Podcasts about america's schools

Reacting to a story that hundreds of you have sent us at Freedom@CharlieKirk.com, Charlie dives in to the recent National Education Association's annual Representative Assembly meeting which took place over Independence Day Weekend. The NEA seemed to say the quiet part out load, contradicting the prominent media narrative that "Critical Race Theory isn't being taught in schools," when they voted to literally fund the creation of CRT curriculum, promote the racist materials, and "attack" any organization or group who spoke out against them. Charlie examines the implications of the meeting on schools across the country and notes how the NEA's tone sounded markedly militaristic. He also responds to so-called "conservatives" who don't believe that CRT is a threat to American schools. Finally, he lays out a roadmap to show parents how to play offense against this radical ideology and win. Support the show: http://www.charliekirk.com/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest culture war is being fought in the classroom, with several states banning Critical Race Theory. The theory is an academic pursuit examining how race intersects with history. While many may not know the fundamentals of the theory, Republican-led state legislatures now say the decades-old concept is said to be anti-American and sow division. We discuss what Critical Race Theory is and how America's complicated racial history should be taught. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Long-time radio host Dom Giordano, an educator in a past life, returns with his fourteenth installment of his podcast centered on the ever-changing landscape of education. This week, Giordano is joined by Christopher Paslay, Philadelphia teacher and author of Exploring White Fragility: Debating the Effects of Whiteness Studies on America's Schools. In Exploring White Fragility, Paslay takes an in-depth look into the concept of 'white fragility' and 'white guilt' as the two phrases have become regular topics in discussions of race. In the book, and on his new YouTube channel, Paslay examines the effects that whiteness studies have on America's schools, and investigates how the antiracist movement to dismantle “white supremacy culture” is impacting student and teacher morale and expectations, school discipline, and overall academic achievement. For more from Paslay, check out his YouTube channel HERE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can charter schools help improve America's education system? Tressa Pankovits and Curtis Valentine from the Reinventing America's Schools Project at PPI join the show to discuss charter schools and school choice. What's the value in having local autonomy and experimentation in schools? How do you guard against potential downsides to charter schools? Ultimately, how can charter schools help improve outcomes for students? Find more about the RAS Project here: https://progressivepolicy.org/category/projects/reinventing-americas-schools/ Learn more about the Neoliberal Project here: https://neoliberalproject.org/ Learn more about the Progressive Policy Institute here: https://progressivepolicy.org/

Until recently, those who wanted to inject radical ideas into America's schools did it quietly. Now, the radicals believe that they have enough power to do their dirty work openly. One sign of this attitude change is The 1619 Project, published by the New York Times. At the core of the 1619 Project is a set of ideas known as “Critical Race Theory.” The Project and the Theory are the topic of this episode of the Return to Order Moment. Read the essays: https://www.returntoorder.org/2020/12/the-racist-and-dangerous-1619-project-is-vulnerable-and-in-trouble/, https://www.tfp.org/six-reasons-why-catholics-must-oppose-critical-race-theory/?PKG=TFP210203&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Why+Catholics+Must+Oppose+Critical+Race+Theory&utm_campaign=TFP210203+-+Why+Catholics+Must+Oppose+Critical+Race+Theory&vgo_ee=RzhDWAj2ZtedKt6qm5Yg%2FTpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/01/using-anti-racism-to-oppress-americas-vulnerable-children/.

The idea of socialism in America is enough to make the stomachs of freedom-lovers churn. And so it should. But in many respects, socialism is already part and parcel of America's politics and society. So how do we rid the country of this evil? Today's guest has some ideas -- and some good news about a new survey on socialism. 

On this week's podcast interview Paul talks to Katharine Stevens, an early childhood expert with the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC.  Starting out, Paul and Katharine discuss the tragic impact of COVID 19 and the abandonment of in-person learning on children. Also, Katharine shares details on her recent report Still left behind: How America’s schools keep failing our children in which she details on a state-by-state basis how America's public schools are failing to move the needle on results.  Finally, Katharine has written about New Mexico's plans for universal pre-K and, with the results of the recent election, Paul notes that there can be no doubt that the Legislature will tap the permanent fund and institute such a program. Katharine shares why this will not solve the State's educational attainment challenges.  “Why expanding New Mexico state pre-K won’t help the children who need help the most” Joe Biden's plan for universal preschool forgets key to children's success: Parents. Parent coaching advances young children's language development: Summary and Study Children who start school early more likely to get ADHD diagnosis — even if they don’t have it (original Harvard study here)

Open America's schools!  In a special edition of the Examining Politics podcast, we discuss the momentum behind the online schooling decisions being made by major school systems across the country and the science that suggests it's actually the wrong thing to do for our children.  We speak with Phil Kerpen who possesses an encyclopedic understanding of the data, the studies, and the actual science behind covid-19 and its effects on children. We also speak Mari Burke, with a school board member from Orange County California, a body that just voted to open schools at full capacity with no social distancing.  PHIL KERPEN President of American Commitment   MARI BURKE Vice President of the Orange County Board of Education   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon's weekly round-up for Eddie Mair's programme on LBC.  Featuring a cameo appearance by Daniel Marks' pasta sauce.

Improvement work in organizations is not easy, but it’s essential for good organizations that strive to be great. Engaging in effective improvement work entails learning the basics of improvement—but also—learning from how others are doing it, as our guest in today’s episode, Tony Bryk, explains. Tony is the ninth president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and his contributions to improvement science as a whole make him one of the greatest educational professionals of all time. Listen as Tony discusses his newest book, Improvement in Action, where he offers a look at what actions six organizations have taken as they move through improvement work—with advice for leaders ready to commit to this process. This episode addresses questions, such as:Why is collaborating with other organizations an essential part of improvement work?What should we keep in mind as we commit to the process of improvement work?What should we be cautious of as we engage in improvement work? To hear the beginning of Janet's interview with Tony Bryk, listen to episode #87: Improvement to Accelerate Learning - Part 1. Learn more about Anthony S. Bryk's extensive research influencing continuous improvement in schools across America by reading his books: Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement, Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago, Learning to Improve: How America's Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better, and his newest release:Improvement in Action: Advancing Quality in America's Schools.

In organizations where employee engagement and productivity is high and turnover is low, you’ll likely find trust is the foundation. But the reality is most employees don’t trust their leaders. According to Gallup data, only one in three employees trust their organization’s leadership. Trust is essential for organizations to thrive and continuously improve. This was a key finding in the research of this episode’s special guest. His contributions to the American Education Research Association and to improvement science overall make him one of the greatest educational professionals of all time. Listen as Tony Bryk, the ninth president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, shares about the role of nurturing relationships to sustain improvement in school systems at scale. This episode addresses questions, such as:Why is trust at the heart of improvement work?How can we continue spreading improvement work in schools at scale?What is important for leaders to remember about improvement work? Learn more about Anthony S. Bryk's extensive research influencing continuous improvement in schools across America by reading his books: Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement, Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago, Learning to Improve: How America's Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better, and his newest release: Improvement in Action: Advancing Quality in America's Schools.Recommended Resources: The Neuroscience of Trust, Implementing PDSA Cycles, Building Trust with New Teams, Learning Comes from Reflection Recommended Podcast Episodes: Building an Army of Improvers, Bringing an Executive Team Together, Pursue Performance Excellence, Move Forward By Doing the Next Right Thing

LGBTQ kids in some homes have been cut off from all supportive resources due to the COVID19 sheltering. What is happening to them, and how can we help? Our guest today should give us insight.  He is Jason Cianciotto, author of "LGBT Youth in America's Schools". Jason has been advocating for the health, safety, and well-being of LGBTQ communities and people affected by HIV and AIDS for nearly two decades. His book, co-authored with Dr. Sean Cahill, received numerous accolades, including: Choice Outstanding Academic Title by the Association of College and Research Libraries; the Rainbow List of Recommended Books for Adults by the American Library Association; and it was nominated for a Stonewall Book Award by the GLBT Roundtable of the American Library Association. After adopted their openly gay, 11-year-old son in 2018, Jason and his husband have become fierce advocates for ending the disproportionate representation of LGBTQ youth in the foster system. With co-host Brody Levesque.  

Three things that should never be equated in the same sentence: George Soros. Socialism. And America's public school systems. Yet there is a relationship. Rebecca Friedrichs, an author who spent three decades as a teacher fighting the unions from inside the system, speaks of the outright Marxism that's marching into America's schools.

Student Voice has been on the road and in the air to meet students in every corner of the U.S. in their local schools and communities. Joshua and Megan share an update on who they've met, what they've learned and what's next for the tour. Student Voice is the nation’s largest by-students, for-students 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization inspired by the premise that education should work for all students. More information about the Tour Across America's Schools can be found at StuVoice.org/tour.

MS 5.19 How the Flint Water Crisis Exposed a Bigger Problem in America's Schools by The Philip DeFranco Show

 Interview Notes, Resources, & LinksGet the book, The College Dropout ScandalFollow David on Twitter @DavidKirpAbout David KirpDavid Kirp is a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, a contributing writer at The New York Times, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the National Academy of Education. He served on President Obama's 2008 education policy transition team, and previously appeared on Principal Center Radio to discuss his book Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools, was awarded the 2014 Outstanding Book Award by the American Educational Research Association.

This podcast is entitled Equity in Education. In this episode, Dr. Sonya Whitaker, host of the Podcast show entitled: What's Really Going On: A Spotlight on Solutions for Improving Student Achievement in America's Schools interviews Dr. Wahl (Superintendent in Residence for Equal Opportunity Schools). Dr. Wahl discusses his equity journey as well as the work that his organization does to support organizations in ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds obtain access to rigorous studies.

First, Cathy talks to the director of a group that serves restaurant quality food to victims, volunteers and first responders. We explore the issue of food insecurity together. Then, we discuss a proposal for ambitious reforms to our nation's schools. Finally, we talk to the people behind the student chef program in Virginia Beach's public schools. Please join us at noon on 89.5 WHRV-FM.

This week, Ryan sits down with education reformer Curtis Valentine. Curtis is the Deputy Director, Reinventing America’s Schools at the Progressive Policy Institute and is also an at-large board member for the Prince George’s County Public School District. Last month, Curtis was a panelist at the "Is School Choice the Black Choice" Atlanta town hall hosted by Roland Martin and sponsored by The 74. On this episode, Curtis recaps the panel and provides insightful perspective on the historical roots and modern outlook of school choice and charter education in the Black community. Curtis also talks about his work as his school board member and provides actionable strategies to find common ground with other education policymakers and enact effective education policy. You can watch the "Is School Choice the Black Choice" panel by clicking here: https://www.the74million.org/article/watch-live-is-school-choice-the-black-choice-atlanta-town-hall/Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

The is the introduction to the Podcast Show Entitled: What's Really Going On: A Spotlight on Solutions for Improving Student Achievement in America's Schools. The purpose of this podcast is to examine at a very deep level, those things that are occurring in America's schools which impact educators' ability to improve the academic achievement levels of all students, and more specifically, students of color (which includes students from various linguistic backgrounds) and students experiencing the impact of poverty (which includes students from all ethnic backgrounds). The second and most important purpose of this Podcast Show is to provide recommendations that can be tried, proven and then replicated in schools and districts across the entire country.

We hear so much about the problems in America's public schools that one would think that our schools are a disaster.  Although there are many problems, there are also many dedicated teachers working hard under very difficult circumstances, and with limited resources, to teach our children and help them achieve their full potential. However, one of the issues that has concerned me for many years is the failure of the majority of school districts in the United States to adapt to change and employ more effective means of engaging students and the emphasis on standardized testing rather than focusing on the needs of the students.  Much of this has been mandated by the federal government. On tonight's show, we examine some of the schools that have departed from the normal methods used in most schools and who have been very successful in helping their students to excel.  Our special guest is Mr. Doron Townsell, a Partner with Ember Charter School for Mindful Education, Innovation & Transformation in Brooklyn, NY.   We will discuss why these "model schools" have been able to achieve such great success, Common Core and standardized testing, the inequities in resources between schools in more affluent areas in contrast with rural and urban schools, assisting students with learning disabilities, dealing with difficult students, and much more.

A new direction on tech, courtesy of India; Silicon Valley should prepare for a new power dynamic; Beyond the Beltway: the state of the real America; Journalists James and Deborah Fallows have been traversing America & visiting small cities & towns in their single-engine plane for years; Fallows: if a town or city has a craft brewing industry, it gets half point on our scale of "signs of civic success"!; Brill: this job training program takes people who average $18k/year and 11 months later they graduate into jobs that pay $85k/year/ Brill: the U.S. is learning the lesson that you need leaders who are qualified, prepared and have answers/ Brill: If enough water mains break ad enough bridges collapse at the same time, America will understand the need to spend $$$; Deborah Fallows: When we went into towns across the country, we never asked about national politics & nobody brought it up; What America can learn from other countries about education; Schleicher: Chinese parents spend on education. American, European parents spend on consumption; At the OECD, Andreas Schleicher oversees the PISA exams which test students in 72 countries to evacuate educational systems; Schleicher: in the world's best educational systems, neither wealth or background matter to performance; Schleicher: The least wealthy 10% of students in Shanghai do as well on the PISA math test as America's wealthiest 10%; Ten steps to better democracy; In search of lost time, why medieval peasants understood time better than we do; Rovelli: Trains were the main reason for the standardization of time; The mystery of time, Rovelli: there's no more time up there than down here; Rovelli: time is tied to everything that makes us suffer; Physicist Carlo Rovelli on how time shapes our identities

The struggle to desegregate America’s schools was a grassroots movement, and young women were its vanguard. In the late 1940s, parents began to file desegregation lawsuits with their daughters, forcing Thurgood Marshall and other civil rights lawyers to take up the issue and bring it to the Supreme Court. After the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, girls far outnumbered boys in volunteering to desegregate formerly all-white schools.In A Girl Stands at the Door, historian Rachel Devlin tells the remarkable stories of these desegregation pioneers. She also explains why black girls were seen, and saw themselves, as responsible for the difficult work of reaching across the color line in public schools. Highlighting the extraordinary bravery of young black women, this bold revisionist account illuminates today’s ongoing struggles for equality.Rachel Devlin is an associate professor of history at Rutgers University. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by a bequest from The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund. 

This week we look at a story that calls into question just how successful the Civil Rights Movement really was. It’s the iconic story of the Little Rock Nine, the courageous African American students who began the process of desegregating Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They faced a hostile state governor, Orville Faubus, who called out the state’s National Guard to prevent the federally-mandated desegregation order. Then, after the Eisenhower administration sent in troops from the 101st Airborne to take control of the situation and enforce the order, the students were confronted by raging mobs calling out racial slurs and threatening violence. And all of this was captured on camera. We’ve all seen the images. But there’s a lot more to the story of Little Rock in 1957 and that’s our focus today. This topic is important because racial segregation in the nation’s public schools is still a huge problem – and it’s getting worse. And the problem isn’t just segregation, because data shows that segregated schools offer fewer college prep courses, and fewer courses and programs in the arts, compared to white majority schools. Segregated schools also have lower graduation rates and higher rates of suspensions and expulsions for discipline problems. In other words, students in these schools in 2017 are being offered an education that is, separate and unequal. How is this possible? How did we get here? Well, part of the reason is that many Americans – remembering uplifting moments like the Little Rock Nine desegregating Central High School 60 years ago this month – believe the problem of segregation in public schools was solved decades ago. It’s in the past. It turns out, that happy memory of a Civil Rights victory in 1957 is actually one of the things that stands in the way of our confronting and resolving the scourge of segregation. To help us understand the long and complicated history of Little Rock and desegregation efforts, I speak with historian Erin Krutko Devlin, author of the new book, Remember Little Rock (Univ. of Massachusetts Press, 2017). Among the many things discussed in this episode:  How the Little Rock crisis of 1957 is part of a problematic triumphant narrative of racial progress. Why celebrating iconic civil rights victories can bolster a misperception that racism is a thing of the past. Why 60 years after Little Rock, many public schools in the US remain segregated and unequal. How opponents of integration in Little Rock and elsewhere turned from Massive Resistance to Passive Resistance to stymie desegregation efforts. How public officials in Little Rock, Arkansas successfully conspired to thwart meaningful school integration after 1957. How conservative judges after 1980 began to roll back desegregation programs imposed by lower courts. What Little Rock in 1957 can tell us about Charlottesville in 2017. Little Rock and the emergence of Civil Rights tourism. How Little Rock and the National Park Service site and museum commemorate the #PublicHistory of the Civil Rights movement. About Erin Krutko Devlin – website Further Reading Erin Krutko Devlin, Remember Little Rock (University of Massachusetts Press, 2017) Karen Anderson, Little Rock: Race and Resistance at Central High School (2010) Derrick Bell, Silent Covenants: Brown v. Board of Education and the Unfulfilled Hopes for Racial Reform (2004) Elizabeth Huckaby, Crisis at Central High, Little Rock, 1957-58 (1980) Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools (2012) Jonathan Kozol, The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America (2005). Carlotta Walls Lanier, A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School (2010). Greg Toppo, “GAO study: Segregation worsening in U.S. schools,” USA Today, May 17, 2016 Music for This Episode Jay Graham, ITPL Intro (JayGMusic.com) Kevin McCleod, “Impact Moderato” (Free Music Archive) Jason Shaw, “Acoustic Meditation” Hefferman, “Winter’s Trek” (Free Music Archive) The Bell, “I Am History” (Free Music Archive) Production Credits Executive Producer: Lulu Spencer Technical Advisors: Holly Hunt and Jesse Anderson Podcasting Consultant: Darrell Darnell of Pro Podcast Solutions Photographer: John Buckingham Graphic Designer: Maggie Cellucci Website by: ERI Design Legal services: Tippecanoe and Tyler Too Social Media management: The Pony Express Risk Assessment: Little Big Horn Associates Growth strategies: 54 40 or Fight © Snoring Beagle International, 2017  

With all of this talk about kids and play, it's about time we hear from an educator here on the PlayGrounding Podcast. Doug Smith has been a physical education teacher for nineteen years. In this episode, we discuss the state of physical education in schools today such as the focus on testing and how many states are losing PE classes altogether. But don't worry, we talk about the fun stuff too, such as the importance of playgrounds that fire kids' imaginations. He helped to build a beautiful one inspired by a book by Richard Louv called Last Child in the Woods. Doug's story is also inspiring for us adults. His love for play led him to participate in a self-imposed challenge to play 30 sports in 90 days in 2011 and wrote a blog about his play adventures to share with his students. Doug is a National Board Certified Physical Education Teacher in Charlotte, NC.  He has been teaching elementary PE for 19 years.  He has a passion for guiding his students towards a healthier lifestyle and helping them to be physically fit.  His knowledge of whole school wellness has led him to the creation of many innovative ideas, programs, and play areas for his school, including the one of a kind North Carolina Creative Playground.  He believes in and encourages his school as a whole to embrace PLAY and FITNESS as a positive lifestyle. Show Links: Visit Doug's Blog Read Last Child In The Woods by Richard Louv Watch Tim Brown's TED Talk on Creativity and Play Check out his Teacher Talk:

Randi Weingarten is the guest on this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show. She is the president of the American Federation of Teachers and one of the country's leading advocates (and defenders) for public education and a true "we the people" democracy.  During this episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show, Randi and Chauncey discuss the war on America's public schools and teachers being waged by Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos, how "privatization" and other neoliberal "reforms are actually hurting American society, race and class and the Commons, gangster capitalism, and the ways that the battle for health care and public education intersect. This week's podcast also features a special segment honoring the life and work of the American auteur and master filmmaker George Romero who passed away several weeks ago.  Author Joe Lansdale stops by to offer his thoughts on Romero's legacy and the politics and impact of Night of the Living Dead. "Champion" Joe also tells a great story--as only he can--about seeing Night of the Living Dead at a drive-in theater during its initial release in 1968. Writer and podcaster Alasdair Stuart also sits down at the virtual bar and salon to offer his insights about George Romero's impact on the United Kingdom in addition to sharing some thoughts on the present state of zombie horror cinema.  In this week's episode, Chauncey DeVega reflects on how in Donald Trump's America history may not be repeating itself but it sure does rhyme. To that end, Chauncey shares a newspaper column from The New York Times that was written in 1922. The author's conclusion? Hitler did not really hate the Jews and was just pandering to get support from an ignorant public. 

Website – http://www.fhu.com Complimentary – http://antidoteforall.com Order a Copy - http://fhu2.org/K170330.html Cure Stress - http://curestressdevice.com/device Host: Roy Masters Roy discussed the danger of being emotional. Calls: Jackie says, "My 12 year old granddaughter wants to be called a boy".Lorraine asks, "How do I deal with my virulent Cancer?"

Dale Rusakoff joins Justin Baeder to discuss her book, The Prize: Who's In Charge of America's Schools?.Interview Notes, Resources, & Links Purchase Dale's book, The Prize: Who's In Charge of America's Schools?.Try Audible for free and listen to The Prize an audiobookRead a review of The Prize in The AtlanticFollow @DaleRussakoff on TwitterVisit DaleRussakoff.comAbout Dale RusakoffDale Russakoff spent 28 years as a reporter for the Washington Post, covering politics, education, social policy, and more, and has written about education reform for The New Yorker.

When Mark Zuckerberg announced his $100 million pledge to transform the Newark Schools -- and to solve the education crisis in every city in America -- it looked like a huge win for then-mayor Cory Booker and governor Chris Christie. But their plans soon ran into a constituency not so easily moved: Newark's key education players, fiercely protective of their billion-dollar-per-annum system. It's a prize that, for generations, has enriched seemingly everyone, except Newark's students.Journalist Dale Russakoff delivers a story of high ideals and hubris, good intentions and greed, celebrity and street smarts, as reformers face off against entrenched unions, skeptical parents and bewildered students. The growth of charters forces the hand of Newark's school superintendent Cami Anderson who closes, consolidates, or redesigns more than a third of the city's schools.The Prize is a portrait of a titanic struggle over the future of education for the poorest kids, and a cautionary tale for those who care about the shape of America's schools.Dale Russakoff spent 28 years as a reporter for the Washington Post, covering politics, education, social policy and other topics.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by a generous grant from PNC Bank.

David Kirp joins Justin Baeder to discuss his book, Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools.Interview Notes, Resources, & Links Purchase David's book, Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of A Great American School System and A Strategy for America's Schools About David KirpDr. Kirp is professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkley and the author of Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools, which recently received the American Educational Research Association's award for outstanding book of the year.Professor Kirp also served on the Obama Administration's Transition Team, working on education policy.

originally aired 7-24-2011 What's good enough for a child you love? What's good enough parenting? Good enough early education? Good enough healthcare? Good enough schools? DAVID KIRP, envisions a national effort to support and develop our children based on a simple "Golden Rule:" Every child deserves what's good enough for a child you love. David Kirp, Kids First In KIDS FIRST, he offers on-the-ground accounts of initiatives that work - and that could affordably be implemented in communities everywhere - to achieve five key priorities: 1) strong support for new parents 2) high-quality early education 3) linking schools and communities to improve what both offer children 4) giving all kids access to a caring and stable adult mentor 5) providing kids a nest egg to help pay for college or kick-start a career.Where do you think the most important changes need to take place to turn things around in terms of big issues like the economy, the environment, and social justice? His latest book, Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools, was named outstanding book of 2013 by the American Education Research Association. The book chronicles how an urban school district has brought poor Latino immigrant children, many of them undocumented, into the education mainstream.

If anyone has grasp for the great social problems that face America, it's David Kirp. He has dedicated his career to tackling developmental roadblocks such as HIV/AIDS, gender discrimination, and healthcare access. In his new book, "Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools," Kirp chronicles how one poor urban school district continues to defy expectations by graduating students to college at an almost unprecedented rate. He joins HearSay host Cathy Lewis in advance of his October 23rd Darden Lecture in Education at Old Dominion University for a look at the future of America's ailing public school system.

The Constitution gives the federal government no authority to govern education, and numerous laws prohibit Washington from influencing school curricula. How has the federal government gotten around these barriers? Primarily by attaching demands to federal money, which is exactly what it did to get states to adopt the supposedly “state-led" and "voluntary" Common Core curriculum standards. This unprecedented drive to national uniformity is dangerous for many reasons, not the least of which is that it puts Washington in control of what almost all schools teach. But just as the federal government has been the most powerful entity behind forced standardization, it is also the key to halting it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One message is delivered relentlessly in American education: Everyone should go to college. And then there's Charles Murray's message: Few people either need, or are able to handle, the rigorous liberal-arts training that college is supposed to provide. But this isn't a death sentence for those who are not academically inclined. Opportunities to enter well-paying professions and lead good lives abound for these people, and the sooner that's recognized, the sooner everyone can get the education they need. Christopher B. Nelson, whose 'great books' college provides the sort of liberal arts education Murray believes is beyond most people's reach, will respond. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.