Posted on by

The One About the Robot Teacher

A teaching robot is being deployed in one New York state school district this coming year:

When students return to school this fall in the Salamanca City Central School District in Western New York, a new kind of teacher will be ready to greet them. The small, rural district located on the Seneca Nation reservation is set to be one of the first in the country to put a humanoid robot in a classroom.

The classroom marks a new venture for Realbotix, a Toronto-based robotics company formerly known as Tokens.com, that helped customers use cryptocurrency to rent “digital land” in the Metaverse. In April 2024, the company acquired Simulcra, the Las Vegas parent company behind RealDoll, which has spent decades creating hyperrealistic sex dolls and later expanded into sex robots that remain on the market today.

an artificial intelligence illustration on the wall
Photo by Tara Winstead on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Monty Fritts Wants the State to Kill People

With Marsha Blackburn, TN Can Keep Winning the Race to the Bottom

Posted on by

Of Vouchers and Darkness

State Rep. Aftyn Behn talks about the current climate in Tennessee – and predicts a dark future after the devastating results of a decade and a half of complete GOP control. She even calls out vouchers as among the key policy blunders the GOP seems eager to expand:

Tennessee’s private school voucher program has already jumped from 20,000 seats to 35,000 in its second year, estimating a cost of $260 million by 2027… states like Arizona with similar voucher programs are staring down billion-dollar holes in their budget, with local counties hemorrhaging revenue with limited ability to fill the gaps

exterior of school building in daytime
Photo by Mary Taylor on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Monty Fritts Loves the Death Penalty

Billionaires Back Blackburn

Posted on by

What’s Up with Monty?

State Rep. Monty Fritts is running for the GOP nomination for Governor.

While he opposes vouchers, he’s got some pretty extreme views.

About those more extreme social positions, Firefly notes:

On January 29, 2026, a clip from a Christian nationalist podcast went viral. Fritts called for capital punishment for parents, guardians, and medical professionals connected to gender-affirming care for minors. He stated the position “aligns with scripture.” Widespread national condemnation. Has not retracted.

Leaked audio from the August 2025 Washington County GOP “God, Guns, and Guts” event revealed Fritts calling for capital punishment for individuals who have had or provided abortions.

This guy really likes the idea of the state having the power to kill people who don’t align with his religious views.

He also supports arming teachers.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

John Rose Backs John Rose for Governor

The Billionaire Bandwagon for Blackburn

Posted on by

9 Million Reasons

There are 9 million reasons John Rose wants to be Tennessee Governor – and they are the $9 million he’s donated to his own campaign.

Just over 4% of the money Rose has raised and spent for his campaign comes from people not named John Rose.

So, while more than 70% of the funds being spent to elect Marsha Blackburn come from out-of-state, more than 95% of the money being spent to convince voters to choose Rose comes from his own checkbook.

Rose and Blackburn both support Tennessee’s $300 million school voucher scheme – a plan on track to cost well over $1 billion a year by 2030.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Marsha Backed by Out-of-State Billionaires

How Tennessee’s Winning the Race to the Bottom

Posted on by

Clarksville Teacher Arrested on Obscenity Charges

From Clarksville Now

The former Montgomery Central High School teacher who showed nude photos of himself to a 17-year-old student has been arrested on four counts of supplying obscene material to minors.

Matthew Gay Vedder, 52, was arrested Wednesday morning and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, according to MCSO arrest documents.

Vedder had admitted to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigators that on March 9, he showed the student the photos of himself, according to previous reports. Vedder, who is married to Director of Schools Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, told investigators it was an accident. The student and her family maintain it was intentional.

person holding iphone showing social networks folder
Photo by Tracy Le Blanc on Pexels.com
Posted on by

Blackburn’s Big Batch of Out-of-State Cash

72% of dollars supporting Marsha Blackburn’s candidacy for Tennessee Governor come from outside of Tennessee.

The Tennessean reports:

In the Republican primary for Tennessee governor, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn has out-fundraised her rival U.S. Rep. John Rose, bringing in $2.8 million in contributions – more than 10 times more than Rose’s $259,227 haul.

But while 97% of Rose’s donations came from inside Tennessee, just 28% of Blackburn’s donors live here.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

School Voucher Advocate is Largest Donor in TN Gov Race

Trump: Undermining Public Education

Posted on by

Hargett Pitches 3-year, “Focused Bachelor’s Degrees”

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is among policy leaders supporting the creation of “focused” college degree programs – degrees that could be completed in just three years (90-100 credit hours) and still carry the benefit of a bachelor’s degree.

Hargett explains in a piece in the Tennessean:

There is a movement in higher education to offer new and innovative 3-year bachelor’s degrees. I have promoted the benefits of these programs. I am encouraged that many stakeholders I have spoken with welcome the name for the degrees that I have proposed, a Focused Bachelor’s Degree.

These credentials would require 90-100 credit hours rather than the traditional 120 and could be completed in three years. Students who choose this option would focus on coursework critical to their discipline, maintain a solid foundation in general education and sometimes take fewer courses and fewer non-major electives.

monochrome photo of math formulas
Photo by Nothing Ahead on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Blackburn Campaign Depends on Big Money from Outside Tennessee

Tennessee Voucher Vendor Wins Big with Bill Lee

Posted on by

Walton Joins Bevy of Billionaires Backing Blackburn

Jim Walton, an heir to the Walmart family fortune, is among the latest in a group of out-of-state billionaires backing Marsha Blackburn’s bid for Governor.

The youngest son of Walmart founder Sam Walton is now on the Marsha Blackburn bandwagon.

The latest campaign financial report indicates that pro-Blackburn Team Tennessee PAC received $100,000 from Walton in the last reporting period.

The Walton family has long supported private school discount coupons – otherwise known as school vouchers. These schemes divert funds from working-class families to wealthy families to use as tuition discounts at private schools.

cardboard illustration of paper money and coins on blue background
Photo by Gabby K on Pexels.com

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Payday Predators Back Blackburn

Behn Fights for Kids in DCS Custody

Posted on by

How Will New Device Policy Impact Hamilton County Schools?

WREG TV Chattanooga reports on the school board’s decision to test out a new device policy and assess it during the fall semester:

Hamilton County school leaders plan to take another look at their new student device policy after seeing how it works in classrooms this fall.

At their Thursday meeting, the Hamilton County School Board approved changes that will end take-home assignments of school-issued devices for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

High school students will still be assigned devices they can take home.

The change comes as Tennessee implements stricter requirements governing technology use among younger students.

Chattanooga Sign
Photo by Jeff Miller on Unsplash

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

Who is Funding Tennessee’s Race to the Bottom?

TN Voucher Vendor Receives Huge Contract Boost

Posted on by

Jimmy John’s and Marsha Blackburn

The CEO of Jimmy John’s is among a group of out-of-state donors backing a PAC supporting Marsha Blackburn’s campaign for Governor:

In case you are wondering who is backing Blackburn’s campaign, the most recently-filed report for pro-Blackburn PAC Team Tennessee has some answers.

Among the backers: General Motors, coming in with a brisk $15,000, and the CEO of Jimmy John’s, offering up a fresh $100,000.

So, whether you’re looking for a new Chevy or just want a sub for lunch, be aware that your dollars could well be on their way to Blackburn’s campaign coffers.

MORE EDUCATION NEWS

State Takeover of Memphis Schools On Pause

Behn Fights for Kids, Takes on TN DCS