Teach FM Tom Liam Lynch

In this episode, Tom examines what the recent college admissions scandal reveals about equity and education more broadly in the United States. From Opt-Out to school choice, the education system is one where parents with means are expected from day one to do whatever it takes to ensure a quality education for their child. And that’s a problem. 

Want more? Check these hundreds of artifacts over on Gradgrind’s. And, if you’re looking for the texts from this episode, you’ll find them here: James Baldwin on Public Education // A Primer on Brown v. Board of Education // Malcolm Gladwell on Why Carlos Can’t Remember // A Researcher Uses Crazy Data Set to Explain the Achievement Gap 

Still reading? Cool. Share the podcast with friends and tell Tom what you think. He's all ears. 

In this episode, Tom offers his take on the challenge of high-stakes testing. At its core, Tom suggests that high-stakes testing in its current form brings to light a core tension in American public education, two competing values: exceptionalism and equity. Unless that tension gets addressed, the result will be a lot of continued heartache.  

Want more? Check these hundreds of artifacts over on Gradgrind’s. And, if you’re looking for the texts from this episode, you’ll find them here: Linda Darling Hammond on Testing // An Atlanta Judge Sentences Teachers for Cheating on Tests // Why Comparing International Tests are Trickier Than You Think

Still reading? Cool. Share the podcast with friends and tell Tom what you think. He's all ears. 

In this episode, Tom offers a brief overview of how No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top dramatically altered the direction of public education reform in the United States. They are not as different as you think. 

Want more? Check these hundreds of artifacts over on Gradgrind’s. And, if you’re looking for the texts from this episode, you’ll find them here: President Bush Frames No Child Left Behind // President Obama Frames Race to the Top

Still reading? Cool. Share the podcast with friends and tell Tom what you think. He's all ears. 

In this episode, Tom looks at how U.S. presidents have talked about education. From the 18th century to today, Tom breaks down the main kinds of stances presidents take and offers his insights on why education is so often paired with economic success. Presidents Kennedy and Reagan offer perfect cases in point.

Want more? Check these hundreds of artifacts over on Gradgrind’s. And, if you’re looking for the texts from this episode, you’ll find them here: Washington // Adams // FDR // JFK // Reagan // Trump

Still reading? Cool. Share the podcast with friends and tell Tom what you think. He's all ears. 

Join Tom on a rainy walk to the subway as he shares his damp advice with an undergraduate student who is becoming a teacher. Wanting to teach in the neighborhood she grew up in, she asked Tom what advice he has for new teachers and, particularly, what books he might recommend she reads. Well, here you go. 

Books Tom Recommended


Chris Emdin's For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood... and the Rest of Y'all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education [buy here]
Mike Rose's Why School? Reclaiming Education for Us All [buy here]
Maxine Greene's Releasing the Imagination: Essays on Education, the Arts, and Social Change [buy here]

Other Resources for Any New (or Old) Teacher


A Great Video about the History of US Education
Simon Sinek's Talk on the Golden Circle
One Question that Changes Your Education Paradigm
What US Schools Can Learn from Other Nations
States of Education (interactive map)

AND, as always, there is plenty more over on gradgrinds.com. OR, sign up for my weekly Gradgrind's newsletter! :)

Join Tom as he walks from the subway to a school in the Bronx where he's working with teachers on their assessments.  No music intro, no studio. Just raw audio and insight. He talks about the difference between assessment and testing, and why if you hate grading stacks of assignments you probably have to revamp your planing process. 

Check out these resources that complement the Interlude: 

One Piece of Advice for Any Teacher, Anywhere // Not Sure What to Think About This Philosopher's Rubric // Pharrell Takes Authentic Assessment to a Whole Different Level // Howard Gardner on the Limits of Assessment

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