With the recent headlines about the failing state test scores of students in Lebron James, I Promise school, many point their proverbial “blame and shame” fingers. There is so much to unpack in the negative light painted in the focus on the fact these upcoming eighth graders “hadn’t passed the math portion of their state […]
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Black schoolteacher sues district over students’ racist behavior
by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital DispatchJune 16, 2023 A teacher has filed a lawsuit accusing the Ottumwa school district of encouraging students’ racist behavior by failing to impose sufficient discipline for such conduct. Robert Bender is suing the Ottumwa Community School District in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and is seeking […]
Grading President Biden’s Proposed Educational Budget for 2024
There is no doubt that, as educators, we have strong opinions about how the government spends money geared toward education. Teachers and our students require a never-ending list of things to make classrooms adequate and student success attainable. Unfortunately, not an infinite amount of funding is set aside for our student’s educational future. Decisions, and […]
What Recent SCOTUS Decisions Mean for Education
SCOTUS: While abortion was the most volatile decision made by our Supreme Court last week, SCOTUS made a slew of key decisions over the last few days. These decisions can have far-reaching consequences for students and educators alike. Carson v. Makin One case, Carson v. Makin, most directly impacts education by addressing the ongoing debate over […]
Get Ready to Teach About January 6th
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! On January 6, 2021, the students in the class of 2023 were sophomores in high school. They were probably recently back from winter break, sitting in class near the end of the day when rioters smashed the first windows smashed […]
Justice Jackson and Romeo & Juliet (and Taylor Swift too!)
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! We can celebrate the historic confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and educate our students about many subjects at the same time! My favorite arguments from the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice are not from any of the important cases she […]
Why Transgender Students Need Teachers Who Aren’t Afraid
The battles taking place in the classroom in Virginia are at the core of what it means to be a teacher in American public education today. The debate over mask mandates, the US History curriculum, and how to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ students are all in the news today, with teachers and students in […]
Death and Resurrection: A Time for Repentance and Change Around Race
On an Easter Sunday, decades ago, my pastor baptized me into the faith. I do not exactly remember the words – but to an extent, they were, “buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.” It is all symbolic of letting go of your past sins and receiving a fresh […]