Shapes of Identity

We continue our conversation with the second half of the episode by talking about design theory some more! 

We discuss design theory in this episode... the conversation was so good we had to split it up into two parts! 

During this episode we explore the idea of "Ice Breakers" and find out if the guests "LOVE EM'" or "HATE EM'"! 

As an educator who discovered that I would have to unlearn much of what I was taught throughout my existence as a human and a student of Health & Physical Education, I found comfort in the uncomfortable. I learned that much of what we are taught is missing a view, an experience, a voice, and a context which is where this valuable piece of work by Dr. Blackshear and Dr. Culp comes into play. The collaborative effort poured into the book, Critical Race Studies in Physical Education by Dr. Blackshear and Dr. Culp, is a piece of work that should be part of every educator's readings. 

You can purchase the book Critical Race Studies in Physical Education by clicking this LINK.

Thank you Dr. Blackshear and Dr. Culp for your time and energy. We appreciate the work you do!

- Justin and Steve

During this episode we invited Kevin McGrath to the show to discuss his experiences and how he has utilized an idea to spread love through the idea of Adopt-a-Gym. Here is a brief description of who Kevin is ... 

"I have had a long journey on my way to creating Adopt-a-Gym.  As a child, I faced many of the challenges that we fear our students never will have to face!  I lived in a household riddled with poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, illness and death.

These challenges taught me so many lessons:

One lesson my mother was sure to teach me before she passed away when I was 13 was EMPATHY.  Even though we were living at or below poverty level, my mother made it a normal occurrence to give away food to those homeless we encountered in the streets, even though we were ourselves relying on eating 3+ meals per week at the local church.

A turning point in my life was the time I learned HUMANITY.  I had moved to a new school for about a year when my mother passed away.  This was a suburban school where I felt like an outsider as a New York City boy.  The only real connection I felt to the school was the athletic teams I was on.  So I was incredibly shocked when seven classmates pooled their money together to purchase me two tickets to my favorite sports team, the New York Knicks, as a “get well” gift when I returned to school.  It was accompanied by a card with over 200 signatures inside!  I was floored by their kindness!  This changed my view on humanity as a whole and set in concrete my desire to make a difference in the lives of others.  Passing the buck became my new mantra!

Fast forward ten years to my second teaching job in Alexandria, Virginia to teach at Charles Barrett Elementary School.  This school was nothing like the first school I worked at, P.S. 138 in Brooklyn.  P.S. 138 had over 1,400 students and an barren gym closet, whereas Barrett was flourishing with more equipment than I could ever dream of.  Then I won the Marine Corps Marathon Healthy School Award two years in a row, totaling $1,500 in prize money for P.E. equipment.  I was stricken with guilt for how fortunate I was with the surplus of resources we had, while there are schools like 138 and the other public schools I attended as a child that had little to nothing.

Alive was the idea of Adopt-a-Gym!"

If you haven't heard of Kevin McGrath, please take the time to learn about Kevin and his story on his website (Adopt-a-Gym).

During this episode we have a packed house where we discuss the importance of recognizing and understanding how race in intersectionality impacts Black oppression within the NJ Health and Physical Education Standards and CARE principles. 

Resources:

In episode 8 we invited Dr. Dillon Landi into the space to discuss Identity and the relationships identity has between everything and anything from spaces, places, policy, science, and more! 

During this episode we explore the topic of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the State Standards for Health & Physical Education in New Jersey. Our guests are Lennie Parham of New Jersey's Department of Education, and Marcella Simadiris a Health & Physical Education teacher of Paterson Public Schools. 

For episode 6 we welcome Clifton J. Thompson III who is the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Lawrence Township Public Schools. In this role, Thompson works on important issues that impact the life of the school district, our students, parents, and the community at large. Clifton Thompson serves as the district's Affirmative Action Officer and Title IX Coordinator. During this episode CJT3 discusses microaffirmations and their role in the school community. 

Erika Smoots joins us for episode 5 for a discussion on micro aggressions and how to identify them and help people do less harm.  She is a local activist, Equity Warrior in Lawrence Township Schools, and promotes culturally responsive teaching. Her passion led her to write her district’s K-6 Social Justice Curriculum and develop a Social Justice website to support teachers in their curriculum efforts. She has run district-wide Professional Development on equity and social justice, as well as written school and district grants for multicultural books, book clubs, and programs promoting empathy. She is an advisor for the Black Student Union, and the founder and board member of The Black Educational Advancement Council (BEAC), a K-12, 501(c)3 parent organization that supports advocacy and the academic advancement of Black children in Lawrence. She is currently an adjunct at the College of New Jersey were she helps prepare early childhood special education students to teach in a diverse world.