In the summer of 2017, I attended a National Endowment for the Humanities program in Beaufort, South Carolina called America’s Reconstruction: The Untold Story. I spent three weeks learning about one of my favorite subjects in the company of an amazing collection of teachers and professors, many of whom I’ve continued personal and professional relationships …
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Adventures in Genealogy, Part I
I had no interest in genealogy. None. My family’s history was mundane, as far as I knew, and I didn’t really feel any connection to my ancestors. I wasn’t close to any of my grandparents, none of whom were the stereotypical, doting folk — two lived in Florida, one in Israel, and one I never …
Week in Review
This week was a fairly conventional, middle-of-the-year week with the typical load of meetings beyond the school day, but it was complicated by some pretty significant back issues. Perhaps I’ll write a saga about my neck, shoulders, and back at some point down the line, but suffice it to say that I periodically have some …
On no, it’s something controversial!
I’ll start with something approaching a disclaimer: I have a school administration that has supported me the handful of times that someone has complained about the content in one of my classes. Hillsborough and Somerset County are majority Republican, but the state of New Jersey is bright blue, and perhaps that plays a role in …
Smoking in the Boys Room
Last week I wrote about how our bathroom policy has evolved and the role teachers play who get the duty of signing students in and out of the bathrooms. In the old days, the bathrooms were unlocked all day long and no one watched them. Students with (or without passes) could disappear into a bathroom …
Student Growth Objectives
Disclaimer: I recognize that some individuals reading the commentary below might see my some of my assertions as being negative about teachers or administrators. However, that isn’t my intention or the point of this blog. The system imposed by the state on public schools is shortsighted and, in my opinion, largely an effort to address …
The AP Gov Civic Duty Project
When I started teaching AP US Government and Politics, the central goal was not having students do well on the College Board’s May exam. While it was something important to my students, and a great opportunity for them to salt away college credits while still in high school, far more vital was helping students become …
My Theme Music Journey
The above video is one of the most fully realized pieces of art I’ve been a part of, and it was created in a week where I did nine other music videos. I don’t actually talk about this video in the blog, but it features some of my favorite performers and is a wonderful song …
The Conclusion of the Epic Nigerian Scammer Thread
The end of the saga of the Nigerian scammer has finally arrived (although I might have to post a follow-up at some point if they don’t get the hint). Part 1 is here, Part 2 here, Part 3 is here. I’ve been looking to get out of this thing for over a week now, but …
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Duty Duty
I never kept a journal, so my dates are somewhat questionable, but I think it was in the spring of 2007 when a series of bomb threats were scrawled on the walls in our bathrooms. Eight years after Columbine and with a series of other school shootings in recent history, the school had to take …
Fenster on Education 