Spackle and Paint

I generally abide by Mark Twain’s adage that I should never put off till tomorrow what can be put off until the day after tomorrow. I also tend to follow Parkinson’s Law, the truism that states a task takes as long as a person has to get it done. I consider...

Democracy and Education (Part Two)

In last week’s blog, I mentioned John Dewey’s concept of the Lost Individual. All I wrote at the time was that the Lost Individual was someone who sensed a problem with American democracy, but did not know what to do about it. Today I want to offer a bit more detail....

Democracy and Education (Part One)

Fifteen years ago when I started writing a book about the educational philosophy of John Dewey, a few trusted colleagues encouraged me to abandon the project.* They believed that Dewey had already been overanalyzed and I’d be better off directing my efforts in a more...

Home Repairs

One of the few benefits of Manyu going to Asia each winter (and leaving me behind to care for our dog) is that I can complete home projects without her looking over my shoulder or complaining about the messes I leave in my wake. On Manyu’s current trip, I have been...

A Lost Week

Last Tuesday a nurse practitioner tested me for COVID and flu. She also checked my lungs for pneumonia. In her medical opinion, I have a bad case of something else. I wouldn’t bother mentioning my ailments, except to say that five days in bed does not give me much to...
Steven Simpson