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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In SS Methods we watch a clip of Lynne Cheney discussing why she squashed the national history standards. She tries multiple times to coin “inclusion pushed to such an extent it is a new kind of exclusion.” Verbatim. She was trying to make fresh happen.

Lynne Cheney and her shoulder pads gloating over her murder of the national history standards.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

About 3 years ago Maya started playing bball, so we’d practice out there. And then one day someone put up the grinch lock.

In the city, they say “get the hell outta my alley.”

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Another Midwest Social Studies Hub "After School Special" to kick off the new year! The American Revolution as World History: A Public Dialogue for History Teachers Thursday, Sept 10, 5:00–6:30 p.m. Lech Walesa Hall, NEIU 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave Registration - docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

The American Revolution as World History: A Public Dialogue for History Teachers
Date: Thursday, Sept 10, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Location: Lech Walesa Hall, Lecture Hall 1002 (ground floor) Northeastern Illinois University, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL (Free parking in Lot D)

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Ok, West Loop Branch. Nicely done.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The fist event from the Midwest Social Studies Education Hub! Come join us & kick off a new era of collaborative learning with a panel of scholars & teachers on teaching the American Revolution. Register here - bit.ly/3QwXWTh

Freedom & Revolution professional learning event for social studies teachers.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

There’s two panels hanging in the CPS Loop office, 1 in the CPS West Side SpEd center (can’t recall the name, old school), & 1 at Juarez.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

*ring* “Hello?” “Hi, this is Isaac Choitner from the New Yo…” *click* “Burn it all down. Burn it.”

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

A new statement from the Big City Social Studies Group - "State Violence & Civics Education in a Democracy" "Civics education in a democracy bends towards liberty and justice, not of its own accord, but through the efforts of educators and students." bigcitysocialstudies.org/video-and-so...

State Violence & Civics Education in a Democracy p1

State Violence & Civics Education in a Democracy p2

State Violence & Civics Education in a Democracy p3

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Over at the old place, I kept an updated thread of the guerrilla memorials to Michele Robey, always mounted to an electrical box near the site of her murder police (Irving Park & Western, Chicago). I hadn’t seen one in a while, but this is new.

Electrical box making the murder of Michele Robey on the corner or Irving Park & Western in Chicago.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

If I had to act nose-to-nose with Glen Close doing a death scene, I would also cry tears of anxiety. (Highly enjoyable flick, even if it wasn’t quite Catholic.)

The final scene from Wake Up Dead Man featuring Glen Close & Josh O’Conner

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

This neighborhood landmark has been gone for a couple years already. 😢

Grandpa & 2 grandkids in front of the Bears van

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

"They just use your mind and you never get the credit. It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it" Happy Labor Day

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

How will NYC ever survive a socialist mayor with a funny name?

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Why would Rahm go to the WSJ for a big splash? And why would the WSJ do it? Because Rahm is the guy who built the Dem-Wall Street nexus. And good, the ghosts of Laquan McDonald should haunt him everyday. #NeverRahm

Splash page for Rahm Emanuel’s interview in the Wall Street Journal specifically highlighting his anti-woke crusade.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Went to the Hall Branch of the CPL for the first time today. Total stunner. I walked in, started drinking it all in, & the security guard said, “First time?”

Front entry to the Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

The average American has 3 friends.

The Minutemen - George Hurly, D. Boone, & Mike Watt.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Much love to the NPS staff at Grand Teton National Park, who sent a lovely note & materials in response to my daughter’s letter.

Letter plus handouts from Grand Teton National Park to my daughter.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Post a fictional character who you think would be an antivaxxer. Hard mode: no villains

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Ceasefire now. Free Palestine. (Artwork by Josh McPhee, justseeds.org/product/a-fr...)

Red, green, black, & white print reading “A Free Palestine” by Josh McPhee, from the Just Seeds collective.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

We have to stand up for everyone’s rights - transplant surgeons, Columbia students, Venezuelan immigrants. Everyone. We can’t put personal preferences and political “optics” on who gets rights.

Selection from Axios article on deportation of Venezuelans - “Between the lines: The Trump White House wants to shift the argument to whether it was right to expel alleged members of Tren de Aragua.
• "If the Democrats want to argue in favor of turning a plane full of rapists, murderers, and gangsters back to the United States, that's a fight we are more than happy to take," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios when asked about the case.”

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

And this one in the hallway I never noticed before - says “sulphur” and “oil.” This is one of the few panels that seem to depict Black folks, and one them is eating a slice o watermelon here?

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Lane Tech WPA located in the lunchroom - triptych history of Western Civilization from cavemen to settler colonies.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Calling all teachers: a national town hall on the state of our profession. #edusky

Flyer for New Horizons/New Hurdles national town hall for teachers on March 15 at 1pm est, organized by the Big City Social Studies Group

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Public poetry on Thorndale, just outside of Swift Elementary.

Beat up piece of plywood painted black with a poem painted in white, “Flaws”

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

“Closing Schools is a Hate Crime” Exhibition at the Chicago Justice Gallery, March 6-8. Essential history for charting the future of Chicago Public Schools. RSVP & more info - docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Ad for Closing Schools is a Hate Crime exhibit

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

History does often rhyme.

Political cartoon from 1903 “The Unrestricted Dumping Ground” depicting Uncle Sam trying to block rats coming into the country, the rats being dumped out of a bin labeled “Direct from the slums of Europe daily.”

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Staying on the Gettysburg Address theme, came across this amazing illustrated version while sorting book donations to St. Sylvesters. So incredible.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Came across a bronze plaque Gettysburg Address in a stairwell at Swift Elementary today.

A bronze plaque inscribed with the full Gettysburg Address.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

That’s straight up attempting to chill free speech by the VP elect.

JD Vance threatening a tweeter’s employer because she had the temerity to critique Elon Musk’s tweet.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

“This shake will change your life.”

Ridiculous scene from the ridiculous movie “Garden State” in which Natalie Portman, playing a manic pixie girl, tells Zach Braff, playing himself-ish, that a Shins song will change his lame ass life.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Name a better qualified doctor than Dr. Oz.

Dr John in full night tripper regalia playing guitar.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

The McMahon pick is a stone cold stunner.

Steven Austin performing his signature move, the Stone Cold Stunner, on Linda McMahon.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn’t Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, or Alice in Chains.

Cover of the all time great, no skips, all bangers album “Elastica” by Elastica (1995).

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Couple weeks ago, 2 of my Hist of Ed students facilitated discussion on the new American Experience film on Boston busing. They made this great poster to organize discussion share out.

Handmade poster of a school bus used organize student responses to discussion questions.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

1. The video is a year old & I don’t trust Mr “Concepts of a Plan” to stick to specifics. 2. Lee Zeldin, once touted for Ed by Trump, just got appointed to the EPA, so Ed is not a big priority here. 3. Dept of Ed administers a lot of laws that will still be around if the Dept is closed. So…

Picture of Elon tweet supporting Trump’s call to abolish the Dept of Ed

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 09/01/2024

Free learn to ride class by Chicago SAFE Ambassadors. Very rad.

Students checking their helmets to start learn to ride class.

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C. Tocci @tocci.bsky.social · 14/12/2023

The paper is open access, but here’s the abstract & highlights.

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