The daily meanderings of a teacher

Month: September 2011

  • What does it take for the light bulb to go on?

    Bird Droppings September 30, 2011 What’s it take for that light bulb to go on? It has been nearly four years since my doctorial cohort ended and we began the journey on our own. Most of us will have had a few classes or two together here and there and are into and are beginning…

  • Can that aspect of who we are that we call soul be defined

    September 29, 2011 Can that aspect of who we are we call soul be defined “Soul is different from spirit, the deep soul is the way we live everyday, our longings and our fears.” Thomas Moore It has been over twenty years since I first read this book written by Thomas Moore. I picked up…

  • One of the founding fathers who stood till the end

    Bird Droppings September 28, 2011 One of the founding fathers who stood till the end “Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.” Alexander Hamilton As I looked through news this morning many of the situations…

  • Hunting for the right words

    Bird Droppings September 26, 2011 Hunting for the right words “The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands.” Robert M. Pirsig, American author Whether it is trying to offer a few words of condolence to friends whose loved one has passed away or trying to sort out…

  • Right may be wrong

    Bird Droppings September 24, 2011 Right may be wrong “One of the most common errors is to suppose that the opposite of being wrong is right, when in many cases it is only another way of being wrong. We see this most obviously in political and governmental doctrines, where one extreme proves as futile as…

  • Learning to Understand and or

    Bird Droppings September 23, 2011 Learning to Understand and or Trying to come to grips with terminal consequences Most recently the state of Georgia’s attention was drawn to a state prison in a small rural community just off the interstate. The Jackson State Prison is home to at least one inmate that I know a…

  • Seemed like the right thing to write

    Bird Droppings September 22, 2011 Seemed like the right thing to write Every day as I send out my emails and post my various blogs entitled Bird Droppings I feel as if it was the right thing for that day. As the day progresses I actually print out extra copies and students and teachers often…

  • Hearing and Listening

    Bird Droppings September 21, 2011 Hearing and Listening “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Epictetus A simple analogy yet we far too often do not understand that statement and perhaps it is because we have more jaw muscle than ear muscle. In education…

  • Trying to clear my head

    Bird Droppings September 20, 2011 Trying to clear my head “The hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.” Carl G. Jung I have been a fan of Carl Jung for some time. Many teachers know some children will learn so much faster when the hands are engaged as well…

  • Ralph Waldo always has a few choice words

    Bird Droppings September 19, 2011 Ralph Waldo always has a few choice words “The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him…