When I was around 10 years old my language arts teacher asked us to draw a letter from a hat. Our task was to study and present a vocabulary word that started with the letter we picked. I picked X. My classmates simultaneously groaned in empathy and sighed with relief. I pored … [Read more...] about Xenophobia is more than a vocabulary word.
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Victim Blaming – When an Officer is Not a Gentleman
I imagine the same people who blame the 16-year-old student in South Carolina for her behavior before Officer Fields brutally yanked her from her desk also believe women are raped because of what they wear. Those folks love to blame the victim, even better when said victim is a … [Read more...] about Victim Blaming – When an Officer is Not a Gentleman
My Sons Wrote to Their Senators About Gun Control
Every so often my sons and I write to our elected officials. We voice our concerns over all sorts of things - standardized testing, military benefits, global vaccines, healthcare. Bird and Deal are 12 and 10 respectively and are keenly astute when it comes to social and political … [Read more...] about My Sons Wrote to Their Senators About Gun Control
NC Political Climate as Gloomy as the Weather
I'm sure you've heard by now that the North Carolina general assembly was in session until almost 4:30 in the morning. The legislative session should have ended at the end of June, but the delayed budget extended everything. By "delayed budget," I mean lawmakers could not agree … [Read more...] about NC Political Climate as Gloomy as the Weather
All I Want for My Birthday…
Today is my birthday. For everyone who knows me, you know how much I love my birthday. I admittedly love the attention, the phone calls, text messages, the cards. The glory of snail mail! And Facebook on my birthday blows up in a fashion that leaves me beaming for days. In … [Read more...] about All I Want for My Birthday…
All My Son Wants for His 10th Birthday is to Support Education for Girls
We've just returned from an extended trip to India. I hadn't been back in 20 years, and this marked my husband and sons' first trip there. It was a momentous experience, one that I have yet to capture in a manner that is comprehensive or cohesive. I'm working on it. It's quite a … [Read more...] about All My Son Wants for His 10th Birthday is to Support Education for Girls
What Matters to Kids Today Part II
As the short-sighted GOP legislators in North Carolina continue to dismantle public education and undervalue teachers, I carry on my fight to advocate for public schools. I spend a lot of time in schools and with kids. Volunteering in my son's classroom is the highlight of my … [Read more...] about What Matters to Kids Today Part II