Category Archives: School Board

How not to prepare for the next epidemic: an open letter to the Board of Education of Caledonia Community Schools

A letter urging the Board of Education of Caledonia Community Schools not to adopt an unwise and possibly illegal policy and waste our money lawyering up to defend it.

The Threat Angela Rigas Poses to Caledonia Community Schools

A guest post exposing the legal/financial risk voters would take by giving Angela Rigas allies a majority on the board of the Caledonia Community Schools district.

Again with “parental rights”: the return of a dog whistle

Here we go again. Campaign by dog whistle. How much did it cost Jessica Kohn to spam her little campaign plug into my iMessages account? And who paid for it? But she sent it to me, and I will respond. The first sentence of the message in the screenshot carries all the weight: Jessica KohnContinue reading “Again with “parental rights”: the return of a dog whistle”

Everyone Needs Compassion

At the monthly meetings of the Board of Education of Caledonia Community School, members of the public are allowed to make three-minute addresses to the trustees. Here is what I said tonight. Two words from me tonight: compassion and sex. Compassion comes first. And last. I know a song: “Everyone needs compassion.” It’s true. LifeContinue reading “Everyone Needs Compassion”

CRT in the textbooks! (not)

Notes on the struggle with false accusations (CRT!) in one West Michigan community’s conversation about social studies curriculum.

Defend institutions

OK, you want to know why I’m running for school board? I’m not lacking things to do with my time. I am not bored. My day job in academic book publishing is endlessly fascinating and demanding, and numerous prospective authors (I am chagrined to admit) could tell you that all my evenings and weekends couldContinue reading “Defend institutions”

Acquiescence is complicity; love requires truthtelling

Until we have agreed that we will speak truthfully and respectfully to and about each other, and that we will not choose as our representatives people who are unable to do either, we cannot hope for progress on anything else.