I’m a Climber Who Can’t Climb
It’s one thing to be sad teaching climbing when I know that my injury prevents my own climbing. It’s quite another to be terrified that I’m teaching students to do something that might kill them in the end.
Read MoreWhite Teacher Fails Part 4: Parents
I am ashamed that I have allowed white parents to bully me to the point where I think twice before giving consequences to their children.
Read MoreWhite Teacher Fails: Part 2- Curriculum
I was centering curriculum on my own white experience rather than the needs of my students.
Read MoreWhite Teacher Fails: Part 1- Labs
Here is my plea to other teachers: don’t deprive students of meaningful learning opportunities as a disciplinary technique. Studies have shown that students of color are much more likely to be given harsher disciplinary consequences than their white peers. Punishing the whole class by taking away learning experiences such as labs only widens the achievement gap.
Read MoreTeachable Moment
The students pump their fists in the air. They shout together as one voice, full of both anger and hope. They haven’t given up. They believe they can make the world better.
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Crosswords: The Agony and the Ecstasy
I’ve been doing, perhaps, too many crossword puzzles.
Read MoreLove in the Time of Illness
This isn’t the story I intended to tell. It is embarrassing.
Read MoreThe Cyclist’s Guide to Getting Hit by Cars
In the ecosystem of the road, you, little cyclist, are a prey animal.
Read MoreCoronavirus: Guns and Tomatoes
“I think I want a gun,” Sergey yawned.
Read MoreThe Childless Mother
“Look at your horseback-riding hips, you were made for this!”
Read MoreI’m No Action Hero
I suspect I am a villain trying to fit into a too-small hero’s costume.
Read MoreOf Wisdom Teeth and Dress Dye: Frugal to a Fault
“By your father’s request, we are going to extract all four of your wisdom teeth in one procedure.” The dentist’s voice was muffled by his white mask, his eyes concerned. That’s a lot of teeth at once.
Read MoreSleep: Confessions of a Former End-Duck
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a terrible sleeper. I’ve been like a prey animal, always on the lookout, unable to fully rest
Read MoreClothing Optional: The Wrong Choice
“I’ve decided to wear my bikini bottoms after all,” Nikki reached into her locker.
Read MoreMLK Day, Then and Now
Why isn’t he bothering any of the male volunteers?
Read MoreFake Tanning and the Orbs of Distraction
With shaking hands, I unwrapped a cheerful turquoise suit made of a modest swim skirt and a triangle top. It was cut so low I hoped to achieve “orbs of distraction,” that would deter attention from the less desirable parts of my body.
Read MoreCycling While Female
“On your left!”
I startle at the aggressive shout. Spandex cyborgs whiz past me on gleaming carbon bicycles, their draft almost knocking me over.
Read MorePanic at the Zoo
These days I walk with a bit of a limp. This is due to an unfortunate incident I had with a mechanical bull in Mexico. It wasn’t the bull’s fault actually. I rode him like a champ: waving my imaginary cowboy hat above my head and slapping its backside. When I got thrown off, I landed with relative grace. But then I got cocky. I wanted a second turn. When I ran up to the bull once more, another guy got in my way. I jumped to the side to avoid him and POP, I tore the ACL and meniscus in my knee. It hurt. A lot.
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