Are We Educating Kids or Managing Them?
A conversation rethinking Childhood Education with Dr. Jack Talmadge
SEASON 1 | EPISODE 99
Something about the way we do school for children just isn’t working, so it's time to talk about it. This week, I sit down with Dr. Jack Talmadge, Head of School at Episcopal School of Knoxville, to talk candidly about education, play, and why so many kids struggle in environments that demand stillness, compliance, and constant performance.
We talk about play-based and place-based learning, why movement actually helps kids focus, and how “sit still and listen” somehow became synonymous with being a good student. Jack shares his own experience growing up in a high-pressure academic environment, how an undiagnosed learning difference nearly crushed his confidence, and how one teacher changed everything.
We also tackle:
Why play is dismissed as fluff instead of recognized as foundational
How quickly kids get labeled when the environment doesn’t fit them
The quiet damage of standardized testing—for kids and teachers
Why college has become the default, even when it clearly shouldn’t be
And what happens when we value relationships more than rigid systems
This isn’t about tearing education down or blaming teachers. It’s about being honest enough to admit that the system wasn’t built for every kid, and maybe it’s time we stopped acting like the kids are the problem.
If you’ve got a story about education, or strong feelings about this conversation, message me on Instagram @beingdifferentwithlizdurham. I want to hear from you!
- - - - - - - - - - -
Liz Durham Instagram | Website
Subscribe Apple Podcast | Spotify
Being Different with Liz Durham is a Palm Tree Pod Co. production