A spanking of a kindergartner by the principal in Monticello, Georgia, made the national news recently. The mother reported in USA Today April 18, 2016 that she now regrets having given the school permission to paddle her five-year old son. When I began teaching in Colorado Springs in the late 60’s, corporal punishment was the […]
“In a civilized country like where I come from,” said Eustace, “the ships are so big that when you’re inside you wouldn’t know you were at sea at all.” “In that case you might just as well stay ashore,” said Caspian. from C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of
It’s been a good run. Let’s face it, for four hundred years, we ‘owned’ the canon. Most ‘best twenty’ lists include nineteen of us, with Mary Shelley being the only interloper. This has come at great cost. A not uncommon experience was the 1895 reaction to the publication of Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, which
The Last White Male Novelist Hangs up His Quill Read More »
It pains me to have to write this. I don’t wish to be a part of the divisiveness that’s rampant in the Democratic party as we head to Super Tuesday. But the time has come to tell my 2008 Colorado caucus story. Before I do, I’d like to say that I voted for Bill Clinton, twice.
Colorado Caucus PTSD Read More »
Christopher Ryan Parent was a native of Woodland Park, Colorado. He was the oldest of two sons born to parents who are both teachers. In high school, he ran cross country, played clarinet in the jazz band, and was a state forensics champion two years in a row as an extemporaneous speaker. After graduation, he entered
Christopher Ryan Parent Photography Read More »
As with most years, 2015 had its highs and lows, depending on which day or location you were considering. The news was littered with stories of never-ending wars, horrific acts of violence, and people being persistently belligerent, but there were bright spots for those paying attention, many in the realm of books, film, and television.
A Few of the Best Things I Read and Watched in 2015 Read More »