Author Archives

I am entering my 21st year as a math teacher at Weston High School, the sole public high school in Weston, MA. It’s also my 44th year as a teacher altogether. In addition to my day job, I taught for 20 years at the Saturday Course in Milton, MA. I also teach at Harvard’s Crimson Summer Academy each summer; 2017 was our 14th consecutive summer.

Sometimes I work on educational software. I also read, cook, and continue building my model railroad whenever I can. For some reason I'm left with less so-called free time than would be ideal. Nevertheless, I manage to devote time to my wife, Barbara, and to our excessive number of cats as well.

• Egyptian Hieroglyphics

  By ljd42 on June 21, 2018

  

  Just completed the second week of Weston High School’s June Academy, in which I taught a course on Egyptian Hieroglyphics. In the photo below you can see two posters that showcase some of the students’ work, including carefully drawn name… Read More ›

• Tolkien Exhibit

  By ljd42 on June 17, 2018

  

  This certainly sounds like an exciting exhibit! Here’s a brief description: Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth explores Tolkien’s amazing legacy from his genius as an artist, poet, linguist, and author to his academic career and private life. The exhibition takes you on… Read More ›

• Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction

  By ljd42 on June 16, 2018

  

  Oddly, I had never read James Gunn’s work of literary criticism, titled Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction, before this week. I say “oddly” because Asimov had absolutely been one of my favorite science fiction authors ever since I was,… Read More ›

• Five languages in five days?

  By ljd42 on June 14, 2018

  

  “Five languages in five days” is the name of the four-day course I have just finished teaching. Yes, you heard me: despite the name, it’s a four-day course. So which is it, five days or four? Let’s see what Lewis… Read More ›

• William thinks he’s a hamburger.

  By ljd42 on June 12, 2018

  

• Famous alums Josh and Anne

  By ljd42 on June 11, 2018

  

  While clearing out my personal belongings from my office and my classroom (it’s amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in 21 years) I came across a copy of The Scarlet Letter that some miscreant had abandoned in our office. (That’s the… Read More ›

• How do you get teachers to smile?

  By ljd42 on June 10, 2018

  

  Do you smile when taking or grading final exams? Not likely. Those are two different activities, of course: when you take a final, at least it’s over in two hours, but grading dozens of them can get… well… tedious at… Read More ›

• We have a winner!

  By ljd42 on June 9, 2018

  Congratulations to Weston sophomore Andrew Yao! Andrew has achieved the rare distinction of being a winner of the American Math Competition — one of only two underclassmen nationwide to reach this exalted rank (and one of only 12 students altogether,… Read More ›

• Problem solved

  By ljd42 on June 8, 2018

  

  While cleaning out my desk, I came across this copy of our high school newsletter from 14 years ago. Notice the headline on the lead article. Fortunately, that problem has been solved. Right?

• Progress

  By ljd42 on May 30, 2018

  

  Time have changed! Remember John Silber? Here is a Facebook post from a few hours ago: And here are some excerpts from a letter John Silber sent out two decades ago: We have received a number of letters questioning the… Read More ›