These are my students on our field trip to Cedar Point for Physics Day in 2011. They are all weird in their own way. I picked the year at random, because it doesn’t matter.
Bill Gates makes a good point about students being over diagnosed, labeled and medicated.
A few weeks ago, I started watching the Popcorn In Bed Youtube channel. It’s a reaction channel featuring two cute blondes watching movies. The movies are chosen by member surveys and are generally very good. The channel is an easy way to watch a familiar movie in a half-hour rather than a couple of hours.
The two women are charming, and started the channel with virtually no knowledge of movies. Initially, they weren’t familiar with actors such as Sigourney Weaver and Bruce Willis. They don’t know much about history or other topics that might be considered “common knowledge”. It’s usually cute, but occasionally astounding.
I’ve been scanning and organizing old photos.
This is from teaching summer school at Cleveland Heights. The photos look like one of those “White savior” teacher movies where the young White woman is teaching the urban kids that society has given up on. She sees something of value in each and every one, and somehow, ignites a love of learning.
Teaching a bunch of Black kids at an urban school wasn’t like that, but if they make a movie, I want to be played by Gwyneth Paltrow.
Oh boy, this is going to sound bad.
Rain Man is a movie that doesn’t often get mentioned, but it should because it’s relevant to what’s happening with children today. While watching it tonight, it struck how looking after an autistic person is like having a dog. Yeah, that doesn’t sound good at all, but hear me out.
Dogs succeed while chimps fail at following finger pointing
Ever since we watched Inside the Mind of a Dog, Sparky has been telling everyone that he’s smarter than a monkey because they said that dogs understand human pointing, and primates don’t.
There are times when I suspect that Sparky is stretching the truth. To start the new year off right, I challenged Sparky to demonstrate that he understands human pointing. It took some training, but he is getting the idea.
While working out, my brother and I were chatting about goals for 2025. These aren’t New Year’s resolutions that are vague and optimistic, but actionable tasks that are specific, measurable and recorded. It’s the difference between “start working out” and “go to the gym twice per week”.
I’ve been scanning and organizing old photos.
This is from Physics Day at Cedar Point in 2001. Johnny is the student in the center of the bottom row. He was a super kid because he was smart, athletic, had a sense of humor, was polite, mature, good-looking and helpful. Physics came easy to him, but he didn’t brag or show off. I’d call on him when other students were stumped.
College Fix: Race-based programs at Ohio law schools
Five public law schools in Ohio are ending their scholarships and programs based on race following a conservative think tank’s investigation.
The Buckeye Institute, based in Columbus, Ohio, launched the investigation this year into five law schools at Ohio State University, Cleveland State University, University of Akron, University of Cincinnati, and University of Toledo.
I just checked in on the Teachers Forum on Reddit to see how they are holding up after the election. You would need a heart of stone not to laugh at this post.
Reddit: first_time_in_my_teaching_career
This is allegedly from a AP Gov teacher. It is long and fraught, and describes the reaction of students to Trump being elected. Let’s focus on quotes from her students.
So, to give my students the voice they so rightfully deserve; here is a list of quotes from our discussion today.
“He won,and I am terrified. But even if she won, I would still be scared.”- A sophomore girl who had been kicked out after her parents found out she was gay.
“I feel like the people who want to be protectors, are showing women why they have to do everything for themselves.”-A freshman boy,who frequently quotes Andrew Tate.
“I’m sorry Ms… this country has failed you.”- A sophomore boy who I have to gaslight into coming to class.
“I watched my mom hold my baby sister cry Trump won the first time. This morning, she held us both tight crying before she went to work.”-A sophomore girl of a single mother.
“I’m scared.”-Many Students
“Law and Order my ass”-A freshman non-binary student who LOVES playing devils advocate.
“I can’t even make a joke about this. I am so tired Ms… I dont even feel like making jokes.”-A sophomore girl, who I constantly have to tell to stop talking in my class every day.
“Ms…You as a woman have taught me how to be a man. I am so sorry you have to continue teaching about this, basically raising the children of American. And you will never be recognized for it because of your gender.”-A senior boy I had during student teaching, who I fed every single day because his family couldn’t afford to eat.
“Ms…Can I please stay in here today? I just feel safer here.”-A freshman boy who had been bullied for being ‘gay’…he wasn’t gay.
It’s funny because none of this ever happened. It isn’t plausible. Each one is a liberal trope. Somehow, there isn’t a tear-jerker about a girl afraid that Trump is going to cancel her abortion appointment.
The person posting this removed her name after posting. That also indicates that it’s fake.
Most of the comments are of two types.
The first type are the people calling the post “fan fiction” or otherwise indicating it’s completely phony.
The other type, are from other Gov teachers saying that their students didn’t mention the election.
There are several other fantasy posts on Reddit that are similar to this.
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