The Power of Black Panther, Why Good Teachers Quit the Classroom

The Power of Black Panther Guests: Cameron McCoy, PhD, Assistant Professor of History; Kristin Matthews, PhD, Associate Professor of English; Benjamin Thevenin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Theater and Media Arts, Brigham Young University "Black Panther" is a tremendous box office hit. But for many, it’s much more than a superhero movie. It’s been called a cultural touchstone. “A necessary and joyous tribute to being black.” And, an exploration of “what if?” What if Africa hadn’t been colonized? What if Africans had not been enslaved and torn from their homeland? We’re going to spend this hour considering the significance of this movie, "Black Panther," at this moment in America. Why Good Teachers Quit the Classroom Guests: Doris Santoro, EdD, Associate Professor of Education, Chair of Education Department, Bowdoin College, Author, “Demoralized: Why Teachers Leave the Profession They Love and How They Can Stay”; Bryan Bowles, Associate Clinical Professor of Education, Brigham Young University, former Superintendent, Davis School District The teaching profession is in trouble in the United States. There’s a nationwide shortage, for one thing. And that’s being driven, in part, by teachers choosing to leave the field. Not all of them leave because they’re “burnt out” or just a poor fit for the job. Many, many are, in fact, great teachers with years of experience in the classroom. The love their work. Why do they choose to leave? And what could be done to help them stay?