“Is this thing on?”

A couple teachers didn’t perform such a test recently in Illinois.

Fortunately, they seemed okay with the unplanned broadcast.

As reported by West Cook News, two educators from Roosevelt University — who also serve on the school board for Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) — were talking across the web while waiting for the start of a Zoom board meeting.

They bided their time with a discussion about teaching and social justice.

The conversation, perhaps, provides a view into a common perspective of today’s academia.

Here’s how Gina laid out her educational approach:

“I mean, it’s all social justice. All day, every day, I get to talk about the things I love. I’m really living the life over here.”

At Roosevelt, she’s teaching “middle school theory and practice” to future K-12 teachers.

As for Ralph, he made clear he views government budgets through the prism of how they might help “organize society”:

“Yeah, I always flip out the kids that take my master’s class on fiscal policy and public budgets when the first three or four classes are devoted to philosophy of social justice and how you organize society.

“We don’t talk about one…budgetary item. They’re like, ‘Ah man, Professor Martire, this is a really weird way to teach a budget.'”

“[I]t’s part of everything, right?” Gina responded. “What a foundation.”

Ralph surmised, “If you don’t understand your values, you can’t allocate resources among public priorities that are scarce but all needed, right?”

At that point, the voice of an unknown participant came on:

“Um, just so you guys know…you’re on the mic in the auditorium.”

As noted by WCN, Gina’s a teacher at Maywood Elementary.

In addition to being a Roosevelt University professor of public policy and public administration, Ralph’s a union liaison officer between the Illinois Education Association and the National Education Association.

Additionally, he oversees the public union-funded economic think tank, Center for Tax and Budget.

That organization, per West Cook, “advocates in Springfield for higher taxes, more debt and spending, and higher government employee salaries.”

On the live mic, Ralph told Gina — who’s new to Roosevelt U — that she’s a good fit:

“It’s a great place. I’m so glad you’re there, too. You fit in so well with their, you know, the university’s philosophy and mission.”

After being informed they were on the mic in the auditorium, Gina replied, “We’re cool with that, thank you. We’re cool with that.”

Per WCN, Gina’s a self-described “restorative justice practitioner and peacemaker.”

On the Zoom call, she expounded upon her “It’s all social justice” comment:

“All day, every day. All day at the day gig, all night in my night classes, when I’m here. I mean, really, I’m living the life over here.”

It’s anecdotal, but the small view into a conversation seems consistent with much of the news these days concerning education.

Minnesota College Requires Monthly 'Antiracism' Staff Training – Separated by Racehttps://t.co/X8CKMZTl2E

— Alex Parker (@alexparker1984) April 25, 2021

North Carolina State University Makes Students Take Diversity Training That #Cancels 'Whitesplaining' https://t.co/C9JjiFSgDv

— RedState (@RedState) March 23, 2021

Following the Chauvin Verdict, a Prominent Private University Hosts 'Racial Healing Spaces' – Segregated by Race https://t.co/jbqmiw7Y3G

— RedState (@RedState) April 24, 2021

Minnesota Proposes New Social Studies Standards That Call out 'Whiteness, Christianity and Capitalism'
https://t.co/nTbGWiqO6G

— RedState (@RedState) March 26, 2021

Not too long ago, schooling was about academics.

These days, it seems, it’s about so much more — and also so much less.

We appear to have traded traditional subjects for a bit of ideological formation aimed at fixing the problems of the world.

From the looks of the landscape of daily headlines, our educators are trying their very hardest to do just that.

-ALEX

See more pieces from me:

Idaho Makes History, Becomes the First State to Ban Critical Race Theory

Seattle Suffers a ‘Staffing Crisis,’ Police Department May Lose Another 190 Officers

San Diego School District Adds 2,000 LGBTQ+ Books for Elementary Students

Find all my RedState work here.

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