Trump cutbacks and policies: stripping minority student protections

Trump cutbacks and policies: stripping minority student protections

Author: Ethical Schools February 16, 2026 Duration: 41:18
We speak with Derek Black, Constitutional law professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, about the impact of Trump administration’s policies on students’ civil rights. Department of Education offices meant to ensure students are not subject to discrimination have been decimated. The Department of Justice has switched from protecting minority students' rights to focusing on so-called “discrimination" against whites and attacking transgender students. Professor Black also says the need for "circuit breakers" on executive power transcends this administration. Overview 00:00-00:52 Intros 00:52:02:21 Threats to students’ protection from discrimination 02:21-03:53 Status of complaints to Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) 03:53-05:30 Importance of access to OCR without an attorney 05:30-10:09 OCR procedures and remedies 10:09-13:55 Role Department of Justice is supposed to have in protecting students against discrimination; Trump Administration priorities 13:55-17:01 How the Administration’s approach is schizophrenic 17:01-23:10 Ethical quandaries facing district administrators 23:10-24:43 Supplementing not supplanting: What happens when the Department of Education is no longer monitoring 24:43-27:21 The uncertainty factor—who gets focused on 27:21-30:36 State Departments of Education: How they fit in 30:36-34:11 Theatrics at US Department of Education 34:11-38:00 Problems before the Trump Administration and what would be important afterwards 38:00-40:11 Some specifics of “circuit breakers” that could reduce executive power 40:11- OutroTranscript Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.References  Our first interview with Derek Black happened in 2021. Click here to listen to "The attack on public education: Will public schools survive?"  Soundtrack by Poddington Bear

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: 50

Ethical Schools
Podcast Episodes
Join our Global Saturday Salons! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46
Collaborate with teachers and learners worldwide! LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT GLOBALCONVERSATIONS.NET Along with our partner organizations – Agastya International Foundation, Center for Artistry and Scholarship, and Think…
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…