Three Friends - cc photo by J. Delp The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. Dr. Paul Farmer To the best of my knowledge, the photo above was taken in the Spring of 2014 in a rural Haitian community located in the mountains south … Continue reading Do You Know What’s Going On In Haiti?
Category: Social Good
The Most Valuable Lessons
Saint Maria With regard to education, perhaps the most critical error I hear people make -- school administrators, teachers, students, parents, the general public, and politicians (especially politicians) -- is the acceptance of a definition of learning that is far too narrow. In many cases, learning is somehow limited to an association with "school" (which … Continue reading The Most Valuable Lessons
The Storms are Getting Tired
Rain on the Horizon: Pacific Beach, CA - cc photo by J. Delp It is a beautiful January day in Arizona. 74 degrees. The type of day where you can sit on the patio and almost forget the turbulence of the world around us. Almost. My mood today, and this week, has been optimistic. In … Continue reading The Storms are Getting Tired
A Difficult Season
Kerry Croswhite Aquatic Center at the 2020 CHS Swim Banquet I'm not sure this is going to be a "real" blog post, but I want to share a few thoughts. Today is my first "official" day of break and I am exhausted. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think I am going to have to ease … Continue reading A Difficult Season
Saints and Demons: Teaching in the Age of COVID
Photo by CDC on Pexels.com Years ago, I was a science teacher. One weekend I was with my wife at one of our local shopping malls, walking between stores in the main concourse. I'm not a big fan of malls, big box stores, or other places with lots of people so I was carefully scanning … Continue reading Saints and Demons: Teaching in the Age of COVID
Community is the Answer
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. - Coretta Scott King Yesterday morning, I did a quick check of my school email and noticed a message from the owner of a local pizza place, Fire and Brimstone. "Hi Jeff, today we’re going to be donating all … Continue reading Community is the Answer
The Long Road to What Matters Most
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. - Goethe While I often refer to this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as one of my favorites, it is also personally convicting. For me, the struggle doesn't necessarily lie in doing things that matter, but in determining … Continue reading The Long Road to What Matters Most
We Belong to Each Other
It would be a gross understatement to say that the last month has been a challenging time in our country and our world. We can be grateful if the only impact the virus has had on us is a disruption to our daily routines. So many people have suffered through illness, job loss, and the … Continue reading We Belong to Each Other
The Seating Chart that Shouldn’t Be
Years ago I ran across this political cartoon by David Fitzsimmons, published in the Arizona Daily Star. At the time, I remember thinking "This guy gets it." The "it" being public education. I wrote him a quick note and asked for permission to use his work in a blog post. He gave me his blessing … Continue reading The Seating Chart that Shouldn’t Be
Reading. Riting. Rithmetic.
I am exhausted. I've spent the last week and a half trying to "catch-up" and put myself in a position where I feel like I am able to return to school after fall break and avoid feeling overwhelmed. I'm not caught up, but I'm not buried either. So how did I get myself into this … Continue reading Reading. Riting. Rithmetic.
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