On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Is education research actually helping teachers?
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Dec 8, 2025 David Marshall, an Associate Professor at Auburn University and former middle/high school teacher, dives into the shocking disconnect between education research and classroom realities. He reveals that recent education conferences largely focus on topics like 'identity' and 'safe spaces,' while teachers crave insights on behavior and mental health. Marshall emphasizes the urgent need to bridge this gap, advocating for research that prioritizes practical classroom issues and involves teacher voices. He warns that current funding trends risk neglecting critical areas like literacy and discipline.
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Research Topics Skew Toward Equity
- AERA conference programs from 2021–2025 emphasized equity, social justice, and identity far more than classroom-practice topics.
- David Marshall argues that focus mismatch shows research priorities diverge from teachers' everyday needs.
Teachers' Top Research Priorities
- Teachers ranked student behavior, discipline, and technology/AI integration as their top research priorities.
- Many teachers also flagged burnout, workload, retention, literacy, and shrinking attention spans as urgent areas.
Former Teacher On Time Lost To Disruption
- Marshall, a former teacher, says every minute spent handling student issues detracts from meeting learning objectives.
- He uses his classroom experience to argue for research that helps reduce disruptions.