Salinger

For introverts everywhere, J.D. Salinger had been staying home. He did his thing, and he just wanted us to leave him alone. He said no thank you, and sometimes, hell, no, in a world where people foam at the mouth for media attention. I liked knowing he was at home and didn’t need nobody. I […]

Courting Corporations

There is just no way to fund public education without the help of corporations. Many American voters feel that if you are really, really trying, you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps in your chaotic middle school where your math teacher never shows up and work summers at a minimum-wage job and study on […]

Dropping It

In competing with countries who have solid national health care systems, Americans have one hand tied behind their backs. Or maybe I’m wrong.

Feets

My first year teaching, someone bought and delivered chairs, rugs, bookcases, and blinds to my public school classroom. What began as the set for a cut-rate Soviet public service announcement began to look more like a pleasant learning environment. Books by the dozens also appeared, the most popular of which is definitely Parenthood by Bill Cosby (it reads well in 30-minute bursts), and then Do Fish Drink Water? , which I haven’t read, so I don’t know if they do.