Dr. Jon Grinspan is the curator of political history at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. We talked about youth political engagement throughout history.  What issues did young people a hundred years ago care about? Why did young voters used to be more active than they are today? Listen to find out. 

Today's show is about the people who make education happen: teachers.  We talk about the traits that make the best teachers, and what teachers are going through in the age of COVID. Through all the challenges, what makes teachers stay in the field?

Today's Guests:

Dr. Jeff Spanke, Education Professor, Ball State University

Sarah Bredar, public school teacher in Arizona

Featured Guests From Previous Episodes:

Joel King, Director of Teaching and Learning, Great Oaks Career Campuses

Brittany Garcia-Espinoza; 3rd Grade Teacher; Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Dr. Theodoros Zervas, Professor of Education, North Park University

Dr. Jean Ruffin; Professor of Leadership, Research and School Improvement; University of West Georgia

Dr. Bradley Poos, Associate Director, Institute for Urban Education, University of Missouri Kansas City

On today's episode, we explore some of the options students have after high school. Authority figures tell us we need to have a college degree if we want to succeed in life, but that's not the path for everyone, and that's okay. We're talking about technical schools and the military. 

Today's Guests:

Joel King, Director of Teaching and Learning, Great Oaks Career Campuses

Joan Sweeny, Army Veteran and Program Assistant at Cuyahoga Community College

Today, we discuss how school curriculum could improve in America. We deconstruct the ways our history books emphasize whiteness, and talk about some of the more accurate and equitable narratives our classrooms should implement. In the second half of the show, we discuss what a more complete sex education would consist of. Finally, we take a look into an LGBTQ-inclusive classroom, and learn the ways all classrooms could be more welcoming and affirming. 

Today's guests:

Vance Blackfox, Director of Public Relations, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition

Dr. LaGarrett King; Professor of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum; University of Missouri

Brittany McBride, Associate Director of Sexuality Education, Advocates for Youth

Ace Schwarz, middle school science teacher and creator of Teaching Outside The Binary