Adam "I Was Hoping We Could Keep It" Laats
@adamlaats.bsky.social
US Historian at Binghamton U. Columbo fan. Books about schools, religion, conservatism. Now writing about the roots of US public schools, c. 1790-1860. adamlaats.net
Here's one in honor of Universal Children's Day.
In 1827, white adult Thomas Hale visited the all-Black NYC African Free School.
He was dismayed that the class was derailed due to students' "Levity and Laughter, which Seemed rather generally to prevail.”
In 1827, white adult Thomas Hale visited the all-Black NYC African Free School.
He was dismayed that the class was derailed due to students' "Levity and Laughter, which Seemed rather generally to prevail.”
November 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Here's one in honor of Universal Children's Day.
In 1827, white adult Thomas Hale visited the all-Black NYC African Free School.
He was dismayed that the class was derailed due to students' "Levity and Laughter, which Seemed rather generally to prevail.”
In 1827, white adult Thomas Hale visited the all-Black NYC African Free School.
He was dismayed that the class was derailed due to students' "Levity and Laughter, which Seemed rather generally to prevail.”
In honor of Universal Children's Day, here is some student art n poetry from NYC's segregated "African Free School," c. 1819 and 1822:
November 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM
In honor of Universal Children's Day, here is some student art n poetry from NYC's segregated "African Free School," c. 1819 and 1822:
Kind of changes the whole "Grinch on ICE" vibe....
November 19, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Kind of changes the whole "Grinch on ICE" vibe....
The whole Phoenix shtick is so patently Bill Bennett redux. I'm just waiting for Kevin Roberts to be busted in a casino.
(Here's Bennett in 1986 telling everyone else to be a moral exemplar.)
(Here's Bennett in 1986 telling everyone else to be a moral exemplar.)
November 17, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The whole Phoenix shtick is so patently Bill Bennett redux. I'm just waiting for Kevin Roberts to be busted in a casino.
(Here's Bennett in 1986 telling everyone else to be a moral exemplar.)
(Here's Bennett in 1986 telling everyone else to be a moral exemplar.)
It's a big deal. Florida has swallowed whole the Bill-Bennett-warmed-over school principles of the Heritage Foundation.
But here's the thing: The "Phoenix Declaration" wants to ban climate-change science, but its wording leaves plenty of room to ban denialism.
www.fldoe.org/newsroom/lat...
But here's the thing: The "Phoenix Declaration" wants to ban climate-change science, but its wording leaves plenty of room to ban denialism.
www.fldoe.org/newsroom/lat...
November 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
It's a big deal. Florida has swallowed whole the Bill-Bennett-warmed-over school principles of the Heritage Foundation.
But here's the thing: The "Phoenix Declaration" wants to ban climate-change science, but its wording leaves plenty of room to ban denialism.
www.fldoe.org/newsroom/lat...
But here's the thing: The "Phoenix Declaration" wants to ban climate-change science, but its wording leaves plenty of room to ban denialism.
www.fldoe.org/newsroom/lat...
Specifically for Heritage, their first public foray in 1975 was exactly the same.
Back then, they had to decide whether or not to cooperate with the Klan in a book boycott and school bombing in West Virginia.
Unlike today, 1975 Heritage refused to work with the Klan.
Back then, they had to decide whether or not to cooperate with the Klan in a book boycott and school bombing in West Virginia.
Unlike today, 1975 Heritage refused to work with the Klan.
November 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Specifically for Heritage, their first public foray in 1975 was exactly the same.
Back then, they had to decide whether or not to cooperate with the Klan in a book boycott and school bombing in West Virginia.
Unlike today, 1975 Heritage refused to work with the Klan.
Back then, they had to decide whether or not to cooperate with the Klan in a book boycott and school bombing in West Virginia.
Unlike today, 1975 Heritage refused to work with the Klan.
Cheers for continuing the 100-year-old tradition. When they came for UNC in 1925, President Harry Chase fought them hard in the halls of the state legislature and the pages of state newspapers.
Chase won by convincing NC that they valued a "real" university.
Chase won by convincing NC that they valued a "real" university.
November 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Cheers for continuing the 100-year-old tradition. When they came for UNC in 1925, President Harry Chase fought them hard in the halls of the state legislature and the pages of state newspapers.
Chase won by convincing NC that they valued a "real" university.
Chase won by convincing NC that they valued a "real" university.
We have precedent aplenty:
November 11, 2025 at 1:27 PM
We have precedent aplenty:
It's been a long road for Heritage. In their very first public outing in 1975, defending book boycotters (and school bombers) in WV, Heritage split over the same issue: Whether or not to share files and cooperate with the Ku Klux Klan.
Back then, the non-cooperate faction won.
Back then, the non-cooperate faction won.
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
It's been a long road for Heritage. In their very first public outing in 1975, defending book boycotters (and school bombers) in WV, Heritage split over the same issue: Whether or not to share files and cooperate with the Ku Klux Klan.
Back then, the non-cooperate faction won.
Back then, the non-cooperate faction won.
It's always the tell: What kind of school do they want for other people's children? Is it what they want for their own kids?
adamlaats.net/2018/05/09/t...
adamlaats.net/2018/05/09/t...
November 2, 2025 at 5:40 PM
It's always the tell: What kind of school do they want for other people's children? Is it what they want for their own kids?
adamlaats.net/2018/05/09/t...
adamlaats.net/2018/05/09/t...
Okay one more and then I'll drop it I swear.
Less surprising to see these standards explain the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in hard-to-understand terms. Just a "cancellation of US air support."
Less surprising to see these standards explain the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in hard-to-understand terms. Just a "cancellation of US air support."
November 2, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Okay one more and then I'll drop it I swear.
Less surprising to see these standards explain the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in hard-to-understand terms. Just a "cancellation of US air support."
Less surprising to see these standards explain the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in hard-to-understand terms. Just a "cancellation of US air support."
Good question. I don't know why it doesn't. It DOES include Martin Dies and Hamilton Fish by name, and insists on teaching that the work of committees like HUAC was heroic and necessary.
November 2, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Good question. I don't know why it doesn't. It DOES include Martin Dies and Hamilton Fish by name, and insists on teaching that the work of committees like HUAC was heroic and necessary.
Glad to talk with Jeff Solochek @tampabaytimes.bsky.social.
Talked history of teaching anti-communism along with @sethcotlar.bsky.social and Jon Zimmerman.
Get this: the standards weirdly insist that McCarthy should not be made fun of.
www.tampabay.com/news/educati...
Talked history of teaching anti-communism along with @sethcotlar.bsky.social and Jon Zimmerman.
Get this: the standards weirdly insist that McCarthy should not be made fun of.
www.tampabay.com/news/educati...
November 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Glad to talk with Jeff Solochek @tampabaytimes.bsky.social.
Talked history of teaching anti-communism along with @sethcotlar.bsky.social and Jon Zimmerman.
Get this: the standards weirdly insist that McCarthy should not be made fun of.
www.tampabay.com/news/educati...
Talked history of teaching anti-communism along with @sethcotlar.bsky.social and Jon Zimmerman.
Get this: the standards weirdly insist that McCarthy should not be made fun of.
www.tampabay.com/news/educati...
Honest question here: Why was the NYT coverage of Mamdani's education SOOOO different for high school and college?
Bowdoin is pilloried as a left-wing race-baiting school;
Bronx Science is described as fun and formative.
Seems weirder than usual...
Bowdoin is pilloried as a left-wing race-baiting school;
Bronx Science is described as fun and formative.
Seems weirder than usual...
November 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Honest question here: Why was the NYT coverage of Mamdani's education SOOOO different for high school and college?
Bowdoin is pilloried as a left-wing race-baiting school;
Bronx Science is described as fun and formative.
Seems weirder than usual...
Bowdoin is pilloried as a left-wing race-baiting school;
Bronx Science is described as fun and formative.
Seems weirder than usual...
What are you reading right now?
I'm re-reading @earlymodjustice.bsky.social 's terrific By Birth or Consent
I'm re-reading @earlymodjustice.bsky.social 's terrific By Birth or Consent
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
What are you reading right now?
I'm re-reading @earlymodjustice.bsky.social 's terrific By Birth or Consent
I'm re-reading @earlymodjustice.bsky.social 's terrific By Birth or Consent
Thank you! I'm always happy to talk with @danagoldstein.bsky.social, but it is a bummer to realize that the nightmarish history I've studied is suddenly very relevant. It was nicer to have people be surprised to hear that the US has a long history of school bombings and book burnings.
October 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Thank you! I'm always happy to talk with @danagoldstein.bsky.social, but it is a bummer to realize that the nightmarish history I've studied is suddenly very relevant. It was nicer to have people be surprised to hear that the US has a long history of school bombings and book burnings.
There's nothing new about right-wingers attacking schools. @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social @rickperlstein.bsky.social @kevinmkruse.bsky.social have told the stories.
But today is different. Now the call is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. (The White House.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
But today is different. Now the call is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. (The White House.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
October 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
There's nothing new about right-wingers attacking schools. @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social @rickperlstein.bsky.social @kevinmkruse.bsky.social have told the stories.
But today is different. Now the call is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. (The White House.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
But today is different. Now the call is coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE. (The White House.)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
It has always been so easy to attack "progressive education" because it can be whatever its enemies want it to be.
Here's Allen Zoll, 1950:
Here's Allen Zoll, 1950:
October 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
It has always been so easy to attack "progressive education" because it can be whatever its enemies want it to be.
Here's Allen Zoll, 1950:
Here's Allen Zoll, 1950:
It's like the old Will Smith movie but Trump is the alien this time.
October 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
It's like the old Will Smith movie but Trump is the alien this time.
But how about "Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island"?
October 18, 2025 at 7:27 PM
But how about "Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island"?
Okay, everything sucks, but here's some student art from New York City's African Free School, 1812-1828:
October 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Okay, everything sucks, but here's some student art from New York City's African Free School, 1812-1828:
Thank you! I assume the announcement of the final winner in Providence will look something like this: :)
October 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Thank you! I assume the announcement of the final winner in Providence will look something like this: :)
I feel like we need a seminar for university leaders on the lessons of the 1920s and 1940s/50s. When presidents like Harry Chase of the Univ of NC fought back, they won. When they caved, they lost it all.
October 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I feel like we need a seminar for university leaders on the lessons of the 1920s and 1940s/50s. When presidents like Harry Chase of the Univ of NC fought back, they won. When they caved, they lost it all.
"I caught it."
October 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"I caught it."
NC and KY almost banned "evolution" from their public colleges. But they were defeated by activism by university presidents.
At NC, Harry Chase sent legislators a detailed list of the faculty who would leave, and where they would go (Johns Hopkins and Wisconsin mostly).
At NC, Harry Chase sent legislators a detailed list of the faculty who would leave, and where they would go (Johns Hopkins and Wisconsin mostly).
October 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
NC and KY almost banned "evolution" from their public colleges. But they were defeated by activism by university presidents.
At NC, Harry Chase sent legislators a detailed list of the faculty who would leave, and where they would go (Johns Hopkins and Wisconsin mostly).
At NC, Harry Chase sent legislators a detailed list of the faculty who would leave, and where they would go (Johns Hopkins and Wisconsin mostly).