Category Archives: class

Signs that you might be a successful parent, or at least a subversive one

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

While driving in the car to therapy, Monkey Man and Gorilla Girl asked me to play Bruce Springsteen on the CD player, specifically “Shackled and Drawn.” We also sang along to my favorite, “Death to My Hometown.” I guess Springsteen … Continue reading →

Posted in children, class, corporate greed, family, singing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Shake it off, and get right back on the bike

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

One of the new buzz words in education is “resilience,” and even though this notion of helping students build inner strength to deal with the obstacles, failures, and disappointments of life seems like a good idea, I wonder why it … Continue reading →

Posted in biking, children, class, coaching, education, experience, growth, teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Hairstyles of the damned by Joe Meno

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Joe Meno’s Hairstyles of the Damned has the best book cover, ever. And not just because the hairstyle is reminiscent of one I might have sported in college. I could try to describe it, but just go look for yourself … Continue reading →

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The bicycle thief

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

When I was in college, I dated a boy who was an artist. I still have two of his sketches hanging on my walls (EE calls it the wall of honor, or something).  When we hung new art by a … Continue reading →

Posted in biking, class, education, experience, painting | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Union Maid

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Today was the first day back at work/school after the winter break, and really, it was a good day with my students, despite their sleepy and jet-lagged energy levels.  They jumped in and were eager to get the ball rolling … Continue reading →

Posted in class, community, education, inspiration, language, union | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Class matters

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

School has started and with all the excitement of the new school year also comes some anxiety — from kids about homework, getting good grades, preparing for high school (and some of them for college).  Parents, too, have anxieties about … Continue reading →

Posted in affluence, class, community, connection, education, identity, lessons, race, teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just stay in Peru!

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

It must be that time of year. We are nearing spring break, and our school just completed its annual Diversity Day program — a huge success, but one that took an extraordinary amount of energy from teachers to coordinate, plan … Continue reading →

Posted in class, education, lessons, teaching | Tagged | 5 Comments

Not so pretty in pink

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Peggy Orenstein’s Schoolgirls, when it was released in 1994, like other feminist works of the 1990s, questioned, probed, revealed, and prompted changes and shifts in education, the work place and social interactions.  Her book, like Myra and David Sadker’s Failing … Continue reading →

Posted in class, consumerism, education, expectations, fairy tales, fraud, gender, identity, language, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Farewell, Rosie

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This iconic poster has adorned the wall of my classroom for the last fifteen or so years, as long as I have been teaching in MS 176. Geraldine Doyle, the woman who was the source of inspiration for this poster, … Continue reading →

Posted in class, consumerism, education, gender, inspiration | 2 Comments