For A,

I remember you knitting in my class. (Trendsetter. :) It calmed you and kept you focused. I know you got picked on by others at school and that still makes me sad. I also know you had other teachers you liked better, and I am so glad! You learned to speak French from the best. And I also remember showing a short music clip from Hedwig. I also appreciated your note years later- recalling that moment. It was special to me too. After Paris I think you said you were in California? 

Well A, I wish you well. I hope you have a wildly gorgeous partner (as you requested) and are thriving after high school. Remember when I tried to speak French? I had been listening to French language CD’s on the way to school. I tried it out in class. You said “I did not understand one word of what you said.” Ha! You were so right. Thanks for challenging me both in my philosophical content and my fashion sense. (I don’t have that book you and your friend made for me on cute outfits anymore, but the memory lasted.) You inspire me. 

Bad knitting and all- I still try. I hope you (all) stay warm in this dark place.

Ciao for now ~I N

Groundhog, the Day after.

“Nietzsche believed we live this life again and again for eternity.” I have seen quoted.

No, no he did not. (Sorry Freddie, I’m taking liberties here.)

I see eternal recurrence as a challenge. A life challenge. 

IF, you HAD to re-live yesterday over and over again, forever, would you?  Yes, no? Why? Why not?

If the answer is something like- “I would, if such and such, was or wasn’t an option.”

Buzzer sound- “EEEEEEH.” Wrong answer. 

Example, “I would want this day again if it was not so cold and snowy; if I didn’t have to work; if I weren’t sick; if these people around me would just…”  

Nope. Try again. 

If the answer is “that’s dumb, it is just a silly idea and movie.” Ding ding ding. Well then you will be right! Have a good day.  Come back when you have a crisis.

If the question slowly creeps up on you, sits with you and begins to haunt you. If you feel nausea, a sense of profound dread at the prospect of Nietzsche’s suggestion- Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life. (If you can take it.)

I have done this Groundhog lessons at the high school level.  I’ve heard the reviews on a spectrum- from-“we just watched a stupid movie.” To “I started thinking about the movie deeper” “my life feels like groundhog day, but it really isn’t” To the few that said “oh god, this isn’t funny, Newson, what has philosophy done?” 

The movie is inconsequential. The idea, IF understood, is exquisite. Problem is, you can’t explain it, and it certainly is not found in data reports. It’s like the best part of sex. You can’t explain it, but you know what it is when it happens. (No, I did not say that in school, but I wanted to. Good analogy.) Sorry kids. 

Although it is not on any spread sheet, I can tell when someone really starts to get IT. They go ashen. A click, a spark flickers in an instant. Then, I know. I know when someone says “I get why you tell your stories.” It is not because I am a narcissist. (Well that could be, I’m not there yet, and I hear narcissism is the most difficult to treat.) I tell stories to demonstrate my struggle, and hopefully connect to others who struggle as well. Honesty is painful, and I keep going, and

I can tell when someone gets IT. They get IT when they stop asking me more about me, and picking my life apart, and turn the conversations to, oh this is about me! “what am I to do?!?!” 

Anyway, it becomes an understanding that I am willing to be vulnerable (scary) and am willing to take responsibility for my actions- weird and misunderstood as they are. That is freedom. Freedom to make mistakes. What about you?

You want freedom? Really? If that does not scare the shit out of you, you may want to rethink ‘freedom’ because we don’t really have words to describe it in the first place.

“A smile and a baseball bat,” Became my motto. I smile because this life stuff is AMAZING! A bat because this life stuff is frickin HARD! Got to be tough. Prepared. It’s a test. Only-

Your test for this and all other lessons have already been administered.

Your test is not what answers you have to put down on a computer. 

Your test is what answers you have when your computer is down.

Your test is not taking more tests during a pandemic. 

Your test IS the pandemic.

You ARE going to die.

Your test is, how do you want to live? 

I.School Groundhog Day could be a dumb lesson/ movie, or a life-changing concept for beginning to live-The Good Life. This is the first day of the rest of your life. Again. For whom?

For none and for all. 

For when the student is ready… 

Oh, and no, I’m not ‘there’ either. Just on the boat or train or what other analogies you like. Nonetheless, joyfully struggling- with a smile and a bat. 

Two for Tuesday- I.School my.school

As I tip my toe into the unknown waters of my fictitious (and apparently overly verbose) I.School, I hesitantly share this: The water is fine!  Un-re-fine-d, but fine.

I am excited when I wake up. Genuinely, positively giddy. Example- this morning I wrote down some ideas on education, as always. I journaled and researched. Posted. (I question my day to day posts but the big picture- for me? the long run is going swimmingly well, as ‘planned’.)

Tea/ coffee chats with hubby. Make bed. Kiss hubby bye bye, say, “play nice with the other children,”  (old joke. stop. Reflect on what it took to create this moment, this minuscule fraction of time, and how much I appreciate having this very old jokes with an old- but younger than me- friend). Priceless. 

Back to computer. In researching Shakespeare, I stumbled upon four enthralling topics- a haunted grave, a cult, a Harvard Business Review writer (trust me, its riveting) and Fredrick Douglass’ dissertation. I love seeing how they all connect. Like an uber nerdy connect the dots game. Made just for me, by me.

I’ll read for hours. Satisfied and ready to move, I’ll walk. Get stuff done- laundry, dishes etc, Then it is more  I.School time. The three classes I am currently ‘enrolled’ in include biology and nutrition; intro to drawing; and astronomy. Three half-hour lectures every day, every other day or whenever I damn well feel like it for about 10 weeks- I figure. No tests, no quizzes, all genuine knowledge. Because I genuinely like to learn. 

I keep a small blackboard in my room with todays date, predicted weather, and “Two-for-Tuesday’s activities”. Like a teacher-boss!

Today is an extra busy day as we (I) am preparing for yet another holiday. We at I.School love holidays, only my.Style. Tomorrows a double holiday! Drum roll!! 

Groundhog Day! Because, why not?

Objectives: Analyze Nietzsches’ Eternal recurrence with themes from Groundhog Day. (I did mention it is MY.Style… giggle) 

Vocabulary: Fredrick Nietzsche, Eternal recurrence, Groundhog Day

Activities: Movie Marathon- Groundhog Day, Happy Death Day, and a choice of three others- if desired. 

Supplies: Pancake fixins, eggs how you like (scrambled soft please), birthday cake, coffee.

Assessment: Answer this prompt- If you were to live today over and over again- Knowing you would repeat every choice you make- today- for an eternity, would you do anything different? Why? Why would you? Why wouldn’t you?

Bonus points- if you related Socrates idea of “the Good Life” from Platos “Apology” allegory to Nietzsche’s Eternal recurrence. 

Double bonus points- if you play connect the dots with nutrition, drawing and astronomy as they relate to recurrence. Example- how is This the good life!? How do you know?

Ok, how are pancakes, eggs, cake and coffee integral to the lesson? Is an anticipated question. Actually, if this ever gets noticed, I’d like to know what students think. All learners welcome. If you say “it’s in the original movie.” Then I’ll say, “yes, and….” 

And if you ask, “how did you get here to this awesomeness Newson? How did this greatness and Good Life bestow upon you?” 

I’ll say, Because “I am really, Really pissed off!”

I resent not having more times like this for the last 40 something years; I resent the brutality of public education and its soul-crushing circus symposium. 

I resent wasted time from BM’s (business management systems) interference in public education and, well, waste! I resent hours of monitoring/ “puppeteering” standardized tests. If recurrence was a choice?

Door #1. Recurrence: watching precious kids pressing #2 pencils on those ridiculous “elvish-marked, abortive rooting” ‘Scantrons’ (Global Corporation profiting from tests), “hog” assessments… (thanks Bill S’ Richard III).

Door #L  (cuz why?). Recurrence: Writing about tip toeing in a thesaurus ridden jungle of mystery, adventure; yes and, looking like a dunderhead; yes, and making ooodles of mistakes, but at least they are YOUR mistakes, and did I mention pancakes? 

“Why I’ll take door number L, Monty.”  The water is unrefinedly, fine. No removal of impurities necessary. 

Homework: Read Nietzsche’s Resentiment and how it relates to his concept of “Master Slave Morality.” And/Or find a time to look at the moon. (Trick assignment.) 

As mentioned, tomorrow is a double holiday- it is going to be a pre-arranged SNOW DAY!! We may get a fraction of an inch, we may get four feet. Who cares. It’s an I.School newly crated and made up additional holiday, miracle. 
Note: It is 8:58 AM. And, yes, let’s begin our I-day. 

Update: success:

“He was not of an age, but for all time!”

Is the epitaph on William Shakespeares’ gravestone. 

Can you picture him? Shakespeare? No, not ‘in’ the grave, gross, but what he looked like when he might have been living? You can, can’t you? What does he look like? Quite a normal looking chap? Slightly balding? Facial hair? Do you see him with a mustache? Beard? Gotee? (Spell check, really? Goat, Go T. Goatee. Sheesh, bet ole Bill didn’t have this “Gordian knot” problem, to quote the man). What about his hair? Shoulder length? Are his eyes peering to the right, or left? Head angled right or left? Full body or bust? What of his Attire? It’s the collar…  Oh the collar, am I Right? Triangular? Liturgical? (Sort of choir meets religion neck lace). Or do you see the Ruff? That Elizatethian, starched silk, Renaissance, Tudor, later circus clown- ruffled costumed collar? ‘Normal looking chap’ until the ruff, eh? (Strike that.)

Get an image. Got it? Good.

Now image search Shakespeare. 

Keep looking.

What do you see? If you didn’t actually look, you will have to trust my descriptions. I get it. Facial hairs differ in various portrayals, but not by much. There are some anomaly poses which make him look like Plato or Salvador Dali. Few works show him below the shoulders. Most are busts. Many of those look like they should be hanging in a mansion with cut-hole eyes peering at you like a Scooby Doo mystery scene- as in “His eyes are watching. Following you…for all time..” bwahahaha… 

Ruh-roh and Jinkies, I digress! But, do you think Shakespeare might use Jinkies? I do.  That Velma was sprag! (Spell check again? Really? On Shakespeare? “You obscene greasy tallow-catch!”  Henry IV Part 1 (Act 2 Scene 4) 

Back to Bill Basics. 

Shakespeare paraphernalia includes: Insult calendars, crackers, biscuits, bracelets, bags, shirts, “to tea or not to tea” pots, socks, shower curtains, “the nose that knows” tissue box holder (yes, up his nose), soap, pillows, cookbooks, ‘shake spear mints’, “I put the ‘lit’ in Literature” pipes (yes, those paraphernalia pipes). All to extol the man himself. 

And with all his images, we have absolutely no idea what he accurately looked like. No other images nor descriptions exist. None. Just that one painting of him, posthumously done. (Ok, I don’t know, if it was painted after his death. Well, yes, I just looked it up, and it was.)

Anyway, my long, drawn out point is this- What we think we “know,” through innumerable resources, (including education), about reality is mere perception. Not reality. Our perception about education is “this is what we’ve always known; this is what we have always had.” Limited, unknowing assuredness. (I know what I said). 

But, no- I don’t know ‘exactly’ what education is supposed to look like, but I’m sure it is not’ this’. ‘This’ is a system of the ages. (Boy she sure likes ‘air quotes’). Industrialized and painstakingly ‘rigorous’ . Learning, however is for all time; and I don’t want to paint a portrait of education myopically. One-dimensionally. I have ideas, lots and lots of ideas about learning, but I fear it could turn counterfeit. If we don’t have better dialogue about the content of education- it would be like just painting another Shakespeare. It doesn’t matter what he looked like, because- oh my god, have you read Henry IV Part 1? Sheer brilliance. I don’t care about his ruff. I care what is underneath his ruff. Wait, strike that. 

Believe it or not, this past hundred years or so of ‘schooling’ is a historical abnormality.  A blip. A neolithic SNAFU of prophetical proportion. Historic puberty that may result in either arrested development or acute discernment as we des/as/cend.

I caution us to not focus on the current age or era of education but on the learnings of “all time”. 

What lasts?

A Shakespeares grave marker with ““He was not of an age, but for all time!”? 

Not that. Nope. Not even on his grave. I lied. 

(head nod for English teachers who continued reading after such blatant untruths!)

But the real headstone IS haunted! Believe me? Questionable? Good.

Happy Tuesday! 

For S,

Fair question. What ARE you to do? Your parents ‘demand’ perfect grades. Seven teachers are telling you if you don’t do what they say, you will metaphorically “end up in a van down by the river” (see SNL reference below). Your coaches are pressuring you to be physically fit while you sit in a desk until 3. Mandated by law. 

Well S, I know you are scared, your parents are scared, your teachers are scared, and your coaches are scared as well. You are the most important in this scenario, but I wanted to reassure you that the anger from ‘adults’ is really fear. I think you already know this.

You are smart. Understandably frustrated. And I am listening. Your words still echo through my allegorical hallways. I have not given up! Still fighting in my kooky way, and thank you for thanking me for fighting. I could quit too, but then I think of students like you! 

Good news S! You did NOT get those perfect grades- not even close. (Thank god). You chose which classes would benefit you and which ones you chose to ‘slack’ in. That shows self-preservation and ingenuity. Good for you.  

Hey, I hope you DID end up in a van down by the river! A sweet Springer van is highly coveted. 

So, you lost your athletic scholarship(s). So what? As you said, “it was one of the best things”, because you started “playing” sports again. You are so athletically talented but the pressure for college, money and grades took away your spark and love of your games. Plural. 

Yes, you could have been a contender. I believe you. Cultural “success” vs. love of the game? And it does seem to be- either or, doesn’t it?  Did you keep up with Naomi Osaka? I thought of you!  Self-preservation precedes phenomenon. (Ooooh, that was good. I just made that up- with philosophical influences, of course. But S! It’s for you, now). :)

In my Lala land, I imagine you still athletic, but happier. Coaching your own kids with philosophies you learned. I laugh because, NO one on the field or court would any idea about you.  I double dare anyone to challenge you. Haha. You have dominating talent, but you would not use it to dominate young talent. Or maybe you would, ha ha ha, what do I know? 

Thanks S, for sharing insights into your world. I wished things could have been different for you. Yep, I know you liked “I.School” concepts too. It’s a painfully slow ‘revolution’ but I wanted you to know you are not forgotten. More preparedness for I.School. “For all and for none”.  (Remember?) :) 

~Viva la Revo-newson S! 

SNL

I tried. badly.

I.School Sneak Preview:

3:51 am

Thursday morning, January 27, 2022. 

As I continue to advocate for educational reform with my illformed words, my blueprint for what I believe I.School would look like is slowly taking shape. I.School in session: Student of one.

I know, right?! My own learning playground every day!! I.School, my school.  I’ll share more later, but today- just a glimpse of possibilities. 

By the way, these are MY school, I.School, High School lessons.  All lessons developed will be catered to you- the I, in I school.

writing, writing, writing

Scratch that. 

After writing a full page of my actual hour morning routine, I scraped it. I hesitated to post because- It seems to be too good to be true.  I feel like I am bragging. Flaunting my good fortune amongst misery; and my inner voices listen to this- 

“oh, of course, but you are retired…”

“But I’d be sitting on a beach.” “You are so lame. Ha.”

“Yea, right, just like that, as if.”

“Your day sounds boring, to me. No offense.”

“No offense, but that sounds crazy, “ (in a good way?)

Or “so what, who cares?”

I care! Yes, about me and my well-being and security. And also about the well being of kids. Kids, and adult-kids, like me. Possibly you. 

My inner voices are harsh- but based in reality and on actual quotes. 

First few weeks of lockdown 2020, I knitted, crocheted, sewed, cooked, baked, painted, drew, wrote and learned. I did it all badly, but I developed skills. I posted pictures to people on my phone and was ghosted. That is how I found out what “ghosted” meant.  Looking back it must have looked manic. It was manic. And in my head I was all like-“ I’m free! Get out of jail free card, peoples! I won the lottery.” Sure, sure, in the midst of, well you all know, that whole virus stuff. But I saw an opportunity and seized the day! And month, and year, and right now! speaking of…

Oh, this just in:

“When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. 

Very often, that person is crazy.” Dave Barry

Thanks H. Oh, did you mean me? as in “Newson, you crazy!!… but in a good way.” I hear that. A lot. (Yes, biological fam, I do acknowledge I am the bad crazy too. Sorry). 

I am mostly, bona fide, non-certified, but legitimately crazy. There are reasons for that. Have compassion. 

I am partially, self-imposed, illusory insane, too. There are reasons for that. Have confidence. It was a powerful defense mechanism, masterfully implemented. (‘If I do say so myself’…hey, what does that mean?) Anyway,

Who would want to retire and then write some lame blogs? Sure, I ‘could’ retire. Quietly. But I won’t. I can’t. I’m a fighter. The most dangerous kind (ooooh, scared..?).  A crazy retired fighter with purpose. Dangerous because I’m all in. I have baskets of time and I have nothing to lose. (Ok, there is more to that last sentence, but I was on a roll.) Pick a purpose, any purpose, and I can show you how by simply focusing on education, you will most assuredly be defending your principles, (not necessarily principals) and your purpose. BONUS- not only you will be shaping current ideas, you will be setting solid groundwork for future generations! You know, that place just beyond ‘just us’?

If it doesn’t work, at least you tried. And in the process you or I just might find more meaningful moments along the way, serendipitously. Mmmmm,

My movie moment of clarity, more than a year ago was this:

Jack Nicholson’s role as R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The shower room scene. McMurphy taunts his colleagues, his “inmates” into escape. One inmate- stuttering Billy Bibbit says, “Mmmm, Mac, you c,c,c,c can’t get out of here!” McMurphy says, “Anybody wanna bet?”

How? By lifting an obviously impossible, marble, industrialized sink, and throwing it out a barred window; Thus creating a doorway, excuse me, a window to walk out of. To go to a bar. To drink a beer. To watch a baseball game. After taking sarcastic, but secured bets from his brethren, Mac clutches the sink. He struggles gloriously, to the point of overexertion.  Sweaty and defeated, Mac walks out of the room, parting the victorious, silent, but confused clan, and says:

“Well, I tried didn’t I? God damn it. At least I did that.” 

That clicked as a motto for me. Oh, for those (3 is it?) reading, :) or those (ghosts) who do not know how the book or movie ends. I’ll spare you. It’s not good. I can relate to the character, but no, I don’t want to be lobotomized any more than I already have been… Uh, oh! See? I didn’t spare you. Ooops, ‘spoiler alert’ ya all.  Focus.

My goals are both lofty and low these days. I have high, fantastically unrealistic dreams, whilst maintaining impossibly low standards. Incredibly, and reluctantly, I am happier. So what?

I started this blog with a ‘schedule’ of what my fictitious I.School might look like. I wrote it down. It is disgustingly optimistic, laced with a superabundance of joy! Even the most challenging of moments creates- moments of creativity. That makes me happy.  Who wants that? Who would ever want happiness? Not me.

Want my advice? Wanna be ‘happy’? Stop pursuing ‘happiness’. I.School rule #H.

7:22 am

SNOW!! I.School back in session. Ciao for now. 

Answer:

No, of course I did not challenge the schools motto. Nor did I question the Pledge of Allegiance. That would be obtuse.  “Pick your battles”, I’ve been told.  Right?

So I breeched conversations in class. Kids are great!!! Motto’s, dress codes and the Pledge are posted in every classroom and/or heard on obligatory intercoms. The perfect lesson- to ask questions. I let students defend and refute the Pledge. Questions about gender and dress codes are introduced in a safe environment. The school’s motto, which is permanently secured and ignored in most classrooms gets a notable wink, and becomes the star of a Socratic dialogue. It does not matter if you agree or disagree. Just talk, ask questions. Think! 

No, I do not want kids to think like me (although it would be fun, but that is not my job- as I see it).  I students to think more independently.  In school…  now, how is that such a ‘rebellious’ revolutionary act, I wonder?

I want kids (and teachers) to think, ask questions and demand clear, distinct ideas. (Radical) 

What do we want kids to learn?

How do we know that they have learned it?

Oh, but careful here. If asked, in a mandatory staff meeting- those two questions can be tricky. Who is asking the questions? Who are the ‘we’? 

Experienced Translation: What do ‘we’ the businesses want kids to learn; and conveniently ‘we’ have data-oriented standardized tests to monitor ‘our’ progress. 

Either obey, or (what?) 

A chilling third question is usually added to the first two:

What are you (the teacher) going to do when kids don’t lean ’it’? 

Translation: It is up to you, educators, to follow curriculum without question. And you will be required to spend countless hours figuring out how to get kids to try to understand nonessential information for someone else’s agenda. And when the data dips? It’s educators fault, kids fault and there is now a crisis in education (because the data will never be sufficient).  Luckily this will be followed up with a- ‘but wait there’s more!’ solution with business management coming in to save the day. More ‘rigorous’ pre-approved, pre-printed lessons Guaranteed to get kids to learn.  Essentially, get education focused on two or three questions that guides curriculum. Any deviation from programed questions are unacceptable. Duh. 

Answer? Ask more questions. 

Quotes from the grave- Bertrand Russell: On Education:

Why would we look to history for help? Certainly more modern approaches have a better understanding of kids today. 

There must be in the world many parents who, like the present author, have young children whom they are anxious to educate as well as possible, but reluctant to expose to the evils of most existing educational institutions.

The way is clear. Do we love our children enough to take it ? Or shall we let them suffer as we have suffered ? Shall we let them be twisted and stunted and terrified in youth, to be killed afterwards in futile wars which their intelligence was too cowed to prevent ? A thousand ancient fears obstruct the road to happiness and freedom. But love can conquer fear, and if we love our children nothing can make us withhold the great gift which it is in our power to bestow.

I have tried to bring before the reader the wonderful possibilities which are now open to us. Think what it would mean : health, freedom, happiness, kindness, intelligence, all nearly universal. In one generation. if we chose. we could bring the millennium.

Listed as “Unpopular Essays”, 1926. Quoted from the first and last few sentences of his book.

Bertrand Russell’s full Essay: On Education

Wednesday- Exigency Logic Questions

Hey teachers! What are you teaching today? What are “Essential” learnings today?

Hey students! What are you learning today? What is essential?

Quote:

“My mother made me a scientist without ever intending to. Every other Jewish mother in Brooklyn would as her child after school ‘So, Did you learn anything today?’ But not my mother. ‘Izzy,’ she would say, ‘did you ask a good question today?’ That difference-asking good questions- made me become a scientist.” Physicist Isidor Isaac Rabi

Questions- What are essential learnings? Where did they come from? Who wrote them? Is there an agenda? Who financially supports the essential curriculum? What do they want? What do todays essential learnings tell us about the direction of education? 

Why do we need to know this?  How does this help students, society, me?

Newson rant:

I came from one school who’s mission statement (an overarching philosophy to follow), was: “challenge yourself to be a person others admire.” 

Questions- first, who has time to challenge the self? And why don’t we have more time for that?  What does it mean to be a person ‘others’ admire? What others? Is Admire: ‘to be approved’ of. (Merriam Webster) By whom?  Is that what you want? 

If the exigency of essential learnings is approval,

And approval is derived from business management sorts

Then essential learnings are essential to business. Logic. 

Here is a catch. I ask questions. I like to challenge myself- you know the whole “The unexamined life” and all that.  I have found that in (business education), curiosity is caustic. A more accurate motto might be: ‘Just shut up, sit down, and listen to this pre-approved curriculum of essential learnings during a pandemic, a mental health crisis, and economic prosperity for the uber-elite.’  Not as flowing, but more honest. 

If you ask questions, you will most assuredly NOT become admired. Not by those ‘in power’ anyway.  You will be a pariah and an agitator, thus painfully ostracized. However, you will be closer to a truth. Is that what you want?  Yea, me too. 

Ever heard of Physicist Isidor Isaac Rabi? Me neither. I don’t know if she is admired, but her mom did challenge her, which I admire.  Is is more important to be admired or be true?

And what happens when personal philosophies and culture clash?

Expired Exigency

Another example of exigency-

As in: “Teachers suspecting a vulnerable persons to be abused, have an exigency to report it.” Yikes!!

“In most states, teachers and other school employees are mandated reporters, and in some states, every single person is considered a mandated reporter. In a nutshell, this means teachers are legally obligated to report any signs of abuse or neglect of a child to the appropriate authorities immediately.” Immediately! Double yikes! This is serious.

Ok. Let’s take a quiz.  Signs of Abuse:

Physical: Intentional bodily injury. 

Sexual: Unwanted sexual contact. 

Mental/ Emotional: deliberate causing mental or emotional pain. E.g., intimidation, coercion, ridiculing, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolation, use of silence to control behavior, students report of being verbally or mentally mistreated.

Exploitation: occurs when vulnerable persons (as a resource) are improperly used for another person’s profit or gain. 

Neglect: occurs when a vulnerable person is deprived of the care necessary to maintain ones physical or mental health. E.x., being in an unsafe environment. 

Self-Neglect: occurs when a vulnerable person lacks adequate knowledge, skills, resources and enough self-regard for self-preservation. (Slightly altered)

Ok. I want to report ‘an’ abuse.

Vulnerable persons are experiencing physical abuse through atrophy. 

Daily sexual contact, or exposure, via unregulated media. 

Institutions deliberately causing mental or emotional pain. E.g., intimidation, coercion, ridiculing, harassment, treating an adult like a child, isolation, use of silence to control behavior, students report of being verbally or mentally mistreated.

Deprived of adequate care or resources to maintain self-sufficiency. 

And to whom do I report said abuses? Right. “Appropriate Authorities.” 

Ok, but what if those said abuses are the direct result of those appropriate authorities- to whom I am to report said abuses to which are the.. um…

 “I’d like to see the manager.” 

Right, in a nutshell, the same manager, or “appropriate authorities”, who supports mandated laws and institutions that maintains more mandated facilities fostering unintentional as well as intentional physical, mental, and emotional abuse. 

Alrighty then. Duly reported. Now what? I wonder if exigency expires….

Word of the Day: Exigency

“An urgent need or demand.” 

As in, “women worked long hours when the exigencies of the family economy demanded it.”  This, according to google’s definition, Oxford. And an ‘interesting’ choice to exemplify the sentiment.

I heard this word in a documentary last week about Alfred Hitchcock. 78/52. One director said “Hitchcock knew the meaning of exigency in the 1940’s and 1950’s”. An urgent need or demand for change. Psycho, for example, changed cinema as well as culture. 

As in, “Norman Bates’ knife was the primal force that tore through the repressive ’50s blandness just as potently as Elvis had. Sure, Norman was a maniac serial killer dressed in his mother’s Victorian rags, but when he slashed that knife, he brought down a world of civilized propriety that needed to be brought down.” John Hudson, the Atlantic

The conformity of the 1950, particularly with women, changed. It needed to be changed.  It needed to be brought down.
How does one recognize exigency today? Education needs to be changed. It needs to be brought down. 

As in, “ when (some) students and teachers recognized the exigency of education, they stopped working long hours and flourished.”  Flourished more, then less. 

Exigency: Pronounced like Exit and Emergency combined. Poignant.

To L and Mrs. P

L, I think you were in one of the first students, in the first few years, of my newly created Philosophy class. And I fondly remember you arguing. Graciously, congenially arguing. 

Thank you for challenging me! I’m sorry (not sorry) our classroom conversations led to some volatile discussions with your mom at home.  However, your mom told me later that those discussions helped bridge an even greater bond between you and her. I don’t want to put words into yours or your mom’s mouth (boy, how many times do you use that phrase?). I’m honored you shared our classroom conversations with a trusted person- your mom. 

I just wanted to take some time and tell you how much I regard and respect you two. I met and got to know Mrs. P about ten years after you graduated, L. She came right up to me and said “I’m __ and ___’s mom.” I cried. We hugged.

Mrs. P, I appreciated you taking time for me when I came into your office upset.  It was before the pandemic, but I was feeling low and was thinking about getting out of teaching. Your soft and gentle but firm affirmations were my remedy.  I felt both validated and assured I could make sound decisions. 

L, I also heard after the fact, that it was you that pushed the recommendation “teacher of the year” for me. I hope you liked my speech.  And, thanks. ;) Your acknowledgment meant so much!

Gratitude is more than an educational buzz word and the thesaurus does not seem adequate here. I’m humbled and indebted to you both- my behind the scenes women- for planting new seeds of perception clearly needed in my world. I’m slow, but I’m learning. And I’ll remember. XXOO

whom to influence?

I read a post this morning from a former student who thanked her past high school teachers for helping her years later, as an adult. She took time and recognized how many people were instrumental to her as a person. The behind the scenes peoples, like teachers.

Now this can flip. The behind the scenes peoples, like teachers, can also make our lives more difficult. True?

Either way, there have been a plethora of individuals, who have helped shape a plethora individuals. Collectively. (might need to read that again). Both positively and negatively.

So who were your influencers and whom are you influencing today? And how?

I like to recall the happy memories, but it is the crappy ones that elicit a more profound change. Sometimes.

but ... is it who or whom? (random thought, actual answers need not post.)

Thought for the day:

Recall 3 unlikely positive influencers in your life. What did they do or say? How did it affect you? Would you encourage or discourage the same thoughts or behavior now- for someone else? Would you do it again or advise against it? Either way-

Action: Pass it on. Or, intentionally, do not.

MLK I.lesson part II:

“The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but, rather those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”

-Alvin Toffler

It is not imperative nor an essential learning target to recognize people “behind the scenes”.

Coretta Scott King was monumental in civic activism which enabled Dr. King to preach his message of peace and non-violent protest. 

Dorthy Cotton, activist, “was the only woman in his (Dr. Martin Luther King) inner circle of aides, marched in perilous civil rights demonstrations and was a driving force in getting Southern black people to vote.” NYT 

When asked about what it was like being taunted by a white crowd holding hands with two small girls walking toward water; when asked how her beating left a permanent scar and hearing problems, Dorthy Cotton said:

“People had to be — they had to unbrainwash themselves, because this sense of being less than other people was hard-wired into the culture,” she told NPR in 2009. “And what was hard-wired into the psyche of white people was a sense of superiority.”

And that sense of superiority is hard-wired in education.  We are all culturally culpable.

This lesson can be flipped too.  Empowerers and enablers, those behind the scenes, of riots, violent protests and cover-ups pose demonstrative power.  It takes influential individuals and sometimes mobs to support leaders, politicians and rabble rousers. Famous and infamous would not exist without an entourage. 

Three to six examples of how the most influential people in history could not be so without those “behind the scenes” would suffice as an excitable lesson. 

If this were really a lesson, I would hope at some point a students would ask “so what is our role, as students, in all this?” 

Perfect. Now the bigger lesson can begin. 

CSK

“I can't help but believe that at some time in the not-too-distant future, there is going to be another movement to change these systemic conditions of poverty, injustice, and violence in people's lives. That is where we've got to go, and it is going to be a struggle.” Coretta Scott King

“Women, if the soul of the nation is to be saved, I believe that you must become its soul.” Coretta Scott King

For Coretta Scott King;

Singer, musican.

American author, civil rights leader, activist.

Valedictorian, educational pioneer. 

Raised four kids in Alabama amongst house bombings, death threats, FBI wire taps, spousal infidelity, and J.Edgar Hoover.  (Seriously, I just pause and reflect on those).

Widow, activist for women, LBGTQ rights (yes), economic issues, world peace, anti-apartheid, anti-war persuader. 

Successful champion of Martin Luther King’s birthday enacted as a national holiday. (Minus some states that did not agree and opted on “Civil Rights Day” or “Robert E. Lee Day” instead.).

Supportive partner: She said her husband told their children, "If a man had nothing that was worth dying for, then he was not fit to live." 

Behind the scenes, wind beneath my wind kinda woman. A woman in her own right.

In honor of Coretta Scott King. (Maya Angelou’s speech at Coretta Scott King’s funeral- 7 min.).

A Steel Magnolia. A human.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otGXTryeY6w&t=59s

School Surveillance

Was a radio show topic I listened to yesterday, on education.  The debate was about the ethics of surveillance, or “spying” on kids in public classrooms and at home. 

Proponents of surveillance said teachers “get to” monitor kids’ to identify issues like self-harm, suicide, bullying, porn, and possible school shootings. 

Critics claim it is an infringement of privacy; and computer surveillance is imbalanced due to long standing socio-economic factors. Kids who cannot afford computers or have access to wi-fi.

Typical stats, data and ‘arguments’ were delivered for “what is better for kids,” filled the hour discussion.  

Here is my thing- oh, so many things- to name a few,

• It is not, nor should ever be the job of a teacher to be responsible for issues like self-harm, suicide, bullying, porn, and possible school shootings. 

• It is not, nor should ever be the responsibility of kids to pay for the long standing socio-economic factors of their own society.  (In fact, shouldn’t it be the other way around?)
  

• Critics and proponents both defer to the pandemic as the culprit.  But let’s be honest, this shit has been going on long before the pandemic.  

If you can see through the rhetoric, it is simply the same old recycled debate about politics and economics. I do think (most? some?) people involved are genuinely concerned about education and the well being of kids.  And certainly debates are provided to hash out details…. 

And these debates turn into another endless circular argument, which is not, by definition a logical argument; and which is not taught in school, not-surprisingly. 

Then we put pressure on kids to “compete in the global economic market” or else…. We tell kids to come to school when they are sick, tired, mentally struggling- when there are dangerously snowy conditions.  We make grades and college pretty much the main, if not the only measure of “success”. 

And the most baffling thing to me is when we ask “how could this __(event)__ have happened”? (Fill in the blank- mass shooting, drug overdose, name it) AFTER such brutal and rigorous conditioning. Go figure.

One last ongoing question, with surveillance in mind:  What is the purpose of education? 

In 8 hours-

What would you be learning in high school today Jan. 12, 2022?

In the 8 hours we send kids to school, what are we teaching them? Really teaching them.

Just a few years ago, for example, I might have been teaching phonemes, morphemes, and lexemes because that is in the AP Psychology curriculum.

Looking back, I hope I would have scrapped the lesson and gave kids better psychological tools that they need right now. Today. Psychology teachers are not psychologists, but I think they can help. Phonemes are cool if you are a linguist but, really?

So, my questions persist.

What are we teaching and why?

What is the purpose of education?

8 Hours a day.

”Eight hours' labour, Eight hours' recreation, Eight hours' rest”. 

Was a slogan of Robert Owen in 1810 demanding a shortened work day.  By 1847, after brutal riots, England granted a 8 hour work week for men, 10 hours for women and children. 12 hour work day for the French after the1848 Revolutions.  The US passed an 8-hour Work Day in 1866, for men.

Think about that. One year after the US Civil War, and a major legislation bill is passed for more reasonable work hours. Must have been pretty important.

One hundred and seventy four years ago, legislation was passed to legally protect the working class. The US still (loosly, losly, loosely? - must look up…) weakly ’regulates’ an eight hour work day. Weekly regulation regulates the weeks, weakly schedules. (Gawd English is weird). 

Eight hours of labor. Five days a week, eight hours a day.  Clearly not conducive to child care.  Legislation was written for those who could vote, own land, own people, and could not give birth. Brave, hard working men fought to limit the work day even when threatened by powerful bosses. Women and children were excluded from max hourly laws and could be payed much less. When laws were enacted to protect kids from factories, but still needed a labor force, schools were created. Five days a week. Eight hours a day. 

Eight hours of rest. Is that where we get the notion to have eight hours of sleep every night? I wonder.  It’s pushed as ‘science’ and I have lost sleep, anxious that I am not getting enough sleep. Truth is, sometimes people need more, sometimes less. Babies and adolescence need more generally. Some adults need more, some less. Seasons and times of year affect sleep.

Eight hours of recreation. Tricky.  I’m going to pull out the Philosophers card here: Define recreation. Is recreation more sport, leisure, fun, pleasure, relaxation or 1810’s hobby horsing? How about simply an “activity done for enjoyment when one is not working.” (Oxford) 

Got it. 24 hours a day divided by 3. Easy for anyone to follow… theoretically.  And yet…  is it just me, or does that labour, 8-hour thing kinda get in the way of the other two things? You know the other two things Owen suggested- sleep and relaxation?

Looks like another historical “good on paper..” retort.  The ole switch-a-rooney credo.  Owen championed the working class. The working class championed Owen.  Workers ‘win’, companies ‘lose,’ perspectively. Then the switch. Companies strategize ways to profit after loss.  Slowly over time, companies push workers harder (makes sense). Workers keep working until they have had enough (makes sense). The classic struggle.

Then the debate about an 8 hour work week (and minimum and overtime pay) ensues.  This is my problem.  We are arguing and basing our assumptions of 21st century working hours, from an 1866 ordinance.  Like we are measuring gravity-  “Ok, force equals three times the gravitational mass of sleep divided by recreation.”  It’s not gravity! It was a “suggestion”. There was also a push for a Four Hour Work Week. Hmmmm, might balance out those lost hours.

Side note- If you ever argue with someone, and you are on the working class side, you will predictably hear something negative about unions (with good reason). When I searched unions- (aside from the top news stories about national strikes), this popped up: “Unions are Evil and Weird.”  Here is my thing. I don’t care. That is not the debate. People are. So I say, “Yes, you may be right. And, Unions never would have formed if big businesses had acted ethically in the first place.” 

Now we can talk ethics. Should children be allowed to work in factories? for example.  Much better conversation. 

If only we had more time. 

**Double Sided, side note. This is a Newson rant. Feel free to skip.** Sort of. Seriously. 

You know, now that I think about it Democracy itself is “for the people, by the people.” Right? If, by people, we mean the working class; and by the working class we mean citizens; and if by citizens we mean, what do we mean?  (must consult dictionary) “a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it.” (Merriam Webster). -Yikes, record scratch. 

Oh boy, do y’all see a problem here? Native or naturalized? Owes allegiance? Entitled protection? From the government which is..  us? But not all of us. Remember women, children, and every ‘other’ nationality were not considered citizens. 

Corporations/ BM’s- business management systems-  didn’t like that citizens get ‘special treatment’ (paying taxes, being transparent about large political donations, dabbling in dark money) so, Citizens United was created to protect corporations as the “people.” It passed narrowly by the Supreme Court more than 10 years ago. Assumably, using the Merriam Webster definition of 1828. By the way, how have those elections gone in the past 10 years, you know, after Citizens United was passed? 

It’s like the classic struggle unfolded exponentially.  

Rant off. 

Monday's

History Compass: This era is a mere non-extended eyelash in history.  A blip in time. This too will soon pass.  My question is- what is my part? I am more dedicated to long standing principles than short term goals, overall. Corona? Pshaw. Minor distraction after a million years of fire starters. 

It’s an excellent time to shift!  After disasters like war, adverse natural events, and disease- there is confusion.  There is a tendency to panic and ‘takers’ may use this opportunity to further hurt the hurt. There are always the helpers too.  Fred Rogers said “always look for the helpers”. 

We can be god-awful as humans go, and we can also be magnificent! 

My part, as I have decided, is to navigate the awful and propagate the mag!  How?

How can I be more of a helper? Not a fixer, more like a light house.  Just waiting here in my tower, studying history and philosophy, waiting for the shipwrecked. (Ha- if you are not into metaphors you are really not going to get me.)

Anyway, I’m in it for the long haul.  Shot term goals are important, but only in the larger scheme, ya know? Then the day to day get easier. Set low-bar daily tasks; days filled with personal purpose that nurture a larger ideal.  Example: Mondays used to be a bummer! “I have a Case of the Monday’s” should not be a saying, but it is.  It’s not Monday’s fault there are disparaging coffee mugs wishing the day away, like the blunt “I Hate Monday’s”. (Hey, if Monday had a mug it might hate on us too.)

This is Monday January 10th 2022.  The only Monday, of this day, of this year, ever.  No pressure.  My middle-aged body still reacts to Monday mornings conditioned response of panic.  In sponce (?) or re-sponse to physiological upsets, I make an effort to make very little effort.  I.School Mellow Mondays. We will start the day, (ok I will start) with soft tunes, warm tea and do nothing else until ready.  Really ready.  

It may be my Monday morning voice, but I think I can hear chatter on the other side of this screen. A ‘but’- “it makes no sense” but “oh, easy for her to say, she is retired”, but  “I can’t, just, do, nothing”, but “it sounds lazy,” but “must. have. smart. goals….” and on. True or not, I hear that voice. Sound familiar?

Monday’s will pass like the plague. Can’t fix it. Hunker down and enjoy quiet mysteries of these unique times passing, as they will everlastingly.

Today’s Motto: “If you don’t know what to do, do nothing.” Ricky Ricardo. 

Have a Magnificently Mellow Monday , or not.