Don't Forget South Central

February marked a number of school visits ranging from elementary (primary) to middle school (lower secondary) and high school (upper secondary.) As the Fulbrighters get their feet wet, mastering public transportation, integrating in schools, and networking in the education world, the question that keeps arising in lunch rooms and private conversations is why do we have so much violence in schools? History Department, Jyvaskyla Normal School (Lower and Upper Secondary) I was trying to explain my school environment both to the History department at the University of Jyvaskyla Teacher Training School (the Finnish version of a lab school) and to seniors at Schildt school, both mature audiences who can handle a nuanced discussion. It never occurred to me just how much I’ve internalized and to an extent, normalized the violence in our society. The new high school seniors asked if gun control might be feasible after Stoneman How does one explain the dramatic rise in pov...

There are 48 hours in the day in Finland. Not really. But it is amazing how much time you have when you are not busy being a mother, teacher, daughter and wife. As Fulbrighters, we are encouraged to take time to get to know our new environments, whether in Botswana or New Zealand or Singapore. There are many A-type personalities in the group, and many of us don’t know how to take it slow. But I heeded the advice and moved slowly. I've been getting familiar with the transportation system. Venturi is the national train system with an app that helps you look at timetables and purchase tickets.  Electronics -Finding the right adapter to connect to European power supplies.  Currency -what is the value of a Euro in comparison to a dollar? It’s important to know. Do I really want to spend 99 euros on a blender? (About $125) Setting up my apartment involves connecting to the WiFi (important!) and seeing what needs to be purchased for day to ...

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/AFP_Getty-476646709.jpg It was the late ‘70’s and there was a televised show based on the Hardy Boys mysteries (who else has that collection?) that captured my attention. This particular episode was based in the city of New Orleans during Mardi Gras time. The visual images captured my imagination: people wearing masks, losing their identities and adopting new ones, dancing and parading on the streets, the music…well, I was hooked. I knew at age eight or nine that I would be visiting New Orleans and as many other places in the world where I could discover a different kind of mystery and magic than what I saw in my own neighborhood. Almost 40 years later, some might say I took this to the extreme by moving to one of the colder climates in the world, the country of Finland, for 5 months to study the school system. If you’ve been reading this blog, you will know there is a special urgency that underlies the reason for...

In the midst of my 21st year of teaching, I get the email about applying for a Fulbright . It gave me pause. When you have worked a career that involves so many moving pieces, it seems impossible to tear yourself away from your work. Who will take care of my Advanced Studies Program? How can I walk away from a school that faces dire challenges due to the surrounding poverty in the neighborhood? How could I afford this opportunity, if an unpaid leave of absence might be required? Then I remembered that my students and families watch what teachers do, not what they say. My whole career has been dedicated to affording the best educational practices to my students, regardless of their background. And when you think of the best, you think of Finland. Maybe you've seen the Michael Moore video on Finnish education. Maybe you've read Tim Walker 's funny and informative posts on moving to Finland and learning about the schools and culture (my favorite was My Amatho...