Learning Against the Grain

Next week, I'll be presenting at UPenn's 30th annual Ethnography in Education Forum. It'll be my third year participating in the forum, and each year has been a lot of fun.

This year, I'll be speaking about some political dimensions of a participatory-action-research project that I collaborated on in a friend's ESL classroom.

I'll post the paper associated with this talk in the link below:
Learning against the grain: Supporting students ‘critical ethical voices’ in and out of the classroom

a new blog

i obviously haven't been using this blog frequently...

as of recent, i've been writing on a new space, Sociogeny of Sport, to begin documenting my readings, questions, problems, curiosities, and whatever else comes up along the way to writing my dissertation. right now i'm focused on the sociological study of sports across diverse communities. until things solidify a bit, this won't be a public forum-but invite only. so let me know if you'd like to know more... alexgurn@gmail.com

in the meantime, i'm planning to start posting to this blog at least bi-weekly

Obama Inauguration 2009

Traveled to DC for the inauguration weekend, a bit of a last minute decision and well worth it. The outpouring of optimism was feverish. One couldn't help but get infected by the positive energy.

Posted a bunch of photos to our flickr account

Island Catharsis

It's been a while since I've thought about posting to the blog. After my dad passed, I needed to disconnect quite a bit and have spent a lot of time reflecting on what's important in my life. Though I get entangled in the pain and suffering that characterizes the human condition, I also deeply appreciate the privileges that I have. We just came off one of those privileged weeks, a beautiful stay in a house on Plum Island with old and dear friends. Lots of time to get lost in thought and tossed by waves. Tough to return to the city, but the loss of seaside peace was tempered by a fantastically sweaty run this morning in the Arboretum...

Robert M. Gurn, librarian and adventurer

The Buffalo News ran a full obituary on my dad this past Tuesday. My good friend Ben helped us draft the points that would entice the News to write the piece, and then he hounded the staff to pick it up. The article is a nice tribute to a great man. The photo is a laugh, a 22-year-old picture from their archives when they ran a story on his mountaineering and librarianship. Despite the "strict" Buffalo News policy to only use obituary pictures within the last 5-10 years, they published a glam-shot from the 80's. As my mom said, "Bob wouldn't have been caught dead in those clothes today!" But man, he was stylin' back then.

Read the obituary

Mountain Man Forever

At midnight on May 29th, Bob died after a courageous battle with cancer. He and my mom were sleeping, holding hands, when he passed. The past few months have been the most difficult I have ever experienced, but the outpouring of support and love from expected and unexpected places gave our family strength.

He will be remembered for the countless things that he quietly did with the utmost care, attention, and skill. I now begin a new journey with the memory of a man that I looked to for support, knowledge, and guidance. Though he is gone, what he taught me, what we learned together remain behind to guide me through what is yet to come.

Friends have asked about donations. Our family has suggested:

Burchfield-Penny Memorial Fund
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222

Hospice Buffalo
225 Como Park Blvd.
Cheektowaga, NY 14227


Thank you, Pops. I love you.

Gettin' High on a Mountain

In 1979, my father Robert fulfilled his lifelong dream to climb Denali (aka Mt. McKinley) in Alaska. It took 22 days to reach the summit, shown below, which peaks at 20,320 feet.

Shortly before any signs of illness this winter, he shipped off his 35mm slides for digital processing. The cd recently came back. We've been marveling in the pics and talking about the stories, both of which are numerous and rich.

I'll share more as it unfolds...

English HS Wins!!

Xavier sent the following message after his students won the student news competition. Thank you for everyone who voted and congratulations to the deserving winners.

Daybreak in the fertile farmlands and valleys of King Philips' lands were usually quiet. Grass would gather dew as doe and fawn move freely through the ancient orchards. The King, high in the castle slept soundly, secure in his post.

As the sun arched towards the noon hour the chefs began to prepare the King's lunch- tomato salad, braised dove, and a melange of fruits and berries collected from his humble servants farms throughout his kingdom.

"I say...I say...Am I to do everything around here. Must I stoop to put my own slippers on?"

His tender, pale feet slid into the velvet slippers placed before him by a tidy man who appeared from behind chamber curtains.

"My lord, my King, we have received word from our spies that our plan to commandeer the peasants crops and good in the name of Royal Destiny has angered the people. As you slept I dispatched your royal marching band 'The High Steppers" to quell the masses with music. Unfortunately, they appear to have met with some resistance on the road and...well...I regret to inform you that their horns were used against them in a most disturbing way."

King Philip moved towards the chamber window slowly. His thin hands cluttered with the rings of his fathers fumbled with the rolling curtains until the harsh light burst in face. His land was green and good, but the King only understood the silhouettes posted on the horizon. Blue smoke swirled angrily, 22,000 strong, the people came for justice, for pride, to reclaim what was theirs.

"Man servant...please ready the royal teddy bear and blanky."

_______________________________________

FRIENDS & FAMILY-

What we accomplished yesterday was incredible. Within 45 minutes, our network of partners mobilized and one vote at a time chipped away at King Philip's seemingly insurmountable lead. Supporters from all over the globe flooded Fox's computers with their choice for Best High School newscast and English High School came up with the top spot.

In the 4 years I have been a member of the English High Family I have never seen such inspired camaraderie and resolve as I witnessed yesterday morning. While the recognition for our efforts feels great, the knowledge that we as a collective can overcome great odds is an amazing thing. None will soon forget the day English let its voice be heard.

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR OUR KIDS!

Vote for English High School on Fox News

My friend Xavier's class needs your help. His students' television program ETV has made it to the finals of Fox News Best High School Newscast. Now, ONLINE VOTING determines the winners.

You can watch all the videos and vote at www.myfoxboston.com But please, vote for English HS.

Most of his kids don't have Internet at home to vote unlike the suburban schools they are competing with. This is where you come in. PLEASE forward this to everyone. VOTING IS EZ, but just in case, STEP-BY-STEP instructions for voting are below. FYI, you get blocked from voting more than 10 times on any 1 machine...unless you clear your cookies/settings.

ETV is on Youtube as well They've got some serious videos. One of my favorites is Episode 5 with a dance battle in the halls of the high school last year. Dancing starts around 9:30 minutes. Check it out but VOTE FIRST.

Billy Marks ping pong yin