Education Podcast with John Merrow | PBS
Veteran correspondent John Merrow and Learning Matters produce podcasts focusing on educational issues such as reform, best practices and testing in k-12 and higher ed. For over 30 years John has used media to encourage and enrich public dialogue about education. Learning Matters has a 11 year history of producing outstanding reportage for PBS that continues to inform the general public, policymakers and those specializing in education. Learn more at: http://www.pbs.org/merrow
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The Engine of Innovation-Education Podcast with John Merrow #134
Thanks to the federal stimulus package, new Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has a $160 billion budget -- and of that, he can spend $5 billion any way he pleases. With over 200 special interest groups and countless superintendents clamoring for his attention, Duncan has a lot of options. Dunca …
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The Road Ahead-Education Podcast with John Merrow #133
Former Assistant Secretary of Education Christopher T. Cross has seen a lot of education secretaries come and go, but none with as large a budget as Arne Duncan. Mr. Cross details the challenges Duncan will face as he aims to spend his department's $160 billion budget. With over 200 special intere …
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Bridging the Divide-Education Podcast with John Merrow #132
Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, believes that reform begins with teachers. But the question now is how to support them. Weingarten offers her opinion on how the new secretary should use his budget and explains why she thinks national standards should be his prio …
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The Supers-Education Podcast with John Merrow #131
Arne Duncan has $5 billion dollars of discretionary money to disburse as he sees fit. Superintendents across the country are debating where they think the money should go. Four of the nation’s best Superintendents discuss their feelings on one issue that is certain to be on Arne’s agenda, national s …
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Across the River-Education Podcast with John Merrow #130
Peekskill, New York is one of the many small cities across the country where the recession is making a huge impact on education. In this podcast, David Wald, Managing Producer at Learning Matters, sits down with correspondent John Tulenko to talk about the stimulus package and the effects of the rec …
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Carrot and Stick-Education Podcast with John Merrow #129
Paul Vallas has adopted a dozen strategies to fix New Orleans' ailing Recovery School District. In this podcast, he talks about his district's attendance problem, hiring truancy officers to combat the problem and how his strategies are working.AUDIODuration: 11:50
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The Coach-Education Podcast with John Merrow #128
Darrin Slade is a veteran middle school principal who talks about what it takes to lead an urban school and what it's like working for Michelle Rhee. AUDIODuration: 8:41
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The Contract Challenge-Education Podcast with John Merrow #127
Michelle Rhee and DC Teachers’ Union President, George Parker talk about negotiating a contract with much of the education world watching. AUDIODuration: 9:53
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Due to Financial Reasons...-Education Podcast with John Merrow #126
Alyson Karakouzian, a 32-year-old freshman at UMass-Boston, is juggling home life (a husband and three kids) during her first year of college. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIODuration: 8:51
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Dis-investing in Higher Education?-Education Podcast with John Merrow #125
George Miller talks about the Higher Education funding problem and why it is bad for those who are currently getting their education. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIODuration: 11:13
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The Many Headed Monster: Financial Aid-Education Podcast with John Merrow #124
Greg Johnson runs Bottom Line, an organization that helps at-risk youth get into college and graduate. He answers some practical questions about the process of financing a college education. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIODuration: 12:24
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American Debt Culture-Education Podcast with John Merrow #123
Pat Callan, President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, talks about how fewer families will be able to afford to send their children to college. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIODuration: 9:18
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Gay Rights in the Classroom-Education Podcast with John Merrow #122
The campaign both for and against California's Proposition 8 was heated and costly (only the Presidential campaign cost more). Among other charges, opponents of gay marriage claimed that homosexuality would be taught in schools. What about the schools? What are the rights and responsibilities of ga …
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Before Twenty-five-Education Podcast with John Merrow #121
Paul Vallas wants to hire as many bright, young teachers as he can--and he's bringing in hundreds of teachers through Teach for America and Teach Nola. Vallas talks about the energy and change young teachers are bringing to his district. AUDIODuration: 6:45
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The Second Year-Education Podcast with John Merrow #120
Colleston Morgan is a 22 year-old Harvard Graduate in his second year of Teach for America. Morgan talks about his hopes for the upcoming school year, some of his challenges and successes and if he thinks Paul Vallas’ new initiatives are working. AUDIODuration: 6:45
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Dance of the Lemons-Education Podcast with John Merrow #119
Michelle Rhee continues her sweeping changes with a teachers union contract that aims to rid the system of ineffective teachers. But the union itself has to approve it. What will happen to happen those deemed ineffective? AUDIODuration: 6:45
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Life in the Hot Seat-Education Podcast with John Merrow #118
George Parker is charged with negotiating the two-tiered contract that Michelle Rhee has proposed. But the union seems divided and Parker has 4,000 teachers that he has to answer to. The rest of the education world is watching as well. AUDIODuration: 6:45
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Bob Compton has Education Advice for the Next President-Education Podcast with John Merrow #117
Bob Compton is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur whose documentary film, 2 Million Minutes, takes a look at how six high school students from United States, China and India spend their high school years (two million minutes in total). We talked with Compton at the Republican National Convention …
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Deborah Meier has Education Advice for the Next President-Education Podcast with John Merrow #116
Deborah Meier has spent more than four decades working in public education. A MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius,” she founded Central Park East Elementary school and, later, Central Park East Secondary School. Deborah Meier is currently on the faculty of NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education as senior sc …
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High Marks for Paul Vallas-Education Podcast with John Merrow #115
Urban education expert Michael Casserly explains why New Orleans' Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas deserves an 'A-' for his first year on the job. AUDIODuration: 9:56

