Paris Commune: For today’s episode of Another World Is Possible, Norm Diamond celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune. In this first of a series, he explores what the Commune stood for, how it differed from the earlier French Revolution, and how it inspired anarchists and Marxists alike. In particular, he looks at the prominent role of women in initiating the Commune and defining its vision and policies. The music for today’s program comes from the poetry and anthem of the Paris Commune.
Back to School: Bill Resnick talks to Elizabeth Thiel, President of the Portland Association of Teachers, who led the union in their effort to create a safe and teachable reopening of the schools. They discuss what teachers, the community, and especially parents discovered in the long period of distance learning, for one that children and adolescents need teachers, not just computerized materials, and secondly, how good teaching is a combination of knowledge, skill, art, patience, respect and democratic relationships. Finally they discuss how the union and teachers are attempting to build engaging project-centered curriculum and nurturant schools with smaller classes.
Gambling in Oregon: Sharon Grant, a contributor to the Ole Mole, and Kitty Martz, peer mentor with Voices for Problem Gambling Recovery discuss House Bill 3078, which is currently in committee. HB 3078 would allow the Oregon Lottery to install gambling on hand-held devices.
Poetry and the Red Squad: In a piece from our archives, Norm talks with Kaia Sand about writing poetry with a sledgehammer and about the repressive Red Squad of the Portland Police. The occasion was an installation Kaia and others had created at the North Portland branch of the Multnomah County library. Kaia Sand is now Executive Director of Street Roots and writes a wonderfully compassionate weekly column for that publication. This segment originally aired in October, 2014 as Kaia Sands at the Watch Files Project.
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