In honor of the passing of a great human, Paul Newman, I share with you one of his most proud achievements, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. He will be missed beyond measure, but his legacy is secure in his work to better the lives of children with life-threatening illness.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
update-correction
I would like to give credit to Tim Wise for the white privilege article I recently posted to the blog.
Monday, September 22, 2008
yes, we can.
This video came to me from a 6th grade student who plans to use it as his selection for his final project on Organization through the medium of music. I can't wait to see what he has to say about it, but I'm pretty impressed by his choice of politician.
who is a singer?
I found this post on monochord mind today and it really re-affirmed for me the importance of making sure my students know how important it is to sing. I always tell my kids that God doesn't care how you sing, as long as you are trying, your music is joyful to Him. I do also tell them that it important to keep practicing as some of us come by singing on pitch right away and some take a few years. The portion about children matching pitch was particularly resonant with me. I often see children match pitch for the first time after having heard them struggle for years. It is an absolute delight.
I also pray deeply that I'm never ever the music teacher that caused someone to be afraid of singing or come to the belief that they can't sing. This is of utmost importance to me.
Make a joyful noise today; turn up the radio and sing along. You'll add joy to your heart and time to your life.
I also pray deeply that I'm never ever the music teacher that caused someone to be afraid of singing or come to the belief that they can't sing. This is of utmost importance to me.
Make a joyful noise today; turn up the radio and sing along. You'll add joy to your heart and time to your life.
three words
I found this lovely short video while visiting the Independent School Educators Ning this morning. It is a good reminder of simplifying what is important in an era of loud and constant. Maybe one set will inspire you or you'll find your own three words.
God is Love.
God is Love.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Bartlet meets Obama
Thanks to Maureen Dowd, I have now had my tv fantasies fulfilled. Check out her lovely Op-Ed and be thankful to the god of tv writing, Aaron Sorkin.
Plus Martin Sheen was on Prairie Home Companion this week, so I've been Bartlet blissed out this week. Enjoy!
Plus Martin Sheen was on Prairie Home Companion this week, so I've been Bartlet blissed out this week. Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
thoughts on the election and white privilege
This summer at KSI we spent a lot of time talking about diversity including a very long and good session on white privilege. I think I've been aware of wp but don't often take the time to see through the reverse lens. I thank my colleague from KSI who posted this on his Facebook page. It really opened my eyes to the inequities being demonstrated and accepted by our society in this election cycle. I'm more convicted now that before that Barack Obama is the right man for the job.
**Please note this does contain some profanity. It's origination is from SNCC listserv to which I assume my colleague subscribes**
For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good churchgoing Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a light" burden.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, its just too vague and ill defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, , which is very concrete and certain. White privilege is, in short, the problem.
**Please note this does contain some profanity. It's origination is from SNCC listserv to which I assume my colleague subscribes**
For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn’t added until the 1950s--while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a "second look."
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just a good churchgoing Christian, but if you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a light" burden.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya know, its just too vague and ill defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, , which is very concrete and certain. White privilege is, in short, the problem.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
bright moments
Joel Osteen reminds me today that, "You must quit looking at what you don't have and start believing that all things are possible."
So here are moments that remind me of that...
1. A droopy dandelion from a third grader.
2. An articulate and thoughtful apology letter from a student who had a moment of disciplinary amnesia yesterday.
3. This conversation with a third grader:
Student: Hey Dude
Me: Excuse me? (eyebrows raised)
Student: Oh, sorry...hey Dudette...
(how can you not laugh?)
4. Two boys creating their own patterns on the xylophone diligently then asking for more work
5. a first grader matching pitch consistently for the first time and answering questions unprompted.
6. minimizing all of my windows and seeing the bright blue eyes of the most beautiful five year old in the world as she was ready for her first day of kindergarten.
Some days it is hard to believe that anything is possible. But God gives these bright moments to remind me that I'm not in charge, cannot solve the problems of the world or at home, and that He is good, all the time.
So here are moments that remind me of that...
1. A droopy dandelion from a third grader.
2. An articulate and thoughtful apology letter from a student who had a moment of disciplinary amnesia yesterday.
3. This conversation with a third grader:
Student: Hey Dude
Me: Excuse me? (eyebrows raised)
Student: Oh, sorry...hey Dudette...
(how can you not laugh?)
4. Two boys creating their own patterns on the xylophone diligently then asking for more work
5. a first grader matching pitch consistently for the first time and answering questions unprompted.
6. minimizing all of my windows and seeing the bright blue eyes of the most beautiful five year old in the world as she was ready for her first day of kindergarten.
Some days it is hard to believe that anything is possible. But God gives these bright moments to remind me that I'm not in charge, cannot solve the problems of the world or at home, and that He is good, all the time.
Monday, September 15, 2008
another set of interesting perspectives
Sunday, September 14, 2008
you knew I'd post it...
The happiest thing in my entire week. (Other than Yo-Yo Ma, but that's for another post)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
This is why Matt Damon is the best ever.
All right readers, you know I have an insufferable love for all things Matt Damon, except not in a creepy-stalker like way. But I now have another reason to love him even more; a shared bewilderment of Veep candidate S.P.
this can't be good for digestion.
I have no one to blame but myself for the schedule I have taken on this year at school. I have added a sixth grade class twice a week, an advisory once a week, and likely a chorus once a week in addition to my normal 22xweek K-5 classes and my new role as dept. chair...
But it wasn't until last week when I realized that if I don't eat lunch at 10am on Thursdays that I won't eat until a short break at 1:30 or after school at 3:30. So I have resigned myself to scarfing down my food in 15 minutes at 10am and then praying for a good snack at 3:30. (On many nights this is also an issue since I'm either working or in class through the dinner hours...) This cannot be good for my digestive system....
So much for fueling the body properly for sport right now. I'm sure I'll figure it all out after a routine has been established.?! For now, I feel a bit like a chipmunk storing for winter. Or, given my robust size as a person, perhaps I'm more like a Mama Grizzly Bear?! Eat when you can and make sure it is nutritious for you don't know when the next meal will come.
Happy Eating, dear Reader.
But it wasn't until last week when I realized that if I don't eat lunch at 10am on Thursdays that I won't eat until a short break at 1:30 or after school at 3:30. So I have resigned myself to scarfing down my food in 15 minutes at 10am and then praying for a good snack at 3:30. (On many nights this is also an issue since I'm either working or in class through the dinner hours...) This cannot be good for my digestive system....
So much for fueling the body properly for sport right now. I'm sure I'll figure it all out after a routine has been established.?! For now, I feel a bit like a chipmunk storing for winter. Or, given my robust size as a person, perhaps I'm more like a Mama Grizzly Bear?! Eat when you can and make sure it is nutritious for you don't know when the next meal will come.
Happy Eating, dear Reader.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wisconsin is SO much more than cheese.
Just got home from Wisconsin where I had a wonderful weekend driving all around WI for all kinds of events. Wisconsin was beautiful, the people kind, and Madison perhaps the coolest college town I've ever seen. I successfully had cheese (and/or dairy) at every meal! I am exhausted, but want to share two major highlights.
Running 13.1 miles in some random country town North of Osh Kosh wearing a GB Packers Cheese Head affixed to my head with packing tape...along with the best RP ever. We ran fast AND had cheeseheads.
Watching the winners come in while working the Finish Line of Ironman Wisconsin. Chris McDonald was 12+ minutes ahead of the second man while completing his second IM race in 8 days. We were so close that we could smell him. (He was surprisingly fresh) We got to stand next to Paula Newby-Fraser as we waiting for the women's winner Hillary Biscay. She was so nice and so happy (and again, surprisingly fresh). Then we watched the next 200 people come in as we recorded each number one at a time as they crossed. To watch the finish line volunteer machine while standing hearing over and over again "You're an Ironman" was humbling and extremely emotional. I'm a thoroughly honored to have shared in that finish experience for a short time.
And am now come the next 12 months to prepare to hear those words in my own life and to be caught by Bill's amazing volunteers. (Bill will be running, but he's still the catcher captain to me). I'm scared, excited, nervous, and unsure---but I know that through all of it, I will learn, grow, and be stronger. I can't wait to hear those words.
Peace.
Running 13.1 miles in some random country town North of Osh Kosh wearing a GB Packers Cheese Head affixed to my head with packing tape...along with the best RP ever. We ran fast AND had cheeseheads.
Watching the winners come in while working the Finish Line of Ironman Wisconsin. Chris McDonald was 12+ minutes ahead of the second man while completing his second IM race in 8 days. We were so close that we could smell him. (He was surprisingly fresh) We got to stand next to Paula Newby-Fraser as we waiting for the women's winner Hillary Biscay. She was so nice and so happy (and again, surprisingly fresh). Then we watched the next 200 people come in as we recorded each number one at a time as they crossed. To watch the finish line volunteer machine while standing hearing over and over again "You're an Ironman" was humbling and extremely emotional. I'm a thoroughly honored to have shared in that finish experience for a short time.
And am now come the next 12 months to prepare to hear those words in my own life and to be caught by Bill's amazing volunteers. (Bill will be running, but he's still the catcher captain to me). I'm scared, excited, nervous, and unsure---but I know that through all of it, I will learn, grow, and be stronger. I can't wait to hear those words.
Peace.
Friday, September 5, 2008
John Stewart says it the Best
My favorite part of this video is that in the "tag" section on youtube one of the tags was "Puma". Puma is the new Cougar.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
not even sure what to say-but I'll try.
When I think about the selection of Governor Sarah Palin as VP nominee to Senator John McCain, my blood boils. I am not sure why. I don't know if it is that she is a virtual unknown, was chosen because she is young, female, and pro-life or if it is because SJM has totally attempted to pander to the Hillary-independents by this choice. News Flash Senator, Hillary-fans are not stupid. The ones who are still hanging on (despite her pleas for them to support Senator Obama) are not interested in a beauty queen who doesn't believe in a women's right to choose. Certainly not one who espouses family values yet has a knocked up teen daughter and plans to serve the second highest governmental office (well, in Dick Cheney world at least) while leaving four other children, including her infant with downs syndrome, at home. (Presumably the pregnant teen daughter will marry the father and stay thousands of miles from DC in AK?) And yes, I was raised by a working mother (the best ever mind you) but never once has our family espoused uber-evangelical double standards for women.
I am pretty sick of the pundits going on and on about the executive experience of Governor Palin versus the experience of Senator Obama. Let's be clear, I'm a bit more concerned about foreign policy, our national economy, and personal responsibility in office which I don't think a state office holder (particularly with the population AK) has a grasp of better than a long-term Senator such as Senator Biden (and Senator McCain for that matter).
I tried, very hard, to watch the RNC last night. I was sickened by the sight of lots and lots of old, middle-aged, upper middle class white people. That is all that you saw in the entire audience. Seriously? Where is the reflection of America in Republican delegation? There was more diversity on the new generation of 90210 than at the convention, as watched on MSNBC. It was such a throw back to GOP good ole boys that I found myself feeling completely unable to open my mind to listen to the speakers; all of whom were spending a lot of time clapping and introducing people rather than speaking. I did, out of respect for VP Gore, refuse to watch the Traitor Lieberman. For he, I believe, is the most horrid person ever to have been a member of the Democratic party in my lifetime--the Benedict Arnold of the donkey set.
I have no idea how to process this information and realize that this particular post has just been a venting rant. I need someone to set me down and help me to look beyond the pundit party and really examine the issues. Because right now I'm just darn mad and that doesn't help me stump for Obama/Biden.
So if you've actually made it to the bottom of this post, find out for yourself.
Barack Obama, 2008
If you want to read a good one.... Andrew Sullivan
And whatever you do, please vote in November. If you don't, you don't get to write stupid rants like me. :-)
Peace.
I am pretty sick of the pundits going on and on about the executive experience of Governor Palin versus the experience of Senator Obama. Let's be clear, I'm a bit more concerned about foreign policy, our national economy, and personal responsibility in office which I don't think a state office holder (particularly with the population AK) has a grasp of better than a long-term Senator such as Senator Biden (and Senator McCain for that matter).
I tried, very hard, to watch the RNC last night. I was sickened by the sight of lots and lots of old, middle-aged, upper middle class white people. That is all that you saw in the entire audience. Seriously? Where is the reflection of America in Republican delegation? There was more diversity on the new generation of 90210 than at the convention, as watched on MSNBC. It was such a throw back to GOP good ole boys that I found myself feeling completely unable to open my mind to listen to the speakers; all of whom were spending a lot of time clapping and introducing people rather than speaking. I did, out of respect for VP Gore, refuse to watch the Traitor Lieberman. For he, I believe, is the most horrid person ever to have been a member of the Democratic party in my lifetime--the Benedict Arnold of the donkey set.
I have no idea how to process this information and realize that this particular post has just been a venting rant. I need someone to set me down and help me to look beyond the pundit party and really examine the issues. Because right now I'm just darn mad and that doesn't help me stump for Obama/Biden.
So if you've actually made it to the bottom of this post, find out for yourself.
Barack Obama, 2008
If you want to read a good one.... Andrew Sullivan
And whatever you do, please vote in November. If you don't, you don't get to write stupid rants like me. :-)
Peace.
Monday, September 1, 2008
anticipation
In honor of the first day at school which is tomorrow, I give you Carly Simon. My anticipation stress is higher this year than ever before. Lots of changes in life and changes at school; I have two new classes, a new leader, and of course, the ever-present life stuff. Very excited, very nervous. And I can't wait to see my kids.
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