Abolitionist education: Creating liberatory spaces (Encore)

Abolitionist education: Creating liberatory spaces (Encore)

Author: Ethical Schools March 17, 2022 Duration: 1:17:14
We speak with Swarthmore’s Dr. Edwin Mayorga, who explains how abolitionist classrooms and schools create “freedom as a place” in contrast to racial capitalism. Dr. Mayorga encourages educators to center joy and healing. We also discuss the corporatization of schools that reduces students to their test scores. Schools, as “localized nodes of political power,” should adopt democratic processes that cultivate voice, participation, and collaboration. Overview 00:00-00:50 Intros 00:50-02:30 Abolitionist education 02:30-04:50 “Freedom as a place” 04:50-08:10 Critical racial ethnic studies; the Sankofa bird 08:10-15:30 Decolonizing education; relationships in the process between colonized and colonizer 15:30-22:30 Intersections of race and class 22:30-26:30 Racial capitalism’s impact in the classroom 26:30-33:30 Kensington Health Sciences Academy (KHSA) 33:30-36:25 Teacher as lead inquirer 36:25-38:30 Moving at the speed of trust 38:30-40:20 Modeling trustworthiness for students 40:20-43:00 How did KHSA become a school focused on trust? 43:00-46:15 Making the shift from a more traditional to a more liberatory school 46:15-49:40  Sustainability after school founder(s) leave 49:40-53:05 Relationships of capital to schools: Now and a century ago 53:05-56:15 Education sovereignty 56:15-59:35 Community land trusts as models for schools 59:35-01:03 Balancing autonomy with accountability 01:03-01:06:20 Humans’ relationships with other animals: Moving away from anthropocentrism 01:06:20-01:10:30 Where the joy is 01:10:30-01:15:55 Takeaways: joys, hope, healing, radical possibilities 01:15:55-01:17 Outro

Conversations about education often focus on test scores and curriculum, but there’s a deeper layer that truly shapes a student’s experience. Ethical Schools digs into that layer, exploring what it means to build a learning community grounded in integrity and care. Each week, hosts Amy and Jon sit down with educators and innovators who are actively reimagining schools. You’ll hear specific, grounded discussions about the practical work of creating environments where every student feels safe and respected. The dialogue frequently addresses how to support young people dealing with trauma, moving beyond theory to share actionable strategies that teachers are using right now. More than just problem-solving, this podcast highlights how to empower students themselves to become advocates and changemakers in their own communities. It’s a series that connects philosophy with daily practice, looking at the social and cultural structures within schools through a lens of ethics. For anyone invested in the future of education-whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply a concerned community member-this podcast offers a thoughtful and necessary perspective on the foundational values that make education meaningful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 32:41
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