The Rational Educator

Education became a huge political hot button issue in the November election of 2021. In this episode we ask if political solutions to education's problems are sustainable, and if they even work at all. Check out our new website, a repository of education news and resources for parents: www.rationaleducator.comContact us at info@rationaleducator.comFind us on social media:Instagram: @therationaleducatorTwitter: @rationaleducatrFacebook: @TheRationalEducatorParler: @TherationaleducatorLocals: @RationalEducatorFind Andrew Bernstein on Twitter: @andyswoopWebsite: andrewbernstein.netMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3t... Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show

In this panel discussion, we talk about some of the myths behind homeschooling, and how it has emerged in a world of corrupted institutional education to be perhaps the only option left to save your children. Check out our new website, a repository of education news and resources for parents: www.rationaleducator.comContact us at info@rationaleducator.comFind us on social media:Instagram: @therationaleducatorTwitter: @rationaleducatrFacebook: @TheRationalEducatorFind Andrew Bernstein on Twitter: @andyswoopWebsite: andrewbernstein.netMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3t... Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show

Trying to fight the never ending insanities of modern education, from historical revisionism, to climate alarmism, to social justice math, is like trying to play whack-a-mole. But at the root of it all is the 19th century political philosopher Karl Marx, and that's the subject of our podcast. Who was he, and why does his influence continue to drive education today?Check out our new website, a repository of education news and resources for parents: www.rationaleducator.comContact us at info@rationaleducator.comFind us on social media:Instagram: @therationaleducatorTwitter: @rationaleducatrFacebook: @TheRationalEducatorFind Andrew Bernstein on Twitter: @andyswoopWebsite: andrewbernstein.netMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3t... Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show

In this episode, we discuss how the modern classroom came to be, why it was such a departure from earlier methods of education, and the figures in American history that drove its early adoption, Horace Mann and John Dewey.Check out our website: www.rationaleducator.comHere you'll find the latest news in the world of education, along with helpful resources if you want to explore homeschooling and other education alternatives.We'd love to hear from you. Our email is info@rationaleducator.com.Find Andrew Bernstein on Twitter: @andyswoopWebsite: andrewbernstein.netMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3t... Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show

In this episode, we discuss your alternatives if you have a child in a school you're not happy with. Will making your case in front of the school board work? What about private schools? Are they any better? And what about homeschooling? Is that even possible?Check out our website: www.rationaleducator.comHere you'll find the latest news in the world of education, along with helpful resources if you want to explore homeschooling and other education alternatives.We'd love to hear from you. Our email is info@rationaleducator.com.Find Andrew Bernstein on Twitter: @andyswoopWebsite: andrewbernstein.netMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3t... Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show

We're back!After a long hiatus, we've decided to relaunch with a new format and new name, but still bring you thoughtful discussion about the world of education.Our panel features longtime teachers Andrew Bernstein and Deanna Heikkinen, and is  moderated by your host, Joel Marquez. In this episode, we discuss how education went off the rails over the last century, and perhaps some hope for change in the future.Check out our website: www.rationaleducator.comHere you'll find the latest news in the world of education, along with helpful resources if you want to explore homeschooling and other education alternatives.We'd love to hear from you. Our email is info@rationaleducator.com.Find us on social media:Instagram: @therationaleducatorTwitter: @rationaleducatrFacebook: @TheRationalEducator Find Andrew Bernstein on Twitter: @andyswoopWebsite: andrewbernstein.netMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3t... Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show

Here's part two of our extended interview with Ana Martin, creator of the Libertarian Homeschooler Facebook page. We talk about what it means to be a libertarian homeschooler, as well as some of the lessons she's learned by homeschooling her two boys. This is a great episode, filled with the wisdom and observations Ana is known for on her Facebook page.If you're a parent and you'd like to start homeschooling, but you're overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, check out the homeschool coaching program from the Pisan Academy.You'll get everything you need to get started, from how to satisfy the legal requirements for your area to putting together an action plan tailored to what your family needs. Click on the link below to learn more:pisanacademy.com/homeschool-coachingAre you interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/passionatehomeschoolerFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/passionatehomeschooler/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Ana Martin is a long time homeschool mom who has been passionate about education and childhood development since the age of 14. She runs the Libertarian Homeschool Facebook page where she shares her wisdom and experience with an audience of over 60,000 people. We visit with her today to hear about her homeschool journey, about her ups and downs, and what she learned along the way.If you're a parent who's considering a homeschool journey of your own, but are overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, consider the coaching program from the Pisan Academy, which will give you everything you need to get started in just 4 weeks. From researching your local laws to developing a personalized program for your student, your coach will work with you to make your homeschool a reality.To find out more, go to pisanacademy.com/homeschool-coaching Are you interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive. https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/passionatehomeschoolerFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/passionatehomeschooler/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Sasha Reed is the Director of Industry Advancement at Procore, a tech company that specializes in construction management software. We talk with her about achieving professional success in the tech industry without a college degree, in a world in which degrees from elite schools are the currency of the land. For parents who keep hearing  news of skyrocketing costs, an intellectual monoculture, and a curriculum further and further removed from reality, it's fair to ask if it's really worth it, and is there a better alternative?If you're a parent looking a better alternative for your child's education by homeschooling, but are overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, check out the homeschool coaching program from the Pisan Academy, which will give you everything you need to get started in just 4 weeks!We do the heavy lifting for you so you can focus on your family during the transition.Get all of the information on your state and local laws and requirementsFind the right curriculumGet in touch with local co-ops and groupsLearn about the different homeschool approaches and what to expect. Click on the following link to find out more:https://www.pisanacademy.com/homeschool-coachingFind us on social media!YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PassionateHomeschoolerInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/passionatehomeschoolerFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/passionate homeschoolerOur Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

One of the consequences of virtual schooling under a lockdown is the near impossibility of personal engagement with the student by the teacher. Co-founder Deanna is here to talk about how that has affected some of the kids she tutors, and how that has led to a learning environment in which the only thing learned is how to be obedient.At the Pisan Academy, we create all kinds of ways that parents can engage their kids in real learning, from a literature reading program to live, small group classes, with subjects ranging from cursive, grammar, history, and literature.Check out our website and sign up for a free webinar at:https://www.pisanacademy.com/Follow us on Social Media:YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PassionateHomeschoolerInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/PassionateHomeschooler/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PassionateHomeschooler/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Connor Boyack is the author of The Tuttle Twins, a series of illustrated children's books that takes some of the great works from the canon of free market and classical liberal thought, and turns their basic premises into kid-friendly stories that parents can also read along with them. The stories are not only fun, but also thought-provoking, and a gateway to have some great conversations with your kids.You can learn more about the Tuttle Twins series by going to their webpage. Connor was nice enough to offer a 40% discount for the books by entering the coupon code "FORTY."https://tuttletwins.com/If you're interested in having your child learn basic skills like cursive, check out the live online classes at the Pisan Academy website, where you can find other classes like grammar, language arts, and history, taught in small group sessions:https://www.pisanacademy.com/classesFind us on social media!YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/PassionateHomeschoolerInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/PassionateHomeschooler/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PassionateHomeschooler/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Co-founder Deanna joins us for a discussion about cursive handwriting. Numerous studies have shown how this one skill, taught at an early age, can result in lasting neurological and cognitive benefits. So, why is it no longer being taught? And what are some of the best practices in which to teach it?If you're interested in having your student learn cursive, check out the live online classes at the Pisan Academy website, where you can find cursive as well as language arts and history classes taught in small group sessions:https://www.pisanacademy.com/classesCheck out more of Deanna's work on the Passionate Homeschooler YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRwFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Atlanta area homeschool co-op teacher and board president Kelly Elmore is back for part two of our interview with her and this time, we talk about her ideas about education from her perspective as a teacher.We talk about the importance of welcoming mistakes, a philosophy she calls "Yippee, Mistakes!" We also talk about how the skill of critical thinking can't be taught in a vacuum and teachers can model the behavior through their actions.If you'd like to learn more about the homeschool co-op she helped to found, check out their website here:https://www.stacofga.org/We're proud to announce the start of live online classes through the Pisan Academy. If you're frustrated that the modern education system isn't living up to your expectations, and you need help teaching your child the basics like cursive handwriting, and grammar, we can help! Small online group courses with no more than six students per class will start soon. Additional language arts classes such as writing and research will be added as well.Sign up now to get alerts at:https://www.pisanacademy.com/classesFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Kelly Elmore is a teacher, homeschool co-op founder, and longtime homeschool mom. In the first part of a two part conversation, we talk about her personal experiences as a homeschool mom with a teaching background.If you're in the Atlanta area, you can find out more information about her co-op here:https://www.stacofga.org/Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Deanna's back to talk about what we're seeing with virtual schooling, one week in. Some problems have been solved, but others will never be fixed. We also talk about alternatives.If you're a parent and you're considering homeschooling, but feeling a little overwhelmed, take a look at this free guide that contains actionable steps, lists of issues to consider, as well as planning checklists:https://www.pisanacademy.com/8-stepsInterested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeYou can find more of Deanna at the Passionate Homeschooler YouTube Channel here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRwLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Leonydus Johnson is a blogger, podcaster, and a cultural commenter arguing to, as he puts it, "help dismantle the ever-threatening push toward socialism, help break our culture's obsession with skin culture, and move into a truly post-racial society."He and his wife have recently chosen to homeschool their four children. We chat about his thoughts on education, why he chose to take them out of the public school system, and the importance of reason and critical thinking in education.You can find his website here:https://leonydusjohnson.com/And you can also find him on Twitter:https://twitter.com/leonydusjohnsonInterested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Co-Founder Deanna joins us for a conversation about the modern classroom from the perspective of the late public school teacher and education activist John Taylor Gatto.We talk about a speech he gave, republished in his book "Dumbing Us Down," in which he details the real lessons he taught his students by working within the classroom system, lessons like confusion, emotional and intellectual dependency, and indifference. If you'd like to read the speech yourself, you can find it here:http://the7lessonteacher.com/You can find more information about John Taylor Gatto here:https://www.johntaylorgatto.com/Interested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademyYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRwSupport the show

Co-founder Deanna, and High School teacher Luc Travers are back to talk about a unique genre in literature and storytelling that he calls "The Optimistic Outsider Wins Over the Hearts of the Cynical." This discussion was sparked by a new TV show on Apple TV+ called Ted Lasso, which seems like a simple fish out of water situation comedy, but shares certain elements with great works of literature like Jane Eyre, even adding twists that we argue are revolutionary.Here, we discuss the lessons we can learn from Ted Lasso, and perhaps get some ideas on the kinds of works we can teach to students.You can find more of Luc at his website:http://www.literatureatourhouse.com/You can also see Deanna at the Passionate Homeschooler YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4poqV4r3PEN-SITXjGtTRwInterested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comSupport the show

We conclude our two part episode with Jenn Casey, homeschool mom, and co-founder of an Atlanta area homeschool co-op. We talk about some of the reasons behind starting the co-op, the importance of founding principles, of community, and protecting all partners by forming a legal entity.This is a great episode, with lots of insight into the workings of a homeschool co-op. If you're looking to start your own co-op, this is a great organization to model yours after.You can find her co-op, The Space, Time, and Community co-op, here:https://www.stacofga.org/We also referred to a blog post on their website that asks whether or not their co-op classes are rigorous. You can find that here:https://www.stacofga.org/stacblog/high-school-classes-and-rigor-at-stacInterested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeIf you're a parent and you're considering homeschooling, but feeling a little overwhelmed, take a look at this free guide that contains actionable steps, lists of issues to consider, as well as planning checklists:https://www.pisanacademy.com/8-stepsLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comFind us on social media!Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pisanacademy/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pisanacademy/Our Blog - https://pisanacademy.com/blog/Twitter - https://twitter.com/pisanacademySupport the show

Here's a quick bonus episode that should've been part of last week's episode and didn't make it. But Jenn's answer is so good here that I wanted to make sure it got heard.Make sure you check out our next episode for the conclusion of our interview with Jenn.Here's a link to her Atlanta based co-op:https://www.stacofga.org/If you're a parent considering homeschooling, check out this downloadable PDF guide with a checklist to help you get started:https://www.pisanacademy.com/8-stepsInterested in a classic literature curriculum for your middle or high school student?Sign up for a free trial of the Literature Plus program from The Pisan Academy. You'll get everything you need to teach the greatest works of Western Civilization, along with additional readings of history and philosophy to add context and make the works come alive.https://www.pisanacademy.com/freeLet us know what you think! Send us an email!info@passionatehomeschooler.comMusic attribution:Misunderstood by 3lb3r3th (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial  (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/3lb3r3th/44072 Ft: AlchemistrySupport the show