Another school, this time in Maine, has now had to endure a day of trauma and anxiety as they were forced into lockdown due to the threat of violence. Thankfully, no one was hurt. I am grateful to everyone who worked so selflessly to keep the kids safe. Mostly though, I am just so angry […]
Forecaster opinion
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Brunswick Superintendent’s Notebook: Teaching our kids how to be good digital citizens
Parents have been struggling for a decade or more to “control” what their children see and do online: Do I “allow” connections with others? How do I keep my children from being “exposed” to online bullying or sexual references? How can I provide context if I don’t know what they are seeing? It’s not easy. […]
advertisement
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Let go of the Thanksgiving lie and learn the real story
You can take the snow-topped Swiss Alps, the azure seas of the French Riviera, the wide-open vistas of the African veldt. For my money, there is nowhere on Earth prettier than Maine in September and October. Nowhere. I am so very thankful that this is my home. Which is most appropriate given that Thanksgiving is […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Life Unwound: Seeking stillness within the whirlwind of activity
Many beautiful quotes invite us into stillness. T.S. Eliot offers this: “At the still point of the turning world. … at the still point, there the dance is, … Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.” What is the still point? And the dance? […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Sustainably Speaking: As holiday shopping begins, consider the planet
Growing up in rural Argentina, our family hardly ever went shopping. My father had been raised in the same solid brick house where my six siblings and I grew up. The land around it was forested with eucalyptus, willow and poplar. To the east, wheat and sunflower fields bloomed in the spring. From our open […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Forum: Use your intrapersonal skill set to assess politicians
We are not barcoded at birth with an indelible political party affiliation: This choice usually comes into focus only after several stages of intrapersonal development have been achieved. The initial stage is acquiring a rudimentary “sense of self,” followed by the evolution of “common sense.” At a later stage, a robust and encompassing common sense […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Through My Lens: Connect immigrants to northern Maine and solve problems
Attracting more refugees to small towns in Maine can be the answer to addressing the labor shortage and shrinking population in the northern part of the state. It is possible. At the moment I don’t see this conversation happening on the platforms Maine immigrants use, but we need to start talking now about connecting Maine’s […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Mainewhile: Sweaters give us more than seasonal warmth
Ah, fall! My favorite time of year for sure. Hot apple cider, pumpkin pie … and sweaters. The worse the nightly news, the more comfort I take in pulling on a cozy sweater as I either head out to face the day, or settle in for the evening. Here’s the thing about sweaters: They are […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
RSU 5 Superintendent’s Notebook: Supporting one another through grief
“Supporting a bereaved child involves compassion and commitment through genuinely listening and understanding their experience. It is an intentional process and teaches us so much about the hope and healing that occur when you are heard and have space.” – The National Center for Grieving Children and Families The few past weeks have been extremely […]
Posted inLakes Region Weekly
Letter: White knows what’s needed to educate our grandchildren
Grandparents and great-grandparents, I call your attention to the sad state of affairs our education system is in today. Simply, children are not being educated. The state and national test results are proving that fact. Our students are falling behind each year because of the far-off curriculum being used in today’s education system. Our grandkids […]