Treasure Chest of Thoughts

My dream:  A Conference for English Teachers.

Running on my computer is a draft of an agenda for a two-day conference.  That is my dream for the region of my state.

If you were to attend a Conference for English Teachers within your area, what sessions/topics would you like to attend?

Maybe before this day/evening is over…I, too, can share my dream with those at our educational cooperative who will, hopefully, help me liberate this idea.

In ASCD’s Smart Brief published today, an article pertaining to the censorship of student blogs appeared, an article that further illustrates the continued support by the courts of our democratic land in protecting teachers from verbal and written abuse by a very minuscule number of the minors with whom they encounter daily.

This article hit home as it advocates my concerns about, again, just a very few blogs that I have read this past semester.  Then the question arises: how far is too far?

As an avid supporter of blogs within the classroom, I do not want to hamper, hinder, or in any way discourage the free-flow of thoughts (as free as these thoughts can be when the topic is assigned!).  What a grand venue for learning to write for an audience, even if that audience is initially just peers and teacher.

One wishes that maturity would simply just kick in and overtake such inconsideration and insubordination, but, unfortunately, some just cannot resist the little digs and innuendos.

Thus, the rules continue to apply within my classroom concerning blogs:

1. Write only positive comments about teachers and peers. 
2. Utilize appropriate language…keep it “G” rated!
3. Oh, yes…the famous “No-No” list (the one disallowing “it,” among other “things” and “stuff”)

Yes, #3 is, by far, the most challenging!  Thank goodness! 

In reflection, maybe an “it” and a “thing” or two is just not so bad after all!  Well, let’s not tell my students that just yet…okay?  Shhhh….