I took a full time teaching job. Yesterday in a meeting we were discussing how to address homework for the upcoming Jewish high holidays. I have challenged many assumptions that I grew up with in the realm of education. But sometimes, I just reach back and assume the way things were handled for me was fine. I blurted out, "the school I grew up in was 1/3 Jewish and honors classes were empty on high holidays but those kids were expected to turn their homework in on time." I went to an extremely academic high school and the competition for grades was fierce. There was a lot of diversity and my whole adulthood I've been grateful for that experience. It's very grounding in why you don't just assume things at Christmas or why you should consider other perspectives. I'm still feeling out the new school I work at. Last week, a teacher complained that a student expected homework excused/extended because it had been the student's birthday. She was clearly a...
I ski, teach, parent, write, read, swim, adventure. I get lost in my own mind, chewing on words and images. Sometimes something good comes out.