1. At school I've more or less defaulted to lecturing, as trying to get the kids to engage hasn't been too profitable for most of the classes. Though oddly enough, turning to lecturing interspersed with questions has gotten a lot more interaction going, so perhaps it works out. 2. I ended up correcting the history … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: School and ‘One Piece’
Friday Flotsam
Friday Flotsam: Mostly School and Language Matters
1. School still going okay. Started getting into the weeds of the Revolution with my Government class; they were surprised to learn of some of my clarifications (i.e. that the amount of taxes weren't the issue, but rather the question of jurisdiction). Actually, the idea that the British government had a case at all seemed … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly School and Language Matters
Friday Flotsam: Corniness and ‘Shadows on the Rock’
1. Thinking of 50s-era educational shorts this week made me wonder: they're usually described as 'cheesy' or 'corny'. What does this mean? What constitutes corn? The heirs of Webster define it as "mawkishly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple and sentimental". Fair enough, but what is the positive contrary? Up-to-date, sophisticated, and rational, I suppose. Though that … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Corniness and ‘Shadows on the Rock’
Friday Flotsam: School, Carrolls, and Sword Fight
1. Made it through my second week of teaching. I'm still finding it extremely draining, and it's a struggle to get the kids to start discussing stuff in most of the classes (my one 12th grade class is the best in that regard, but alas is the shortest one). But it's something, and I've at … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: School, Carrolls, and Sword Fight
Friday Flotsam: On Republics and Anime Girls
1. The purpose of government is to promote the common good. The great danger of any Republic is the loss of the sense of commonality between different parts of the populace. This, of course, can happen under any form of government, but it is a particular danger for Republics, because elected governments incentivize animosity and … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: On Republics and Anime Girls
Friday Flotsam: Mostly Grumpiness, Some History
1. A rather discouraging week; I had a few very productive days, but also a number of flops and didn't get as much done as I'd intended. 2. On Wednesday I spent about an hour working on a post, only to have WordPress's autosave function freeze and lose the whole thing just as I was … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly Grumpiness, Some History
Friday Flotsam: Mostly ‘Oppenheimer’
1. I'm starting my job training in classical education Monday, so beginning a new phase of existence as you might say. 2. I saw Oppenheimer last night and I'm still settling on what I thought about it. It certainly leaves the viewer with a lot to think about, and it's a film that demands to … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly ‘Oppenheimer’
Friday Flotsam: From Napoleon to Puss in Boots to Writing Advice
1. It's Bastille Day, commemorating that great day in the cause of liberty when an urban mob stormed a mostly-empty prison that was already slated for demolition, freed a handful of criminals and lunatics, then burned it to the ground. Sure, why not? 2. Speaking of which, Ridley Scott is apparently coming out with a … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: From Napoleon to Puss in Boots to Writing Advice
Friday Flotsam: Depression and Loyalism
1. Had a big depression attack yesterday, though thanks to the progress I've made with a new counselor, it wasn't nearly as bad as attacks in the past. Previously, I would have been freaking out and in constant pain. This time it was just a heavy unhappiness and listlessness that made doing any kind of … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Depression and Loyalism
Friday Flotsam: New Job and Some Other Stuff
1. The first news is that as of this week I have a new job. Come August I'll be teaching with Regina Caeli Academy: a classical-education homeschool-hybrid where kids learn at home three days a week then come in for Socratic discussion two days. I'm taking on high school-level American History, US Government and Economics, … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: New Job and Some Other Stuff
Serpent's Den 