safety concern” but also that “multiple factors” contributed to the decision. The adults declined to discuss any specific incidents with the ABJ but students haven’t been shy about sharing. Junior Matthew Burrow described a pretty out-of-control environment at Firestone if I do say so myself (“I’ve seen fights with Chromebooks; people throwing chairs, backpacks, tables – I’ve seen it all.”), and suggested that his favorite type of solid, insulated, keep-the-water-cool-all-day bottle is being scapegoated here as just one potential problem among many. Honestly, I don’t know why the adults don’t just try to pacify the kids with TikTok videos or Royal Kingdom on their phones… (Akron Beacon Journal, 9/10/25) Apropos of nothing in particular, here’s a very nice look at homeschooling. It includes in-depth how-to info and testimonials from several happy (and successful) homeschooling families in Akron. (Akron Signal, 9/11/25)
   
   

3. As we discussed on Wednesday, the internationally-overblown rhetoric around high school busing in Dayton (and Ohio writ large) is missing several important components, not least of which is the fact that no district in the entire state is required to transport high school students. It is entirely optional (except for students with specific IEP provisions). I’m going to hope that Columbus City Schools’ decision to revisit their completely-voluntary high school busing program for cuts doesn’t fall prey to the anti-choice fake-outrage media machine currently operating on myth-fueled overdrive around the world. (Columbus Dispatch, 9/11/25) Interestingly, the elected school board in Columbus is also considering changes to its very popular intradistrict high school choice program as another way to save some money. Can’t imagine that will be well received by the thousands and thousands of families using it. But that’s a discussion for another day. Today, we let Columbus City Schools’ rosy report card preview (“a significant win for Columbus City Schools educators who work hard in classrooms every day.”) have the last word. (Spectrum News, 9/10/25)

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