The daily meanderings of a teacher

Tag: William Stafford

  • It is not hard being color blind in a world that only sees black and white

    Bird Droppings November 10, 2013 It is not hard being color blind in a world that only sees black and white It has been nearly forty five years, actually more since I found out I was color blind. I had been in college at West Chester State College for my freshmen year back in 1967.…

  • Spirituality is it an uncertain certainty?

    Bird Droppings November 8, 2013 Spirituality is it an uncertain certainty? “When you examine the lives of the most influential people who have ever walked among us, you discover one thread that winds through them all. They have been aligned first with their spiritual nature and only then with their physical selves.” Albert Einstein What…

  • Do we teach or are we taught

    Bird Droppings November 7, 2013 Do we teach or are we taught “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” Albert Einstein So many times when discussing students who are having difficult times an individual teacher’s perspective is all that matters. Recently I was about to thump another teacher in the head…

  • So many thoughts for one day

    Bird Droppings November 6, 2013 So many thoughts for one day I believe I was prepared from childhood to discuss this topic. It has been many years since my first introduction to Native Americans. I was three or four years old when I first remember my father’s stories of Little Strong Arm and Black Eagle.…

  • I wonder why about the art of flying?

    Bird Droppings November 5, 2013 I wonder why about the art of flying? Once upon a time, that line has started so many stories in my day that perhaps it would be a good way to start today. Many years ago as I drove my kids to school each morning I would spin yarns of…

  • Why is it hard to think about compassion?

    Bird Dropping November 4, 2013 Why is it hard to think about compassion? Almost a year ago I was quietly sitting in a hotel room in South Carolina it was still dark outside and it was odd not being at school on a Friday. I so seldom miss a day of school. My middle son…

  • What can be more sacred than life itself?

    Bird Droppings November 1, 2013 What can be more sacred than life itself? Perhaps having been born on All Saints Day in St. Joseph’s Hospital gives me a better insight into the sacred than most normal folk. Of course then I have to consider that soon after I was born the Church dropped All Saints…

  • In a world of data can we still use intuition?

    Bird Droppings October 31, 2013 In a world of data can we still use intuition? I mentioned to a fellow teacher I can tell when a child has emotional issues most of the time after observing a few minutes and listening. Granted observations are part of most evaluations but I was referring to an intuitive…

  • Just a morning observation and some observing

    Bird Droppings October 30, 2013 Just a morning observation and some observing “I do not write from mythology when I reflect upon Native American spirituality in this book. In my own opinion, mythology leads to superstition; and superstition has proved fatally destruction to many millions down through time. It is ironic, then that Dominant Society…

  • It is all in how you feed the wolves

    Bird Droppings October 29, 2013 It is all in how you feed the wolves I walked outside very early this morning to a sky filled with stars and wisps of clouds floating by. Crickets were almost silent chirping slowly in the cool weather. My morning started long before sunrise today and the sounds as I…