politics

The Hidden School Day

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How Life Outside of School Shapes Childhood Education Part 2 in a series. In my study of what works in the effort to serve children’s needs and help them to become happy and healthy adults, I take copious notes. I find it helpful, occasionally, to compile and summarize these notes into a narrative. Why? Because…

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adulting and its opposite

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here’s the thing that’s so hard to reconcile as i move into the last third of my life: as much as i appear to my peers to overshare about my inner life, i feel like a tentative teenager when i consider the world i thought i would find myself in as an adult human, growing…

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to a young person questioning themselves

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I’m 60Mf (that’s how I’ve been indicating a male-presenting femme-relating person). I’ve always known that I’m different on the inside, and I’m so glad that it is becoming normalized to express ourselves about the nuances of our experiences relative to gender. I’ve also recently been diagnosed AuDHD, and that has really helped me understand a…

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A brief history of school

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American K-12 education, 1750–present Part 1 in a series. In my study of what works in the effort to serve children’s needs and help them to become happy and healthy adults, I take copious notes. I find it helpful, occasionally, to compile and summarize these notes into a narrative. Why? Because my brain saves all…

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Living wage: probably not

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We have been acculturated to the language of equity masking a reality that simply doesn’t add up. When a business is telling you they pay a living wage, 9 times out of 10 they either don’t understand the term or they are gaslighting you. This is allowed to happen because most people don’t do the…

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Parts Is Parts: When Common Sense Misses the Mark

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A Mechanic’s Case for Equity in Education I was recently trying to explain equity in education to someone who experiences language around equity as “mumbo jumbo,” (in their words). My mind makes analogies, and tries to find common ground. As we (me and my debate partner) are both Californians, my mind latched onto car culture—Americans…

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my birthday wish

Music-making belongs to everyone. Here’s what I built to make this real—and why I need your help this spring.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Some of you have made music with me over the years. You know what being in the room with me is like. Since my birthday is coming up, I’m hoping you’ll take a moment to hear what I’m asking for. This past year, I decided to start something new. I wanted to nurture spaces that…

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a living wage: a guide for artists and gig workers in the bay area

What Are You Charging?

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Three conversations happen regularly in our community. A colleague texts: “what are you charging for lessons?” Another sends an email: “a school offered me this schedule and this salary—is that reasonable?” A third says, in person, something harder to articulate: “I feel like I need to charge more for a private gig, but I don’t…

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Godzilla! Save us!

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When a child grows up in an environment where there is only one source of support, and that source of support is unpredictable, unstable, and capable of harm, the child’s identity becomes tied to that of the person they rely on. They may learn that if they go along with their caregiver, their needs will…

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