A7 Inside and Out

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
It was Back to School night for BHS. Although attendance was sparse, parents from four of my five senior classes attended.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
A most horrible day for Oedipus, who learns that a prophecy he has spent his whole adult life running from has come true - he has indeed murdered his father, married his mother, and has fathered children by her.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
The horror of Oedipus' fate becomes just as real here, too.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1928, author Elie Wisel was born. Wiesel's writing are designed to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. Honors students will examine an excerpt from his powerful autobiographical novel Night later this year.

WRAP IT UP
Wiesel once said,""Sometimes we must interfere.
When human lives are endangered,
when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Whenever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
In our reading of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus learns that the man he has thought from birth has died. A few moments later he discovers, however, that Polybus was never his father. The discovery shatters the very foundation of who he thinks he is.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Our class engaged in a spirited discussion of the idea from the play that "fate rules us and nothing can be forseen."

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Another spirited discussion. The topic a line from the play: "A man should live only for the present day."


COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date, British poet W. H. Auden dies at age 66 in Vienna. Honors students will examine Auden's poem "The Unknown Citizen" later this year as part of a Paideia seminar.

WRAP IT UP
There is no doubt that Oedipus Rex is filled with problems for its main character. Of course, problems are endemic to life. Madeline L'Engle, author of the classic novel A Wrinkle in Time once had this to say about serious hardships. "It is a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally,"she said. "It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
The focus over the weekend was not on BHS, but on neighboring high school Cumberland Regional where rumors of an impending shooting last Friday prompted a massive exodus of students. Such incidents are becoming all too common and you can bet ramifications will be felt in area schools for weeks.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
While seniors struggle with daily class assignments, many also have to decide what major they want to take in college. The weekend is a good time to undertake some college exploration. Here is a good site with hundreds of links to help with the question - what can I do with this major?


LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
While seniors struggle with daily class assignments, many also have to decide what major they want to take in college. The weekend is a good time to undertake some college exploration. Here is a good site with hundreds of links to help with the question - what can I do with this major?

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Herman Melville, author of the American classic novel Moby Dick, died in obscurity to scanty obituary notices on this date in 1891.


WRAP IT UP
Rumors, which by very definition involve untruths, are extremely difficult to deal with, especially when they involve students. As journalist Shana Alexander once said," Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
At BHS, it was a special schedule for our annual Fall sports pep rally. At the rally, which celebrates the band, the cheerleaders, and the football, soccer, field hockey, girls tennis, and boys and girls track teams, there was what could have been a major problem - the sound system blew out. Not to be stopped however, Athletic Director Joe Blandino (who just happens to be a graduate of the BHS Class of 1969), simply asked a policeman to drive his car onto the football field, where Blandino used the officer's mobile loudspeaker to finish the rally.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Prior to the pep rally, students had their first comprehension quiz of the year. The multiple choice quiz was on Act I of Oedipus Rex. It's important to note that there are two ways to get full credit for a multiple choice question. You can either select the right answer (if you know it) or you can eliminate the other wrong choices.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Prior to the pep rally, students had their first comprehension quiz of the year. The multiple choice quiz was on Act I of Oedipus Rex. It's important to note that there are two ways to get full credit for a multiple choice question. You can either select the right answer (if you know it) or you can eliminate the other wrong choices.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1960, Richard Nixon and John Kennedy participated in the first televised presidential debate, an event which political historians believe forever altered the American political process.

WRAP IT UP
Kennedy, one of America's most often quoted presidents, once said, "a child miseducated is a child lost." In these days of tight budgets, it is a message well worth remembering. To see other Kennedy insights, click here.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Students have finished reading Act I of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. In the cliffhanger act ending, Oedipus is left to wonder if just maybe he did kill Laius, the first husband of his wife Jocasta.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Obviously, we are reading Oedipus the King in translation. To see a little different translation, you can go here.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Obviously, we are reading Oedipus the King in translation. To see a little different translation, you can go here.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
The great American author William Faulkner is born on this date in 1897 in New Albany, Miss. Faulkner once listed his writing requirements: "paper, tobacco, food, a little whiskey."

strong>WRAP IT UP
Faulkner believed strongly in the idea that the sins of the fathers are visited on the children, a concept that fits in quite well with classical Greek thinking as evidenced in Oedipus Rex. "The past is never dead," Faulkner wrote. "It is not even the past."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Today finds us in the middle of Banned Book Week. In a world of increasing political correctness, I think the fight against censorship becomes even more important. One of the things you can do in that fight is read a censored book and then make up your own mind if it should be restricted. A good place to start is this list.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Our writing prompt: Do you know anyone who is excessively proud? What problems, if any, does this trait cause for them? Do you consider this trait a character flaw?

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Our writing prompt: Do you think people in general are
reluctant to face the truth about themselves, especially if that truth is not good? Or do most people want to "clear the air" no matter what?

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1896, American author F. Scott Fitzgerald is born in St. Paul, Minn. Fitzgerald's classroom classic The Great Gatsby, with its emphasis on the nexus of love and money, has often been singled out as one of the greatest American novels.

WRAP IT UP
Fitzgerald once maintained: "An author ought to write for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterwards."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Two hundred Bridgeton area residents, many of them BHS students, marched through the city Monday night calling for an end to the violence that resulted in two shooting deaths this summer.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Ironically, as the city focused on the anti-violence march, we were examining the ramifications of violence in ancient Greece, specifically the murder that drives the events in Sophocles' classical tragedy Oedipus Rex.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
We were also exploring the violence in Oedipus Rex. It is apparent whether you are talking the the 5th Century B.C. or the 21st Century, murder is wrong and the ripple effects from such an action are devastating.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore's award-winning documentary, is a powerful statement against both handguns and the violence they can bring. The documentary is a sometimes hillarious, sometimes heartbreaking look at the question: What makes us kill so many times more fellow citizens than is the case in other developed nations?

WRAP IT UP
I went to school and played basketball both with and against Ronald "Blue" Bowman, who was one of the speakers at the One Love, One Community, One Hope. Peace! march. "Life is real," Bowman said. "Death is real, too. It's not a video. It doesn't end with a director saying 'cut.' Once the bullet goes in, it's over." Maybe if more people considered Bowman's admonishment, we would have fewer victims to mourn.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
As a final preview, we examined 5 themes explored in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. They are:
1. the quest for identity
2. the nature of innocence and guilt
3. the nature of moral responsibility
4. human will versus fate
5. the abuse of power

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Our writing prompt: Do you think people in general are reluctant to face the truth about themselves, especially if that truth is not good? Or do you think most people want to "clear the air" no matter what?

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Our writing prompt: Do you think someone is guilty of a wrong action if he or she doesn't mean to commit it? Should that person be held responsible for the consequences?

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Authors, poets, and songwriters have longed tried to use their creations for social change. One such effort by socially conscious musicians is Farm Aid. The first Farm-Aid concert was held on this date in 1985 in Champaign, IL. The concert, organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young to help the nation's farmers, raised $10 million.

WRAP IT UP
Willie Nelson, legendary country star and one of the Farm Aid organizers, once reflected "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Last night, more than 120 people, many of them former BHS students, gathered to honor HOSA teacher-advisor Betty Moak on her retirement after more than 35 years of teaching. With former Superintendent Tom Lane, new Superintendent Vic Gilson, long-time BHS Principal Robert Sharp, and all the former and current BHS students and teachers in attendance, the word family kept cropping up. And a look around the crowded banquet room showed that the BHS family feeling was truly alive, at least on this one particular Saturday evening.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Students are reading a novel of their choosing. After completing the novel, the students will share what they have read by submitting a project. Since the project is due next month, students should have spent at least some time this weekend with their book of choice.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Students are reading a novel of their choosing. After completing the novel, the students will share what they have read by submitting a project. Since the project is due next month, students should have spent at least some time this weekend with their book of choice.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Herbert George (H. G.) Wells is born on this date in 1866. Wells, the author of War of the Worlds and The Time Machine, is recognized as one of the world's greatest science fiction writers.

WRAP IT UP
H. G. Wells felt strongly that war could be the downfall of mankind. In fact, he felt that so strongly that he once said,"If we don't end war, war will end us."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
We spent the day preparing to read Oedipus Rex by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. We focused on the Greek idea of tragedy centering around the downfall of an important person with a weakness being the tragic flaw that brings about the downfall. Sort of makes you think of Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Our writing prompt: The Greek philosopher Socrates once said, "the unexamined life is not worth living." What does self-knowledge mean to you? What are the hazards of not knowing yourself?

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Our writing prompt: Do you believe in fate, or do you think people are responsible for the good and bad things that happen to them?

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1911, William Golding, author of the classic novel Lord of the Flies, is born in Cornwall, England. While widely read in many high schools including BHS, the novel is also one of the most banned books in America.

WRAP IT UP
Lord of the Flies explores anarchy. British poet William Butler Yeats also looked at anarchy with these classic lines: "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world … The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity." It almost sounds like a poem ripped from today's headlines, doesn't it.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
We spent most of the day wondering if we would have tomorrow off for Hurricane Isabel. My prediction - in school we will be. However, all afterschool activities were cancelled for today and everyone had to vacate the building by 3 p.m.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Students discussed their choice of book for their first independent reading. Each student will be responsible for choosing and reading eight books between now and June.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
As part of the Who Am I unit, students filled out the senior profile which will be placed next to their senior portrait in this year's Baconian yearbook. They also went over the Dozen Ways to Share a Book project sheet for their first
of four independent readings.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1917, Aldous Huxley, 23, is hired as a schoolmaster at the prestigious Eton school in England, where he counts among his unruly pupils Eric Arthur Blair (George Orwell). Both men later write dystopian science fiction masterpieces. Huxley authors Brave New World while his former pupil writes both 1984 and Animal Farm.

WRAP IT UP
Dystopian literature (like Brave New World and 1984) comes out of man's desire to conceive a utopia, or perfect world. Kurt Vonnegut, himself a noted American science fiction writer, had this to say about utopia. "Human beings will be happier - not when they cure cancer or get to Mars or eliminate racial prejudice or flush Lake Erie but when they find ways to inhabit primitive communities again. That's my utopia," Vonnegut said.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Students are preparing to read their first novel outside of class. They will be able to read any book they choose. One great way to find a book you want to read is to peruse the web and my favorite book perusal site is Amazon.com. It's like having a huge bookstore at your fingertips.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
We had a chance to discuss differences between Swedish and American schools with four visiting Swedish students. One big difference was fights. American schools have them, Swedish schools don't. None of the four had ever seen a fight in school. I wonder what that says about American teenage culture and education.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Students headed to the library to pick out their first novel. Most chose something from the young adult fiction category. When you're not sure what you want to read, a list can help. Here is a list of the 100 best book for teens.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1935, Ken Kesey, who critics say provided a direct link between the beatniks of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s, was born. Kesey's most famous novel was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. In 1975, a filmed version of the novel won five Oscars. Kesey, who died in 2001, also formed the Merry Pranksters, whose weird exploits were described at length in Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

WRAP IT UP
Author and prankster Kesey once said, "You can't really be strong until you see a funny side of things."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
We had our initial Paideia seminars in both Honors and College Prep sections today. The theme of both seminars was change, which is a particularly appropriate subject for seniors to explore.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
The texts for the Paideia seminar were "All the World's a Stage" soliloquy from William Shakespeare's As You Like It and an excerpt from Gail's Sheehy's Passages.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
The text for the Paideia seminar came from The King James Bible. It was the "To Everything There Is a Season" passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Happy birthday, rap music. Twenty-four years ago today,
rap, the New York City ghetto music in which the performers chant rhymed and rhythmical verses over prerecorded instrumental dance tracks, makes it onto vinyl with the release of the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." "Rappers Delight" was recorded over the instrumental break from Chic's "Good Times." The single became a smash, selling two million copies in the U.S. and paving the way for current rappers such as Eminem, 50 Cent, etc. You can learn a lot more about rap at the All Music Guide. Just check styles and enter rap in the site's search engine.

WRAP IT UP
You can find out what many notable people had to say about change, the subject of our first Paideia seminar, by clicking here.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Today we went over guidelines for our first in-class Paideia seminar which is set for tomorrow. While the Paideia process may seem complex (and according to many students both boring and corny) it is, in its simplest terms, relatively simple. I think you need three things:
-- an interesting, challenging text
-- questions to stimuate thoughtful discussion
-- a circle to share ideas equally

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
In their writing journals students are exploring the idea of rating teachers on the internet. A quick check of the national rating website featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sunday editions showed that selected BHS teachers were already being rated.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
In their writing journals, as preparation for their reading of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, students are examining their ideas about the role fate plays in life.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
The English language is constantly changing. Often, it is difficult to keep up. Word Spy! may help you do just that. It is a great site to visit for anyone intested in new words. The web site and its associated mailing list are devoted to recently coined words and phrases, old words that are being used in new ways, and existing words that have enjoyed a recent renaissance.

WRAP IT UP
Speaking of words both old and new, the Buddha had some choice words on just that subject. "Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill," he said. May we all choose our words wisely.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a front-page story today on a
a website that allows high school students to rate their teachers.
I have mixed feelings about such a site. While I like the fact that students have a voice, I question just how valid that voice might sometimes be.

In my case, for example, while in high school, I probably would have trashed my Spanish teacher for being way too demanding, way too strict, and way too old. However, her preparation allowed me to garner two A's in college Spanish with a minimum of effort. My point - often we need more perspective to truly rate something or someone.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
It looks like our linking to the our new blog is going smoothly. By Sunday evening 17 students had emailed saying that they had been able to find and read the site. We will be using this blog more and more as the year progresses.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
As part of our discussing the idea of becoming better readers, I mentioned that I was planning to read After, a speculative book by Francine Prose about what might happen after an incident of violence at a neighboring high school. Well I finished the short novel this weekend (reading time = 1 hour, 56 minutes) and I think students will like it.


COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this day, writer John Steinbeck was presented the U.S. Medal of Freedom. Steinbeck had already received numerous other honors and awards for his writing, including the 1962 Nobel Prize and a 1939 Pulitzer Prize for The Grapes of Wrath. That novel appears on virtually all high school reading lists and College Prep students will examine a chapter in the 4th marking period.


WRAP IT UP
Speaking of teaching and time (as we were in the first section of today's blog) American educator Jacques Barzun said,"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years." That's something to ponder as we rush for instant ratings.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Although we have just finished the first full week of school, it's definitely not to early to begin working on that college admission thing. For those of you who are completely flustered with that thought, here's a guru-vy
addmissions website that might help.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
Speaking of college admissions, you really should have at least two things thought out by now:
-- what you want to major in
-- at least 4 or 5 schools that you might look to apply to that have what you want

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
It's the same here. By now you should have a potential college major and 4 or 5 schools you would like to apply to.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
American Roots and Country music lost a powerful voice this week with the death of Johnny Cash. Cash once told the New York Times that one of his most vivid memories of his childhood was when a library was opened in his hometown. He said the library afforded him the opportunity to indulge in what would become a lifelong passion for reading. Cash said when he was younger he read James Fenimore Cooper, Sir Walter Scott and everything he could find on the American Indian.

WRAP IT UP
In the months before his death, Cash increased his popularity with younger listeners with his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song "Hurt." Ironically, in the song, Cash sings "everyone I know goes away in the end" and now Cash, the man in black, has himself gone away. But, of course, as cliched as it may be, his music lets his memory live on.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
We have finished our first full week at BHS. I think the hardest thing about that first full week is the fact that your feet hurt. (After the fashion freedom of summer, you're just not used to those dress shoes).

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Today, it was a look at the lyrics of the Eric Burdon and the Animals song "When I Was Young" Our discussion of the lyrics preceeded our Picture Me assignment which is due Tuesday. That visual poster of childhood (ages 5-9) will help us as we grapple with the question "is who I am now who I was then?"

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Today, it was a look at the lyrics of the Eric Burdon and the Animals song "When I Was Young" Our discussion of the lyrics preceeded our Picture Me assignment which is due Tuesday. That visual poster of childhood (ages 5-9) will help us as we grapple with the question "is who I am now who I was then?"


COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1846, poet Elizabeth Barrett, 40, and poet Robert Browning, 34, were secretly married in a London Church. Mused fellow British poet William Wordsworth, "Well, I hope they understand one another - nobody else would." Mrs. Barrett-Browning is credited with arguably the most famous love poem in the English language, Sonnet 43, more often known by its first line "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..."

WRAP IT UP
Speaking of love, Jackie DeShannon, like Eric Burdon a singer who began her career in the 1960s, once sang "What the world needs now is love sweet love; that's the only thing that's there's just too little of." One look at today's headlines and it's easy to see that that statement may be even more true today than it was 40 years ago.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Like schools all over the country, BHS paused today to remember 9/11 two years ago. Although the immensity of that day is still hard to fathom Sept. 11 News.Com is a massive site which attempts to put that day and all that has happened since in perspective.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Today's focus was on what good readers do to become good readers. In simplest terms, good readers do things before they read, while they read, and after they have read. For a model, we used "My Name" from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, which of course, got us thinking and talking about the origins of our names and nicknames.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIREToday's focus was on what good readers do to become good readers. In simplest terms, good readers do things before they read, while they read, and after they have read. For a model, we used "My Name" from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, which of course, got us thinking and talking about the origins of our names and nicknames.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1885, novelist, poet, and essayist D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence was born in Nottingham, England. College prep students will read Lawrence's classic short story "The Rocking Horse Winner" this year.

WRAP IT UP
There is no doubt that events of Sept. 11 were truly tragic. In fact, some times it seems that the bad side of life has us besieged. When this happens it may help to remember the words of American author Bernard Malamud who said, "life is a tragedy full of joy."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
While I was composing today's entries, Mark Boswell, a former student who graduated last year, called from The College of New Jersey with a question about a paper on Shakespeare he was writing. His paper was on The Tempest, which we read in class, and Macbeth, which BHS students read in their junior year. At least, in Mark's case, what he had been required to read at BHS was directly helping him in college.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
Today's focus was on the 4 essential questions we will explore this year. They are:
-- who am I?
-- where do I fit in?
-- what is important?
-- how do I make a difference?

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
The focus in these classes was the same as in the Honors sections. In fact, keen observers of this blog have probably noticed that there is little difference between the two types of classes. In fact, the course work is almost identical until early October. After that, most all readings and writings are different.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On September 10, 1981, Spanish artist Pablo Picasso's monumental anti-war mural Guernica is received by Spain after four decades of refugee existence. One of Picasso's most important works, the painting was inspired by the destruction of the Basque town of Guernica by the Nazi air force during the Spanish Civil War.

WRAP IT UP
Picassco painted for peace. Others have spoken for peace. One of those was American diplomat John Foster Dulles who said: "The world will never have lasting peace so long as men reserve for war the finest human qualities. Peace, no less than war, requires idealism and self-sacrifice and a righteous and dynamic faith."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Yet another change for Bridgeton schools. Dr. Victor Gilson, who has been assistant superintendent here for the past nine years, was named today as superintendent. Dr. Gilson graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1970 and now he is in charge of the entire district. First, Mr. DeShields with the cafeteria, now Dr. Gilson with the district. It looks like it is Bridgeton Graduates Make Good Week.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES ONLY
I sent a letter home today to parents outlining the goals and plans for our senior Honors course, as well as some of our major readings and projects. Parents need to know what their youngsters are doing in school and many times they are to busy to contact us. So this is my attempt to reach out to them.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Like the Honors students, the College Prep students also took a parental contact letter home. This is the first time I've sent such a letter. Don't know why I didn't do it before. (Laziness maybe?) I had a response from a grandparent on my answering machine before I got home from school. Another mother approached me later in the evening with some questions.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Science Fiction is one of my favorite categories of literature and video. On this date 10 years ago David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson first teamed up in the debut of the Fox TV series The X-Files. Duchovny played FBI agent Fox Mulder--nicknamed "Spooky" because of his belief in aliens and supernatural phenomena--and Anderson played Dana Scully, a skeptical doctor. A cult hit, the show attracted an enormous following of loyal viewers.

WRAP IT UP
The main role of a superintendent is to lead and we wish Dr. Gilson well in his new job. One of the most significant leaders of the 20th Century was President John F. Kennedy who once said "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." Well said.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
It might seem strange to use the words classy and school cafeteria in the same sentence, but they definitely belong together here at BHS. The newly re-designed Bulldog cafe is nothing short of a culinary marvel. Maroon table covers, plush velvet line ropes, decorative menu signs, color coordinated awnings etc. The credit for this transformation must go to cafeteria head and Bulldog coach Warren DeShields. DeShields is a 1991 graduate of BHS, but even more significantly he is a Mr. Price student. It's a truly great feeling when one of your former students does great things. We should all thank Warren for his efforts. He is one of those who works really hard to make the place we come every day a little better.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
This year, as always, our honors work is demanding. However, in one sense we really only work on getting better in six skills. They are:
-- reading
-- writing
-- thinking
-- listening
-- speaking
-- viewing
You can bet we will be doing a lot with all six skills.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Although there are many differences between these classes and the Honors section, we still focus on the six essential communications skills. They say repetition is a good way to learn so here are those skills one more time:
-- reading
-- writing
-- thinking
-- listening
-- speaking
-- viewing

COMMUNCATION BREAKDOWN
One of the most literate songwriters in all of rock music, Warren Zevon, died Sunday. Zevon's year-long battle with cancer and his efforts to finish a final album before dying are chronicled in a poignant documentary now playing on VH1. In his last days, Zevon not only showed us how to live, but also how to leave this life with dignity. His story is inspirational and definitely worth seeing.

WRAP IT UP
Many critics believe that rappers such as Tupac and Biggie Smalls and rock song writers such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and the late Warren Zevon are among our best 21st Century poets. You can be the judge of how well Zevon's lyrics function as poetry by visiting this Zevon lyrics site.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Today, after a long pre-season, Sunday football came back with a vengence. In a way, you could consider the first few days of school a pre-season. Goals are stressed and minds are stretched in readiness for the rigors of four marking periods of study. You can bet that most teachers will kick off their regular workload sometime this week and, by Friday, the scholarly season will once again be in full session at BHS.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
Our experiment with electronic journal selections is going well. By 9:30 p.m. Sunday, 18 students had successfully submitted e-mailed responses to the query - who am I? The early bird award goes to Gayle Evans, who had submitted her entry by 3:27 p.m. Friday. Now that's a quick result.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
During Friday's discussion of rules and respect, we used Aretha Franklin's classic soul song as a talking point. The lyrics to the Staples Singers "Respect Yourself" offers another look at an important concept.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
In addition to watching football, Sunday can be a great day for reading. Many love the experience of spending a Sunday morning perusing the large sections of a Sunday paper. In the 21st Century, the internet means the papers we read are no longer determined by geography. I almost always find time to check out Dave Barry every Sunday. The Miami Herald columnist has been called the funniest man in America. Check him out and see what you think.

WRAP IT UP
And here is yet another look at our favorite word for the self governing of behavior. Almost 2,500 years ago the Buddha said: "You should respect each other and refrain from disputes; you should not, like water and oil, repel each other, but should, like milk and water, mingle together." Sage advice from one of the greatest sages of all time.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
As those of you who are regular readers of this blog know, we had promised daily entries. But, of course, to quote Scottish poet Robert Burns, "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley." (And for those of you not fluent in Scottish, that loosely means the best laid plans of mice and men often go wrong). There was no Friday entry. The reason was simple - by the time we had time to sit down at the computer it was after midnight. Oh well, no plan is perfect. But we pledge to keep trying to publish every day.

For YOUR (HONORS) EYES
We have also promised an increased use of technology this year. As a start, we have asked all students to respond in a creative way by e-mail to a prompt asking who am I? Hopefully, the results will stream in over the weekend

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
We devoted class to a discussion of rules and the need for them. In A7, it all can be reduced to one simple word - respect. Think how different the world would be if all respected all and all was in turn respected by all.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
One of the most important studies a serious student can engage in is vocabulary development. The best way to increase vocabulary is to tackle challenging readings. Another way to create a bigger word bank is to study lists and incorporate the words listed into daily use. Houghton Mifflin Publishers has put together a list of the 100 words every high school graduate should know. Check yourself to see how well you command your language.

WRAP IT UP
Speaking of vocabulary, using the right word at just the right time is crucial for good communication. As Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Today was back to school for all BHS students. Our opening was smooth and uneventful, which, of course, is the best kind. It's one day down, 179 to go to graduation 2004.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
A new emphasis this year will be out-of-class contact between teacher and student. To serve this purpose, I distributed my contact card to all students. The card contained both my email
(dleeprice@earthlink.net) and my home phone, as well as other contact information. I hope students use this tool to reach me with questions or concerns.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Like the honors sections, a new emphasis this year will be out-of-class contact between teacher and student. To serve this purpose, I distributed my contact card to all students. The card contained both my email (dleeprice@earthlink.net) and my home phone, as well as other contact information. I hope students use this tool to reach me with questions or concerns.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
Sometimes, in this post-Columbine world, we think that teenage violence is a new phenomenon. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Forty-four years ago, in the wake of the stabbing deaths of two teenagers by a 17-year-old and other similar incidents of violence in New York City, WCBS radio in the Big Apple banned all versions of Bobby Darin's chart climber "Mack the Knife."

WRAP IT UP
Here's a great thought about first days of school. "Describing her first day back in grade school after a long absence, a teacher said, It was like trying to hold 35 corks under water at the same time," Mark Twain once wrote. I hope your first day back was not quite so hectic.

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
I guess you could consider today role reversal day as teachers became students and received training in the assessment phase of the Paideia program. I'm sure we all will be hearing more about assessment as we attempt to employ the new technique to coached projects and seminars.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
In case you haven't noticed, there are three links for your use in the right corner of this page. They are:
-- a link to the official Bridgeton school district web site
-- a link to a fantastic NYTimes site which includes links to virtually every academic site a high school student might need
-- a quick way to e-mail me at this site about anything you read here or any questions or comments you have.
We will be examining each of the links more closely later in this blog, but for now you can click on the links and have fun exploring them yourself.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
Here is what we could call an instant replay (see above). In case you haven't noticed, there are three links for your use in the right corner of this page. They are:
-- a link to the official Bridgeton school district web site
-- a link to a fantastic NYTimes site which inlcudes links to virtually every academic site a high school student might need
-- a quick way to e-mail me at this site about anything you read here or any questions or comments you have.
We will be examining each of the links more closely in this blog later, but for now you can click on the links and have fun exploring them yourself.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
On this date in 1864, Russian writer Leo Tolstoy was seized with terror in a country inn and imagined he was confronting death, an incident that furnished the basis for Notes of a Madman.
Honors students will read Tolstoy's "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" which is one of the most anthologized stories in all of world literature.

WRAP IT UP
The originator of Paideia was noted scholar Mortimer Adler. Adler once offered this thought, which is particularly pertinent as we begin yet another year of learning here at BHS. "The purpose of learning is growth," Adler said. "And our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live."

Well that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
And so, the 2003-2004 year begins for teachers. Of course, with anything new comes change. The big change for those of us in the language department is a new boss. Mrs. Goldschmidt, who for the past three years has been the facilitator of the Paideia program, is taking over as our supervisor for Mr. Walinsky, who retired over the summer. Mrs. Goldschmidt was a 9th grade BHS teacher and newspaper advisor, so she is extremely familiar with the workings of the department.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
The change here is a return to two honors sections. While students liked the larger, combined single section last year, having two sections allows for more flexibility in scheduling, as well as more individual attention in class. One class will have 15 students, while the other will have 10.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
No change here, at least in the number of sections. Last year three sections, this year three sections. Initially the classes appear balanced. The opening day schedule shows that 20, 19, and 16 students are enrolled.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
This year's senior reading program relies heavily on drama. Both honors and college prep students will read four plays in class. Authors include Sophocles, Shakespeare, Ibsen, and August Wilson.

One influential dramatist we won't be studying this year is Eugene O'Neil. On this date in 1946, O'Neill's play The Iceman Cometh opened at the Martin Beck Theater in New York. It was the last of O'Neill's plays to be seen on Broadway in his lifetime.

Also, on this date eight years ago, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened its doors in Cleveland, Ohio with a gala concert featuring a host of stars including New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen. The Hall of Fame's website is a powerful learning tool, which includes more than 100 ways to use rock and roll in the classroom.

WRAP IT UP
As we noted earlier, with anything new, comes change. Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once said "change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal." See what more famous people had to say about the subject of change.

Well, that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.

THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING HERE
Welcome to the first of what is planned to be daily entries in a new blog (short for weblog and more on that later) devoted to language arts and our A7 classroom. This section will serve as a daily introduction. Some of the thoughts here will be personal. Some will be professional. But they will all be relevant to our task of becoming better students and better people.

FOR YOUR (HONORS) EYES
This section will contain information specifically for students in senior Honors English. Here you find information about what we are doing in class, as well as postings that will add to our learning.

LIGHT MY (COLLEGE PREP) FIRE
This section will contain information specifically for students in senior College Prep English. Here you will find information about what we are doing in class, as well as postings that will add to our learning.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN
This section will contain jottings and links exploring some highlights of the language arts field especially appropriate to this particular day. The subject could be literature; it could be music or television or film or art or newspapers or the web ... Well, you get the idea. I hope you will take the time to explore the links listed here.

To get us started, I read today with some sadness about the death of actor Charles Bronson. Bronson was one of the stars of the World War II movie The Great Escape, which is one of my favorite films. You can click on the underlined title to visit a great site on The Great Escape.

WRAP IT UP
This section will end our daily musings and contain a quote (and often related links) that will make us think. One of my favorite quotes about education is from Irish writer William Butler Yeats. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire," Yeats said. Here you can learn more about Yeats' life and read some of his greatest poems.

Another poet who wrote about fire lighting was Doors frontman Jim Morrison. The Doors were one of the 1960s biggest groups and thanks to Morrison and his lyrics we have a title for one of the five sections of our A7 blog.

Well, that's it for today. So - until next time - keep on reading, keep on thinking.