March 30, 2006
AIDS WALK May 2006
A whole bunch of the Beacon crew are signed up for the AIDS walk in NYC on Sunday May 21. We are walking for the UBUNTU organisation, the wonderful people we met in Port Elizabeth.
Please sponsor us, donate money, or join us on the walk.
Our team page is HERE
My own page is HERE
I am usually crap at signing up for this kind of thing but having seen the incredible work that Ubuntu does out there, and knowing that this cause is and should remain something we should be concerned about, then it seems unforgivable not to get up and do it. For more about the Ubuntu organisation go HERE
March 24, 2006
Amsterdam: Ian McKewn
The best thing our English department has decided to do of late is to create our own reading group. So, having all read Ian McKewn’s Amsterdam over the last month or so, we sat down this week (way beyond the gates of Beacon) and talked. And it was great, on so many levels. It reminded me of the power of creating a shared experience, whatever that may be, and how books, in particular, do just that.
It’s not as though we all liked the book or agreed with each others’ take, but that wasn’t the point, and nor should it ever be in the classroom. I think for any teacher it’s always good to remember to hone the very skills we ask our students to develop too. And the fact that I work with some of the most interesting, thoughtful and smart people I’ve ever come across, it’s an exciting group to be part of.
March 15, 2006
Today...
...today was a day of strange and weird news. One of my colleagues had a death in his family just this afternoon, then Mary tells me a few minutes later that one of our tour guides in Cape Town was killed in a car accident this week.
I cannot stop thinking about this man. He drove one of our 3 tour vans all around Cape Town. I remember him in so many places, explaining this or that part of the city, trying to help us 'get it.' As we stood opposite Table Mountain, he took this photo of our group. As we were about to get back into our vans, two cars collided right in front of us. For a few seconds, I remember so clearly, there was a weird silence. So strange to think we shared this experience with him, and that he took this photo of us just a few seconds beforehand.
I can't help but think that this adds to the lessons we learned over there. He was a nice guy--sweet, kind, enthusiastic. I now find myself sitting reading back through my South Africa journal...
The Handmaid's Tale
So I'm sitting here reading homework and preparing tomorrow's class for my seniors. We've been reading Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale for a couple of weeks now. I've taught this book at Beacon for 3 years now and I honestly think it's one of the most important books we ask our kids to read.
Right now I'm going through homework responses and thoughts based on rape and violations against men and women by both men and women. And what was Atwood getting at with all this anyway? We had a difficult but incredible discussion in class today. It was an hour where I totally knew why I remain proud to be part of this profession. Time after time these kids are blown away by this book.
A few months back someone questioned and belittled my choice to keeping using this book in the classroom. I say to them, come watch me teach. Come listen to these discussions. Come see what young people are thinking about. Come read their work. Then and only then, come tell me that this, and my job, is not important.
March 01, 2006
Jet Lag...
...is horrible. I am beyond tired.
Senior Trip upstate is this weekend. I cannot believe I am off again. However, this is my advisee year group and some of my favorite colleagues. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
I am still reflecting on the experiences in South Africa and figuring out where I stand on all this. We've been bombared with so many questions over the past few days and I can see that the kids don't know quite how to describe the trip. And it is hard to describe what we saw.
Without a doubt, for me, traveling always allows for a new start, new goals, new ideas. Because of this trip, I am excited about what is ahead now. Green cards, film festivals, summer travels, new relationships, more reading, more learning...it's incredibly exciting to think of who and what is in store. Always, always good to move on...life would be very boring if we didn't do just that.