<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms">&quot;Send me a Text Message!&quot;</a>Grades shape futures, but do they measure what a student actually knows—or how well they play the points game? I take a hard look at why traditional grading often blends behavior, compliance, and access to resources with academic mastery, creating signals that mislead families, fuel bias, and widen gaps. Drawing on current research and classroom experience, I break down how equitable grading centers learning with proportional scales, retakes, and a focus on recent performance, making grades more accurate, bias-resistant, and motivating. I walk through the mechanics: moving from 0–100 to 0–4 to avoid the punishing weight of zeros, separating soft skills from academic evidence, and building transparency with standards-aligned rubrics and simplified gradebooks. You’ll hear how these shifts reduce Ds and Fs, lower classroom stress, and strengthen trust between teachers and students. I also address the pushback—fears of lowered standards, confusion about change, and top-down mandates—and explain why clear communication and collaborative rollout matter more than ever. For parents and caregivers, I offer a practical script to start a productive conversation with teachers: ask for their grade meaning statement, review how mastery is determined, and clarify how retakes and recent learning are weighed. For educators and leaders, I highlight steps to align on what a grade should mean, report mastery consistently, and coach soft skills without hiding them inside letter grades. If grades are a compass, accuracy is non-negotiable—and equity is the calibration that makes the compass point true North. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about fair grading, and leave a review with your take: Should grades measure learning, behavior, or both? Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to <a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport">https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport</a>.&nbsp;<a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted">Support the show</a><ul> <li> Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast </li> <li> Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode</li> <li>You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family</li> <li> Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms"&gt;&amp;quot;Send me a Text Message!&amp;quot;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Grades shape futures, but do they measure what a student actually knows—or how well they play the points game? I take a hard look at why traditional grading often blends behavior, compliance, and access to resources with academic mastery, creating signals that mislead families, fuel bias, and widen gaps. Drawing on current research and classroom experience, I break down how equitable grading centers learning with proportional scales, retakes, and a focus on recent performance, making grades more accurate, bias-resistant, and motivating.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;I walk through the mechanics: moving from 0–100 to 0–4 to avoid the punishing weight of zeros, separating soft skills from academic evidence, and building transparency with standards-aligned rubrics and simplified gradebooks. You’ll hear how these shifts reduce Ds and Fs, lower classroom stress, and strengthen trust between teachers and students. I also address the pushback—fears of lowered standards, confusion about change, and top-down mandates—and explain why clear communication and collaborative rollout matter more than ever.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;For parents and caregivers, I offer a practical script to start a productive conversation with teachers: ask for their grade meaning statement, review how mastery is determined, and clarify how retakes and recent learning are weighed. For educators and leaders, I highlight steps to align on what a grade should mean, report mastery consistently, and coach soft skills without hiding them inside letter grades. If grades are a compass, accuracy is non-negotiable—and equity is the calibration that makes the compass point true North.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about fair grading, and leave a review with your take: Should grades measure learning, behavior, or both?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to &lt;a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport"&gt;https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; Thanks for listening!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://&lt;b&gt;k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com &lt;/b&gt;or https: //&lt;b&gt;www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Subscribe &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;on &lt;b&gt;Buzzsprout &lt;/b&gt;to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;You can also &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;support &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Contact &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with any specific questions you have at: &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;kim@liberationthrougheducation.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

"Send me a Text Message!" Grades shape futures, but do they measure what a student actually knows—or how well they play the points game? I take a hard look at why traditional grading often blends behavior, compliance, and access to resources with academic mastery, creating signals that mislead families, fuel bias, and widen gaps. Drawing on current research and classroom experience, I break down how equitable grading centers learning with proportional scales, retakes, and a focus on recent pe...

Episode 160: Your Kid’s 'A' Might Be Lying, And So Is The Homework

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms">&quot;Send me a Text Message!&quot;</a>Books are quietly disappearing from American classrooms, and kids are paying the price. I dig into why excerpts have replaced full-length novels and plays, how that shift affects comprehension and attention, and what it means for students who deserve a rich, inclusive literacy diet. Drawing on research and classroom realities, I unpack the tension between teaching to high-stakes tests and building the deeper reading stamina that colleges and life demand. I also relate the quality of the texts that middle school and high school students are reading to the surge in book bans. The numbers are stark: thousands of titles challenged or pulled, most often those by or about people of color and LGBTQ+ communities. That censorship doesn’t just limit shelves; it narrows imaginations, erases &quot;mirrors and windows,&quot; and undermines the democratic promise of education. Finally, I connect the dots between policy, politics, and practice, and I talk plainly about who gets silenced when story choices are made out of fear. This conversation isn’t just a diagnosis; it’s a roadmap for the future. I outline a balanced approach that pairs short texts with sustained reading of entire novels, plays, and nonfiction works. I share specific steps parents and educators can take: form curriculum committees, map reading across grades, set clear targets for long-form works, and advocate for diverse authors. If you’re ready to help your child become a stronger reader and protect inclusive libraries, you’ll leave with practical tools and a sense of agency. Subscribe for weekly episodes, share this one with a friend who cares about K-12 literacy, and leave a comment on our site to tell me what you’re seeing in your schools. Your voice matters—join me and help keep whole books and inclusive stories within every student’s reach. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to <a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport">https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport</a>.&nbsp;<a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted">Support the show</a><ul> <li> Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast </li> <li> Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode</li> <li>You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family</li> <li> Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms"&gt;&amp;quot;Send me a Text Message!&amp;quot;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Books are quietly disappearing from American classrooms, and kids are paying the price. I dig into why excerpts have replaced full-length novels and plays, how that shift affects comprehension and attention, and what it means for students who deserve a rich, inclusive literacy diet. Drawing on research and classroom realities, I unpack the tension between teaching to high-stakes tests and building the deeper reading stamina that colleges and life demand.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;I also relate the quality of the texts that middle school and high school students are reading to the surge in book bans. The numbers are stark: thousands of titles challenged or pulled, most often those by or about people of color and LGBTQ+ communities. That censorship doesn’t just limit shelves; it narrows imaginations, erases &amp;quot;mirrors and windows,&amp;quot; and undermines the democratic promise of education. Finally, I connect the dots between policy, politics, and practice, and I talk plainly about who gets silenced when story choices are made out of fear.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;This conversation isn’t just a diagnosis; it’s a roadmap for the future. I outline a balanced approach that pairs short texts with sustained reading of entire novels, plays, and nonfiction works. I share specific steps parents and educators can take: form curriculum committees, map reading across grades, set clear targets for long-form works, and advocate for diverse authors. If you’re ready to help your child become a stronger reader and protect inclusive libraries, you’ll leave with practical tools and a sense of agency.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Subscribe for weekly episodes, share this one with a friend who cares about K-12 literacy, and leave a comment on our site to tell me what you’re seeing in your schools. Your voice matters—join me and help keep whole books and inclusive stories within every student’s reach.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to &lt;a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport"&gt;https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; Thanks for listening!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://&lt;b&gt;k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com &lt;/b&gt;or https: //&lt;b&gt;www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Subscribe &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;on &lt;b&gt;Buzzsprout &lt;/b&gt;to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;You can also &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;support &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Contact &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with any specific questions you have at: &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;kim@liberationthrougheducation.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

"Send me a Text Message!" Books are quietly disappearing from American classrooms, and kids are paying the price. I dig into why excerpts have replaced full-length novels and plays, how that shift affects comprehension and attention, and what it means for students who deserve a rich, inclusive literacy diet. Drawing on research and classroom realities, I unpack the tension between teaching to high-stakes tests and building the deeper reading stamina that colleges and life demand.  I also rela...

Episode 159: Vanishing Books, Shrinking Minds

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms">&quot;Send me a Text Message!&quot;</a>If middle school feels too early to think about life after high school, the data says otherwise. I explore why so many classrooms lack career-connected learning, how this fuels anxiety and disengagement, and what it takes to match a child’s natural aptitudes with real-world opportunities. From the sharp drop in four-year college plans to the rise of non-degree pathways, I trace the shifts families are navigating and share tools to turn uncertainty into momentum. I walk through a practical roadmap: start with aptitude discovery around age 14, layer in interest exploration, and add hands-on experiences like job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and service learning. You’ll hear why durable skills—teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, flexibility—show up in most job postings and how students build them through real projects, not worksheets. I also look at what schools, employers, and policymakers can do right now: expand access to personalized assessments, integrate career relevance into core classes, invest in work-based learning, and create flexible schedules that let students learn at job sites and in labs. Parents remain the biggest influence, so I share candid guidance for starting early, asking better questions at school, and using Edtech to fill gaps when programs are missing. By connecting strengths to in-demand roles, students shift from passing tests to pursuing purpose. The goal is simple and urgent: help every student graduate with both a diploma and a resume—confident, informed, and ready to choose college, training, work, or service with clarity. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s planning their child’s path, and leave a quick review to help more families find these insights. Your feedback shapes future episodes. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to <a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport">https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport</a>.&nbsp;<a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted">Support the show</a><ul> <li> Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast </li> <li> Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode</li> <li>You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family</li> <li> Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms"&gt;&amp;quot;Send me a Text Message!&amp;quot;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If middle school feels too early to think about life after high school, the data says otherwise. I explore why so many classrooms lack career-connected learning, how this fuels anxiety and disengagement, and what it takes to match a child’s natural aptitudes with real-world opportunities. From the sharp drop in four-year college plans to the rise of non-degree pathways, I trace the shifts families are navigating and share tools to turn uncertainty into momentum.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;I walk through a practical roadmap: start with aptitude discovery around age 14, layer in interest exploration, and add hands-on experiences like job shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and service learning. You’ll hear why durable skills—teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, flexibility—show up in most job postings and how students build them through real projects, not worksheets. I also look at what schools, employers, and policymakers can do right now: expand access to personalized assessments, integrate career relevance into core classes, invest in work-based learning, and create flexible schedules that let students learn at job sites and in labs.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Parents remain the biggest influence, so I share candid guidance for starting early, asking better questions at school, and using Edtech to fill gaps when programs are missing. By connecting strengths to in-demand roles, students shift from passing tests to pursuing purpose. The goal is simple and urgent: help every student graduate with both a diploma and a resume—confident, informed, and ready to choose college, training, work, or service with clarity.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s planning their child’s path, and leave a quick review to help more families find these insights. Your feedback shapes future episodes.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to &lt;a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport"&gt;https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; Thanks for listening!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://&lt;b&gt;k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com &lt;/b&gt;or https: //&lt;b&gt;www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Subscribe &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;on &lt;b&gt;Buzzsprout &lt;/b&gt;to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;You can also &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;support &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Contact &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with any specific questions you have at: &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;kim@liberationthrougheducation.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

"Send me a Text Message!" If middle school feels too early to think about life after high school, the data says otherwise. I explore why so many classrooms lack career-connected learning, how this fuels anxiety and disengagement, and what it takes to match a child’s natural aptitudes with real-world opportunities. From the sharp drop in four-year college plans to the rise of non-degree pathways, I trace the shifts families are navigating and share tools to turn uncertainty into momentum.  I w...

Episode 158: Why Waiting Until High School To Plan Careers Fails Kids

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms">&quot;Send me a Text Message!&quot;</a>The way our kids learn has changed faster than most classrooms and homes can keep up. We’re past the era of memorizing from a single textbook; the real advantage now is knowing how to verify a claim, trace a source, and turn digital tools into deeper learning—not distractions. I share a clear roadmap for parents and educators who want students to thrive in a world where search results, AI tools, and social feeds shape what children see and believe. You’ll hear why starting media literacy in elementary school matters, how personalized and competency‑based models unlock growth, and where game‑based learning and collaborative platforms can raise engagement and agency. I lay out 10 practical benefits digital tools bring to classrooms, from real‑time feedback to publish‑ready student work that builds pride and audience awareness. Beyond the classroom, I tackle the hidden gaps: keyboarding, file management, safe browsing, email etiquette, privacy, and data analysis. I  connect digital citizenship with social and emotional learning, pointing to tools like VoiceThread, Headspace, and Canva that foster perspective taking, mindfulness, and reflective goal‑setting. For families seeking real support, I outline a community‑powered solution—school “Tech Nights” that turn family engagement into shared learning, complete with themes, short activities, and simple guides so parents can practice the same tools their kids use every day. If you’re ready to raise savvy, ethical, and capable digital learners, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a fellow parent or teacher, and leave a review to help more families find practical strategies that work. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to <a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport">https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport</a>.&nbsp;<a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted">Support the show</a><ul> <li> Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast </li> <li> Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode</li> <li>You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family</li> <li> Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms"&gt;&amp;quot;Send me a Text Message!&amp;quot;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The way our kids learn has changed faster than most classrooms and homes can keep up. We’re past the era of memorizing from a single textbook; the real advantage now is knowing how to verify a claim, trace a source, and turn digital tools into deeper learning—not distractions. I share a clear roadmap for parents and educators who want students to thrive in a world where search results, AI tools, and social feeds shape what children see and believe.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;You’ll hear why starting media literacy in elementary school matters, how personalized and competency‑based models unlock growth, and where game‑based learning and collaborative platforms can raise engagement and agency. I lay out 10 practical benefits digital tools bring to classrooms, from real‑time feedback to publish‑ready student work that builds pride and audience awareness.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Beyond the classroom, I tackle the hidden gaps: keyboarding, file management, safe browsing, email etiquette, privacy, and data analysis. I  connect digital citizenship with social and emotional learning, pointing to tools like VoiceThread, Headspace, and Canva that foster perspective taking, mindfulness, and reflective goal‑setting. For families seeking real support, I outline a community‑powered solution—school “Tech Nights” that turn family engagement into shared learning, complete with themes, short activities, and simple guides so parents can practice the same tools their kids use every day.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you’re ready to raise savvy, ethical, and capable digital learners, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a fellow parent or teacher, and leave a review to help more families find practical strategies that work.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to &lt;a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport"&gt;https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; Thanks for listening!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://&lt;b&gt;k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com &lt;/b&gt;or https: //&lt;b&gt;www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Subscribe &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;on &lt;b&gt;Buzzsprout &lt;/b&gt;to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;You can also &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;support &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Contact &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with any specific questions you have at: &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;kim@liberationthrougheducation.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

"Send me a Text Message!" The way our kids learn has changed faster than most classrooms and homes can keep up. We’re past the era of memorizing from a single textbook; the real advantage now is knowing how to verify a claim, trace a source, and turn digital tools into deeper learning—not distractions. I share a clear roadmap for parents and educators who want students to thrive in a world where search results, AI tools, and social feeds shape what children see and believe.  You’ll hear why s...

Episode 157: Your Kids Can Outsmart Your Wi‑Fi, But Can They Write An Email?

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms">&quot;Send me a Text Message!&quot;</a>Honest history should not be controversial, yet every step toward equity seems to trigger a counterpunch. I dig into how White backlash has shaped K-12 education for generations—from laws that criminalized Black literacy to modern book bans and vague “indoctrination” claims that chill classrooms. Along the way, I unpack the difference between White rage and White backlash, explain why CRT became a political smoke screen, and connect today’s “parents’ rights” movement to earlier strategies that protected dominance while sidelining truth. I walk through a historical line that includes Reconstruction sabotage, Brown v. Board’s resistance, and the fear-driven narrative of A Nation at Risk that corroded public trust in public schools. Fast-forward to the 2000s and 2010s, and you’ll find promising shifts toward culturally responsive teaching and student activism—but also the persistence of anti-Black structures, surveillance, and discipline disparities that undermine progress. The current wave of censorship policies and book bans doesn’t appear out of nowhere; it’s part of a long, predictable pattern that surfaces whenever Black students’ learning, dignity, and futures come into clearer focus. This conversation is not just a diagnosis, it’s a plan. I share practical moves families can make now: build racial literacy at home with books by Black scholars and authors; testify at school boards and state hearings; use counter-storytelling to document harm and advocate for inclusive curricula; support teachers who teach truth; and organize broad coalitions that can stop harmful bills, as seen in Indiana. If you care about accurate history, safe and inclusive classrooms, and real opportunity for Black children, these steps matter. If this resonates, subscribe, share with one friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your voice helps push honest history forward and protects the future that Black children deserve. Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to <a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport">https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport</a>.&nbsp;<a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted">Support the show</a><ul> <li> Thanks for listening! For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com or https: //www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast </li> <li> Subscribe on Buzzsprout to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode</li> <li>You can also support me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family</li> <li> Contact me with any specific questions you have at: kim@liberationthrougheducation.com </li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1961809/open_sms"&gt;&amp;quot;Send me a Text Message!&amp;quot;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Honest history should not be controversial, yet every step toward equity seems to trigger a counterpunch. I dig into how White backlash has shaped K-12 education for generations—from laws that criminalized Black literacy to modern book bans and vague “indoctrination” claims that chill classrooms. Along the way, I unpack the difference between White rage and White backlash, explain why CRT became a political smoke screen, and connect today’s “parents’ rights” movement to earlier strategies that protected dominance while sidelining truth.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;I walk through a historical line that includes Reconstruction sabotage, Brown v. Board’s resistance, and the fear-driven narrative of A Nation at Risk that corroded public trust in public schools. Fast-forward to the 2000s and 2010s, and you’ll find promising shifts toward culturally responsive teaching and student activism—but also the persistence of anti-Black structures, surveillance, and discipline disparities that undermine progress. The current wave of censorship policies and book bans doesn’t appear out of nowhere; it’s part of a long, predictable pattern that surfaces whenever Black students’ learning, dignity, and futures come into clearer focus.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;This conversation is not just a diagnosis, it’s a plan. I share practical moves families can make now: build racial literacy at home with books by Black scholars and authors; testify at school boards and state hearings; use counter-storytelling to document harm and advocate for inclusive curricula; support teachers who teach truth; and organize broad coalitions that can stop harmful bills, as seen in Indiana. If you care about accurate history, safe and inclusive classrooms, and real opportunity for Black children, these steps matter.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If this resonates, subscribe, share with one friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your voice helps push honest history forward and protects the future that Black children deserve.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Love my show? Consider being a regular subscriber! Just go to &lt;a href="https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport"&gt;https://tinyurl.com/podcastsupport&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.paypal.com/donate/buttons/manage/unhosted"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; Thanks for listening!&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; For more information about the show, episodes, and ways to support, check out these websites: https://&lt;b&gt;k12educationinsights.buzzsprout.com &lt;/b&gt;or https: //&lt;b&gt;www.liberationthrougheducation.com/podcast&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Subscribe &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;on &lt;b&gt;Buzzsprout &lt;/b&gt;to receive a shout out on an upcoming episode&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;You can also &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;support &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with ratings, kind words of encouragement, and by sharing this podcast with friends and family&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt; &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Contact &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;me with any specific questions you have at: &lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;kim@liberationthrougheducation.com&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

"Send me a Text Message!" Honest history should not be controversial, yet every step toward equity seems to trigger a counterpunch. I dig into how White backlash has shaped K-12 education for generations—from laws that criminalized Black literacy to modern book bans and vague “indoctrination” claims that chill classrooms. Along the way, I unpack the difference between White rage and White backlash, explain why CRT became a political smoke screen, and connect today’s “parents’ rights” movement...

Episode 156:  How White Backlash Shapes Black Students' Learning

Raising kids can be tough! I know because I’ve been a single mom who raised two kids on my own. And when they get in the K-12 public education system, learning the ins and outs of that system can get you all tangled up, especially when you’re a parent of color (POC). You need to be aware of the current trends, tactics, and topics, as well as the necessary resources to navigate within the system. That’s what the K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color podcast is all about — providing you with tools, information, and practical actions to help you and your children succeed within the complexities of K-12 public education.

K-12 Public Education Insights: Empowering Parents of Color — Trends, Tactics, and Topics That Impact POC

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