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Month: April 2020

Teaching Cicero during a Flood, or On the Duties of a Teacher in a Time of Crisis

Teaching Cicero during a Flood, or On the Duties of a Teacher in a Time of Crisis

My third day ever of teaching was on September 11, 2001.  I was teaching Latin to fifth through eighth grade students at Plato Academy in Niles, Illinois just outside Chicago.  I only taught twice a week; my first day had been the previous Tuesday, the day after Labor Day.  Given my lack of teaching experience, it was going to be a tough day no matter what else happened.  But as we know, all hell broke loose that day.  None of…

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Memories of John Prine

Memories of John Prine

Easter 2020 I’m not certain the first time I heard a John Prine song, but I’m pretty sure the first time I listened to a John Prine song was in my father’s car in the parking lot of an evangelical church in the Poconos.  My father started attending there after my mother died.  I wasn’t Christian at the time, but I was curious and wanted to be supportive.  I don’t recall too much about the service aside from taking communion,…

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