reflection

The Parts to the Whole

November 2, 2009 Jose

I knew the first quarter of the academic school year would try my every fiber. Presently, I’m juggling between math teacher / coach for my school, president for my alumni organization, blogger for this site, writer for a few other projects, and all the personal duties I’ve undertaken, some of which have grown and developed [...]

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Salute Me, Sir

October 8, 2009 Jose

Today, I found myself in the middle of a pop quiz, and it wasn’t even in my class. As the math coach, I expect certain things to come with the territory. I expected a bit of resistance, and having to deal with attitudes from adults similar to those of the students who some reject. I [...]

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If It’s Not About The Students, It’s Not About Me

September 1, 2009 Jose

Yesterday, I interpolated A Tribe Called Quest’s “Check The Rhime” in the hopes of conveying the point that I’m simultaneously trying to point out the sullied nature of adult relationships in schools, but also trying to bring an authenticity to my praxis. There’s far too much jargon and circumlocution coming into schools that it’s no [...]

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On This Day We Become Revolutionary, Bigger Than We Ever Dreamed Of

August 23, 2009 Jose

Today, I had the grand opportunity of going to the 40th anniversary of the Young Lords Party at the Hispanic Methodist Church on 111th and Lexington St. (NYC). Just coming within a block of the small church gave me goosebumps. The sheer number of people swaying back and forth, trying to wedge into the lines, [...]

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Picking Up Dust And Why Your Foundation’s Weak

August 11, 2009 Jose

Imagine coming to a revelation shortly after you have another self-imposed moratorium on my affronts and barriers, the ones that keep me warm and safe at times but distance me from the vulnerability and trust so many of us seek. In that moment, I sought a change from within that I couldn’t quite put my [...]

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Jam

August 3, 2009 Jose

It ain’t too much for me to jam. I have to find my peace ‘cuz No one seems to let me be False prophets cry of doom What are the possibilities I told my brother There’ll be problems, Times and tears for fears, We must live each day Like it’s the last Go with it [...]

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It’s My Fault

July 30, 2009 Jose

As a teacher, it’s my fault. My bad.

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Why I Blog

July 19, 2009 Jose

Last week, a lady did a semi-interview with me regarding why I blog. At first, the question seemed simple enough, and I wrote: I blog because it gives me a space to express my views, and whether right or wrong, I just let my opinions rip … and tend to say the things that some [...]

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An Interrupted Morning

July 2, 2009 Jose

It’s been less than a week since my vacation started, and my mind tingles like it did when I was still in the Mr. Vilson phase, full of thoughts and ways I’d change my routine for that day. Little did that part of my brain know that I really wasn’t going to wake up at [...]

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But I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

May 25, 2009 Jose

I walked into the Acentos Poetry Workshop at Hostos Community College, weary from a series of events including incurring a nasty virus and having to teach teachers how to affirm their voices in front of children (something I’m struggling with), but also resolved to make become the master of my metaphorical Starship Enterprise without getting [...]

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