Education News Highlights: July 28 — August 3

Catch up on the key stories from the world of education in this week’s ED-EX.com digest.

Prominent Historian Cancels Course at Columbia University over Trump Administration Agreement

Historian Rashid Khalidi, a professor at Columbia University and expert on the modern Arab world, has withdrawn from teaching his planned fall course on Middle Eastern history. The decision comes in protest against the university's recent agreement with the Trump administration. As part of the deal, Columbia agreed to pay over $200 million, submit to external oversight, revise its curriculum, expand the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, and reduce a number of existing programs.

In an open letter, Khalidi stated that Columbia had adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which conflates criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism. He argued that this undermines academic freedom and hinders honest teaching. Khalidi described the university as having become an “anti-university” — a place where faculty and students are denied the right to speak freely and are subject to surveillance and disciplinary action.

“Although I have retired, I was scheduled to teach a large lecture course on this topic in the fall as a ‘special lecturer,’ but I cannot do so under the conditions Columbia has accepted by capitulating to the Trump administration in June,” Khalidi wrote.

Young People Growing Dependent on AI: Alarming Insights from ChatGPT Logs

A British journalist at The Guardian analyzed over 12,000 interactions with ChatGPT by three university students over an 18-month period. The findings reveal that young people now use AI not only for academic tasks, but as a daily advisor — for everything from writing essays to emotional support. ChatGPT has become a kind of “inner voice” they increasingly rely on, even in moments of anxiety, melancholy, or relationship difficulties — situations where they might once have turned to friends or family.

The article warns that this type of dependency may atrophy critical thinking. ChatGPT provides clear and reassuring answers, but rarely encourages users to question themselves or engage in self-reflection. As a result, students develop a habit of leaning on AI in nearly all situations, often without exercising their own mental effort — particularly when it comes to career planning or personal decisions, where they increasingly ask the AI for ready-made frameworks and moral judgments.

Experts note that the scale of this trend is growing. AI is becoming a kind of “emotional crutch”, which may reduce young people’s resilience to uncertainty and hinder the development of mature, autonomous identities. Such widespread behavioral shifts could have profound implications for education — from teaching methods to how success is measured.

UK Court Upholds Use of Isolation Rooms in Schools

The UK High Court has ruled that the use of isolation booths in schools is legal, rejecting a lawsuit filed by parents who argued that prolonged confinement of students violates their right to education and causes psychological harm. One student reportedly spent 83 days in isolation in a single academic year — more than half of the school year.

Justice Collins Rice acknowledged that while the practice raises questions about its reasonableness, the school had not breached legal or ethical standards. She emphasized that isolation serves as an alternative to expulsion and helps maintain the learning environment for other students.

Critics argue that the reliance on isolation booths reflects broader issues such as budget cuts and lack of external support for schools. They warn that such measures may worsen students' behavioral problems rather than address their root causes.

Trump Reinstates Presidential Fitness Test in U.S. Schools

On July 31, 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test in American schools. According to the order, the move is a response to “widespread declines in health and physical fitness among students,” including rising obesity rates and chronic illnesses among young Americans.

First introduced in the 1950s, the test included a mile run, up to 40 push-ups, 10 pull-ups, and flexibility exercises. It was discontinued in 2013 under the Obama administration as part of a shift toward health-focused education without competitive benchmarks. Its revival is part of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. Additionally, the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition will be reestablished, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed to lead its implementation.

Trump emphasized that the measure aims to promote physical culture among youth and revive traditions set during the Eisenhower era. However, critics argue that in light of growing childhood obesity and deteriorating mental health, returning to outdated methods may be insufficient. A 2025 JAMA study found that American children are 80% more likely to die than their European peers — raising questions about the effectiveness of such programs in improving youth health.

Brown University Reaches Settlement with Trump Administration over Antisemitism Allegations

Brown University has agreed to a financial settlement and committed to a series of reforms following allegations from the Trump administration that it failed to adequately respond to antisemitism on campus. In June 2025, federal authorities raised concerns related to student antiwar protests and claimed violations of anti-discrimination laws.

In response, Brown committed to paying compensation and implementing new measures to combat discrimination and ensure student safety. The agreement follows a similar and highly publicized case at Columbia University, which sparked national debate over free speech and academic independence.

The settlement highlights the growing federal pressure on U.S. educational institutions regarding political tensions and interethnic conflicts on campuses.

China-Linked Cultural Institutes at UK Universities Face Closure under New Free Speech Laws

Universities across the UK are reassessing their agreements with Confucius Institutes — Chinese-funded language and cultural centers — amid new free speech regulations introduced by England’s Office for Students (OfS). These rules prohibit Chinese partners from participating in staff hiring or conducting ideological vetting, and institutions that fail to comply risk fines or closure of the centers.

Confucius Institutes, present in over 20 British universities including Manchester, Liverpool, and Coventry, are joint ventures with Chinese universities and receive direct government support from China. They teach Mandarin and promote Chinese culture, but have long been criticized for enabling state influence over academic content, censoring sensitive topics, and undermining university autonomy.

While the UK government maintains that it supports international academic collaboration, it has made clear that such partnerships must not violate British laws or infringe on academic freedom.

U.S. Administration Releases $6 Billion in Education Funding

And finally — some good news. The U.S. federal government has announced the release of over $6 billion in education grants that were temporarily frozen in early July. These funds are earmarked for critical programs, including support for low-income students, teacher training, adult education, English language learning, and extracurricular initiatives.

The delay had drawn sharp criticism from school districts, state governments, and even several Republican senators. In response, the Department of Education and the White House Office of Management and Budget conducted an internal review, after which the funds were approved for disbursement.

Education officials warned that without this funding, many schools would have been forced to cancel summer programs, cut staff, and reduce student support services.