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 > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html > and select "Join or leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/