The Merrow Report- Podcast Archives

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PODCAST TOPIC >> Elementary School

MAKING THE GRADE PART 1- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL- The first of seven NewsHour pieces that follow several first year teachers assigned to one of the worst public schools in New York City. In our first installment, you will meet Teaching Fellows Dana, Scott, Renee, and Jack, who are assigned to PS 25 in Brooklyn, a K-8 school known for its low academic performance. Duration: 14:49 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 60KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: FIRST YEAR TEACHERS)

MAKING THE GRADE PART 2 - LEARNING THE ROPES - This week’s podcast is the second of seven NewsHour pieces that follow several first year Teaching Fellows assigned to one of the worst public schools in New York City. In our second installment, the realities of being an inexperienced teacher sets in, the Fellows get a visit from the principal and the district superintendent, and one teacher gets assaulted in class. Duration: 12:11 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 44KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: FIRST YEAR TEACHERS)

MAKING THE GRADE PART 3 - FRUSTRATIONS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS - This week’s podcast is the third of seven NewsHour pieces that follow several first year Teaching Fellows assigned to one of the worst public schools in New York City. In our third installment, two Teaching Fellows drop out and another struggles to maintain control of her classroom. Duration: 12:53 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 36KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: FIRST YEAR TEACHERS)

MAKING THE GRADE PART 4 - CHALLENGES CONTINUE - This week’s podcast is the fourth of seven NewsHour pieces that follow several first year Teaching Fellows assigned to one of the worst public schools in New York City. In our fourth installment, we visit the Fellows at their local college, where they are taking classes aimed at improving their teaching techniques. Are these classes actually helping them in their own classrooms? Duration: 14:05 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 50KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: FIRST YEAR TEACHERS)

MAKING THE GRADE PART 5 - PREPARING FOR STANDARDIZED TESTS - This week’s podcast is the fifth of seven NewsHour pieces that follow several first year Teaching Fellows assigned to one of the worst public schools in New York City. In our fifth installment, the Fellows learn how to “teach to the test,” preparing their students for high stakes testing that could get them off the list of lowest performing schools. Duration: 11:49 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 26KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: FIRST YEAR TEACHERS)

MAKING THE GRADE PART 6 - THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR - Over the course of a school year, five NYC Teaching Fellows have tackled every classroom challenge that's come their way, including disruptive students, violence, high pressure testing, and the reality of becoming teachers with almost no training. We’ve watched them overcome the jitters of their first day of school and struggle to maintain control of their classrooms. Two of their colleagues at PS 25 in Brooklyn quit early in the year, and one of our rookies, Renee Cason, came close. She admits “ I hate this year” but also promised she would not throw in the towel. In this NewsHour episode, the sixth of seven, you'll find out if she makes it and hear the rookies reflect on all they’ve faced. Duration: 11:36 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 157KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: FIRST YEAR TEACHERS)

PODCAST TOPIC >> Middle and High School

ACHIEVEMENT GAP- A profile of an urban elementary school in Mount Vernon, NY that has been successful at avoiding the achievement gap. Duration: 11:11 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 56KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: ACHIEVEMENT GAP)

CHATTANOOGA'S ENTHUSIASTIC EIGHT- Eight remarkable teachers from some of the poorest schools in Chattanooga show no fear of speaking openly about teaching in the inner city. Duration: 45:26 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 94KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: CHATTANOOGA)

CHATTANOOGA- When a list of the worst elementary schools in Tennessee came out in 2000, Chattanooga was stunned to find that nine of its schools were in the bottom 20. Embarrassed, the community decided it had to act. Duration: 11:11 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 54KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: CHATTANOOGA)

DISAPPEARING DROPOUTS- America knows the situation in our public high schools is bad, but it may be far worse than they think. Duration: 10:28 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 68KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DISAPPEARING DROPOUTS on the NewsHour)

HIGH STAKES TESTING- George Madaus, testing analyst of over 30 years, gives his insights into the defects of testing practices and how they play out in the classroom. Duration: 35:15 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 68KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: TESTING OUR SCHOOLS)

MILITARY RECRUITING IN HIGH SCHOOL- Two years ago the US Army granted us complete access to its high school recruitment process. We followed the team to a large San Diego high school. You will see recruiters and soldiers talk to students about life in the Army and visit the Army's 1.1 million dollar Aviation Van. Duration: 11:40 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 64KB] (RELATED PROGRAMS: MILITARY RECRUITING IN HIGH SCHOOLS)

TURNAROUND SPECIALIST, PART 1- Can a troubled middle school be turned around in only one year? As seen on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 48KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: TURNAROUND SPECIALIST, Part 1)

TURNAROUND SPECIALIST, PART 2- (Winner of 2006 CINE Golden Eagle Award for Informational Reporting) Parke Land continues to tackles discipline problems with limited success. “I don’t like failure,” he said. “And it feels like failure”. Was Boushall Middle School more than he had bargained for? As seen on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 100KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: TURNAROUND SPECIALIST, Part 2)

TURNAROUND SPECIALIST - PART 3 The continuing dramatic story of one man's effort to fix a failing middle school in Richmond, Virginia. Parke Land is one of two dozen veteran public school principals selected for two weeks of business school training and then assigned to some of the state's toughest schools. Duration: 10:08 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 49KB] (RELATED PROGRAM: TURNAROUND SPECIALIST)

TURNAROUND SPECIALIST - PART 4- Land envisioned turning Boushall into a school full of joy and, by year's end, predicted passing scores on Virginia's state test. In part IV of our serial coverage, the surprising conclusion to our story--delayed until Virginia released the scores of its state test. Duration: 12:19 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 37KB]

TURNAROUND SPECIALIST ROUNDTABLE- What does it take to turn around a failing school? John Merrow talked to three so-called “turnaround specialists” hired by the state of Virginia to save its underperforming schools. Duration: 36:38 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 394KB]

PODCAST TOPIC >> College

A DEGREE OR AN EDUCATION?- Former college president Richard Hersh discusses the difference between a college degree and a college education.Duration: 45:31[ DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 78KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

A JUGGLING ACT- While other students are studying, partying or sleeping, Ceylon Hollis is processing hundreds of car parts until the sun comes up. She works full time at an automotive plant and goes to school full time at Western Kentucky University. Duration: 8:49 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 48KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

A PROVOST'S BALANCING ACT- A glimpse into the life of a college provost, the chief academic officer on campus. Dr. Barbara Burch of Western Kentucky University has to struggle to balance the needs of 19,000 students, the demands of faculty, economic pressures, and pressures from interest groups (like sports fans!). Duration: 44:56 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 76KB] (RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

CHASING TENURE-A young adjunct professor would like nothing more than a full time teaching position that would put him on the long road towards tenure, but most of his requests for job interviews go unanswered. Duration:29:46
[DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 64KB] (RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS - a conversation with Tom Parker, dean of admission and financial aid, at Amherst College. Duration: 45:57 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 104KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

COLLEGE LIFE- Inside college dorm life. A Resident Assistant, Mike Morfield, reveals how students deal with drinking, dating and becoming an adult. Duration: 11:00 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 40KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

COLLEGE RANKINGS- College presidents, critics and advocates debate the value of the US News and World Report college rankings Duration: 8:44 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 48KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

COLLEGE SPORTS- A March madness special. Sociologist Harry Edwards on the business of college athletics. Duration: 47:00 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 88KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

COLLEGE TEACHING - an interview with Lee Shulman, President of The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Duration: 37:48 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 80KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

COMMUNITY COLLEGES - a conversation with Kay McClenney, a veteran educator and director of The Community College Survey of Student Engagemen. Duration: 28:36 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 72KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

EXPECTING LESS... AND GETTING IT- A conversation with a college professor who seems to accept student mediocrity as inevitable. Paulette Kurzer, a professor of political science at the University of Arizona and teacher of over 20 years, discusses how she deals with students who don't pay attention or do the work. Duration: 35:57 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 72KB] (RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

EXPECTING MORE... AND GETTING IT- A conversation with a college professor who challenges his students and expects them to challenge each other...and him. An interview with Austin Sarat, professor of jurisprudence and political science at Amherst college for over 30 years. Duration: 45:21[ DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 76KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

FIRST GENERATION FRESHMAN- College freshman Matt Morris is making the move from a small country town to a large state university. In this week’s podcast, he tells us how appearing to be a hillbilly appeals to coeds, how he balances his party life with his schoolwork, and other secrets. Duration: 26:53 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 76KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

LIBERAL EDUCATION - A conversation with Amherst College President Tony Marx. Duration: 32:04 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 80KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

MARKETING COLLEGES- Lara Couturier on competition among colleges. Duration: 23:09 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 68KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES- University of Arizona President Peter Likins responds to criticism about education at a large public university. Duration: 31:07 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 88KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES: HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

SLIPPING BEHIND- Pat Callan, President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education discusses what's wrong with American higher education. [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 100KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

"THE ARMS RACE"-- transforming a university. A conversation with Western Kentucky University President Gary Ransdell. Duration: 25:32 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 80KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

US NEWS RANKINGS- Ben Wildavsky, the editor of U.S. News and World Report defends the methodology and usefulness of his publication's ranking guide, America's Best Colleges. Duration: 27:50 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 88KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

PODCAST TOPIC >> Educators

ALBERT SHANKER'S LEGACY- A tribute to the late educator and teacher union leader. Duration: 52:53 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 102KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: ALBERT SHANKER'S LEGACY)

CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS – a conversation with former California State librarian, Dr. Kevin Starr Duration: 27:58 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 88KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: FIRST TO WORST)

GIFTED EDUCATION- Gifted education specialist Penny Choice deflates the myths about "cream always rising to the top". Duration: 32:50 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 76KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: GIFTED STUDENTS)

IS EXCELLENCE ENOUGH?- Can a school be 'outstanding' AND 'in need of improvement' at the same time? Apparently so. A visit to a highly praised New York City public school that, according to the federal law known as "No Child Left Behind," is not making the grade. Duration: 12:58 [ DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 40KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: IS EXCELLENCE ENOUGH?)

JOEL KLEIN & DISAPPEARING DROPOUTS- A report on just how far educators will go to avoid being held accountable for educating our children; a revealing interview with NYC School Chancellor Joel Klein. Duration: 47:26 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 88KB]
(RELATED PROGRAMS: DISAPPEARING DROPOUTS and SCHOOL REFORM IN NEW YORK CITY)

NSSE- A conversation with George Kuh, Director of the National Survey of Student Engagement. Duration: 39:17 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 96KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

PROGRESSIVE SCHOOLS- How are "progressive" classrooms different from traditional ones? Alfie Kohn will tell you that they could not be more different. Duration: 36:18 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 132KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SLEUTH- THE CASE OF AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL)

SMALL SCHOOLS- A conversation with Deborah Meier. Duration: 38:53 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- .pdf 84KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SLEUTH- THE CASE OF AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL)

VITAL TESTING- E.D. Hirsch, Jr. shakes up the world of education. Duration: 37:05 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 132KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SLEUTH- THE CASE OF AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL)

WHAT MAKES AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL? A conversation with veteran educator Ted Sizer. Duration: 26:19 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 104KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SLEUTH- THE CASE OF AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL)

PODCAST TOPIC >> Sports

BIG TIME SPORTS- a conversation with Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated. Duration: 32:00 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 80KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

OPENING THE (GYM) DOOR FOR WOMEN- Olympic gold medalist Donna de Varona on the continuing struggle for gender equality in sports and what she sees as a coming “train wreck" in college sports. It's the anniversary of Title IX. Duration: 36:16 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 68KB]

PODCAST TOPIC >> General Interest

EYES ON THE PRIZE- A roundtable discussion with superstars of urban education. John Merrow moderates a symposium with the finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education. Which district comes out on top? The envelope, please . . . Duration: 1:01:08 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 171KB]

MEASURING LEARNING WITH BILL SANDERS- Bill Sanders shares his insights into how NCLB can be improved to benefit students and educators alike. Bill believes in what’s called the “value-added” approach or the “growth model,” which would mean testing students at the beginning of the year and at the end to see how much they’ve learned. Believe it or not, it doesn’t work that way now: today under NCLB schools test students once, in the spring, and those results determine student progress and also whether the school has made the required amount of what the law calls “adequate yearly progress.” Duration: 21:42 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 168KB]

NEW ORLEANS - a conversation with Bill Roberti and Sajan George from crisis management firm Alvarez & Marsal. Duration: 43:35 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 76KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: STRICKEN SCHOOLS)

NYC SCHOOLS - extended interviews with three key players- Arthur Levine- President of Teacher’s College at Columbia University, Eric Gioia- New York City Councilman, Randi Weingarten- President of the New York City Teachers Union. Duration: 44:57 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 96KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL REFORM IN NEW YORK CITY)

PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER- A profile of three of the individuals who work in hurricane damaged Bay St. Louis, Mississippi– Principal Ricky Reed, Teacher Angela Gill and Superintendent Kim Stasny. Duration: 13:00
[ DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 48KB] (RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SPIRIT)

REUNION: A PERSONAL ESSAY Recently John Merrow attended the 40th reunion of the class of 1966 at Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, NY where he was an English teacher fresh out of college. The renuion was an opportunity to discover what interesting, complex and valuable humans these young people have become, as well as a reminder of the power teachers have over the lives of the young. Duration: 5:17 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 40KB]

SEPARATE CLASSROOMS- The U.S. Department of Education has decided to support single sex public schools, classrooms and activities, removing the legal ambiguity created by two apparently conflicting laws, Title IX and No Child Left Behind. In this week’s podcast we report on a public school’s experiment with single sex classrooms. As you will see, this experiment began accidentally, the result of a computer glitch. Duration: 11:31 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 107KB]

THE WEIGHTED STUDENT FORMULA DEBATE- The current system of public school funding is plagued by inequity. The recently released “Fund the Child” report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute argues that the United States must undo the widespread archaic, unjust, and inefficient system of education funding in favor of a more equitable one based solely on the educational needs of the child. Is the weighted student formula education’s silver bullet or a smoke screen? In this week’s podcast, John Merrow moderates a heated debate about a controversial new proposal. Duration: 53:24 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 94KB]

Complete Podcast Archive in Chronological Order (Most Recent to Oldest):

ALBERT SHANKER'S LEGACY- A tribute to the late educator and teacher union leader. Duration: 52:53 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 102KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: ALBERT SHANKER'S LEGACY )

GIFTED EDUCATION- Gifted education specialist Penny Choice deflates the myths about Òcream always rising to the top.Ó Duration: 32:50 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT- pdf 76KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: GIFTED STUDENTS)

VITAL TESTING- E.D. Hirsch, Jr. shakes up the world of education. Duration: 37:05 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 132KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SLEUTH- THE CASE OF AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL)

MARKETING COLLEGES- Lara Couturier on competition among colleges. Duration: 23:09 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 68KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

SMALL SCHOOLS- A conversation with Deborah Meier. Duration: 38:53 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 84KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: SCHOOL SLEUTH- THE CASE OF AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL)

LIBERAL EDUCATION - A conversation with Amherst College President Tony Marx. Duration: 32:04 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 80KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)

CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS – a conversation with former California State librarian, Dr. Kevin Starr Duration: 27:58 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 88KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: FIRST TO WORST)

BIG TIME SPORTS- a conversation with Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated. Duration: 32:00 [DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPT-.pdf 80KB]
(RELATED PROGRAM: DECLINING BY DEGREES- HIGHER EDUCATION AT RISK)