In April in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King was jailed in a Birmingham Jail after he defied a state court’s injunction and led a march of protestors to urge an Easter boycott of white-owned stores due to mistreatment of blacks. The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism. It says that people have a moral responsibility to […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
5 Things We Need to Know About The L.A. Teacher’s Strike
______________________________________________________________________ Due to the actions of teachers across the country last year, especially in Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Kentucky, many have called 2018 “The Year Of The Teacher.” But 2019 might just see a wave of “Red For Ed,” as teachers in one of the largest school districts stage a significant strike involving over […]
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Having a Tupac State of Mind: Supporting Our Students that Grow from Concrete
“We wouldn’t ask why a rose that grew from the concrete has damaged petals, in turn, we would all celebrate its tenacity, we would all love its will to reach the sun, well, we are the roses, this is the concrete and these are my damaged petals, don’t ask me why, thank God, and ask […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
America Already has a wall, it’s made up of teachers.
I debated whether to encourage my sophomore Global History students to watch President Trump’s address on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. Since 2016, it has been difficult to navigate how to incorporate civics and current events into my social studies classroom. I desire student awareness, but I am concerned that any discussion of his speech, or […]
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There are Thousands of Students Like Andrew Johnson Sitting in Our Schools
Dejected. Embarrassed. Defeated. Distraught. These are all the words that came to mind when I saw the video of Andrew Johnson, the wrestler from Buena High School in Atlantic County, New Jersey who was told by a referee with a history of racist behavior he had to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit his match during a meet […]
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Forget Allies and Advocates, I Needed an Activist
We (educators) like to think that we’re advocates for students. I’ve even been guilty myself of living in the nobleness of the word. However, as our current climate (societal and educational) continues to toil with inclusivity and what it means to be responsive to ALL, I grow impatient with our “nobleness.” Case in point, social […]
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Teacher Attendance Does Matter, but I Still Unapologetically Take Days Off at My School
Yesterday, my fellow Indy K12 writer David McGuire Wrote, “Teacher Attendance Matters.” As a school principal, I know he is under pressure to ensure his students receive the best education. The heart of his piece was to emphasize how teacher absences can bring challenges to schools including student achievement. Teaching is one of the professions […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
It’s the Most Stressful Time of the Year- A Teacher’s Edition
It’s the most stressful time of the year With the kids tattle-telling And everyone yelling, “When will break be here?” It’s the most stressful time of the year. It’s the wack-wackiest season of all With those faux happy greetings and silly staff meetings When you have work to grade from fall It’s the wack-wackiest […]