The Insubordinate Teacher Podcast

On this episode, we talk about the ongoing debate, or non-debate, surrounding say/don't say "gay" in schools. Ultimately, we know this isn't about a single word, but authentic inclusion and basic human rights. We talk about the reality of Canadian law stating that any "don't say gay" stance in schools do, in fact, break the law. Still, the cacophony of homophobic voices have overwhelmed the education space, and it's up to teachers to have real conversations on the subject.

You know what's fun? Answer: Banning books from schools! Back from a one year prison sentence, from a crime we did not commit, the gang talks about how one clever parent formally asked to ban the Bible from a public school. Dobler joins us as a guest, and David holds out for more talking time on the podcast.

Apologies that we have taken a little break, but David was claiming to be really busy at the end of the school year and did not have time to record a new episode of The Insubordinate Teacher Podcast. We discovered he was only busy cashing in the gift cards he received/demanded from his students, laughing at them as they attempt to curry some favour and/or love from this horrible, horrible man. On this episode we spend time catching up with each other and amongst the many topics of conversation are “Stonebanks’ Heroes”, getting ready for Dave’s ongoing vengeance against Stonebanks, Farah-Roxanne’s Artificial Intelligence smartphone spying on her kitten, and Christine’s ongoing problems with compression support socks and the actor/comedian/town/car Chevrolet Chase. So, pretty much typical end of the year teacher conversations.

This is a bonus episode no one wants to make. On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old shooter entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States and fatally shot nineteen students and two teachers, while wounding seventeen others. The Insubordinate Teacher Podcast veers from its typical satire to address an ongoing phenomenon aimed at schools that will not be stopped through “thoughts and prayers”. The team is joined by Laura, our main voice for segues, a resident of Texas of Mexican descent and a pre-service teacher to add her perspectives on her community, gun culture and the general avoidance of difficult conversations that perpetuate these tragedies. Join us as we argue that teachers need to get political and demand sweeping changes.

Teacher’s proper conduct and comportment, both inside and outside of the classroom, is the central focus of this episode, as Dr. N. K. Mandela returns to try and repair the difficulties surrounding his first guest appearance on The Insubordinate Teacher podcast. Is Dr. N. K. Mandela right, and could discussions go more smoothly if teachers, like David and Christine, followed a more prescribed understanding of what proper conduct means? Join the gang as they confront ideas of what it means to be a “proper” teacher, and then discuss if we have definitive outlines on how those of us in the field of Education should behave and be seen in and out of schools. Please make sure to NOT wear your bloomers if you are cycling to school; no exceptions! Plus, we find out Christine does NOT eat hot chip as well. What more do you want??

In this episode we get to the point of Dave’s Hot Takes and really, really get into Meryl Streep and Mama Mia! Okay, no we don’t - really - but we do talk about the challenges of teaching and even living by ethical principles in our public schools. Sure, most of us think that teachers should be “moral” and teach “good values”, but are they really teaching ethics? And if they try and take an ethical stance on their professional life, how will that impact your work, when ethical considerations can (and do) challenge existing norms, authority, and the status quo? We are willing to bet that taking an ethical stance will probably be very, very well received, and applauded!! Don't forget to check join us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/487119882892299/

In these forthcoming bonus episodes, “Back of them Tunes”, David examines the lives, art, inspirations, and perspectives of the many talented musicians that contribute to The Insubordinate Teacher podcast. James Buffay (aka, JB’s Eateries, Entertainment and Hotels inc.) is David’s first guest, getting to know Florida’s most famous feel-good musician/entrepreneur/beach treasure explorer/Buddhist(ish) philosopher (NB: must include all four categories simultaneously for rankings). Join David and his passion project of exploring music, demonstrating to the world that teachers have lives outside of their classroom, when they aren’t locked away in the collective robot charging ports of public schools.

In this episode we do a Dave’s Hot Takes while pandering to our growing Californian listeners. Join in as Stonebanks takes David through a little ride on Ethics using examples from Hollywood movies, while also wishing this podcast could be about the search for Bigfoot. Christine will surprise you with her own Squatchy encounter in North Havenbrooke, New Hampshire, while Cyrus adds in a youth perspective on a conversation that requires a passing knowledge of Boomer culture. Wow! And this is only the first part of two episodes!

The gang FINALLY addresses the title of the podcast, The Insubordinate Teacher, by starting the question of what it means to be insubordinate, and why it is (or is not) needed in the teaching profession. The conversation is sparked through the hard-hitting journalism of “Stone on Loc”, where Stonebanks goes on location of a high school to talk to teachers about their perspectives of insubordination and being a teacher. Is there a Peabody news award in Stonebanks’ future? Probably. But that depends on how many times Stonebanks submits his own name, and how many times he tries to force David.