I remember the first time I saw it happen, years ago. I was handing out Halloween candy. In those days, there were still enough houses in the neighborhood giving out candy that it made it worthwhile for the kids to walk from door to door down the block. So it was unusual to see a…
Category: Good Men Project
Lucy’s Football ‘Joke’ and the Problem of Bullying
Perhaps the most enduring gag from the Peanuts cartoon strip involves Charlie Brown, Lucy van Pelt, and a football. Year after year, Lucy would offer to hold the ball while Charlie kicks it; year after year, Charlie would convince himself that this time would be different; year after year, Charlie would wind up on his…
Ten of the Reasons I Believe You
Women, why would you lie? That’s not to say you couldn’t be lying. Plenty of women lie. But experience has taught me to trust men less than I trust women. So if it’s down to he said/she said, I’ll believe you first. Plus, it wasn’t just one or two of you. It was nearly all…
Boys Will Be… Held Accountable for Their Actions
“You know how boys are.” My son, in third grade, is involved in two afterschool activities this year. One is gymnastics, where he’s in a boy’s class at the local YMCA. Even though it’s an Olympic sport, we struggle to find classes for our boy: Even in a place where the M stands for Men,…
The Manhood Behind the Curtain
In October 2017, a man opened fire on a concert, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds more. In 2016, at least 49 died when a man opened fire in a Florida night club. In 2013, a man opened fire in an elementary school, killing 27; most of the victims were elementary school children. In 2012, a dozen people…
Why I Don’t Spank My Child (and What I Do Instead)
Research from the American Psychological Association, the Journal of Family Psychology, and others generally concludes that spanking your child has long term negative effects. Research similarly shows that spanking is rarely effective at promoting the desired behaviors. There is some dissent, but the strong majority scientific opinion is that spanking a child is psychologically counterproductive….
You’re Not Color Blind, You’re Snow Blind
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…
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…