Our first session of Bad Therapy, the latest best seller by Abigail Shirer subtitled, "Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up" discusses a new term for Coach, iatrogenesis, unintended harm by a doctor to a patient. Shirer uses this to bring up valid questions about the push for more therapy for children and the push for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the classroom. She uses discussions with therapists in the field that as parents and teachers should be used when determining the best course of action for children and what the school's role and teacher's role should be.

We need to return to emphasizing the word civil in civil discourse again. After the failed assassination of President Trump, Coach talks about several issues of the concern of hostile political rhetoric including the influence of the 24/7 news channels. He then discusses how we should approach Election 2024 in the classroom, how we need to promote Democracy in the classroom, that includes teaching American ideals and how they developed, looking for agreement rather than disagreement, and how to properly disagree with a fellow student (and always feel comfortable in the classroom to do so without fearing an ad hominem attack).

A review of the Nicholas Carr book, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. Even though written over 10 years ago, the studies and examples offered are still relevant as we move in the age of smartphones. Carr details that it isn't just a psychological issue, but physiological as it changes are brain structure. The questions addressed in this episode include, "What is the value of memorization?" and "How has the internet changed education?" It is a great companion to the episode Konnected Kids, a Review of the Jonathan Haidt book The Anxious Generation,

"This is bad, this is really, really bad" With the presidential season beginning a bit early this year, Coach shares how he would have addressed the Trump Biden debate of June 2024 in class. He shares the lies that were presented, the example of Ronald Reagan with similar concerns to President Biden in his 1st debate with Walter Mondale in 1984, and why he is calling it the Cincinnati debate when it took place in Atlanta (it has nothing to do with the actual debate). 1st Presidential Debate Reagan v Mondale 1984 Wall Street Journal: Behind Closed Doors, Biden Slipping Axios: Top Aides Shield Biden

The most defining difference between people in the US is not cultural, racial, ethnic, or gender based, but ideological. Second in the summer reading series is the title, "Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me" by Winfred Reilly. The obvious relation to the older text "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James Loewen is obvious. Where Reilly is upfront of his bias, Loewen obscures it (along with Howard Zinn). Reilly's work would help the diversity, equity, and inclusion that is championed in most classrooms today. Link to a Blog Post on this Episode If You Would Like to Share It Amazon's Listing for Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me

The state of Louisiana has mandate the 10 commandments to be posted in all public school classrooms. The ACLU has already said it will take the state to court due to violation of the separation of church and state. As a parent, teacher, and Christian, what does Coach think about that? Find out. Coach also shares some of the Christian beliefs of the founding fathers and how they relate to not just our founding documents, but also to the abolition of slavery. If you never heard of the influence of the First and Second Great Awakening on the United States, shame on your history teachers.

Are we more strict with our kids in the real world than we are in the digital world? First book talk of the summer, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt where he addresses that question. Citing stats of the decline of mental health among teens beginning with the advent of smartphones and social media, Coach brings not just the problems Haidt addresses but also one of his solutions...a return to the play based childhood. Along the way Coach calls Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death prophetic and offers insight into what he sees in the classroom in light of Haidt insights. The Anxious Generation is a must read for parents and teachers alike. Professor Haidt's endorsed website mentioned in the episode https://letgrow.org .

Who was your favorite TV Dad? In honor of Father's Day, Coach shares who his favorite TV dad was and how the role of the dad in the family has diminished in the past 60 years both in reality and on TV. The shocking statistics of fatherless homes will be provided as father's are encouraged to rise above their animalistic narcissism and leave the world a better place through their children.

Do you know what a mondegreen is? The episode opens with an explanation and then discusses the concept of teacher tenure. Some of the problems it creates for students, parents, and teachers, some ideas of solutions, and some of the positive aspects (with side conversations on high stake testing in schools and pensions) The following article is referenced in the episode from the Fordham Institute. Let's Talk About Bad Teachers

Today Coach talks about youth sports, the difference between coaching girls and boys in middle school, and concerns he has about recreation level coaches.

Last in a series on commencements speeches. The episode begins with more responses from the speech given by KC Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and then turns to the one given by Jerry Seinfeld's at Duke University. Undeterred by very small level demonstrations, Seinfeld reminds us to look at the little things for enjoyment in life, and that your privilege is a strength that you should be proud of rather than embarrassed by. Jerry Seinfeld's Duke Commencement Speech

If you went to college, do you remember the name of the person who gave the commencement speech? Do you remember the topic? I, like millions of others have forgotten, but this year, graduates of two colleges will never forget. 1st in a two part series, Coach talks about the commencement speech of Harrison Butker, the place kicker of the Kansas City Chiefs, at a small Catholic college in Kansas and how what he said was twisted to demonize him, even getting the NFL to denounce him. Coach reads to you the "offensive" parts of the speech and offers other information that points to Butler's intent, to raise the profile of Mothers and Wives as worthy pursuits. ⁠Butker's Commencement Speech at Benedictine College⁠ Coach provides a defense for Butler's view from unlikely sources who actually disagree with him (Whoopi Goldberg and Bill Maher) and are willing to expose the hypocrisy of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Also, the actions of those in the news media to make a non-story into a story and how students need to learn that in any course on media literacy.⁠NPR article on Melissa Kearney's book: ⁠⁠The Two Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind.

The number one reasons that teachers are quitting is the deterioration of classroom behavior & lack of consequences. In this episode, Coach questions the push to remove writing names of misbehavior on board, addressing outbursts in classroom privately, and clip arts. Why do we often think the worst of teachers in the addressing these situations rather than the worst of the acts? Do we display more concern toward how the misbehaving will react to the consequence at the expense of behaving students?

State Testing Season is Upon, but did No Child Left Behind Act (Bush #2) and Every Student Succeeds Act (Obama) emphasis on high stake testing really improve anything other than the bottom line for testing corporations? Coach shares the changes he has seen education since there implementation, the tension they create for students and educators, and the lack of real value these tests offer him about the strengths and weaknesses of his own children.

Special Edition...At one point does a protest stop being lawful? Are the college protests over the Palestinian Israel Conflict of 23-24 the high water mark of progressivism? Did the book, "The Coddling of the American Mind" get it right? Coach contrasts the campus demonstrations of the 60's with today's and sees if we can learn where American culture is going. Playing Nostradamus, Coach uses thoughts about Bill Maher, Richard Dawkins, and young Catholics who desire to return to a more traditional faith as evidence for his prediction . Article about Young Catholics: https://www.chron.com/news/article/a-step-back-in-time-america-s-catholic-church-19432333.php

Using the experience of two brothers who were both top athletes and scholars at his high school, and graduating with the late NFL defensive lineman Tony Siragusa, Coach shares his perspective that the "Dumb Jock" trope was something he never saw; no one was excused from school work for their athletic skills. Playing sports teaches skills that will help athletes not only be successful on the field, but in life.

One of the influences of my wife is the enjoyment of one her favorite TV shows of all time, Wings. Coach shares the overarching story of Joe and Brian Hackett needing to know the value of brotherhood (which we laughed at the many lessons they had of that over 8 years). Coach then turns to the classroom and the home and explains how we need to have a holistic view of both in order to build true safe spaces for our students and children. The episode ends with how parents can best deal with the a defiant child using an example of a woman named Monica with her son Angie..

Last in a series on Old School Teaching Tools That Shouldn't Be Tossed. Starting with a discussion of the blow back he has received from the episodes "More Than a Pencil" & "Past Due Review", Coach shares the purpose of these episodes; to support teachers who are being told to ditch consequences (typically the #1 reason given as to why teachers are leaving the profession) He then discusses his concerns about "sharing power" with his students in the classroom, citing an Edutopia article (posted below) that calls for a more "Democratic" classroom, and demonstrating its flaw and standing by the principle "There is a hierarchy in the classroom by necessity" The episode ends with Coach sharing his "Dictatorship" model classroom management technique, points out several areas of agreement he has with the Edutopia article, and concludes with sharing how students dont really want you as their friend either. Edutopia: "The Power of a Democratic Classroom" by Carla Marschall. July 27, 2021 https://www.edutopia.org/article/power-democratic-classroom

Second in a series on Old School Teaching Tools That Shouldn't Be Tossed. Do you give deductions for late work? Have you been told it's wrong to give deductions for late work? Coach shares some of the faulty arguments that teachers use to convince other teachers to give up consequences for late assignments. The requirement of a project often goes beyond the actual content being assessed. Punctuality is a requirement just as writing three paragraphs for a three paragraph essay is a requirement. He also shares his approach and concerns what is really being reinforced by not holding students accountable for handing assignments in on time.

First in a series on Old School Teaching Tools That Shouldn't Be Tossed. Have you ever heard the legend of the rock band Van Halen and their request that no brown M&M's could be backstage? It's not a legend and was for a valid reason. From that story, we discuss: Should a teacher freely give a student a pencil if they forgot one for class? It seems like such a minor point, but Coach uses it to expand upon the many lessons a student learns in not receiving one, how minor frustration is better than just handing one out. Coach also refutes typical arguments educators have used to shame teachers into handing out pencils like Halloween candy, such as the "Worst Case Scenario" and "Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right"