Ethioskate

 Our class watched this wonderful, and heartwarming video of amazing people who are trying to make the world a better place. In this particular case, some folks are giving away skateboards and building ramps for the kids of Ethiopia. Watch this, and let's go make the world a better place.  (click HERE!)

What Can we do? Get Inspired!

Support Public Teachers, Please.

Moral Monday

I am a teacher, and as I have written many times on this blog - I believe it is my vocation and calling in life to do it.  I love teaching high school history, and I believe in the power, role, and importance of a well educated citizenry in our republic.  I am a product, and an active participant in the public schools of North Carolina.

So, as the North Carolina legislature has made changes to teacher pay this session (ending step pay increases, continuing the pay freeze, basing future supplements on student test scores, and the elimination of career status contracts) I see the anxiety that it creates among my fellow educators.  I did not become a teacher because I believed that I would make a lot of money.  But I did believe that the teaching profession would continue to get respect from the community that we serve.

This is why (well, one of the reasons) my wife and I took the kids to Asheville's Moral Monday Protest this week.  It gave our family a chance to discuss why we think it is worth leaving the house to stand up for these issues.  I hope it makes a difference.  If not, we will do it again.

Learning From TOMS.

Teaching history at a high school for the past twelve years, I have encountered a diverse array of fashion choices - most of which I choose to steer clear.   But starting last year, I noticed that many students were wearing a new brand of noticeably simple shoes called TOMS.  My students taught me about the "one for one" program, in which TOMS guarantees that for each person who purchases a pair of TOMS - they will donate a pair to someone in need.  It was such a simple and amazing idea that  I was quite inspired. I bought a pair for myself. 

It is yet another example of how "teaching" most often means that we are just learning.  I love teaching here at NBHS, because it has a great community of folks who care about things bigger than themselves.  This job never seems like a job when the students remain some of my best teachers. 

TOMS Shoes, and Students who care: 
Inspiration? 
Check.

The Mayans Were Wrong. The Twinkies Were Good.

We are wrapping up a fantastic semester.  2012 ended quite nicely, and without a Mayan apocalypse (not too surprised, as the Mayans also failed to predict their own drought, migrations, and demise:). Here in World History AP, we celebrated our "last day on earth" by eating the one thing that will not be destroyed...Twinkies. 

 

But in the meantime, these kids have worked hard to perfect their essay writing, and are answering the bell.  They are also growing in their ability to analyze the "why?" of history. 

Overall, we have had a great semester together, learning from one another, and learning lots of history. I am looking forward to another semester with these amazing kids.