Yo, Miss! (No. 27)
Begin Again Again
I opened up my laptop to start planning for the new school year, but then I quickly shut my computer because I am still in summer procrastination mode. However, I am not concerned. I have been through this process for over two decades now. I will get back into the swing of the school year eventually.
For now, I am in late August mode where the days move simultaneously fast and slow. I spent last week running through my hometown streets trying to make time last. I want to eek out every minute of the free time that I have left.
The political highlights (or rather lowlights) of last week were the first Republican 2024 presidential debate and then the Trump mug shot. I was terrified as I watched the two hours of the debate, and Trump was not even on the stage. Also, did you notice that within a few hours, both Trump supporters and Trump haters were wearing that mug shot tee. It immediately became both a totem of justice for Democrats and a symbol of grievance for Republicans. I made this meme:
As much as I am procrastinating, I always do look forward to the new school year. I am about to start my 22nd year of teaching. Even though I have been at the same school and teaching the same subjects this whole time, it always feels like a fresh start.
It becomes increasingly difficult to get a fresh start in adulthood.
I often have the phrase “begin again again” in my head as I walk into my classroom in September. As much as my school routine can feel Groundhog Day-ish, it is also comforting - especially with the chaotic backdrop of the world around us.
I am also thankful that I am a teacher in New York City, a place where we are encouraged to teach an honest history with diverse perspectives in inclusive classrooms.
OK, more from me next week! xoxo Sari Beth (aka “Yo, Miss!”)
My Recommendations of the Week
Watch:
Listen:
Boy’s don’t cry, and that is precisely the problem. On this episode of Grifty, all the gang is back in town for our back-to-school episode of exploring the Manosphere – an interconnected echo chamber of men and boys where the themes of toxic masculinity, misogyny, and homophobia are platformed and normalized in online forums, podcasts, and articles all over the web. A large part of the appeal of the manosphere is that it acknowledge the increasing rates of depression, suicide, and incarceration among men. However, they take this sliver of truth and leverage it into a fear-mongering grift where they make the false link that these issues plaguing our boys and men are the result of some global conspiracy.
Watch:
Oh and here are some of my recent TikToks
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Thanks so much for reading! Here’s my LinkTree if you want to follow my social media or treat me to a back to school coffee & croissant :)
I certainly feel your pain of procrastinating before the start of the fall semester. Having taught at a community college for 25 years, I made a promise at the end of each spring term that, "this year would be different" and I would use the summer to get way ahead of my fall preparation. I retired, never keeping that promise :-)