Just a few bits and pieces that I thought I might share with you today.

Naming Rights

Under a new “parents’ rights” law, lowa teachers must seek parental permission to use children’s nicknames. The law requires teachers to alert parents if a student asks to be addressed by “a name or pronoun” that differs from school records. In emails, parents in Iowa schools are being alerted and must approve if, for example, Kimberly wants to go by “Kim,” or Joseph requested that he be called “Joe.”

Imagine the hubbub if Samantha wants to go by “Sam.”

Low Test Scores

Black students at Florida’s Bunnell Elementary were called into a special assembly and warned that they “could end up being killed or go to jail” if they get low test scores. Superintendent LaShakia
Moore said, “there was no malice” behind the presentation but concedes it was inappropriate. “Sometimes, when you try to think outside the box,” Moore said, “you forget why the box is there!”

I wonder what happens to white students who get low test scores.

Trump’s Trinkets

Donald Trump’s campaign raised $7.1 million in the first 48 hours after he was booked in an Atlanta jail. That included $4.18 million raised the day after the booking, the highest one-day total for the campaign, which is marketing shirts, bumper stickers, and beverage coolers adorned with Trump’s mug shot and the tagline “Never Surrender!”

Well, never surrender until they handcuff him and haul him off to jail.