by David Safier For most of my life, my mail took 2 or 3 days to make it into someone else's mailbox. And if that other person was moved to reply, it usually took a few days for pen to meet paper, and another few days for a reply to find its way into my … Read more
by David Safier What's the Al Melvin Principle, you ask? It's the idea that nothing is better than a moment when everyone is "on their knees," because that's when you can really move that old rightwing agenda forward. Melvin's exact words: "When everyone is on their knees, so to speak, from the adverse economic situation, … Read more
by David Safier I feel a little guilty for not doing a day-by-day narrative about the proposed budget cuts, especially cuts to education. My only excuse is, I feel like I'm watching a multi-car highway accident unfolding in extreme slow motion. I know the crash is coming. The only questions left are, what will be … Read more
by David Safier The NY Times has posted a series of short videos of teachers in their classrooms with a running narration describing why what the teacher is doing is effective. These things are usually dreary and didactic, but this set of videos is a welcome change. They're short, interesting and helpful. The videos are … Read more
by David Safier All bus drivers are bureaucrats, but not all bureaucrats are bus drivers. All buses drive bureaucrats, but not all bureaucrats drive buses. All cafeteria food is bureaucratic, but not all bureaucrats eat cafeteria food. Teachers are not bureaucrats, but some teachers teach bureaucrats. When the broom is an arrow, the custodian is … Read more