What's Best For Kids?

Education is at a crossroads. Parents want more control, schools are fighting technology and behavior battles, and students’ learning styles don’t fit an antiquated model. So…what’s next? We can’t wait for answers because the future is NOW!

What makes high school graduation such a seminal moment in our lives? What makes this annual right of passage so special for students and educators alike?

It’s never been harder to be a teacher, and the strain on educators is starting to show. The stress of larger classes, higher level demands, political polarization, the influence of AI, and increasingly reluctant learners is burning out good people just trying to serve kids. What can we do to address this today, and what do we need to do to avoid this tomorrow?

Student behavior issues continue to increase at schools across the county and educators have fewer tools than ever to address it. What’s behind this surge in disruptive outbursts, disrespect, and violence, and what can we do about it?

Adolescent risk-taking is prevalent, with over 60% of teens engaging in behaviors like thrill-seeking, substance use, or unsafe driving. Is this a new trend or has this always been the case and we just know more about it because of social media?

Colleges are reporting that more and more parents are following their kids to college. Is this helping kids launch, or is it keeping them from being able to effectively leave the nest?

Cheating has always been an issue in school, but it’s no longer in the shadows. What can schools do to address this trend, and what does the future hold for kids who see cheating as just a means to an end?

Individual plaintiffs are joining school districts in the legal battle over the impact of social media on mental health. As the data mounts, will tech giants buckle under the weight of litigation? More importantly, will these legal challenges affect change?

Individual plaintiffs are joining school districts in the legal battle over the impact of social media on mental health. As the data mounts, will tech giants buckle under the weight of litigation? More importantly, will these legal challenges affect change?

After years of heartbreaking data about teen suicide, a 2024 report shows that things are finally improving. What’s working, and what more do we need to do to save lives?

Between increasing demands and a raging political culture, is it any wonder that teachers are asking the question, “Should I stay or should I go?” How do we hold onto veteran teachers, how do we keep from scaring new teachers away, and how do we attract new teachers to the profession?

The San Diego Unified School District recently moved some schools from a traditional schedule to a 4x4. What is a 4x4 schedule, and what impact does the bell schedule have on student learning and wellness?

In an effort to counter all of the gloom and doom shared in the media about the current educational landscape, Rob and Don challenged each other to pick some highlights of improvements in education from decades past. It’s time to accentuate the positive. 

In our rush to protect girls from strangers, cyberbullying and discrimination, have we neglected the developmental needs of our boys? With data showing that suicidal ideation increases as boys become men, it’s critical that we stop and reflect to make sure our sons are ready for their future.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, teens are increasingly reliant on this new technology to learn how to think. But can it also help them feel? Virtual companions are replacing human connection all over the world. What does this mean for our kids and their future? 

As instruction changes, so too does assessment. More and more, students are expecting good grades just for their effort. While effort helps a student be successful, should it be the only measure? Should content mastery still count?

If you’re a regular listener, you’ve heard us give a shoutout to one of our biggest fans, Reed Kendall. Well, why just hear about him when you can hear from him! Reed joins Don and Rob to talk about his experience as a new educator and what he has learned from the podcast that has helped him along the way.

Gen Z is facing the most uncertain economic future since the depression. Meanwhile, tech giants are engaged in a Max Max style battle for their attention. What does this mean for their future, and how can we help?

The end of the school year was busy for both Don and Rob so the podcast had to take a backseat to other responsibilities. The boys are refreshed and ready to get back on track with some updates and maybe a preview of season four?

For the first time since the pandemic, teacher morale is up. But the results vary depending on the state. Why the difference, and what do teachers think will increase their job satisfaction?

The benefits of reading are profound. But was Egon in Ghostbusters right? Is print dead? Gen Z is showing record low levels of reading for pleasure, and teachers are struggling to find a way to reverse that trend. What is the long term impact of a short attention span that doesn’t allow for analysis, nuance and discussion? 

We think we know our kids, but there is another side to them that only educators know. What is it like observing the behavior of teenagers in their natural habitat? Well, you’re about to find out.

As the Trump Administration continues to revamp the Department of Education and immigration enforcement, what does that mean for our schools? Some schools are already feeling the impact, while others are watching and waiting. It’s a dynamic time for public education. 

Education is often a political football kicked around in an effort to rally constituents by drawing on their deepest concerns - their kids. But all of the gloom and doom often shared in the media doesn’t reflect the reality of the magic that happens in classrooms all over the country every day. Rob and Don challenged each other to pick five highlights from the classroom that remind them, and us, why teaching is so important and soul satisfying. 

Education is often a political football kicked around in an effort to rally constituents by drawing on their deepest concerns - their kids. But all of the gloom and doom often shared in the media doesn’t reflect the reality of the magic that happens in classrooms all over the country every day. Rob and Don challenged each other to pick five highlights from the classroom that remind them, and us, why teaching is so important and soul satisfying. 

President Elect Trump is set to take office on January 20th, and speculation is swirling about his priorities and rhetoric regarding education. We’re going to try to make sense of what’s real, what’s possible and what’s likely for the future of education over the next four years.

The debate about social media often overlooks a critical component - the smartphone camera. Kids now have a high powered movie camera in their pocket and are lured to feed the insatiable appetite of a click hungry public. What’s the impact on schools, and more importantly, what’s the impact on the development of our kids?

As winter break is upon us, high school teachers around the country are gearing up for finals and bracing themselves for all of the demands, excuses and chaos that comes with the end of a semester. What are some of the survival techniques teachers use and what do they wish they could really say to students and parents?

Is it time to start treating social media like tobacco and alcohol? The Surgeon General thinks so, but others aren’t so sure. We have lots of data that show the negative impact of a steady habit of consuming  social media, so why not require app developers to jump through the same hoops as those in the food and drug industry?

Parents are exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind. It’s gotten so bad, that the Surgeon General has called it an “urgent public health issue.” It’s always been hard to raise teenagers, but what’s pushing parents toward a breaking point? 

Artificial intelligence can be an effective tool in education, but like with most technology, it comes with a cost. Increasingly, AI is being used as a weapon, rather than a resource, and students and teachers are stuck in the crossfire.  

This week Don and Rob share some recent news articles that highlight topics and points made in previous episodes. We’re talking about cell phone bans, school safety and the future of education.

With one of the most contentious election seasons heating up, how are teachers navigating this increasingly dangerous minefield?

In the wake of the shooting at a high school in Georgia that killed four and injured nine, the debate about how to protect our schools has been reignited, and the all too familiar firestorm of rhetoric is set to paralyze us once again. There have been 46 school shootings and 261 mass shootings in the first eight months of 2024. As we progress through our third decade of these unrelenting horrors, we have to wonder, will there ever be a tipping point? No matter what side of the debate you’re on, one thing is clear - what we’re doing is not working.

Don and Rob react to the recent tragedy at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.

Guest: Paige Colburn-Hargis Kids have always loved the independence they get from skateboards, bikes and scooters, but that freedom often comes with an increased risk of injury. With the explosion of e-bikes, that risk has grown exponentially as a billion dollar market has flooded the streets with untrained children weaving in and out of traffic at speeds never before possible on traditional bikes. Special guest Paige Colburn Hargis from Scripps Healthcare joins Don and Rob for a discussion about traumatic brain injury (TBI) and what we can all do to keep our kids and community safe.

The hottest topic for education during the summer of 2024 was the push to ban cell phones in schools. Several states passed laws to ban them, and LA Unified banned them districtwide.  Best selling authors Jonathan Haidt (Anxious Generation) and Dr. Jean Twenge (Generations, iGen) are calling for phone bans in schools as a way to combat the epidemic of teen mental health. Is this where we should be putting our energy? Will it work? Will it even help? And more importantly, is it even possible?

Education is stuck in an antiquated system that follows the same model established more than 200 years ago. Whether you call it “sit and get” or “sage from the stage,” it’s still the same thing - teachers talk, kids listen, and we give them a test to see if they learned (aka memorized) what we said. How can we expect a kid who has grown up consuming a raging torrent of media content to sit in a classroom with 40 students, all with widely different learning needs, for 6 hours a day while someone two generations older tells them how easy they have it? Teaching was hard to do before kids had so many devices and apps vying for their attention, but to expect younger generations to learn in our current system is increasingly absurd. We have to change the learning model, especially at the high school level. What do we change, what do we keep, and what are pros and cons?

Education is stuck in an antiquated system that follows the same model established more than 200 years ago. Whether you call it “sit and get” or “sage from the stage,” it’s still the same thing - teachers talk, kids listen, and we give them a test to see if they learned (aka memorized) what we said. How can we expect a kid who has grown up consuming a raging torrent of media content to sit in a classroom with 40 students, all with widely different learning needs, for 6 hours a day while someone two generations older tells them how easy they have it? Teaching was hard to do before kids had so many devices and apps vying for their attention, but to expect younger generations to learn in our current system is increasingly absurd. We have to change the learning model, especially at the high school level. What do we change, what do we keep, and what are pros and cons? 

Season 2 is almost over so Don and Rob take some time to reflect on past episodes as they prepare for the finale. Lots of new insights, quotes, and Gen-X references. This episode was recorded on Don’s birthday so help him celebrate by listening and sharing!

Guest: Scott Wild The gap between what parents think student discipline is (or should be), and what it really is…is HUGE. Many parents grew up in a world where corporal punishment was common, and where accountability was expected. We now live in a world where accountability is optional, so gone are the draconian punitive measures as states look to eliminate suspensions so they can be replaced by restorative practices and “positive behavior interventions.” As student behavior issues continue to plague schools, teachers and administrators are trying desperately to implement these new changes while parents scratch their heads and wonder where the paddle went.  

For decades schools were driven by achievement data that gave us a narrow understanding of our students’ needs. Increasingly, schools are tasked with doing much more than providing academic instruction, so achievement data is less critical. But how do schools make informed, data driven decisions if they aren’t using achievement data? Surveys are the new data points administrators use to drive change, but what are these surveys and how do schools and districts use them?

Did school attendance suddenly become optional? Chronic absenteeism was an issue before the pandemic, but the school closures exposed a growing frustration with the strict structure of in person learning. In the years since schools reopened, absenteeism has exploded across the country across all demographics. What is the impact on schools and what can we do to address this threat to our system of education?

Guest: Scott Wild - Principal, Pacific Trails Middle School In the fall of 2022, the State of California mandated that all public high schools move their start time to 8:30 am, and all public middle schools had to start after 8:00 am. The change was made in an effort to better support the sleep needs of developing teens, which (in theory) would help them be happier and healthier students. But the impact on schools has been significant, and the jury is out on the benefits to students. So was this change worth it?

Teen optimism is at a new low. Are we surprised? The adults in their lives are enraged by the news and social media, the governments all over the world drift into war after war, there is legitimate fear that our environment is at the tipping point, and every day they expect to hear about yet another school shooting. On top of that, the social media landscape is destroying what little self esteem they have, and colleges are taking fewer and fewer applicants. In this episode, Don and Rob finally close out their conversation about what is working in public education compared to their experience in the 1980s. Are things really as bad as they seem, or does it just seem that way?

Don and Rob continue the conversation about teen optimism they started in the previous episode. Teens are less hopeful because the adults in their lives are enraged by the news and social media, the governments all over the world drift into war after war, there is legitimate fear that our environment is at the tipping point, and every day teens expect to hear about yet another school shooting. On top of that, the social media landscape is destroying what little self esteem they have, and colleges are taking fewer and fewer applicants. In this episode, Don and Rob try to focus on what is working in public education by comparing it to their experience in the 1980s. Are things really as bad as they seem, or does it just seem that way?

Teen optimism is at a new low. Are we surprised? The adults in their lives are enraged by the news and social media, the governments all over the world drift into war after war, there is legitimate fear that our environment is at the tipping point, and every day they expect to hear about yet another school shooting. On top of that, the social media landscape is destroying what little self esteem they have, and colleges are taking fewer and fewer applicants. In this episode, Don and Rob try to focus on what is working in public education by comparing it to their experience in the 1980s. Are things really as bad as they seem, or does it just seem that way?

Guest: Rocky Herron, Retired DEA Agent, Public Speaker Rocky Herron is a tireless advocate for drug prevention and awareness. He draws on his life experiences as a DEA agent and a parent of three daughters to teach young people critical life lessons - never start using drugs, make different choices if they are using drugs, it’s not their fault if they are suffering from someone else’s drug usage, drug use isn’t normal (even though society makes it seem that way). Rocky's message empowers young people to respect their potential in life and to make smart choices. Rocky's has given presentations to more than 200,000 students in more than 16 countries.

Guest: Rocky Herron, Retired DEA Agent, Public Speaker Rocky Herron is a tireless advocate for drug prevention and awareness. He draws on his life experiences as a DEA agent and a parent of three daughters to teach young people critical life lessons - never start using drugs, make different choices if they are using drugs, it’s not their fault if they are suffering from someone else’s drug usage, drug use isn’t normal (even though society makes it seem that way). Rocky's message empowers young people to respect their potential in life and to make smart choices. Rocky's has given presentations to more than 200,000 students in more than 16 countries.

Since the iPhone launched in 2007, teachers and schools all over the country have been locked in an epic battle for the attention of students. With the rise of social media, that battle has reached a fever pitch. In an effort to keep kids focused on learning, some school districts are banning smartphone use during the school day. Will it work? Will parents who want to stay connected to their kids support it? Will they have a choice? Do schools have the resources to enforce these rules or is this another demand the public is putting on schools rather than the manufacturers? A ban seems like a simple solution, but the impact on schools is a lot more complex than people think.