Shows / What's Best For Kids?
What's Best For Kids?
Education is caught between the 18th century notion of the three R’s and the 21st century explosion of technology, politics and the need to prepare our kids for the ever-evolving global economy. We know parents and educators all want the same outcome for kids, happy, healthy, and independent young people, but how do we get there and what are the obstacles and pitfalls we face along the way? Join veteran educator Don Collins and High School Principal Rob Coppo as they ask the question, what’s…
Episodes
- What's Best For Kids?
S5 Ep. 5 - Career Opportunities
The jobless rate for Gen Z is double the national average. Why aren’t college grads getting jobs? Are schools not preparing them, is technology the villain…
- What's Best For Kids?
S5 Ep. 4 - The Blame Game
Are we too quick to blame smartphones and social media for the problems teens and schools face today? Psychologist Candice Odgers refutes many of the…
- What's Best For Kids?
S5 Ep. 3 - Unsettled
Meta, the parent company for Facebook and Instagram, settled their landmark social media addiction case for 17 billion dollars. Where will that money go? How…
- What's Best For Kids?
S5 Ep. 2 - NEET-Oh
There is yet another crisis facing young men - unemployment. A rise in what is now known as a NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) is creating…
- What's Best For Kids?
S5 Ep. 1 - 5th Year Seniors
As the podcast enters year five, Don and Rob reflect on the topics and discussions they’ve had over the years. And, of course, deep dives into Gen X nostalgia.
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 18 - The Future Is Now
Education is at a crossroads. Parents want more control, schools are fighting technology and behavior battles, and students’ learning styles don’t fit an…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 17 - Graduation Daze
What makes high school graduation such a seminal moment in our lives? What makes this annual right of passage so special for students and educators alike?
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 16 - Burnout
It’s never been harder to be a teacher, and the strain on educators is starting to show. The stress of larger classes, higher level demands, political…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 15 - Acting Up
Student behavior issues continue to increase at schools across the county and educators have fewer tools than ever to address it. What’s behind this surge in…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 14 - Danger Zone
Adolescent risk-taking is prevalent, with over 60% of teens engaging in behaviors like thrill-seeking, substance use, or unsafe driving. Is this a new trend or…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 13 - Learning To Fly
Colleges are reporting that more and more parents are following their kids to college. Is this helping kids launch, or is it keeping them from being able to…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 12 - If You Ain't Cheating, You Ain't Trying
Cheating has always been an issue in school, but it’s no longer in the shadows. What can schools do to address this trend, and what does the future hold for…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 11 - ...And Justice For Some (Part 2)
Individual plaintiffs are joining school districts in the legal battle over the impact of social media on mental health. As the data mounts, will tech giants…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 10 - …And Justice For Some? (Part 1)
Individual plaintiffs are joining school districts in the legal battle over the impact of social media on mental health. As the data mounts, will tech giants…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 9 - Suicide Solutions
After years of heartbreaking data about teen suicide, a 2024 report shows that things are finally improving. What’s working, and what more do we need to do to…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 8 - Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Between increasing demands and a raging political culture, is it any wonder that teachers are asking the question, “Should I stay or should I go?” How do we…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 7 - Clocks
The San Diego Unified School District recently moved some schools from a traditional schedule to a 4x4. What is a 4x4 schedule, and what impact does the bell…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 6 - Walking on Sunshine?
In an effort to counter all of the gloom and doom shared in the media about the current educational landscape, Rob and Don challenged each other to pick some…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 5 - Boys Won't Always Be Boys
In our rush to protect girls from strangers, cyberbullying and discrimination, have we neglected the developmental needs of our boys? With data showing that…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 4 - Hal, Her, Megan and Our Kids
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, teens are increasingly reliant on this new technology to learn how to think. But can it also help them feel?…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 3 - A For Effort?
As instruction changes, so too does assessment. More and more, students are expecting good grades just for their effort. While effort helps a student be…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 2 - Fan Service
If you’re a regular listener, you’ve heard us give a shoutout to one of our biggest fans, Reed Kendall. Well, why just hear about him when you can hear from…
- What's Best For Kids?
S4 Ep. 1 - Attention Please
Gen Z is facing the most uncertain economic future since the depression. Meanwhile, tech giants are engaged in a Max Max style battle for their attention. What…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 18 - Summer-y
The end of the school year was busy for both Don and Rob so the podcast had to take a backseat to other responsibilities. The boys are refreshed and ready to…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 17 - Morale Boost
For the first time since the pandemic, teacher morale is up. But the results vary depending on the state. Why the difference, and what do teachers think will…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 16 - Is Print Dead?
The benefits of reading are profound. But was Egon in Ghostbusters right? Is print dead? Gen Z is showing record low levels of reading for pleasure, and…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 15 - Teenagers: Behind the Scenes
We think we know our kids, but there is another side to them that only educators know. What is it like observing the behavior of teenagers in their natural…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 14 - What's Now
As the Trump Administration continues to revamp the Department of Education and immigration enforcement, what does that mean for our schools? Some schools are…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep 13 - (More) Walking On Sunshine
Education is often a political football kicked around in an effort to rally constituents by drawing on their deepest concerns - their kids. But all of the…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 12 - Walking On Sunshine
Education is often a political football kicked around in an effort to rally constituents by drawing on their deepest concerns - their kids. But all of the…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 11 - What's Next?
President Elect Trump is set to take office on January 20th, and speculation is swirling about his priorities and rhetoric regarding education. We’re going to…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 10 - The Camera Eye
The debate about social media often overlooks a critical component - the smartphone camera. Kids now have a high powered movie camera in their pocket and are…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 9 - Winter Break Down
As winter break is upon us, high school teachers around the country are gearing up for finals and bracing themselves for all of the demands, excuses and chaos…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 8 - Fair Warning
Is it time to start treating social media like tobacco and alcohol? The Surgeon General thinks so, but others aren’t so sure. We have lots of data that show…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 7 - Under Pressure 2: Meet the Parents
Parents are exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind. It’s gotten so bad, that the Surgeon General has called it an “urgent public health issue.” It’s…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 6 - AI: Dark Side of the Boom
Artificial intelligence can be an effective tool in education, but like with most technology, it comes with a cost. Increasingly, AI is being used as a weapon…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 5 - In the News
This week Don and Rob share some recent news articles that highlight topics and points made in previous episodes. We’re talking about cell phone bans, school…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 4 - Election Nearing
With one of the most contentious election seasons heating up, how are teachers navigating this increasingly dangerous minefield?
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 3 - What We’re Doing Isn’t Working
In the wake of the shooting at a high school in Georgia that killed four and injured nine, the debate about how to protect our schools has been reignited, and…
- What's Best For Kids?
Podcast Extra: Georgia School Shooting
Don and Rob react to the recent tragedy at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 2 - Road Rules
Guest: Paige Colburn-Hargis Kids have always loved the independence they get from skateboards, bikes and scooters, but that freedom often comes with an…
- What's Best For Kids?
S3 Ep. 1 - No Phone Zones
The hottest topic for education during the summer of 2024 was the push to ban cell phones in schools. Several states passed laws to ban them, and LA Unified…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 20 - Changes (Part 2 of 2)
Education is stuck in an antiquated system that follows the same model established more than 200 years ago. Whether you call it “sit and get” or “sage from the…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 19 - Changes (Part 1 of 2)
Education is stuck in an antiquated system that follows the same model established more than 200 years ago. Whether you call it “sit and get” or “sage from the…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 18 - Be Kind, Rewind
Season 2 is almost over so Don and Rob take some time to reflect on past episodes as they prepare for the finale. Lots of new insights, quotes, and Gen-X…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 17 - Carrots, Sticks, or Something Else?
Guest: Scott Wild The gap between what parents think student discipline is (or should be), and what it really is…is HUGE. Many parents grew up in a world where…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 16 - Survey Says
For decades schools were driven by achievement data that gave us a narrow understanding of our students’ needs. Increasingly, schools are tasked with doing…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 15 - I Don't Feel Tardy
Did school attendance suddenly become optional? Chronic absenteeism was an issue before the pandemic, but the school closures exposed a growing frustration…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 14 - The Morning Bell
Guest: Scott Wild - Principal, Pacific Trails Middle School In the fall of 2022, the State of California mandated that all public high schools move their start…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 13 - Optimist Prime (Part 3)
Teen optimism is at a new low. Are we surprised? The adults in their lives are enraged by the news and social media, the governments all over the world drift…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 12 - Optimist Prime (Part 2)
Don and Rob continue the conversation about teen optimism they started in the previous episode. Teens are less hopeful because the adults in their lives are…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 11 - Optimist Prime (Part 1)
Teen optimism is at a new low. Are we surprised? The adults in their lives are enraged by the news and social media, the governments all over the world drift…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 10 - Rocky's Road (Part 2)
Guest: Rocky Herron, Retired DEA Agent, Public Speaker Rocky Herron is a tireless advocate for drug prevention and awareness. He draws on his life experiences…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 10 - Rocky's Road (Part 1)
Guest: Rocky Herron, Retired DEA Agent, Public Speaker Rocky Herron is a tireless advocate for drug prevention and awareness. He draws on his life experiences…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 9 - No Phone Zone
Since the iPhone launched in 2007, teachers and schools all over the country have been locked in an epic battle for the attention of students. With the rise of…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 8 - Minefield
The classroom has become a minefield as teachers are confronted with strong opinions, misinformation, polarized rhetoric, social media and parent criticism…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 7 - College or Bust
The pressure to get into college is immense, and college acceptance rates have never been lower. Families start focusing on building a college transcript while…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 6 - Meta Lawsuit
What started with the Seattle school district last year has now grown to 40 states joining the lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and…
- What's Best For Kids?
Podcast Update 10/20/23
We typically have a new episode every other week, but there won’t be a podcast this week. The terrorist attacks in Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza have…
- What's Best For Kids?
S2 Ep. 5 - Put Me In Coach
Guest: Brennan Dean, Varsity Head Coach Girls Volleyball, TPHS The demands on the modern coach are immense. Some are devoting their lives to developing world…