BustED Pencils

BustED Pencils

By Tim SlekarSociety & CultureEducation
Download on the App Store

BustED Pencils episodes

  • Episode 62: I want to be a teacher so I went “Back to School!”
    Trending News
    The US gives up on preventing school shootings.
    Yes. Now I want all of your guns.
    Give Oliver North some Ritalin.
    Feature Interview:
    So you want to be a teacher. Why? We talk to returning adult students—Wally Longo, Alex Morry, and Brian Ward—about why the left the private sector and came “Back to School” to earn a valid teaching license.
    Spotlight Interview:
    Teacher Chris Vanderark questions the need for the ACT WorkKeys test.
    And of course your Moment of Zinn!
    Let’s Bust Some Pencils!
    44 min
  • Episode 61: Nurturing the Heart and a Hunger Strike
    Trending News:
    Wisconsin governor Scott Walker want to “shake things up” in Milwaukee Public Schools
    Milwaukee Teacher Education Association’s Alex Brower is on a hunger strike for health care.  We talk to him.
    Feature Interview: Howard Glasser created the Nurtured Heart Approach to help “find the greatness in intense children.”  Listen as he goes deeper into the approach and shares some gold standard research findings that you might want to share with the leaders in your school districts.
    Spotlight Interview: Using the Nurtured Heart Approach.  Tammy Holtan Arnold.
    The Schools Our Children Deserve.  BustED Pencils’ own astrophysicist—Ethan Siegel.
    And of course your Moment of Zinn.
    Let’s Bust Some Pencils!
    46 min
  • Episode 60: Educators Amplified and Licensed Teachers need NOT Apply

    Trending News:

    1. Teachers of the Year attempt dialogue with Betsy DeVos.
    2. Give teachers guns so they can sell them for supplies? Michelle Wolf.
    3. 1 school closed and 40 teachers without jobs. “If only I knew?”

      4. Someone Has to Say It!: Keep politicians out of our classrooms.

      Feature Interview: Joanna Rizzotto and Ted Kraig preview the next Educators Amplified: Gubernatorial Edition.  Is there a Democrat in Wisconsin that really understands the issues facing public education?

      Spotlight Interview: Teacher Pam. 16 years experience, Master’s degree, exceptional letters of recommendation.  Can’t get a teaching job in a “shortage” state.

      The Schools Our Children Deserve: Arizona Teacher of the Year Jessica Marks.

      And of course, A Moment of Zinn.

      Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

      48 min
    4. Episode 59: The “Go to Hell” Episode

      Trending News:

      1. Pay “our” teachers damn it!
      2. Mall cops for our schools
      3. “Go to Hell”

        4. Someone Has To Say It! 15 Years teaching experience and a Master’s degree a no job. Sorry but we don’t have a “teacher shortage.”

        Feature Interview: Jessica Marks

        She was fired from KIPP in Texas and the named Teacher of the Year in Arizona.  Now she’s mad as hell about the conditions of her classroom.

        Spotlight Interview: Amy Mizialko is the Vice President for the Milwaukee Teacher’s Education Association.  She decided to point out that a school budget proposal was not in the best interest of the kids, community, and staff.  Board president Michael Bonds response: “Go to Hell.”

        The Schools Our Children Deserve: Denver teacher and activist Hayley Breden.

        And a Moment of Zinn.

        Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

        43 min
      4. Episode 58: Mike McCabe take 2 and a Special Kohn’s Zone

        Trending News

        1. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin “connects” teachers strikes and child abuse.  Huh?
        2. Stoneman Douglas teacher forgets to holster gun while going number 2.
        3. NAEP scores flat. Time to consider “test and punish” a failure.

          4. Someone Has To Say it: Time to move “Beyond Discipline.”

          Feature Interview:  He’s Back!  Democratic Candidate for Governor Mike McCabe stops by to talk education.  Rural School funding? Testing and Teaching? Teacher Demoralization. Vouchers and Choice? Act 10?  Better listen.

          Kohn’s Zone: Kids “behaving” badly?  Maybe it’s your Behavior Plan.  Do you have the courage to move Beyond Discipline?

          Linda Nathan tells us about the Schools Our Children Deserve.

          A Moment of Zinn…

          Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

          46 min
        4. Episode 57: Marching with the 50 Miles More students

          Photo courtesy of Joe Brusky

          Trending News: 50 Miles More students from Wisconsin

          What Would Matt Damon’s Mom Say about students protesting and having their own opinions?

          Someone Has To Say It: Democrats dismantling and demoralizing the teaching profession.

          Feature Interview: BustED Pencils goes out on the road with the 50 Miles More students and talks about their mission and their message.

          Spotlight Interview: Milwaukee Teacher’s Education Association president Kim Schroeder joins Tim to talk about teacher activism across the country and specifically in Milwaukee.

          And a Moment of Zinn.

          Let’s Bust some Pencils!

          52 min
        5. Episode 56: Betsy Bonanza

          Trending News:

          Did she really say that?  Between SNL and 60 minutes Betsy DeVos had a tough time communicating.  Is it real or is it parody?

          Special Guest:  Double E. Defends Betsy, or as he likes to call her “Tootsie.”  You know what the say about the “woodwork.”

          Spotlight Interview #1: Paul Thomas joins us to talk about the “Betsy Dilemma.”  And no, Paul is not related to Double E.

          Spotlight Interview #2: Anna Moffit talks about special education and the need for more advocacy.

          Spotlight Interview #3: BustED Pencil’s own astrophysicist, Ethan Siegel returns to explain the Trump Administration’s budget cuts and the future of science education.

          The Schools Our Children Deserve: Steven Singer

          And A Moment of Zinn!

          Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

          48 min
        6. Episode 55: “57 minutes!” Stoneman Douglas High school Moms Remember that Day!

          Trending News

          1. School Policy and student walkouts
          2. Students walk out across the country to protest gun violence
          3. The AR- 15 is a killing machine

            4. Someone Has to Say It: People who post stupid comments about gun violence on my Facebook page are…?

            Feature Interview: Rosemarie Jensen and Cathi Rush started the day on Feb. 14th, 2018 just like any other normal day.  Then the info came that Stoneman Douglas High School was under attack.  The texts from their children in the school came next and their lives were changed forever.  It’s time to really LISTEN!

            The Schools Our Children Deserve.

            And a very powerful Moment of Zinn!

            Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

            42 min
          4. Episode 54: Teacher Shortage or Teacher Demoralization?

            Trending News:

            1. They were trained for this moment
            2. Teacher with a white nationalist podcast
            3. Teen mental health and cell phones

              4. Someone Has To Say it:  Teacher Shortage?  Not really. Leadership shortage? Oh Yeah!

              Feature Interview: Doris Santoro from Bowdoin College spends time with Tim talking about her new book–Demoralized: Why Teachers Leave the Profession They Love and How They Can Stay.

              Teaser:  Fixing the “teacher shortage” is creating the teacher shortage. How?  You’re going to need to listen.

              Spotlight Interview: Anna Moffit is running for re-election to the Madison Metropolitan School Board.  Fully endorsed by BustED Pencils.

              Ingrid Henry of the Milwaukee Teacher’s Education Association on the Schools Our Children Deserve.

              And of course A Moment of Zinn!

              Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

              45 min
            4. Episode 53: No More Thoughts and Prayers!

              Trending News

              1) Idiot accuses shooting victims of being “coached.”

              2) Conspiracy crackpots dump more pain on Florida shooting victims by claiming they are really just actors.

              Someone Has To Say It! John Pavlovitz. The ‘Emotionally Immature’ Teenagers Saving America’s Soul

              Feature Interview:  In this special episode we talk to teacher Jen Greenwald, Wisconsin Public Education Network director Heather Dubois Bourenane, and Madison School Board Member Anna Moffit about the Florida school shooting.  Together we go deep and talk about what really needs to be done to help schools and communities confront gun violence.  Guess what?  We disagree with the tools we call our politicians.

              The Schools Our Children Deserve: Founder of a Few Good Women Kentucky, Gay Adelmann.

              And a very Special Moment of Zinn.

              Let’s Bust Some Pencils!

              44 min

            About BustED Pencils

            From the publisher's feed

            BustED Pencils; Fully Leaded Education Talk is a half-hour talk show dedicated to public education. It is the only talk on the radio about education by educators. BustED Pencils is known for its…