It’s been thirteen months now since Colin Kaepernick first raised eyebrows by kneeling during the National Anthem. Many people criticized his silent protest as the wrong way to address the issue. Last week, Donald Trump said that the NFL should fire any player who protests during the National Anthem. The NFL’s response was consistent: Players…
Month: September 2017
A Tale of Two Cities: How Kid Rock Symbolizes Detroit Gentrification
Last week saw the official opening of Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The new home of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons was celebrated with a set of six concerts by Kid Rock. The sports arena is highly symbolic of Detroit’s resurgence. For years, two of the four major sports teams had played…
If You Give a Man a Tackle Box…
There’s a famous adage: “If you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” The origin of this appears to be Anna Isabella Thackeray Ritchie’s novel “Mrs. Dymond,” in which characters are discussing the theft of some lilac branches. One character thinks…
Four Pieces of Advice for Students and Others
Tomorrow, like many teachers throughout the country, I start a new school year. When I was a student, I used to hate the stock aphorisms intended to inspire me. As a teacher, I’ve tried to develop advice that is worthwhile but is still genuine to student experience. Here’s a selection. You don’t have to like…