Well, it's been merely weeks since I last posted. I do have a rather good excuse.... I was in Europe with my two teenagers! We visited Paris, Provence, and Barcelona on a teacher-sponsored spring break trip. (Not "my" spring break, but the public school's.)

This was certainly educational. Having been to Paris before, I was anxious to see the city through my children's eyes. My son remarked that all the buildings looked the same! My daughter wanted to shop... okay, so.... they really did like the extra excursion I paid for to Versailles. This visit reminded me of when I talk to my college students in business classes about free enterprise, I find it important to stress the nature of this powerful system called "free enterprise" and the exercise of the entrepreneurial spirit to be anything one desires to be.

You may be asking what this has to do with Versailles.... quite a bit, actually. When the beautiful and luxurious Versailles was built (or completed), the peasant class was large and wanting.... and a significant revolt ensued (thank you, Mssr. Guillotine?) Up until the time of this country's (the USA, not France!) founding, individuals were born into "their lot in life" as either rich, poor, king, or peasant....no effort could change that. America was founded on different principles and those principles have led to its greatness, creativity, and success.

Anyway, visiting Versailles reminded me again of the power of an entrepreneurial-based economy where individuals make their own way and are not tied to the bonds of birth.

Pondering and Teaching

At a recent Peer Group (Business faculty) conference, I had the pleasure of again hearing Joe Ben Hoyle speak about teaching. He's an accounting professor at the University of Richmond. I commend to you a free, short downloadable book (essay collection) in which he shares his experiences and thoughts about teaching.
I don't know if he mentions this in his book, and I am sure that I will misquote him terribly, but I do recall him saying that excellent teachers become so not only by doing it, but as much by "thinking about it." Thankfully, I am a thinker by nature. (My mother says I started asking "why" around age 2, expecting serious answers to this "simple" query.) I am happy to report I haven't changed a bit!
Oh, and I wasn't implying that I'm an "excellent teacher" but must tell my readers that I desire to be one every day. I think a lot about how to be more effective, more fun and interesting, and engage my students in the material so they learn it for today and tomorrow, and not just for the test.

Back to Blogging....for now

I've been busy with other things and have neglected this blog. Without a serious following, it's not easy to post stories that sort of disappear into the ethernet. Besides, you really have to have the time for posting and, more importantly, you really, really, really have to have something to say!

I'll review my very old posts, and see what else I can offer in the way of commentary about teaching. Actually, I have plenty to say (almost always do!) but making the time is tough. I also manage a more politically focused blog and even posting to that can be challenging!

Until the next time....