When I was a youngster, occasionally my grandfather would give me a silver dollar. Collectors’ coins today, these silver minted gifts now serve as part of my recollection of lessons he taught me. One of those lessons involved gum wrappers. Growing up poor, many of us in our community wanted to go to a weeklong […]
Letter: What’s Going On?
According to recently released public disclosure documents, Deb Hansen, President of the Clover Park Education Association (CPEA), solicited from association’s members their signatures on a template she provided that would be sent to the Clover Park School Board in advance of their January 11, 2021 meeting. The letter – to which CPEA members could sign […]
Letter: The CPSD, Emails and Groupthink?
A Public Disclosure Request for “all emails and correspondence and board meeting minutes related to Paul Wagemann’s alleged ‘crack the whip’ comment” netted 86 emails that are carbon copies. In these mass-produced emails that supposedly find School Board Director Paul Wagemann’s “crack the whip” comment “racist and absolutely unacceptable,” there is only one difference that […]
Letter: As White As Snow
Overnight the temperatures had dropped 20 degrees, and by dawn the weather had grown in the ferocity of a minus 10 degrees blizzard. As the farmer prepared for work in the frozen landscape as seen through the frosted window of the mud room, he smiled at the recollection of the shy girl in the gingham […]
Letter: A Lesson From An Unknown Lake
It didn’t look like much of a lake. In fact, if I had not looked up and through the trees and my tears, I might have missed it. To reach its edge of this unknown lake, I had to make a trail. On the shore of that unknown lake I drowned in my grief. I […]
Letter: Revolutionary Green Peppers
The green peppers of the world have united! With good reason, they – with help from a renegade band of baby carrots – had organized, created a logo, and would eventually raise hell in the world of food. Vive la revolution! This revolt of the peppers came about because of its test scores on the […]
Letter: Garden Dreams And The Future
The massive wooden door of the castle opened slowly. The young girls from the other side of the tracks – certainly in contrast to where they now stood – stared in awe with mouths agape as the ‘La vie du chateau’ (the good life) opened before them. Then – then! – they were ushered inside […]
Letter: One Interesting Catch
This is an article about one of my not-so-good ideas. My dad used to say that I was born with a fishing pole in my hand, and as a boy when I saw water I naturally grabbed one and headed out. Or in this case down. Down the embankment, sliding over the mossy and fern […]
Letter: Who – And What – Is Behind The Equity, Diversity And Inclusion Training For The Clover Park School District?
Ninety minutes into the January 11, 2021 Zoom meeting of the Clover Park School District Board (CPSD), Director Paul Wagemann asked for background information on the consultant who will provide training to the District on the subjects of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). With the exception of promising to provide a link to the consultant’s […]