DoE Is Dumb

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Clarissa

May 18, 2025

The Department of Education is such a joke.

#DYK that something as simple as a squishy ball can help students learn?

Matthew, a school psychologist from Nevada, talks about how sensory tools like stress balls can improve students' focus and mental health. #MentalHealthMonth pic.twitter.com/ozjS7uKL2d
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) May 13, 2025

I was recently at a scholarly talk where a researcher analyzed the entirety of the existing studies on this subject. The conclusion was that fidget toys have a negative effect on focus, concentration and learning. There are many studies, and the overwhelming majority says that these sensory objects have a negative effect.

I happen to know this one little factoid because I chanced upon that talk. Imagine how much other poorly researched, dumb things these bureaucratic accounts publish.

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8 responses to “DoE Is Dumb”

mosckerr

May 18, 2025

DoE just tits on a boar hog.

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Anonymous

May 18, 2025

I think fidget toys have their purpose. My daughter has moderate eczema and during a bad flare having the fidget stops her from completely destroying her skin. Most of the time.

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1. Clarissa
  
  May 18, 2025
  
  Definitely, I love fidget toys. But the DoE should at least try to consult actual research before putting out information.
  
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Pen

May 19, 2025

They can help some students by providing a way to keep their hands busy. But many others just get distracted by the toy in their hands. Things like this are never a tool that helps everyone.

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1. Clarissa
  
  May 19, 2025
  
  My point here is that the DofE is putting out a statement that is contradicted by all the existing science. This seems completely purposeless unless the goal is to promote that one guy. Which sounds very corrupt. How many other things are being promoted for corrupt reasons? Nobody can be an expert on everything. These organizations exist to provide serious, scientific information. If they are so corrupt, what are we supposed to do? Research every single thing?
  
  I’m completely indifferent to fidgets but I am worried by this corruption or ineptitude, whatever this is.
  
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methylethyl

May 19, 2025

*Even if true* the take-home message is not that squishy toys are a solution to anything. It’s that the school environment *creates* an environment where children are not experiencing appropriate levels and types of sensory stimuli, and they are developing pathological behaviors as a result, like rats living in aquariums. The answer isn’t give the rats a nicer aquarium. It’s that rats aren’t designed to live in aquariums.

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oldcowboy3

May 19, 2025

LOL c’mon, first consider the source. The posts of “Hazel Appleyard” closely resemble the ridiculous American afternoon television shows dealing with preposterous stories, usually involving sexual, familial, religious, monetary or all of the above, all highly emotive matters. Moreover, all of the participants, including the announcer(aka carney or barker), the arguing subjects(aka circus clowns), and the loud and appreciative audience have at best room temperature IQ’s ;-D

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1. oldcowboy3
  
  May 19, 2025
  
  Clarissa
  
  LOL, how did this post end up here instead of Don’t Tell Him ;-D
  
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