Ep. 1: Slavery (Extra Credit)

By: Neal Pollack, Elijah Pollack

On Extra Credit, writer Neal Pollack augments his son's public school education with his own, somewhat questionable, life lessons. In this episode, after learning that some Texas schoolbooks refer to African slaves as "migrant workers," Neal takes Elijah on a road trip to Lousiana, where they visit a slavery museum on a former plantation.

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Neal and Elijah visit Whitney Plantation

Neal Pollack takes his 13-year-old son Elijah on a road trip to Whitney Plantation in Louisiana to supplement what he considers is a subpar public education about slavery. I really love that they did this and recorded it so other people could listen. Neal and Elijah actually recorded some of their drive and some interactions with the people that they meet, so the sound quality is different than with a traditional podcast as there are no desks or microphones.

At Whitney Plantation, the focus is on slavery rather than what the big house or the grounds or the decor looks like. I'm a huge massive supporter of road tripping to educate kids (and adults) and make history come alive, as this is something that we also do in our home. Before listening to this episode, I had never heard of Whitney Plantation or the Slave Revolt that happened there in 1811. While I was listening I was curious about the plantation so I went online, read up on the place and its history, and see some images that are on the plantation's website.

I cannot wait to listen to more of these podcasts. I would normally say that a podcast of this length is perfect to listen to while cleaning or cooking or even driving into town to run errands, but I can tell after this first episode that I may want to research a little bit about the places in the podcast while I'm listening.

I liked this episode!

This first episode gives the listener a backstory as to why this father decided to take his sons education to the next level. They talked to a woman and her son about what he was taught about slavery at his school in Texas, and they took a road trip to a slavery museum in Louisiana.

I’m going to listen to this episode again because I got distracted while cleaning my apartment. Their quest for knowledge and understanding helps me as a listener further understand the very raw, real truth that was taught to me as a sugar coated version of American history.

Slavery.

A little on the whiny side about America education, but it was interesting once they started talking about history and it was good that the father decided to do something concerning his own son’s education. The production itself was well produced.

good episode

good episode Wonderful Narration. a b c d e f g h I j k

Untold History

I love the back and forth between the father and son. They have great rapport. This is a great concept, that Neal is taking on and teaching his son in a way that is much outside the classroom.

It reminds me about how awful our schools are. Great work.

If you're interested in learning more than what is taught to you in school check out this program.