BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Our Best of 2025 Education stories reflect a growing global commitment to reimagining how we learn, teach, and grow. These five highlights explore new models, inspiring individuals, and bold ideas that bring equity and creativity into classrooms and beyond. At CART High near Fresno, there are no bells, no fights, and no hallways echoing with chaos. Instead, students carry laptops through bright, spacious corridors on their way to classes in biotechnology, forensics, and digital marketing. It looks and feels nothing like a traditional public high school, and that’s precisely the point. CART, short for Center for Advanced Research and Technology, could represent the future of education in California. As Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education, put it: “The big, old-fashioned factory model of high school—where students run from class to class with a locker as their only stable point of contact—is not succeeding. We need to overhaul the whole idea of what high school can be.” Now, a new statewide pilot program from the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence aims to do just that. Backed by $10 million in state funding, the initiative invites districts to redesign high school and middle school learning, focusing on flexibility, real-world experience, and stronger connections between students, teachers, and communities. A century-old system ready for change Public high schools, as we know them, are barely a century old. Born from early 20th-century industrial ideals, they were designed around efficiency. As many of us know, this resulted in standardized classes, 50-minute periods, and a rigid unit system known as the Carnegie unit. But modern research in adolescent development shows teenagers learn best through autonomy, hands-on projects, and collaboration. “It should be a joy to go to school every day,” Darling-Hammond said. And at CART, it seems to be. Students don’t memorize facts for tests; they immerse themselves in topics that matter to them. Instead of racing through fragmented classes, they spend three hours per day in interdisciplinary “labs” where English, science, and art intersect. This shift is already producing results. Attendance hovers near 100 percent, discipline issues are rare, and over 90 percent of students score proficient in English. Principal Rick Watson says educators from around the world visit to study CART’s model. “Comprehensive high schools don’t work for some B, C, D students,” he explained. “The students have potential, but they’re disconnected. They’re desperate for a different model of education.” Teaching that sparks curiosity At CART, the focus is on engagement and deep, not rote, learning. English teacher Emily Saeteurn explains: “We work really hard to get kids to see the bigger picture of why they’re learning what they’re learning. We want them to have that ‘aha!’ moment.” Biotechnology students read The Andromeda Strain and The Martian before writing their own science fiction stories based on real genetic concepts. In law and policy, teens read Othello and Hamlet before staging mock trials of Shakespearean characters. The approach makes academics tangible and relevant. Senior Madelyn Quiroga says she struggled at her traditional high school but thrives at CART. “At my other school, they just throw stuff at you and never really explain it. Here, they actually teach us, and it’s all stuff we actually want to know,” she said. “Like when I hear someone talk about CRISPR, it’s like, ‘Oh, I know something about that.’” Her classmate Audrey Riede, studying law, says she now hopes to become a defense attorney. “CART is way better than normal school,” she said. “The teachers aren’t just trying to get you to pass; they really want to make you think.” Challenges ahead for reform The state faces major hurdles in expanding CART’s success. Colleges still rely on the A-G course requirements and traditional letter grades for admissions, leaving little flexibility for innovative coursework. The Carnegie unit, which ties credits to time spent in class rather than mastery, remains deeply embedded in both high school and university systems. Even the Carnegie Foundation has urged reforms, advocating for progress-based measures over time-based ones. But as of now, most higher education institutions remain reluctant to change. Still, advocates like Russlynn Ali, head of the XQ Institute and former U.S. Department of Education official, believe the momentum is shifting. “There are young people today who’ve graduated from high school but can’t calculate the tip on a split bill or grasp the main idea in an op-ed piece,” she said. “The case for change is unmistakable.” A model of possibility CART’s success story began 25 years ago as a partnership between Clovis Unified and Fresno Unified, designed to help struggling students connect learning to real careers. Today, it serves 1,000 juniors and seniors each year, nearly 80 percent from low-income families. The school’s popularity continues to grow. Last year, more than twice as many students applied as there were spots available. As California prepares to announce the winning redesign proposals, CART’s bright yellow halls stand as a living example of what education could be: a place where learning feels relevant, curiosity thrives, and every student, from the A student to the “C kid”, finds a reason to show up.     Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Our Best of 2025 Education stories reflect a growing global commitment to reimagining how we learn, teach, and grow. These five highlights explore new models, inspiring individuals, and bold ideas that bring equity and creativity into classrooms and beyond. In a world where happiness in so many places is slowly declining, Iceland is going against the grain. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, it’s one of the few countries in the top 20 where happiness is actually increasing. Since 2008, Iceland has seen a remarkable 9.1 percent boost in reported well-being, a rise nearly unmatched by any other nation. Ranked third on the happiness scale this year (up from 18th in 2008), Iceland now tops global charts in social support and ranks highly in freedom and generosity. And with a population of just under 400,000, it’s punching well above its weight. So, what makes Icelanders so joyful while many other nations are seeing a slump in spirits? Nature as a national therapist For many Icelanders, the answer begins with the land itself. “From home, from work, it’s very easy to get to a national park or open spaces where we can hike, walk by the river, coast, or lakes,” says Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir, author of the upcoming book InnSæi: Heal, Revive and Reset with the Icelandic Art of Intuition. The country’s dramatic natural environment of volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs, and wide open skies offers not just beauty, but also emotional clarity. Jessica Poteet, a geologist from the United States who moved to Iceland, says, “Being somewhere with volcanoes and Northern Lights and cotton candy-pink skies with snow-capped mountains in winter is a dream. I never take it for granted. It’s one of the key things contributing to my happiness.” Even employers take note of this relationship with nature. On particularly sunny days, many workplaces offer employees a “Sun holiday,” encouraging them to spend the day outside hiking or skiing. In a world that often prizes productivity above all else, Iceland’s nature-first culture is a refreshing alternative. A deep-rooted safety net Beneath the awe-inspiring landscapes lies another important contributor to Icelanders’ contentment: a strong social system that creates a foundation of stability. “During COVID, I lost my job. I was able to go on unemployment until I found a new job,” shares Brenna Elizabeth Scheving, an American expat. She also benefited from Iceland’s generous parental leave policy: 12 months of shared leave between parents, regardless of gender or marital status. Adoption is covered, too. Kindergarten starts as early as age two, ensuring that families can return to work without the stress of unaffordable childcare. These structural supports go a long way in creating a culture where people can live with more ease and less fear. Equality woven into daily life Perhaps even more impressive is Iceland’s longstanding commitment to gender equality. The country has ranked first in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for 15 consecutive years, and the results are felt across society. “The government is run by women,” says Gunnsteinsdóttir. In fact, Iceland was the first country to democratically elect a female president in 1980. Gunnsteinsdóttir remembers the moment vividly: “I was six years old when she was elected president, and I didn’t necessarily conceive of a man being a president.” The seeds of progress were sown decades ago. This year marks 50 years since the historic Women’s Day Off, when Icelandic women went on strike to protest inequality in pay and politics. “I’m truly grateful to these women and the men who supported them,” says Gunnsteinsdóttir. “Where you have gender equality, the social, economic, and political aspects tend to be more stable and better for people and the natural surroundings.” Balancing tourism with well-being That doesn’t mean Iceland is without its challenges. The cost of living, particularly in Reykjavík, has risen sharply. “The cost of living is steep, especially housing, which can be a struggle for both locals and expats,” says Kevin Mercier, a French photographer and longtime resident. Tourism has played a role in this rise. With 2.3 million visitors in 2024 alone—nearly six times the country’s population—housing and infrastructure have been stretched. But many Icelanders believe the pros outweigh the cons. Tourism has brought improved roads, community access, and new economic opportunities. Poteet points to the development of trails at the Fagradalsfjall volcano as a quick and welcome response to rising visitor numbers. The completion of the Ring Road, which now connects even the most remote areas, is another success. “It was great for everyone,” she says. Meanwhile, hotels are leading with purpose. ION Hotels, founded by Sigurlaug Sverrisdóttir, boasts female-majority staff and a focus on sustainability. Hotel Ranga offers guests a “Live Like an Icelander” experience, taking them to ancient farmsteads and sacred wells. Resilience in the face of change At the core of Icelanders’ rising happiness might be something less tangible but deeply ingrained: resilience. Gunnsteinsdóttir refers to the Icelandic word innsæi, which means both “the sea within” and “to see from the inside out.” It speaks to intuition, adaptability, and an inner compass shaped by living in a land that can shake beneath your feet. “In recent years, we’ve had multiple eruptions and earthquakes. When you constantly feel the earth is shaking, it really reminds you that things can change quite rapidly,” she says. “When it comes to happiness, it encourages us to make the best out of what we have when things don’t go according to plan.” From epic scenery to deeply held values, Iceland offers more than just beauty and tranquility. It offers a model of what a happier life might look like; one rooted in nature, fairness, and the strength to adapt. And in an increasingly uncertain world, that may be the most valuable lesson of all.   Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Our Best of 2025 Education stories reflect a growing global commitment to reimagining how we learn, teach, and grow. These five highlights explore new models, inspiring individuals, and bold ideas that bring equity and creativity into classrooms and beyond. In a surprising turn for feline genetics, scientists have officially identified a new cat coat color that defies traditional classifications. Named salmiak after the salty liquorice candy popular in Finland, this unique coat starts as black at the root and fades to white at the tip of each hair strand, giving cats a misty, monochrome appearance unlike anything seen before. The coat was first spotted in 2007 and began attracting scientific attention in 2019 when a group of experts led by feline geneticist Heidi Anderson set out to understand its origin. After years of investigation, the team published their findings in the journal Animal Genetics, confirming that this striking coat is caused not by a known gene but by a newly discovered recessive mutation. A colorful mystery unraveled When it comes to cat colors, the basics are surprisingly simple: genetically, cats come in just two shades—black and orange. Every other coat color, from grey to cream to calico, is the result of the dilution, combination, or patterning of those two foundational colors. So when cats began appearing with the distinct salt-and-pepper look of salmiak, researchers initially suspected a novel expression of the dilution gene, which typically mutes standard black and orange shades. But something didn’t add up. The team tested known genetic variants that influence the dilution gene and found no connection. That’s when they decided to sequence the entire genome of two salmiak-coated cats—a deep dive that paid off. “There was a huge chunk of sequence missing downstream from the KIT gene,” Anderson told New Scientist, referencing a gene already associated with white coat patterns in animals. In these cats, a nearby piece of DNA was simply missing, revealing a novel mutation that had never been documented before. Rare and recessive, but admired After testing 181 cats, the researchers confirmed that this missing sequence is the cause of the salmiak coat. Because the mutation is recessive, both parent cats must carry the gene for it to appear in their offspring, which helps explain why the pattern is so rare. Despite its rarity, the color has drawn admiration from cat lovers and researchers alike. “These coats have aroused a lot of admiration for years,” Anderson said. “It’s really exciting that we now have some genetic explanation for it.” More than just pretty fur The discovery not only deepens our understanding of feline genetics but could also play a role in responsible breeding practices. As Anderson states, solving the salmiak puzzle “enriches our understanding of feline coat color genetics” and could help preserve this unique trait in future generations. While this elegant, mist-tipped coat may still be a rare sight, researchers and breeders alike hope it will become a lasting feature in the colorful world of cat genetics. Source study: Animal Genetics—A new Finnish flavor of feline coat coloration, “salmiak,” is associated with a 95-kb deletion downstream of the KIT gene     Did this solution from 2025 stand out to you? Support The Optimist Daily so we can fill 2026 with more positive headlines like this. Become an Emissary and help guide more people to solutions with us here.

In this episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Victor Davis Hanson answers a round of questions submitted by listeners. Here he’s asked about tanks and tank warfare. This episode was recorded before Hanson’s major surgery on Dec. 30. Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of a segment from today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to VDH’s own YouTube channel to watch past episodes. JACK FOWLER: Here’s the second question from Matt. It’s entirely different subject. He says “After high school, I served in the Marine Corps. I was an M1A1 Abrams tank crewman deployed to Iraq. Videos I have seen of M1A1 tanks being used in Ukraine, oftentimes the Ukrainians appear to use the Abrams as a standalone heavy tank, such as an M26 Pershing or an IS-2 Russian tank from World War II. “I’m aware many M1A1 Abrams have been destroyed and or captured by the Russians. In your opinion, if the Abrams tanks were used in the same manner of the U.S. Army or Marines, such as working in a section, two tanks up to a company size 14 tanks, will the Abrams may have made a better impact on the battlefield and they have a higher number of working tanks.”  So that’s about tank strategy, essentially. VICTOR DAVIS HANSON: Well, I can tell you that when I was at the Naval Academy for a year, I had a security clearance, and I would go about once every two weeks to Andrew Marshall’s Office of Net Assessment. And it was classified, but I did hear a couple of lectures there and also a classified lecture from other people. And people can correct me if I’m wrong. I don’t think it’s classified now, but I think it’s true of all weapons systems that we have. When we export any weapon system to anybody other than the closest ally we have, we have a general rule that the weapon system that we export would not be able to have equity with the weapon systems that we have. Now what would that mean? That would mean in the case of the Abrams A1, that has a very sophisticated type of ceramic hardened steel layered and reactive armor on it. You know, the reactive where you hit it and a little explosion pushes the shell out. I am told that if we send Abrams to Egypt or anybody else those Abrams tanks, if they got into a fight with American Abrams tanks, would not be as successful. But I don’t think we broadcast that. And I think that’s true of a lot of other systems as well. It’s not that we just give old stuff away. We make sure that if we get in a war in the Middle East, for example, given changing alliances, and we’ve given Jordan a bunch of Abrams tanks, and they’ve attacked Israel and Israel has the Merkava, maybe they had some Abrams, that the ones that we authorize will be able to withstand the 120 smoothbore round better than the ones that they have. FOWLER: What about as for fighting in packs as solo versus multiple tanks? HANSON: Well, my office is next to H.R. McMaster, and he’s pretty famous because in the first Gulf War, he was an Army captain, and that had been the largest tank battle since the Yom Kippur War of ‘73. They had about 35 Abrams and they had their volleys at the range and the velocity and the bore. And they took out each one, hit their, except one I think, T-72 top Russian tanks. And they blew them up without losing anybody. And then when I was embedded, the first or second time, I can’t remember which, they asked me if I wanted to go with some Iraqi people for an afternoon. So, I went in, the Iraqis showed me, It was very funny. They gave me an M4, I think, or maybe it was a Vietnam-style M16 and said, “Take the gun and drop it in the sand and jump on it.” And I did. And after about a minute, it misfired. And then they gave me an AK Russian one, they’re semi-automatic. And they did the same thing, and it kept firing. But I could tell you that I couldn’t hit anything with the AK-47, and I could hit something with it. I’m not a very good shot. And then they were daring me to drive their T-72. And they said, you’ll never be able to drive it. But it had levers like—my grandfather after World War II bought a 1946, I don’t know what they call it, a D1 or D2 Cat, and we used it, and I used to screw around with it I was a kid. But then I rode in an Abrams for, I don’t know, half an hour and believe me, I could not believe the difference. It was like a Cadillac. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post Victor Davis Hanson: When I Cruised Iraq in an Abrams Tank appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Former President Barack Obama may have deported more immigrants than President Trump, but that isn’t stopping the left from accusing supporters of Trump’s immigration policy of being heartless and cruel.“Biden also deported over a million people,” BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey says on “Relatable.” “Did you hear about ICE raids under Biden? Did you hear about ICE raids under Obama? Did you hear about kids in cages under any of these administrations, even though that was happening, if you want to call these detention centers cages?”“Did you hear about all of the lost children who were abandoned and not accounted for under these administrations? Did you hear about the sex trafficking, the human trafficking, the drug and weaponry trafficking that was happening under these administrations?” she asks.“No, it’s not because it wasn’t happening. It’s because the media is in bed with the Democrats, and they don’t want you to see the Democrats doing things that they are criticizing Donald Trump for,” she adds.Stuckey calls this a “weaponization of empathy.”And Democrats weaponize your empathy to make you feel like the well-being of a stranger who lives a world away should be a priority in your own life — but Stuckey couldn’t disagree more.“Countries are like families, just on a bigger scale. You put the safety and security of your people first. Not because you hate people from other countries, but because you love people in your country. It is not possible for us to equally prioritize all of the interests of everyone in the world and all of their safety and security,” she says.“I believe we see that principle in Romans 13, that governments were instituted by God to punish the wrongdoer and reward the good,” she continues, adding, “You take care of your people. Nations were God’s idea. Borders were God’s idea. Government, laws, all God’s idea, and they are good.”Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture, news, and theology from a Christian, conservative perspective, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

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Amazon offers convenience, but Costco offers peace of mind. Discover the 5 major advantages of buying your next laptop, TV, or console from Costco.

Amazon offers convenience, but Costco offers peace of mind. Discover the 5 major advantages of buying your next laptop, TV, or console from Costco.