Eccentric. Odd. Good. Iconic. Created by writer Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degan, Ms. Frizzle is the adventurous and fabulous teacher of The Magic School Bus, a series of books and a show that continues to influence and inspire teachers, students, and has produced many pedagogical innovations. Read this PECE essay on Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus to explore why.
A scene from the movie School of Rock (2003) fronted by Jack Black. A proverb for those who dismiss teaching as a second-rate profession. It shows how ideals of meritocracy undermine the intellectual and cultural work that teachers do.
Robin Williams portrays dedicated, mission-oriented teacher John Keating who suffuses a cohort of high school students with his love of poetry. He is up against a schooling system that stifles creativity for efficiency.
Authors discuss the interplay of different genres in the children's book The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks (1996) with Ms. Frizzle as their science teacher. Read more
Zapata and Maloch discuss best practices for reading informational texts, working with a third-grade teacher who wants to be like Ms. Frizzle. Read more
James Baldwin delivered this speech before a group of educators on October 16, 1963, to address epistemic violence faced by Black children even before they have stepped foot in a classroom. Navigating a world that is not designed for them and that does not benefit them, creates doubt and rage...Read more
"eccentric"; "odd-but-good"; "diverse interests, complete fearlessness, and unflagging cheer"; " unafraid to be enthusiastic"; "never the hero"Read more
Author critiques MSB for its superficial focus on multiculturalism with whiteness as the dominant frame. Even though the visual representations of MSB characters in the Netflix reboot have changed, the cultural stereotypes have stagnated since the 1980s. Read more