Students leading change: Inclusiveness at an elite school

Students leading change: Inclusiveness at an elite school

Author: Ethical Schools October 22, 2020 Duration: 49:12

Stacey Cervellino Thorp and Naima Moffett-Warden teach drama at Manhattan’s famed LaGuardia High School, and Abigail Rivera is a senior in the drama studio. Although all LaGuardia students are extraordinarily talented, their families, neighborhoods, and middle schools have vastly different resources. Students and faculty, led by students of color, have won changes and are demanding more steps to make the school more accessible and the curriculum more culturally responsive. 

Overview

00:00-00:44 Intros

00:44-08:26 LaGuardia admissions standards and how they have changed

08:26-11:23 The sit-in and movement for changing the previous principal

11:23-13:40 Pressures to take AP courses; academics prioritized over arts and the efforts to change that 

13:40-18:22 Teaching students with diverse arts backgrounds

18:22-21:37 Teaching and learning on-line: impacts on process and equity

21:37-24:19 Changing Eurocentric curriculum; Young Idealists

24:19-30:02 Conversations and actions since George Floyd’s death

30:02-34:46 The school’s responses

34:46-35:42 Students’ interest in using careers for social change

35:42-40:50 Making high quality arts education available to many more students on an equitable basis

40:50-42:09 Students’ talking at their middle schools

42:09-47:43 Broadening visions of arts careers, especially for BIPOC students and their families

47:43-49:12 Outro

Transcript

Click here to see the full transcription of this episode. 


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: English Episodes: 240

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