The Cracks in the System

Here's a list of things we know. Like, there are scientific studies. It's fact. It's proven. Students don't learn well/at all early in the morning.Students don't learn if they are bored.Standardized tests are bullshit.Stress has negative effects on health.Socialization is an important part of adolescent development (and homework interferes with that).Our school system - The …

The Real World

I've mentioned before that I hate the term, "The Real World." We tell students that they're only doing/learning/seeing stuff for the purpose of the real world all the time. "This is something you'll need to know when you enter the real world." "You'll encounter this situation all the time in the real world." "Adults in …

How Not to Get Shot

Happy Chanukah! Let's talk about guns. We learned about a new lockdown drill recently. You know, to prepare for the inevitability of a student carrying a grudge and an assault rifle into the school and taking many, many lives in a matter of minutes. It's called an "Options-Based Lockdown." Before the OBL, we had a …

First Amendment vs. School Handbook

Here's another story from my first (and only) year working in an El Paso, TX middle school. Did you know that in Texas, students have to say both a pledge of allegiance to the United States AND a pledge of allegiance to Texas? When I found this out, I was astonished, outraged, perplexed, indignant. All …

Classroom “Management”

I want to start off right now by saying that I am fully aware that this blog will become a cathartic dumping ground for me after a long day of educating people who actively refuse to be educated. Hopefully you can get something out of it, too. The "About Me" page will say all this, …