The Tempest

My most persistent “You’re not helping me” student– let’s call her X– surprised me yesterday. I need a pencil. I don’t have my book. You didn’t tell us to bring it. You’re not helping me. Can I go to my locker to get __________? If I hear any of these one more time, I […]

Bullies

I don’t know many people who have the balls to stand up in front of a group and lead them somewhere. Leadership is always hard to find, let alone leadership of kids who don’t want to go anyplace, and will be uncomfortable for significant parts of the journey. When people who do have the cajones […]

Dear Mr. Romney, I’m So Glad You Asked

Today you announced that you are ready to fix American education. I’m happy for you. What I find confusing is your view of the problem, and the goal of public education. Then there’s your solutions, which, at least in my neck of the woods, seemed designed to create options that most people can’t or won’t […]

Skipping and Fighting: Frequently Asked Questions

Why do city kids fight all the time, especially at graduation? First of all, some of them don’t have much to lose. If you have no hope of going to college (school district unaccredited, for example), and unemployment has hit your community the hardest of any, during terrible times (black unemployment has been double that of […]