Watch the interview or read the transcript above (or on YouTube). Listen to the conversation on Spotify or Apple.
Doug “Teach Like a Champion” Lemov has a lot to say about the UK, Teach For America, media coverage of schools, and what education needs to do next.
On the UK success story, Lemov points out how little media attention the story has received — a coverage gap he hopes to help fill with an upcoming Education Next article.
On the collapse of the school reform movement, Lemov talks about the abdication of authority and all the “reckless, stupid” things that he observed in schools and experienced trying to help teachers be more effective.
“If you love kids, have high expectations for them, believe in them, push them hard, challenge them,” says Lemov. “I stand I stand by that. but for sure that for sure that was a dissenting opinion for a while. For sure it it invoked a lot of like anger and attack.”
“Was there less interest in our workshops on creating loving, orderly, productive classrooms? Did we spend more of our time talking about different topics with teachers? For sure. Did we lose some some business to a degree? Absolutely that happened.”
Lemov also describes the media coverage he’s experienced, both early on (by the Globe) and later (on the cover of the NYT Sunday Magazine).
“For the most part, I’ve been the beneficiary of a lot of really thoughtful, gracious coverage that’s been really good for me,” says Lemov.
Previously from The Grade
PISA poor test scores, missing ed reporters, & 2 new school-focused shows
The school reform nobody sees (featuring Charlie Barone)
Who killed school reform? (featuring Steven Wilson)
What social justice advocates can learn from Nikole Hannah-Jones’ viral essay (featuring Sabrina Stevens)
Can Democrats win on education reform? (featuring Rahm Emmanuel)
A New Home for Center-Left Education Politics (featuring Alisha Thomas Searcy)
