I’ve lived in my condo in Playa del Rey for 20 years. One day, as I stood on my porch, ready to begin my uphill/ downhill walk, I looked far in the distance and saw two turquoise towers poking out among the shades of white and grey and beige houses. At that moment It struck … More Color
“Stay at home learning” is the new topic for TV ads, displaying how home, work, and kids are perfect partners. As a former stay at home mom, partial homeschooler, and then teacher and principal, I’m here to say that the fantasy is true for some, but not for others. Some will discover creativity and excitement … More What if I can’t teach my kids?
I sit in my home most of the day, although I do a walk, some in-home exercise, and housework, which my Noom data counts as exercise, too. I am considered a highly susceptible person, given my age, so I adhere to isolation directions carefully. I have a sweet little townhouse with a view outside, good … More Doing the Impossible in a Covid World
” I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things.” –Pete Seeger Pete Seeger. A name from the distant past, still as relevant today as he was protesting in the 1950’s. As I pull today’s t-shirt out of the drawer, I am comforted by his words. I see Pete Seeger … More Today’s T-shirt Inspiration
The most important thing a teacher or other adult can teach is the ability to healthfully interacting in relationship with others. Yet, as adults we often find ourselves frustrated with the behavior of young children. Deb Curtis, one of my most influential educators, describes a common response to why young children act the way they … More Supporting young children’s behavior
Here she is again! My friend, and incredibly inspiring person, Karen. You have seen her before, working in Haiti as she supports a struggling school and residence for children. Her current project is a musical called “19,” which celebrates the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. If you are in DC, look for it. … More The Power of a T-shirt…
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”–Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. My former sister-in-law was born in Mexico and educated in her home country. She once told me that when she moved to … More The Right to Bear Arms?
Sometimes you just get lucky. I met this man when I was in high school. I didn’t know it at the time, but he was to be a life-long partner and lover. At first we clashed, and over the years we have worked through all kinds of our own personal challenges as part of the … More I married my best friend…happy 48th!
“Once we accept that a living creature has feelings and suffers pain, then by knowingly and deliberately inflicting suffering on that creature, we are guilty, whether it be human or animal.”–Dr. Jane Goodall As educators we know that the true name of the animal in the title of this essay is “sea star,” and most … More It matters to the starfish…
(Photo from National Archives) I will never forget the gaze of those human beings with such emaciated bodies. As a little girl, I saw newsreels of concentration camp victims. These were people whom I knew were connected to me in some way, although no one I knew personally was part of that horrific tragedy. Perhaps … More It’s not about politics, and it matters.
