Tiffani Marie & Kenjus Watson
In Part 2 of The Kids Are Alright episode, we chop it up with about five of Tiffani's former students, spanning her last 20 years of teaching. The group includes a "cool and collective" entrepreneur planning to finish college soon, a program director deeply involved in community work and motivational speaking, a young college student contemplating joining the Armed Forces, a revolutionary artist and event organizer, and a charismatic young person who emphasizes their intellect and the importance of being "lit".
As the conversation unfolds, the topic of schools - whether to keep them or leave them behind - becomes a central theme. The young people share their nuanced views, reflecting a mix of support, skepticism, and outright disillusionment with the American schooling system. Their stories illuminate the complexities of navigating school systems that often feel disconnected from their personal and community needs.
Alongside their varied experiences, a common thread emerges: a critique of the schooling system's shortcomings and a call for a more inclusive, supportive, and relevant approach to learning that truly meets the needs of all young people. Our convo captures a range of emotions and critical ideas on the role of schools in shaping the future of young folks and, by extension, our society.
San Jose State University Professor Marcos Pizarro, Ph.D., offers our final thoughts.
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Stay connected: www.apocalypticeducation.org
Hosts: Tiffani Marie & Kenjus Watson
Music By: Redtone Records
Production by: Jesse Strauss, Paxtone Records
Sponsored By: The Institute for Regenerative Futures