I have had a chance over the past few years to participate in a weekly Twitter chat called #HipHopEd. The creator of this chat, Dr. Chris Emdin, recently wrote a book that spoke to me as it describes New Orleans, "For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood (and the rest of y'all too). With school board elections coming up, this was a perfect Brain Food topic.
Dr. Emdin did not disappoint! He started out with a thesis that school has become the site for the incarceration of the minds of young people. Weaving through examples told in stories, he pointed out how many practices mirror those used to convert Native Americans.
He challenged notions that all STEM education is good (if they are being trained to be at the bottom of the STEM hierarchy that's not good), and that education is predicated on the underperformance of certain populations.
My big take away is that we need to make sure young people are engaged, having fun, and in that climate they will learn. I think back at my best high school teachers and it was fun- I try to do the same with my class as well.
If you have not read this book and you are an educator, do it. Now!
The Prez
