As we prepared the third issue of Independent Teacher, my first as editor, I began to think about the significance of journals like ours and the role they can play in the professional lives of teachers. Are the articles essentially one-way conversations? Are they lectures designed to convey ideas from authors to readers? While this is one aspect of journal articles, I am sure that, if asked, our authors would say they intend more. The writing in this journal is also meant to challenge our reader's ideas and to stimulate discussion. Our hope is that Independent Teacher can facilitate conversations between authors and readers on issues of interest to teachers in independent schools. Independent Teacher eagerly seeks reader response to our articles and our journal. Starting with this issue, each article will be followed by a hyperlink that allows readers to e-mail Independent Teacher. Feel free to send us your reactions to our articles, positive or negative, via e-mail or regular mail. All reader comments will be read and some will be published in future issues.
The topics of the articles in this issue are wide-ranging. Chris Holmes relates his experience using a blog in an English class; Tim Gavin discusses diversity Maria Younger talks about teacher evaluation; and Steven Coberly, Lor Gehret, and Wayne Winters share with us the poster they created to bring astronomy into the high school classroom. Plenty to think about, plenty to talk about.
Finally, I want to say how pleased I am to be the editor of Independent Teacher. It enables me to work with talented people I might not otherwise get to know and to learn more about teaching and writing: my two major interests.
S. I.
By the way, check back with us in early spring to see the new look of our website; we hope you'll like it.