Thoughts on Service and Honor

My Grandfather during WW2

We do our best to teach our future leaders that they should value everyone equally, but that equality takes on an entirely different dimension when you realize that the value of the person who is saving you from heat exhaustion has nothing to do with their level of education or tax bracket. Our next generation of leaders could benefit greatly from that kind of education. Continue reading

Let Students Use Their Laptops

Dear Colleagues, Friends, and Fellow Teachers: Please do not take arguments like this one too seriously.  They remind me of the classical Greek arguments against the dangers of literacy, that teaching people to read and write would impair their ability to memorize things. Forcing students to take notes in a… Continue reading

On the Banning of Books

I mock and vilify all sorts of attitudes and behaviors here. I dislike unregulated capitalism (and I’m not terribly fond of the regulated kind). I have a low tolerance for people who confuse superstitious ignorance for religious faith. I am intolerant of those who allow bigotry and intentional ignorance to… Continue reading

Bryan Fischer Does Not Speak for Christianity

  I haven’t written anything about yesterday’s horrendous events in Newtown, Connecticut because a number of writers with far more skill and wisdom than I continue to produce outstanding, thoughtful, compassionate commentary that I think will be invaluable in guiding our citizens as we grieve.  As a general rule, I… Continue reading

Collaboration Across the Divide

I am unashamedly a partisan in our current political debates.  I think we have two major political parties in this country: a conservative one and a far-right party controlled by anachronistic theocrats and billionaire robber barons.  I would love to have an actual, “liberal” party here, but I think it… Continue reading