House Republicans Demonstrate the Dangers of Not Learning from Great Literature

January 5, 2023

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Sir Winston Churchill (paraphrasing a similiar earlier quote by George Santayana). I am biased, because I am a literature teacher, but I would make a similar statement about studying literature. Those who don’t learn the great lessons from great literature at least open … More House Republicans Demonstrate the Dangers of Not Learning from Great Literature

We Had a Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas…As Well as a Grinch, A Christmas Carol, and A Chrismas Story Christmas

December 31, 2022

Having just watched the movie Elvis, this song kept running through my head this Christmas because it was true–we definitely had a blue Christmas this year. Not blue in an unhappy way, but in a physical way..like the color your skin turns when you are cold. Our power went out shortly after lunch on Christmas … More We Had a Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas…As Well as a Grinch, A Christmas Carol, and A Chrismas Story Christmas

A Triumph For Hope

December 5, 2022

This post is a follow-up to my most recent previous post, my December 3 post entitled “This Thing Called Hope…or Are You A Sports Fan or a WordleBot?” If you haven’t read that post, please do so before reading this one in order to understand the foundations of what I will be discussing. Click HERE … More A Triumph For Hope

This Thing Called Hope…or Are You A Sports Fan or a WordleBot?

December 3, 2022

I woke up this morning to a suggested video on my phone, which was by one of the people that I find most interesting on this planet, John Green, but about a subject that I find one of the least interesting on the planet (to me), which is sports. But, as usual, John Green found … More This Thing Called Hope…or Are You A Sports Fan or a WordleBot?

An Educator’s Personal Perspective on the Big Divide

November 8, 2022

Recently I wrote a post about my concerns about the current election process and how I found inspiration to counter my fears and doubts with hope (click here to read that post). One of my long-time readers and faithful commenters left a great comment that made me think about things a little deeper, and so … More An Educator’s Personal Perspective on the Big Divide

Inspiration About Hope from Three Heroes and Three Neighbors I Don’t Know

November 4, 2022

There isn’t much about this current election, at least to me, that inspires hope. I’ve always been someone who considered Voting Day to be a celebration, knowing that voting is a gift and a privilege that is denied to so many people around the world. I vote in every election, even the primaries and the … More Inspiration About Hope from Three Heroes and Three Neighbors I Don’t Know

Fourth Day of Peace Thought: Let’s All Choose to Get on the Peace Train Every Day

September 24, 2022

This is a quote by former first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, that is displayed as part of the Franklin Roosevelt monument that is also along the tidal basin. “The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one nation. It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative … More Fourth Day of Peace Thought: Let’s All Choose to Get on the Peace Train Every Day