JOSE

These posts are focused more on world events from an educator’s perspective. Raw and unfiltered, these writings tackle the tougher subjects.

On Writing As Revenge

January 28, 2013 Jose

What happens when your writing becomes revenge? Not the Twilight-Mean-Girls type of revenge, but the revenge that James Brown yells in “The Big Payback“? I get that hate is too big a burden to bear a-la MLK Jr, but this isn’t hate. This harkens back to a remembrance, a devaluing, a necessity to reprove one’s [...]

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The Revisionist’s Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have A Dream For Most Of Us”

January 21, 2013 Jose

For some revisionists, MLK Jr. was either one of two things: a staunch conservative who lived patriotically, owned guns, and worked towards self-help, or he was a such a commercial pacifist whose message for peace followed every rule in the book and posed no real threat to the establishment. Then, there are those who, after [...]

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On National Education Discourse (Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That)

January 17, 2013 Jose

This is what happens when you start listening to folks who think the answer is square in the middle. The first time I took issue with a Michael Petrilli post, I was annoyed because, when it comes to education, only the people in his circle (frenemies or not) mattered and the rest of us (read: [...]

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If Every Other Word Out Of Your Mouth Is “Common Core”, You’re The Problem

January 15, 2013 Jose

Do me a favor and stop it. Just stop it, you. Yes, you. You’re ridiculous now. Every other word out of your mouth is “Common Core.” That’s enough out of you. I’m all for people having a voice, a seat at the table, and entitlements to opinions and such, but you’re not going to sit [...]

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Style and Substance (or, At Least Three Things You Don’t Say To A Man of Color)

January 13, 2013 Jose

Moments like this make me want to ask, “Who ASKED you?!” Some of my frustration lately stems from the perception that making something look easy equates to the task actually being easy. Especially as it pertains to the site and everything surrounding it. The design, the content, the schedule, the photos, and the accompanying branding [...]

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A Spoiler for Frontline’s Michelle Rhee Documentary

January 7, 2013 Jose

A bunch of my friends have already started posting up the trailer for Frontline‘s documentary on Michelle Rhee entitled The Education of Michelle Rhee (PBS, starting January 8th, check your local listings). Honestly, I’m not watching it. Most people get a benefit of a doubt, but Rhee’s earned nothing but doubt from me. Her videotaped [...]

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Ohhh, Sometimes, I Get A Good Feeling. [Get A Feeling That I Never Ever Ever Had Before, No]

December 31, 2012 Jose

On the first day of 2012, I waited for the birth of my son, Alejandro. We tried everything to hasten the process: long walks, hot spicy foods, and … well, I’d rather not say here. Just know that he knew his parents loved each other very much. I had already prepared my vocals for the [...]

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Race and Intellect, or Except for You, You’re The Smart One [Unreleased]

December 27, 2012 Jose

This week, I’m releasing some of the pieces I’ve written that never saw the light of day for different reasons. Here’s the second. Release Date: 12/03/2012 Dear New Teacher, A few questions to ask now that you’ve gotten your feet wet at your job: How many friends of color do you have in your circle? [...]

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Administrators of Color: Selling Out or Buying In? [From The Vault]

December 26, 2012 Jose

This week, I’m releasing some of the pieces I’ve written that never saw the light of day for different reasons. Here’s the first. Date: 5/10/12 Someone told me recently, “I think these kids respond better to males than females, especially as teachers.” That hasn’t been my experience, but I let them proceed. “It’s like, some [...]

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How To Get Your Blog Banned From Your School District [It Takes A Nation Of Millions]

December 20, 2012 Jose

To whom it may concern: Kick butt. Take names. Write them somewhere in your mind. Write to them when you’re writing. See their reactions. Smirk. Repeat. At first, you’ll just write because it feels good to get your thoughts out. You’ll participate in a few blog roundups, showcase your work, and talk to some of [...]

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