Thoughts

This poem is somewhat ambiguous, but I hope not so much that it can't be understood. The idea is that we sometimes like holding onto the past for its pleasant memories, even if we only choose to remember the good in them when, in fact, some of our experiences were also unpleasant; and the poem also communicates that we like to hold onto the present for its familiarity, even if change would be better. I suppose the poem is somewhat darker than those I normally submit, but I also offer in its end that hope is a powerful impetus for change, even if we don't always know exactly what that future holds. In any case, here is the poem. Nostalgia is a polished oak table The dust swept under doors Closed long ago to shut away Unseen are the nicks Felt then as lost pets and disappointed mothers Memories instead lit to gleam in color When grey was at times the only light And the only clarity a glass left empty Memories fond in their backward appeal to innocence Are called on t...

In ancient Rome, the title “citizen” held a prestige perhaps more significant than some would give it today. There were clear privileges that came with this title, including the right to vote, the right to marry other Roman citizens, and to have children who were also seen as citizens. For those who were not born citizens, however, it could be a very difficult title to earn, including, for example, years of military service. For these men, the title “citizen” could hold great significance. Perhaps the rich history of this title, then, helps to explain why we can think of a good citizen today as someone of high character. A good citizen is named this because he or she has earned that title through service and virtue, because he is recognized as trustworthy, genuine, and considerate of others. It is not a title that we as a country bestow lightly, as is evident in our citizenship requirements and ceremony. To be called a citizen still has value, value that gives us a sense of pride in ...

In Ezekiel, the twenty-sixth book of the Bible, God recruits Ezekiel to be a prophet, specifically to warn the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah of their sin against God. In the first ten chapters, God demonstrates to Ezekiel what Israel and Judah are doing to disobey him, revealing the idolatry they are committing. In chapter eight, God shows Ezekiel the idolatry that Israel is committing in God's temple, and while he is doing so, he says these words in Ezekiel 8:6: "And he said to me, 'Son of man, do you see what they are doing--the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable." Look now at 1st Corinthians 6:19 in the New Testament: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies....

Lift, lift yourself above the stalks of weed Train your mind to be the seasoned seed Allocate your will to service high All the things you wish draw nigh And so procure that cherished fund That wakes and makes men more than sunned For all the good we know is right Can e’er be seen without such sight

Two recent publications have been in the news lately, so I thought I'd point out what I know of them, if only because I thought they were interesting. Judge Rold M. Treu recently ruled in Vergara V. California that California teacher tenure laws-- laws that protect teachers from being fired-- are unconstitutional because they encourage the retention of inadequate teachers. More specifically, the judge concluded that teacher tenure laws harm low-income and minority students because schools that serve these populations contain a larger proportion of inadequate teachers compared to schools that serve white and higher-income groups. In regard to religion, authors of a recent Pew Research poll found that Republicans and Democrats are more ideologically divided now than at any point in the past twenty years. While the survey's authors and commentators alike have highlighted this aspect of the poll, Danny Westneat of the Seattle Times pointed out an interesting finding: Authors a...

The release one feels from a friend’s embrace Or from the entrance onto one’s newfound space From the florid reply of a close, surprised friend When you deliver the news of your difficulty’s end The release one feels when all that is lost Are the chains that you used to reduce life’s cost The release that you feel in moments like these Give you moments of pleasure from moments of ease For the moments you wasted in self-absorbed shame Are but chaff in the breeze of one’s newfound name.

My friend and I just returned from a cruise to Ensanada, Mexico. Honestly, I had reservations about going because I was still somewhat fatigued from the school year, but my friend and I both had a really nice time. To start, my friend purchased an option that allows you priority boarding and disembarking access, and gives you priority in dining and guest services. We were among the first on and off the ship, though it was a little weird watching the receptionist at guest services serve us, even though others without this perk had arrived first. Once aboard, we were party to two evenings of family-friendly comedy acts. In one of the three acts we saw, one of the comedians presented a very appropriate rendition of a white man. We were also able to see two musicals. At the second of these, called "Epic Rock," we sat in front-row seats as the actors and actresses danced to classic rock from the 1980s. At two points in this show, actors interacted with graphics on a screen behin...

For the past several years, I've set goals for the summertime to keep myself industrious and to remain purposeful. For the first four summers after I started teaching, I played soccer in a class at my local community college every day; and the last three summers, I've gone to Haiti with a local church, ending last summer by teaching summer school in Boston. This summer, I've decided not to commit to any serious activity. Instead, I plan to set small daily goals. These, I believe, will allow me the rest I hope for, while still keeping me purposeful. I don't know how the summer will unfold, but I do know that it will do so day by day. We'll see whether where my no-plans plan leads. I hope it leads somewhere pleasant. Thanks for reading.

Since I've been teaching now for eight years, I tend to measure time by the school year calendar. Each year has been different, but I also notice a trend in each year that becomes that year's theme. The theme for year one, for instance, was survival; for year two, correction; and year three, confidence. Having finished the year, I have found that this year's theme is failure. While this sounds negative, it doesn't need to be. Indeed, failure can encourage a person to reevaluate what went right and wrong, and to make changes where needed. Moreover, I have seen successes. Over the past years, for example, I have endeavored first to make my classroom a place of safety for students. This has meant improving in classroom management. For the first time in my career, I can say that I feel as though I have become noticeably effective in this area. As I have increased as a classroom manager, however, I have also sought to engage my students academically, making our learning re...