The Earthquake in American K-12 Education
Do you feel the ground shifting under your feet? President Trump’s Executive Order on March 20 to move toward ending the Department of Education is just one data point contributing to a veritable earthquake in education. While the “quaking” has been going on at least since the pandemic, let’s first turn our attention to the […]
Put Your Phone Down. You’re Welcome!
The kids are not ok. And frankly, neither are the adults. We have met the enemy, and he is us—that is, the “us” that is glued to our phones. Of course, I’ll get to the kids, but how are you doing? Personally, I have found it significantly harder to concentrate than I used to, and […]
A January for the Ages
Is this what you expected from a second Trump presidency? January has been one of the most politically consequential and astonishing months that I can remember. Some days it feels like I just want to grab some popcorn and curl up in front of my news feed! But amid the spectacle there is also a […]
Unleash Joy
I have not seen the new “Gladiator II” movie, but its recent release reminds me of a line from the original. General Maximus (Russell Crowe) famously says prior to the start of a battle, “On my signal, unleash hell!” In my current lifestage, this line brings to mind the traumatic thought of unleashing my energetic […]
Elections Have Consequences (for Education)
(The combination of the Rise Up Summit and my mother passing away unexpectedly on the 17th prevented me from writing in October. However, the timing of the election provided a unique opportunity for me to write a little earlier than normal in November, so here is the October/November Free to Teach!) Elections Have Consequences (for […]
“Show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime.”
When I started this column, the name “Free to Teach” stemmed partly from the desire to highlight threats to the ability of followers of Jesus to serve as educators in our public schools. Well, a developing threat is exactly where I want to start… Problematic Teacher Licensing Standards in Minnesota Over the last year or […]
It’s Weird Out There
After a summer break, it is so good to be back writing Free to Teach! It’s back-to-school season. It’s election season. And it’s weird. I have been a political observer my entire life. I started as a childhood news junkie who crushed the other kids in the classroom “news game” that was sponsored by a […]