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.
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Election Math: A British approach from Plus Magazine
As you know, Hillary Clinton received more votes than Donald Trump in 2016, which is why she is president today. What? You say that isn’t true? But she really did get more votes — and we live in a democracy,… Read More ›
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To Say Nothing of the Dog and Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog)
Two books — each called (in part) To Say Nothing of the Dog. Is this a coincidence? Actually, no. Let’s look at each title in turn: The first of these, which has the full title of To Say Nothing of the Dog: Or… Read More ›
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Greenberg Model Railroad Show
There were some interesting items at this weekend’s Greenberg Model Railroad Show in Wilmington… But ultimately it was disappointing. The big problem was the ratio of layouts to vendors: it was much too small, maybe 20% layouts and some of… Read More ›
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State University of Murder
State University of Michigan? Hmm… SUM? Is this perhaps a heavily disguised Michigan State University (MSU)? Or would that be too subtle? Anyway, you should read State University of Murder, Lev Raphael’s latest novel. This academic satire is the latest… Read More ›
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Are teachers entitled to get Social Security benefits?
“All the money you’ve put into Social Security goes down the drain,” a certain Weston teacher explained to me in 1998. We had been talking about our work histories and future plans. You need to know three facts: Massachusetts public-school teachers… Read More ›
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Shady Characters
You don’t have to be a typography nerd to enjoy this book, as long as you read it slowly and carefully. Keith Houston (who is not a professional typographer) has written a surprisingly lively book with the title Shady Characters: The… Read More ›
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“The biggest problem teachers have with parents”
The Math Curmudgeon writes: The biggest problem teachers have with parents is getting them to let go the reins, stop the constant hovering, … essentially to back off and let their children learn in peace. … HS is the time… Read More ›
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The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia
How does one review an encyclopedia? Look specific things up in it? Dip into it randomly? Read it in order cover-to-cover? I suppose one solution is for us to look up a term that we are familiar with, and then… Read More ›
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“Tell it to Kim and I.”
“Tell it to Kim and I.” That’s grammatically correct, right? Not to those of us who were traditionally trained: older people like me and younger people who were indoctrinated by people like me. But apparently it’s correct now. And not… Read More ›
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The Quantum Spy
Espionage, quantum computing, cryptography: a fascinating trifecta of themes. Mostly techno-thriller, with a bit of science fiction, The Quantum Spy by WaPo columnist David Ignatius seamlessly combines all three themes. There are two orthogonal ways to look at a novel like this…. Read More ›
