Years ago, when Sacramento native Dusty Baker was manager of the San Francisco Giants he used to dress up his 3-year-old son Darren in a miniature Giants uniform and let him hang out with the team in the dug-out during the games. The announcers would fall all over themselves blabbing about how cute the kid … Continue reading Let’s Do Away With Schools
Tag: Education
Poverty and Our Public Schools
I chose to make my career in public education and I have become a fierce defender of it as a democratic institution. I worked as a special educator with children who have severe disabilities for over thirty years. Federal law guarantees all children a free, appropriate, public education in the least restrictive environment. FAPE … Continue reading Poverty and Our Public Schools
Crown in Heaven
When I was teaching special education classes I often took my students out to grocery stores, fast food restaurants or shopping malls to teach them how to behave in community settings. We’d practice making purchases, placing orders, asking for directions. Quite often we’d be approached by friendly strangers, who would praise the kids for their … Continue reading Crown in Heaven
My Teaching Life
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MAY 25, 2013 I’ve been posting pieces about my writing these past few weeks, and let me be honest here: that’s been easy. Writing is most often a solitary pursuit. If I’m not enjoying myself as I’m writing, I’ve got nobody to blame but myself. When I look back at my teaching career, … Continue reading My Teaching Life
Unexpected Blessings
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 15, 2013 In my novel, Welcome Stranger, an encounter with a stranger changes a woman’s life. Thinking back on my life as a writer, I was remembering that a somewhat unexpected turn set me on this path. Junior year of high school, the administration actually allowed us to choose themed English classes, … Continue reading Unexpected Blessings
