It was during my lone year as a vice principal that I was the disciplinarian at my school. I absolutely hate the job. I loved the kids. I knew many of them very well because I taught them previously. They were really great kids. I hated the job because of my teacher colleagues—they saw my … More How NOT To Discipline in an Urban School
The most envied teacher at any school isn’t the smartest teacher, the most politically connected teacher or the longest tenured or the most attractive teacher. The teacher most envied was the teacher was the teacher with the best classroom management. I know this because years ago, not to toot my own horn, but I was … More Building Classroom Management by Being Visible
Without naming any names, I know there are folks in the workplace who disregard my suggestions. It’s okay… but understand that you’re not hurting me. It’s the students that you’re hurting. Here is an example… One of the awesome treasures at the disposal of the Delaware Valley and the Mid-Atlantic States is the Malcolm Bernard … More Stop Missing the HBCU Opportunity
To be “woke” means aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice) Everyone wants to be “woke.” This is a trend that is happening amongst educators. Don’t get me wrong… woke principals and teachers is a good thing. However, one could do too much or focus on … More Woke School
“If we are to believe that majority of writers of Negro dialect and burnt-cork artists, Negro speech is a weird thing, full of ‘ams’ and ‘Ises.’ Fortunately, we don’t have to believe them. We may go directly to the Negro and let him speak for himself.” -Zora Neale Hurston, “Characteristics of Negro Expression” One of … More The African-American Vernacular
American public schools do a poor job teaching the history of American slavery to children. That is probably true of private schools too. I would also say that the majority of history teachers and administrators, the majority of whom are White, lack a comprehensive knowledge of American slavery. They may have read an article here and … More Teaching Slavery Properly
There has been much fanfare surrounding the latest Marvel comic, turned movie Black Panther. Black people across the diaspora are excited about this movie, what it means and what it represents. Black Panther proves that an all-Black cast with a Black director can put together a quality film from head to toe, that can be … More From Wakanda With Love
One of the most important jobs that a history teacher has is threefold: learn the truth, know the truth and teach the truth. When teaching children of color, understand that traditionally, the “canon” has withheld the whole truth of American history. Whether Black or White, if you’re a history teacher, it is your obligation to … More 2nd Amendment, Slavery & Creating Critical Readers & Thinkers
If you’re looking for a place to find an honest conversation about all things education, Steven Singer’s (not the Philly jeweler) blog gadflyonthewallblog is a good place. Mr. Singer speaks truth to power ranging from race and poverty in education to school privatization. One of Mr. Singer’s latest entries speaks of a study, authored by … More Research Brief: No-Excuses Expansion
Teachers and administrators alike desire to increase the number of engaged parents it has within its school. When I taught, teachers frequently lamented that not enough parents would show up for parent-teacher conferences; administrators did also. I also heard educators lament that parents weren’t regularly involved in the school community; that the only time parents … More Straight Talk About Parent Engagement
Many educators, particularly school leaders love to use data to inform teacher instruction. The data movement is a popular one; particularly in the age of school reform. Decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment tend to be shaped and determined by data. Well, what is the data? Generally, the data consist of student test scores from … More Doing Data Mindfully
Schools should teach students how to be responsible and accountable. However, some of the lessons that practitioners come up with aren’t very good. I remember during my last year teaching how the administration changed up the detention model. Originally, if a student received a detention, they had to sit for at least one hour. Depending … More Doing Responsibility Responsibly
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone
Where Race and Sport Intersect at the Point of Commentary
A blog on race, equity, and urban education
... A Strong Rhyme to Step To
"To sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth."
Navigating Inner City Ministry in Real Time
Urban Education Mixtape 