#HipHopEd Chat is a weekly cyber cypher (chat) where stakeholders within Hip-Hop and Education come together to discuss issues that impact the youth and adults within our local, national and global communities. #HipHopEd Chat is a virtual form of professional development for Educators, workshop for Parents and other Adults and a brainstorming session of Hip-Hop practitioners. Our #HipHopEd chats are every Tuesday from 9-10 EST. on Twitter.
We know that there will be numerous celebrations and commemorations this coming weekend but we had to take advantage of Dr. King's birthday falling on a Tuesday #HipHopEd
So we wanted to honor #MLK90 by looking at an essay he wrote while at Morehouse College called "The Purpose of Education" and evaluating where education is today in comparison #HipHopEd
When you happen upon one of the last Signed copies.... my basketball heavy rhymin flowin bar spittin 8th grader’s mouth finna drop when I present this to him mañana! #boom TY @kwamealexander#hiphoped can send it to you when he’s done Jul @juliaerin80 🙌🏾
This, full stop. Our students are already brilliant individuals. It’s our role as teachers to develop their critical thought and sense of empathy. #HipHopEd
I was thinking the same thing. Definitely had several #wow moments reading the article. I was especially compelled to be reflective of education's purpose in teaching to think for oneself #HipHopEd
when i read this line about character—and the whole piece, really—i can’t help but think about his statements on the importance of ‘creative maladjustment’ which i’ve shared in this chat before: https://t.co/JlQ3wbdXK3#HipHopEd
There are various learning strategies and approaches that have been introduced that are mere iterations of having a solid and ethical character where you can be human and care for someone else #HipHopEd#MLK90
"Most of the "brethren" think that education should equip them with the proper instruments of exploitation so that they can forever trample over the masses." -- very Freirian -- that the oppressed can easily transition to becoming the oppressor. #HipHopEd#PedagogyoftheOppressed
This, full stop. Our students are already brilliant individuals. It’s our role as teachers to develop their critical thought and sense of empathy. #HipHopEd
I think we are still struggling with this idea of the purpose of education. In math it has to be more than just teaching students steps for how to solve a word problem. It has to be about getting students to think critically about the information they are given. #HipHopEd
I am very glad to have read this article. It is succinct, and so powerful in summing up the true purpose of why we teach. I definitely want my students to annotate it and reflect on it this week. #HipHopEd
Much of *schooling* and the education that occurs within it has been used in the U.S. to perpetuate whiteness, uphold the status quo, maintain institutionalized racism. #HipHopEd
#HipHopEd the insights that Dr. King brought as a 18/19 year old in this brief essay are the synonymous with the insights many of our current students could provide if given audience & a platform #MLK90https://t.co/0TxC0hTPhk
I think one of the bigger problems with bulk curriculum like Common Core is that it often focuses so much on academic learning that it often sacrifices sufficient character development. #HipHopEd
My calculus professor in college told us that this higher math discipline was merely an approach to teach us how to think logically and critically. It changed my perspective and my grade :) #HipHopEd
I find an enjoyable struggle in attempting to teach science from the approach of not presenting facts and telling students what is "true", but to present evidence (or have them collect it) which is then analyzed to form a conclusion, to develop critical thinking.
#HipHopEd
Education in the U.S. has also been used to perpetuate-propogate-disseminate settler colonial ideology. Per MLK in this reading: "We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda." #HipHopEd
"to think incisively and to think for oneself is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half-truths, prejudices and propaganda" #HipHopEd how have we succumbed to half-truths, prejudices and proganda? How do we ensure truth prevails?
My friend and I were talking about how many incredible quotes Dr. King gave us in this article. A lot of this missive will be going up on my quote wall this week. #HipHopEd
A generation told what to think, rather than trained in how to think...well...it feels like current adults are a product of that.
Knowing facts is worth way less than understanding how to discern what is and what isn't a fact...what is plausible, possible, or unlikely.
#HipHopEd
As a public school teacher, I am not a hero, nor a savior. I am privileged to work, teach, & learn alongside our students & our communities. “Saving” kids is not why I’m here. That deficit mindset assumes that I’m the knowledge vessel & they are empty. @nowhitesaviors#HipHopEd
And as Dr. King cautions us all "The most dangerous criminal may be the man gifted with reason, but with no morals." #NoChurchInTheWild#MLK90 we do have #HipHopEd in the wild tho!!
I think one of the bigger problems with bulk curriculum like Common Core is that it often focuses so much on academic learning that it often sacrifices sufficient character development. #HipHopEd
MLK reminds us that true education fosters critical thinking. This cannot happen when there is no space to explore beyond the curriculum #MLK90#HipHopEd
Part of some of my science classes involves a unit that is not in our textbook. I discuss #pseudoscience, and what tricks it employs.
While we might look at bunk healing bracelets or doomsday prophecies, the same tactics are employed by racist groups & their junk data.
#HipHopEd
Have always loved and lodged in my heart Dr. King’s words... “The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” common core standards def lifted dem lines straight from Dr. King. #HipHopEd
"To think incisively and to think for one’s self is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda." #MLK90#HipHopEd How are we teaching the act of thinking?
"...to think for one’s self is very difficult."
This rings, I'd say, even *more* true today. Fast paced American life tends to not have the time to put in the effort to sift through the plausible vs. the improbable.
We want info bite sized. Pre-analyzed for us.
#HipHopEd
One issue that is impacting Dr King’s purpose for education from being fulfilled is the discrediting of education taking place outside of the classroom and by non-traditional educators #HipHopEd
MLK said "... education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. We are currently running an efficiency model in education #HipHopEd
Education as an institution can be wielded for a variety of purposes. We need to maintain an ethical barometer (with or without religion), continue to be self-reflexive, stay maladjusted else we become a tool of the oppressor. #HipHopEd#MLK90
I had a warmup on this exact point with my students yesterday. I asked them if they would rather their legacy be tied to money or influence. Nearly unanimously they said influence — to change the world for the better. I was so proud, and wasn’t the least bit surprised. #HipHopEd
Thinking from a critical, literal and figurative lens IS a must for students which should naturally move into perspective and the point of view one writes and is written about. #HipHopEd
Right? Dominant (white) culture wants to control the narrative, and so assigns credibility to the messages that maintain the status quo while discrediting anything (seen as, or that is actually) subversive. #HipHopEd#MLK90
MLK said "... education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. We are currently running an efficiency model in education #HipHopEd
This. After reading this article, one of my friends asked: “When will we get another MLK?” I responded: We have them right now, sitting in our classrooms. We just need to follow the practices he prescribed to develop their character. #HipHopEd
#HipHopEd the insights that Dr. King brought as a 18/19 year old in this brief essay are the synonymous with the insights many of our current students could provide if given audience & a platform #MLK90https://t.co/0TxC0hTPhk
"Character education includes and complements a broad range of educational approaches such as whole child education, service learning, social-emotional learning, and civic education" https://t.co/PnyMOjHjIt#HipHopEd
Perhaps now past tense, "has proven the greatest menace" can be employed.
A society that can not critique the claims hurtling at us in the current news cycle is a society doomed to believe it without question. And it's a society that believes small lies are acceptable.
#HipHopEd
In my own classroom, I work with students to move beyond telling me "I don't understand" to asking specific questions. I encourage them to develop their own questions & take an active role in their own learning. It is so critical to learn to ask questions #HipHopEd
Right in line with "Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction." from the MLK paper! #HipHopEd#MLK90
When teaching & learning becomes inputs, outputs, test scores & benchmarks we have turned education into a corporation & students into machines #HipHopEd
"...to think for one’s self is very difficult."
This rings, I'd say, even *more* true today. Fast paced American life tends to not have the time to put in the effort to sift through the plausible vs. the improbable.
We want info bite sized. Pre-analyzed for us.
#HipHopEd
(As an aside, scientific discipline, when done correctly, encourages subversive to come forward and question what is "established".
This has been historically the way new evidence that edits/improves our theories has been able to happen.)
#HipHopEd
Dr. King speaks of how many “so-called educated people” do not think logically and scientifically. So often students don’t get the breadth of this instruction in the K-12 school space as well. #HipHopEd
More from MLK on this -- the closer of the article: "If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts." #MLK90#HipHopEd
His words are timeless. As a high school English teacher, I see the impact of media and propaganda on the minds of our youth. Interestingly enough MLK says that real education saves man from the morass of propaganda. So that has been one of my biggest ‘competitions’. #HipHopEd
My high school did an excellent job at developing character. I remember so many things that I learned in high school, and almost none of what I remember has anything to do with academic content. Academia is not the most important thing kids need to learn in schools. #HipHopEd
Educators must engage in the self-reflection and unlearning necessary to support youth in uncovering the the “objective and unbiased truth” #HipHopEd#MLK
Absolutely. We must be willing to take time out of our scripted unit plans, day plans, and yearly agendas to foster critical consciousness. That is on an equal or higher level than regurgitating information back #HipHopEd
The “assembly line” model of education is a hard paradigm to disrupt, but it’s anachronistic and King described exactly why a half century ago. #HipHopEd
When teaching & learning becomes inputs, outputs, test scores & benchmarks we have turned education into a corporation & students into machines #HipHopEd
I still wonder, who gets to decide what is the correct way? And what gets to count as "evidence"? I'm just learning about Gayatri Spivak and she presents some deep thoughts (to me!) about "evidence". #HipHopEd#MLK90
this line about propaganda makes me think of this study that came out a few years ago: 'Students Have “Dismaying" Inability To Tell Fake News From Real' https://t.co/66eies4tWo#HipHopEd
Reading this #HipHopEd feed, I think I have enough fire to walk into my classroom tomorrow and teach better. Teach to the CHILD better. That is always the goal.
Educators must engage in the self-reflection and unlearning necessary to support youth in uncovering the the “objective and unbiased truth” #HipHopEd#MLK
Even shifting in how we look at bridging education to dwell beyond 4 classroom walls, recognition of educational systems in place without formal systems and re upping the importanceof education an equity right #HipHopEd
As a science teacher, it has been one of my competitions too.
Parents worry about YouTube exposing students to crazy music or adult content...
Not on their radar, though, are videos of #ClimateChange denial, #Chemtrails, radical racist views, or even #FlatEarth hooky.
#HipHopEd
Really, all educators should read this today 🎂 This is amazing.
MLK really sees sees and predicts the problems of then and now.
Must read teachers!!!
https://t.co/nlZLpJ8aXV#hiphoped
Absolutely. We must be willing to take time out of our scripted unit plans, day plans, and yearly agendas to foster critical consciousness. That is on an equal or higher level than regurgitating information back #HipHopEd
Dr. King speaks of how many “so-called educated people” do not think logically and scientifically. So often students don’t get the breadth of this instruction in the K-12 school space as well. #HipHopEd
Yes. And we are all educators (even if not formally)... simultaneously cyphering as student and teacher in the role plays of existence. Thus the self-reflection and unlearning requisites and makes possible, as well as is process - in education #HipHopEd#ProcessisPractice
I'm a big U2 fan and I love the line from Sunday Bloody Sunday, "when fact is fiction and TV reality." That's when "the millions cry." Time to act. #HipHopEd
Tomorrow morning, my guiding question for the morning's language lesson will be, "just what is the true meaning of knowledge, anyways?"
Curious to experience my 7th grader's ideas and opinions. #HipHopEd
One way I try to reach the goal of crit. thinking Dr. King speaks of is w/ the Socratic Method:
"What caused you to come to that conclusion?"
"Is there any other explanation for it?"
I stress, having a belief is fine, but irresponsible if we don't know *why* we have it.
#HipHopEd
@MeekMill said it recently, "What's free?
Free is when nobody else could tell us what to be
Free is when the TV ain't controllin' what we see" #HipHopEd#Facts
Agreed, but I feel the next step that is extremely important is to sift through what we've been conditioned and find out what is *still* worth believing.
If we wipe clean all convention, there are charlatans *very* ready to sell us worse replacements.
#HipHopEd
not only do some people in power try to maintain their power by keeping groups of humans separate from each other, they apply that same ‘divide and conquer’ approach to keeping parts of each human separate within each of us.
#HipHopEd
"If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, “brethren!” Be careful, teachers!" #MLK90#HipHopEd
The purpose of education is freedom and liberation. Economic impact comes from transferring the knowledge to form utility and productivity for self or an organization. #HipHopEd
Speaking from science, the "correct way" would be the way that predicts results that match reality.
What counts as evidence for X can only be that which is consistent with our understanding, but never in conflict with it.
And it certainly takes effort.
#HipHopEd
As this chat rolls on, I can't help but wonder what our kids would all say if they were asked what the purpose of education is... I think their answers might be a telltale sign of the kind of work our school systems are really doing... #HipHopEd
indeed. i wasn’t trying to call out young people as being worse at this than anyone else. we all have work to do with ourselves + our people of all ages.
#HipHopEd
#HipHopEd Dr. King writes eloquently about instruments of exploitation and we as HH educators must be mindful in our classrooms & edu spaces we must remember that culture & industry have diff goals HH culture empowers while industry exploits
"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."
#hiphoped requires deep, critical and humanizing thinking. on the daily.
Most def.
We have what we *want* our teaching to be, what we *think* our teaching is, and then, there's what our teaching is *seen by others* to be...and the most important "others" are our students.
We need reality checks from them often.
#HipHopEd
MLK got people to walk together. To march. To participate in The Work.
Teachers need to create environments where Ss learn to lead. To walk together. To participate. That's experiential education. That's civic responsibility. #HipHopEd.
When teaching & learning becomes inputs, outputs, test scores & benchmarks we have turned education into a corporation & students into machines #HipHopEd
Be aware of immoral and close-minded colleagues. Challenge them strategically, and protect youth from them. They are who we should “be careful” of #HipHopEd
I think Dr. MLK Jr. would have agreed with Lerone Bennett Jr. that "an educator in a system of oppression is either revolutionary or an oppressor" #HipHopEd#MLK90
I totally hear you, and as I have spent the past 18 months unlearning some of my assumptions that objectivity is necessary for science, I am incorporating what I am learning from scholars such as Michelle Fine... #HipHopEd#MLK90 (1/2)
Most def.
We have what we *want* our teaching to be, what we *think* our teaching is, and then, there's what our teaching is *seen by others* to be...and the most important "others" are our students.
We need reality checks from them often.
#HipHopEd
Boom bam. And this is precisely why I tell every single teacher I come into contact with to TALK TO THEIR STUDENTS.
About their day, about the lessons WE teach, about what works, what doesn't...that is true reflective pedagogy #HipHopEd
...and how Critical Participatory Action Research *is* scientific and produces evidence, but would not be considered "the correct way" by traditional science (for example). #HipHopEd#MLK90 (2/2)
I think Dr. King has been revered for his words (as👏he👏should👏) but I think it is equally important that he lead not only with words, but lead by example.
He never stopped learning. He never stopped questioning.
He'd be able to see the yet described side to issues.
#HipHopEd
Many educators have a misconception of the purpose of education. Most schools aren't teaching students about their culture nor are they using approaches derived from youth culture to engage youth. True education responds to the identities and culture of students #hiphoped
#HipHopEd as educators what are we concentrated on?? "The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate."
"Be careful Teachers!" That's what MLK still tells us today.
I'm thinking of those teachers in L.A.
Really, what a last line! Good for study in an English class #HipHopEd
Brilliant King. Powerful King. This is my father at his most truth-telling, yet love-centered, self. Watch and share on today, his 90th birthday. #MLK90#MLKhttps://t.co/eCJWCVnD1k
Propaganda always has an intentional purpose and when this purpose is revealed the one that brings truth is often deemed an outcast or an ATLien :) #HipHopEd
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically." MLK
#hiphoped isn't about product or output. its the life of the mind & development of knowledge of self and quest for Freedom.
After every new lab I try, I always try to get student opinion on it.
Was that worth your time?
It was fun b/c it was hands on, but, do you feel it helped you *learn*?
Yes? Then tell me what you learned.
Helps me shed the less effective labs. Helps refine.
#HipHopEd
A question every educator should ask & reflect upon regularly. With this educators should also ask, how can we educate young people within our own culture to have understanding & appreciation for other cultures? #HipHopEd
this line made me double check that i was reading a piece written 70 years ago by a young Dr. King. it is so relevant today.
can’t say he didn’t warn us.
#HipHopEd
MLK said "... education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. We are currently running an efficiency model in education #HipHopEd
F the man, Uncle Sam I won't sell your crack
I won't fight your wars, I won't wear your hat
I'mma pass your classes, I'mma learn your craft.
Cole's analysis is eerily similar to what Dr. King was speaking about in "the other america" #HipHopEd
For the state of education to be what it is today in an of itself is an IMMORAL act and we have to brave enough to call it out for what it is and what it is doing to our children #HipHopEd
My goal is to teach my students how to be creative and expressive beings in the real world. That’s why we do a lot of free movement and why I allow them to negotiate grades. Why do you deserve this A as opposed to a B? #hiphoped
Our education systems were created to make young people docile and have one way of thinking. Educations systems must be decolonized, and educators must be at the forefront of decolonization efforts through their pedagogies and practice. #hiphoped
If Dr King believed that educated people should think logically and scientifically, then why isn’t scientific thinking a component across all academic disciplines? #ScienceGenius#HipHopEd#MLK90
Utility and culture. Key outcomes of education for sure. However, in a capitalist society, he had to understand that many/most would use education for social mobility. I'm processing the value and expectations he placed on change agents. #hiphoped
Related to this, Dr. King asks us to question what we expect to get out of our own education.
So, do our students do that? Do they have expectations of what they'll receive from our classrooms? Do the expect there will be benefits?
Do we encourage them to question this?
#HipHopEd
Yes! We need to prepare our preservice teachers with critical consciousness; to teach anti-racism; to instill asset (not deficit) thinking. #HipHopEd#MLK90
Our education systems were created to make young people docile and have one way of thinking. Educations systems must be decolonized, and educators must be at the forefront of decolonization efforts through their pedagogies and practice. #hiphoped
(And I'm not asking *if* we should encourage them to ask these questions. We definitely should. But *do* we? And if we do, should we do it more often? We might need to be introspective and question ourselves with this, and often.)
#HipHopEd
Shoutout to the teachers in #LAUSD who through their protest are teaching more about citizenship, democracy, and equity than much of the curriculum they are given to teach from #HipHopEd
“The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate” A humbling “call to action” that should focus us on the work of providing students with the education they need and deserve #HipHopEd#MLK90
A change in the way we educate will result in a change in the way people express themselves via culture because they will have a different perspective and different lived experiences #HipHopEd
many also talk about the purpose of education as if it’s purely about helping students thrive in society as it is—without acknowledging the more important purpose of helping students move society closer to what it should be.
#HipHopEd
Many educators have a misconception of the purpose of education. Most schools aren't teaching students about their culture nor are they using approaches derived from youth culture to engage youth. True education responds to the identities and culture of students #hiphoped
#HipHopEd peace to my bro @ministerserver who reminds us of the power of HH “Higher Infinite Power Healing Our People” Young people possess the power to heal themselves & each other let’s embrace the true power of HH in the classroom after school & higher ed
"We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda."
So, shouldn't we ask the tough questions:
Which class at your school discusses half truths?
Which class discusses prejudices and/or propaganda? 1/3
#HipHopEd
That teacher who is using biased thinking needs to be called out. That teacher who is letting their ego bring them down to the same level as a child, NEEDS TO BE CALLED OUT! #HipHopEd
I was really happy when a pre-service teacher that I met recently took great interest in my "multi-cultural" approach. More teachers are listening, I think
Hopefully, if we listen to King, we'll start turning that corner. Bending that arch more. #HipHopEd
YES! And white ciswomen educators in particular -- we have to FIX EACH OTHER since that's who's in the classroom more than any other U.S. demographic. #HipHopEd#MLK90
I love this quote of King’s. Our students have objectives; they have dreams. If their education forwards these dreams, they’ll “concentrate;” if it doesn’t, they’ll see no use for it. #HipHopEd
#HipHopEd as educators what are we concentrated on?? "The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate."
Which class discusses racism, and times our students have encountered it?
If half truths and propaganda are the wolves stalking our societal education (and such things are), when are we discussing them?
History class, maybe... 2/3
#HipHopEd
#HipHopEd "Most of the “brethren” think that education should equip them with the proper instruments of exploitation so that they can forever trample over the masses." #MLK90 Prepare the masses or stop the false educators?
But if half truths, prejudice, racism, propaganda, etc., are *only* brought up in History class, they will only be seen as just that - history.
Those we proudly serve, may walk out those doors unaware that these are modern perils we need to be presently wary of.
#HipHopEd
