Diversity

Happy Casimir Pulaski Day!

Did you know that of six Polish Language Radio stations broadcasting in the United States, four of them are Chicago stations? Did you know that, according to the 2000 census, Chicago has about 185,000 Polish speakers, which would make Chicago’s Polish speaking population, by itself, the 20th largest city in Poland? Do you know who Casimir Pulaski was and where his statue is here in Chicago?

Did you know there’s a song?*

*(Unfortunately, it isn’t really about Casimir Pulaski, or have anything to do with him, except that it was written by a dude who appears to be from Illinois.)

Anyway, what are you doing to honor the Polish hero today?

PS: Remember that Chicago Public Schools are out today, so you might have a few parents missing from your classes…

Diversity and Justice

In early February, the American Bar Association Journal reported on a pair of studies presented at the ABA mid year meeting, that suggest a “judge’s race or gender makes for a dramatic difference in the outcome of cases they hear—at least for cases in which race and gender allegedly play a role in the conduct of the parties.”

Check out the article here, where you can find the links to the studies (or you can get them by going here and here).

I found this while checking out a feminism-related blog called Shakesville, originally known as Shakespeare’s Sister, which was named for they Virginia Woolf’s thought experiment discussed in A Room of One’s Own. I included that part because I know at least one English class is reading Woolf’s book; I saw a student on the elevator with it and asked. She said, “I am loving it.”  Just thought I’d throw that in.)