PBS recently republished a column by Rusul Airubail titled 'Why educators still need to talk about 9/11 — and Islamophobia'. I think this applies equally to adults and is actually very closely related to current experiences of racism and violence. It is still critical to provide safe spaces for children and adults to discuss the wave of Islamophobia that swept the US, with … [Read more...] about Connecting the Dots (2)
Education & Schools
Learning is a natural process that happens in every imaginable setting. Schools are designed, in theory, to promote and enhance learning. Some schools use highly-structured curriculum, while others use a more experiential, democratic, & student-driven approach. In practice, many schools also function to stifle criticism and to instill the values of state policy, religious dogma, or other value systems.
Also, see:
- teach-climate.net for information on how to integrate global warming & climate change into your school!
- resources for better schools & learning
Other school-related topics: Militarism in schools
Advocating for Change in the Criminal Justice System
This semester, I have done extensive research into the criminal justice system and believe that how the US handles crime and punishment is fundamentally flawed. I am calling for campuses to hold a criminal justice week that will make students more aware of these issues and will involve people of different fields in the conversation. This is too important to leave to … [Read more...] about Advocating for Change in the Criminal Justice System
My Personal Prison Project
I am on a quest to make a change in this world. Inequality, injustice, and inhumanity exist around us, and we need to open our eyes to it. Last year, I joined a club at my university called the Prison Project. Each week I travel to the Northampton County Prison and tutor inmates on a variety of subjects, helping them to prepare for their GED. I love knowledge; I feel that it … [Read more...] about My Personal Prison Project
Peter’s blog: ‘What could we be learning from others?’
A recent article by Janice Lee ('What Humanity Can Learn From Plants'), raises this question. It's well worth reading! Lee asks why we value 'scientific' knowledge over all other ways of knowing and points out some other limitations of our ways, such as rendering non-human living beings as 'it', as if they were inanimate objects. She suggests we could learn a lot from trees … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘What could we be learning from others?’
Teaching What’s Right: Teaching Columbus in Schools
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed some inaccuracies in information I learned through my grade school career. One fallacy that was widely accepted and taught was the notion that Christopher Columbus discovered America. It was ingrained into our minds all throughout elementary school. In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But as I’ve gotten older, I know that this fact isn’t … [Read more...] about Teaching What’s Right: Teaching Columbus in Schools
Peter’s blog: ‘Thanksgiving & Colonialism’
Thanksgiving Day seems an appropriate time to post this brief historical note about Colonialism in the United States. I'll start by mentioning that this is the original territory of the Lenape, now known as the Delaware. Like most parts of North America, Pennsylvania & New Jersey were occupied by Indigenous people for thousands of year before the first European settlers … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘Thanksgiving & Colonialism’
Peter: ‘Campus Food — look at Toronto’s example’
I think these schools have a way to go, but they're still doing a lot better than most colleges & universities in the U.S. NOW 2 August 2017 Where to find healthy and local food options at eight Toronto colleges and universities The lowdown on cafeterias and campus eateries putting sustainability at the top of the menu by Adria Vasil Tired of … [Read more...] about Peter: ‘Campus Food — look at Toronto’s example’
Synthetic Turf update [August 2017]
Tug McGraw. John Vukovich. Johnny Oates. And now Darren Daulton—that's 4 Phillies who have succumbed to brain cancer that may be connected to playing on artificial turf at Veterans Stadium. Phillies Unnerved by Possible Brain Cancer Pattern After Darren Daulton Death | Rolling Stone The Brain Cancer That Keeps Killing Baseball Players | New York Times Four Phils and brain … [Read more...] about Synthetic Turf update [August 2017]
Peter: ‘Charlottesville — for Teachers”
I have heard quite a few people say they are amazed that something like the events in Charlottesville could happen here, 'happen in America'. The stream of violence—often police violence—directed at Black people, Latinos, and Indigenous people is not new, nor is the violent treatment of Muslims & Indigenous people. In fact, these have all been problems since before the US … [Read more...] about Peter: ‘Charlottesville — for Teachers”
Coming Soon—A Guide for Teaching About the Food System
Student interns are working with Peter Crownfield to complete a guide and resources for teaching about the food system in the classroom. The guide is designed for K-12 teachers & students, and will include a guide to the history of our current food system, what a better & more sustainable food system would look like, and ideas for activities to engage students. (It … [Read more...] about Coming Soon—A Guide for Teaching About the Food System