Favorite Comments of '12: Anonymous and Barry Garelick

On Making people squirm--or inspiring them

Anonymous said...

I told my children to make up a fictional persona to write about, and that I would back them up completely if they were ever questioned or criticized about it. The poor child who shares honestly, who doesn't realize or isn't capable of putting on a front, will be teased mercilessly (speaking as having been that child). For others, it's license and endorsement for fake honesty.

Barry Garelick said...

The link to Jessica Lahey's piece about making her middle school students squirm by writing about something personal appears to have been removed. I doubt that Ms Lahey has changed her mind about the value of the assignment, but probably just got tired of hearing negative comments.