Ep. 0151: American Public Schooling & Inner-City Schools with Mike K.

In this DHP episode, CJ talks to Mike K., a DHP listener and former teacher with extensive knowledge of inner-city education based on both research and firsthand, real-world experience.

Join CJ & Mike as they discuss many topics related to education, including:

Mike’s background, including his studies in education (through the Ph. D. level) and 10 years of experience teaching in an inner-city school
The particular challenges of teaching in these sorts of schools, and how they compare to more ‘typical’ American public schools
A bird’s eye perspective of the evolution of schooling in America since the Antebellum period
De jure desegregation, followed by de facto resegregation
Comparing poor urban schools to poor rural schools, which face some of the same challenges, but also some different ones
The problems of over-diagnosing and over-prescribing psychiatric medication for children
The degree to which building real relationships with students based on mutual respect is a key to effective teaching
How real, effective teaching often requires a teacher to routinely flout rules in the current American education system, which is a dehumanizing system to both teachers & students
Teaching as a craft
The importance of teaching genuine critical thinking
Possible ways to cope with the current system, whether one is fully outside of it or not
The problems of NCLB & standardized testing, and the degree to which education is a racket
Possible things individuals can do with their own children or in their local community to try to improve things in some way
Plus CJ & Mike share some of their personal experiences and impressions of teaching