A Start is a Start is a...

Somehow it feels like this is the moment to say something particularly pithy. But, of course, noone is likely to read it; which reduces the pressure significantly. In any event, this is a start.

To what, it would appear, is fairly irrelevant. The world is now filled with a bjillion blogs. I was moved to start my own as a consequence of reading the blog of a conservative demigog in my own area. I participate in a community forum the purpose of which is to discuss issues of import for the suburb in which I teach (Roseville, MN). In any event, in the midst of a reasonable dialogue about an upcoming education referendum this gentlemen plunges in with a variety of broad accusations and pronouncements, within which was a link to his blog. So I read it. And I was struck by the complete lack of coherent discourse. I realize that I shouldn't be surprised, but I had never really grocked the idea that people were blogging so that they could simply vent their unregulated and incoherent spleen. Hmmm...naivete par excellence! :)

After reading his blog and thinking about his posting on the community forum I realized that the last thing I wanted to do was to really engage him in a dialogue about something I cared about; as it was clear that his opinion would never be swayed by coherent thought or careful argument. He, like much of the country, is likely to stay the course regardless of the consequences.

However, I did start to think more about the nature of the blog and how it might function. And 44 years of edging up to being a writer has a way of poking its head over the parapet to see if the coast has cleared...of what, I'm not sure. Anywho, 50 million bloggers can't be wrong.

Teacher, golfer, theatre artist, parent, husband, American. Seems like there ought to be enough in there to write a few words each day. This is day one. We'll see if there's a day two.

Enough prologue. Let's talk education. In the last 24 hours I've managed to annoy two separate sets of parents. Let's talk free speech and censorship.

Item One: I have a poster in my room. It's nestled among several posters that I'm fond of. See if you can guess my political bent from these.

• Poster One: The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality. --Dante
• Poster Two: The more you can increase fear of drugs and crime, welfare mothers, immigrants and aliens, the more you control all the people. -- Chomsky
  
• Poster Three: A chart measuring the pace at which the Rich get Richer, and the poor don't.
• Poster Four: Join the Army. travel to exotic, distant lands, meet exciting, unusual people, and kill them.

The item of offense was the fourth one. My principal came down and let me know that a parent had called. Just a heads up visit, no suggestion that I change anything...which is remarkable when you think about it. My thought, though, is what's the problem? If you think the Army is a good place to be, that's fine...but why pretend that the purpose of the army is anything other than to violently alter the behavior of others? Killing people is the science of the armed forces. One might argue quite convincingly that it's a necessary and honorable vocation. The purpose of the poster is less to critique the purpose of the army than it is to critique it's marketing techniques. The whole focus of the US armed forces on the opportunities that are created for the individual by joining the armed forces is absurd at best. It is without question the purpose of the army to eliminate the influence of the individual in preference for the expediency of the collective good.

Not that any of that is what matters. The parent seemed disturbed that I might be expressing an idea that would make their student feel bad because they disagreed with me. Good God! If they feel bad simply because I'm critical of an organization that they plan on joining, they're going to have a hard time in the armed services. The whole idea that teachers should function as if they don't have opinions on important topics is absurd. They should be respectful, thoughtful and attentive in providing opportunities for students to express their views; but that is no reason to suddenly eliminate all of their personal views from their expression.

Part of it is the culture that is created within the classroom. Students need to feel welcome. It is true that these posters probably don't make a conservative student feel welcome. I like to think, however, that the posters exist within the context of the personal rapport that I have with my students. Though, apparantly, not with this particular student. Of course, it's the first week of class and I teach freshmen...so maybe they'll feel differently in a few weeks.

Item 2: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night. Ever read it? Do so. Wonderful novel by Mark Haddon that tells a story from the perspective of an autistic adolescent. Here's a summary from Jackie Gropman done from Publisher's Weekly:

“When a teen discovers his neighbor's dog savagely stabbed to death, he decides to use the deductive reasoning of his favorite detective to solve the crime. Employing Holmesian logic is not an easy task for even the cleverest amateur sleuth and, in Christopher's case, it is particularly daunting. He suffers from a disability that causes, among other things, compulsive behavior; the inability to read others' emotions; and intolerance for noise, human touch, and unexpected events. He has learned to cope amazingly well with the help of a brilliant teacher who encourages him to write a book. This is his book-a murder mystery that is so much more. Christopher's voice is clear and logical, his descriptions spare and to the point. Not a word is wasted by this young sleuth who considers metaphors to be lies and does math problems for relaxation. What emerges is not only the solution to the mystery, but also insight into his world. Unable to feel emotions himself, his story evokes emotions in readers-heartache and frustration for his well-meaning but clueless parents and deep empathy for the wonderfully honest, funny, and lovable protagonist. Readers will never view the behavior of an autistic person again without more compassion and understanding. The appendix of math problems will intrigue math lovers, and even those who don't like the subject will be infected by Christopher's enthusiasm for prime numbers and his logical, mathematical method of decision making.”

So, we're teaching this book...and it's a wonderful text. I mean phenomenal. And we're excited about teaching it...but there is one problem. There are sixteen instances of the word (not sure how much I'm aloud to say here...wait while I look for rules...hmmm, can't find anything) f### and one instance of c##t and one of bitch (that seems mild enough). Anyway, what are you going to do? Students enjoy reading it, it's a great book to teach, it provides a unique point of view and an opportunity to increase awareness of disabilities. We'll see how it goes.

Okay, that seems like enough to start. Especially since it's just for me. :)