Teach The Truth

3 min readMay 20, 2022

In the last 20 years, @NicholasFerroni has become a revered educator and was named one of the “100 Making a Difference” for his commitment to education reform.

We interviewed him for the podcast this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5S9mdh0QcE

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#1: Teach the Truth

This was a campaign to incorporate more minority figures and groups into the high school social studies curriculum. But it wasn’t just a campaign.

Multitudes of histories exist not just pale, stale, male ones.

As educators, we have an opportunity to use our ‘platforms’ to give a voice to those who don’t have one. We can and we should. This isn’t white- or male-bashing either — truth must allow for representation.

#2: Inspire first, inform second

As teachers, we feed off inspiring others. It’s why we got into the profession in the first place. Nicholas said, “Kids who are loved at home come to school to learn, but kids who aren’t, come to school to be loved.”

The old adage that no-one cares how much you know until they know how much you care is never more true than in the classroom. Knowledge transfer is important but not more so than building professional relationships. Building trust matters not authoritarian control.

#3: Show passion & compassion before knowledge

Teachers who succeed here do so by caring and sharing.

Here are a few ways Nicholas does this:

• Teach through (pop) culture

• Engage with social media (where students are)

• Unlock media stereotypes & address them

#4: Advocate and support all

As Upstander of the Year by the Human Rights Campaign for his outspoken advocacy and support for LGBTQ youth, Nick is making a difference.

“Education without equity is education without empathy.”

Everyone can use ramps not just those with disabilities so why build only stairs?

We know this will be music to the ears of our friend @EdKirwanfrom @TheEmpathyWeekwho was a guest on our podcast back in January 2022

#5: Appreciate teachers

Finally, this has become a bit of a mission for Nicholas. By 2024, England will need 47,000 extra secondary teachers yet 71% of school employers are finding it hard to recruit staff. The picture is similar across the world.

#IfWeAppreciatedTeachers…

Nicholas is using his platforms to raise this issue.

“Education is built on the unpaid labour of teachers.” And it isn’t fair or right. It’s not just berating the system though; we must work hard as a society to value educators by supporting them.

TL;DR — These ideas will help you use your voice:

• Teach the Truth

• Inspire 1st, Inform 2nd

• Show Passion & Compassion

• Advocate for All

• Appreciate Teachers

Our #EdufuturistsAwards22 return online on 30th June 2022 — this is a great way to support others and celebrate their success. Register and vote for your winners at edufuturists.com