In this inspiring collection, the award-winning, bestselling author—and MacArthur genius—gathers all-star advice for K–12 teachers on engaging students around today's toughest issues Is it okay to discuss politics in class? What are constructive ways to help young people process the daily news coverage of sexual assault? How can educators engage students around Black Lives Matter? Climate change? Confederate statue controversies? Immigration? Hate speech? Lisa Delpit’s Other People’s Children, a classic text on cultural slippage in classrooms, has sold over a quarter million copies. In Teaching When the World Is on Fire, Delpit now turns to a host of crucial issues facing teachers in these tumultuous times. Delpit’s master-teacher wisdom tees up guidance from beloved, well-known educators along with insight from dynamic principals and classroom teachers tackling difficult topics in K–12 schools every day. This honest and rich collection brings together essential observations on safety from Pedro Noguera and Carla Shalaby; incisive ideas on traversing politics from William Ayers and Mica Pollock; Christopher Emdin’s instructive views on respecting and connecting with black and brown students; Hazel Edwards’s crucial insight about safe spaces for transgender and gender-nonconforming students; and James W. Loewen’s sage suggestions about exploring symbols of the South; as well as timely thoughts from Bill Bigelow on teaching the climate crisis—and on the students and teachers fighting for environmental justice. An energizing volume that speaks to our contentious world and the necessary conversations we all must have about it, Teaching When the World Is on Fire is sure to inspire teachers to support their students in navigating the current events, cultural shifts, and social dilemmas that shape our communities and our country. Table of Contents Introduction Lisa Delpit Politics Matters I Shall Create! William Ayers Teaching Politics in the Age of Trump Justin Christensen The Three Illusions Julia Putnam Standing Up Against Hate Mica Pollock Yes, Race and Politics Belong in the Classroom H. Richard Milner IV Safety Matters Cops or Counselors? Pedro A. Noguera How Hurricane Harvey Altered My Perspective as a Teacher Jeff Collier I Was Raised to Believe Education Could Keep Me Safe fredrick scott salyers Calling on Omar Carla Shalaby School Justice T. Elijah Hawkes Race Matters Don’t Say Nothing Jamilah Pitts Black Teachers, Black Youth, and Reality Pedagogy Christopher Emdin How One Elementary School Sparked a Citywide Movement to Make Black Students: Lives Matter Wayne Au and Jesse Hagopian The Fire Sarah Ishmael and Jonathan Tunstall in conversation Engaging and Embracing Black Parents Allyson Criner Brown Who Do I Belong To? Natalie Labossiere To My Sons’ Future Teacher, Colleague, Sister/Brother, Co-madre, Maestra, Comrade, Friend Crystal T. Laura Gender and Sex Ed Matter Sexual Harassment and the Collateral Beauty of Resistance Camila Arze Torres Goitia Believe Me the First Time Dale Weiss Nothing About Us, Without Us, Is for Us Hazel Edwards and Maya Lindberg in conversation Climate Matters Climate Science Meets a Stubborn Obstacle: Students Amy Harmon Teachers vs. Climate Change Bill Bigelow Culture Matters Teaching Middle School Students to Advocate Carolina Drake Why I Teach Diverse Literature Noah Cho Love for Syria Cami Touloukian Correct(ed): Confederate Public History James Loewen Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Muslim Children Deborah Almontaser Appendix: Books on Immigration for Young Readers Jay Fung