Teach FM

In this episode, Tom examines what the recent college admissions scandal reveals about equity and education more broadly in the United States. From Opt-Out to school choice, the education system is one where parents with means are expected from day one to do whatever it takes to ensure a quality education for their child. And that’s a problem. 

In this episode, Tom offers his take on the challenge of high-stakes testing. At its core, Tom suggests that high-stakes testing in its current form brings to light a core tension in American public education, two competing values: exceptionalism and equity. Unless that tension gets addressed, the result will be a lot of continued heartache.  

In this episode, Tom offers a brief overview of how No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top dramatically altered the direction of public education reform in the United States. They are not as different as you think. 

In this episode, Tom looks at how U.S. presidents have talked about education. From the 18th century to today, Tom breaks down the main kinds of stances presidents take and offers his insights on why education is so often paired with economic success. Presidents Kennedy and Reagan offer perfect cases in point.

Join Tom on a rainy walk to the subway as he shares his damp advice with an undergraduate student who is becoming a teacher. Wanting to teach in the neighborhood she grew up in, she asked Tom what advice he has for new teachers and, particularly, what books he might recommend she reads. Well, here you go. 

Books Tom Recommended

Join Tom as he walks from the subway to a school in the Bronx where he's working with teachers on their assessments.  No music intro, no studio. Just raw audio and insight. He talks about the difference between assessment and testing, and why if you hate grading stacks of assignments you probably have to revamp your planing process. 

Check out these resources that complement the Interlude: 

In this episode, Tom explores what it really means for schools to be “stuck in the 19th century,” as conventional wisdom often suggests. The problem is not necessarily that desks are in rows. And the solution is not necessarily to use new technologies.  

In this episode, Tom shares what he calls the single most important fact about public education that most people don’t know and if they did, it would change the way they approach educational problems and solutions. 

In this episode, Tom breaks down a clip from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in which Harry gives lip to one of his teachers: Dolores Umbridge. It says a great deal about the role of standards, curriculum, testing, and the challenges of real-world learning.

In this episode, Tom puts the brakes on teachers’ desires to impact the life of that “one student” and suggests a strangely sensible 12% rule for statewide accountability schemas. 

On January 17th 2019, stated education officials changed the way the evaluate public schools. It isn't what they are saying that has people talking. It's what they aren't saying. Listen to Tom break down what appears to be going on, give a little context, and then offer free advice to state officials on how to move forward. 

Want more? Check these out: