A book that summarizes so much of my experience...

In 11th grade English we are doing book circles. It has been amazing to watch students engaging in various books that they selected around the "American Dream". I have begun reading "Our America" written by LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman.

On Friday in our book circle talk, I read aloud this quote to the students in my group and it struck me as summarizing so much about my experience within Oakland but also within so many pockets around America....

It is a principal being interviewed by two young boys in Chicago and she makes the following statement:

"And we have difficulty convincing you that we believe in you, that we don't believe that you will grow up to be members of gangs, that you can achieve anything that you want to achieve. We have to convince you of that everyday. And you don't believe that we believe you're smart.

So it's very difficult. It's difficult for some teachers to see the skills that you have. But one of the reasons I am here to help is to train teachers to look at the gifts that you bring with you.

A day to weep...

Over 20 children killed at an elementary school in Connecticut by a gunman. Makes me angry and hurt at our collective humanity.....

And I read this and remember also how powerful we can be collectively:

Tonight, we weep together. I saw a friend tonight as we picked up our kids and she looked at me, and the tears came. It is right and good to share our sorrow, to express it. We are correct to mourn for the children of others.

Because all children belong to us. We need to keep feeling, we need to keep weeping. When we cease to cry collectively, that is when the world really will break.