I’m thinking about collaborative learning, and, because of an odd point of synchronicity–leadership. First of all, there’s a video on YouTube that is a focal point of my musing. Alex Hughes, an 11th grader from Greensboro, North Carolina, made it for a Dept of Education contest. He is obviously a student with drive, talent, and resources–all important ingredients for success.
Read moreNote: This is very dated and specific to a situation that is long ago, but I love how deeply I felt all this at the time. I know how deeply you care about our kids’ education, and that when you are making decisions and considering hard issues, the impact on the students is in the forefront of your mind. I
Read more2020 Note: I no longer am Methodist or want to turn Quaker, but St Clare is still my patron saint. Ok, so a Methodist who wants to turn Quaker probably shouldn’t have a patron saint. I understand that. But when I discovered St Clare, there was no choice. As a saint, she’s got impeccable creditials. She was one of St
Read moreYears ago, in a galaxy far, far away, an innocent, enthusiastic girl was offered the choice of 3 different futures. One, at Grosse Pointe, teaching bored young rich kids–a John Hughes-vision of “real life.” Two, at Shawnee, teaching faux-rich kids; Third, reincarnating Dorothy Day and bringing culture home to her alma mater. If Doc Brown dangled the keys of the
Read moreThe negativity of the English language is upsetting. Consider the following: you can be disgruntled, but how many gruntled people have you ever seen? you can be disingenuous, but there are apparently no genuous people among us! you can inadvertently do something, but who admits to doing things advertently? superheros get to be impervious, but never pervious. See the problem?
Read moreI don’t like country music. I’ve said that till it sounds like the refrain of a classic. There’s something about it that just……I cringe. However, I looked at my iTunes downloads today and realized that my last 10 purchases have been country: LeeAnn Womack’s “Last Call,” Trace Adkins’ something about memory, three John Corbett songs, a Kenny Chesney–I don’t even
Read moreTopic du jour: Playing. I don’t remember which conversations triggered this, but I realized a couple days ago that I don’t play well. Not that I don’t play well with others, although that could be a totally different topic worth considering. Just that I’m not good at playing in the “being playful” sense of the word. I haven’t researched this
Read moreMy topic is simple: school uniforms–or campus wear, for the politically precise in my audience. As they are currently defined and implemented in my district, I don’t believe in them. This year, because I am no longer in the classroom, I can conveniently not deal with the massive percentage of non-complying students. And is that the coward’s way out? Maybe.
Read moreThis is the letter I sent to my superintendent in 2006 protesting the edict that teachers could not wear jeans. It started quite a firestorm of emails, but I still don’t wear jeans. I still have an attitude about it, too. Every once in a while, I feel strongly enough about an issue that I have to at least register
Read moreI feel honored to be chosen as the representative from the MI staff to get the privilege of addressing the students, parents, and guests here tonight. I’ve written about five totally different speeches for this, mainly because as I’d begin writing, I’d realize that there was something even more important I wanted to share. It would be appropriate to pat
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The Wave Returns 