A year ago I took a hiatus from writing this blog to concentrate on returning to the classroom as a math and science teacher. I hadn’t taught science in a number of years, and being in a new district I knew it would be a demanding year. My blog has always been a joy for […]
Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, members of the so-called Generation X were the recipients of a comforting message: You are special, you can do anything you want, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You are special because you are unique. You can do anything you want because you have will power, and […]
Recently an article was brought to my attention that got my goat. Without getting into details (it was education related), the piece had a headline that began with the words “Research Shows…” and indicated that the reader would be surprised to find out what the research concluded, in a “we’ve been wrong all this time” […]
On my Sunday morning run this week I passed by a church sign that suggested something along the lines of “Cast your anxieties upon Him, for it is he who cares.” I know it doesn’t sound the least bit Buddhist, but I took it to be slightly so. Let go of your anxieties, was the […]
Recently I read an anonymous comment on social media proclaiming it was time for some political activists to turn silent. The commenter used a sports analogy; he proclaimed he thoroughly disliked the New England Patriots, but that the game was over, and he was not interested in protesting the outcome. He’s thinking about next season, […]
There was a beautiful summer day about ten years ago in a field in Boothbay, Maine, I will never forget as long as I live. It was a big, outdoor party near the ocean, a wedding celebration, and I was a member of the hired entertainment. It was an outdoor gig, and there was a […]
It really is about the math. Every time I hear someone proudly announce how bad he or she is at math, I am reminded about the neglect of the American school system. Every time I read an article about how our own U.S. Education Secretary thinks public funded school choice is the answer to our […]
A message I have tried to put forth in my years as a math teacher and a math coach is to go forth and make mistakes. I encourage teachers to do this as well as students. I think everybody should make mistakes often, and own those mistakes. It is comforting to hear another person say, […]
I used to have this recurring nightmare, like a monster nightmare, except the “monster” was really a gigantic King Kong sized human baby, hungry, in need of a diaper change, romping through city streets causing havoc. Think of how loud a three month-old baby’s wailing can be, and then imagine it coming from a baby […]
There have been more occasions than I can count over the past 18 months that have left me asking the question, how is it possible someone can think such a thing? Many times I have gotten myself into an ugly argumentative quagmire when I confront the person or persons whom I am in grave disagreement […]
