The Buzz 08.16.18

WHO’S IN TOWN?

Like many facets of modern life, Google has taken over everywhere, including education. In an article last year, the New York Times called it the Googlification of the classroom. It reported that more than half of the nation’s school childre use Google’s “free” apps for education. One of theTimes’ key points: “Schools may be giving Google more than they are getting: generations of future customers.” Regardless of who benefits, theGooglers are in town this week teaching at a workshop featuring Google for Education, in partnership with York School. The event promises educators an “in-depth and hands-on workshop,” with training on how to use Hyperdocs with Docs, Maps and 360 images, and more.

Sat-Sun Aug. 18-19. York School, 9501 York Road, Monterey. $349. events.edtechteam.com/monterey2018.

FREE SPEECH

Monterey County Weekly Publisher Erik Cushman talks about launching a new business venture. Like many startups, it imitates an already-successful operation: a line of ribbon-shaped bumper stickers that read, “Support Our Journalists.” In all seriousness though, Thursday, Aug. 16, the Boston Globe is spearheading a nationwide initiative with newspapers large and small opining on the role of a free press in a democracy. Industry message boards indicate over 350 papers are expected to participate. In editorials, they spell out how the cavalier use of the terms “fake news” and “enemy of the people” do a grave disservice not just to your friends in the media business, but to the very fabric of civil society. We launched this “Free Speech” feature right after Trump was elected. We weren’t so much clairvoyant of what was to come as proud of our place in a long history of people making a living utilizing the protections enshrined in the First Amendment. To read all our reporting on press freedom (and to access the Globe collection), visit mcweekly.com/freepress.

GOOD WEEK / BAD WEEK

GOOD:

A new school year is ringing some good changes at Oasis Charter Public School in Salinas. The charter school has been in crisis mode for nearly two years, with parents calling attention to the school’s questionable leadership. It culminated in an investigation by the K-6 school’s chartering district, Alisal Union School District, which took steps to revoke Oasis’ charter. That led to tense negotiations with terms that keep the school open this school year. Former executive director Juanita Perea has resigned, and new board members have been selected. On Aug. 9, AUSD took an additional step to increase oversight and voted 4-0 to appoint one of their own administrators – principal Alberto Jaramillo(with AUSD’s assistant superintendent for Whole Child Education, Jario Arellano, as an alternate) – as a voting member of Oasis’ board. School started on Aug. 13.

BAD:

Come at the king, you best not miss. That’s the lesson learned by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s social media team, which got into a Twitter war with SUE the T-Rex, the self-appointed “legendary fossil and they/them pronoun user” of the Field Museum in Chicago. SUE (all caps) the largest intact T. rex fossil ever discovered, has become a social media darling with an edge, known for their love of actor Jeff Goldblum, ham and picking fights with everyone from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary to the Adler Planetarium. Last week, Team Aquarium decided to engage SUE in a battle of wits. The Aquarium referenced SUE as a “pile of bones,” to which SUE responded, “Children around the world can’t recite the Latin names for fish species from memory, you gill-breathing water chuds.” This one goes to SUE, but the Aquarium has adorable otters on its side.