Zuckerberg and Musk are battling over rival social media platforms right now, and let me say right away that I’m not much of a fan of either. While Musk seemed content to sell us Teslas simply, he’s now in the business of Twitter. Zuckerberg, on the other hand, has been attempting to market share his […]
Thomas Courtney
BIO: Thomas Courtney is a 6th-grade middle school English Language Arts and History teacher in San Diego, California. He is the author of many articles, memoirs, and short stories found in anthologies, magazines, and newspapers. He has written several books, including the upcoming Viral School Rhetoric: A Teacher’s Story of Good Intentions, Bad Policy, and a Pandemic, available in the Fall of 2025.
Posted inInterviews
An Idaho teen who won his school board election has a message for educators
The Educator’s Room Interviews Shiva Rajbhandari Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Less than a decade ago, the idea of students serving on school boards was the topic of debate in places like the Atlantic. Jacoba Urist, writing for the Atlantic in 2014, suggested that even […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
A 6-year-old Shot His Teacher: Can We Stop the Broken Record of School Shootings?
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! A 6-year-old shot his teacher? A 6-year-old shot his teacher. Since Friday I have been repeating this over and over in my head, like the broken record of phrases I use to redirect students back to important tasks. At […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
What A Trip to Colombia Taught Me About the US Testing Frenzy
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Testing Frenzy Déjà Vu In recent news, NAEP scores fell dramatically due to COVID-19’s impact on learning. Every media outlet has a take on the situation, and everybody seems concerned. The Secretary of Education said recently that we all need to “raise the bar and […]
Posted inPedagogy
Teaching Central America Week Is October 3rd-October 9th
Here’s Why You Don’t Want to Miss It And How to Get Started Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Across the USA, it’s National Hispanic Heritage Month. Here in San Diego, my class and I are celebrating the contributions of great artists and courageous leaders like […]
Posted inProfessional Development
A Guide Teacher’s Guide to Getting Hired
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! National headlines declare a shortage of teachers. But student teachers and their guide teachers know that in some parts of the US getting your foot in the door after credentialing is through is still as tough as ever . […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s Time for Teachers to Stop Blaming Ourselves
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Every profession has its detractors. Society can find fault with just about anyone doing their job, except maybe a baker. Never heard a bad thing about a baker. When it comes to teaching, George Bernard Shaw once famously said […]
Posted inOpinion
Mr. Courtney’s Publicly Funded Snake Handling Divinity School
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! For 23 years, I have been a public school teacher. Yet, never once have I shared my religious affiliation nor religious beliefs with my class, nor with a single student for that matter. With very rare exceptions, I never […]