If I Get Shot at School

If I get shot at school, don’t call the shooter evil, don’t ask, “Why?” don’t say it was a “senseless tragedy.” If I get shot at school, don’t ask “How could this happen?” don’t say there was “no good reason.” If I get shot at school, don’t call me a hero. If I get shot …

A New Day (poem for #oklaed)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFuzic841mU&feature=youtu.be Do you want to know what it’s like to be a teacher? It's like any other desk job really, minus the actual sitting at a desk. Seven hours of daily meetings arranged the previous evening You want to know what it’s like to be a teacher in Oklahoma? It’s the hardest job with (almost) …

Kids These Days

Kids these days with their screens and their Snaps. Kids these days with their hoodies and their tight pants. Kids these days with their short attention span and their potty mouths. Kids these days with their constant questioning of authority. Kids these days with their hostile rejection of polite society. Back in the day, when …

Public Schools Are the Shit!

Public schools are the shit! Ask any fourth grader. “What do you think of your school, Timmy?” “My school’s the shit!” “Does your teacher let you talk that way, Timmy?” “Of course not! I just really want you to know how important my school is to me.” And there are over three million fourth graders …

Donald Trump is President, and I am a Public School Teacher

(In my classroom, I rarely speak his name, so forgive me for repeating it here.) Donald Trump is president, and I am a public school teacher. Let that sink in for a moment… Now, allow me to explain. Donald Trump is president, and I teach my students that ridiculing people with disabilities is a sign …

Those Who Can’t

Those who can’t, Teach. For example, Those who can’t sit alone at a desk all day, Whose energy demands movement and interaction, Teach. Those who can’t abide platitudes like, “kids these days,” Who take the time to know every young person, Teach. Those who can’t be satisfied with a job or even a career, Whose …

How Was Your Summer?

    Dear teacher, On the first day of school, When you ask me how my summer was, You’re assuming that it was good. You’re assuming it was something remarkable, Something incredible, Something shareable, Something fun. And maybe it was. Maybe I went to Six Flags. And maybe I flew in an airplane. And maybe …