What an epic year!
Remember when Audrey Watters and I facilitated a one-of-a-kind conversation at EduCon with teachers, edu-techers, parents, and an assortment of individuals who wanted to know why we were mad? Remember when I finished writing a book only to find out that I may or may not be allowed to release it, prompting my publisher and my union to sift through pages of conflict of interest law, only then to find out that none of it mattered because the author was going to release this tome anyways? Remember when I had a book release party at the UFT building, and a few hours later, a meeting with Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan while some snarky onlookers thought I was being co-opted, but if their favorites had the same schedule, they’d yell “Go get em!” Remember when people invited me to a panel with Randi Weingarten and a series of anti-CCSS folk only for the last guy on the panel (me again) to say, “Oh, now that we’ve had this conversation, can we talk about racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia now?” and “Why would I join up with the Tea Party when they consider me less human?” Remember? Remember? Remember?
I do. That was just the first half of the year, too.
Below are the top ten posts of 2014 according to WordPress Stats. Less comments, more way more views and shares this year than ever before. I’ve cemented my legacy in race in education writing this year, too, and perhaps it’s appropriate that I’ve had my own lane already because now that lane’s getting busy too.
Thank you all for your support!
My top ten:
– Bad Teachers [Running Out Of TIME]
“What is a bad teacher? Out of the dozens of teachers you’ve had, how many of them would you actually call “bad”?”
– Educators Say The Darndest Things About Kids
““YOU DON’T KNOW ME OR MY HEART!” I’ll hear. No, but, when given the chance to present themselves, some educators choose to present the worst, the ugliest, and the most malignant in us, and the rest of us stand by too often with our hands under our butts and our eyes to the clock.”
– Not All My Teacherfolk Are My Kinfolk
“Institutionalism racism is by design, and often, we are the embodiment of the institution.”
– On Due Process, Or What You Call Tenure
“Due process for educators at least gives teachers who want to stay a stake in the school system they serve.”
– If This Keeps Happening, The Teaching Profession Is Doomed
” We can’t simultaneously say that teachers don’t seek the media or writing opportunities and then get mad when we don’t get to speak about education in the public. Which one is it?”
– Michelle Obama and Why Teachers Need To Embrace Critique
“Truth be told, plenty of people of color are frustrated with our education system, regardless of whether we call it charter, public, or private. Often, the very “well-meaning” teachers who stand in front of our children are also agents for the system, and sometimes work as a cog in said system.”
– Race, Class, and Acceptability As A Connected Educator [Aspiring to Karen Lewis]
“Because so many of us of color still waver between calling you in and calling you out.”
“Don’t choke. Don’t choke our kids. Don’t cut their breath before they’ve even drawn it.”
– Fight With Us Too, Damnit (Educators and Jordan Davis)
“I just wondered, aloud, why educators so active on Twitter when it comes to issues of educational technology, teacher evaluation, the Gates Foundation, anti-testing, lists that they did or didn’t get on, education conferences they attended, or what so-and-so said and how they replied so bravely, couldn’t dedicate a few tweets to discuss this tragedy.”
“To protect and to serve, and that’s something we can never turn our backs to.”
Bonus! Here are five of my favorites from the year as well.
When Can We Talk About Race? (Michael + Trayvon + Renisha + …)
The Race Discourse (So Hopefully You Won’t Have To Go Through That)
Beautiful Bytes of Data (guest post by Anthony Mullen)
Join The EduColor Movement, Part 1 of Many
Racism Without Racists (The School Re-segregation Edition)
I would love to hear from you all. Please give me a shout when you get a chance. Thanks.