Trying Times – Sunshine Patriot

“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 it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” ~Thomas Paine~ This is America’s carnival moment. Its freak time. And the moment to … Continue reading Trying Times – Sunshine Patriot

You. Did. Not. Matter. But … Now. You. Do.

For the last decade or so ... the message was extra-clear: You. Did. Not. Matter. It was the demand of the Liberal-Left that you … the middle class … apologize for any comfort you had brought to your own lives … because that effort did not include your lazy-ass neighbors. Liberals still insist they're right ... … Continue reading You. Did. Not. Matter. But … Now. You. Do.

Social Justice Junk

It's everywhere. No longer a one-off sort of story. Lots wonder ... What the hell has happened to their schools? And their children’s innocence? And their education? There’s rot leeching into your schools … helped along by social justice junkies who politicize classrooms … and dangle and yank your kids around. Bending their minds ... … Continue reading Social Justice Junk

We’re Doing This All Wrong.

We’re doing this all wrong. Some day .... somehow … education will discover a proper obsession.   Until then … children will suffer these testing-despots … and too many adults will make believe it’s all okay. And it’s not. But let’s be certain about this … there are some things in life that just can't … Continue reading We’re Doing This All Wrong.

The United States of Rome

  The United States of Rome. That sounds more like it. We were once a republic. The power was in our hands … and we elected folks to represent us. That doesn’t happen any more. Now we’re by-standers. Bit players. The audience. We think we’re in charge, but we’re not. It’s all about the few. … Continue reading The United States of Rome

A Grave New World

The entire universe of education has been turned inside out over the last decade. Long-revered pedagogical precepts have been blue-penciled by classroom-allergic theorists now leveraged by profiteers who see public schools as the next sustainable profit-producing mother lode. And the political class … put into office by all of us … has mocked our vote … Continue reading A Grave New World

Mind Time

“Time, time, time ... see what's become of me …” I’m an old father now. Suddenly, it seems. My sons have sons. I own lots of memories. I polish the sweet ones and never dust the ones that hurt. I mind time now. I didn’t use to. In fact, like lots of you, I was reckless … Continue reading Mind Time

Lost Beans

On September 2nd, Diane Ravitch lost her beans. And she's never found them again. She skidded off into a rabid rant about Trump supporters and some "grizzled old man" in "a beaten-up, dirty truck" who "must have gone to public schools" because he didn't "look like a graduate of Andover or Exeter." I'll let you … Continue reading Lost Beans

Vulgar Washington

 Washington is thoroughly vulgar. Repugnant. Outright vile.   A fraternity of toxic personalities … where few are healthy, most are toxic, and maturity so rare that it goes unrecognized. It has been absent serious leadership for nearly a decade. No standard-bearer for principles that matter to a great many. Just the incessant hum of imperial … Continue reading Vulgar Washington

About Those Statues

  The Civil War took place when this nation was in the bumpiness of maturing. It was as much an economic conflict as it was any other. Slavery was most certainly one of the compelling issues ... but it was not the lone issue. There is, in this nation, a certain acknowledgement that different regions … Continue reading About Those Statues