By: Kyle Palmer and Matt Hodapp
Teachers this week clockwise around the table: Princeston Grayson (middle school Gifted and Talented), Maddie Burkemper (4th grade), Rebeka McIntosh (K-5 alternative)
It’s our inaugural edition. No, really. Our first episode is all about the inauguration of Donald Trump and its aftermath. Our teachers had a spirited discussion about their new reality. And you might be surprised at what they say.
For instance, the “Trump Effect” in schools, according to Princeston, isn’t always negative (though it definitely can feel negative to some.) He says since Trump’s election there’s been “an increase in conversation and awareness among colleagues” at his inner-city school. Likewise, Maddie says she comes to school every day with “more urgency” than before. “I got to school feeling this is huge.” (Note: huge, not yooooge.)
Meanwhile, the prospect of billionaire philanthropist Betsy DeVos becoming Education Secretary was received with unanimous skepticism. Grizzly bears aside, says Rebeka, the “fundamental ignorance” she displayed about federal education laws like ESSA and IDEA are “disturbing.”
Finally, with Obama exiting stage left, our teachers considered his complicated legacy for schools. On one hand, Princeston points out, he was a “model of black excellence” who was neither an athlete nor entertainer. On the other hand, our teachers admit, his Race To The Top initiative created “No Child Left Behind 2.0.”
In our “Kids These Days” segment, we learned from Princeston that Soulja Boy is in some kind of beef with Chris Brown. (Mind: NSFW.) From Maddie, we learned that poop emojis are on everything now. And from Rebeka, we learned that YouTube channels are all the rage for kids.
If you care about education and want to hear what teachers think about the big news stories of the day, subscribe and review our podcast at iTunes. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Send us comments and questions at our email: nowronganswerspod@gmail.com.
Music used in this episode is Inspiring Corporate and Scottish Indie by Scott Holmes, Filing Away and Outside the Terminal by Blue Dot Sessions; all have been edited.