Author Archives: admin

The Road Forward

Posted on May 7, 2021 by admin

One of the cornerstones of Pres. Biden’s infrastructure plan involves massive expansions of the availability of charging stations for electric vehicles. I understand why: our automobile emissions account for approximately 25% of our greenhouse gases. Reducing those will have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

PSA: Blog Deadline

Posted on April 29, 2021 by admin

A quick reminder: the blog closes down before finals week. The last day to blog for credit will be May 14. I look forward to seeing your responses to posts before then.

Posted in Education | 3 Comments

2020 Census

Posted on April 28, 2021 by admin

Last year’s census results haven’t been fully disaggregated, but we know this much: Mississippi is one of just three states whose populations shrank during the previous decade. Plenty of potential culprits will show up on lists of explanations for this: … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Politics | 15 Comments

George Floyd’s Legacy

Posted on April 21, 2021 by admin

When Minneapolis jurors convicted Derek Chauvin of murdering George Floyd yesterday, I gave thanks that justice, in this case, had been served. Darnella Frazier’s video of Chauvin’s calloused disregard for the life of the person he sought to arrest might … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Politics | 13 Comments

The Lost Cause: Still Winning in Mississippi

Posted on April 13, 2021 by admin

Gavin Stevens, Yoknapatawpha’s learned attorney and most articulate southern apologist, quipped in Requiem for a Nun that “The past isn’t dead. It isn’t even past.” For Stevens, this means that the glory and the terror of antebellum Mississippi lived on … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Race in Mississippi | 16 Comments

Mannerly Mississippi

Posted on April 9, 2021 by admin

Mississippians scold their children from toddlerhood forward for anything perceived as rude. Say sir and ma’am. Sit up straight. Don’t speak unless spoken to. Don’t say anything that might hurt somebody’s feelings, or about politics, or about church–unless it’s to … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Ethics | 15 Comments

Pressing Ahead

Posted on March 29, 2021 by admin

Congratulations. You’ve made it more than three-quarters of the way through a year in pandemic education. We’ve already used the blog to discuss the use (or non-use) of virtual teaching measures next year. Here’s a more fundamental question: what has … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 13 Comments

Good Intentions Gone Awry

Posted on March 25, 2021 by admin

Here I sit in an empty classroom: after administrators listened to meteorological reports last night, they decided to make instruction virtual. I appreciate that administrators prioritize safety over quality of instruction. However, it sometimes feels like we’ve slipped down the … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Ethics, Politics | 10 Comments

My Snow Day…

Posted on February 16, 2021 by admin

…was better than yours! This almost makes up for all the times I’ve biked or jogged up that hill to ward off the middle aged spread.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Zooming into the Future

Posted on February 15, 2021 by admin

This morning, while most high school students in Mississippi slept in because of the weather, MSMS students filed into their Zoom rooms and stayed on track. Technology can seem like a blessing in situations like these, but I am curious: … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Science | 11 Comments