16:1 - Education, Teaching, & Learning

Education News Headline Roundup

• Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has leveled criticism at the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision just days after the 70th anniversary of the ruling. In his concurring opinion on a decision allowing South Carolina to keep using a congressional map that critics say discriminated against Black voters, Thomas this month argued that the Brown decision took a "boundless view of equitable remedies" and involved "extravagant uses of judicial power" to end racial segregation in schools.
• The Delaware College of Art and Design (DCAD) announced its closure, attributing the decision partly to financial difficulties exacerbated by ongoing issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of Education has pledged a comprehensive review of its financial aid office and the FAFSA process in response to widespread problems impacting students and institutions nationwide.
• A follow-up to a headline we first shared in February of this year: Harvard University’s “Institutional Voice” working group has concluded its work and recommended that Harvard leaders not “issue official statements about public matters that do not directly affect the university’s core function.”

Taking Chances, Making Mistakes, & Getting Messy

This week, 16:1 explores the origins of “The Magic School Bus,” the beloved children’s television series designed to engage young learners with scientific topics and other curious learning adventures. The franchise, which started as a children's book series written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen in 1986, emerged from Scholastic Co.’s vision of blending science with fiction. The franchise sold 93 million book copies worldwide, captivating young minds and paving the way for its evolution into a popular TV show.

From 1994 to 1997, "The Magic School Bus" brought science to life on PBS, with Ms. Frizzle, voiced by Lily Tomlin, leading her fourth-grade class on magical field trips. Each adventure, from exploring the solar system to journeying inside the human body, made complex scientific concepts accessible and fun for young learners. Today, the series continues to inspire through its presence on Netflix and has recently gotten a reboot, "The Magic School Bus Rides Again."

We discuss the show's pedagogical approach, its effective use of repetition to reinforce concepts, and its clever handling of creative liberties with science. We also share behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the animation and voice acting process, revealing the dedication to making the show both scientifically accurate and entertaining. Tune in to hear our personal reflections on favorite episodes and how "The Magic School Bus" has shaped our understanding of science.

Sources & Resources:

Clarence Thomas attacks Brown v. Board ruling amid 70th anniversary

22-807 Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (05/23/2024)

Misrepresenting Justice Thomas on Brown | National Review

The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane

MLB Negro League stats leaderboard changes record book

Remembering 'Magic School Bus' Creator Joanna Cole : NPR

Ms. Frizzle creator leaves behind a legacy of learning | Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

This School Year, Unleash Your Inner Ms. Frizzle - The New York T...

The national teacher shortage is a serious problem. With the compounding effects of pandemic burnout, chronic underpayment, poor working conditions, violence in schools, and political activism causing teachers to leave the profession (or never enter in the first place), schools in all 50 states are scrambling to fill vacancies ahead of the 2022-2023 school year. STEM fields are experiencing the most intense shortages, with many districts offering stipends, moving cost vouchers, and fast-tracked certification pathways to attract new teaching talent. With many short-term fixes but little traction on future-thinking solutions to school funding models, school leaders and politicians are growing increasingly frustrated, as the U.S. continues to fall behind its peer nations in many education-related metrics.

The Hill - Here’s what’s driving the nationwide teacher shortage By Adam Barnes | April 21, 2022

ABC 15 - Republicans think they have an answer to help with Arizona's teacher shortage By: Mark Phillips

Universities.com - Top 10 States with the Highest Teacher Shortages 2022 by Sarah Harris

American School and University - Arizona no longer requires a college degree to begin teaching by Brooke Just

NBC 4 - Beating burnout: Ohio lawmaker’s plan to pull teachers from brink of resignation by: Maeve Walsh

Boston Herald - Teacher shortage: One-third of teachers say they’re likely to quit this year by Marie Szaniszlo

Economic Policy Institute - Teachers are paid almost 20% less than similar workers

Arizona Education Association

OECD Data - Teachers' salaries

OECD Data - Adult education level

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America By Richard Rothstein

Broken Horses: A Memoir By Brandi Carlile

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Volleyball! Softball! Baseball! Basketball! All of the balls! Join Katie and Chelsea as they discuss the history of modern sports programs in public schools in America. From the late 1800s on, high school rivalries and intercollegiate competitions have motivated students to get and stay fit, but they've also applied an increasing amount of pressure on student athletes. Funding sports programs is another big concern, particularly when athletics often compete with academic programs for limited dollars. Hear Katie's perspective as a former coach and Chelsea's view as a less-than-stellar athlete in this episode of 16:1. Thanks, listeners!

Show Notes:

OHSAA Eligibility

Home Work by Julie Andrews - Book Loft Link

Wikipedia - Student Athlete

iSport 360 - A History of Youth Sports in the US by Axios

The University of Kansas - Study Shows High School Athletes Perform Better In School, Persist To Graduation More Than Non-Athletes by Mike Krings

The Atlantic -The Case Against High-School Sports By Amanda Ripley

The Today Show - Former Ohio St. football player delivers powerful message to anyone struggling with depression

99% Invisible - Episode 483 Grid Locked

KUT & KUTX Studios — The Disconnect: Power, Politics And The Texas Blackout by Mose Buchele

Bullying has always been around, but social media has created new ways for students to bully and to be bullied. Join Katie and Chelsea as they take a look at how social media continues to evolve the way that parents, administrators, and peers engage with bullying in schools. In the attention economy, digital literacy and good digital citizenship aren't just good ideas-- they are important tools for managing mental health.

Sources:

Stop Bullying

Ohio Department of Education - Anti-Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Policy Guidance for Student Action

PBIS

EdSource - Is crackdown on social media for kids too late? by Carolyn Jones

Protecting Youth Mental Health - The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory

Washington Post - Facebook paid GOP firm to malign TikTok By Taylor Lorenz and Drew Harwell

Esquire - The Life and Death of r/Place, Home to the Internet's Greatest Art War By Cameron Sherrill

Entrepreneur - Ken Burns: 'Mark Zuckerberg Should Be in Jail' By Dan Bova

Eleventy

This week, Katie and Chelsea explore a story that is close to home. Teachers in Columbus City Schools recently kicked off their academic year with a general strike after the Columbus Education Association (the teachers union in the central Ohio district) announced there had been no bargaining agreement reached for the 2022-2023 school year. Columbus isn't the only city where teachers are picketing for wage increases, better working conditions, smaller class sizes, and more; teachers around the world are warning their districts of impending strike actions. Join us for this special episode as we explore teacher strikes, the deteriorating conditions that lead to them, and the roles that we all play in supporting our public school teachers.

Sources:

NBC4 Columbus - Ohio senator plans bill as teachers strike without benefits by: Natalie Fahmy

CNN - The Columbus teachers' union and school board reached a 'conceptual agreement,' ending a strike By Eric Bradner and Chris Boyette, CNN

CEA Ohio - CEA blasts District’s decision to strip homeless youth advocates of union status

CEA Ohio - An open letter to the Columbus City Schools Board and Superintendent from Project Connect’s Vulnerable Youth Staff

The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus Education Association teachers union votes to strike by Megan Henry

CEA Ohio - CEA Votes to Authorize 10-day Strike Notice

10tv - Columbus teachers’ strike enters day 2, remote classes begin Wednesday

The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus City Schools clarifies attendance procedures after day of confusion by Monroe Trombly, Michael Lee, Sheridan Hendrix, Céilí Doyle and Megan Henry

CNN - Ohio teachers say they won't end their strike without improvements to miserable classroom environment By Eric Bradner, CNN

U.S. News - Kent Teachers on Strike, Delaying First Day of School by Associated Press

Echo -Pilot - Greencastle-Antrim teacher strike is an option amid contract talks by Shawn Hardy

Inside Higher ED - School Starts With a Strike at American University by Liam Knox

CBC - CUPE sets Ontario education strike votes for end of September, says it doesn't guarantee walkout by Allison Jones

Central Illinois Proud - PPS Board of Education president calls teacher union’s talk of strike, ‘premature, irresponsible’ by: Mike Smith, Demetrios Sanders

Education International - Teacher strike in Norway!

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Philly school bus drivers, maintenance workers vote to authorize a strike by Kristen A. Graham

CNN - Why NASA wants to return to the moon before sending humans to Mars by Ashley Strickland, CNN

CNN - Artemis I launch scrubbed after engine issue by Aditi Sangal, Ashley Strickland, Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Jacques Ze Whipper