The Rules

Like any good classroom, there are rules around here.

Rule #1: No Hugging, No Learning

If you are looking for inspirational stories – look elsewhere. If you are looking for stories of children overcoming tremendous adversity – look elsewhere. If you are looking for stories of teacher discovering how much her students can teach her – look elsewhere. Because this is reality, not a Lifetime movie. A reality no one wants you to see, where hugging can end careers and lessons are generally ignored.

Rule #2: Again, Half as Long

A title, a 3-4 sentence introduction, one medium-long paragraph, and that's it. Short, simple, tightly written. If you want verbosity, I highly recommend Russian literature. But I will develop my themes over consecutive days, weeks, months or years. Ever read Doonesbury? Trudeau thought of one joke for the week and told it five different ways. I might do that. Or not. Unlike Dan Carlin, I might actually repeat myself. And I reserve the right in perpetuity to change my mind with or without warning and with or without cause.

Rule #3: Based on Real-Life Events

The last guy who wrote an education blog based on reality, Mr. Teachbad, was outed and then fired. I love Mr. Teachbad and still read his blog, but do not want to follow in his footsteps. So my first concern is to protect my real identity. While all the events are true and all the characters are real, certain aspects time and location will be either omitted or obfuscated. Some of stories will belong to my teaching friends and colleagues, and I only bore witness to them. Here is one incontrovertible fact: I am a music teacher.

Rule #4: Do Try to Keep Up

First and foremost, I'm writing this to amuse myself. Also to record certain events, characters, and ideas before they fade from memory completely. References to art, history, culture, politics, science, mythology, and goodness knows what else will litter this blog. I'm not going to stop and explain them; you are free to look things up. Denigrating intellectualism has become an American game, one I refuse to play.