No Wrong Answers

On this episode: we talk with black high school students about their feelings on “Black Panther”. They think it’s as important as everyone is saying. Plus, as talk of arming teachers picks up steam, our educators and a special student guest say…are you kidding? And, have charter schools hit a wall? Our charter school teachers say maybe they have.

Students are angry and frustrated in the wake of another school shooting, and our teachers say they hope things might change this time. Plus, a scandal over inflated graduation rates in Washington DC has teachers asking: could it be happening in my district? Then, a special Black Panther edition of Kids These Days.

Most kids in America still can't name slavery as the primary cause of the Civil War. Our teachers say the problems with the way we teach slavery go even deeper than that. It's time to get uncomfortable. Plus, school councilors have caseloads approaching 500 students. One councilor says there's not enough time in the day.

In this #MeToo moment, what are we saying to boys to help them understand things like sexual harassment and consent? Also, we get the behind the scenes scope of an infamous “blacklist” of former employees an Arizona school district secretly kept for decades. And, should students be forced to pass the US citizenship test?

Indianapolis is offering cheap housing in order to entice teachers to stay. Hear why our teachers think that's not such a good idea. Also, The Betsy Breakdown is back: our Secretary of Education has been laying low, but we have a lot to talk about in this new year. Those topics plus, how are our teachers staying healthy during this flu season? Those answers and more on this edition of the podcast. 

2017 was by all accounts a crazy year in the news, and by the way 2018 has started it doesn't seem like we're in for much of a break. Earlier this month, NPR Education Reporter Claudio Sanchez made four education predictions for this year, you can find his full article here. We talked to Sanchez about what he's expecting for education in 2018.

We talk with staff members and students from a school in Puerto Rico that recently went viral after a video of their power coming back on spread across the internet. We talk with them about what the last few months have been like literally learning in the dark. Plus, a new report shows American schools are still profoundly unequal. Our teachers discuss the infuriating reasons why.

The President says another offensive thing, but our teachers say this time is incredibly different. Plus, a lot of states are dealing with the same education issues such as teacher shortages and school funding. We get a preview of 2018 from an education reporter who covers statehouses across the country. Then, turns out stress actually changes your student's brains. Our teachers discuss what you can do about that.

What do children of color think about America a year into Donald Trump's Presidency? Their responses paint a bleak picture for our country's future. Plus, outrage over a youtube star's video showing the body of a suicide victim has us thinking: what exactly are kids watching online? And, a conservative political action group goes after a teacher's union in Michigan. The union representative on our show says, bring it on.

As 2017 comes to a close, we look back on the moments in education that get As and the moments that get Fs. Also, what we're worried about and excited for going into 2018.