In this episode, we cover the public school system and its processes, generally. The benefits, the drawbacks, how to use existing systems to address issues of quality, and the need to supplement for students who exist at the "upper" and "lower" parts of the standardized academic achievement curve. An introduction to other topics covered in education as it relates to the education of students with specialized needs.

This episode begins with a preview of guardianship--a topic we will be talking about in upcoming episodes during Cancer season. We then dive into private schooling--legal considerations, and pros and cons through some case studies.

In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of homeschooling using student-family case studies as an example. These case studies come from both rural, suburban, and city teaching experiences. Case studies also include homeschooling from the conservative Christian viewpoint (most popular among homeschoolers) and the minority secular world view. Homeschooling as a state issue is discussed and a resource is shared to support the listener in finding the rules that govern their jurisdiction.

This episode is a mindset plus skills/resource sharing episode for teachers, educators, parents, or any one who is interested in education theory and practice at a high-level. I define "ideal" education to develop children's minds to concurrently be in their experience while also being an observer of their experience. Developing this ability in children (and adults) allows us to embody the classical spiritual principles of grace, forgiveness, peace, joy, love, understanding, and the like. These abilities help reduce conflict in society, at the grassroots level, instead of relying on institutions or other figures to "save us." So often we look to solutions "up there" and "out there" when really the solution can be "down here" and "in here."

The episode begins with a review of the 7 "liberal arts" of classical education and how the classical education system mirrors modern day education research on how learning is transferred to students. The episode then shifts to the principles of "effective teaching"--meaning teaching that honors the individuality of a student, preserves their dignity, while also moving towards an objective-based outcome that can be defined by numbers or by qualities or actions we seek to either increase or decrease in our experience. Finally, this episode ends with research-informed mindsets and skills that parents, educators, and caretakers can adopt to support children of the new earth and create new practices that heal traumas passed down through our ancestries.

This episode highlights the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. We discuss the law, its implementation (June 27, 2023), employee rights under the law, who is an "employer" under the act, and employer defenses.

Link to EEOC Website on PWFA

To begin Cancer season, putting the past in the past by sharing my law review comment research on education claims in the United States, including the education malpractice claim.

In this episode, parents, teachers, and students are invited to learn about the historical and legal roots of education lawsuits in the United States. We discuss education from a "macro-systems-collective" level to understand micro-actions we can take in our local communities to solve local education issues.

The first part of this show gives an overview of tort law in general, including intentional torts, negligence, and strict liability claims. Then, it talks about negligence claims, including what they are and how they show up in a professional setting as "malpractice."

Then, the history of how two professions (medicine and teaching) have addressed service quality issues is examined. History makes it clear that the law reflects the values of the people who write the laws. This includes the idea that high-level legal decisions often have more to do with morals, ethics, and value-driven goals rather than with "strict" legal analysis (even though legal analysis on both sides shows different ways to get to the same answer).

Once in the zone of education malpractice, this episode talks about why most education malpractice claims are denied (as a matter of law, courts don't look into the facts because "what has been decided, stays decided"). And, since these cases aren't allowed, what tort, legal, political, and social alternatives lawyers, parents, teachers, and students should know about so they can effectively advocate for their personal interests.

The legal options are broken down into four groups, each with an example from case law.

These four tort law alternatives are: (1) general negligence (instead of professional negligence "malpractice"); (2) negligent misrepresentation; (3) negligent supervision; and (4) recasting education malpractice claims as medical malpractice claims, especially for our students with documented special needs like ADHD.

There are two statute-based options, which are: (1) A claim based on the 14th Amendment's Due Process or Equal Protection clause; or (2) A claim based on an education law, like Title VII.

NOTE: Since the writing of the paper discussed in this podcast (2019-2020), there have been additional developments in this area, specific to curriculum taught in schools. These topics may be covered again in next weeks episodes on starting private schools, homeschool rights, and addressing issues in the public education system. Because not everyone can afford private school or homeschool, listeners are encouraged to consider using and improving upon existing processes in our current public school system.

Bringing it in slow for the beginning of Cancer season. A 19:19 episode dedicated to sharing general Cancerian themes, thoughts, transitions, integrating different ideas that have been percolating in my awareness, going from gold to silver, moving more with the flow, and sharing the example of Heritage Hill Farm in case you're in for a little business inspiration (with a review of website policies). Happy Cancer I!

In today's episode, I share a reflection I shared on Instagram last Sunday, during the Sun-Neptune square, to mark the end of one cycle and the start of a new one. (Pluto has retrograded in Capricorn, Saturn is retrograde in Pisces, and Venus will move retrograde in about a month.) Gemini was the "end" of the zodiac in traditional astrology Gemini III is the peak of the sun's light, yang energy, or creative force in nature. We all need time on stage and time behind the scenes, and Gemini III's "high vibe" energy tells us that it's possible to be "too high vibe." "To everything there is a season," which comes from Ecclesiastes 3, tells us that it's OK to do what we need to do to keep our lives moving along. This probably looks different to each person. So today, instead of forcing one more episode in Gemini III (after Buy-Sell agreements, I really didn't have anything else to share...), I take a day of rest and sit with the idea that not everything in life goes exactly to specification and days of rest? Necessary.

In this episode, we discuss how buy-sell agreements fit into overall exit planning strategies for business owners. Preparing for the future of your business is crucial, and creating a buy-sell agreement is just one part of the process. A buy-sell agreement is a legal contract that outlines what happens if one or more owners want or need to leave a business. It provides a plan for the remaining owners to buy out the departing owner's share of the business, ensuring that the company continues to operate smoothly without any legal disputes among the remaining owners.

One of the habits of highly effective businesses is having a succession, or exit, plan in place. A succession plan helps us to "begin with the end in mind." Establishing the expectations and boundaries for our businesses on the front end, actually gives us more control and freedom to be creative (as counterintuitive as this may sound). Creation exists within boundaries and as such, creating our businesses must also exist within boundaries. Listen to this episode to learn more about what a succession plan is, the four things to consider in your exit plan, and how your business exit plan co-exists with your personal or family estate planning.