Once upon a time, in a land not too far away, there once was a high school music teacher named Mr. Edwards. Now, Mr. Edwards was unlike any other or let’s say unlike most high school music teachers. He realized long ago that Johnny-student was more important than the Key of B-Flat. Mr. Edwards truly …
Let me share a story with you – a fairy tale (in today’s world) Read More »
Since 1989, I have been teaching high school music. High school. Teenagers (I call them “Young adults” but I get admonished (which stresses me out), “they’re children, Mr. Everts”) and their midlife crisis parents. Twenty-seven consecutive years. Wanna talk about stress? Teenagers? Midlife crisis parents? Yes… that is stressful and just think … high school …
I am getting stressed just by writing this blog and posting it! Read More »
Since 1989, I have taught high school music. No breaks. No sabbatical. Well, there were those two times when lies and evil took me out of the classroom. I continue to work on forgiving those who did not believe me and chose to believe others who did not like me or really — did not …
Parenting is an easy job? A simple job? Having had experience being a father since 1994, not once but doubled that responsibility in 1996, I can tell you it is one of the most challenging and BEST jobs in the world. I bring to your attention to a recent article that actually has me concerned …
Make homework fun…again, in the end, it is a choice to have fun! Read More »
Well, it happened again. May have been the 617th time this calendar year. I don’t know. I am just being a smart-ass, but certainly this “happening” wasn’t the first time. I don’t understand how smart people can be so lazy or possibly stupid. However, I am going to give leaders the benefit of the doubt …
Again, the purpose / focus of my blog is: EDUCATION & FAMILY. Being a fifty-year-old Caucasian man; happily married to Diana (since March 30, 1991); Christian; personally conservative (do my best to work with folks who are liberal; DO NOT BELIEVE / SUPPORT THEOCRACY OR RELIGIOUS DOGMA RUNNING OUR GOVERNMENT); a musician; high school music teacher …
Thank God Failure was an Option for Thomas Edison! Read More »
I love T.D. Jakes and I cannot give a higher recommendation for T.D. Jakes. If you haven’t been truly blessed to listen to him, please go to youtube and listen to him. I am going to use his “CHANGE HAS COME” sermon to help me share this blog with you. I am going to spend …
As a high school music teacher, I have experienced numerous in-services in regards to what I believe our “societal issues.” Racism. Drugs. Sex. Genderism. Bullying. And following every in-service that deals with “societal issues” I raise the question: WHY? Why did I sit through this in-service? How did it make me a better teacher and even possibly, …
“Hey, nice job Fred.” So, in the music, we return to that FRED-VICTORY – measure D. Guess what happens? Following that well placed-outstanding example of POSITIVE REINFORCEMNT, Fred performs measure D worse! Fred just received PRAISE for performing this difficult part in the music correctly. “Fred, what happened? I just gave you POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT; something us teachers are supposed to do and you …
Today (January 7, 2016; FIRST FULL DAY FOLLOWING MY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY), I was taking my long walk around the Lafayette Reservoir with my twenty-one-year-old son, PJ. He leaves on Sunday to go back to college. It is a beautiful reservoir that has a wonderful three-mile path. I love that area. I also love walking and …