The Courage Gap

Between July and October 2024, I produced the Courage Gap Talks to explore the gaps in education and observe the incentives that perpetuate the status quo. 

These are provocative , performatively crass and lo-fi -- lacking the gloss of  many Ed Reform panels and keynotes.

Many of the gaps identified in these talks inform the work we do at the non-profit I lead, Project Reflect-- founded by Sister Sandra Smithson in 1992-- to reflect on the ills of society.

These Courage Gap videos were created similarly-- to reflect on the patterns of our failing schools, then do something about it.

The Courage Gap Episodes will make you think and the Obituaries, 2-4 minute micro-presentations,  will make you laugh.

In the future, I intend to do Courage Gap Live! Details forthcoming.

Infographics for The Courage Gap # 3: Social Class, the Pandemic, School Openings, and Complexes

 Courage Gap Episode 3 explores social class and school openings during the pandemic.  In TN, I noticed that schools outside of the cities were opening more quickly-- so I got curious. I've always been a fan of Annette Lareau's Unequal Childhoods and

Alfred Lubrano's work Limbo: Blue Collar Roots, White Collar Dreams-- so I applied a socio-economic lens to it.

Little did I know that I was assessing my own journey through social class, rank and the complexes created by the journey.

The infographics  walk you through the journey of getting caught up in patterns-- then breaking them. They look at the neuroscience as well--way better than the video.

In short, they may help you understand how you became an Undercover Creative.

Larger Infographics below.

Infographics for The Courage Gap # 2: 2 Birds with 1 Stone- How Policies Created a Bias for Math and ELA Skills and Destroyed Historical Knowledge

 Courage Gap Episode 2 explores social social studies instruction, or the lack thereof, and its affect on culture AND the teacher shortage. 

This episode is important on  many levels. Without knowledge of history, people are doomed to repeat mistakes. Additionally, individuals become devoid of heroes, connection, unity and more.

History and social studies provide us with archetypes, myth, and stories of symbols and rituals.

Jung warns us about being unrooted to our past, and it's not awesome. It's likely worse as the US began as a country of uprooted people.

While our history has bumps and bruises and is emphatically ugly at times, it's a shared history and a referent for conversation and connection.

But kids need to learn it. Many haven't. 8 minute watch.