In writing a blog, it seems like it is either better to
imagine you are writing to no one or that you are writing to thousands eager
for your words.
It seems to have little of the advantage of self reflection
or prophecy to acknowledge the truth – if I contacted some friends and
colleagues, most would intend to get around to reading my blog, but probably
only a few would actually get there (we’re all so busy).
This issue of audience seems particularly awkward on a blog
that is to announce, hey I’m back!
(echo, echo, echo) My more than
two-year hiatus from the blog bookmarks a transitional time for me. A mere couple of rings on a tree but a time in
which I was learning - or at least experiencing - work and life lessons at
breakneck speed.
Which gets to the point of this blog entry. Although there was plenty to write about in
the last two years to connect the Constitutional Tales to our brave, new world,
I was too involved in it to have the time and likely the capacity to offer much
worth reading. The Tales became a part
of my worldview that shaped how I approached my work with the State Board of
Education, especially in the work of crafting a new vision for the system of
public education. That seemed public
enough.
My professional role now is a little more behind the
scenes. And I find the Tales calling to
me yet again. I am inspired by reading books like David Celeski’s recently published book, The fire of Freedom – Abraham Galloway & the Slaves’ Civil War.
It is a reminder that there are so many
prisms for looking into history and if we are willing to explore them, we can
reshape our understanding of the meaning of the past and the possibilities of
the present.
So what is going on with the Tales? The website, constitutionaltales.org, is now
back up due to the extraordinary work and patience of Carol Place. (Due to my negligence, the original site,
constitutionaltales.net, suffered the worst possible fate of being abandoned
and then purchased by a payday loan site.
Oh, the indignity.) We’ve
reworked the new site and added some new materials.
And Constitutional Tales is headed again to the State Capitol, this time as a special production for the North Carolina Association of Educators on March 21. Lots
to do now that I’m back.
