#Kristin Wold | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

davidblaska · 5 years ago

Text

WANTED:

More Milton McPikes, fewer guilt mongers

Obsessed with identity politics, Madison school board member Ali Muldrow posts on social media an article headlined: “The discomfort of white adults should never take priority over the success of our black and brown students.”

“I didn’t come here to teach those kinds of kids.”

As harmful as that kind of statement is, very few teachers are brazen enough to express their racist thoughts out loud. If teachers express bias at all, particularly White teachers, they do so silently or even unconsciously — implicitly.

#gallery-0-7 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-7 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-7 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-7 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Kenya Walker

Kristin Foreman

Tequila Kurth

Are they also victims of MMSD identity politics?

The clear implication is that school board member Muldrow is, once again, accusing Madison educators of racism most foul.

Hire more educators of color? Fine with us. Go For It!

But if race is so important, why have so many principals of our middle schools failed? Tequila Kurth stepped aside this week as principal of often-violent Jefferson middle school to take “an extended leave of absence.” That makes nine schools at MMSD’s 12 middle schools to experience a change of leadership in the last 3½ years, according to Chris Rickert in the WI State Journal.

Rickert also named Kenya Walker, who quit as principal of Black Hawk Middle School in April 2017 amid suspicions of financial mismanagement, and Sherman Middle School Principal Kristin Foreman the next year after a teacher alleged in a blog post that the school was “in crisis.” Those were the only principals Rickert named.

We reached out to Ms. Muldrow to ask why the leadership turnover at Madison’s middle schools? If these principals are incompetent, why were they appointed? If color is so critical, why did they fail?

Milton McPike, RIP

Blaska’s Bottom Line: Perhaps the principals would have become another Milton McPike if the school district wold have allowed it. Or required it. The renowned, no-nonsense principal at Madison East high school died too soon (in 2008). McPike was known to personally escort miscreants by the collar out to the waiting squad car.

Perhaps the latest crop of middle school principals failed because they were burdened with a guilt trip former superintendent Jennifer Cheatham turned into the Behavior Education Plan. Something Milt McPike would have thrown in the trash bin.

What do YOU think?

Why are Madison middle school principals leaving? WANTED: More Milton McPikes, fewer guilt mongers Obsessed with identity politics, Madison school board member Ali Muldrow posts on social media

#Milton McPike

0 notes

tumblngdice · 7 years ago

Text

Long-term problems

[...]

Like a condemned man about to face a firing squad, Martin Sjögren walks through the mixed zone after the defeat to Belgium, his body language defeated, affected by the two Belgian goals as if they were .30 calibre shot directly into his gut. The Norwegian press are critical of him, his nationality is once again brought up, a pot-shot from Sweden’s western neighbours, the media overly critical of the passive manager leading their team.

With some of the best in the world at his disposal, it’s unfathomable that Norway aren’t just underperforming so criminally but are looking at a group stage exit from Euro 2017 with potentially no points nor goals to their name. Although the Football Girls’ struggles aren’t news, the football world seems to have forgotten that Sjögren inherited a less than perfect Norway side, the team having taken heavy hits with retirements and discontent under the previous manager Roger Finjord, things were far from perfect. Even under Norway-favourite, Even Pellerud the team looked off-colour, a lack of identity and focus derailing them at the 2015 World Cup.

Slow progress

The adage is that Rome wasn’t built in a day and whilst Sjögren isn’t being asked to build a European capital city that boasts a good pizza place or two, he is being asked to reharmonize a former European power in women’s football. The Damallsvenskan-winning coach has his work cut out for him, given just half a year with Norway after taking over at the end of 2016. He’s had precious little in the way of time to stamp his style on the team, a La Manga camp at the start of the year brought about two wins from two, the team only having just met their new boss.

Away from each other for two months, the team regathered in the Portuguese Algarve. Whilst the wins didn’t follow the team from Spain, the play improved, the problems were still there but the development of the team was palpable, so why now, in the Netherlands, are the team capitulating and falling apart on the pitch?

A serious lack of midfield has been plaguing Norway all year. The presence of Maren Mjelde back in the midfield would surely stabilise the side but with persistent injuries to either Maria Thorisdottir or Nora Holstad-Berge have kept the captain in the back line, unable to give her best to the team. Neither have been fully fit this season and so Sjögren took a calculated risk before the Belgium game to drop Thorisdottir into the defence with Holstad and push Mjelde back into midfield. An injury to the Klepp woman in the warm-up enough to put paid to those plans. Without a visible midfield – despite a number of talented midfielders in their ranks – the team has struggled across the breadth of the pitch, the defence exposed and the attack left floating unable to combine. You feel that if the team was able to call upon Mjelde in midfield, she would restore the balance and bring a presence back, the defence able to stand on it's own with Holstad and Thorisdottir in the middle and Elise Thorsnes and Ingrid Moe Wold the dependable fullbacks.

With more oomph in midfield, the team would be able to find more harmony going forward and Caroline Graham Hansen, Ada Hegerberg and Kristine Minde wouldn’t be left to put in a lone performance, disjointed from their teammates. With one of the best attackers (if not the best) in the world in Hegerberg, not to mention Graham Hansen who at times has been overshadowed by her compatriot, Norway shouldn’t be struggling for goals and yet they are. It’s not for Hegerberg or Graham Hansen to carry the team, though, as both are still young and need to be part of a winning team not the lone shining light.

[...] 23-07-2017, Sophie Lawson -- An early exit wouldn’t be the end of the world for Norway

#women's euro '17 #norway wnt #martin sjögren #maren mjelde

1 note · View note

suallenparker · 8 years ago

Text

Philinda Fanfic: Behind the Scenes, Chapter 6

RATING: T

SPOILER: This is set in a Universe where Phil quit his Tony Stark babysitting duties after the first gig and returned to active field work. So, basically their backstories stay the same until after the first Iron Man Movie.

SUMMARY: After her former partner Phil Coulson almost got killed in action, the traumatized SHIELD agent Melinda May returns to duty. She and Phil go undercover as contestants of the celebrated TV show “Forever Love” to catch a stalker and to trip a traitor.

NOTES: See Chapter 1. Again, I’m sorry this update took two weeks. Life’s still crazy and I don’t see it calm down soon, but i hope to get you the next update a bit quicker. But for now I hope you enjoy this! THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You guys are just AMAZING!

PREVIOUS | NEXT

o0o

Chapter 6: Boundaries in which Maggie gets more chemistry

Another week, another group date for Diane…

“Loyalty and friendship are at the base of every great love, it’ll be my pleasure to introduce you to some creatures who have mastered these qualities - Eric”

The invitation card had arrived this afternoon while Phil was on a date with Meredith, a graphic designer from Florida. When Meredith returned, she was all rosy cheeked and smily. She couldn’t stop talking about how perfect Eric was and how she could really see herself spending a life time with him.

Which was exactly why Melinda hated undercover missions. Innocent people always got hurt, were always left feeling betrayed and foolish. And they had to fool not only those people but the whole tv watching nation of America too.

In forty minutes Phil would pick her up for group date with Katherine, Audrey, Anisa, Shia and Kristin. At breakfast this morning they already had discussed outfit options at length.

Melinda had opted for some tight jeans and a loose red blouse that showed some cleavage. The look would be completed by red lipstick and nude high heels. The shoes already stood next to her bed and Melinda glared at them before she went into her bathroom. She had just enough time to make a call to Hill.

She retrieved the cell phone from it’s hiding place and dialed. Not five seconds later, Hill answered the call with a sharp “Yes?”

“It’s me.”

“Perfect timing!” Hill said, “I couldn’t get anything from the card and Skye hasn’t cracked the laptop yet, so I went back to Dickface’s apartment. I found a key hidden between his porn.”

Hill sighed.

Melinda could practically see her shake her head.

“I really should’ve gone through them last time,” Hill said. “But who hides keys in their hidden porn?”

“You expect me to answer that?”

Hill sighed again. “It’s a key for a safe deposit box. I’m working on finding the bank it belongs to.”

“That’s something.”

“I have high hopes to punch Dickface in the nuts soon.”

That was the optimism Melinda was looking for. “Anything else?”

“No.”

“Then I better go.” It was always a risk to talk on the phone. Best case scenario, one of the other women would hear her and doubt her mental state, worst case, they’d find out she had a cell.

“Need to get ready for a hot date, ugh?”

“Bye, Hill.”

“But May …”

“Maggie is still fine. Worried but strong. We keep an eye on her.”

“Thank you.”

o0o

Twenty minutes until he’d have to try his very best to please six different ladies on one date whilst also trying to not make anybody fall in love with him whilst on a tv show that wanted to watch him fall in love.

He already wore his date outfit, jeans and a crisp white shirt that he’d pair with a brown leather jacket. So far Maggie hadn’t urged him to change into something else. But then again, she had knocked on his door just three minutes prior, so he couldn’t be sure yet. Yesterday for his date with Meredith

He longed for days where he and May just had been in imminent danger to lose their lives.

But this was his assignment and as ridiculous as the setup might seem, the reasons behind it were as serious as ever.

He read the letter Maggie had given him again, “Despite my warnings you went forward with this fraud. Stop it now or Eric and his false new love will die.”

Same paper, same font as the others. This was the first one Maggie had gotten since they became involved with the case. And it was the first one that featured Eric by name. Unfortunately that wasn’t a real clue, it might just mean that whoever had sent the letter followed Forever Love on TV.

Ads for the new season were airing for two weeks now.

“Same old, same old …” Maggie said and crossed her arms.

“Maggie, this is serious.”

She snorted. “That’s the only reason I allowed my show to become an actual fraud.”

“We can still get you -”

“I don’t need a bodyguard. I’m not the one they’re threatening.”

“But they’re angry at you,” Phil said. They’ve had this talk like … twenty times now? And this letter made him even more concerned. “They’re writing to you,” he added. “This is personal for them and they might want to escalate. They might want to hurt you.”

She swallowed and stared at him.

“I’m not saying that just to scare you, I’m saying it because it’s a possibility.”

“I’m not scared.”

Liar. He tilted his head. “You’re not that foolish.”

“Fine, I’m a little scared.” She shrugged. “Mostly I’m just worried. Do you know how easily shows are cancelled these days? Do you know how many jobs depend on that show?”

Now she definitely sounded like her sister.

“We’re here to help,” he said.

“Know what would help me?” She raised a brow. He had seen that look on hill before. It meant nothing good for him. “Start paying attention to Diane. We’re trying to tell a love story here.”

Yeah no, he wouldn’t allow her to switch topic so easily. “Just one call and a bodyguard for you would be here within the hour, no problem.”

“Just give me my love story and don’t get shot.”

“Once was enough and don’t worry; Agent May and I will give you a show.”

“Remember these words because when this goes to the finale weeks.” She grinned. “I’m gonna need kisses with tongue.”

o0o

The loyal creature who had mastered friendship were dogs. At least to this part Phil had looked forward to. Together they went to a shelter to promote it and to hopefully get some of those cute critters adopted. A lovely side affect was that with the adorable dogs around, not all the women’s attention was constantly on him.

Now he and Melinda took two of the dogs for a walk in a close by park. Phil handled a black, old Labrador named Hades whilst Melinda handled tall, a white and grey great dane named Betty, who kept trying to lick her hand as they walked.

Maggie, Rebecca and her camera walked in front of them. Phil ignored them as told and smiled at Melinda. “Betty likes you.”

“I like her too.” Melinda petted the dog’s head.

Hades tried to pull Phil over to a garbage can and Phil had to shorten the leash. “Wold you ever get a dog?” Suddenly old Hades made a jump just to get to an old piece of hot dog on the ground and Phil almost tripped.

Melinda grinned. “I’m more of a goldfish person.”

“Commitment issues?”

“Only when it comes to animals.”

“Have been hurt by them before?” He looked at her over his shoulder while he pulled Hades away from the gross piece of meat.

“No!” he told the dog. Hades gave him a heartbreaking look. Mentally cursing himself for being such a softie, Phil reached into his pocket and gave Hades a tiny treat.

Melinda stopped next to him. Betty sat down and leaned her head against Melinda’s upper leg. “My ex husband always wanted a dog but I never had that desire.” Melinda said and smiled as she scratched Betty’s head.

“You were married?” he asked - Eric asked. Phil already knew the answer. Hades sniffed at Phil’s hand and Phil rubbed his ear, which he seemed to enjoy almost as much as the treat.

Melinda nodded. “For four years.” Just as long as she had been married to Andrew. They had decided to stay as close to their real lives as possible. The more truth a lie had, the easier it was to uphold.

“What happened?” he asked. Hades lay down right on Phil’s feet.

She pulled up her shoulders and focused on petting Betty. “We weren’t a good idea from the start. He always saw me as someone as someone I eventually proved I could never be.”

Phil frowned at her. Was this Melinda talking or Diane? They had never talked about her divorce. They hadn’t talked much at all after Bahrain … And her private life had been off limits ever she had married Andrew. “I think you’re fantastic,” he said quietly. “I never met anybody like you.”

She smiled at him. “Let’s hope that the thrill of the new won’t wear off.”

“I don’t think it will.” It hadn’t in the decade he knew her. Not only did she still manage to surprise him, just getting to know her more made him fall deeper for her. “I can’t imagine it will.” Like he had told her last time, she was worth every wait. Not that he could ever tell her that as himself. She had set boundaries he couldn’t cross. “Any other serious relationship?”

She raised a brow. Betty lay down next to her. “One failed marriage isn’t enough for you?”

“I’m too noisy, aren’t I?” He snorted and shrugged. “Sorry, sometimes my interrogation training gets the better of me.”

“Have you ever been married?”

“No.”

“Ever been close?”

“No.” Maybe if things between Andrew and Melinda hadn’t worked out … but thoughts like that were fruitless. They had boundaries. They were partners. And he was just grateful she was here with him now.

“Commitment issues?” she asked.

“Just didn’t find the right one.”

She gave him the gentlest smile. “How about now?”

Damn his heart for skipping a beat. But other than that, this was exactly the set up he had been hoping for. “Could you wait one sec?” he asked her.

She frowned, but nodded. He handed her Hades’ leash. After he carefully retrieved his feet from between a now snoring Labrador, he walked towards the camera to get the rose Maggie had in a special flower case.

When he turned and brought the rose back to Melinda, she gasped in surprise and her cheeks flushed. Her eyes lid up.

“Diane, you amaze me,” he said and positioned himself in front of her so that Rebecca would get a good shot of the both of them. “I never met someone like you.” He smiled shyly. “I know I already said that but it’s true. Will you accept this rose and allow me to get to know you more?”

“Yes.” She beamed at him as she took the rose. Their fingers touched and he smiled right back.

o0o

Maggie got in the car with him when they left the shelter. Squinting at him, she fastened her seat belt. “You’re in love with her,” she said.

“Told you we’ll give you a show.”

“No, I mean you’re in love with your partner.”

He mentally want through all his eleven tells and tried to suppress all of them as he looked at Maggie. Thanks to years of training he managed to control his face and just raised a brow.

Still, Maggie kept squinting at him. “It was all over your face when you gave her that group date rose,” she said. “And I think she’s in love with you too, how about that?”

What was he supposed to say to that? Melinda had always been a gifted actress.

Maggie tilted her head. “Question is, what are you afraid of.”

He smiled at her. “If we even have you fooled, your show is in safe hands.”

o0o

MORE NOTES: I hope you enjoyed this! Please, if you have the time to comment, I ALWAYS love to read from you!

PREVIOUS | NEXT

#philinda #philinda fanfiction #melinda may #phil coulson #agents of shield

32 notes · View notes