I’ve heard every teacher I know say it at least once: “My students need to practice manners.” Here’s something else I’ve heard them all say right after that: “I don’t have time to teach my students manners.” I get it. I teach English at a middle school on a block schedule. I teach with a […]
Thomas Courtney
BIO: Thomas Courtney is a 6th-grade middle school English Language Arts and History teacher in San Diego, California. He is the author of many articles, memoirs, and short stories found in anthologies, magazines, and newspapers. He has written several books, including the upcoming Viral School Rhetoric: A Teacher’s Story of Good Intentions, Bad Policy, and a Pandemic, available in the Fall of 2025.
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Dystopian Teacher Tales: Hero Teacher Stops Bad Guy With Gun
Although the following story is fiction, it isn’t as far-fetched as you might imagine. Without the US Department of Education or teacher union protections, many states may move to arm teachers in response to school shootings. In some places, they already are. Schools may also partner with associations and businesses that would not have been […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Dystopian Teacher Tales: Monday in Room B”
Today is Monday in Room B, and it’s going to be a doozy. The kids are a bit nuts what with Christmas Break coming up, and the mandatory state testing benchmarks we have to review. I admit that I could have gotten more sleep. I know I should have. Our day starts off pretty normal. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teaching 102: Understanding School Personnel, A Teacher’s Guide
Schools rely on a multitude of people to fully function for each child. The same child who needs a bandage today needs a counselor tomorrow, requires a reading specialist next week, and could benefit from a table adjustment that requires a custodian the day after. Often teachers feel as though we wear multiple hats in […]
Posted inThe State of Education
Opinion: Donald Trump Needs Some School Shooter Training
Former President Donald Trump has nearly been assassinated by two deranged white Republicans with guns-twice. A third instance looked scary, too. Trump has become so worried about it in recent days that he has even asked for a military helicopter. Many people who support Trump seem to believe that the core issue isn’t guns, nor […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
What If Mr. Lunch Supervision Goes to Washington?
In 1939, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was a big hit in theaters. The film is about a naive small-town guy who takes on corruption. The movie instantly became a classic and a part of the American zeitgeist. We’ve had many Mr. Smiths sent to Washington since then. Most, if not all, have claimed that […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
What Project 2025 Really Means for US Schools
“I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it.” Those are the words from former president Donald Trump last month. Like so many other lies he tells, I didn’t personally believe him. For me, Donald Trump has made it clear where he stands on the notion of many things, like […]
Posted inBack to School
Tips for Setting Up Classrooms on a Budget
When you are new to a school site, the first question you often ask is: How am I going to teach in an environment that isn’t suitable for children? I asked a dozen teachers I know for tips about setting up their classrooms on a budget. Their advice, like finding a box of unused pencils […]