Robert Pondiscio: Lessons From the Lowest Performing Schools in America

Robert Pondiscio is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of How the Other Half Learns He has spent the past few decades researching and writing about education reform.

In this episode, expect to learn why Robert left a successful journalism career to become a public school teacher in New York City's lowest performing school system, Robert's insights on education reform, particularly in inner-city schools, and what the real root of the public education problem really is. We explore why education reform is such a complex issue and why he believes the method of education is far more crucial than the school's structural parameters.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

2:44 - Why Robert Left Journalism to Become a Teacher in New York City

5:48 - The Training Program Robert Went Through to Become a Teacher

14:01 - Prerequisites for Teaching

20:51 - What is the Root of the Problem in Public Education

33:12 - The Work of E.D. Hirsch Jr.

37:26 - Repercussions of Lacking Cultural Knowledge

42:11 - Robert's Experience as a Public School Teacher in Lowest Performing Schools

51:32 - Alternative Education Models that Robert is Excited About

58:22 - Robert's Thoughts on App Based Learning

1:02:39 - Misreading the Signals