Views and Voice: Above the Noise Jane L. Sigford

The COVID pandemic has given us the opportunity to examine what is the real purpose of public education and what is necessary for us to teach students to know and do. I add racism as a 4th Accelerant to T. Friedman's previous three of globalization, climate change, and technology. How do we shape the future of public education and eliminate those pieces that are no longer viable.

This podcast is like an audiobook production by reading the article "How Real is Race? Using Anthropology to Make Sense of Human Diversity" by Carol Mukhopadhyay and Rosemary C. Henze. The article addresses race as a social construct, not a scientifically proven biological fact. They offer ideas to help change our thinking and practices for education. It's read by Jane Sigford

Race, The Achievement Gap and Schools is the first of two podcasts about education and racism. This podcast consisting of 4 parts of a discussion about what has happened currently because of the killing of George Floyd, how the idea of race is not biologically sound but is a social construct, how our thinking patterns reinforce our beliefs, and how education can move to eradicate our racist ideas and practices in structure, measurement, and curriculum. The second podcast is an audiobook-like airing of an article called “How Real is Race? using Anthropology to make sense of Human Diversity.”

“COVID-19 Through the eyes of an 18-yr-old” by Audrey Thibert looks at how this pandemic affects one of our students on a very personal level. High School graduation, prom, etc are cultural and emotional markers of a transition from relative dependence to the next part of a young person’s life. This virus has changed this drastically as we hear from Audrey.

COVID-19 Through the eyes of an 18-year-old audrey thibert by Jane L. Sigford

Audrey Thibert, an 18 yr old senior, reflects on the meaning of her life at this time. Educational milestones such as prom, graduation, saying goodbye to friends has changed. It's a reminder to all of us of the power of education and human connection.