Load of Bollix

Mary Patterson was a high school history teacher for the last seven years. Today is her last day of school for reals and here is what she had to say about it. Dear scholars, Next year, in US history (also known as propaganda), you’ll learn about one of my historical crushes, George Washington, the reluctant leader to whom we largely owe our country’s existence. You will learn that when he left office, he published a “farewell address” as his parting words of wisdom to the new country.    Since I am leaving you at the end of this year, I too shall give you some words of “wisdom”, although unlike George Washington’s wisdom, mine is not ghost-written by Alexander Hamilton.   Or is it? Look up ghost-writer if you don’t know what that means. Advice 1: Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring. This gem comes from Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, aka Nas. Surround yourself with good people. This is important. If you hang with turkeys, then chances are ...

Today, someone peed on the book bag of one of my favorite students. When he came to my room and told me, I almost burst into tears. This young man is so artistic and clever. He’s always drawing. Always. He’s incredibly talented. He left his bag in the bathroom when he changed for an English presentation (into an Oscar Wilde costume, no less). The saddest part is that all of his sketchbooks were in his bag. After months of hard work, the last few weeks of public school are pure anarchy. Truly. You can pee on someone’s stuff and there are no consequences for you. It is like ripping a giant Band-Aid off the world’s hairiest man in slow motion (or woman. Gender is fluid). It’s excruciating and drawn-out. It’s what happens when you train young people to take a crappy test, then stay in school for another month and a half. No one tries anymore and literally anything goes. If you are like me, than this makes you angry and sad. I resigned my position as a teacher largely because I f...