What can we expect from a Biden Department of Education?

I don't know. That's the tweet...I mean *post.

No, seriously, the times are different, as we all know and are reminded of daily. Because of the times, teaching and learning requires different--whatever that may look like. In Philly, it could mean nixing the STAR tests and CRQs (district-mandated constructed response questions). At the national level, it could start with a moratorium on national standardized tests and encouraging governments at the state level to do the same with their tests. It could continue with historical investments in schools' infrastructure. It could be enhanced with a national recognition of Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, forgiving teachers' student loans, and so much more.

Ambitious? Maybe. Perhaps not as ambitious as having Dr. Leslie Fenwick as the Secretary, but I digress. Even if it is ambitious, so what? Our children don't deserve historical investments and an ambitious agenda?

From what I can tell so far, ambition doesn't seem to be the reason why President Biden selected these two individuals to lead the department. They appear to be the safe choice, even though the local NAACP has something to say about Cindy Marten.

We'll see. 

Secretary of Education nominee Dr. Miguel Cardona is a public school educator who understands the value and importance of public education.

He will use his expertise to get our nation's schools through this pandemic and beyond. pic.twitter.com/khfgCmid6G

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 30, 2020

 

A Sunday School's teacher reflection

I am that teacher, again. 2021 means that I've been a teacher of Christian Education for 26 years, 23 of which have been in Sunday School. Growing up in church sometimes means that by the time you're 30, you've been actively working and volunteering in ministry for 25 of those years. lol No regrets.

Two events in December and one in January are the catalysts for this reflection. In December, I attended a drive-by celebration for a young lady who graduated from Penn State with her degree in education!! Wooo Hoooo!!!!! She's coming to Philly schools! The next weekend, I attended the virtual baby shower of another young lady, who with her husband, are expecting their second child!! Woooo Hoooo!!!

Recently, I helped lead a chat with a group of adolescents and teens at the church I attend and grew up in. Note: We were socially distant and masked unless speaking at that moment. The president of the youth ministry is a graduate student.

I was privileged to have all of these young ladies as students in my Sunday School class up until they left, wait for it, kindergarten. Whoa! I feel myself getting younger and younger as the years go by. (Let me be great...lol) Now they're all grown up, taking on their 20s with strength and grace! Congratulations to all of them and their respective families! I pray and wish nothing but heaven's best, this side of glory, as they continue on their life journey!

One teacher's reflection on the insurrection

I am that teacher. I teach a dual enrollment communications class at Martin Luther King High School in Philly. My students are juniors and seniors, the classes of 2021 and 2022 respectively. My other day-job responsibilities are more administrative in nature.

Let me begin by saying I have the time of my life when engaged with these young people. The learning and discussions are rich. We even have our own student-run podcast and everything, to which we're making some adjustments for season two.

🔊 pic.twitter.com/yI3oOxrj73

— Doc Flem (@kellygrade6) December 28, 2020

January 6, 2021 - Thousands of majority-white terrorists breached the U.S. Capitol in a glaring show of their white privilege. This treasonous act of flagrant sedition was incited by their cult leader, the 45h President of the United States of America, an unapologetic white supremacist, itself. The law enforcement preparation and response was ostensibly different from that of late spring and summer, 2020, when those protesting for the dignity and humanity of Black lives marched through the streets of Washington D.C.

January 6, 2021 - White supremacists were escorted from the Capitol. Police acted with a great deal of restraint, notwithstanding the bigots' violent engagement with the blue lives they avow to love and purport to matter.

June 1, 2020 - Multi-racial protest groups, made up primarily of Black people, were tear-gassed, billy-clubbed, and otherwise assaulted on at least the occasion when the President wanted to take a picture. In front of a church. With a Bible. Because...I don't even know. Nice. 😡And blasphemous. 

Same city. Two different responses.

I broached the topic with my students today. They expressed the same outrage that many on social media had expressed. The juxtaposed responses, although not surprising, were still sickening to them! To us! After a few minutes of talking, I got the feeling that this moment wasn't the same as the many moments following the lynchings of Black Americans. I got the sense that although they were incensed at liberty and justice for some, they were ready to move on from this particular moment. I do not suggest that what I sensed was a bad thing at all. I just got the feeling that this situation wouldn't necessarily be a crying moment for them. One even found the humor in it, just as a large segment of Black twitter did.

Student response to the storming of the Capitol

January 6th. 2021 pic.twitter.com/WqnNPgIuzE

— Jamal (@landoughcal) January 6, 2021

Throughout the conversation, I did provide some examples of how this wasn't a single occurrence and that even a few instances happened in their life time. I also posted a few screenshots from the Twitterverse that summarized my feelings and to explore the extent to which they agreed.

     We also took the time, as communications students, to discuss rhetoric and how the president uses it to narrowly speak to one particular audience and the extent to which it works. Cult 45 stormed the U.S. Capitol at his behest. Effective? Yes. Also racist, criminal, immoral, sickening...deplorable. Happy New Year!