Right now, I should be entering grades, writing (very late) lesson plans, and designing the final exams that I will be giving the week after next–in order to put together study guides, I need to know what’s on the exam, and with graduation next weekend, I’m not going to even attempt to tell myself that…
Enough #1
I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks, but whenever I considered concrete action…well…this is my first move towards action. As I considered my eating habits, and my exercise (non)habit, and all the issues swirling around the general area of my life involving self-discipline and making good choices (money and time are connected here,…
My Entry Into The Great American Think Off: Does Technology Trap Us or Free Us?
A few years ago, a student at my school was the victim of a devastating house fire. Upon learning that the student, an avid reader, lost her bookshelf of favorite titles, teachers combed their personal libraries and local bookstores in hopes of surprising the teen with a replenished bookshelf. The cause of the fire was…
Adventures in…Adventuring
I’d like to say to all my fans out there, thanks for the support. And to all my doubters, thank you very much because you guys have also pushed me. Usain Bolt This picture is a reminder of times I’ve accomplished more than I would have thought possible because I’ve dug in and gotten stubborn…
When I Was More Innocent: Reflections on People with Differing Viewpoints, 2014 edition
It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed something, by developing before us the powers of thought. ~Aristotle Another election season has ended. I’m not especially thankful it ended, in large…
Family Ties (from 2014)
You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu In a few minutes, I’m going to head home from Parent-Teacher conferences to have chili made by my daughter Megan, who is home from Columbus for a couple days. We’ll sit at the table eating and chatting,…
My Open Letter Resigning from The United Methodist Church (2014)
On a Palm Sunday in the early 1970s, I was confirmed as a member of The United Methodist Church. I was excited to officially join my church, and I looked forward to being active in the large, dynamic youth group which became the cornerstone of my social life throughout my junior high and high school…
Not For Veteran’s Day
Note: I wrote this in 2012; I’m surprised by how much of it I still agree with. Two days ago was Veteran’s Day. Yesterday Billy Owens’ birthday. In my mind, those are connected. Billy was a student in my epic AP class close to a decade ago. He wasn’t the usual AP student, but he…
Good Bye, Yellow Brick Road: My Ode to the School of Multiple Intelligences
Note: I wrote this in 2013, and I was only an English teacher at Lima Senior for a couple of years after I wrote this. I teared up while re-reading it, and I stand by my belief that MI did incredible things and being part of it was the highlight of my career as a…
54 Thoughts
If you don’t dust, it will be waiting for you later. You’re not listening if you’re mentally disagreeing while the other person talks. Sitting under a tree looking at a body of water is better for your soul than a sermon. Washing dark clothes with whites does not cause the apocalypse. As the members of…