Crossover episode of Pewside Perspective. Hope the listeners of the Parent Teacher Conference enjoy. Let me know what you think at pewsideperspective@gmail.com
I did a thing...I was kicked out of a Middle School History Teacher's Group on Facebook.
In this cross over episode with his old podcast The Parent Teacher Conference, Coach shares the reasoning for his removal (at least he thinks the reason because none was ever given) and shares how in K-12 history education the progressive view is seen as the correct view and anything that is not in support of their view is seen as "far-right". For example anything by Howard Zinn & the Zinn Institute is seen as "unbiased" and appropriate for the classroom while anything by Prager U is seen as inappropriate even though Prager U declares its conservative bias and Zinn withholds sharing its Marxist bias.
The last "lyric" of the hymn, Coach shares the importance of history in the Christian faith (rather than holding a view of a "spiritual" Jesus and resurrection and the importance of it happening in real time and space) and shares how more historians are now in agreement of a historical Jesus (some support from Wes Huff and Dr. Gary Habermas below)
Bill Joel's We Didnt Start the Fire MTV Video
Prager U TBH History on the Scientific Revolution
Wes Huff on the Joe Rogan Podcast
Dr. Gary Habermas on the Resurrection
If you liked the Parent Teacher Conference, try out Pewside Perspective, where Coach looks at a wide range of issues from a Christian perspective including educational thoughts like this episode...Hymn #7 Everyday People.
On this crossover episode...
On January 29th, 2025, President Trump signed the Executive order called "ENDING RADICAL INDOCTRINATION IN K-12 SCHOOLING". Many people, especially teachers, were angry. On this episode, Coach discusses 3 points from the executive order; patriotic education, gender transitioning of children without parental knowledge, and diversity, equity, and inclusion or Critical Race Theory messaging in the K-12 classroom from the perspective of a teacher, parent, and Christian. He defines terms in order to achieve understanding and shares how many people in opposition to the E.O. are creating a hyperbolic straw man rather than address reasonable concerns as presented here.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO PEWSIDE PERSPECTIVE TO NEVER MISS A NEW EPISODE OF THIS NEW PODCAST
No one likes to hear when they are doing something wrong, yet it can sometimes be the most loving words you need to hear. Coach uses the Seinfeld episode about Festivus to discuss the proper way to enact "The Airing of Grievances" & how our alway affirming never criticizing culture is to no one's benefit. One example he uses is from the world of sports to show that in some venues, we see the value in being critical.
Coach discusses the negative of avoiding providing consequences to children and students that has become popular among experts in parenting and eduction.
As Coach prepares the first episodes of his new podcast endeavor Mixtape Manifest (with three episodes dropping on January 2nd), he was missing commentating on his favorite time of year, Christmas.
In this extra episode of the Parent Teacher Conference, Coach talks about one of his daughter's favorite Christmas movies, Christmas with the Franks, and shares what it teaches us about Jesus' sacrifice, 1st in his coming to earth and in his walk to the cross.
Please look for the Mixtape Manifest on January 2nd. You can stay up to date by emailing mixtapemanifest411@gmail.com, or follow Mixtape Manifest on Facebook or Twitter (X).
Hello listeners of the Parent Teacher Conference Podcast, here is a clip of what Im working on for my next podcast endeavor, The Mixtape Manifest
I explain the reason for the name in what I plan to be the first 10 minutes of the first episode. Mixtape was an item that identifies me with the experience of growing up in Generation X, but it also reflects the seemingly random events of life, where you search for meaning and purpose that we know a good mixtape has.
Please let me know what you think by emailing me at ptcpodcast411@gmail.com or mixtapemanifest411@gmail.com.
If you would like updates on the new podcast Coach is creating please get on the mailing list
ptcpodcast@gmail.com
of following him on Twitter @coachKcullen
our following The Parent Teacher Conference page on Facebook
After over 200 episodes and many discussions with listeners over the past 2.5 years, the Parent Teacher Conference's last episode is here. Coach begins discussing the Beatles Abby Road album and then shares the reasons he first began the podcast in the 1st place (to allow more moderate to conservative educators and parents to know they were other voices of agreement out there rather than the more progressive thoughts that were being pushed in education and how that would effect him as a teacher and parent.
He then shares that the show fulfill its purpose; the evidence
1) the end of progressive domination in edu Twitter and decline of edu Twitter as seen in the current of exodus to Blue Sky (and the reasons why Coach is sticking with edu Twitter, its promotion of diversity of thought)
2) the post-mortem of the election of Trump as nicely summed up by liberals such as Bill Maher where the problem was the Democratic track further left than to the center
Clip of Real Time with Bill Maher referenced in episode
3) The future...plans for where the new podcast that Coach will create will focus on, life through the lens of faith
On the penultimate episode, Coach discusses the reasons for Trump's election victory of 2024. Not by defending Trump, but asking the question, why are people voting for him, posed as the question, "What would you think of me if I said I voted for Trump?"
Coach shares all the warning signs of a Trump victory including Top Gun Maverick, Disney's live action Snow White, and a group of volleyball players in the Mountain West conference who are standing up for what they believe despite the names they may be called. Perhaps Americans are rejecting the dogmatism of the Woke Left.
Its been over a month since Coach's last episode & on this one he announces the end of the Parent Teacher Conference Podcast in the near future and plans to create a new podcast (If you want info on his future podcast, email him at ptcpodcast411@gmail.com to receive emails).
The rest of the episode he shares his experience coaching another team to a county championship in a thrilling comeback victory.
Coach uses a discussion with a college friend who was using a history major to prove his value in the world of marketing as the beginning of a "lesson" on why a history education is important (He believes all teachers should be able to share where their content is important, or what's the point for their students to learn it)
He provides the major points he discusses with his students, including quotes from George Santayana, CS Lewis, George Orwell, and Issac Newton. He even gets "involved' in the 2024 Presidential Election by discussing a member of the MN State Department of Education that Governor Walz appointed that is a proponent of changing the way Americans look at their past (not in a positive way)
One thing that will be emphasized is that a history education should keep us humble; being unguarded to accept evil practices as good.
In this episode, Coach gives you a glimpse into his classroom lessons and how he uses the first few days to engage the students thinking; rather than just read a syllabus, he uses it to discuss topic in civics such as rights, liberty, types of governments as well as review my classroom rules. Yes, Coach really does declare not only that his class is a dictatorship, but why they will thank him at the end of the year for it.
The episode ends with a word that most children don't realize that sometimes can be the most loving word their parents say to them.
Below are a number of my favorite episodes over the first 200 that I shared on Facebook (The Parent Teacher Conference) and Twitter (@coachcullen411)
10 Things I Shared With My Daughters
What To Do With Special Education
What is the Best Christmas Movie-12 Days of Christmas Arguments
I can't believe it! It's the 200th Parent Teacher Conference. First, thanks to the small, but loyal listeners who have shared with me and talked with me about some of the topics I've presented. You don't know how I valued all the conversations.
On this episode, Coach goes a bit deeper on the reason he created this podcast; a place for a moderate to right, traditionalist, voice to be heard during a time when progressive voices in education & parenting were dominating. Coach realized there were many parents and teachers who needed to know there were more of us out there. Also thoughts coming from a teacher who was still in the trenches rather than one with a few years "in the game" who left to tell the ones left in the fight how to be a teacher.
Be looking on Twitter (@coachcullen411) and Facebook
(The Parent Teacher Conference Page and Group) for postings of Coach's favorite of his 200 episodes this week.
Coach also mentions one of his favorite Youtube teacher channels TeacherTherapy. Take a listen
Reflecting on the passing of Matthew Perry & the disregard to his humanity that has been revealed in the indictments handed down for his death to people including doctors, Coach discusses the trait of real friends; the courage to say "that is wrong, don't do it", that "No" can be the most loving word that can be heard, basically to be honest.
Going beyond honest friends, Coach encourages parents and teachers to "be the adults in the room". He pushes back against the affirmation culture and its idea that "No" is harmful to a child's self-esteem and should be avoided, especially when it comes to sexuality during a time in childhood that we know that the part of the brain for decision making is still being developed.
As a teacher, what are you doing on the first day of school with your students? Are you going to drone on about the rules and expectations? If your students could choose to go back for day 2, would they? Coach shares the Home Run Derby he plays with his students on day 1, how he learns what is important in the minds of his students through play, and how he uses that opening day excitement to motivate his students in history.
He then pivots to Back to School Night, reminding teachers this is their opportunity to give their students' parents a taste of what goes on in your classroom. If the presentation bores them, what is that telling them about what their child is thinking about your class?
For parents, you get to see the inner workings of a teacher's mind as they approach these two days that others may find trivial, but Coach sees as important. It also will inform you about how best to approach your child's Back to School night from a parent's POV.
And one last point...a teacher should always undersell what they do in the classroom rather than oversell.
Many teachers complain about the first day of school for teachers (commonly called an inservice or professional development). Yes, their summer break is over, but the experience is like going to the dentist for a root canal. You want to be anywhere else but there. There are administrators are more focused on the public relations and press releases that come out of that day rather than if it is actually beneficial to their staff. Often, outside speakers are more about the fee they receive than providing what the teachers in their audience actually need.
Coach shares his idea of his plans for a first day professional development for teachers if superintendent, administrators, and principals had the courage to do it.
Food, Brevity, Encouragement, Purposeful.
After watching a Facebook reel that made teachers feel they are the problem when it comes to student behavior (and worse, if it was part of a opening day keynote presentation) Coach decides to give a pep talk for teachers heading back to school to start the new year.
From ideas like the best safe space in a classroom is structure and rules to teaching being like long distance driving (minus the ability to pull over for a potty break)
Teachers need to know that their passion keeps them coming back to a job year after year that others would struggle to keep up.
Coach completes his review of the Abigail Shrier book Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up. The focus in the episode deals with the questions "Are we teaching our children what is true about reality?" and "When we cast a wide net about trauma, are we actually doing more harm than good?" Ideas such as resilience, agency, and being the adult in the room are discussed when looking at topics such as Restorative Justice. Is the affirmative approach creating narcissists? Can people act mean in the name of empathy? Also, a brief discussion of the topic of Shrier's other best seller, "Irreversible Damage" on Gender Dysphoria is discussed from the viewpoint of a father with teen daughters.
If you truly believe that to be informed one must see differing perspectives and viewpoints, then Shirer's book is a must read for parents & teachers to help raising kids.
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