Hear. Hear. Nicely put.

> From: Nancy Patterson <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 04:21:25 -0400
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Is this relevant?
>
> I've been on this list less than a year and am less part of this community
> than I am on other e-mail discussion lists where I am "more present" either
> because of my frequent posts or my long subscription.  But let me assure you
> that every list I belong to is discussing the events of this week.  We live
> in the world.  As academics we must always put our work within the context
> of that world.  And though the dicussion of grammar and its role in the
> classroom is not directly related to the attacks on Tuesday, to ignore the
> need to discuss those attacks, to express both concern for the victims and
> their families and for the state of the world in general is to ignore a very
> human need.  Some of us need to ground our discussions in reflections on how
> a world of humans could bring about the events on Tuesday.  Some of us need
> to express our sorrow.  Can't there be room for a while for both such
> expressions?
>
> In good time the discussions will all go back to their designated topics.
> But for the time being, for as long as it takes, don't close off the
> discussions, the reflections, the speculations on how the world spawned such
> actions.  I received a post today from another list that came indirectly
> from Shelley Harwayne, superintendent of Manhattan school district #2.  She
> told about children entering one of the schools in her district--only a
> couple blocks away from the WTC--telling a teacher that birds were burning
> in the sky.  What the child saw, of course, were burning bodies of people
> leaping from one of the towers.
>
> Who of us can keep our minds on academic discussions when children see such
> things.  The academy will have its day again soon enough.
>
> Nancy G. Patterson, PhD
> English Department Chair
> Portland Middle School, Portland, MI
>
> "To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can
> learn."
>
> --bell hooks
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.msu.edu/user/patter90/opening.htm
> http://www.npatterson.net
>
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