My old frenemy.
Hello Late Fall/Early Winter
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Category Archives: Education
Sentence to Ponder—Letter of Recommendation For a Graduate School Applicant
“To speak on my experience with JS in the 5 years I have known her would fill a New York Times best seller, to know her is like having a piece of the solar system that luminates joy and unapologetic truth.”
That was the first sentence. Where do you go from there?
Big Fish, Kinda Small Pond
Kolter Stevenson for the win. And the University of Montana. Go Grizz.
Big sis received an email message today from the family U:
Just wanted to touch base with you and share some very exciting news! Kolter has been the recipient of the Donald J. Byrnes Scholarship for the last three years. Last week it was announced that he was awarded the very prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. As a College of Business student, we could not be prouder of him and his accomplishments during his college career. We expect to see this young man’s name for years to come as he changes the world!
This Is Not The Way To Help Depressed Teenagers
By Darbe Saxbe. Filled with important insights.
A Pastor, Comedian, and Educator Walk Into a Bar
And compare notes.
The pastor says, “I can tell when my congregation is with me. When they’re watching and listening intently, we’re connected.”
The comedian says, “I can tell when my audience is with me. When they’re watching and listening intently, we’re connected.”
The educator says, “I can tell when my students are with me. When they’re watching and listening intently, we’re connected.”
One never arrives as a teacher. On the best days, a distinct majority watches and listens intently. And the connection is strong. More often, some watch and listen intently, while others are elsewhere. The eternal challenge is tilting that balance.
News Alert
UCLA star freshman Aday Mara cleared by NCAA for competition. Just think of him as Wemby Jr. Go Bruins.
Sam Bankman Not Fried
SB(n)F gambled on a trial and his parents lost.
“Sam Bankman-Fried loved risk, and he loved to gamble. He knew that if he went to trial, there was a chance, however small, that he might walk away a free man. Pleading guilty meant guaranteed punishment, and probably prison time. And so he chose to gamble, not only with his own life, but with his parents’. . . . There is a reason most people won’t flip that coin: they aren’t selfish enough to gamble with other people’s lives.”
Meanwhile, Ten Months Later
“George Santos will be leaving Congress to spend more time with his other personalities.” —Darrin Hall for the win
Demos turn. Paging Senator Menendez.
Postscript. Never mind.
Moms For Liberty’s Truth As Only They Know It
According to the Olympian, Moms For Liberty is gaining momentum.
“Marty Lobdell, a retired Pierce College human sexuality professor, came across an MFL booth at SummerFest. ‘The women in the booth told passers-by that kindergarten children were being taught sexual positions and shown pictures of people having sex,’ he said.
Lobdell, who also taught part time in the Clover Park School District, called the group’s assertions a lie. ‘I would love to see the Moms provide one verifiable case of any grade school child being taught sexual positions or viewing pictures of people having sex,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, once lies get out, they have a life of their own.’
Moms for Liberty says they are just trying to protect children and assert parental rights.”
Kindergarteners being taught sexual positions and being shown pictures of people having sex is MFL’s truth as only they know it.
I See You
Alternating this afternoon between reading student papers and watching college football.
And reading this email from a Somali-American student of mine. “I just saw my grade and your feedback on it. I appreciate the well thought out and thorough feedback! I’ll be sure to apply it to my next paper! It feels nice to have educators in higher Ed that actually read my work with thoughts opposed to my high school.”
The most important roles I play are all related—listener, reader, assessor. “Professing” is overrated.
I have 53 students this semester. A lot of high school teachers have 153. I teach 12 hours a week. Most high school teachers teach 25. High school students aren’t truly listened to or read closely because there’s too many of them and too little time.
The distinguishing feature of the factory model of education, where secondary students come at you in waves of thirty every hour, is that it’s impersonal.
Pressing Pause 