The attack on public education: Will public schools survive? (Encore)

The attack on public education: Will public schools survive? (Encore)

Author: Ethical Schools June 5, 2022 Duration: 45:39
We speak with University of South Carolina law professor Derek Black about the history of education as a core government service and the current wave of voucher laws in red states. Professor Black argues that these will permanently reduce education funding levels and threaten the very existence of public schools. We also talk about the #RedforEd resistance and the need to substantially increase funding for schools with many low-income students.  Overview 00:00-00:48 Intros 00:48-01:38 Why “Schoolhouse Burning” is subtitled “Public Education and the Assault on American Democracy” 01:38-03:38 Importance of Reconstruction for government role in education 03:38-06:13 Commitments to education in state constitutions 06:13-08:25 Tension between schools as reproducing social structures and vehicles for social mobility 08:25-16:35 How to achieve equity in school funding 16:35-18:49 Recent voucher laws around the U.S. 18:49-20:47 Vouchers and parochial schools 20:47-22:54 Impact of proliferation of charter schools 22:54-25:02 Why now for vouchers? 25:02-27:08 Why today’s battles over charters and vouchers are undermining the concept of public education 27:08-29:07 Libertarianism and the idea of removing government from education 29:07-30:19 Privatization and race 30:19-33:29 Reducing taxes on the wealthy and long-term reduction in public funding for education 33:29-36:23 Significance of #RedforEd teachers’ strikes 36:23-37:4...

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
The pioneers: Democracy front and center (Part Two) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
We speak with Deborah Meier and Jane Andrias, pioneers in the democratic small-school movement. Debbie founded the Central Park East Schools. Jane Andrias was an art teacher and principal at Central Park East I. Debbie a…
The pioneers: Democracy front and center (Part One) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
We speak with Deborah Meier and Jane Andrias, pioneers in the democratic small-school movement. Debbie founded the Central Park East Schools. Jane Andrias was an art teacher and principal at Central Park East I. Debbie a…
Technology and ethics: AI and the classroom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:26
Robbie Torney, director of AI Programs at Common Sense Media, analyzes teachers' use of AI. We focus on AI teaching assistants, their uses and abuses, and how teachers' judgment and skills remain central. We discuss the…
Climate justice: A transformational education and engagement project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:46
We speak with Tom Roderick, founding executive director of the Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility; Jan Zuckerman, Co-founder of Sunnyside Environmental School in Portland, Oregon; and Graham Klag, an a…
Teachers as Interpreters: Listening to Every Student [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
We speak with Dr. Cynthia Ballenger about her recent book, “Teaching is Inquiry: Observation and Reflection as the Heart of Practice,” in which she explores the role of ethnography in inquiry-based teaching and learning,…
Hip Hop in the classroom: Reaching students where they are [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:26
We speak with Dr. Dawn Hicks Tafari, Professor of Education and Coordinator of Elementary Education at Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. Dawn is author of "The Journey of Kamau Miller: Hip Hop Composite C…
Challenging credentialism: An alternative vision of education (Encore) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:43
We speak with Arlene Goldbard, writer, visual artist, speaker, social activist and consultant, whose most recent book is “In the Camp of Angels of Freedom: What does it mean to be educated?” An autodidact from a working-…
Mobile Creativity Labs: Scaling STEAM Across India [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:31
We speak with Dr. David Penberg and Adhirath Sethi about Agastya, a unique educational ecosystem serving students and teachers in 22 Indian states. Agastya has a hub-and-spokes design, with an elaborate 172-acre campus o…
Resilience: Preparing Children to Weather Traumatic Events [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:41
We speak with Dr. Tovah P. Klein, professor of psychology at Barnard College and the director of the Center for Toddler Development, about her book, “Raising Resilience: How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncert…