In our first episode of 2025, we’re talking with special guest Jeremy C. Young, the director of state and higher education policy at PEN America, a nonprofit organization that unites writers and their allies to defend the freedom of expression nationwide. He oversees PEN America’s state policy and advocacy work across all US free expression programs and directs the Freedom to Learn program fighting government censorship of colleges and universities. His commentary on issues of academic freedom, higher education, and American democracy appears frequently in media outlets, and he speaks regularly on these topics before national and international audiences. A historian by training, Young is the author of The Age of Charisma: Leaders, Followers, and Emotions in American Society, 1870-1940 (Cambridge University Press, 2017). He holds a BA in history and music from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an MA and Ph.D. in U.S. history from Indiana University.

We spoke with Jeremy about censorship and academic freedom, educational gag orders, the primacy of local communities in political communication, the role of charisma in political persuasion, and more. Thanks for listening, and please rate, review, and subscribe to help us grow!

Sources & Resources:

PEN America

Jeremy C. Young - PEN America

Kanawha County Textbook War - Wikipedia

Keyishian v. Board of Regents | 385 U.S. 589 (1967) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center

Karen M. Dunak - NYU Press

In our final episode of 2024, the 16:1 hosts share reflections and takeaways from the 2024 NCTE National Conference held in Boston, Massachusetts. The event was inspiring and energizing, featuring notable figures such as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, comedienne Kate McKinnon, social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson, and beloved authors such as Jo Knowles. Though exhausting, the conference left us re-energized and brimming with ideas! Join us as we cover:

• Nationwide initiatives to protect intellectual and academic freedom, combat book bans and censorship, and prioritize student mental health.
• Classroom-focused discussions on the ethical and practical applications of artificial intelligence in education.
• Innovative uses of games, podcasts, and other “new” media to create compelling and accessible learning experiences.
• Solutions journalism as a tool to de-escalate political discourse and empower student journalists.

Thank you for listening to 16:1. Your ratings and reviews help us reach teachers and learners around the world, so please consider leaving a note for us in your favorite podcasting app. If there’s a story from your educational community that you would like us to cover in 2025, please write to hello@sixteentoone.com to get in touch with our editorial team. See you in the new year!

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science | Anderson's Bookshop Naperville

Bryan Stevenson | Equal Justice Initiative

The Supreme Court: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Great Molasses Flood - Wikipedia

How to Fight Book Bans: Proactive Tips for Educators - PEN America

K. A. Keener Headquarters (NCTE Presenter on Narrative & Gaming)

News Literacy Project

Solutions Journalism Network

USS Constitution Museum

What Could a Trump 2.0 Administration Mean for Teachers and Students Across the Country?

This week we’re taking a hard look at the potential implications of a second term for former President Donald Trump on education in the United States. From funding overhauls to student safety, we explore how changes at the federal level could impact teachers, students, and educational institutions nationwide. We discuss new proposals for universal school choice programs, changes to student loan repayment programs, potential rollbacks of consumer protections and regulations for for-profit colleges and universities, and likely changes to Title IX.

We are also updating listeners on the substantial cost of cultural and ideological conflicts in education; recent reporting from the Guardian estimates that U.S. taxpayers are bearing billions in costs due to schools combating misinformation and addressing attacks from various activist groups. Potential appointments for the Secretary of Education—figures who support book bans and restrictive educational policies—could further challenge freedom of expression and access to diverse educational materials.

Significant changes to the Department of Education are complex and require legislative action. While a president cannot unilaterally eliminate a federal department, there is room for executive actions that can alter how the department operates. We discuss the mechanisms through which federal education policies can change and what that means for schools across the country.

Voices in Teaching: A Conversation with Educator Megan Helberg

This week we are very excited to kick off a new 16:1 series called Voices in Teaching, where we will interview educators who have been recognized for innovation and excellence in their craft. Our first featured educator is Megan Helberg, who hails from rural Loup County, Nebraska, where she taught 8th-12th grade English for 15 years. In 2020, Helberg received the prestigious honor of being named the Nebraska Teacher of the Year.

Helberg is passionate about Holocaust and genocide education, having received a Fund for Teachers grant to visit Holocaust-related sites throughout Europe and to purchase Holocaust literature resources for her school. Megan was named a Museum Teacher Fellow for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in 2016 and now assists the USHMM as a mentor for incoming teacher fellows. Helberg was selected as a Lowell Milken Center Fellow in 2021, to The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) summer seminar in 2022, and recently was selected to study at the highly-acclaimed institution, Yad Vashem. She is also the 2024 Anne Frank Educator of the Year.

Megan recently accepted a job with the Anne Frank Center (the Anne Frank House's official partner in the USA), where she now travels the world to share resources, educational opportunities, and peer-to-peer trainings centered on the Frank family, the Holocaust, and the lessons of history that are still highly relevant to today’s learners.

In this episode, we explore Megan's journey as an educator in the classroom and beyond, including the story of a heartwarming surprise meeting with Dr. Jill Biden at the White House. We also explore the challenges and rewards of teaching in a small, rural community and how teachers might foster a sense of belonging, community, and shared values among students. Megan’s innovative approaches to education, including the founding of a travel club that has taken students and community members around the world, exemplifies her belief in the power of experiences to broaden horizons and strengthen communal bonds.

Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights the profound difference one dedicated teacher can make.

Election season is upon the U.S., and with it comes a tidal wave of information—some enlightening, some misleading. In our latest episode, we explore the impact of misinformation and disinformation on schools and communities of learning.

As educators, part of our mission is to help our students become informed citizens. But what happens when the channels upon which we rely are flooded with false or misleading information, fantastical conspiracy theories, and threats to health and safety? How do we equip our students—and ourselves—to discern fact from fiction when misinformation spreads like wildfire?

Discover how false information is creating challenges in classrooms and administrative offices nationwide, explore essential questions everyone should consider when consuming media (and tools you can bring into your classroom), and learn about strategies and resources including Media Literacy Week and initiatives by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) and National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA).

Donate to Hurricane Helene Relief | American Red Cross

Here's how to help victims of Hurricane Helene

The Northern Lights - Discovering the Arctic.

What is Media Literacy Week?

Teaching Media Literacy in High School | Edutopia

NSPRA - From Distortion to Clarity Report

Media Literacy Now Policy Report 2024

Crash Course Media Literacy

Teenagers and Misinformation: Some Starting Points for Teaching Media Literacy - The New York Times

POSSE - IndieWeb