As I come to the end of my 27-year teacher career, I have been asked this question quite a bit: Why did you never become a principal? The simple answer…

The Guardian publishes a "kindness of strangers" series that I really like. This particular story, short and sweet, about a stranger dropping $2 into a coin-operated ride to make a…

I have a real problem with America's classic song "Horse With No Name." Why not give the damn horse a name? What kind of monster rides into the desert for…

I love my children's pediatrician. I loved Dr. Yaback, my own childhood pediatrician, who passed away five years ago. Pediatricians are remarkable. They choose to treat children, which strikes me…

The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey this week for conduct detrimental to the team hours after he posted a lengthy rant on social media that included anti-gay sentiments. Ivey…

Every month, I record my progress toward my yearly goals to hold myself accountable and, occasionally, seek help and advice from readers willing to offer insight, ideas, and solutions. Here…

Greg Tannen of McSweeney's wrote a short, amusing, insightful piece from the perspective of The Void, pleading for people to stop screaming into it and do something instead. I loved…

I told my students that I've never used an emoji. They didn't believe me. "Impossible!" one shouted. But it's true. I've never included an emoji in a text message ot…

A new survey polled people on various proverbs and aphorisms to see which they actually agreed with. Most agreed-upon proverbs included: “Actions speak louder than words” (92 percent agreement, one…

Fred Rogers created a list of "50 Ways to Meet Your Neighbor." It's weird. I love Mr. Rogers. I would've made him immortal if possible. But this list is a…