Justin Leach

New petition signing events have been added to our website! Find one near you at RankMiVote.org/Where-Do-I-Sign
#VoteYourHopesNotYourFears #RankMIVote #rankedchoicevoting #Michigan #ballotinitiative #nonpartisan #vote #votersrights #democracy #volunteer #nonprofit #grassroots #RMV #RCV #donate

The Declaration of Independence National Constitution Center Historic Documents Library record for The Declaration of Independence

It certainly reads like an indictment to me.

constitutioncenter.org/the-constitu...

I recommend @theguardian.com, too.

Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real If everything feels broken but strangely normal, the Soviet-era concept of hypernormalization can help

"People who feel the “wrongness” of current conditions acutely may be experiencing some depression and anxiety, but those feelings can be quite rational – not a symptom of poor mental health, alarmism or a lack of proper perspective"

www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...

I took note of “Do NOT run. They will follow you.”

🤣 thank you for the welcome to MCSS, Dave!

NAGB just voted (reluctantly) to kill several NAEP exams over the next 10 yrs. Cuts: 1) No Long-Term Trend NAEP at all until 2033. 2) No 4th grade science in 2028 and no 12th grade science in 2032. 3) Writing scrapped altogether. 4) No 12th grade history in 2030 (1/3)

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is deeply disappointed in the recent decision to eliminate funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the National History Day (NHD) program.
➡️ Full statement here: hubs.li/Q03g6D4r0

It had at least one good line: “What does God need with a starship?”

"Companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group receive govt $ based on number of people they detain, which is why they lobby for stricter immigration policies. It's a lucrative business: CoreCivic made over $560m from ICE contracts in a single year. In 2024, GEO made more than $763 million.

Agreed. It’s easily the worst of the Star Trek movies in my opinion. At least Star Trek V had a few redeeming moments. Glad this was just a movie though and not a full series.

The Iconic Civil Rights Protest You Don't Know | American Experience | PBS Meet the protesters who crawled their way into history—and changed how all Americans live.

I saw this article a few days ago as the 35th Anniversary was commemorated. I am ashamed to say that I had not learned about this piece of our history until seeing this article shared on BlueSky. Learn about the "Capitol Crawl" protest to demand the passage of the ADA.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...

Visiting the Redford Theatre for the first time for Preservation Detroit’s lecture on the Belle Isle Boathouse.

October 21, 2024 On Saturday, September 7, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump predicted that his plan to deport 15 to 20 million people currently living in the United States would be “bloody.” He also prom...

I was unfamiliar with Dorothy Thompson until @hcrichardson.bsky.social wrote about her in October. If you don’t already, I highly recommend subscribing to her “Letters from an American” newsletter. heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-21...

Amid Polarization, Civics Education Enjoys Bipartisan Support, Survey Finds But Americans don’t want teachers to put 'their thumb on the scale,' one researcher said.

“Contrary to the conventional wisdom, there are still plenty of educational issues that garner bipartisan support in this polarized era,” said David Houston, an assistant education professor at George Mason University.
www.the74million.org/article/amid...

Linda McMahon's Fake 'Mission': The States Already Control Education (Opinion) Dismantling the Ed. Dept. is not a matter of giving power back to the states but of making education less equal from state to state.

The U.S. Department of Education is well worth the less than a penny per tax dollar that it costs Americans.

"Ask parents, teachers, students, school leaders, Pell Grant recipients, and researchers."
www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

History organizations offered grants to exhibit Michigan history as part of U.S. Semiquincentennial

"The application window for the America250MI History Grant Program opened on Saturday, March 1, and close Tuesday, April 14. A second round of applications will open in November."

www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/de...

NCSS seeks comments on a new position statement on the Transformative Power of a Diverse Social Studies Education for Middle-Level Learners. Read more and submit comments here by March 25, 2025: hubs.li/Q038cvLQ0

Agreed. We need more Dems following the lead of AOC, Jasmine Crockett, Pete Buttigieg, Chris Murphy, and Bernie Sanders.

“A knowledge-rich curriculum ensures ALL students gain the cultural & intellectual capital to thrive in civic & professional life.” – Robert Pondiscio

Don’t miss his latest Substack on why #knowledgematters: open.substack.com/pub/thenext3...

Thank you!

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour Robert Putnam reflects on how America became so polarized and what can unify the nation

Feeling disconnected? Join a club!
Watch Robert Putnam ("Bowling Alone") on PBS NewsHour tonight as he discusses the power of community and why local clubs & organizations matter more than ever.
youtu.be/5cVSR8MSJvw?...

Hearing from a govt contractor that Dept of Education is terminating What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) contracts.
WWC is a website that rigorously evaluates education policies, programs, and products to determine what's effective and not. It's an invaluable tool for school, district, state leaders

AHA–OAH Statement on Executive Order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K–12 Schooling” The American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians have released a joint statement on the presidential executive order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K–12 Schooling.”

“American history is complicated & fascinating; learning about our past should stimulate discussion & debate rooted in evidence…for that to happen, we must let our teachers do what they do best: teach without interference or ideological tests.” -AHA, OAH
#sschat www.historians.org/news/aha-oah...

Agreed, this is a great app!

I’ve had CBC on several times today as well. It’s been a sobering watch. These tariffs are a historic turning point in US-Canadian relations and the CBC’s coverage has met and conveyed the moment.

Thank you for the focused journalism from ProPublica while so many other outlets were asleep at the wheel in 2024. Your work is more vital to democracy now than ever before.

Michigan braces for Trump tariffs on Canada, a $77B trade partner | Bridge Michigan President Trump said Thursday he is moving forward with a 25% tariff on Canadian imports. Michigan will be ‘disproportionately affected’ as a border state with heavy auto trade, according to experts.

“We have a completely integrated economy. People should not take Canada for granted. This is a huge mistake.”

— Jim Blanchard, former Michigan governor + former ambassador to Canada, via @bridgemi.com

A dismal report card in math and reading 2024 NAEP test results document large increases in students who lack basic skills

Yesterday's NAEP results are a reminder of the importance of a well-rounded elementary curriculum that includes rich social studies and science instruction.

hechingerreport.org/naep-test-20...

For sure. It seems pretty clear as day despite some media outlets describing it as an “odd looking salute.”