Welcome to Open Library (Open Library)

Just used and browsed the "Open Library", a project of the Internet Archive (www.archive.org). This has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable resource for me as a U.S. History teacher seeking to provide relevant and meaningful primary and secondary sources to encourage and promote historical thinking in my classroom.

My favorite part of Epcot:

movie.mov Watch on Posterous

Carmen's Gymnastics Class Comes To A Close

Posting this entirely from my iPhone, I wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to see Carmen's gymnastics recital and "Olympics". It was a great year.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=gHqiBa96Ymc

Response to Jonathan Alter "Education Reform Works"

So I finally read this Bloomberg Op-Ed article by Jonathan Alter bashing Diane Ravitch for her methods in challenging the Ed Reform movements stemming from No Child Left Behind and Race To The Top. Alter quotes Arne Duncan as saying “Diane Ravitch is in denial and she is insulting all of the hardworking teachers, principals and students all across the country who are proving her wrong every day." 

Funny... I don't feel insulted. Should I? Or is Duncan insulting me by telling me I am too ignorant to know when I am. Below is what I wanted to post, but I don't feel like dignifying that article with extra efforts in signing up for a Disqus account. Besides, I'm too busy being ineffective.

Yes, Mr. Alter. How could I, a teacher working 40+ hours in school and at least 20 more out of school to provide the absolute best instruction and environment for my students for decreasing appreciation, listen to and respect Diane Ravitch? The real question is, how could I have been so mistaken? You are my new voice, Mr. Alter, I thank you for speaking on my behalf and defending myself and my students tirelessly and being conscious of our needs on a level fundamental to academic success. Your connection to public schools must be close for you to have developed such a solid and intimate understanding of what is best for our schools and education on a national level.

Where's everyone's sarcasm meter on this one...? Let me know if it needs to be tuned or adjusted, because it should have been reading pretty high.

Response to Jonathan Alter "Education Reform Works"

So I finally read this Bloomberg Op-Ed article by Jonathan Alter bashing Diane Ravitch for her methods in challenging the Ed Reform movements stemming from No Child Left Behind and Race To The Top. Alter quotes Arne Duncan as saying “Diane Ravitch is in denial and she is insulting all of the hardworking teachers, principals and students all across the country who are proving her wrong every day." 

Funny... I don't feel insulted. Should I? Or is Duncan insulting me by telling me I am too ignorant to know when I am. Below is what I wanted to post, but I don't feel like dignifying that article with extra efforts in signing up for a Disqus account. Besides, I'm too busy being ineffective.

Yes, Mr. Alter. How could I, a teacher working 40+ hours in school and at least 20 more out of school to provide the absolute best instruction and environment for my students for decreasing appreciation, listen to and respect Diane Ravitch? The real question is, how could I have been so mistaken? You are my new voice, Mr. Alter, I thank you for speaking on my behalf and defending myself and my students tirelessly and being conscious of our needs on a level fundamental to academic success. Your connection to public schools must be close for you to have developed such a solid and intimate understanding of what is best for our schools and education on a national level.

Where's everyone's sarcasm meter on this one...? Let me know if it needs to be tuned or adjusted, because it should have been reading pretty high.