Undiscovered I: The streets are blocked Just like my mind Uncomfortable and hot I search for a cool drink And all I hear are the echoes of your voice At the card table Searching for the Marfa lights In your bedroom Nature swoons to remember you The wind across the desert The butterflies and birds…
Category: Social Justice
for the innocent
the full moon eclipsed by a cloudy night finds its way to my core where moments are treasured like lucky pennies to be given away in dreams where the wind blows impressions of a softness on a difficult day to remind me that Spring returns where meditations trace my beginnings to a river, diverged that…
For the Love of Shoes
I have said that I love shoes, as recently as this week. I always joke with my students that I like their shoes and ask if we can trade. They always say no, until I asked Derek. He said yes, and he was serious. I kicked off my shoes and he his. They were a…
Lead With Love, Always
At an early age, I was taught to consider other points-of-view and was always encouraged to share ideas or questions. I owe my love, compassion, and empathy to my mother’s life and my father’s death. Through my father’s death I was forced to learn of the cruel, hard pain that stabs without warning, the kind…
A TEACHER’S LESSON ON POINT-OF-VIEW
The great state of Texas is rolling out a new teacher appraisal system. Several fellow teachers and I packed into a school cafeteria for training on the new protocols. Professional development is always boring. There are plenty of eye rubs and yawns to sprinkle the room like party confetti. This year I promised myself that…
BLACK & WHITE NUMBERS
(If you click on the graph then it will enlarge and is easier to read) When I saw these numbers my heart sank, tears welled in my eyes, and I felt sick. I wanted to go home and barricade myself from their significance. I wished I hadn’t looked because they only confirmed what I already…
THE REBIRTH OF GRIEF
In June of 1992, my life changed forever. My previous date of a life altering event was when my father passed away in February of 1980. At the age of 15, between my sophomore and junior year of high school, I attended a summer camp called Anytown, USA. Anytown, USA was sponsored by the National…
THE INNOVATION DILEMMA
Webster defines “innovation” as a new idea, device, or method. I am back for my thirteenth year in education and my third as a Special Education teacher in an elementary setting. Our administration has asked us to spear head an “innovation challenge” where we are to look towards new ways of improving student learning….
THE 12 STEPS: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EDUCATORS
I found this recently. It is something I created while in graduate school. I think it is amazing that there are recurring themes of social justice that interest and excite me. The 12 Steps: Recommendations for Educators 1. We admitted that our cultural background is not always “right” or “normal.” 2. We became aware that…
BAND-AIDS TO PRISON: AN AWAKENING
As a teacher I have long recognized that fair is not equal. In a terrible twist of hypocrisy, I formerly explained to my students the following example. Teacher: “If Jose cuts his finger and I give him a band-aid, and you want one too but have no visible need for one, then would it be…
CHICKEN POOP OR CHICKEN SALAD?
“Boys, I may not know much, but I know chicken poop from chicken salad.” -LBJ I saw this image on the back of a large distribution truck for Miller beer. I was stopped behind it on my way to work, and I felt slightly disgusted. The image says many things to me. On an advertising…
arlisann 