Education News Round Up, October 8, 2025
A light week, as distractions abound.
Here’s what’s in the research.
And here’s what’s in the news.
The Future of Kids and Technology
The article addresses the anxiety among parents, such as Julia Wise, about preparing children for a future dominated by artificial intelligence, where traditional educational and career paths may become obsolete. It highlights different educational experiments, such as the Alpha School and Sovereign Child, that attempt to equip children with agency and skills for an unpredictable future, reflecting a broader shift toward valuing adaptability, creativity, and self-direction over conventional achievement. This matters because it captures a significant rethinking of education and parenting strategies in response to rapidly advancing technology and its potential to transform society fundamentally.
Another blot on Ohio charter schools: The kids aren’t showing up for classes Today in Ohio
The key point of the article is the chronic absenteeism issue in Ohio schools, particularly in charter schools, where about one in three students are chronically absent, significantly higher than the state average of 25%. This is crucial because it highlights a systemic issue within the education sector that can negatively impact students’ academic performance and future opportunities, further complicating efforts to improve public education and creating a need for more effective strategies to encourage consistent school attendance.
A Program Backed by the Gun Industry Failed to Reduce Suicide — and Was Secretly Shut Down Early
An investigation by The Trace and Rolling Stone reveals the unsuccessful partnership between the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to reduce U.S. suicide rates by 20% by 2025, despite initial high hopes and substantial public relations benefits. The collaboration focused more on maintaining the gun industry’s image and interests rather than aggressively pursuing suicide reduction strategies, resulting in the quiet termination of Project 2025 without achieving its goals. This matters because it highlights the challenges and conflicts of interest involved in collaborations between public health initiatives and industry groups, potentially impeding effective policy action to address America’s gun violence and suicide epidemic.
Top Trump Education Officials Are Dismantling Public Schools: ‘We’re Going to Have a Lot of Empty School Buildings’
Education Secretary Linda McMahon is aggressively working to defund and dismantle the public school system, while promoting alternatives such as private, charter, and home schooling, which she argues offer better educational environments. Her actions include reallocating federal funds towards charter schools and private education, partnering with conservative groups for “patriotic education,” and cutting support for diversity and equity programs. This significant policy shift raises concerns about the future of public education, particularly for low-income families and communities without access to private options, threatening the principle of equitable, universal education that public schools have traditionally represented in America.
