Episode 222: School Closings

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of school closings.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• Schools all over the United States are closing for weeks, perhaps months, in an effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. Natalia referenced this New York Times article about the particular challenges faced by homeless students. Niki referred to this history of school closures in response to desegregation orders, and Natalia discussed the limits of comparisons to homeschooling.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia recommended the podcast “Dying for Sex.”
• Neil discussed the legacy of the late playwright, Terrence McNally.
• Niki shared these investigative tweets by writer Sage Boggs – and historian Charles Richter’s response – about the origin of the brand name “Triscuit.”