https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg When thinking about how I wanted to structure this project, I turned to the idea of Inquiry Based Learning, a teaching practice that came up in some of my interviews. Each section of this padlet is structured around a theme from class, but put into a question format to mirror the Inquiry Model. In each section, I present different evidence and ideas from class, readings, and interview findings to ultimately come to some sort of claim that answers the question. These answers certainly don't offer my final say on the subject, but are more a culmination of the thinking and learning I have done throughout the semester. en-us 2023-05-02 16:27:49 UTC 2023-05-06 00:42:47 UTC hello@padlet.com taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2575458387 I based this separate Padlet map off of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory which we explored in class and also off of ideas from Parker Palmer's "The Heart of a Teacher." It is meant to show the many individuals, systems, groups, and communities that interact with a student throughout their education, in this case specifically in their social studies education.]]> 2023-05-02 16:29:10 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2575458387 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577570621 Mr. Toy says that personal and cultural connections in the social studies classroom is all about applying historical evidence to modern day events. He says that we have always been looking at historical events through a modern day lens (presentism), so why is it an issue now? Instead of harping on this 'newfound' debate, we should be focusing on how to connect history and the present in relevant and applicable ways that build students' skills in understanding and applying evidence. He says that "history is complicated," so shouldn't we let students evaluate it with all of their complex and nuanced identities?]]> 2023-05-04 02:19:42 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577570621 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577594597 An example of a program that put students personal experiences first in community-based learning.]]> 2023-05-04 02:40:43 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577594597 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577622769 Before this class, I still would have said that social studies education should be intimately tied to students' lived experiences, but, after this semester, I agree with that even more strongly than before. However, I actually think that I have even more questions than answers now -  1) How can we do this by honoring various knowledge systems? 2) What changes need to be made within teacher education programs to make this a stronger part of the culture of social studies education in the United States? 3) Where do we start when thinking about how to shift teacher demographics away from an overwhelmingly white identity?]]> 2023-05-04 03:05:00 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577622769 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577714671 Mrs. Eckert believes that "it's better to promote multiple perspectives than to promote the teaching of morality because I don't know everybody's moral perspectives." Throughout the interview, she struggles with the idea of disclosure. She believes that because morality is so subjective that promoting disclosure, even if it is disclosure on a moral basis, can be dangerous since there are people who genuinely hold racist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, etc. moral values. ]]> 2023-05-04 04:46:54 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577714671 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577722437 First, we need to name the lessons that need to be included in the history curriculum. Things like 'queer studies' and 'Black history' have become buzzwords that immediately turn people away from conversations. If we can name specific topics, people, and events that these histories consist of, they suddenly become a lot less 'scary.' Similarly, Critical Race Theory has somehow become a catch-all for everything and anything that deviates from traditional, patriotic history. We need to name CRT as an advanced theoretical and legal framework that is not actually implemented in K12 classrooms. This leads back to the first point in which we name what sorts of topics we are actually talking about when wanting to expand the way American curriculum teaches race and racism.]]> 2023-05-04 04:54:10 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577722437 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577722793 For all of the talk about wanting to limit various topics in the classroom, many have a hard time defending why they support the restrictions. In this way, questioning should be used as a way to produce conversation and understanding between both sides of the spectrum. Debates over education have become incredibly fueled and passionate, and people have become increasingly staunch in their opinions and practices. To make progress, Democrats and the Left need to be asking the Right what worries them the most about progressive education implementation. This should be without accusation and simply as a way to fully understand the core arguments from Conservatives and develop empathy. Without having a deep understanding of where the Right is coming from, legislation and curriculum will never pass. ]]> 2023-05-04 04:54:30 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2577722793 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578465083 Mr. Toy differentiates between misinformation/disinformation and political stances, saying that "as a teacher of fact" it's okay to "call out myths and disinformation, even though that may be interpreted by some as a political stance." He qualifies this by saying that the social studies "culture wars" have been born out of this disinformation sphere, which has driven the contentious debates over public education. However, he also believes that the classroom should not be a place where teachers completely disclose their political beliefs because this "poisons the trusting and open atmosphere that you want to harbor in a social studies classroom." ]]> 2023-05-04 15:30:44 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578465083 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578560548 Mr. Lamb says that he doesn't exactly avoid controversial topics but that in the last few years he has had to be more careful about what he brings into the classroom. He notes that "if you're doing your job right, you shouldn't be preaching your own views." He also believes that if the topic starts to become too controversial then "you got to kind of read the class. And if they start sounding uncomfortable, you got to switch gears, you got to go do something else."]]> 2023-05-04 16:44:26 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578560548 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578997876 When talking about historical events that used to be much more political, Mr. Toy says that "some topics are historical facts, and you have to take a biased stance" when presenting them. The example he gives for this is teaching about the Holocaust and how a teacher must begin the lesson with the baseline that the Holocaust was an atrocious event. He also notes that there are ways to present lessons as either debatable or not debatable, and that teachers should never present these 'closed topics' as the former.]]> 2023-05-05 01:52:37 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578997876 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578998120 Finally, although he does worry if administration will have his back if any community members complain about his teaching of controversial topics, Mr. Toy says that he will continue pushing forward and teaching his classes the same way because, ultimately, his lesson plans are backed by evidence and present all sides of opinions, which allows students to come to their own conclusions without interference of Mr. Toy's political beliefs.]]> 2023-05-05 01:52:58 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2578998120 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579009409 In some ways, Mr. Lamb begins to contradict himself. He notes that students are "developing their opinions right now and just kind of trying things out" and may not "necessarily believe what they're saying." However, at the same time, he says that he feels uncomfortable bringing up some topics, like gun violence, because "kids kind of know the topics that you really don't discuss, and so they kind of on their own will navigate around them." He believes that on a personal level he is not ready or equipped with the knowledge to have these difficult conversations as well as be responsible for the discussions that follow.]]> 2023-05-05 02:09:48 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579009409 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579013715 Finally, Mr. Lamb is cautious about the legal and social repercussions that he could face because of disclosure decisions in the classroom. He says that he is "not going to open himself up to legal actions without the support of the principal, the administration, and the school board." He believes that New Hampshire laws have extremely limited what he can and cannot say in the classroom and that he would rather follow these rules than try to find ways around them.]]> 2023-05-05 02:16:07 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579013715 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579019643 In an ideal world, she notes that education would be grounded in anti-racist and anti-sexist work, but she thinks that promoting that in our current climate isn't feasible. Out of all the interviewees, she most often cites just how "complicated" the issue of disclosure is. While she has her own opinions about how she should disclose in her classroom, she thinks more broadly about the situation in all of public education and what message we should be giving to all teachers.]]> 2023-05-05 02:25:09 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579019643 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579020225 2023-05-05 02:25:56 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579020225 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579020366 2023-05-05 02:26:01 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579020366 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579025394 In response to laws that have been passed in New Hampshire which limit topics that can be talked about in the classroom, Mrs. Eckert says that if a teacher instructs with the inquiry model, then they should not be concerned. She notes that it "sets the base of if you're doing research, you need to be seeking multiple perspectives." She says that if teachers stay true to promoting multiple perspectives, then "no law should ever be a problem."]]> 2023-05-05 02:32:47 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579025394 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579040869 2023-05-05 02:55:10 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579040869 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579045086 2023-05-05 03:01:30 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579045086 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579068176 From their website: "The primary mission of the CCSR is to develop student leaders/social entrepreneurs who will be positive contributors to society and will work to combat critical social issues. We believe that K-12 public school education provides us with the most effective place to have a positive impact and influence on students. Most traditional public school education is focused on content (academics) and very little on social-emotional learning (SEL). In Medford, Massachusetts, we have created an SEL program where K-12 students learn to be responsible global leaders/citizens."]]> 2023-05-05 03:39:54 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579068176 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579068544 Although this program is not in-classroom instruction, it takes an approach to civics education that is highly hands-on, personal, and connected to students' communities. Last semester, I interviewed two students in the program who said that it has had a profound impact on their educational trajectory and their intellectual interests. They said that their deep learning was a result of the personal connections they were able to make to their work and how this experience became more formative to them than traditional classroom instruction.]]> 2023-05-05 03:40:39 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579068544 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579075607 2023-05-05 03:52:34 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579075607 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579084207 I found this TedTalk that talks about the argument for presentism. Although I think it is a bit idealized, I wanted to include it to show how other people are thinking and talking about the issue.]]> 2023-05-05 04:06:48 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579084207 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579084312 In all three rounds of the Fogo study, 'Making Personal/Cultural Connections' was one of the lowest ranked teaching practices. Participants said that these "connections are often strained, can distort history, and encourage presentism" (171). Concerns that it could "distort historical analysis" (179) also came up. Participants suggested a more conservative use of this type of practice only when it seemed explicitly and obviously relevant to the class material.]]> 2023-05-05 04:06:56 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579084312 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579085444 The Iceberg Model is a perfect example of how we can productively tie in social studies as a personal subject.]]> 2023-05-05 04:08:26 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579085444 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579092296 Lastly, we need to demystify what is actually happening in the classroom. People like Christopher Rufo have done an astounding job at creating fear surrounding indoctrination and the idea that teachers are forcing students to adhere to a certain ideology. Mass panic has developed from this idea, so we need to think about how to show what is truly happening in the classroom when students learn about things like Black history or queer studies. If we can demonstrate the use of classroom practices like the inquiry model as medium for lessons like these, there can be a greater understanding of how teachers truly instruct controversial topics in the classroom. There has been such a great chasm between public discourse and the realities of the classroom, and demystification can help lessen this divide.]]> 2023-05-05 04:18:29 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579092296 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579932501 In this example, I use the Black Lives Matter Movement as the tip of the iceberg, a topic that has extreme personal and cultural relevance to many students. In the Patterns/Trends sections, students will identify current events related to the tip, in this example, I talk about police brutality. However, the Structures section is where history can come into play in the most obvious way. We can examine the history of the policing institution, segregation and redlining, the War on Drugs, and the influence of police in different communities based on demographics. In this way, a lesson like this could be relevant to many different classes and time periods. Rather than using cultural and personal connections to water down history, we can actually use them to paint a more nuanced picture, especially when we are examining structural issues.]]> 2023-05-05 19:25:18 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579932501 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579980341 American conservatives have, in many ways, perfected their rhetoric choices when talking about public education policy in the United States. This is evident in the Ron DeSantis quote to the left. Republicans speak to traditional American ideals of truth and freedom and market public education as preparation for the workforce, certainly a capitalist and highly American way of thinking.]]> 2023-05-05 20:50:11 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579980341 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579982423 Democrats often resort to grievance politics, moral accusations that make opponents cling more strongly to their opinions, and academic jargon removed from personal experiences and concerns. Although important conversations are happening within the Ivory Tower on educational policy and initiatives, this information is not being translated into an easily digestible way to voters.]]> 2023-05-05 20:54:31 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579982423 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579983549 2023-05-05 20:56:55 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579983549 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579990223 I don't know the answer to how we begin to remedy this situation, but I was inspired by a campaign that Kimberlé Crenshaw is a part of called #freedomtolearn, largely born out of the restriction that came from the AP African American History course. I noticed this campaign for its simple message and rhetoric that mirrors Conservative efforts (as far as using vocabulary like "freedom" and "truth"). ]]> 2023-05-05 21:11:07 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579990223 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579991914 Below are excerpts that demonstrate the rhetoric and campaigning that, in my opinion, are more conducive to increasing conservative support, or at least starting a productive conversation.

•  "Defend the truth and to protect the freedom to learn"
• "Resist restrictions"
• "Strengthen our democracy"

]]> 2023-05-05 21:15:31 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579991914 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579997963 2023-05-05 21:30:07 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579997963 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579999055 Using the pedagogies of Naming, Questioning, and Demystifying found in Parkhouse's paper, we can think about how to reach more people when fighting for critical curriculum in the social studies classroom.]]> 2023-05-05 21:32:51 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2579999055 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2580042188 2023-05-05 23:51:18 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2580042188 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2580043465 2023-05-05 23:55:29 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2580043465 taylormaine https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2580044784 History is complex, so it doesn't make sense for it to be taught in a way that doesn't honor that. This doesn't mean that history and social studies education should be made complicated in a way where students lose interest and become frustrated by the material, but it should be presented in a way that is as nuanced as all the students' identities. This allows for heightened engagement in the material, the development of a love for learning, and a desire to pursue community engagement. ]]> 2023-05-05 23:59:35 UTC https://padlet.com/taylormaine/zglf60orfv072syg/wish/2580044784