Tag Archives: Education

School Band, Disharmony of the Spheres

By Robin Bates | Published: September 20, 2012

Celebrating the agreement between the Chicago teachers and the city, here’s a humorous poem about school band.

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School Begins with Internment Camp Novel

By Robin Bates | Published: August 27, 2012

Otsuka’s “When the Emperor Was Divine” excited our incoming students upon the upcoming school year.

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Ritually Enacting “Adultery”

By Robin Bates | Published: August 22, 2012

Ritually enacting a piece of fiction, such as Andre Dubus’ “Adultery,” can lead to special insights.

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Prince Hal in Today’s School System

By Robin Bates | Published: July 12, 2012

David Brooks argues that today’s “nurturing, collaborative” educational system would have kept Shakespeare’s Prince Hal from becoming one of England’s great kings.

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Orwell Shot Down More Than an Elephant

By Robin Bates | Published: July 11, 2012

Essayist Dylan Nice describes how Orwell’s essay “Shooting the Elephant” pulled him out of kneejerk rightwing prejudices.

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A Film about a Teacher Taking Chances

By Robin Bates | Published: June 1, 2012

“Monsieur Lazar” is a film about real learning, which sometimes can only happen in spite of school regulations.

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Parents, Kids, Schools & Banned Books

By Robin Bates | Published: May 23, 2012

Parents pressure schools to ban books because they want to protect their children. Their children want the books because they have a different set of needs.

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A Villanelle for Graduating Seniors

By Robin Bates | Published: May 16, 2012

During our commencement ceremonies this past Saturday, my creative writing colleague Karen Anderson was asked to read an appropriate poem. (Previous posts on Karen’s poetry have appeared here and here.) Karen chose a villanelle by Theodore Roethke and then, in a very nice touch, explained how the poem’s intricate form as well as its content […]

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Students, Fling Up Your Windows!

By Robin Bates | Published: April 26, 2012

Stephen Vincent Benet has a perfect poem for students worn out from end-of-the-semester studying.

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