This blog post is part of AEI’s Best Podcasts of 2021 series. Click here to see other AEI podcast hosts’ favorite episodes of the year.

Sometimes the very strategies meant to help children have
the opposite effect. In this podcast, we look behind the headlines at the
public policies and cultural agendas driving child welfare and education. In
each episode, we bring to light practices that will make you ask, “Are you
kidding me?”

Here are the top 5 episodes of “Are you kidding me?” from
2021:

1. The need for a parent revolution? (with Christine Rosen) — Episode #48, October 13

Educational institutions are supposed to serve the interests of children and their families. Yet parents are increasingly finding themselves coming up against a system that is turned against them. In some instances, they are even labeled by the National School Board Association as “domestic terrorists” for simply voicing their opinion.

In this episode, we were joined by Christine Rosen, a senior writer at Commentary magazine and chair of the Colloquy on Knowledge, Technology and Culture at the Institute for Advanced Studies and Culture at the University of Virginia. Christine explained that school boards passing emergency use restrictions combined with an ideological push to teach critical race theory in schools has led many parents — conservative and liberal — to come together in an effort to change school policies.

2. Helping students of all races achieve excellence (with David Quinn) — Episode #43, August 4

The way we frame
conversations about race has significant implications for future education
policies. Talking about “achievement gaps” draws attention solely to the
differences between white and black students, which can perpetuate racial
stereotypes. Maybe framing the issue as an “opportunity gap” instead would
encourage us to consider policies that promote equity and excellence for all.

In this episode, David Quinn, Assistant Professor of Education at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California, discussed the value of focusing on opportunity gaps instead of achievement gaps. He also noted the importance of recognizing historical injustices while at the same time understanding the importance of agency in the advancement of learning.

3. The importance of “unlearning” race and embracing humanism (with Thomas Chatterton Williams) — Episode #35, April 7

The tragic death of
George Floyd has sparked many important conversations about how Americans can
pursue a future characterized by unity and equality around race. Yet, amid this
national reckoning on race, a divisive and disempowering philosophy of
“antiracism” has risen to the forefront of American culture. Is the solution to
America’s racial disparities continuously reifying race in rhetoric and public
policy? What are the potential consequences of training our children to see
race as the most important part of a human’s identity? 

This episode featured Thomas Chatterton Williams — AEI visiting fellow, contributing writer for the New York Times, and prolific author and cultural critic. Thomas shared why he believes Americans must work toward unlearning race — restoring a person’s character, interests, and beliefs at the core of their identity rather than the color of their skin. Later, Thomas discussed why the core tenets of “antiracist” ideologies inadvertently reinforce ideas of white superiority and black inferiority.

4. The ironies of creating “equitable” educational standards (with Rick Hess) — Episode #46, September 15

Oregon Governor Kate
Brown recently signed a law eliminating the requirement that high school
graduates be able to demonstrate an ability to read, do math, and write at a
high school level. Proponents of the law claim it would promote “equitable
graduation standards” that will benefit Oregon’s students of color.

Rick Hess, a Senior Fellow and Director of Education Policy Studies at AEI, explained that schools across the country have an obligation to ensure that all of our children — no matter their socioeconomic background or race and ethnicity — have the basic skills for successful citizenship. He also observed that just two decades ago, policymakers on both sides believed that we were not doing low-income or minority students any favors by ignoring educational deficiencies.

5. Providing foster kids with the tools — and the funds — to succeed (with Tim Keller) — Episode #44, August 18

Every year, 23,000
children will age out of the foster care system without a loving family to take
care of them. How can child welfare agencies, government, and public policy
help these kids achieve upward mobility and ensure that they learn the
important skills needed to have a successful life?

Tim Keller is Senior Vice President and Legal Director at Gen Justice, an organization based in Arizona dedicated to fighting for foster care children at the federal and state level. Tim shared Gen Justice’s proposal to establish fostering independence accounts — a state-funded initiative that provides financial support to kids if they are willing to stay in the foster care system and accept guidance on everything from education and job training to housing and financial literacy courses. Finally, Tim also spoke to the importance of prioritizing the needs of the child when thinking about child welfare.

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