Mark’s Remarks
Common Sense | Mark’s Remarks
My students recently learned about freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press as we examined early pioneers of citizens’ rights. We talked about people like John…
Read MoreImportant Perks and the Soda Machine | Mark’s Remarks
When we got into fourth grade in 1976, the promotion brought all types of life-changes for us. We no longer went to the little grade school on the north end…
Read MoreMisophonia | Mark’s Remarks
A while back, I wrote a column about bad manners. I told you how I can’t stand poor table manners — especially people who talk with their mouth full or…
Read MoreJohn Williams: Another Brick Wall | Mark’s Remarks
We were out of school on Monday for Casimir Pulaski Day. When that day was first proclaimed, nobody knew the guy. Since then, some have found out. Still, a bunch…
Read MoreBut I Still Like Her | Mark’s Remarks
Yes, I said I wouldn’t be political any more. So here I go again. I had a few folks ask me what I thought of Meryl Streep’s speech during the…
Read MoreOld Age and the Presidents | Mark’s Remarks
I love reading and talking about the presidents of old. My daughter is learning about the presidents in her kindergarten class, and we spent a good deal of time the…
Read MoreCoffee | Mark’s Remarks
I’ll admit it: I’m an obsessive person. Everything I do, I go overboard. I talk too much, I eat too much, I think too much. If I like something, I…
Read MoreShameful | Mark’s Remarks
It has taken me this long to get the nerve to tell you the story that follows. In fact, I kept it a secret for a while. Gradually, I told…
Read MoreCatastrophe | Mark’s Remarks
Yes, we were caught in the recent icy nightmare that came upon the St. Louis area on Friday, Dec. 16. The entire day amazed me for several reasons. My younger…
Read MoreHot or Cold? | Mark’s Remarks
The old days of school lunches are long gone. My students file through the lunch line and type in a code number. I no longer collect money or wait for…
Read MoreGetting the Call | Mark’s Remarks
After the holidays, teachers face the long winter. Now, I’m not telling you that we dread our jobs every day or file into the school humming “Nobody Knows the Trouble…
Read MoreFeeling Necessary | Mark’s Remarks
When spring and summer rolled around about 35 years ago, you’d find me spending a lot of time cutting grass. This was my main job from about age 9, when…
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