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
What’s real and who/what matters: Sentientism in schools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:16
We speak with Jamie Woodhouse, UK educator and thought leader on sentientism. An ethical worldview informed by evidence, reason, and compassion, sentientism prioritizes the well-being of humans and animals other than hum…
Climate change education: Meeting NJ’s mandate hands-on [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:45
We speak with the New Jersey School of Conservation’s Kerry Kirk Pflugh and Tanya Sulikowski, and Garwood, NJ middle school teacher, K.C. Bree about the SOC and about New Jersey’s first-in-the-nation mandate for climate…
Cultivating layups, confidence, and community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
We speak with Dave Crenshaw, founder and coach of Team Dreamers NY in Washington Heights; Blanca Battino, retired principal of PS 128; and Dr. Robert Fullilove, professor and associate dean at Columbia University’s Mailm…
Creating the conditions: Sustaining “caring for” education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:55
We speak with Chris Lehmann, founding principal of Science Leadership Academy, inquiry-driven and project-based schools in Philadelphia. The academic model centers inquiry, research, collaboration, presentation, and refl…
Solving chronic absence: A whole-school approach (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:21
We speak with Hedy N. Chang of Attendance Works, who describes the long-term impact on student success of chronic absence in all grades. Framing chronic absence as a truancy issue can increase alienation from school. Dis…
Developing public communication skills: Speech and debate team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:16
We speak with Denver English teacher and speech/debate coach Anna Steed about the benefits of speech and debate competition. Students acquire critical communication skills and self-confidence; students of color and low-i…
Experiential learning: Where human history and nature connect [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:16
We speak with Jackie Broder, director of the Mamakating Environmental Education Center in New York’s Catskill Mountains. The Center abuts the Basha Kill wetland, a vital self-contained ecosystem. It helps students, famil…
Cultural responsiveness: is music optional? (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:00
We speak with Dr. Anne Smith, longtime music teacher in Northern Virginia, about accommodating cultural differences. Dr. Smith created an alternate curriculum for students whose traditions don’t allow secular music-makin…