As a special summer episode, I’m happy to share audio from my remarks at the Winter Institute of the New York State Council of School Superintendents (March 2023) on How to Engage Students as Citizens. Aligned with my major research and teaching interests of civil discourse and student perceptions of school, engaging students as citizens has only increased in importance in recent months as the race for president heats up—as well as our climate, in this hottest summer on record. And of course, our culture wars continue to blaze, as captured in this arresting image by Roy Chambers (on Instagram @chambersartegrity).

Thanks to the NYS Council of School Superintendents for sharing their in-house recording. Thanks to Greg Jackson of Action J Productions for helping me develop the video version, now available on the Point of Learning YouTube channel.

These are the three questions I’m referring to in the student feedback item in my list. The best feedback I ever got in my 18 years as a classroom teacher came from my students’ anonymous answers to these questions at the end of each marking period.

I mention in the outro that I was honored by Kate Douglas and Shayfer James to assemble a study guide to accompany the video of their musical inspired by Beowulf. You can bet that we’re going to podcast about that project sooner or later, but if you want to learn more about it now, this link will get you to all the relevant materials!

Many people support this podcast in one way or another, through conversations, emailed suggestions, books, articles, music, and more. Some are able to contribute financially, which is cool-hot like a modern Beowulf, as far as I’m concerned. Gifts of even a few dollars from folks like you have helped me upgrade to the Logic Pro digital audio workstation that I just began to learn for this episode. There are two easy ways to donate—a one-time gift of any amount, or a monthly continuing contribution.

Current supporters include: Aaron Bartley, Gilberto Belaval, Mary Rappl Bellanti, Raj Bhandari, Melinda Bihn, Gretchen & David Brand, Jenni Brand, Jake Brown, Heather Carson-Wake, Patty Cruice, Ryan Daly, David Davis, James Duggan, Dave Eisenberg, Phillip Ellis, Anna Falicov, Errick L. Greene, Jonathan Hiam, Gregory Horn, Janice & John & Ava & Brooke Horn, Robyn Lee Horn, Greg Jackson, Kevin Johnson, Zack Kramer, Tim Lear, Janet & Robert Lee, Kristen Lee, Tom Loughlin, Susan Lytle, Carol MacVey, Linda B. Matt, Ellen McLaughlin, J. W. Gregg Meister, Miriam Meister, Sarah & Peter Meister, Dwight Nolt, Julia Olff, John Opera, Gail Radford, Monica & Rowland Richards, Gail & Frank Richeson, Friends of Diana Rochford, Stacy Rodgers, Elizabeth & Terry Rowlands, Paula A. Roy, Emily Style, Marue Walizer, John B. Webb, Keith Zemsky, Vana Zervanos

Let me have your email address, and I’ll make sure you find out when a new episode drops. 100% free, and takes maybe 18 seconds to fill out the form.