Dear friends,

Bending The Arc has become an irregular venture and I am grateful for your trust and patience. Surprise, surprise, we are experiencing a new wave of military and political upheaval on multiple fronts. Wherever you are, I suspect you are feeling the effects of widening and perilous war raging across several countries in the Middle East. While so much of the media discourse in the West and elsewhere is focused on rising gas prices and the knock-on effects of economic disruption, it is also true that the scale of destruction and loss of life in Iran, the Gulf states, Lebanon, Palestinian territories and Israel is substantial.

I am in no position to parse the details of the unfolding conflicts but there is considerable evidence that we are witnessing the effects of the rise of a billionaire political class whose interests are solely aligned with the amassing of their own power and influence and not the benefit of the greater good. As Tressie McMillan Cottom posted recently on Bluesky:

“Money is a consolation prize for not having total power. It is actually very rational to pursue that power at the expense of profit.“

How does that statement land with you?

As we try to make sense of the political responses in our respective contexts, keeping an eye on the dynamics of wealth, surveillance and anti-democratic propaganda can’t hurt. That said, this month’s links are some resources to help us act within our unique spheres of control: in our homes, classrooms, neighborhoods.

Crisis Response:

“Doing the nearly impossible: Teaching when the world delivers fear” – a helpful article for considering how to respond in the short and longer term in communities experiencing varying degrees of crisis.

One organization that offers resources to school communities navigating external crises such as war or natural disasters is Sea Change Mentoring. They offer a crisis handbook that you may find especially helpful.

Pedagogy at a time like this? Yes.

In the midst of multiple crises, schools are often sites of safety and routine for students and staff. Doing what we can in our classrooms to boost our sense of efficacy may be one way to manage an area within our locus of control.

Pernille Ripp: When a child says they hate reading what to ask next. Includes a handy one-pager of useful questions and the feelings being addressed: i.e., belonging (or lack thereof), overwhelm, or vulnerability.

Classroom seating to accommodate various engagement modalities without having to rearrange the room every time. Even if you think you’ve been there, done that, have a look at this proposal and see if there’s an idea or two you can use.

A teacher wading into a spontaneous discussion of race and US and Canadian history. Amanda Potts is a language arts teacher in Ontario, Canada who writes thoughtfully about her interactions with students.

AI Resistance corner:

Grim Reality	Satire
“The Ends of AI” by Mél Hogan Simply one of the best critiques I’ve read in the last few weeks. Absolutely worth your time.	PureGenius.education by Erin Rose Glass Shout out for the power of satire and ridicule to illuminate the contradictions inherent in the so-called promise of gen AI in education.

I believe it makes sense to leave it there for now.

I hope you are experiencing sunshine and springtime sentiments (even if your particular climate does not offer the actual season): growth, renewal and more daylight hours.

Sending warm wishes for April and beyond,

Sherri