18. Talking About My Generation

This week, we're traveling through time to explore how education has changed from the one-room schoolhouse to the age of artificial intelligence. Were schools really better back in the day? Have expectations for students changed? And why does it seem like every new educational advancement comes with another responsibility for teachers? From factory-style classrooms and Scantrons to Oregon Trail, school shooter drills, and AI lesson planning, we unpack the good, the bad, and the downright exhausting parts of teaching across generations.

Cool in School:

• Russell celebrates his eighth-grade AVID students with some spectacular Spider-Man-inspired class shirts

• Chandler embraces staff picture day with monocles, mustaches, and a healthy disregard for boring school photos

Teacher Tips (you can steal tomorrow):

• Shut out the noise! Focus on your students, your classroom, and the things you can actually control

• Turn your scribbly sketches into polished classroom posters with a little help from AI

❤️ Good in Life:

• Russell celebrates a surprisingly promising start for his favorite sports teams, even if baseball isn't quite what it used to be

• Chandler makes a shocking baseball announcement: she's traded her Giants loyalty for the Dodgers

• Five living houseplants, mostly upright leaves, and the undeniable satisfaction of keeping something green alive

Were schools really better in the good old days? Turns out, it's complicated. We explore how the roles of teachers and students have evolved, from strict classroom authority and memorization to collaboration, inclusion, and individualized learning. Along the way, we consider what's improved for students, what's gotten harder for teachers, and whether the education system can keep adding responsibilities without adding meaningful support.

We also talk about teacher pay, special education, standardized testing, the rise of digital classrooms, parent communication, student accountability, and why AI might finally give teachers a little breathing room. Plus, Russell confesses to burning a report card, Chandler reminisces about a magical fourth-grade teacher, and we tackle the question nobody knew needed answering: Are you a Subaru lesbian, a Home Depot lesbian, or a fancy gay?

If this episode made you nostalgic for the Oregon Trail, rethink the good old days, or appreciate just how much teachers juggle, tag us and share it with an educator who needs a laugh.

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✨ Stay nerdy, stay kind, and keep building classrooms where everyone belongs. ✨