Teaching When the World Is on Fire

In this inspiring collection, the award-winning, bestselling author—and MacArthur genius—gathers all-star advice for K–12 teachers on engaging students around today's toughest issues
Is it okay to discuss politics in class? What are constructive ways to help young people process the daily news coverage of sexual assault? How can educators engage students around Black Lives Matter? Climate change? Confederate statue controversies? Immigration? Hate speech?
Lisa Delpit’s Other People’s Children, a classic text on cultural slippage in classrooms, has sold over a quarter million copies. In Teaching When the World Is on Fire, Delpit now turns to a host of crucial issues facing teachers in these tumultuous times. Delpit’s master-teacher wisdom tees up guidance from beloved, well-known educators along with insight from dynamic principals and classroom teachers tackling difficult topics in K–12 schools every day.
This honest and rich collection brings together essential observations on safety from Pedro Noguera and Carla Shalaby; incisive ideas on traversing politics from William Ayers and Mica Pollock; Christopher Emdin’s instructive views on respecting and connecting with black and brown students; Hazel Edwards’s crucial insight about safe spaces for transgender and gender-nonconforming students; and James W. Loewen’s sage suggestions about exploring symbols of the South; as well as timely thoughts from Bill Bigelow on teaching the climate crisis—and on the students and teachers fighting for environmental justice.
An energizing volume that speaks to our contentious world and the necessary conversations we all must have about it, Teaching When the World Is on Fire is sure to inspire teachers to support their students in navigating the current events, cultural shifts, and social dilemmas that shape our communities and our country.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Lisa Delpit
Politics Matters
I Shall Create!
William Ayers
Teaching Politics in the Age of Trump
Justin Christensen
The Three Illusions
Julia Putnam
Standing Up Against Hate
Mica Pollock
Yes, Race and Politics Belong in the Classroom
H. Richard Milner IV
Safety Matters
Cops or Counselors?
Pedro A. Noguera
How Hurricane Harvey Altered My Perspective as a Teacher
Jeff Collier
I Was Raised to Believe Education Could Keep Me Safe
fredrick scott salyers
Calling on Omar
Carla Shalaby
School Justice
T. Elijah Hawkes
Race Matters
Don’t Say Nothing
Jamilah Pitts
Black Teachers, Black Youth, and Reality Pedagogy
Christopher Emdin
How One Elementary School Sparked a Citywide Movement to Make Black Students: Lives Matter
Wayne Au and Jesse Hagopian
The Fire
Sarah Ishmael and Jonathan Tunstall in conversation
Engaging and Embracing Black Parents
Allyson Criner Brown
Who Do I Belong To?
Natalie Labossiere
To My Sons’ Future Teacher, Colleague, Sister/Brother, Co-madre, Maestra, Comrade, Friend
Crystal T. Laura
Gender and Sex Ed Matter
Sexual Harassment and the Collateral Beauty of Resistance
Camila Arze Torres Goitia
Believe Me the First Time
Dale Weiss
Nothing About Us, Without Us, Is for Us
Hazel Edwards and Maya Lindberg in conversation
Climate Matters
Climate Science Meets a Stubborn Obstacle: Students
Amy Harmon
Teachers vs. Climate Change
Bill Bigelow
Culture Matters
Teaching Middle School Students to Advocate
Carolina Drake
Why I Teach Diverse Literature
Noah Cho
Love for Syria
Cami Touloukian
Correct(ed): Confederate Public History
James Loewen
Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Muslim Children
Deborah Almontaser
Appendix: Books on Immigration for Young Readers
Jay Fung