The Middle Men

Brian wraps up our year and thanks our listeners.

Brian and Derrick talk about academic rigor, students feeling challenged, and why there are not multiple pathways for students to part of the real world.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss what we didn't discuss...and probably shouldn't discuss.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss Gavin Newsom's directive to schools: You should ban phones before legislation happens. That's a little bit of nah nah...

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about the role of a school in a community. Are they to be the hub of communal activity or should the be focused on their academic mission?

Brad and Brian talk to Diane Blardoney and Mikey Amaro, co-chairs of Brentwood Teachers Association's bargaining team, about the last year of negotiations.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss their whys, and how they feel about being in a PD that asks them to find their why, and how they wished it were different.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about schools and bathrooms. The good, the bad, and not too much of the ugly.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about the start of a new school year, how we transition from summer to school and what we look forward too.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss media use in our classrooms. What we think, what we do, and where we are with our kids.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk to Amelia; Derrick's daughter, Brian's former student, current college, student, and future teacher about what's happening in teacher preparation nowadays.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss the recent law in Louisiana which requires the 10 Commandments be posted in every classroom, as well as the mandate in Oklahoma requiring the Bible to be taught in class.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about improving as a teacher through formal and informal professional development.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk truth about the summer for teachers as well as our summer plans.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about closing out the school year, both academically and emotionally.

Brad, Brian and Derrick discuss the merits of the 8th Grade Promotion ceremony as well as other ways to give students a proper send off.

Brian and Derrick talk to Danny, a fellow teacher of science, technology liaison for our school, and one of the best in the world at the Star Wars Unlimited card game.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk district and union negotiation dynamics.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about the use of AI and Deepfakes in education. The dangers of being a public figure. Resources: Deepfakes Expose Public School Employees to New Threats The Rise of Deepfakes in School

Brad, Brian and Derrick talk about burnout. It's the end of the year, kids are squirrely, and there is a mix of motivation.

Brian and Derrick try to hold down the fort since Brad is sick. We talk quotes, technology, and allergies.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk to Bart Schneider, middle school electives teacher. Bart is well known in our community for a drama program he began that started with 36 and now involves more than 140 students in every performance.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about state testing. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Brad, Brian and Derrick talk about the joys, struggles, and uniqueness of each quarter.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss how technology has changed over our years of teaching.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss non-traditional public school routes students take to learn.

Brian and Brad interview Mark Morello, music teacher of 29 years of one of the largest middle school music programs in California.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discusses the history of male teachers and how we got here. Links to our research: 1. PBS: Only a Teacher 2. MIT: The Feminization of Teaching in America 3. Center for Evaluation and Education Policy: The Status of Male Teachers in Public Education Today 4. The Atlantic: The U.S. Teaching Population is Getting Bigger, and More Female

Brad, Brian, and Derrick enter the fishbowl. They answer a series of both teacher related and unrelated questions.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss the proxy war that schools and educators have become.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick interview Eddie Smith. Former football player at Oregon University, former school counselor, and current first year vice principal at the school Brian and Derrick work.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss some history of teaching, but focus more on the changes to education in the last 15 years. We highly recommend The Teacher Wars by Dana Goldstein (we get nothing from this link. It's just a great book). Some of the sources we used for the discussion: 1. 25 Ways American Education has changed in the last decade 2. 120 Years of American Education: A Statistical Portrait 3. History of Education

Brad, Brian, and Derrick follow up last weeks interview with a discussion on the practicality of special education.

Brian and Brad talk with Eric Hulstrum, a special education teacher who served at both our sites, to pick his brain about the services to a small population of our students.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick have an amazingly average philosophical discussion on the relationship between sports and schools.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick do some research, look at the history of school discipline and, in particular corporal punishment, and discuss. Articles used for this podcast discussion: School Discipline History How School Disciplinary Policies Have Changed Over The Years A Brief (And Tortuous) History Of Corporal Punishment In Our Public Schools Is Corporal Punishment Making A Comeback?

Brad, Brian, and Derrick actually do some research and talk about a few new laws in education from California, Texas, and Florida.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick have a meta conversation about the podcast. We've been winging it up to this point, but what do we want to do moving forward? We also discuss holidays with family and teaching in a tragedy. For some, these could be considered the same thing.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about how our experience as students informs our approach to teaching.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss how teachers are depicted in film and it's relation to real life.

Brad, Brian, Derrick and Mikey discuss the new Fortnite update before diving into how this year has been going.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about the work that goes into making a lesson both in the beginning of our careers and now.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss difficult interactions with parents and how parents can best reach out to teachers.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about school violence. A timely discussion because of a recent issue in our community.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss possible classes that should be added for this current generation.

Brad, Brian, Derrick, and Mikey talk about grading. Do you give 50% for missing work? What does this do to students grades and to their psychology?

Brad, Brian, Derrick and Mikey with a Halloween special. What are our fears as teachers? What might keep us up at night or causes serious concern?

Brad, Brian, and Derrick talk about how our personal lives and beliefs can affect our careers, either real or imagined.

Brad, Brian, and Derrick discuss the moral aspect of teaching. In such a diverse world, with diverse views, how does a teacher address issues of right and wrong?

Thanks to a listener suggestion, Brad, Brian, Derrick, and Mikey offer advice to new teachers who have probably been on the job for a few weeks.