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In this special episode of the Teachers Forum, David is joined by Emmy-nominated producer and anti-racist educator Ernest Crim III to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 97th birthday. Together, they delve into the complexities of King's later years, exploring his evolving views on economic justice, non-violence, and the ongoing struggle for civil rights. Through a rich dialogue, they challenge listeners to reflect on King's question, "Where do we go from here: chaos or community?" and consider its relevance in today's socio-political climate.

If you would like to contact Ernest you can reach him by visiting his website: ernestcrimm.com

Speech: Where Do We Go From Here - August 16, 1967

Where do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community by Martin Luther King, Jr.

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In this thought-provoking episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David Harris is joined by Charlotte Jacobs and Roderick L. Carey to examine the narratives shaping conversations about gender and education. The episode opens with a classroom incident that raises questions about how boys experience discipline, attention, and belonging in schools (01:44), before turning to reactions to the CBS documentary Boys to Men and the media framing of a so-called “boy crisis” (04:05).

The conversation critiques this framing by situating it in historical and social context, including how Black boys have long been viewed as problems to be managed rather than young people to be supported (06:35). Dr. Jacobs challenges zero-sum thinking around resources for girls and boys, emphasizing that equity work for girls addressed centuries of exclusion and remains unfinished (09:25). Dr. Carey reframes the idea of boys being “overlooked,” arguing instead that Black boys are hyper-visible in discipline but emotionally invisible in schools (12:56).

The discussion then explores how boys are navigating a changing cultural landscape, including the pull of the “manosphere” and growing skepticism about traditional college-to-career pathways (15:00). Both guests stress the importance of validating boys’ interior lives (20:30) and moving from a narrow focus on achievement toward self-actualization and well-being (24:45). The episode concludes with a call to reimagine schools as centers of care rather than test-driven institutions (29:05), along with recommended readings that center healing, love, and human flourishing in education (32:45).

Join the Conversation:

• david@theteachersforum.org
• @theteachersforum.bsky.social
• X (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993

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In this episode of The Teacher’s Forum, David Harris speaks with Dr. James Ford about the recent immigration enforcement actions in Charlotte and their impact on students, families, and schools (02:35). Dr. Ford discusses what educators must do during moments of crisis to ensure students’ physical and emotional safety (05:46), the pressures teachers feel to remain silent (10:30), and why claims of classroom “objectivity” can become harmful when discussing issues of human dignity (14:40).

The conversation then turns to the values public schools claim versus the values they practice (21:00), the fragility of rights like those affirmed in Plyler v. Doe (25:42), and the trauma today’s youth navigate in a digital age (29:00). Dr. Ford offers historical insight into the role of Black private schools as spaces of autonomy and safety (33:15), distinguishes between reform and true transformation in education (36:00), examines the “illusion of inclusion” many students of color experience (38:50), and reflects on the teacher who deeply shaped his own journey (41:10).

To contact Dr. Ford and learn more about the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) please visit their site at https://www.creed-nc.org/

Join the Conversation:

• david@theteachersforum.org
• @theteachersforum.bsky.social
• X (formerly Twitter) @theforum1993

Please subscribe, share and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Help us amplify the voices and issues of K-12 educators all over the world.