Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education

Welcome back to Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education! On this episode, David and Kevin delve into the current crisis facing Chicago Public Schools, highlighting issues of financial mismanagement, leadership changes, and the impact on teachers and students. The hosts discuss the implications of a $300 million loan to pay teachers amidst a $7 billion debt and a $500 million deficit, the resi...

Welcome back to Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education! Thank you for being here, we appreciate our listeners and the feedback they give us. We welcome everyone to the 2024-2025 school year with the hope that this is the year educators everywhere speak up with one, unified voice to improve our schools. So, here we go with Season 4 of BTFWPE! Thank you for your support! In this conversation,...

On this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education, Kevin and David delve into the complexities of textbook adoption in education, highlighting the challenges and limitations of traditional textbooks. They explore the impact of regional differences, historical revisionism, digitalization, and the role of teachers in the adoption process. The conversation continues about the challenges...

Teacher Appreciation Week is often seen as lacking authenticity and genuine appreciation. Many teachers feel that it is just window dressing and lip service from administrators. The timing of Teacher Appreciation Week, at the end of the school year, is seen as convenient but also a busy and stressful time for teachers. Some teachers feel that they receive more appreciation from their students and...

The conversation explores the topic of arming teachers in schools. The hosts discuss recent developments in states like Tennessee and Alaska that allow teachers to carry firearms. They examine the pros and cons of arming teachers and the potential impact on the education system. The conversation highlights the need for practical considerations, such as the amount of training required and the abili...

In this conversation, Kevin and David discuss the reasons why teachers leave the education profession. They highlight several common themes, including the lack of substitutes and secretaries, the absence of work-life balance, low salaries, and inadequate health insurance. They also touch on the issue of violence in schools and the lack of support from administrators. The conversation emphasizes th...

In this conversation, David and Kevin discuss the importance of teaching certain skills that are often overlooked in schools. They highlight the significance of teaching students how to read analog clocks, write in cursive, and engage in home economics. They also emphasize the importance of public speaking and communication skills. The conversation touches on the impact of technology and the need...

On this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education, David and Kevin discuss how chronic absenteeism in public schools has become a significant issue, with at least a third of students across the country considered chronically absent. The problem has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to declining enrollment in public schools. The structure and lack of engagement in the...

Kevin and David welcome guest Lauren Greener. Lauren is a newly transitioned teacher who left the classroom to explore other options. Together, they explore the stigma and misconceptions surrounding teachers who leave the education field. Lauren highlights the lack of understanding and support from both within and outside the education system. The pressure from parents and politicians to stay in t...

On the latest episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education David and Kevin discuss a proposed bill in Missouri that would label teachers as sex offenders for helping transgender students in any way.  The role of teachers is to support all students, regardless of their gender identity. The bill would harm both students and teachers, as it would discourage students from seeking support an...

Welcome back to another season of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education! David and Kevin are excited to be back for this new season after taking some time off to refund the project. We're back and ready for another great conversation about public education in the US today. Here's what you'll find on this all new episode. Summary Kevin and David discuss the recent surge in layoffs in public...

On this episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education Kevin and David disucss the ongoing teacher retention issue in the US. They explore a myriad of topics from buying teachers townhomes as an incentive to work to the hypycrital strings many politicians pull when it comes to providing the youth of our nation a fundamental education. If you want to hear Dave's NY accent shine, this is th...

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/breaking-the-fourth-wall-of-public-education--5692690/support .

Jessica Dueñas, Ed. S., the founder of Bottomless to Sober and 2019 Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, is an educator in recovery who provides coaching services to individuals needing support in accomplishing their goals. In addition, Jessica facilitates professional development for organizations on wellness, leads workshops on writing and wellness, and is also available as a speaker for events....

Welcome back to Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. On this episode, Kevin and David discuss the terrible idea of paying teachers for standardized test results that Houston, TX has decided to give a whirl. The issues within this idea are unpacked throughout this episode as Kevin and David attempt to make sense of this, somehow. Enjoy the show!! If you would like to get in touch with Brea...

Welcome back to Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. On this mid-week episode, we discuss The Ideal School with Eric Franzen. He is the director of the school and he requested a spot on the show to discuss his vision for education of the future. Listen as David and Kevin discuss these new and interesting ideas for education. If you would like to get in touch with Breaking the Fouth Wall o...

Welcome back to another entertaining and insightful episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. On this episode, David and Kevin interview former teacher Danielle Marshall about why she decided to leave education. Her story will resonate with anyone who ever worked in public education. Danielle worked overseas, has won awards, and was a highly respected public school teacher for many...

Welcome back to another entertaining and insightful episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. On this episode, David and Kevin interview former teacher Yehee Son about why she decided to leave education. Her story of teaching will be familiar to educators everywhere. However, the story Yehee shares about finally attaining her dream job as a teacher, only to find it utterly disapppin...

Welcome back listeners! Thank you for tuning in and sharing your time with us. On this episode, Kevin and David discuss some of the lasting effects of COVID on public education. Coming back into the classroom after almost two years of distance learning has had lasting effects on how public schools operate as well as policies that have altered the landscape of public education. If you are intereste...

Welcome back listeners! Kevin and David are back with another controversial topic that teachers and educators deal with every day, cellphones. The collective grown of teachers everywhere can be heard loud and clear at Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. On this episode, David and Kevin swap some great stories relating to their experiences with cellphones in the classroom as well as provi...

Welcome back to another episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. On this episode, we discuss the many aspects and experiences of teachers transitioning out of the classroom into new careers. Since 2020, over 600K teachers have left the classroom to pursue other options. This has caused a teacher shortage, which is a teacher retention and recruitment issue brought upon by decades of...

Welcome back to an all new episode of Breaking the Fourth Wall of Public Education. This week we discuss book banning in the U.S. Regardless of your opinion on this topic, this episode will surely inform and entertain you. Carla Goldberg is a former teacher in Alaska, who has since moved on to new pastures and is now living in Texas. She has a passion for the topoic of book banning and is quite vo...

Social Promotion has been an issue in puiblic schools since they were formed. However, in our ever increasingly competitive world social promotion is something parents and our communities at large should be more concerned about. Listen as Kevin and David explore this important topic facing education today. In fact, social promotion is a contributor to teacher burnout, lack of job satisfaction, and...

In this episode, Kevin and David continue to expose the many reasons for the Teacher Retention Issue with a candid discussion about special education with special guest and former teacher, April Maule. April lives in Pennsylvania and taught there for two decades before reinventing herself as a Learning Specialist. April provides real insight into the challenges faced by SPED teachers across the co...

In this episode, Kevin and David continue to expose the many reasons for the Teacher Retention Issue with a candid discussion about school scheduling. Your hosts offer some solutions to the issue that will improve outcomes, relieve some anxiety, and create an improved school experience for students and staff alike. Dave contuinues his loud call for Competency Based Education and Kevin solves a sch...