seanessay.com There’s anger in New York City over the state of children’s reading ability. Recently a retired New York English professor has been bitter about the school board, under “Calkins,” teaching “whole word.” He blogged that “evidence-based” science would presumably support, instead, teaching by using phonics, as in having children read by sounding out the […]
Enlightenment in Old Age
seanessay.com They say Buddhists get their enlightenment very abruptly. I’d like that too, but for me things take a while. I’m now over Greenland thinking lofty thoughts. This morning in London I was in the Bloomsbury district, of bookstores and writers, enjoying the More Delish cafe, chatting with the owner. In my American midwest accent—where […]
At Home Outside the Home
seanessay.com A newsletter headline: (after folks painted a mural on a cul-de-sac) Community is about doing something together that makes belonging matter. Head Office Highlights, September 2023 Last week, regarding voting, I mentioned a man from a patriarchal planet coercing his wife’s vote. This week I met an acquaintance who said his little woman doesn’t […]
Voting By Machine From Home
seanessay.com Andy W: “In the future, everyone will be voting for fifteen seconds… from the comfort of their home!” Wouldn’t that be cool, like Star Trek, if digital-age folks could vote from home? But then again, someone from a patriarchal planet might coerce his wife’s vote. I enjoy voting in person—yesterday I went to the […]
Good Old Guy’s Awesome Observations
seanessay.com If old age means wisdom, well, no it doesn’t. And I can tell you so, political correctness-wise, because I’m a senior citizen myself, with lots of time to ponder life… for fun. I was in my twenties, on a commuter subway car, when I noticed some seniors getting on. The first man to find […]
Facing the Truth, With Fearful Awareness
seanessay.com We all have strengths and weaknesses to be aware of. As for strengths, I remember folks in a fitness class I taught being delighted and telling me that I had a good sense of how fit they were: I had to know my own strength. Once I was hiking as part of my role […]