Re-discovered this study by Fred Newmann on high school social studies classes.

The “six key indicators of thoughtfulness” are as follows:

1. Classroom discourse focuses on sustained examination of a few topics rather than superficial coverage of many.
2. The discourse is characterized by substantive coherence and continuity.
3. Students are given sufficient time to think before being required to answer questions.
4. The teacher presses students to clarify or justify their assertions, rather than accepting and reinforcing them indiscriminately.
5. The teacher models the characteristics of a thoughtful person.
6. Students generate original and unconventional ideas in the course of the interaction.

Newmann, F. (1990). Qualities of Thoughtful Social Studies Classes: An Empirical Profile. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 22, 253-275.

today at Saint Joe’s graduation. While it’s always fun to see an academic rock-star — is there a single historian that folks would line up to have their picture taken with — his speech was short and inspiring.

One quote I hadn’t heard before:

“justice is the public expression of love.”

Not sure I got it quite right… searching the interwebs, I come up with the following versions:

Justice is love expressing itself publicly.

Justice is what love looks like in public.

I think the second is the one from West’s written works.

We’re big fans of Rescue Me. Last night’s episode concluded with a stunning monologue by Callie Thorne (Sheila). Maybe the most powerful bit of TV acting I’ve seen in a long while or at least since we last watched The Wire.