The Old School

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller welcome back now three-time guest - Dr. Rick Westfall. In their discussion, the hosts and guest get into the dynamics of building school culture, including relationships with students, teachers and parents. The goal of striking a balance between a school's administration and the three "stockholders" is an intricately complicated process and Dr. Westfall brings his expertise on the matter to bear during this conversation.

If the mood to expand your mind has gripped you after the great conversation with Dr. Currier and exploring continuing education opportunities for teachers, check out the hosts' tome over the American education system called, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education.

Sponsored by Ahart Solutions.

In this episode, Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller welcome Dr. Carrie Currier from TCU to discuss China's geopolitical position - with their neighbors and with the west. In the process, the hosts and guest discuss what lies in store for China in the coming years, from growing tensions surrounding North Korea and Taiwan as well as their attempts to influence developing countries. The three also serve up a little tennis talk.

Dr. Currier is the director of the North Texas National Consortium for Teaching About Asia - for teachers, a free class offered each school year on all topics related to East Asia, covering all aspects of life, from history and language to pop culture and philosophy. More information can be found at www.nctasia.org.

If the mood to expand your mind has gripped you after the great conversation with Dr. Currier and exploring continuing education opportunities for teachers, check out the hosts' tome over the American education system called, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education.

Sponsored by Ahart Solutions.

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller, in what may be the start of a on-going series of state profiles, take a look at the 34th state to join the Union - Kansas. In particular, the hosts delve into its history - such as its history related to the Civil War and Civil Rights as well as the Wild West; its culture, including its food; the capital of Topeka and the government's efforts to change the reputation of the state; in short, everything that makes the Sunflower State worthy of consideration. 

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller welcome Ksenia Filatov, a doctoral candidate at Boston College, to discuss her background that has led to her research on teacher agency and how college teacher training can both help or hinder new teachers entering the classroom. As with many of their guests, there is also the idea that more episodes with Ms. Filatov could be in the future.

United World College Robert Bosch College in Freiburg, Germany is the mission-driven international school that Ksenia worked at between 2016 and 2020. In any academic year, about 200 students aged 16–19 from all over the world study and board there. Each cohort has students from over 90 different nations / states. Here is the founding, and now retiring, rector of the college, Laurence Nodder speaking about the ethos of the school. 

You can read more of Ksenia's thoughts about education and the teaching profession on her blog, On Teachers and Teaching. 

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller, using and summarizing Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation, discuss the role technology plays in making many, especially the younger generations, more anxious than past ones and how they have seen the same in their students over the years.

To discover the trends that have been seen in education that might have been partially responsible for the topic of the day, check out The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education, published by Ahart Education and offered exclusively through Amazon.

The hosts are joined by the Reverends Jason and Estee Valendy as the four discuss the state of the Christian church and the challenges it faces. 

Want to be cool like Jason and Estee Valendy? Want the enjoyment of a good book that will change your life? Then check out our tome on the American education system, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education, published by Ahart Education and available exclusively through Amazon.

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller delve into a topic near and dear to their hearts - the state they call home. Through a series of five questions (six if you push it), the two hosts explore the qualities of the state and the degree to which people outside of Texas understand the 28th state.

After enjoying the educational and cultural exploration of Texas, consider the musings of the hosts regarding a subject near and dear to their hearts - the American education system with their 5-star rated book, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education. Available by Ahart Education and exclusively sold at Amazon.com. 

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller discuss the latter's efforts to buy a house and the issues and complications that often go into such a purchase.

After enjoying the wit and witticisms of the two hosts on a lighter subject, consider their musings on a much weightier one - the American education system with their 5-star rated book, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education. Available by Ahart Education and exclusively sold at Amazon.com. 

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller welcome back the esteemed Dr. Rick Westfall to discuss how state and federal governments help or don't in the local government's pursuit of a good education. The trio also discuss if there should be changes in how the three levels of government impact or influence the education process.

If you would enjoy a more detailed look at some of the issues mentioned in this episode and much more, check out our book, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education. Available through Ahart Education and for sale exclusively through Amazon.

Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller step away from their typical Algonquinian conversation to look at and discuss profanity. Not only the changes that has taken place on how and where it is used but its utility as well. The two hosts place profanity within the general context of things that are changing the culture, particularly in comparison to what life and societal standards were like when the hosts were young.

To go back to the educational, check out our great tome, The Center Cannot Hold: A Critical Look at Contemporary Education through Ahart Education and exclusively available with Amazon.