A Post

Chapter: “To the Patriots:”

Is about a Facebook Post about me being apologetic to Canadians in June of 2025. In

Response of:

“If you don’t support the country you live in, go live in the country you support.”

Yea, see, that is my point. Thank you, for ironically exemplifying this.

First, (pssssst-whisper-“they don’t want U.S…“) Patriots.

As if Canadians are not? Proud. People. Humans.

Instead of “oh wow, tell me more about being an American in Canada, Ingrid! (while you are actually IN Canada 2025). Or, “ I’d like to hear more about… “ anything. Anything  other than what we have been taught in schools and watched on a screen, south of our neighbor.

Hey, I get it. It is not hard to be patriotic when History, English, Math, Textbook publishing companies, Media, Music moguls, are all financed to agree with the patriots. What’s not to like? “Christopher Colombus sailed the Ocean Blue, in fourteen hundred and ninety two!”Catchy.

So what about 1491?

Not interested in Facts? Facts intentionally and literally buried. Facts intentionally left out of institutionalized public education. For centuries. To breed patriots.

What if?

What if (yours and mine)- Facebook posts- those quick and condescending posts intended to prove loyalty, ARE the current weapon of choice? No curiosity. No doubt in the current system. No doubt, you are right.

Vitriol for all! I’m not here to hurt feelings. Poor patriots.

I will support and defend the rights of anyone interested in thoughtful speech. Free speech. However, I do prefer intelligent banter beyond boisterous, simple, egocentric- hubris. Patriots requiring constant flattering is exhausting.

Now what?

What would you say here, for example pmt?

Me, Canada:  sitting in Twassanasan Ferry Terminal (Ferry Boats, not the pejorative), talking to three hurly Burly, Harley Davison Riding dudes sayin, “Up til now I loved riding in the US, eh? Riding the Oregon coast all the way to California. But now, well with the tariffs and, what the heck, we didn’t know he would do that. But we are staying away.” Trust me, if you were sitting next to these three dudes, and you said something like, ’but she has allowed you the freedoms…” ha- I do believe someone would get their ass kicked. Here in Canada.

Or (and I have loads of recordings. Audio and video), of Canadians. Telling me their stories. Patriotic, proud Canadians who fought in wars. Hang a flag proudly- next to First Nation land and territory, which is another story.

Beyond what we learn in U.S. classrooms, history, English, math- through textbook publishing companies, media, Music moguls all financed to perpetually repeat Patriot history while diminishing others. Others that we don’t learn about in school.

A patriot to me, in 2025 is to be a humble American. Listen to stories. Respect their stories. Canadian’s. First Nation’s. Patriots and non-patriots. Stories.

Proud, conservative, brave, men  representing their country and history- whom I guess, sort of don’t like the idea of being colonized. Colonized by the U.S. through threats, insults, economic tariffs, and jokes. I mean, really. I’m talking to your people. Proud. Patriots.

Point is- that is my point. Responding to a post-to- an American in Canada in 2025, about wanting to apologize for the arrogant (mostly male) machismo attitudes, while evading what I was saying, IS my whole point.

Minus 400 Points.

Dear Ingrid, this is future Ingrid talking to past Ingrid. You are right. You know you are right. You’ve done the research. You quit school and dedicated your time to learning, only to learn, Facebook fights are futile. Lessons not learned are- even though you are right- you will constantly feel the need to defend yourself with those that clearly do not know better. So, re-focus. Stop getting diverted from untruths.

Maybe your right is not everybody’s right. You will regret answering in anger.

Hard lesson. And yet, in my research there is so much more to the story that does not get mentioned, due to the constant re routing of conversations. This stuck with me:

Planning

Chapter 1.2 Planning

Prior to leaving Denver, it took a year to plan out a trip. A trip lasting 17 months respectfully. It is now July 6th. The first section of our trip is over. British Colombia was a beautiful learning curve. If I were to have a re-do, here is what I would change:

• Excess. Too much stuff. Over packing was a burden right off the first few weeks. I ended up donating a large bag of clothes by May.

• A few well made, layered outfits goes a long way.

• Canadian Expectations. Although I pride myself on keeping low expectations, or at least not anticipating fairly tale scenarios; images of Canada and what we learn about and see on TV is a far cry from reality. It is bigger, friendlier, and in some places seedier than thought.

• Stereotypes minimize an otherwise richer experience when keeping an open mind. I don’t know what I thought- Mounties, TP’s, barren land east of Vancouver? Embarrassingly, partly yes.

• Learn Canadian holidays, regional history, customs and at least know the Providences for heaven sake!

• Celsius, metric conversions, and exchange rates would come in quite handy.

• Personal Expectations. Dreams of writing every day, getting thoughts and lessons organized will be slower than anticipated. Internet availability and connections will be challenging. Keep writing.

• And maybe it is a good thing I do not have access to the internet daily. It creates more problems.

• Example: To the Patriots:

First days

Fast Forward Five Years to 21, April, 2025.

Day One to Day Fifteen:

Of a 17 moth road trip around the US and Canada. April 2025- August 2026.

Traveling in a 1994 Hi Ace van we first cruise to Rock Springs, Idaho Lava Hot Springs. On to Wallowa Lake Oregon, where I researched indigenous tribes along the way. I learned stuff that was never in the history books. Never.

On to visit my oldest friend and her husband in Oregon for the weekend. *50 plus year friendship that I treasure more now than ever. Relationships are worth nurturing. And that’s all I will say about that for now. On to

Point Roberts: Strip of land below the 49th Parallel ‘belonging to the United States’ due to war and legislation. Apparently a point of contention for many Canadians which I did not find out until later. There were a few campers. One talkative local stoped by our van and said his name was Andy. He did not look like and Andy to me, so he is called “Point Roberts Andy, who’s name is not Andy.” And he was very proud and patriotic about Point Roberts. He pointed out all the eagles (that were brought in to breed as a tourist attraction many years ago, I came to find out). The town itself looked haggard. Workers in a local grocery store were friendly enough, but there was an air of sadness. Hard workers in a strangulated town is my vibe. (Insert Point Roberts Light House)

Another camper from Alberta that I talked to after walking to the showers said she didn’t like to talk politics, but was disappointed Canada did not elect a far right politician like the US. She was very pro US and its current state. Okay. I told her I have no opinion about the US and its current state, but that I simply want to travel and learn and to help kids in the current situation of education. I said it is not my place as an educator to tell kids what to believe. What to be- pro or anti anything. It is my job to learn and share information. She really liked that answer and became less defensive. (Point). “Good for you! We don’t need any more liberal indoctrination.”

Agreed. There is plenty of indoctrination, liberal and otherwise.

Sample chapter

Chapter 1: It’s about Time.

Friday, 13th of March, 2020.

In following with an AI template, let’s see. Question: What  is the ‘engine’ of my book?

     Easy! Kids. Students. (Myself included). But ‘engine’?Wait, I thought ‘what is your engine’ referred to- like, the why of this book. I have time, let’s look it up.

Engine is a (n) c. 1300, a "mechanical device," especially one used in war; "manner of construction," also "skill, craft, innate ability; deceitfulness, trickery," from Old French engine "skill, wit, cleverness," also "trick, deceit, stratagem; war machine" (12c.), from Latin ingenium "innate qualities, ability; inborn character," in Late Latin "a war engine, battering ram. "This is etymologically "that which is inborn," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + gignere "to beget, produce" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget”).

What I meant to say was “Easy! Answer-” My Why is kids. Are kids! Students; (myself included). But engine? Can be used as a device in deceitfulness. Engine, A noun that could  be interpreted as- “the engine of my book are ‘kids’, students’,  (myself included) because kids are the  most vulnerable. Easy to trick young, because they trust. Also they are young developing brains and bodies Requiring time and attention. Like and engine. Beget. Give birth. But that’s another story.

What gives your story momentum and compels readers to keep turning the page? Tense dramatic plot, or emotional investment of a character who evolves over this story?

It’s Complicated. Yet, in our face simple.

What gives me, my memory story, momentum is helping kids. Students. (Myself included).  What makes it complicated is this is not exactly a page turner. Oh, there are tense dramatic plot stories (pubic schools). And most certainly an emotional investment in public education (myself included).

Weather or not I evolve is to be determined. Changed? Most certainly. Evolved? Depends on the definition, but that’s another story too.

For starters, who cares? Evolved or not, I am included in this story simply because I’ve spent my life in public education. 50 years plus.

How shall this school year be shaped?

I took a picture of this bird- as it took a picture of me. Perspective.

Tyranny of Talk and Time

Consider the Tyranny of Talk:

Whomever controls the narrative, the Story, controls behaviors. We behave in ways that fit whatever stories we were told. What we think, become words, words become actions, actions become behavioral.

My hypothesis on this is thus… (?)

The majority of our stories derive from two places: Media and School. (I’m excluding religion because it is not mandatory). And one cannot escape the Media. Advertising.

Thus, the two major sources of where our stories come from- School and Media, are controlled by a tiny tiny triangle at the top of a mighty pyramid.

It’s not necessarily what we are learning in school, like the three R’s of reading, writing, and arithmetic (which never made sense to me as that two out of thee are not spelled with an R) anyway, It is not what we learn in school but what we are Not learning.

Math classes, for example, more than not turn kids away from math. Math phobia is a thing.

Solution from the tiny tiny triangle at the top? Blame the kids for being math illiterate. Turn the talk to blaming children… Do not focus on the leaders of institutionalized education. Nope. Blame those lazy kids for not wanting to learn (mostly unusable) math.

Literature? Do many many kids become more or less enthusiastic about reading? After required English classes assigning mandatory books, annotating poetry (which is counter intuitive). Bored? You bet.

Solution: Screens. Easy answer to intolerable realities. Created by tiny tiny triangle controlling talk. Check out. Numb with pleasurable unrealities of other peoples scripted, acted, painted, politically correct- beauty. Call it good. Get people talking.

Consider the Tyranny of Time:

Not only are our stories cleverly narrated for us, school in particular, there is also the matter of time. The time it takes away from ourselves.

What is the Opportunity Cost? Of school. What other things could you be doing? What could you be learning if it was not for the legally mandated time requited to spend in a school house? For six to eight house a day, five days a week, plus homework… (dot dot dot). For your most formative years. Ages 5 to 18. Graduation.

The conversations I have with people over this topic rarely deviate. Yes, school had its bad parts. Agreed. “And what about the time you spent learning subjects you never use? Taking tests that did more harm than good- for many.”

Well, kids need…

Inevitably, the conversation ends up justifying the existence of school. It’s almost as if we can’t imagine the dire costliness of precious time deemed criminal if you try to take it back. There are detention laws in every state for truancy. Attendance requirements are the upmost essential and thus punishable act. Kids and parents have faced attendance legal issues, none more striking to me than the Reservation schools. The stories are horrific and not taught in most schools. No time. Learning would take time from more standardization testing and data collecting.

Your time is a most valued resource.

Not read many stories about reservation schools? Or have a vague notion of “Indian” reservations. First Nations. Where did those stories come from? How many stories do we not have time to learn about? And for what purpose? Wha is the Opportunity Cost of school? Time.

Consider the Story (talk) over Time:

If Time and Talk are dominated by media and school,

Ask: Where do our stories come from?

Who tells the stories and for what purpose?

-School Board leaders:

-Heads of Media:

What is the narrative? How do we learn stories?

What is the Cost?

A Dream Lesson

August 3, 2025 I had a dream last night that I met Led Zeppelin. All four members had a layover in Quebec City and were seated in a train station waiting room. I did not want to miss my opportunity to meet this beloved band, so I sat next to Robert Plant (current age), and to his left was Jimmy Page. John Paul Jones was reading a book, and John Bohnam was a ghostly silent shadow in the corner, but present.

My first thought was take a picture. So, I turn to Eric and ask him for my phone. He said he had to take out my SIM card and battery (remember those?) to get fixed. Oooooh, I was so mad. In my head I was like “now‽ you knew I would want a pic with…!” (irrational, but it was a dream). Then realizing I could not just take a pic, I said to Robert and Jimmy, “I have always dreamed of meeting you guys, and I told myself if I ever had the opportunity to meet any of you this is what I would ask.” Pause. Train station interruptions- (or snoring), I came back to the dream a moment later and repeated myself. The question I wanted to ask was, what are your thoughts, passions activities- outside the legendary band, you know, like what do you dream about? They said they don’t get that question and were happy to chat with me. We had a lovely lengthy conversation- (just between us).

Lesson of the dream I got is this: A reminder that on this I.School journey- to remember to put my phone down and simply enjoy the company of people. Be in the moments, more than not. Things I thought were important last year are not so important now. I thought of people I have lost. Empathy to those who have lost people recently- in fires, floods, wars. Perspectives change. I appreciated the dream. Who knows what is ahead.

I did wake up mad at Eric. Irrational, but dreams do impact our psyche I think. But because I had time to remember my dream. Process it, tell Eric about it and Oh! did we have a good laugh about it this morning!

And as always, my head goes to students. How in this upcoming school year, there will Not be much dream processing or remembering dreams at all. Alarms. Panic of being late to school, for example, dominates the psyche. It takes out time. Non refundable.

The further away I get from education, the clearer picture I get of. That IS the thing. Take time to shape kids into workers, not lazy dreamers. And from my end- the consequences are tragic.

Our time, memories, stories and dreams are the only things we really have that are our OWN.

So whose time is it? And what can we do about that?

Homework: keep your little I.School notebook next to your bed. Get some sleep and write down ANY little thought from your dreams. If you can’t remember, that is ok. It takes time to adjust to believing your own dreams matter. Which they do.

Start now, and by May, look back and see how your dreams change and are shaped.

Led Zeppelin II remains my favorite because it was my first record/ tape. Music shapes our minds- even decades after exposure.

August

As August 2025 school year starts, I am keeping in mind the minds and hearts and souls of kids who have to endure public education.

Enough is enough.

Funny, frustrating, palm-to-the-head slapping thing I have learned in the past year of I.School- is the very lack of conversation IS the thing. I like to call it AI. Always interrupting. Any attempt to ask one simple critical question like: “why do we have to learn this?” Will be shut down and Fast!

ANY critical questioning will be diverted to politics, to the adults” in charge”, and NOT, for more than 90 seconds will the conversation stay with kids. The ones that are NOT doing well.

I happen to think everyone should care about kids and education. Not just for the future, but for the now.

It answers one simple question of -”How did we get here?” We could not be here today if not for an antiquated educational system exploiting kids.

And cut the crap about “I had to go to school, so you do too.” It’s illogical, selfish and childish. And most importantly not helpful to our current situation. It stops the conversation of, ok! What now? Problem solve! Oh, wait, that is difficult because the current (and past) educational system prevents kids from critical thinking. We get stuck in another thing I like to call “the tyranny of talk.”

We talk about the adults “in charge.” We talk about the politics, the economics, the fricking data. AndI believe- that will be more costly than imaginable. And what was it all for? Asked every war veteran since the Roman Empire.

You want change? Change the conversation. Stop talking. Do less. Not until you get answers to basic questions like, why am I spending my time with this? Example: How math-literate is the mass population? and Whose fault is that? Oh! the kids? Covid?- as if it was not a thing prior to? And where did that conversation come from? Who told that story? Who controls the narrative? (media and school? connection?)

How is that school mandated Back-to-School shopping going for us? Globally. Take time to think about it.

If you take your time. (Mornings, lunches, and saying NO to extra curricular activities) And refuse to take the bate of rhetorical nonsensical answers- to the most elementary of simple questions- refuse to have your time abused. Taking your time may be the most difficult of tasks you will face. Invest wisely.

Well, I think that is enough for today.

I travel. I learn. I am humbled. I will not stop trying to help kids. Staring with me. Learning on the road. Interviewing characters I hope to share if I can get some help here! ;) See? The funny, frustrating, palm-to-the-head slapping thing I have learned in the past year of I.School is I cannot for the life of me get a change in conversational direction. It is NOT political. Stop making the conversation so. Of course I don’t make sense and sound crazy. Any deviation will sound so.

Thoughts? How did school shape you?

Day 103. Thought I would empty out some of my head bucket.

But you students are always on my mind:

Day 100

Voyageur Provincial Park, Ontario. Appropriate name, for day 100- Voyageur, (French spelling). On to

Montreal. Day 100.

Oh, how I wish to speak French! Just enough! And okay, by the way, at least three other languages-But French Today.

I think of mandatory ‘foreign language’ classes that took up time. Two to Three years of language “required”. Opportune time in ones prime. Used up with worksheets, movies, useless elementary, childless phrases, and not to the fault of the educators who were fluent and proficient, and mostly passionate about language- but lacked time and outside exposure for practical linguistic exchanges. Language classes-

that could have been enriching- enlightening- Use-Full, if not for the monotony of testing.

And for what? What was the purpose of all those mandatory classes? What was it all for?

Language classes. Language, (English) which is priority #1 in US public education. Essential Learning targets. Yet, fluency in English- let alone French, Spanish, German, Greek, Latin, -the neck of learning, and heck! The very roots of basic English- Basic, communication is stifled.

And what of the consequences?

Lack of communication skills. The very essential learning of public education. And who is to blame?

Kids of course! For taking courses they never asked for.

Toronto:

Toronto

Day 96

Missing my friends out west Canada already.

This is amazing- thank you Mikey B! Gail. Colleen. Jan.

Living the life, with many people to guide our trip! Thank you ALL!

100 Days of School Challenge Summer

I.School- July 19th. One Hundred Days on the Road. In a van; with a man. Is a Challenge. For both-

Not to be confused with T-School with its “100 Days of School Challenge.” Nationally recognized Pre-K to 3rd Grade incentives to “Celebrate getting to 100 out of 180 days of school. Motivate and encourage kids to continue their efforts. More than half way through the school year.” It’s a thing. Examples include:

100 days of :

• Time and Learning- “helps students understand the passage of time within the school year and visualize the cumulative learning experience.”

• Attendance and Effort- “importance of consistent attendance as it highlights that all the days of school are valuable.”

• Fun and Engagement- “celebrate to remember, and help students feel motivated, excited and eager to learn.

• Understanding the number 100.

100 activities! Including “dressing as a centenarian.” (which by the way is a chilling as a parent. Oh, another thing I have to do? Thrift store shop to dress my kid up. Dress my kid up as someone pretending to be older than me. For One day. For school.) Because it is the latest new trend- to keep kids in school. of 100 Days of celebrating being in an institution, and if you don’t dress your kid up, you are a lazy parent who does not care about your kid getting dressed up as an old person, nor do you care about learning, effort, “fun OR engagement.”

Cute right? Not in I.School. Nope. Not at all.

• Time and Learning? Kids understand very well the passage of time within the school day. Why do you think they look at the clock so much? Cumulative- as in time spent in class is prioritized over quality of learning.

• Attendance and Effort? Correct. All the days are valuable. Monetarily so. But for Whom?

• Fun and Engagement, Is easier to play off by 3rd grade. Am I right? It’s all downhill from there. Compare a 3rd graders enthusiasm to a 12th grader, for example.

Traditional School encourages more time in school. Attendance and ‘effort’ are mandated. What un-fun. And why the hype? Why the gimmicky?

I.School encourages the realization that 100 days of anything is a challenge when counting the individual days. 100 Days on the road, in a van, with a man is a challenge. Socially, economically, intellectually. hygienically.

Yet- Time spent learning! On my own time. By choice. Is more fun and engaging than school.

How about one, out of the 100 day challenge, spend on- Why are we doing this again? and What exactly is the purpose of education?

Why 100 Days? Now?

Day 82

Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Smoke filled air, nearly 100 fires reported in the province. The sun looks orange.

Heading to the Museum of Human Rights today.

Day 76: Golden to Golden

Golden Colorado to Golden British Columbia.

One thing I did not count on with next phase of adventures, is the lack of cell service.

I write I.School every day in one form or another. Probably won’t be able to blog it for a few months. Who knows, but THIS is incredible! Every day. No alarms, (well, birds). No schedule, yet I schedule. I’m the forever teacher- must have a plan. Also, no electricity, no showers, no people (with exceptions), no problem.

Next stop: Winnipeg.

Tatonka

From Lillooet, where I met this lovely lady, “Roxanne” and Tatonka the cat. The cat has a home. Roxy is one of the many I have interviewed who does not. Roxy told me that the red handprints on the mural she is sitting in front of- (Red handprints are in many places we have traveled in Canada). Each little red handprint represent a missing child. Mostly First Nation (Indigenous) children. Mostly girls.

I won't show the picture of the other girl sitting behind me in this pic (as requested). Both women and a quiet man named Peter told me stories. All three asked me to tell stories beyond the classroom. Stuff we don't learn about in school. "Say her name." is a slogan I am becoming sadly familiar with.

I.School is learning beyond the classroom.

Taking time and listening to stories from all sorts of folks can be exciting. Exciting, funny and Heartbreaking.

“You get all the best stories when you talk to us homeless.” And I listened to their stories for an hour that morning. I learned a lot and feel as helpless as the homeless.

“Tell our stories. There is one side, the other side and then there is the truth.” Rhonda

On to Kamloops.

Kamloops 2025 Summer School

First, Kamloops is an amazing city. I have enjoyed my stay here and had great conversations. (*Best wishes, engineering student at the Plaza! Good luck with your business!) Canadians have been nothing but friendly, gracious and, well, as amazing as the city itself.

Full disclosure- I am on this tour- I.School- to discover. To learn about education. First.

Kamloops, B.C. is not what I expected. Not sure what I expected to find when coming here after researching. After reading a news story in 2021: “Remains of 215 children found buried in former residential school.” CBC I wanted to continue my research on public education. Outside the U.S.

School Mission Statement:” to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive”. Sound familiar? You can look up any schools mission statement to find similar statements.

After the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves, and “in the wake of the discovery of what are believed to be the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the city of Kamloops and other communities across Canada cancelled or postponed Canada Day celebrations. This decision was made to allow for respectful reflection on the tragic discovery and to support Indigenous communities mourning the loss. “

“Thoughts and Prayers.”

“Reconciliation does not mean anything if there is no action to those words ... [w]ell-wishes and prayers only go so far. If we are going to actually create positive strides forward there needs to be that ability to continue the work, like the Indian Residential School Survivors Society does, in a meaningful way."

“In July 2021, Beaulieu (an archeologist) revised her estimate to 200 and noted that they should be considered "probable burials" or "targets of interest", and said that only with an excavation could they be confirmed as human remains. Beaulieu also noted that the apple orchard she surveyed constituted only two acres of the 160-acre residential school site.”

Kamloops, B.C. Life at the residential school. 1962 Documentary, 30 min.

Sugarcane. National Geographic, trailer.

Wikipedia. Kamloops Indian Residential School

I am terribly ignorant as to Residential schools. First Nation History in general. Most are, I am finding. And no, I don’t talk about it too much. Touchy subject. I understand.

As a teacher from the U.S. From Colorado. I know there is more to education and to the beauty that is the state I grew up in. Colorado. School shootings did not define us.

I am also familiar with school mission statements; kids being killed in school, by school; the "shock and horror” followed by “thoughts and prayers.” Hundreds of thoughts and prayers. Year after year. After year.

The Residential school discovery of hundreds of kids in Kamloops will not define this town. For me, it is another example of - abuse by the department of education. Globally.

There is a consistent lack of (time and space) to ask and explore one question: What is the purpose of education?

Until there is a consorted effort to do more to help kids in education- I say, do less.

Cancel all classes for One week- for every shooting, from here on out (for example). Students Stay home! Study. Learn. Sleep. Morn. Take care of our students.

Unless, of course the purpose of education is something other than “to support learning opportunities and environments which inspire students to thrive.”

Forced education, or compulsory education, refers to the legal requirement for children to attend school for a specific period, typically mandated by the government. While compulsory education aims to provide all individuals with access to learning, it has also been a source of historical and ongoing debate, particularly in relation to its implementation and impact on marginalized communities. 

Kamloops Indian Residential school is one horrific example of the implementation and impact schools have on communities. And more modern horrors continue- and will continue as long as we forget. Literally burry evidence. Burry stories. Rewrite history. Force next generations into compulsory numbness. Robotic “Thoughts and prayers”.

Kamloops is an amazing city. Beyond school stories (which I will never get out of my head and heart). My focus is school- and the generations of kids carrying the burdens and aftermath of avoidable tragedies.

Questions:
What is the purpose of education? and What (more‽) will it take to change the conversation? Now.

Day 55

Pre- Kamloops, B.C.

Sitting quietly in a van down by a river.

One thing about this I.School education is that while there is beauty, there are bugs. Nothing is as it seems. Still, I would rather get creative with travel than go back to a rigid education system. Bugs and all.

Math Monday perspectives

Hold on a second. Ever wondered what is in a number?

1,000 seconds =16 minutes 40 seconds

One million seconds =166 minutes 40 seconds or 11.5 days

One billion seconds = 31.7 years

One trillion seconds = 31, 688 years

______________________________________________________________________

Neptune is 4.7 billion km from earth or 2.7 Billion miles from earth (travel time = approximately 12 years).

The moon is 4.53 billion years old. About 200 million years after the formation of the solar system.

student debt is 1.7 Trillion dollars. How does that make sense?

When “Students will have number sense, which is a major expectation by the 4th grade.” NAEP Math Framework standards.

Summer School Math Sense

Math Framework: Number Properties and Operations

“Number Sense and Comfort with numbers is a Major expectation by the 4th Grade” NAEP, 2024.

Okay. Let us talk numbers. And then compare.

Actual quote from 2026 National Standards-

Traditional Math: “visual media; and household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and furnishing that require a variety of measurements. Conceptual understanding: comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations;As elementary-grade students generalize number relationships and properties they engage in algebraic thinking. In pursuit of graphical depictions of algebraic relationships, students use Cartesian coordinates—ordered pairs of numbers to identify points in a plane and ordered triples of numbers to label points in space. Numbers allow precise communication about anything that can be counted, measured, or located in space.m Comfort in dealing with numbers effectively is called number sense.” page 8.

Question: Does any of that make sense?

State regulated mandatory courses including: Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra, Calculus. Sense of numbers via Pythagorus, Euclid, Archimedes, Descartes (Cartesian coordinates).

I.School:

Count to 10. Number Sense. Fingers and Toes.

1. Count to 10 slowly in your head. Use it to calm down from some of the ridiculousness of public school math standards.

2. Seriously! Deep breath In- One, two three four five (and then there is that space at the top of your breath- pause) Breath out slower- Six, seven, eight, nine- ten, Ah-the other space at the end of a breath. Empty. That’s all.

3. Use fingers creatively. Add meaning. One- pointer finger. Two- middle finger, left up to you. Three- make an Ok circle. Again, just to distract yourself from the ridiculousness of public school math standards. Make sense of numbers 1-10. Make them meaningful to you. Build.

4. …Through Ten is up to you and won’t make sense until we (ok, you and I) take time to discuss #’s and why math standards make no sense.

Until they do.

A Survivals Guide to Institutionalized Public Schools

Summer School Edition

Too much?

Step 1: It is not your fault.

Step 2: You may feel like a victim, and for all thoughts and purposes you probably are. Now, stop talking about all your faults and sickly acronyms (even just for One hour a day!). It just perpetuates the victimhood ness. No, it is not your fault. But you are still here. Now what?

Step Three: Plan. Make a plan for the life you want to build. No pressure. Have some fun with ideas. The more you focus on a plan for your imaginary life- hey, it’s better than complaining about circumstances beyond your control. First, it’s a nice escape. Plus, if you can not even imagine a life outside institutionalized public education- then, proceed as conditioned.

Step Four: Seek truths. Original Stories of what ever is in your best interest and…

11:37 AM Pause, this is good stuff-

Sitting in a library in Lillooet BC. June 7, 2025 Overhearing this conversation:

Librarian: Hi, welcome in. How can I help you?

Man voice: You can give me a pretty smile!

Librarian: (calm voice) Don’t be rude. How can I help you?

Man: Make some copies of this. I want to check out this book but not that one. And could you do it with a smile?

Librarian: (calm and steady) Here are your copies. Here is your book. I’ll put the other one back. Is there anything else I can get you?

Man: I’m still waiting for that smile.

Librarian: I’ll be here for the next two hours sir.

Man leaves.

I.School Lesson of the day for survivals guide to institutions.

Stay Calm. Be clear. Know your limits.

I have a lot to learn from this tiny, kind older woman in a tiny, kind library.

After the exchange, I complemented her on her poise as to what could have been unpleasant banter. She said, in the same calm voice, “I don’t like being told to smile. Especially by men. I did it for too long.”

I thanked her for the lesson on grace and integrity.

She said nothing back but gave me a big Smile.

I.School is everywhere.

Lessons from Lillooet

I just keep thinking- it’s not necessarily what we learn (and teach) in school, but what we don’t.

Lillooet, Canada. BC

I’m watching Indigenous TV channels. Late night talk shows in First Nation language. A Morning kids show teaching First Nation language and concepts. A Documentary called “1491. A Land Before Columbus.” Never before seen- perspectives in US history classes. We (I) taught curriculum based on notions of non-existence, or primitive, cave dwellers prior to a certain era.

But where do we get those stories? In the 1491documentary, there is evidence of advanced civilizations including over 2,000 languages, prior to colonization, for example. Just in BC. Yet

Native prayer hour with a lit candle on the screen. Would never get through censors in US television.

There is no access to US networks like Hulu and Peacock. Copyright.

I just keep thinking- It’s not just that we are learning in school, it what we don’t. Teach, that there is a world to be kept from exploring in public education. And maybe that’s the lesson.

Down the rabbit hole

Day 46 on a long tour of I.travel. Sitting in a motel room in Canada- Like far into Canada.

I’m still here. Writing every day. Thinking of school and kids every day. March- was Alice in Wonderland. April- the Rainmaker. May. A return to the Three Little Pigs. and

IV. June

Theme:  Song of the South, Disney’s 1946 live action/ animation movie.

~pause~

Never heard of it? Okay, well here we go.

• Song of the South, the movie, has been criticized for its racist portrayal of African Americans and plantation life. 

• Officially ‘not banned’ in the United States. “Disney has voluntarily removed it from circulation”.

• Disney CEO Bob Iger has said that the film is “not appropriate in today's world” and will not be re-released.

• The film has been commercially available for decades in several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Argentina, and Brazil. 

Intro:

“Now, this here tale didn't happen just yesterday, nor the day before. 'Twas a long time ago. And in them days, everything was mighty satisfactual. The critters, they was closer to the folks, and the folks, they was closer to the critters, and if you'll excuse me for saying so, 'twas better all around.” Uncle Remus.

Uncle Remus is a collection of African American trickster stories told by the fictional character Uncle Remus. The stories were compiled and adapted by Joel Chandler Harris, a journalist and children's author. Harris published the stories in book form in 1881. Later adapted by Disney.

Uncle Remus, played by James Baskett defended the film and his character in it, saying, "I believe that certain groups are doing my race more harm in seeking to create dissension, than can ever possibly come out of the Song of the South.”

*P.S. The sincerity of this months theme is near and dear to my heart. I was 4, in 1972 when I saw Song of the South in a Denver movie theater. I watched it one time. I have never forgotten the stories, the songs and the acting. I hope I do it justice, Hattie!

“I don’t see color.”

How dull.

What might be another reason Song of the South is not available in the US?

How many other stories are outside of U.S. borders? I wonder. and How curious, Alice.

Down the Rabbit Hole.

Here is the thing- Leaving education, leaving home, leaving the conventional life (what ever that is), is weird. Of course it will be weird. It’s literally ‘outside the box’. Classroom box and box of screens.

Down the rabbit hole means- rising above (or below) the current conversations.

On Vancouver Island, I watched slugs. Slow, alien looking, slimy creatures with antenna-eyes. They are all different colors and different shapes, but having lots of time, I watched them. Everywhere.

June’s theme is Song of the South. A movie; followed by March’s- theme of Down the Rabbit Hole; April’s Rainmaker, and May’s Three Little Pigs.

Connection is= Nothing! Curious, irrational nonsense. Unless….

Time + (head) Space becomes -insert greater symbol- Greater than currently occupied.

What is the current Opportunity Cost of your Time and Space?

What Do You Want? How do you know? and what does it matter if there is no time nor space to explore?

Curiously, I’m following an instinct. Curiously, I’m following an insect, no- rather a caterpillar like Slug. Unfortunately, curiosity is not very welcomed in public schools. Like Song of the South not so welcomed in the moves, I wonder why?

Slugs: Slow, yet fast when studying them. Gender neutral- fascinating and complicated. When touched, they retreat within themselves (I cannot think of a better way to describe this)- then resiliently keep on going.

Vancouver Island is home to various slug species, including the native Banana Slug and several other invasive slug species. Banana Slugs are the largest terrestrial slugs in North America and the second-largest on Earth, often reaching lengths of up to 25 cm. Other slugs remain a threat to the ecosystem.