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  • 1.  The F-Word: When Did "Fun" Become a Dirty Word in Education?

    Posted 01-09-2026 05:20 PM
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    Hello there,

    In this The Teacher Down the Hall column, Andrea Hutlock, ATPE's Engagement & Learning Specialist, reflects on how moments of joy once played a natural role in classroom learning and considers how that spirit has slowly been pushed aside. Through personal memories and research, she challenges the idea that fun is a distraction and argues that it can support deeper engagement and more meaningful learning for students.

    Up for discussion: What is one small way you have found, or could reclaim, fun in your classroom, even within today's demands?



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    David George
    Managing Editor
    Association of Texas Professional Educators
    atpe.org | atpenews.org
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  • 2.  RE: The F-Word: When Did "Fun" Become a Dirty Word in Education?

    Posted 01-21-2026 08:14 AM

    What a great article! The era of standardized testing has negatively impacted public education in possibly unintended ways! Thanks for the reminder that it is time to being back the fun!



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    Jayne Serna
    Leander ISD
    Leander, TX
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