Joshua Weishart
@joshuaweishart.bsky.social
Dad to school kids, husband to school teacher, professor to law students. Focused on education rights
joshuaweishart.com
joshuaweishart.com
Pinned
We are rightly concerned now about children's aptitude & willingness to read and underdeveloped critical thinking skills.
Yet we elevate a man to the highest office whose aversion to reading & thinking is so notorious his supporters uncritically boast it as vital to his appeal and relatability.
Yet we elevate a man to the highest office whose aversion to reading & thinking is so notorious his supporters uncritically boast it as vital to his appeal and relatability.
November 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
We are rightly concerned now about children's aptitude & willingness to read and underdeveloped critical thinking skills.
Yet we elevate a man to the highest office whose aversion to reading & thinking is so notorious his supporters uncritically boast it as vital to his appeal and relatability.
Yet we elevate a man to the highest office whose aversion to reading & thinking is so notorious his supporters uncritically boast it as vital to his appeal and relatability.
Grateful for those who refuse to give up.
Is education a lost cause?
No, it's THE cause, the pièce de résistance of democratic living.
Give up on it, you give in to the banality and brutality of evil.
No, it's THE cause, the pièce de résistance of democratic living.
Give up on it, you give in to the banality and brutality of evil.
November 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Grateful for those who refuse to give up.
Reposted by Joshua Weishart
Education is fundamentally a belief that people can change. Even the most immoral among us can believe in that possibility, which is why they frequently try to convince people they cannot.
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Education is fundamentally a belief that people can change. Even the most immoral among us can believe in that possibility, which is why they frequently try to convince people they cannot.
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
Reposted by Joshua Weishart
They don't have to win the political and legal battles over "dismantling" the Education Department to win the overall war against public education. They just need to sow enough doubt and distrust (of their own making!) to turn more people away.
Linda McMahon: "The states will have less requirements because more money will go in block grants to the states ... I have called for a hard reset of education because we have failed our students."
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
They don't have to win the political and legal battles over "dismantling" the Education Department to win the overall war against public education. They just need to sow enough doubt and distrust (of their own making!) to turn more people away.
Great advice, issue spotting precision and thorough analysis for sure distinguishes a student answering a Weishart Torts or Con Law exam.
Especially for the 1Ls out there, preparing for their 1st set of law school exams, I wrote this post back in 2007 about how to get a good grade on a law school issue spotter. The post, "Bad Answers, Good Answers, and Terrific Answers," is available here:
volokh.com/posts/116838...
volokh.com/posts/116838...
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Great advice, issue spotting precision and thorough analysis for sure distinguishes a student answering a Weishart Torts or Con Law exam.
They don't have to win the political and legal battles over "dismantling" the Education Department to win the overall war against public education. They just need to sow enough doubt and distrust (of their own making!) to turn more people away.
Linda McMahon: "The states will have less requirements because more money will go in block grants to the states ... I have called for a hard reset of education because we have failed our students."
November 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
They don't have to win the political and legal battles over "dismantling" the Education Department to win the overall war against public education. They just need to sow enough doubt and distrust (of their own making!) to turn more people away.
Reposted by Joshua Weishart
Look at how many of those professions are traditionally held by women. I’m sure that’s part of the reason for this.
Also, most are “helping professions”, tasked with working directly with people. We already have a severe problem with pay for helping professions. This will exacerbate the issue.
Also, most are “helping professions”, tasked with working directly with people. We already have a severe problem with pay for helping professions. This will exacerbate the issue.
November 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Look at how many of those professions are traditionally held by women. I’m sure that’s part of the reason for this.
Also, most are “helping professions”, tasked with working directly with people. We already have a severe problem with pay for helping professions. This will exacerbate the issue.
Also, most are “helping professions”, tasked with working directly with people. We already have a severe problem with pay for helping professions. This will exacerbate the issue.
Teaching is the profession that lays the foundation for all other professions.
Insulting, yes, but also outrageously reckless given teacher alienation policies that have already led to a teacher recruitment and retention crisis nationwide.
lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/archives/56/...
Insulting, yes, but also outrageously reckless given teacher alienation policies that have already led to a teacher recruitment and retention crisis nationwide.
lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/archives/56/...
November 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Teaching is the profession that lays the foundation for all other professions.
Insulting, yes, but also outrageously reckless given teacher alienation policies that have already led to a teacher recruitment and retention crisis nationwide.
lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/archives/56/...
Insulting, yes, but also outrageously reckless given teacher alienation policies that have already led to a teacher recruitment and retention crisis nationwide.
lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/archives/56/...
With policy *at best* only partially driven by facts and so many oblivious or indifferent about value-laden policy, we must be explicit about what's at stake, who stands to benefit or lose, including the moral and human toll, EVEN IF the outcome is uncertain or less certain.
banality of evil, folks
banality of evil, folks
"Dismantling" gives them too much cover
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
Breaking News: The Trump administration announced an aggressive plan to continue dismantling the Education Department.
November 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
With policy *at best* only partially driven by facts and so many oblivious or indifferent about value-laden policy, we must be explicit about what's at stake, who stands to benefit or lose, including the moral and human toll, EVEN IF the outcome is uncertain or less certain.
banality of evil, folks
banality of evil, folks
While we are unlawfully renaming executive departments, the Education Department should be renamed the Privatization Department.
It's not about giving more education power & funding to states, it's about ultimately turning states' education powers & funding over to private for-profit interests.
It's not about giving more education power & funding to states, it's about ultimately turning states' education powers & funding over to private for-profit interests.
"Dismantling" gives them too much cover
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
Breaking News: The Trump administration announced an aggressive plan to continue dismantling the Education Department.
November 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
While we are unlawfully renaming executive departments, the Education Department should be renamed the Privatization Department.
It's not about giving more education power & funding to states, it's about ultimately turning states' education powers & funding over to private for-profit interests.
It's not about giving more education power & funding to states, it's about ultimately turning states' education powers & funding over to private for-profit interests.
"Dismantling" gives them too much cover
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
Breaking News: The Trump administration announced an aggressive plan to continue dismantling the Education Department.
Trump Administration Announces Steps to Dismantle Education Department
Responsibilities for K-12 and college programs, among others, will be moved to other federal agencies.
nyti.ms
November 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
"Dismantling" gives them too much cover
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
We have here the makings of a shadow agency inflicting 4 harms:
1. Depletion (of public funding)
2. Diversion (of funds to private schools)
3. Discrimination (of DEI, LGBTQ+)
4. Destabilization (of public ed to serve #1-3)
Project 2025 goal: privatization
Our checks & balances are inadequate and our institutions insufficiently democratic. But the break in norms and lack of social cohesion is attributable to our failure to educate democratically and meet people's basic needs for a fulfilling, democratic life.
scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj/vol29...
scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj/vol29...
Democratizing Education Rights
If the United States is to reverse its creeping, illiberal descent, generations of youth must emerge from this tribal, post-truth, pandemic-shattered era to mend democracy. Hope for that uncertain fut...
scholarship.law.wm.edu
November 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Our checks & balances are inadequate and our institutions insufficiently democratic. But the break in norms and lack of social cohesion is attributable to our failure to educate democratically and meet people's basic needs for a fulfilling, democratic life.
scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj/vol29...
scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmborj/vol29...
Reposted by Joshua Weishart
Too many treat loss of public education as unfortunate collateral damage. But there is no greater democratic institution than the one responsible for renewing faith in and principles of democracy for each generation.
We lose public education, we lose the long game, the short game, the whole goddamn game, people.
"Should the school privatization agenda succeed, our education systems would be beyond all recognition—exponentially more stratified, segregated, and sectarianized than they are now, further balkanizing an already bitterly divided nation."
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
November 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Too many treat loss of public education as unfortunate collateral damage. But there is no greater democratic institution than the one responsible for renewing faith in and principles of democracy for each generation.
I'm sorry I keep posting this but truly if privatization wins, none of the other current education policy battles will matter, we will all lose.
"Should the school privatization agenda succeed, our education systems would be beyond all recognition—exponentially more stratified, segregated, and sectarianized than they are now, further balkanizing an already bitterly divided nation."
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I'm sorry I keep posting this but truly if privatization wins, none of the other current education policy battles will matter, we will all lose.
Had the privilege to attend this timely and thoughtful symposium today and came away even more convinced that there's a larger project we can and should be undertaking collectively in these times.
November 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Had the privilege to attend this timely and thoughtful symposium today and came away even more convinced that there's a larger project we can and should be undertaking collectively in these times.
Education is fundamentally a belief that people can change. Even the most immoral among us can believe in that possibility, which is why they frequently try to convince people they cannot.
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Education is fundamentally a belief that people can change. Even the most immoral among us can believe in that possibility, which is why they frequently try to convince people they cannot.
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
Reposted by Joshua Weishart
As @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social is so good to keep reminding us, progressives can continue to win on this issue if they will get off the fence and stop flirting with these neovoucher programs.
Good news is that, despite 1930s proto-Nazi school politics parallels, today's privatization push--draining public school funding, licensing discrimination, segregating students, lacking accountability, and mostly benefitting the well-off--is deeply unpopular!
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social is so good to keep reminding us, progressives can continue to win on this issue if they will get off the fence and stop flirting with these neovoucher programs.
As @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social is so good to keep reminding us, progressives can continue to win on this issue if they will get off the fence and stop flirting with these neovoucher programs.
Good news is that, despite 1930s proto-Nazi school politics parallels, today's privatization push--draining public school funding, licensing discrimination, segregating students, lacking accountability, and mostly benefitting the well-off--is deeply unpopular!
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social is so good to keep reminding us, progressives can continue to win on this issue if they will get off the fence and stop flirting with these neovoucher programs.
Good news is that, despite 1930s proto-Nazi school politics parallels, today's privatization push--draining public school funding, licensing discrimination, segregating students, lacking accountability, and mostly benefitting the well-off--is deeply unpopular!
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Good news is that, despite 1930s proto-Nazi school politics parallels, today's privatization push--draining public school funding, licensing discrimination, segregating students, lacking accountability, and mostly benefitting the well-off--is deeply unpopular!
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
Too many treat loss of public education as unfortunate collateral damage. But there is no greater democratic institution than the one responsible for renewing faith in and principles of democracy for each generation.
We lose public education, we lose the long game, the short game, the whole goddamn game, people.
"Should the school privatization agenda succeed, our education systems would be beyond all recognition—exponentially more stratified, segregated, and sectarianized than they are now, further balkanizing an already bitterly divided nation."
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
November 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Too many treat loss of public education as unfortunate collateral damage. But there is no greater democratic institution than the one responsible for renewing faith in and principles of democracy for each generation.
We lose public education, we lose the long game, the short game, the whole goddamn game, people.
"Should the school privatization agenda succeed, our education systems would be beyond all recognition—exponentially more stratified, segregated, and sectarianized than they are now, further balkanizing an already bitterly divided nation."
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
What Rhymes With Nazi? Far-Right Posse in American School Ponzi
How U.S. Education Politics Resembles Early Nazi Germany
edlawprof.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
We lose public education, we lose the long game, the short game, the whole goddamn game, people.
Sound familiar?
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Sound familiar?
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
edlawprof.substack.com/p/what-rhyme...
This is why an integrated education is so imperative, to cultivate respect and empathy for the marginalized and least advantaged so that well advantaged children don't develop a sense of entitlement in the first place, become "privileged," because once that kicks in....
Above all else, the privileged always privilege their privileges.
November 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This is why an integrated education is so imperative, to cultivate respect and empathy for the marginalized and least advantaged so that well advantaged children don't develop a sense of entitlement in the first place, become "privileged," because once that kicks in....
Same goes for Dem senators
Above all else, the privileged always privilege their privileges.
November 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Same goes for Dem senators