Jenn Borgioli Binis

@jennbinis

Freelance editor, researcher, and/or fact-checker for education and academic authors. Writing a book about teachers. Luddite. Braver Angels. Newsletter: r/Askhistorians moderator.

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Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 11

I follow enough BlueSky legal people to know if that if you've been charged with destroying public property owned by the city of Buffalo, it's probably not a good idea to host your own GoFundMe where you basically confess to destroying public property.

It’s Eassa, not “essa”

Let me be perfectly clear: this was never about race, and it never will be. It is about one principle- the United States of American comes first. I love this country, and I believe our flag should always hold the highest place of honor on public property. No other nations flag should ever fly above the American flag.

Attempts to dismiss these concerns by accusing critics of racism are tired, divisive, and unproductive. It’s 2026 Americans should reject those distractions and instead focus on the issues that truly matter.

Government officials devote their energy to investigating fraud, corruption, and abuses to taxpayers dollars whenever they occur. Public trust on holding wrongdoers accountable, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 10

Almost forgot about Van Antwerp Middle School in Niskayuna which went for the two-fer. (I had a bunch of meetings in the room with the WPA plaque. I may have clapped with glee when I saw it.)

two story brick school building with two entrances flanked by columns.

Constructed by Work Projects Administration 1936

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 10

There's also Haviland Middle School (formerly Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School) in Hyde Park which is down right swoony at dusk.

A single story brick school building with a clock/bell tower and entrance flanked by pillars.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 10

Pictures don't really do it justice.

Mexico Academy and Central School - it's a brick two story building with a clock tower.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 8

All of the answers are great and I especially love how KiwiHellinist opens their answer to a question about what made the library so special.

It wasn't unique, and it was a tragedy only in the same sense that the loss of any library is a tragedy.

The non-uniqueness of the Alexandrian library
For an American analogy, imagine what would happen if the Library of Congress burned down tomorrow. It’d be a disaster. Over 70 million manuscripts would be lost. But there'd still be the New York Public Library, the Boston Public Library, and all the university libraries. No books would be lost, because that isn’t how books get lost.

The ancient Mediterranean world had hundreds of libraries too. When a scholar in Rome wanted to do research on a topic, they didn't travel all the way to Egypt: there were libraries on the spot in Rome -- the Palatine library, the Atrium Libertatis, the Portico of Octavia, the Ulpian library, the library by the temple of Peace, the libraries at the baths of Trajan, the baths of Caracalla, the baths of Diocletian, Severus Alexander's library in the Pantheon, and more. There were plenty of libraries elsewhere too. Emperors and private citizens founded public libraries in all sorts of places: we've got evidence of large privately built libraries even in smaller centres, like Como in northern Italy, Timgad in Algeria, Prusa in Turkey.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 8

By time I got to, "The fact that the library was allowed to die showed that the dark age had already arrived" my eyebrows were fairly high. We have an entire section of the @askhistorians.bsky.social FAQ about the library.

Library of Alexandria
Which explorers could have visited the Library of Alexandria? (A timeline of said library from inception to destruction would be amazing!)
Facts about the Library of Alexandria by u/XenophonTheAthenian
Someone on an Ask Reddit thread claimed research indicates that prior to Ptolemy VIII exiling academics from the Library of Alexandra, "they were only about ~300 years from full on industrialization." Is this true? If so, where can I learn more about it? by /u/Iphikrates
Who had access to the Library of Alexandria? by u/toldinstone
How did the Library of Alexandria became the memetic vault of all human knowledge it is known as today? by /u/KiwiHellenist
What made the library of Alexandria so special? by /u/KiwiHellenist

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 4

This is a very confusing series of skeets!!

Cape Verde defeats Argentina via a 2-3 loss and extra time.

Thank you Cape Verde for giving us an incredible run.

Camp Verde wins is eliminated. 3-2

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jul 1

But instead of comparing teachers and schools to the smooth operations of manufacturing to make an argument, he uses his son and physical abilities. This is my favorite bit for about 100 different reasons:

We should try to teach kids appropriate material
I don’t really know how to get people to care more about the actual quality of education, but this really is something that we ought to care about.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jun 16

My heart. It has been broken.

Angelique Johnson-Dingle, a deputy commissioner in the state Education Department, referred to traditional school schedules, in which students move between classes at set times, as an outdated “factory model” of education during a presentation to the state Board of Regents.

“It is about time for us to rethink this factory model and to provide districts with the support to transform antiquated structures, reimagine the use of time and space, and refocus on deep, authentic, connected learning,” she said.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jun 11

Just got back from hanging out with a bunch of my neighbors to watch a train go by and saw a slew of videos on here of NYers gathering for last night's game. As they say, people crave community. (It was very big and very loud.)

The last car on the Big Boy team engine train, the Marco Polo.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jun 9

#PairedTexts June 9th last year. Today.

A garden in early spring. Three medium and one small lavender bush, several morning lilies and decorate grass.

The lavender is much bushier and the small bush is now the same size as the other ones. Several yucca flowers are rising over the garden.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jun 7

Never in the history of being an #F1 fan have I said, "wait, what just happened?" more than today. (Steve! does not care.) What a wild race.

A sleepy white cat in the foreground. The TV screen in the background is playing an F1 race.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· Jun 2

Steve! and I have rediscovered lockdown group sing-alongs on YouTube. I highly recommend.

The back of a very good cat's head as we watch a Six singalong video.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 31

But it's not just an LLM, though? She explains that "Tilly" is a combination several different apps/software programs. My read is that she's using "just a computer" as an affirmative way to say, "not a human being." So she can do this at the end.

But Tilly? I don’t think I’ll ever think of her again after this story is published. Even as I write this, just days after my time with her, I can’t picture her. Seriously. I’m closing my eyes right now, and I can’t see her face. But what did you want? Tilly is just a computer. Oh, my god. Why am I interviewing a computer? What has happened to the world that I am interviewing a computer

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 30

I have discovered my current greatest joy in life is wearing a bright yellow vest and standing/riding in traffic. Today was my third time volunteering for our village bike bus. Friends. It is the best. (Half the kids ride scooters. The route? It is not long.)

A group of kids are lined up on bikes to start the bike bus. Lots of pink bikes and cool helmets.

A bike route on a mal that is basically two squares.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 26

That said... this paragraph is something else. The way the author positions the son as a leader and teacher as a passive agent... ouch.

Then tell your child’s teacher that you would like your child off the computer for a week. Track their mood. Ask them about how much they’re learning. There may be a withdrawal period because they’ve been conditioned by recurring dopamine hits. But eventually, you’ll find that they are much more pleasant to be around—and so will their teacher. The most difficult part may be that they feel isolated from their classmates; as I told my son, that’s the price of being a leader.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 20

And in my own backyard! ChatGPT or no copyeditor? "Assemblyman Chludzinski and Legislator Frank Todaro will stand up to Governor Hochul and County Executive Poloncarz. They are both fighting for taxpayers and liberal policies we can not just pause or delay because it is an election year."

Assemblyman Chludzinski and Legislator Frank Todaro will stand up to Governor Hochul and County Executive Poloncarz. They are both fighting for taxpayers and liberal policies we can not just pause or delay because it is an election year.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 18

Not sure if ChatGPT or sloppy copyediting is to blame here.

Store display that says "find us on shelf"

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 17

2026: the year I accepted 30% of gardening is standing in it with your hands on your hips, mumbling to yourself.

An early spring garden. There's a silhouette of a cat in the window with the words, " ... Bring May flowers."

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 14

We know the why. Rather than mentioning Mississippi in every piece, I really wish articles like this would mention NYS Education Law Chapter 16, Title 1, Article 15, Section 701. It's not that NYSED won't tell districts what to purchase - it's that NYSED cannot. www.nysenate.gov/legislation/...

SECTION 701
Power to designate text-books; purchase and loan of text-books; purchase of supplies
Education (EDN) CHAPTER 16, TITLE 1, ARTICLE 15
§ 701. Power to designate text-books; purchase and loan of text-books;
purchase of supplies. 1. In the several cities and school districts of
the state, boards of education, trustees or such body or officer as
perform the functions of such boards, shall designate text-books to be
used in the schools under their charge.

2. A text-book, for the purposes of this section shall mean: (i) any
book, or a book substitute, which shall include hard covered or
paperback books, work books, or manuals and (ii) for expenses incurred

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 14

One day, I will read an article about reading and NYS schools and not come across the seemingly mandatory paragraph that beings, "Meanwhile, Mississippi...." Today is not that day. The last paragraph also made me chuckle.

“We have to catch up with the rest of the nation,” Smink said. “For the amount of money we spend and for how important learning to read is, we deserve policies like every other state.”

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 14

And this parenthetical made me chuckle. (FWIW, "Union Free" in NYS means the district was created from scratch, usually in the 1920s or 30s, with no connection to an existing high school. Not that it doesn't have a union.)

Schneider said that in Riverhead, students were promoted from one grade to another without gaining basic literacy skills. After watching her daughter fall behind, lose confidence, and endure bullying for not knowing how to read, Schneider said she decided to transfer her children to a nearby district with stronger reading intervention, despite the hefty tuitions required to switch districts. (The district, Quogue Union Free School District, said in its survey response that it uses science of reading curricula and aligns with the state’s best practices, though it did also report using a popular balanced literacy program.)

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 14

This quote(with a missing close quote) missed a huge detail with regards to NYS teacher unions: curriculum decisions are often a part of contract negotiations - no new contract discussion, no new curriculum discussion.

Smink said the law lacks enforcement mechanisms in part because of New York’s deeply embedded culture as a strong local-control state, where most decisions about public schools are determined by districts, school boards, and even individual campuses. He also said the state teachers union wields significant influence and “opposes anything they think threatens teacher autonomy.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 12

Steve! remains perfect.

A fluffy white cat is looking directly into your soul.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 9

Finally, public libraries fall under the purview of the Board of Regents and in March they voted in new policy (which is functionally a law) that required them all to update their policies to limit book bans. The State Librarian led the update. www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regent...

Cultural Education | March 2026
Monday, March 9, 2026 - 10:45am
Committee Report
Report of Regents Cultural Education Committee to The Board of Regents
Presentations
Strengthening Minimum Standards for Public Libraries | PDF icon PDF

Ensuring Access to Diverse Reading Materials
Continues to build on the Department’s
Freedom to Read guidance
Extends these core principles beyond schools to
public libraries
Supports intellectual freedom as a function of
good governance

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 9

Which builds on a 2024 decision by the Commissioner and a 2023 case where NYSED worked with The Attorney General to establish legal precedent in state education law regarding book banning. ag.ny.gov/press-releas...

Commissioner Rosa's April 25, 2024 Decision
On April 25, 2024, New York State Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa released a decision regarding an appeal filed by Moms for Liberty of Wayne County and Jacob Marchitell (petitioners) against the Clyde-Savannah School District. In this decision, Commissioner Rosa determined that petitioners’ arguments for the removal of five books from the School Library’s collection were without merit and determined that the school board correctly decided to retain the challenged books in its collection.

These decisions establish precedent by which future cases will be decided, so this decision should be helpful to any school or library facing book challenges. This decision provides an intellectual framework for confronting attacks on the right to read:

1) A book’s description or portrayal of human sexuality is not enough to justify its censorship.

2) The Office of the Attorney General and State Education Department have determined that denying access to diverse materials can violate State law; specifically, school boards cannot:

“Ban books that highlight the diverse histories and perspectives of Black people;
Us[e] a pretext of inappropriateness or lewdness to systematically remove diverse perspectives from the classroom; or
Prohibit[] discussions related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive people… using a pretext of inappropriateness or obscenity.”
3) As a profession, librarians have a unique obligation to uphold intellectual freedom and are protected by the academic freedom to curate collections. Supporting students' intellectual diversity is an essential part of education.

The full decision can be read on the New York State Education Department Office of Counsel's Commissioner's Decisions website, and the joint guidance by Attorney General James and NSED Commissioner Rosa can be read on the Office of the New York State Attorney General's website.

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 9

The week after Hochul vetoed the bill, NYSED released a "backstop" - basically pointing out all of the ways - including legal cases - that protect the Freedom to Read. (It was also a way to say the legislature, "we've got librarians' back. All good.")

NYSED Freedom to Read Guidance
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) defends the role of school librarians and the Freedom to Read. A January 2026 document from the Department summarizes key legal principles, established guidance, best practices, and other resources related to school library programs, librarian authority, and appropriate governance roles in New York’s schools and local education agencies. It is intended to support districts, administrators, librarians, and boards of education in maintaining strong, developmentally appropriate, inclusive library collections and policies.

NYSED: Freedom to Read Guidance
Helpful Information for Schools and School Boards to Support School Libraries, Librarians, and High-Quality Collection Development

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 9

#PairedTexts 1. NY school district pays $125k settlement to HS student whose Palestine-related art they erased (www.thehandbasket.co/p/settlement...) 2. High school student wins fight to display Bible verses in parking spot after school faces legal pressure (www.foxnews.com/media/high-s...)

So much of the negotiations came down to one word: intended. The then-Superintendent said at the September 16th board meeting that he did not believe Jane intended any offense or hate with her art. But email communications reviewed by The Handbasket show the defense insisted “intended” be included in an official apology, which Jane’s lawyers felt was a result of them wanting to leave the door open for possible action against students in the future.

“We wanted an unambiguous statement that this is not hateful,” Stoll said. “We needed them to concede that it was not reasonable to ban the watermelon or the keffiyeh.”

Grand Island Central School District Superintendent Brian Graham said the district was committed to fostering an inclusive environment that respects students and disputed that it violated students’ rights. After consulting legal counsel, he said the school agreed to permit Steffans’ design.

"We also take seriously our responsibility to uphold constitutional principles, including the First Amendment," Graham wrote in a statement to CBN. "While we strongly dispute any assertion that our policies or decisions violated the rights of any student, the Board of Education and District leadership, after careful consultation with legal counsel, have decided that the student in question will be permitted to proceed with her original senior parking space design."

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 8

There is an absolutely wonderful essay about Lord of Flies by Glen Weldon in the weekly @npr.org Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter. I have no idea how to share it but you can sign up for the newsletter here. www.npr.org/newsletter/p...

So I’m fully complicit in where we stand today, having taught several generations of kids to internalize this literally self-centered approach to art and carry it with them into adulthood. I keep having conversations with grown, discerning adults whose chief metric for their enjoyment of a book, show or movie is how relevant it is, how directly it speaks, to the granular particulars of their lived experience. I worry that they’re effectively cutting themselves off from the possibility that a work about and/or made by someone who doesn’t happen to share their specific circumstances might be universal.

And universality — that’s the real goal of art, no? That’s what we’re all out here trying to do? To find and elucidate the humanity that transcends individual circumstance? To define and exemplify the messy stuff that connects us?

Jenn Borgioli Binis@jennbinis· May 8

IT'S A POISON PILL UNTO ITSELF!