Of course!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Patterson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2001 4:21 AM
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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