From the Editor
Fred Barton
Editor, SLATE Newsletter, and Region 4 Representative to the NCTE/SLATE Steering Committee

Gentle Readers:

Well, the shadows of the school year begin to lengthen, student minds float out the window on the warming breeze, and teachers’ thoughts become paperless and grade-free.

Or you could be teaching summer school.

In any event, this issue of the SLATE Newsletter attempts to send you into the sun-splashed months on a little lighter, albeit, hopefully, no less informative note.

First, we find Millie Davis, sword and shield drawn, as she sallies forth to engage those who would stand between teachers, students, and literature. As you will see in Millie’s report, results are mixed. There are still more successes than not, but some of the reports are truly scary. For example, a high school teacher teaching College English Argument-Based Research Class in North Carolina showed Farenheit 9/11 and was suspended immediately. The reason? The film attacked President Bush. I believe it was Theodore Roosevelt who said, “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” I guess Teddy was from a blue state.

Submitted for your approval: High school—a right of passage for young people almost since this country began, four years and the last hurdle before adulthood. Except if, as Jack and Billy are about to find out, you attend classes in the Twilight Zone. A tale of the outer limits of NCLB brought to us by Greg Shafer, who teaches at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan, when he’s not at his cottage in Eerie, Indiana. Oh, and that title works on so many different levels.

Do you now, or have you ever, belonged to the Blog Party? Like it or not, know about it or not, blogs are coming to a computer near you. A recent article in The Council Chronicle covered blogs in the classroom, but there are also blogs about the classroom. As a public service to our readers, in this issue we offer a peek at the educational blog world. We say peek because the Blogosphere is an evolving, growing, changing environment. Consider us your blog Sherpa.

Last, some potentially good news: The cracks in the facade of NCLB continue to widen as resistance grows. We report on a bipartisan review of the law that rings some of the same alarm bells we have been ringing for years, but that also contains some new notes that will be music to your ears, if like many, you are tired of the slave galley drum beat we’ve been living with lately.

So enjoy this seasonally flavored issue of SLATE, best served with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, or cheese sandwich if madam or monsieur prefer.