Thirty-five years ago, the news director at WJLA-TV in Washington, DC told me I was headed to Virginia with one of our most-seasoned reporters, Jim Clarke, to cover Hurricane Gloria. He was an amazing reporter and a great teacher. He died in 2009. Here's a brief blurb from the Washington Post. Jim Clarke, an Emmy … Continue reading What a Hurricane Taught Me about Listening and Leadership
Tag: education
What Struck a Nerve Today?
As a television news editor for many years, I became adept at looking for interesting ideas for news stories to cover. My blogs often begin from those same kinds of interesting kernels. Current events become a spark. This morning, it was a Tweet on Twitter. Seton Hall professor Christopher Tienken posted a link to a … Continue reading What Struck a Nerve Today?
Ya Say You Want a Revolution?
Dear Dr. DeMott, If you could Zoom down from heaven right now, you'd be amazed by what has happened since we were last together almost 45 years ago. Oh. Zoom, you ask? It's like a precursor to the USS Starship Enterprise transporter room. People can gather from all over for a meeting. Education supervisors can … Continue reading Ya Say You Want a Revolution?
How Might We Encourage Black Students to Study Science?
On February 12, 1900, five hundred school children in Jacksonville, Florida performed what would become known as the Black National Anthem, one of my favorite songs to sing in church. Lift every voice and singTill earth and heaven ring,Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;Lift Every Voice and Sing, James Weldon Johnson Ever since the murder … Continue reading How Might We Encourage Black Students to Study Science?
Can We Only Aim For Equity?
To call Principal Jay Billy a friend, or even a colleague, would be presumptuous. We have only met twice. We connect mostly via Twitter. What I can write is this: I respect Jay Billy immensely. Through his writing and the pictures he posts, he clearly loves children. And at the end of the day, that’s … Continue reading Can We Only Aim For Equity?
How Did NJ Reopen Schools in 1918?
I love history; but, I love it presented in the context of life during a time period. Don't merely give me dates, troops movements, politics. What else was going on? What was happening in Art? Literature? Science? What were kids doing? In essence I want inclusive snapshots of time. Thus, I started this essay with … Continue reading How Did NJ Reopen Schools in 1918?
Did Gov. Cuomo Ask the Right Question?
At his Tuesday news conference, NY State Governor Andrew Cuomo seemed to channel his former, late father-in-law Robert F. Kennedy. One of Robert Kennedy’s beloved quotes reads: And Governor Cuomo asked a “why not” question when he posited this idea about the future of post-pandemic education. "The old model of everybody goes and sits in … Continue reading Did Gov. Cuomo Ask the Right Question?
Academic Grades: Who’s the Audience?
The etymology of words fascinates me. Knowing where words come from allows us to see word evolution over time; or, etymology can provide a richer understanding and definition of a word we take for granted. Such is the case with the word audience. For many people, the word audience means a group of people to … Continue reading Academic Grades: Who’s the Audience?
What is Umwelt?
Beth Topinka, a NJ-based science teacher, posted a link today to a site called Umwelt. The video was lovely; it was the word umwelt which conjured memories for me. Once understood, the word umwelt etched an impact to the point that I have used the concept to help students understand why and how current events … Continue reading What is Umwelt?
Why Is Remote Learning a Challenge?
Twenty-five days ago, where I live, remote learning began as a two-week prospect. Planning for ten days of instruction essentially involved packets of work to keep kids treading academic water until schools reopened. We're beyond that now; and the evolution of remote learning has been inspiring and frustrating for everyone. As someone aptly wrote, most … Continue reading Why Is Remote Learning a Challenge?
Begin With A Question 