We speak with Cara E. Furman, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education at Hunter College, about her book "Teaching from an Ethical Center: Practical Wisdom for Daily Instruction." Dr. Furman focuses on teachers ensuring that their practice corresponds with their ethical center. She emphasizes teachers’ knowledge of learning environments, local communities, and the children themselves. We discuss the ethical problems with "fidelity" as applied to teaching.

Overview

00:00-00:43 Intros

00:43-03:15 Crossroads of philosophy, teaching, teacher ed

03:15-04:47 Practical wisdom

04:47-07:02 “The way that teachers know”

07:02-11:33 “Fidelity” as applied to teaching

11:33-13:04 Are fidelity and ethics compatible for teachers?

13:04-16:50 Do philosophers and teachers have difficulty understanding the connections between the fields?

16:50-18:44 Teaching from a “philosophical center”

18:44-20:58 Teaching from an “ethical center”

20:58-26:23 Variations in ethical centers

26:23-27:51 Can a school have an ethical center?

27:51-31:52 When teachers find themselves in schools with highly restrictive practices

31:52-35:24 Lawsuits against Lucy Calkins and Fountas and Pinnell

35:24-36:32 Effects on teachers of demands for fidelity

36:32-38:41 Scripts

38:41-41:35 Podcasts and books—similarities and differences

41:35- Outro

Transcript

Click here to see the full transcription of this episode. 

Resources

Book Teaching from an Ethical Center: Practical Wisdom for Daily Instruction by Cara Furman

Soundtrack by Poddington Bear