tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post5969606689393076043..comments2024-03-27T08:53:29.267-04:00Comments on CURMUDGUCATION: Teaching in Trump's AmericaPeter Greenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16511193640285760299noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-42065374638810636782016-11-10T16:46:06.902-05:002016-11-10T16:46:06.902-05:00The Stafford poem that has served to center discus...The Stafford poem that has served to center discussion in my classroom as we confront a post 9 November world:<br /><br />A Ritual to Read to Each Other<br /><br /> If you don't know the kind of person I am<br /> and I don't know the kind of person you are<br /> a pattern that others made may prevail in the world<br /> and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.<br /><br /> For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,<br /> a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break<br /> sending with shouts the horrible errors of childhood<br /> storming out to play through the broken dyke.<br /><br /> And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,<br /> but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,<br /> I call it cruel and maybe the root of all cruelty<br /> to know what occurs but not recognize the fact.<br /><br /> And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,<br /> a remote important region in all who talk:<br /> though we could fool each other, we should consider—<br /> lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.<br /><br /> For it is important that awake people be awake,<br /> or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;<br /> the signals we give—yes or no, or maybe—<br /> should be clear: the darkness around us is deep. <br /> <br /><br />—William Stafford<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16630406860599422580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-67498288787464702142016-11-10T15:26:34.305-05:002016-11-10T15:26:34.305-05:00Updating the link on that episode, Peter. There wa...Updating the link on that episode, Peter. There was a technology glitch (shocking, I know). Here's the new one: http://www.bamradionetwork.com/student-centric-strategies/4129-americans-hate-me-a-guide-to-help-teachers-respond-2Rae Picahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10560991974412989589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-39216757052830148002016-11-10T14:15:24.590-05:002016-11-10T14:15:24.590-05:00Peter, you're certainly not alone in your conc...Peter, you're certainly not alone in your concerns as a teacher. I interviewed 3 thoughtful educators yesterday about how teachers can reassure children. You'll find the episode here: http://www.bamradionetwork.com/student-centric-strategies/4128-americans-hate-me-a-guide-to-help-teachers-respond.Rae Picahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10560991974412989589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-62782490534385662832016-11-10T13:54:04.354-05:002016-11-10T13:54:04.354-05:00Michael Goldenberg, I understand your not wanting ...Michael Goldenberg, I understand your not wanting people to attack before Inauguration Day. But the primary basis of Peter's anger and heartbreak is based on what has already happened -- what has already been said and done by the president-elect. I, like Peter, no longer no what country I live in or what it stands for. The intolerance and downright hatred demonstrated during the election cycle shame me to my core.Rae Picahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10560991974412989589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-26539264358470758762016-11-10T12:18:28.284-05:002016-11-10T12:18:28.284-05:00At the risk of calling down the righteous wrath of...At the risk of calling down the righteous wrath of people left of Trump (where exactly he stands on the political spectrum might be less obvious than it seems, by the way), wouldn't it make sense to wait until he actually does something that deserves opposition and criticism as POTUS before "telling students" what to think about his presidency? Or are we like the GOP and media douchebags who already had started attacking Bill Clinton and Barack Obama before Inauguration Day? <br /><br />I don't like Trump. I sure as hell didn't vote for him. But I didn't vote for Hillary Clinton or any of the official 3rd party candidates. I did vote. I can't help but feel that we might just have dodged a nuclear bullet, even if that wasn't what concerned/motivated the majority of those who voted for him. We might just not spend the next 4-8 years baiting and threatening Russia. That could be a good thing. I have little hope that he'll get us out of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, but he might not be eager to send Americans to die in the Ukraine. Or the China Sea. I give him the benefit of the doubt. And I certainly am not mourning before there's a reason to do so. My students have heard nothing from me on this election, before or after Nov. 8th. If Trump starts doing things that offend my sense of social justice (or even if he doesn't), I expect to have things in my math lessons that challenge students' assumptions about their country and the way the world works. But not to proselytize for or against a particular candidate, office-holder, or party. That's propaganda. Which has no place in a classroom other than as an object of analysis and debunking. Michael Paul Goldenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939966966192318775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-12472835020479286342016-11-10T00:15:18.001-05:002016-11-10T00:15:18.001-05:00I'm just afraid this is the calm before the st...I'm just afraid this is the calm before the storm. We might be in for much more heartbreak in the near future. <br /><br />I'm still waiting for my stomach to settle down but when I start thinking about Trump's possible Cabinet Appointees, the idea of Newt as Secretary of State causes me to hyperventilate Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14833479985953439031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-10754111436070614362016-11-09T20:07:32.513-05:002016-11-09T20:07:32.513-05:00I wish you all well. As the media and pollsters go...I wish you all well. As the media and pollsters got this all wrong, maybe each of us are as wrong with our own future-telling.<br /><br />DavidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13922575473922280910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-50620296922032815562016-11-09T20:03:28.444-05:002016-11-09T20:03:28.444-05:00Thank you for this, Peter. You put into words my ...Thank you for this, Peter. You put into words my feelings.Jennifer Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11035275432608580082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-9565687291393594502016-11-09T19:05:00.657-05:002016-11-09T19:05:00.657-05:00So grateful you are a teacher. ❤️So grateful you are a teacher. ❤️Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12310417313321218102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-14075767274236424562016-11-09T15:46:22.518-05:002016-11-09T15:46:22.518-05:00It is an absolute relief to be retired and not res...It is an absolute relief to be retired and not responsible for helping 150 or so young people figure out what the hell our future looks like and how to stay safe through the next days and the next four years.<br /><br />One of our local principals sent home this letter to families today:<br /><br />https://thephineasbates.org/2016/11/09/a-letter-from-mr-vega-on-the-election/<br /><br />Christine LanghofflaMissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00516322307725011313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-16303257795375868082016-11-09T14:12:04.463-05:002016-11-09T14:12:04.463-05:00I especially appreciate your critique of the Churc...I especially appreciate your critique of the Church. Thank you.gadfly1974https://www.blogger.com/profile/12479688770743555911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-12585172832497628382016-11-09T08:55:01.217-05:002016-11-09T08:55:01.217-05:00As always, you have stated so much of how I feel &...As always, you have stated so much of how I feel & think about this, and have done it so much more eloquently than any of my sputtering would ever be. Thank you so much. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01223251137400603071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-50507280189148861812016-11-09T08:26:37.634-05:002016-11-09T08:26:37.634-05:00I'm right there with you. Courage is a concep...I'm right there with you. Courage is a concept that derives its meaning from times like these. Children must see their adults standing up for them, and for the right thing. That's what we gotta do now.Ann Haycoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431523814209871476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-63635434646648186242016-11-09T07:15:42.083-05:002016-11-09T07:15:42.083-05:00Amen and amen.Amen and amen.Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13186805474107210436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-51166587771880135322016-11-09T01:45:20.740-05:002016-11-09T01:45:20.740-05:00Misery loves company. Props from the Left Coast, w...Misery loves company. Props from the Left Coast, where weed is now legal. haven't had any since sophomore year of college, but this might be the perfect time to get "nostalgic." If teachers were vilified under Obama, I can't imagine what will happen under He Whose name Shall Not Be Mentioned. Stay strong, comrades.Twangmeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16412241922744685630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-30704307895672785222016-11-09T01:18:06.180-05:002016-11-09T01:18:06.180-05:00I was thinking the same thing about teaching first...I was thinking the same thing about teaching first grade. Life will go on in the classroom, so I'm good until 3:00. After that, I don't know.ethuestadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17537068174305238880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534665086749553287.post-63711600598503176062016-11-09T00:40:11.062-05:002016-11-09T00:40:11.062-05:00I could have written this column. You've expr...I could have written this column. You've expressed my thoughts exactly and your background seems to be a lot like mine. <br /><br />Right now, I'm so glad I get to go to work and teach physics tomorrow instead of practically anything else. Gravity, force and mass will all still make as much sense now as before. I don't know how humanities teachers can go on.Dave Eckstromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13521336850803352134noreply@blogger.com