What's Best For Kids?: Recent Episodes
Rob Coppo and Don Collins
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 educators Rob Coppo and Don Collins as they ask the question, what’s best for kids?
With one of the most contentious election seasons heating up, how are teachers navigating this increasingly dangerous minefield?
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 the all too familiar firestorm of rhetoric is set to paralyze us once again. There have been 46 school shootings and 261 mass shootings in the first eight months of 2024. As we progress through our third decade of these unrelenting horrors, we have to wonder, will there ever be a tipping point? No matter what side of the debate you’re on, one thing is clear - what we’re doing is not working.
Guest: Paige Colburn-Hargis
Kids have always loved the independence they get from skateboards, bikes and scooters, but that freedom often comes with an increased risk of injury. With the explosion of e-bikes, that risk has grown exponentially as a billion dollar market has flooded the streets with untrained children weaving in and out of traffic at speeds never before possible on traditional bikes. Special guest Paige Colburn Hargis from Scripps Healthcare joins Don and Rob for a discussion about traumatic brain injury (TBI) and what we can all do to keep our kids and community safe.
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 banned them districtwide. Best selling authors Jonathan Haidt (Anxious Generation) and Dr. Jean Twenge (Generations, iGen) are calling for phone bans in schools as a way to combat the epidemic of teen mental health. Is this where we should be putting our energy? Will it work? Will it even help? And more importantly, is it even possible?
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 stage,” it’s still the same thing - teachers talk, kids listen, and we give them a test to see if they learned (aka memorized) what we said. How can we expect a kid who has grown up consuming a raging torrent of media content to sit in a classroom with 40 students, all with widely different learning needs, for 6 hours a day while someone two generations older tells them how easy they have it? Teaching was hard to do before kids had so many devices and apps vying for their attention, but to expect younger generations to learn in our current system is increasingly absurd. We have to change the learning model, especially at the high school level. What do we change, what do we keep, and what are pros and cons?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 stage,” it’s still the same thing - teachers talk, kids listen, and we give them a test to see if they learned (aka memorized) what we said. How can we expect a kid who has grown up consuming a raging torrent of media content to sit in a classroom with 40 students, all with widely different learning needs, for 6 hours a day while someone two generations older tells them how easy they have it? Teaching was hard to do before kids had so many devices and apps vying for their attention, but to expect younger generations to learn in our current system is increasingly absurd. We have to change the learning model, especially at the high school level. What do we change, what do we keep, and what are pros and cons?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 references. This episode was recorded on Don’s birthday so help him celebrate by listening and sharing!
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 corporal punishment was common, and where accountability was expected. We now live in a world where accountability is optional, so gone are the draconian punitive measures as states look to eliminate suspensions so they can be replaced by restorative practices and “positive behavior interventions.” As student behavior issues continue to plague schools, teachers and administrators are trying desperately to implement these new changes while parents scratch their heads and wonder where the paddle went.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Scott Wild - Principal PTMS
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 corporal punishment was common, and where accountability was expected. We now live in a world where accountability is optional, so gone are the draconian punitive measures as states look to eliminate suspensions so they can be replaced by restorative practices and “positive behavior interventions.” As student behavior issues continue to plague schools, teachers and administrators are trying desperately to implement these new changes while parents scratch their heads and wonder where the paddle went.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
For decades schools were driven by achievement data that gave us a narrow understanding of our students’ needs. Increasingly, schools are tasked with doing much more than providing academic instruction, so achievement data is less critical. But how do schools make informed, data driven decisions if they aren’t using achievement data? Surveys are the new data points administrators use to drive change, but what are these surveys and how do schools and districts use them?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Did school attendance suddenly become optional? Chronic absenteeism was an issue before the pandemic, but the school closures exposed a growing frustration with the strict structure of in person learning. In the years since schools reopened, absenteeism has exploded across the country across all demographics. What is the impact on schools and what can we do to address this threat to our system of education?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 time to 8:30 am, and all public middle schools had to start after 8:00 am. The change was made in an effort to better support the sleep needs of developing teens, which (in theory) would help them be happier and healthier students. But the impact on schools has been significant, and the jury is out on the benefits to students. So was this change worth it?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 into war after war, there is legitimate fear that our environment is at the tipping point, and every day they expect to hear about yet another school shooting. On top of that, the social media landscape is destroying what little self esteem they have, and colleges are taking fewer and fewer applicants. In this episode, Don and Rob finally close out their conversation about what is working in public education compared to their experience in the 1980s. Are things really as bad as they seem, or does it just seem that way?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 enraged by the news and social media, the governments all over the world drift into war after war, there is legitimate fear that our environment is at the tipping point, and every day teens expect to hear about yet another school shooting. On top of that, the social media landscape is destroying what little self esteem they have, and colleges are taking fewer and fewer applicants. In this episode, Don and Rob try to focus on what is working in public education by comparing it to their experience in the 1980s. Are things really as bad as they seem, or does it just seem that way?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 into war after war, there is legitimate fear that our environment is at the tipping point, and every day they expect to hear about yet another school shooting. On top of that, the social media landscape is destroying what little self esteem they have, and colleges are taking fewer and fewer applicants. In this episode, Don and Rob try to focus on what is working in public education by comparing it to their experience in the 1980s. Are things really as bad as they seem, or does it just seem that way?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 as a DEA agent and a parent of three daughters to teach young people critical life lessons - never start using drugs, make different choices if they are using drugs, it’s not their fault if they are suffering from someone else’s drug usage, drug use isn’t normal (even though society makes it seem that way). Rocky's message empowers young people to respect their potential in life and to make smart choices. Rocky's has given presentations to more than 200,000 students in more than 16 countries.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 as a DEA agent and a parent of three daughters to teach young people critical life lessons - never start using drugs, make different choices if they are using drugs, it’s not their fault if they are suffering from someone else’s drug usage, drug use isn’t normal (even though society makes it seem that way). Rocky's message empowers young people to respect their potential in life and to make smart choices. Rocky's has given presentations to more than 200,000 students in more than 16 countries.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 social media, that battle has reached a fever pitch. In an effort to keep kids focused on learning, some school districts are banning smartphone use during the school day. Will it work? Will parents who want to stay connected to their kids support it? Will they have a choice? Do schools have the resources to enforce these rules or is this another demand the public is putting on schools rather than the manufacturers? A ban seems like a simple solution, but the impact on schools is a lot more complex than people think.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
The classroom has become a minefield as teachers are confronted with strong opinions, misinformation, polarized rhetoric, social media and parent criticism. How do teachers manage this onslaught, and what can we do to help them avoid these new dangers?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 kids are still in kindergarten, so is it any wonder that by the time they get to high school kids are stressed and depressed? We need to rethink the messages we send our kids about college and accept that it’s not right for every student. How do we break this cycle?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 Instagram. The claims are damning, including evidence that Meta knowingly acted in ways that damaged teen mental health. Is this the tobacco litigation all over again? Will schools see any of the money so they can address the growing needs of their students? There are more questions than answers right now, but there appears to be a reckoning on the horizon for social media companies. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 deeply affected Torrey Pines High School and our community. As principal of the school, it’s critical that my attention stay focused on supporting our students and staff at this time. Don and I will be back with a new episode as soon as possible. If you are new to the podcast, this might be a good time to check out episodes from season one. If you are a long time listener and are looking for more podcasts on education, we highly recommend School Meal Marketing. This podcast by my friend Dave Palmer focuses on the impact and importance of school nutrition. It’s available wherever you get podcasts.
As always, thanks for listening, stay curious and keep asking, what’s best for kids.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
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 class athletes, and others are devoting their lives to saving their sport. What are the challenges a modern coach faces, and how do they help student-athletes respond to the pressure they feel to succeed on and off the court. Special guest Brennan Dean, the TPHS Varsity Head Coach for Girls Volleyball, stops by for a surprise visit and an impromptu conversation.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Advanced Placement classes that were once designed for a select few who wanted to challenge themselves academically have become de facto requirements for college admission. High school students are piling on what are supposed to be college level courses in a desperate attempt to out-perform the competition. But are these classes helping students learn content on a deeper level, or are they teaching them how to cram for a test? Since College Board is a billion dollar “non-profit” company, we need to examine the purpose and value of AP classes so we can better help kids and families make sense of the myriad demands our students face when it comes to building a transcript.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guests: TPHS Administration Team - Rebecca Gallow, Tracy Olander, Robby Shockney
School safety has dominated the conversation about school improvement for more than two decades. The rhetoric has done little to change the reality. Too many stakeholders are taking cover behind talking points that make them feel like they're addressing this crisis, but are failing to address the issue in an objective, rational, and productive way. Don and Rob sit down with the TPHS administration team following a national school safety conference to learn more about how schools, parents and law enforcement are addressing this complex issue. What lessons did they learn, and what questions do we all still have?
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Artificial Intelligence is the latest in a long string of technology innovations that have created hyperbolic panic for parents and educators. Is it the world ending scourge that doomsayers warned us about? Or is it just another tool we all have to manage like the internet, cell phones and social media?
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
It’s been two years since education returned to normal after the pandemic, but as parents and teachers will tell you, things are definitely not normal. School closures have been blamed for everything from failing grades to suicide, but rather than creating problems, the pandemic exposed many of the problems in education. What’s really going on with our students in the aftermath of the most significant challenge to education since its inception?
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Frequent guest Don Collins is joining the podcast as a full-time co-host! This season, Don and Rob will tackle many of the complex issues facing parents and educators in the 21st century including artificial intelligence, school safety, dress codes, student discipline, teen suicide, the pressure to get into college, and many more.
The first episode of the new season will drop on Friday, August 11th. Rob and Don will dive into the many lessons we learned about teaching and learning during the pandemic, and we’ll discuss the critical role public schools play in our communities. Just like last season, episode will be available every two weeks during the school year. Bonus episodes will drop as hot topics pop up.
We hope you tune in, stay curious, and keep asking, what's best for kids?
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Don Collins - Retired Educator
Increasingly, schools are being tasked with fixing problems that didn’t exist even five years ago. Teachers are expected to address suicide prevention, drug addiction, bullying, mass shootings, racism, social media, political turmoil, world conflicts, vaping, artificial intelligence, and oh, yeah, somehow teach their core subject and prepare students for success in college. The expectations are mounting, but the support is waning. Is this sustainable? What can we do to better help our kids and our schools?
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Katie Wallace-Coppo - Youth Theatre Director
In our never-ending pursuit to make sure our children experience everything life has to offer, parents are increasingly pushing their kids to sign up for multiple organized activities so that they can find “their thing.” When does dragging kids to ballet and soccer and karate and violin lessons cross the line from helping the child be well rounded to being overscheduled and stressed out?
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Traci Acers, Parent
It’s never been harder to be the parent of a teenager. More parents than ever work outside the home and they struggle to stay connected in an increasingly busy world. Unlike previous generations, today’s parents also have to navigate their teens’ access to screens, the influence of social media, and their response to violence on campuses all over the country. All this while finding creative ways to help their kids compete for fewer and fewer spots in elite colleges. Is it any wonder parents are confused, exhausted and desperate for help?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Christina Scherr - Athletic Trainer, Westview High School
High school athletics have become increasingly competitive as student-athletes vie for a coveted college scholarship. With increased competition, some students are specializing younger and younger, which can lead to repetitive motion injuries, and the higher level of skill for some players can create dangerous situations for less skilled players. Add to this mix the constant fear of concussions, and it’s no wonder high schools are desperate to hire and keep qualified, experienced, and caring certified athletic trainers. The need is clear, but do schools have the resources to make it happen?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Julie Union - School Board Member, Solana Beach School DistrictSchool Board meetings were once quiet, formal, and let’s be honest, boring. Over the last ten years, school board meetings have become a flashpoint for communities, and with live streaming now the norm, they’ve turned into reality TV. What is the role of a school board and its members, and why have they become such a focus in local politics? Do we really know what a school board does and why?
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Todd Cassen - Assistant Commissioner, CIF San Diego Section
Out of control fan conduct is a world-wide issue, so it’s no surprise that we’re seeing a rise in bad behavior in high school athletics. Unlike professional sports that have police, security, and team personnel to respond to incidents, high schools have limited staff to manage large crowds. Are high school athletics at a tipping point? If crowds, players and coaches continue to verbally (and sometimes physically) assault officials, will anyone be left to fill this critical role? If fans continue to escalate their behavior, will schools be forced to play games without fans? This is supposed to be kids having fun playing a game right?
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Guest: Don Collins - Retired Educator
The Seattle School District recently took the bold step to sue social media app creators for contributing to the mental health crisis facing teens. Is this a cynical chess move to draw attention to the need for more mental health support in public education, or is it a legitimate attempt to hold content creators accountable for their impact on our youth?
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Guests: Sgt. Garrick Nugent and Det. Steve Dickinson
There is a tremendous amount of data about the negative impact of cell phones on the mental health of our kids. But there are hidden dangers in devices that kids and parents sometimes overlook. Every post, every picture, every comment can expose students to a dark world that can have lasting consequences. When we share our private lives, they are no longer private, and there are cruel individuals waiting to take advantage of our vulnerabilities. On this episode, two veteran San Diego police officers share their insights on the dangers our kids face as they document and share their most intimate thoughts and moments.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Guest: David Jaffe - Principal, Vista High School
What is the role of a high school? High schools used to be focused on preparing kids to leave the house and start their adult lives. Now, high schools are buried under the weight of expectations around college acceptance, mental health, and increasingly individualized learning paths. In this episode I talk to David Jaffe, a veteran principal with experience at all levels of education, about the changing role of high schools, and what the future might hold.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Don Collins returns to the podcast to talk about what makes a school site such a special place. Just like in our own families, the dynamics of the stakeholder relationships help shape us all as people. In recent years, schools have become an even more important element in our lives, and we find ourselves relying on schools the same way we rely on our families. But how do you create that “school family?”
Guest: Don Collins - Retired Educator
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
When we say Uvalde, Sandy Hook, Parkland, or Columbine we all know exactly what we’re talking about. School safety continues to be a seemingly unsolvable problem. There are things that feel like the right thing to do, but are they? As the debate rages, schools continue to live with this reality as educators look for ways to protect kids. In this episode, I sit down with Robby Shockney, an Assistant Principal on my team, to discuss what school safety is like on a day to day basis, and our experiences with lockdowns, drills, and managing communication during a crisis.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Don Collins is back on the show to talk about the impact of smartphones on the current generation of students. We are finding more and more that students expect the world to adapt to them rather than the student learning how to adapt to the world around them. Just like YouTube adapts to your views, kids think we will all adjust to their needs and likes so any minor challenge creates anxiety. Anxiety, which was once known as a diagnosed disorder, has become synonymous with any perceived discomfort. How did we get here and how do we help students understand the difference?
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
With all of the focus on college admission, many high school parents long for the days of “shop class.” What a lot of people don’t know is that the “shot class” is alive and well under a different name, and a more relevant philosophy. Now called Career Technical Education (CTE), elective classes that teach practical, hands-on, transferable skills are thriving in high schools all over California. So why don’t more people know what they are?
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
When you think of a school principal, what comes to mind? Richard Vernon? Ed Rooney? Seymour Skinner? There isn’t a lot of truth in the pop culture stereotype of a principal, but we can’t seem to shake it. The job has changed profoundly over the past decade, but many still have an image of a mindless bureaucrat in a short-sleeved dress shirt. In this episode we explore what the job of a high school principal is like during the most challenging time in the history of modern education.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
What was once a fun way to get involved in school and make some lasting memories has become a simmering, high stakes cauldron of stress, pressure and manipulation. How and why did youth sports get so complicated, and what can we do to make it more fun?
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
What was once a fun way to get involved in school and make some lasting memories has become a simmering, high stakes cauldron of stress, pressure and manipulation. How and why did youth sports get so complicated, and what can we do to make it more fun?
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
I’m excited to announce that on October 7th I’ll post a two part episode on high school athletics. With me to discuss what’s working, what’s not, and what we can do about it, is Charlenne Falcis-Stevens, the current CIF San Diego Section Athletic Director of the Year.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Many parents have an image of high school and student learning that is stuck in the ‘80s - Long boring lectures followed by a test. The old instructional models are long gone, replaced by interactive lessons, backwards mapping, inquiry based learning, and so much more. In this episode we explore how education has changed through the lens of two Gen X educators.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Many parents have an understandable tendency to protect their kids from any potentially negative experiences. But we have to ask, does this do more harm than good? If students don’t experience the highs and lows of life they won't know how to overcome obstacles and develop a sense of pride in solving problems on their own. In this episode I talk to Don Collins, a veteran educator and father of two, who has spent decades supporting struggling students, developing resources to inspire teachers, and being a leader in social/emotional leaning and suicide prevention.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
In this episode I welcome guest Rebecca Gallow, an assistant principal on my team at Torrey Pines. Our discussion focuses on the origin of the name of this podcast, and what it means to both of us as educators and parents.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message
Get to know a little bit about the host, Rob Coppo, and what to expect in future episodes.
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rob-coppo/message