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Today in My History

2000: A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine and Thou
2001:
Sensitivity Training
2002: 
Confession is Good for the Soul
2003: 
Easy Come, Easy Go
2004: 
Violated
2005: 
The Settling of Eddie
2006: 
To Work or Not to Work
2007: 
Gimme a Hug
2008:  Cutting the Budget
2009:  Return to Memes
2010: Voice Mail Hell
2011:  A Very Clean Sunday Stealing
2012: Packing
2013: Guest Post
2014: Book Meme - Part 2
2015:
Today at Logos
2016: Sunday Stealing
2017: The Eighties
2018  Hour Baur
2019: Lacie Day #2


Theater Reviews
Updated 3/10
Camelot

Books Read in 2020
 Updated 3/30
"An Echo in the Bone"


Personal Home Page

My family

Books Read in 2020
Books Read in 2019
Books Read in 2018

Books Read in 2017
Books Read in 2016
Books Read in 2015
Books Read in 2014
Books Read in 2013

Books Read in 2012
Books Read in 2011
Books Read in 2010


Cast (updated 7/16)

Email
(you know how to fix it)


Some Background Links:
The Philosophy of Juice & Crackers
The story of Delicate Pooh
The story of the Piñata Group
Pumpkin pies
Who IS this Gilbert person anyway?
Sold!


mail to Walt / mail to Bev  

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

10 July 2020

A couple of things to think about...

According to NPR: "Foreign students attending U.S. colleges that will operate entirely online this fall semester cannot remain in the country to do so, according to new regulations released Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

As college students across the United States and around the world contemplate what their upcoming semester might look like, the federal guidance limits options for international students and leaves them with an uncomfortable choice: attend in-person classes during a pandemic or take them online from another country.

Jeri posted a link to the article with this note:

Dear international students: I love you. It is an honor and a privilege to teach you, and I want to keep doing it in a way that is safe for all of us. And I'm so, so sorry that the people in charge of this country have no regard for your safety or mine. I'm so sorry that they see no value in your contributions to our society. I don't know what I can do about it, and it is tearing me apart.

In the comments, she added :  Also: any student who chooses to stay here during all this is spending money in this community, supporting local businesses who are already suffering, so this will be a blow to them as well.

On another topic, Gabi Clayton posted this note from Christine Esposito, a teacher in Charlottesville City Public Schools

"I've accepted that I spend hundreds of dollars of my own money every year to buy things my students need because adequately funding schools seems to be beyond us. I've accepted that there might come a time I have to lock my students in the closet in my classroom - and let me tell you how blessed i feel that I have a clooset big enough to fit all of my kids - because reasonable gun control seems to be beyond us.

"Now you’re asking us to accept going back into classrooms in the middle of a pandemic. Classrooms that are located in buildings that have been neglected for decades (please see: adequate funding), that in some cases have no windows that open, where our support people - occupational therapists, speech therapists are working in closets (please see: adequate funding), and buildings that have sketchy HVAC on a good day.

"I don’t see ANY consideration for the adults in school buildings in all the articles calling for schools to open. AAP is telling schools to open, but not giving any guidance on how to do so safely for students AND staff alike. That must be nice. You have to open and good luck on figuring out how to make that work. We’re used to flying by the seat of our pants and making it work. This is a piss-poor solution most of the time and it is a completely untenable one in the middle of a pandemic, one that has been managed in the worst possible way at the federal level.

"I’m worried that people are going to start calling for “normal” school. Nothing about this is normal. Even if kids are in school full time, nothing about this is going to be normal. We’re going to be facing kids who are dealing with layer upon layer of trauma, we need to make time and space for that, so stop telling me kids are behind. They’re not any further behind than anyone else. They’re behind some arbitrary lines we drew in the sand so long ago we’re not sure we remember why we drew them. We need to meet our kids where they are. I don't want to hear one word about testing, unless it involves a nasal or throat swab. Not. One. Word.

"The worst part about this is the completely cavalier attitude I see from far too many about doing what needs to be done if you have even half a prayer of opening schools this fall. Wear a mask. Stay home. No, you don’t need to eat in that restaurant. No, you don’t need to go visit your parents or friends 5 states away. No, you don’t need to go hang out with your friends because you’ll really stay 6 feet away - let me assure you that the pictures you’ve posted show me that is almost never true. Yes. You need to wear a mask. Yes. You need to stay home unless it’s really important. If you can’t do any of those things, but want me to go back to school in August with a smile on my face, you’re asking me to make far bigger sacrifices than the ones you’ve been willing to make so far."
 

PHOTO OF THE DAY


 

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