Podcast Summary
Recognizing the importance of addressing trauma and wellness in education: To effectively support students, educators must prioritize their own self-care and healing, while adopting a trauma-informed and inclusive approach to education.
Miriam Rachel Fried's journey in education led her to recognize the importance of addressing trauma, wellness, expression, and justice in the education system. She began her career in business with a desire to make the world better but found a lack of justice and diversity in her undergraduate education. After a brief stint in business, she returned to education, drawn to serving disadvantaged communities. Through her experiences, she came to believe that true change in education requires reconnecting to what makes humans human and addressing trauma and oppression. Miriam now serves as a liberation coach and consultant, helping schools and educators adopt a more inclusive and trauma-informed approach. She emphasizes the need for self-care and healing for educators to effectively support their students. The challenges of the current educational landscape, including the trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the urgent need for these changes.
Transforming Education: Authentic Feedback, Wellness, Expression, and Justice: Effective education systems prioritize authentic feedback, student wellness, expression, and justice for transformative learning and social growth.
Education systems can significantly impact student growth, and authentic feedback, wellness, expression, and justice are crucial elements for effective teaching. The speaker shares her experiences in various school districts, highlighting the differences between failing and successful schools. Turnaround schools, which receive additional support and resources, can provide opportunities for transformative education and social justice work. Conversely, schools in more affluent areas may lack the same level of urgency and resources to address systemic issues. The speaker's personal growth and experiences have shaped her teaching philosophy, emphasizing student engagement, real-world relevance, and healing through trust and relationships. Despite the challenges of the education system, the speaker finds solace in her ability to make a difference in her students' lives, even during unprecedented times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond Academic Achievement: Prioritizing Students' Holistic Well-Being: Teachers play a crucial role in addressing students' emotional and social needs, and prioritizing their overall well-being is essential for effective education. Self-care and systemic change, including better resources and support, are necessary for educators to thrive and create safe, nurturing learning environments.
Education goes beyond just academic achievement; it's about the holistic well-being of students. A teacher's role extends beyond the classroom, requiring them to address students' emotional and social needs. The speaker, a former public school teacher, shares her experience of prioritizing her students' journeys over test results, advocating for their growth both inside and outside the classroom. She emphasizes the importance of self-care for educators and the need for systemic change, including better pay, resources, and support for teachers. Her own transformation led her to start a business offering programs for educators and women, focusing on personal expression, justice, and healing. Ultimately, the speaker's message underscores the significance of treating education as a human right and creating safe, nurturing environments for students to thrive.
Essential Life Skills vs. Outdated Education: While academic skills matter, essential life skills like managing finances, being a functional member of society, and understanding human relationships are equally important. We need a shift towards education that promotes individual liberation and societal justice, while addressing challenges like lack of support and resources.
Our education system may prioritize outdated skills and knowledge over essential life skills and societal contributions. The speaker argues that while subjects like math and science are important for problem-solving and critical thinking, other skills like managing finances, being a functional member of society, and understanding human relationships are equally important. The speaker also emphasizes the need for individual liberation within the collective pursuit of social, environmental, and spiritual justice. Additionally, the current educational system's challenges, such as lack of support and resources, especially during crises like COVID-19, make it difficult for students to reach their full potential. Ultimately, the speaker calls for a shift in focus towards teaching students the skills they need to thrive in life and contribute to society, while also promoting individual wellness and expression as part of the larger pursuit of justice and liberation.
Personal growth and social justice are interconnected: Express vulnerability, creativity, and authenticity to foster personal liberation and contribute to repairing social injustices. Understand and dismantle internalized oppressive consciousness, particularly white supremacy, for effective contribution.
Personal growth and social justice are interconnected. Expressing vulnerability, creativity, and authenticity, while building trust and boundaries, can lead to both personal liberation and service to repair the wounds of injustice. However, understanding and dismantling internalized oppressive consciousness, particularly white supremacy, is crucial for white people to contribute effectively to this work. This process can involve a deep introspection and questioning of systems and personal experiences. Books like "Me and White Supremacy" and authors like Sonia Renee Taylor can provide valuable insights. Remember, personal growth and social justice are intertwined, and each contributes to the other.
Childhood experiences and societal conditioning impact transgender and non-binary identity: Trauma from lack of acceptance and societal conditioning can lead to mental health issues and suicide for transgender and non-binary individuals. Acceptance and support are crucial for healing and creating a more inclusive society.
Childhood experiences and societal conditioning can significantly impact an individual's perception of their identity and self-worth, particularly for those who are transgender or non-binary. Trauma and lack of acceptance can lead to long-term harm, including mental health issues and suicide. The beauty industry, schools, and communities all play a role in shaping these experiences. Unfortunately, many communities, including religious ones, struggle to accept and support transgender and non-binary individuals, perpetuating a culture of judgment and oppression. This issue is deeply interconnected with patriarchal conditioning and white supremacist culture, which reinforce rigid gender roles and stigmatize anything outside the norm. The acceptance and support of unique expressions of identity is essential for healing and creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Women reclaiming power and divine femininity through nature and ancestral spiritual practices: Embrace authenticity and vulnerability as educators to create healthier learning environments, value different roles and perspectives like elements in a garden for a balanced community.
Women's roles in religious and societal structures have evolved significantly, with many women seeking connection to nature and ancestral spiritual practices as a means of reclaiming their power and divine femininity. This shift towards more feminine energy and connection to the Earth is part of a larger movement towards environmental justice and equality. As educators embrace their own personal growth and self-expression, they can create healthier learning environments by modeling authenticity and vulnerability for their students. The importance of accepting and valuing different roles and perspectives, much like the various elements in a garden, is crucial for fostering a balanced and thriving community.
Nurturing a teacher's soul and addressing racial bias in education: Teachers have a profound impact on students, extending beyond academics. White educators should acknowledge systemic oppression and create safe spaces for dialogue. Comprehensive curriculums are essential, addressing societal issues and providing students with tools for healing.
The relationship between a teacher and their students goes beyond the classroom. A teacher's soul imprints on their students, and as such, it's essential for teachers to keep their souls nurtured. Additionally, research shows that students learn better when taught by educators of the same race. For white educators, it's crucial to acknowledge systemic oppression and create a safe space for open dialogue. The curriculum should be comprehensive, addressing both academic and societal issues. It's important not to shortchange students by teaching them only what's required, but instead, provide them with the tools to navigate their own traumas and heal. Ultimately, teachers have a significant impact on their students' lives, and it's essential to recognize and address the complexities of the teacher-student dynamic.
Revolutionizing Education: Prioritizing Human Connection and Well-Being: Teachers deserve fair pay and freedom to teach from the heart, addressing mental health and promoting diversity are crucial, and self-care and integrity should be prioritized in classrooms.
The current education system needs a revolution to prioritize human connection, consciousness, and well-being. The speaker shared their personal experience of feeling disconnected and unsupported during high school, despite being involved in various activities. They believe that teachers should be paid fairly and given the freedom to teach from the heart, creating a safe and deep learning environment. They also emphasized the importance of addressing mental health and promoting diversity within the school system. The speaker's perspective highlights the need for a shift towards more holistic and meaningful approaches to education. The speaker also emphasized the importance of teachers being able to prioritize self-care and integrity in their classrooms, even if it goes against traditional expectations. The speaker's experience and beliefs align with the idea of indigenizing education, which values deep and rich practices that connect to the human spirit.
Advocate for Social Justice and Education Reform: Miriam Rachel Fried: Miriam Rachel Fried advocates for social justice and education reform, specifically supporting teachers and women through her programs The Liberated Woman and The Liberated Educator. She believes the education system needs reform and revolution, and teachers need more community and institutional support.
Miriam Rachel Fried is a passionate advocate for social justice and education reform, specifically in supporting teachers and women. She runs programs called The Liberated Woman and The Liberated Educator, where she offers individual coaching and group support. To connect with Miriam, you can visit her website, MiriamRachelFried.com, or find her on Instagram @MiriamRachelFried. The education system needs reform and revolution, and Miriam believes that teachers need more support from their communities and institutions. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend. For more information and to connect with Miriam and Jennifer, check the show notes. Jennifer encourages listeners to hit subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast to continue the conversation and build a community.
