Busted Pencils

Johnny’s out tonight, probably playing hockey, so Producer Nate sits down with Tim to ponder the uses, and misuses, of AI. It has a place in the classroom, just like any other tool, but what is that place?

Then Civic Media’s own Jimmy Kaska joins the show to give a lesson on referendum 101. What does it mean to go to referendum? Why are schools raising taxes? Why can’t the state just help them out?

Dr. Johnny is away on that top-secret teacher business he’s always doing, so we brought in our secret weapon: you know her as Caller Jo Ann, but Bust-ED Pencils is proud to reintroduce her to you as Dr. Jo Ann Oravec, our AI and tech expert from Madison!

Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny are starting a new tradition against traditional schooling: Teacher Joanna and Teacher Hallie from Educators Amplified will be joining us this Wednesday and EVERY Wednesday… FOREVER! Kicking things off with Ral Academy, a new way of thinking about how schools could look.

No matter where you are, there are children with special needs near you. Today, Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny tackle the pressing topic of the nationwide teacher shortage, with a particular focus on the scarcity of special education teachers. They explore the root causes of this shortage, from historical challenges to societal perceptions, shedding light on the complexities of the issue.

Joined by esteemed guest Dr. Kimber Wilkerson, Professor of Special Education at UW-Madison, the hosts delve deeper into the impact of the shortage on students with disabilities and the educators tasked with supporting them. Dr. Wilkerson provides valuable insights into the specialized knowledge and skills required in special education, as well as the persistent PR challenges that contribute to the shortage.

Through candid discussion and expert analysis, Busted Pencils offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the teacher shortage crisis and its implications for the education system. Tune in as Tim, Johnny, and their guest navigate this crucial topic, offering perspectives that are both informative and thought-provoking. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or concerned citizen, Busted Pencils provides essential insights into the challenges facing education today.

More on today’s guest: Dr. Wilkerson has broad expertise in the preparation of teachers to work with students with disabilities and providing instruction to students with disabilities to improve their long-term academic and social/behavioral outcomes. She has directed several teacher preparation programs at UW-Madison, including an accelerated licensure program for local school district employees. Her past experience includes working as a special educator in the Seattle Public Schools. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Washington, she held an appointment at the University of Maryland where she was also involved in special educator preparation. She was formerly the Associate Dean for Teacher Education at UW-Madison and is currently Principal Investigator of a federally funded Teacher Quality Partnership grant in collaboration with Milwaukee Public Schools.

We’re rolling into week 2 of Bust-Ed Pencils’ Weekday Takeover, and we’re not slowing down yet. Carol Burris is BACK to talk charter schools, voucher systems, and the privatization of public schools by the right-wing politicians across this nation.

Carol Burris served as principal of South Side High School in the Rockville Centre School District in NY from 2000-2015. Carol received her doctorate from Teachers College, and Columbia University.

The educated educators are back in action on a Friday night! Tonight is the second night of February, which means the beginning of Black History Month. While most classrooms should be getting ready to teach Black history, some aren’t, because they’re afraid of accusations of racism. Tim and Johnny reaffirm that Black history is just American history, and needs to be taught more in our classrooms. It’s not racist to teach Black history, and it’s not racist against white people to teach Black history.

The state of California has to pay $2 BILLION over learning loss during the COVID pandemic. No, this isn’t about lower test scores. Schooling changed post-COVID, and the entire experience has become different for both students and teachers. There are new health needs that were exasperated with COVID. What California is doing is putting their money where their mouth is to try and help schools support learning.

Bust-ED Pencils is no stranger to the Tuesday Evening spot, but this times things feel different. Continuing our first week of the weekday takeover, Dr. Johnny’s already taking days off, so Dr. Tim and Anya are here to welcome expert Alan Collinge to discuss the student loan crisis, his predictions on forgiveness, and why this nation needs a solution.

Alan Collinge is the founder of  StudentLoanJustice.Org.  Created in 2005, this grassroots organization is dedicated to informing the public about the predatory underpinnings of both federal and private student loans in the U.S. For more info on Collinge’s campaign for President, visit his site at

https://www.collingeforpresident.com/issues

We’re going all week, every week! Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny are ushering in the new era of Bust-ED Pencils with the return of Producer Anya, discussions of the future, and new callers.

Dr. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci have a big announcement: BustED Pencils is going daily! Starting today, you can hear BustED Pencils five days a week! Tim and Johnny have big things in store, and ready to take everyone on a quest to protecting our public schools, and to protecting our democracy.

Maybe there will be some new guests. Maybe there will be some new regulars. But with the new changes, one thing will stay the same – YOUR calls, and the truth about the state of education in America today.

Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny are holding office hours, and you’re invited. They’ve got esteemed expert Tracy Mitrano, distinguished visiting professor in the Brooks School and in the Ann S. Bowers College Department of Information Science at Cornell University, here to discuss plagiarism, Ai’s role, trends in education, and somehow even more.