I was not a cool kid. I conducted my high school and college life on the fringe of popularity. I did not know the right thing to say at the right time; I certainly was not funny or spontaneous; I was neither strikingly beautiful nor impressively fashionable, and I was far too scrupulous--or at the … Continue reading On Being a Cool Teacher
“In this discussion, all opinions are equal. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is--there are no wrong answers.” Haven’t we all heard this? Teachers use the above concept to preface all kinds of conversations and assignments. I can not actually say that I haven't: I would hope that I haven't, but sometimes in flustered, blushing … Continue reading Classroom Discussions: “There Are No Wrong Answers” Is the Wrong Answer
My Dear Students, There is another reason to go to school which I have intentionally saved for last because of its significance. The explanation is short because it is simple, but its simplicity does not make it any less profound. We know that we are here on earth to serve and glorify our Maker and … Continue reading Why School? Part 8: The Most Important Reason
My Dear Students, For this second-to-last blog post on the purpose of school, I will finally concede that school should be useful after all. If you have read my other posts on the purpose of school, you may be thinking, I knew it! Sooner or later she had to admit that school should be useful! … Continue reading Why School? Part 7: Coffee and Life Skills
My Dear Students, I have three more reasons for school that I would like to share with you. I will cover one each in these final three posts of the series. Learning for Its Own Sake Today, the reason that I will offer in favor of school sounds a little bit like a logical loop--almost … Continue reading Why School? Part 6: When Learning Seems Useless
My Dear Students, Why have I spent so much time talking about how school helps us become wise and virtuous people? Why does that matter so much and why does it make education significant? Our God loves wisdom and goodness and hates foolishness and evil. As His followers, we know that we should seek wisdom … Continue reading Why School? Part 5: Beautiful Not Boring
My Dear Students, I wrote last time that there are indeed some important and deep reasons for school--reasons that our society has largely forgotten, but that we desperately need to remember. I will do my best here to begin to present those reasons. I should also say here at the beginning that what I will … Continue reading Why School? Part 3: Wisdom and Virtue
