Teacher Ken Muses About Trump

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1. Bob Shepherd says:

   October 13, 2019 at 11:24 pm

   This is a wonderful read. Insightful. Knowledgeable. Delightful. And I was greatly amused by the reference to one of the most interesting, most colorful people in our history, Smedley Butler. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing it, Diane!

   And I entirely concur in his comparison of Elizabeth Warren to FDR. The anti-Trumps. People who actually give a darn about ordinary people.

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   • Bob Shepherd says:

     October 13, 2019 at 11:33 pm

     And thank you, TeacherKen! You are a better man than I am, sticking it out in the classroom at the age of 73! In a better world, I would have, too. Love the kids. Hate the piles and piles and piles of administrative busywork related to illusory accountability–the data walls and data chats and data reports test proctoring and endless, incessant evaluation rigamarole. If I could just go in and teach, I would still be doing it. I would gladly sit in your classes, Ken.

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     • teacherken says:

       October 14, 2019 at 1:35 pm

       actually, Bob, I need to update my picture from WordPress. That was the picture taken by the Washington Post to go with the announcement of my Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher award in 2010. I actually look younger now. In 2013 my wife was diagnosed with a blood cancer, had a stem cell transplant which meant she lost her hair, and it grew back gray. She decided to color it back to its natural red. So I shaved my beard, cut my hair short, and the same woman who colors her hair colors mine. Maybe I will update that picture when I get a chance.

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     • Bob Shepherd says:

       October 14, 2019 at 1:45 pm

       Well, you look great, Ken. And, wonderful article. Thank you!

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     • Bob Shepherd says:

       October 14, 2019 at 1:45 pm

       And congrats on the award!!!!

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     • Bob Shepherd says:

       October 14, 2019 at 1:47 pm

       Here’s hoping your wife is doing well. Warm regards to you and yours!

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2. John Ogozalek says:

   October 14, 2019 at 6:28 am

   I agree with Bob. Good stuff you have there.

   I teach government, too. And, I was just talking about the 25th amendment this past week. (When was the last time it was such a big topic? Never? Isn’t THAT a sign of the times.) You raise some interesting questions.

   BTW that schedule at your school sounds complicated, at least to me.

   Years ago we ran a semester block schedule then went back to a more traditional 42 minute, 9 period a day format. (The Common Core along with New York State’s consideration of eliminating January Regents testing caused us to bail out of the block. Of course, standardized testing drives a lot of these decisions -sadly.)

   Now, we’re thinking about changing up our master schedule. In fact, the subcommittee I’m part of is looking at going back to semester block. This past week we gave our faculty members and staff who used block (back circa 2011) a survey. You know, pros and cons and some questions about how changes over the past 8 years might’ve influenced those effects. I deliberately used a paper survey and hand delivered it, too. There’s such an avalanche of digital content these days…I hardly get out of my classroom anymore. I’m “in” the computer so much when I’m not with the kids. It was nice to see more people face-to-face and hear what they thought. Of course, I was up late last night tabulating the survey, including typing out the comments. It was tiring but I’m glad I did it.

   I’m curious about your complicated schedule. It seems like we live in an evermore complex world. Does that rotating schedule you use just fit right into that complexity…I mean, does it help the kids because that’s the place where they live now? Or, do you find that it’s just adding more confusion to their already hectic days? (And, your time, too?)

   The idea of going back to an 84 minute class block is a bit daunting to me now. I know the good parts of it because I worked with that schedule for 10 years. But that was before the days when so many people started carrying around the internet, the world, in our pockets. I find that everyone (including my own) attention span seems to have narrowed. I’ve been in a room with some students in recent years who can barely stay in one place -physically and/or mentally- for 42 minutes anymore. 42 minutes….even 20 minutes.

   Well, that’s a long way from the 25th amendment, Ken, ha, ha. Though, come to think of it, maybe not so far off the mark. Our Tweeter-in-Chief seems to have a VERY short attention span. And all us are paying the price because of his digital whims. (Most notably and tragically our Kurdish allies this weekend.)

   Take care and thanks.

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   • teacherken says:

     October 14, 2019 at 1:31 pm

     I am new to the school, and this particular schedule is new this year. There are some complaints by faculty, as it gives both some students and many faculty less free time. I teach 6 sections and have a study hall to monitor so I only have 1 of those rotating 8 slots totally free, although during the study hall I can grade papers. Some days I am occupied all 6 time slots, 5 classes and a study hall. I can be teaching 3 different lessons even though I only have two preps. And to complicate, I am restricted in the days I can give full period exams to the 5th and 6th out of 8 days in the cycle. I have learned to adjust – unfortunately that requires me to have at least 2 different versions of each test. Oh well, they are adolescents.

     But I feel as if in general I have some good kids. Some already have athletic scholarships after their junior years (including perhaps the best running back in the DC Metro area) or are being highly recruited (our seven foot two inch SGA president who is also a nice kid and a very good student). I do have a few MAGA types but we have managed to address that. It helps that although not a Catholic teaching in a nationally known Catholic HS, I have a masters from a Catholic Seminary and actually know more about Catholicism than the vast majority of the 53% of our students who are at least nominally Catholic.

     It is the most enjoyable teaching experience I have had at least since I tried retiring (unsuccessfully) in June 2012, and given the flexibility I have (including NO outside high stakes tests), perhaps the most enjoyable experience ever.

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     • John Ogozalek says:

       October 14, 2019 at 6:32 pm

       Sounds like you’re a busy guy, Ken. Thanks for the comments. It’s always a ‘shot in the arm’ to hear from a good teacher.

       Take care.

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3. retired teacher says:

   October 14, 2019 at 9:08 am

   While many people sense that Trump is working to help the interests of Russia or Turkey, in order for it to be included in impeachment proceedings, we need to be able to connect the dots and find proof. The proof may be in the tax returns, and it may be so well hidden that it will take a forensic accountant a long time to unravel it.

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   • teacherken says:

     October 14, 2019 at 1:22 pm

     actually all we might need is the transcript of the phone call, which I assume is on the code word server. And yes, unless they have broken with all precedents, there s/be a word for word transcript of that, just as there should be with the Ukrainian phone call of which they released a summarized transcript representing at best 50% of the conversation, and maybe as little as 30%.

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4. Bob Shepherd says:

   October 14, 2019 at 2:07 pm

   https://www.theonion.com/jubilant-isis-prisoners-hail-american-liberators-1839033474?utm_source=TheOnion_Daily_RSS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=&utm_term=

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