The Conversation Daily — June 21, 2026

In this issue

1. 1

   Teens aren’t as disengaged as you may think: What adults get wrong about adolescents’ civic contributions

   theconversation.com · Kimia Shirzad, Associate Researcher and Adjunct Instructor in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Penn State · Jen Agans, Associate Professor of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Penn State

   Teens contribute in ways that go far beyond organized volunteering. Maskot/DigitalVision via Getty Images A teenager scrolls through their phone at the dinner table, barely looks up and answers…

2. 2

   Federal investigation into Smith College probes whether transgender students can attend women’s schools – challenging the evolving mission of women’s education

   theconversation.com · Alex C. Lange, Assistant Professor, Higher Education, Colorado State University

   The Smith College campus in Northampton, Mass., in October 2025. Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Within the past decade, most women’s colleges in the United States – including Smith…

3. 3

   The lasting appeal of homeschooling: What motivated families to continue after schools reopened post-pandemic

   theconversation.com · Mark E. Wildmon, Assistant Professor of School Psychology, Mississippi State University · Kenneth V. Anthony, Professor of Elementary Education, Mississippi State University

   A mother leads her 7- and 9-year-old sons in a morning lesson during homeschool in Buffalo, Minn., in September 2023. Nicole Neri for The Washington Post via Getty Images When schools abruptly closed…

4. 4

   Bullying is common in elementary school – and it’s more likely to happen in classrooms that are chaotic

   theconversation.com · Qingqing Yang, Research Scientist of Education, University at Albany, State University of New York

   Experiencing bullying frequently in childhood can have lifelong consequences. Malte Mueller/iStock illustrations/Getty About 1 in 4 elementary students in the United States reports being bullied at…

5. 5

   Universities returning Native American remains and artifacts isn’t just about physical objects – it’s about dignity and justice

   theconversation.com · Kerri J. Malloy, Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies, San José State University

   A museum curator removes a rare Native American Chumash basket from California, circa 1800, at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., in 2003. MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images Many…

6. 6

   Students are taught to hide in closets and under tables if there is a school shooting – but does practicing for this possibility keep kids safe?

   theconversation.com · James Densley, Professor of Criminal Justice, Metropolitan State University

   Most schools do lockdown drills, but there is not any federal guidance on the best approach to this practice. TW Farlow/iStock/Getty Images Plus There have been 63 school shootings – meaning any time…

7. 7

   Reading gains in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana are often touted, but don’t show full picture of literacy

   theconversation.com · Brittany Adams, Assistant Professor of Literacy Education, University of Alabama · Elias Blinkoff, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University · Karyn Allee, Associate Professor of Elementary Education, Mercer University · Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Professor of Psychology, Temple University

   A fourth grade teacher leads a small group of students in a reading exercise in March 2023 at Tuskegee Public School in Tuskegee, Ala. Julie Bennett/The Washington Post via Getty Images Despite…

8. 8

   Texas proposes Bible readings for K-12 students, reigniting century-old legal battle over their place in public schools

   theconversation.com · Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

   A proposed list of required reading for Texan public schools includes several stories from the Bible. plherrera/E+ via Getty Images In 2023, Texas passed a law aimed at improving K-12 students’…

9. 9

   School gardens help students learn science and connect with agriculture – but making them happen isn’t easy

   theconversation.com · Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University

   These kids are doing a lot more than just playing in the dirt. SolStock/E+ via Getty Images I used to teach high school science in Oklahoma, and one day I brought in a stalk from a cotton plant with…