Six years ago Michael W. Apple, the John Bascom Professor Emeritus of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his path breaking book Ideology and Curriculum (originally published in 1979), which established a relationship between education and economic and cultural power. Taylor and Frances brought out the 4th edition of the classic.

I read the book when I was working as a cashier in a gas station at the university town of Davis, California on a graveyard shift in the summer of 1990. After 2 am, there were hardly any customers that stopped to buy booze, cigarettes, chewing gum, snacks, condoms or gas! So,I had plenty of time to devour it. Most nights were uneventful except one late evening when there was a drive-by shooting 100-yards away from the pumps. I was instantly hooked on Apple's sociological study of education. He was a huge name in the study of politics and sociology of curriculum.

At the time, I was a student at the University of California at Davis and enrolled in an MA program in education, reading philosophy, psychology, linguistics, history and so on. .Subsequently, I enquired with him about the possibility of doing a PhD under his mentorship.

The rest is history as they say.

From the winter semester of 1992 till spring 1998, I spent 6 years under his academic supervision. We have been comrades and friends for the last 30+ years.

A month ago, I paid my old teacher - now 82 - a visit in his down-sized flat a short walk on Mill Street from the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. We talked for a total of 6 hours over two consecutive days. He was generous with his time, and graciously allowed me to record an interview with him on his life's work. He is one of the world's leading sociologists of education who supervised over 100 doctoral students from around the world of whom only 1 or 2 did not complete their degrees, and has published 32 books in his half-century of influential academic career in the field.

The result is this 3-part podcast.

We touched on a wide variety of topics which were dear and near to both of us including the work of the renowned Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, the Friday Seminar he ran as a critical reading group at the home of the top-ranked Curriculum and Instruction Department, his own activism as a former teacher, a US military veteran and education, American imperialism and authoritarian regimes in places where he had held professorships including China. Apple came from a working class family of Eastern European Jewish migrants in Patterson, New Jersey, and considered himself proudly a "red diaper baby". He has been fuming about the Zionists, arrogating to themselves as "the voice of all Jews". Naturally, he shared his thoughts on Israel's ongoing genocide in Palestine.

Dr. Maung Zarni

An Indepth Interview with the world renowned sociologist of education, Michael W. Apple - Part I

An Indepth Interview with the world renowned sociologist of education, Michael W. Apple - Part II

An Indepth Interview with the world renowned sociologist of education, Michael W. Apple - Part III

How do we understand the psychological, mental health, and cognitive impacts on the survivors and offspring of genocide? Darya Ahmed is a clinical psychologist and scientific researcher with Koya University and specializes in psychological trauma in the context of the Kurdish Genocide. In today's episode, Darya joins Beth to discuss his research on psychological trauma during genocide, war, conflict, and related topics. 

Episode 17: Genocide, Conflict, and Mental Health: Survivors of the Kurdish Genocide

What role do atrocity memorials play in transitional justice, and how do communities heal in the decades that follow? In today's episode, Beth is joined by Dr. Nicole Fox to explore how memorials to past atrocities contribute to the healing and reconciliation of genocide survivors. Focusing on the 1994 Rwandan genocide, they delve into the memorials dedicated to its victims and survivors, and examine what healing has looked like over the 30 years since.

Post-Genocide Rwanda Memorialization and Reconciliation with Dr. Nicole Fox

What is cultural genocide? Why are acts of cultural genocide excluded from the legal definition of genocide? In this episode, Professor Jeff Bachman joins Elia to discuss his research into the history of cultural genocide and some of its present day manifestations.

Episode #20: What Is Cultural Genocide? with Jeff Bachman

Episode Description:

Peter Metzelaar, a Holocaust survivor, joins Beth on today's episode. Peter was born in Amsterdam in 1935. In 1942, when Peter was 7, the Nazis seized Peter's entire family except for Peter and his mother. He tells us his incredible story of survival, resilience, and the importance of Holocaust education.

Bio: 

Peter was born in Amsterdam in 1935. In 1942, when Peter was 7, the Nazis seized Peter's entire family except for Peter and his mother. Peter's mother contacted the Dutch Underground for help. The Underground found Klaas and Roefina Post who agreed to shelter Peter and his mother on their small farm in northern Holland, putting their own lives at risk. For two years they lived with the Posts until it became too dangerous and they found another hiding place with two women in The Hague. Peter, his mother, and his aunt were the only survivors of his family. Klaas and Roefina Post have been recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.

After the war, Peter and his mother immigrated to the United States in 1949, arriving in New York. Peter was 13 and didn't speak any English, but was placed in the 8th grade. Peter had a long career as a radiology technologist. He and his wife Bea raised two children from Pete's previous marriage and had a third son in California. The Metzelaars moved to Seattle in 1997. Peter continues to be an active member of the Holocaust Center for Humanity's Speakers Bureau.

Sources: 

Survivor Encyclopedia: Washington State. Peter Meztelaar: https://www.holocaustcenterseattle.org/peter-metzelaar


Mental Health Resources:

The content featured in this podcast may be emotionally disturbing and intense. Listener discretion is advised. Please consult this document for mental health resources if needed.

U.S.-Based Resources:
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
• Open Path Collective: https://openpathcollective.org/
• BIPOC Mental Health Resources: https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/BIPOC-Mental-Health-Resources.pdf

Global Resources:
• Befrienders: https://befrienders.org/
• Find a Helpline: https://findahelpline.com/
• I Call Helpline: https://icallhelpline.org/
• 13 Yarn: https://www.13yarn.org.au/
• Help Guide: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm


Episode 21: Peter Metzelaar: Story of a Holocaust Survivor

Genocide Watch

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