Gary Ackerman @garyackerman@qoto.org

Whenever the ice breaker calls for me to share I place I visited recently I say, “Roswell, NM” and raise my hands and start humming.

Here is your regular reminder that “standards” were sold to education as “high quality for all,” but it became something much different.

Sometimes I wish I wasn’t someone who takes reason, logic, and empirical evidence seriously. I look at the delusional things that come across my feeds and I envy those who can confidently make such statements without concern for reality.

One thing I miss about job searches is the part of interview after I have decided I don’t want the job.

The fact that teachers in the USA need to share “classroom wish lists” on social media should be our greatest national embarrassment. Unfortunately, we have way more embarrassing situations right now.

We had significant flooding in my region last month. Folks are rebuilding… in the same places. 🤦‍♂️ I understand the many reasons, but government has a responsibility (IMO) to set regulations and support efforts to prevent this repeated loss.

We had significant flooding in my region last month. Folks are rebuilding… in the same places. 🤦‍♂️ I understand the many reasons, but government has a responsibility (IMO) to set regulations to prevent this repeated loss.

How much schooling is because some politician or philanthropist thought it was essential that everyone get the same education they did 40 years ago.

I’ve been at a community college for 4+ years after 32 years in schools (lots of them in various roles). No school really cared about me as a professional. They hired a critical and creative educator, but that’s not what they wanted.

We have had a cool start to August where I live. The “if there is global warming, how do you explain this?” folks are back out.

“Everyone knows that…” always ends with quackery.

“Hallucinations” as the term we apply to information AI creates. OK… can we apply it to ideas like “learning styles” and the other stuff made up be educational consultants?

“Focusing on the basics,” ostensibly a non-politician stance towards curriculum, is probably the *most* politically motivated and indoctrinating of the options.

“We are starting a conversation” is leader speak for “I’m going to make a terrible decision in 6 months and claim everyone had input.”

One thing I learned during 30+ years in the classroom: students appreciate conversation and natural dialogue more than polished presentation.

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool. - Richard Feynman

How an intelligent man can subscribe to a party I find a complete mystery. -Albert Einstein

Finding a reference to support a poorly cited paper written by AI seems a whole lot less fun (and more time consuming) that writing the paper myself.

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein

I was asked to interview for a job in a school district recently. The superintendent was audibly reacting to messages on her phone and responding during the interview. At the end of the interview, I caught her eye and said, "My phone has been blowing up in my pocket for the last hour, I wonder what needs my attention next."