Apologia: a formal written defense of one’s opinions or conduct. Therefore: I apologize.
I’m apologizing in advance of being called a hypocrite. On my Home page I explain what I’m trying to get at with my blog pieces. In a nutshell, I said:
“There is often a disconnect between what we hear at teacher trainings and what we experience in the classroom. Exploring all aspects of that disconnect (and maybe some of life’s other disconnects), based on my 25 years of teaching experience, is what this website and blog are all about.
Now. Here is where I might be accused of being hypocritical:
“Many people are writing about politics, pedagogy and school reform so I will only add to it if I can add a different perspective. My goal is to put a human face on those broad issues to show how much the human factor governs the outcomes of educational policies.”
And I believe I have done that. I will continue to do that. But now, since I see so many people misinterpreting such fine words as: those I learned in typing class:
(a variant on) Charles E. Weller:
“Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”
and those I learned at Bennett Elementary:
Thomas Paine:
“THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
I’ve changed.
I’m sorry but I have to write about politics.
I used to only include politics in my writing if it was a very controversial topic and I could relate it directly to school or teaching. I now know that everything is so interconnected that I can’t separate education and politics at the present time.
What’s changed is, I’ll be writing about the current events and the election a lot more than I have in the past (as usual, based on my personal experience) and… I’ll probably offend just about everybody at one time or another. My experiences are so different from both other liberals and conservatives that I feel it is imperative that I write about them.
For Example:
I used to not talk about the races of my students unless it was absolutely germane to the story. I have to write about how @BlackLivesMatters is shooting themselves in the foot. The Democratic party has been inundating me with exhortations to donate so… I have to let the Democratic Party know why I am voting the straight democratic ticket in November; yet I’m not giving any money to the Democratic Party.
The only thing I ask of you is that you READ what I have written and if you disagree, don’t call me names. I’ve taught Junior High. Getting called names is old stuff for me and I don’t get rattled by names – it’s just that we haven’t the time for that Jr. Hi stuff. If you don’t like what I have to say tell me from your own personal experience or quote chapter and verse of competent authority.
and here we go…