As Mr. Goldman empties his backpack, his philosophy of teaching spills out, along with an interesting assortment of odds and ends. In this article Mr. Goldman describes the contents of his L.L. Bean daypack with two large compartments in the back, a smaller forward compartment, and a little zippered pocket in the very front, along with his…

Like sugaring, teaching requires immense patience. Superintendents can force textbooks on teachers but cannot make them use them. Not every high schooler needs an elitist, college-bound education, but no one needs to be bribed or threatened into learning or reading. Alternative texts and approaches can be used to help students discover a…