This month's guide to the nexus between government and education

I CONFRONTING POLITICAL VIOLENCE

Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, ASP’s Mark Kassen spoke with author and civic educator Ben Sheehan to unpack the surge of political violence, how we got here, and what it will take to change course. 

“If we get to a point where we as a society think emotionally that somebody could deserve something like that because of their beliefs, then we’re not headed down the path to a scary place, we’re in a scary place,” ⁠Sheehan warned. 

He pointed to social media as a challenge, saying, “Our brains are not designed to pick up our phones and, you know, see recipe tutorials followed by people getting their heads blown off.” 

Sheehan added that people can take a practical step to break out of their political silos: “Something people can do immediately in their own life is to continue to have dialogue with someone who thinks differently,” he said. “We can all be those contrasting viewpoints to prevent people from sliding further and further on the spectrum to a place that ends up bad for all of us.”

I MORE STATES BAN CELLPHONES IN SCHOOL

At least 35 states have passed some kind of restriction on students using cellphones in school. Those restrictions have come from both state legislatures and from governors issuing executive orders. Individual school districts have also enacted bans and restrictions on student cellphones. Supporters of the restrictions argue they help students focus on the classroom, while opponents say the rules go too far, making it harder to communicate in an emergency and preventing parents from being able to stay in touch with their children. 

I DEPRESSION RATE RISES IN YOUNG PEOPLE

The CDC found that 19.2% of young people report experiencing depression, more than double the rate of depression people over 60 report. According to its report, pressure from school, parents, and peers plays a role, as does social media. It goes on to say that the increasing rate of youth depression has negatively affected test scores and academic achievement. Globally, about one in seven 10-19 year-olds experience a mental disorder. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds, according to a World Health Organization study released on September 1. That same report found that emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression, are the most common types of mental health disorders among youth and are more likely to affect older adolescents than younger adolescents.

>> Dig deeper into the causes of youth depression and how government policy is attempting to respond to it here.

I SUPREME COURT TO EVALUATE TARRIFFS

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, which lower courts have ruled exceeded presidential authority. Both the U.S. Court of International Trade and a federal appeals court ruled that the tariffs exceeded the powers granted in the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), noting Congress never authorized the use of tariffs under the law.” The Trump administration argues the tariffs are necessary to correct a trade imbalance between the U.S. and other countries and, in some cases, to combat the flow of fentanyl into the country. The Court has ordered the Trump administration to file its opening brief by September 19, with challengers responding by October 20.

>> Understand what tariffs are and how they work here.

I SCHOOL VACCINE REQUIREMENTS

Earlier this month, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced that the state would roll back vaccine mandates, including vaccine requirements for children to attend school. The Florida Department of Health has begun revising immunization guidelines for daycare facilities, home daycares, and schools. The process of releasing new vaccine guidelines is expected to take about 90 days. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also asking the state legislature to repeal vaccine requirements including those for polio, measles, and tetanus. 

>> Learn more about how state governments approach vaccine requirements here.

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