In my previous edition of American A-holes, I named a person specifically. However, while there are some specific people that just seem to beg to be recognized as an A-hole, there is also an entire subculture of A-holes that need to be grouped together as they are too myriad to…

When I was young, I had these romantic notions of what it meant to be a teacher. I envisioned all of the “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and “Dead Poet’s Society” scenarios, and I scoffed at the old geezers who bemoaned their jobs and their lack of dough. Now, I am that…

In the very first Star Wars movie there is a scene where Obi-Wan Kenobi takes control of a stormtroopers’ mind in order to convince him that Kenobi and company are not being sought by the Empire I submit to you that US Soccer is trying to use this same…

Below is a painting by Jackson Pollock I gotta tell ya, I don’t get it. In fact, one day I tracked oil and brake fluid into my house and it mixed with blood from a scrape on my finger and befouled my carpet. …

In his essay “The Myth Of Sisyphus” French existential philosopher and author Albert Camus relates the tale of Sisyphus who is condemned to…

The Atlantic recently published an article called “ The Death of High School English” which pushed the idea that AI will soon be able to write student essays in a manner which is both superior and undetectable. …

The beginning of a story about the end. There were three quick knocks on the door. That was a secret signal, and our typical suburban household exploded into chaos. Our dog, the most placid non-aggressive dog in the world, erupted as though he were Cujo. Pavlov got famous for his…

Me: Hey __________ , I see that you wrote “Happy Columbus Day” on your Facebook timeline. Why? _________: Because it’s Columbus Day. It’s always been Columbus Day! Me: Always? What about before Columbus “discovered” America? _________: You know what I meant Me: Perhaps so, but for the sake of this…

Well, maybe that isn’t EXACTLY true, but it is true that I really prefer non-fiction, and I don’t even think that reading the “iconic” books that make up much of a high school English curriculum is necessary or even a good use of students’ time.