The Education Gadfly Show
For more than 15 years, the Fordham Institute has been hosting a weekly podcast, The Education Gadfly Show. Each week, you’ll get lively, entertaining discussions of recent education news, usually featuring Fordham’s Mike Petrilli and David Griffith. Then the wise Amber Northern will recap a recent research study. For questions or comments on the podcast, contact its producer, Stephanie Distler, at sdistler@fordhaminstitute.org.
The Education Gadfly Show
The collapse of graduation standards | Episode 992 of The Education Gadfly Show
This week, Fordham’s President Emeritus Checker Finn joins the show to unpack a troubling trend—the collapse of graduation standards—and why it matters for every American student.
Then, on David Griffith’s first Research Minute, a new study looks at the demographics of college applicants interested in teaching in America—and explores why some who enter similar “helping professions,” like nursing and social work, steer clear of the classroom.
Recommended content:
- High school graduation standards have collapsed. Does it matter? —Michael J. Petrilli, Schooled
- Are high school graduation standards too low? —Michael J. Petrilli, Schooled
- The end of MCAS is the end of an era. Now let’s figure out what comes next. —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Who wants to be a teacher? — Robert Chung, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Who wants to be a teacher? — Brendan Bartanen, Andrew Avitabile, and Andrew Kwok, EdWorking Papers (2025)
Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org