By this point, everyone is probably sick of hearing about virtual learning, e-learning, remote learning, or any other variation of the concept. That sentiment is probably exactly why lawmakers have crafted legislation to limit the number of such days a school can have. The House Enrolled Act 1093 says that schools are limited to no…
Author: Andrew Pillow
If Students Think You Have a Bullying Problem, Then You Do
For whatever reason, students seem to be the least consulted source for bullying in this country. Think about a time you saw a news story or a documentary about bullying. Who did it feature? Probably some adults. School administrators, district leaders, law enforcement, “experts,” and maybe even some parents, but most of the time you…
You Can Go to Schoolboard Meetings, Too
Over the last year or so school board meetings have become an unlikely battleground for partisan politics. Understandably a lot of people are not happy about that, especially those who feel like the politics being pushed don’t align with their own. It’s easy to sympathize with that sentiment; however, it is important to remember one…
Talking to Your Students About Ukraine
Ukraine and Russia have been dominating headlines worldwide for a couple of weeks now. Though it is highly unlikely that they are tuned into the nightly news, your students have no doubt seen some form of coverage, somewhere. It probably has been via TikTok or other forms of social media. Because students are being exposed…
Gov. Holcomb Vetoes Transgender Student-Athlete Ban Bill
Bills attempting to ban male-to-female transgender students from girls sports have sprung up all over the country, and Indiana is no exception However, in somewhat of a surprise, Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed the bill. The bill in question would have barred transgender female students from participating in female sports. Additionally, schools would have to designate…
HB 1134: Critical Race Theory Inspired Bill Dies in Senate
Yesterday the Indiana Senate killed House Bill 1134. The bill was aimed at banning or limiting conversations on “divisive concepts” like race, religion, sexuality, and gender. Proponents of the bill say that it would give parents more input and guarantee that students were not being made to feel responsible or uncomfortable in the classroom. Opponents…
Unlearn: Uncle Tom Is Not Who You Think He Was
Black History Month is a great time to learn new information. It is also a great time to unlearn information that is false and even detrimental. Today, we are going to debunk the mythology around “Uncle Tom” and why its usage as a slur makes no sense. Almost every Black person has heard the term…
Good Schools Teach Black History Before February
It’s February which means it is Black History Month. This month is a great opportunity to teach students about the contributions of Black people to society. Though there are a lot of people who aren’t fans of the month, most schools will, at minimum, offer some token gesture. Many schools will actually teach Black History…
Black Trauma Does Not Equal Black History
As an actual history teacher, I don’t do anything particularly special for February because I teach about everyone all year long. However, this isn’t the case at every school so Black History Month can be a great opportunity to teach students about the contributions of Black people to the world they live in today. Yet,…
State Senate Amends Anti-CRT Bill
The Indiana’s version of the anti “Critical Race Theory” bill has been significantly altered after large scale public outcry from teachers, students, and other stakeholders. House Bill 1134 is a bill that is aimed at controlling the teaching of “divisive concepts.” The bill is part of a larger nationwide effort to ban Critical Race Theory…