April 2

So April 2 is a National Day for Higher Education. I did see that thirty-six students were arrested in DC for protesting student-loan debt, but I could not find any news about the protests on the front page of The Washington Post, which, seemingly by coincidence, did have this article on how student-loan debt adversely affects seniors. At the protest, the arrested students had been chanting, "Sallie Mae, you can't hide. We can see your greedy side."

In more local news, the students look tired. Worn down. Four weeks away, but they are ready for a tidy conclusion to this spring's educational experience. A student in my 9:05 a.m. class burst out in dismay, and I could hear she was distraught, when the topic of capitalism itself rose from the waters of a novel with environmental themes. "Do you mean that capitalism might not be the best system!?" A few others smiled quietly, as if we were sharing tacit knowledge. . . sneakily questioning the national mythology. Or just trying to discuss and contextualize the book.

Ah, humanity; ah, class participation.

PS--And then later in the day, we'd learn of another school shooting, this one at a Christian campus in East Oakland.