#highschoolalloveragain

5-22-17

At one school I taught at for 13 years, I was called a "faggot" every day. The coaches started the name by calling me a "Fag Coach" instead of "Flag Coach." The principals and Athletic Director allowed it to continue. At one recent color guard I taught, the girls called me "old/old fashioned/old school" (They thought that anything before their 4 years of high school was old school).and the band director allowed this age discrimination to continue. A recent assistant band director in Alabama said that I wasn't "a good fit" for their program any longer(so I was told second hand).(because in my opinion, he is homophobic.) This is after winning "Best in Class" for 2 years in a row. You may quote me. 😒😒 # highschoolalloveragain

Notre Dame grads turn their backs on VP Pence

I, the Lord, command you to do what is just and right. Protect the person who is being cheated from the one who is cheating him. Do not ill-treat or oppress foreigners, orphans, or widows; and do not kill innocent people in this holy place.
(Jeremiah 22:3)

Just curious, but as women, don't women know how painful it is to be disrespected and discriminated against every day? Think of the absolute worst, horrific word that a woman or her daughter could be called (most women in my diversity classes say that it starts with "C"). Now imagine being called that offensive word every single day of her life, at her work, at her church, at her school... Now that you have imagined that word and experience, I ask you...would she turn her back on the person who abuses her with that word? (*her is a reference to any woman anywhere). Now imagine if your Governor said that he thinks that you should be strapped to a table, have a bit inserted into your mouth, and then recieve bolts of electricity shot through your brain until you change into something that you are not. Would you turn your back on him? (Insert Muslim, Mexican, LGBTQ, refugee, or any other minority of your choice into this same scenario).

5-21-17

Winter Guard 2016 #alwayslearning

Winter Guard 2016 #alwayslearning

My favorite winter guard show in Scholastic World: West Broward doing "Amy" Winehouse. (WGI SW Fan Favorite.) They were so GE-inspiring live. Great IA equipment and movement, too.

I did not judge this year. So instead, I went to guard shows and 2 regionals and sat near the IA box and watched out of my GE caption. In all classes, in EVERY guard, I was able to see (analyze and learn) the amount of efforts the individual kids were putting into their equipment, movements, and projection in performance. I also watched diverse styles of warm up sequences and made mental notes of my first impression before seeing those techniques transferred to the floor. I remembered my 21 years as a winter guard coach at multiple schools (double that for field guards), before becoming a judge. It reminds me that the activity is about the kids and their growth throughout the season. In GE, we are sometimes caught up in the big picture and don't focus on the kids' individual efforts. This motivated me to assist in instruction of a Novice group to be reminded how fresh and motivated the young ones are. They are so willing to learn! I can comment as a spectator and instructor again since I didn't judge in 2016, and still can maintain the integrity of our judges' Code of Ethics. I hope to make fewer errors in my numbers in future judging assignments. Thanks, performers for your individual contributions, and in reminding me that guard is about educating our young people.

"Old School" Fundamentals

Dear color guards, starting with "old school" fundamentals is the best way to start a new program in order to build a highly advanced, specialized team. Success is not about what an individual can do. Success is what the team must accomplish proficiently together on their way to future perfection.

The best percussion lines do it, the best cheer and dance teams do it, the best Olympic athletes do it. We do it when we learn a new language, too! It is important to learn the rudiments and the language in order to build a new repertoire that expands over time.

Best of luck as you kick off the 2017 season!

Jan. 20, 2017

11:28 am

Sigh

SIGH

"His counter tops are low grade," she said.

"I have marble," she said.

I stayed as quiet as stone, and only sighed.

I have stood under Trajan's Arch in Rome,

climbed the promenade to the Capitolini Museum

Seen Medusa's severed head frozen in marble,

Preserved in her venomous hatred.

Walked on the floors of Pompey,

marveled and sighed

Marveled and signed.

Stood on the mosaics of someone's home, vanquished by nature and time

Wept an invisible tear for those who writhed in pain, cast and frozen forever,

And sighed with long exhalation.

Viewed Dante's tomb,

Admired the view from the Stadium at Dephi in the brilliant sun.

Prayed to the gods at Olympus

Closed my eyes, and exhaled for reaching this.

Walked the cobbled stones of Venice,

Heard the string quartets in Piazza San Marco at sunset in July.

Listened to the gondolier's song as we floated at dawn under the Rialto.

Prayed at St. Peter's, St. Paul's, San Marco, in Greece on Patmos and envisioned the Vision.

Inhaled clean air on Mt. Pilatus, at the St. Goddard Pass.

Can somewhere on Earth really be so clean?

Stood on mountain tops and reminded myself how small I am.

Prayed at Dacau, snarled at Hilter,

and cried visible, agonizing tears in the crematorium...

the sighs of The Holocaust 's innocents haunting the halls.

Shared coffee and consolation with the young girl who didn't understand who could hate her so much.

I have watched violets spring on the graves of Keats, Severn, and Shelley

in the Protestant Cemetery near Rome.

Hugged and shared empathy with my British tour guide, talking of Ozymandias.

I have known rivers, too, and the cold touch of marble.

I have listened to the voices and lessons of history.

"I have marble counter tops," she said.

Robert Robinson

1.22.17

8:25 am

First draft of a free verse journal reflection.