I do wish, often, that I had been born beautiful. I wish it especially at times like these, when given the extraordinary opportunity to speak with the brilliant Jim Cotter for his WHYY show,
"Articulate."Nonetheless, here I am. Grateful for all the care Jim's exceptional team took, grateful for the conversation, grateful, indeed, for the invitation. And hoping that I had something meaningful to say.
A link to the
trailer is here.
And show times, on Philadelphia's WHYY:
Thursday, February 25, 2015, 10:30 PM
Sunday, February 28, 2015, 1:00 PM
What an honor it was to join Jennifer Lynn, host of
National Public Radio's Morning Edition, at the WHYY studios in Philadelphia. We were talking about the Berlin Wall and the conversations I've been having with students at Science Leadership Academy, Downingtown West, Masterman, and Radnor High about freedom, risks, and responsibilities.
The Berlin Wall is down, but what walls still stand?
Would you risk it all for freedom?
Do you know what you desire?
Given a wall and some cans of paint, what mark would you leave behind?
Given a page, what poem would you write?
What matters most in our lives?
I loved the students I met, the stories they told me, the deep respect these students clearly have for those who nurture and teach them. I am incapable, often, of fully articulating just what my interactions with students and their beautiful librarians and teachers mean to me. Jennifer and Joe Hernandez were exquisitely kind to invite me onto their show and to work with me so that we might tell this story succinctly.
The story will air this morning at 7:45 AM. More on the work of these students and the experience can be found here:
On Teaching the Berlin WallAt Science Leadership Academy:
the Huffington StoryAt Downingtown West:
poems and graffiti artAt Masterman High:
poems and graffiti art At Radnor High:
poems and graffiti art At Radnor High:
photographic outtakesCommon Core Aligned Teacher's GuidePlease go
here to read the teacher's guide for
Going Over, a Berlin Wall novel
