W. H. Auden (1907-1973) was born in York, England; Anglo-American poet, playwright, essayist, and literary critic; known for his stylistic and technical abilities, as well as his wide range of themes, including politics, morality, love, and religion. He moved to the U.S. in 1939, and became an American citizen in 1946. His books of poetry include Poems, published when he was 23 years old, The Orators,The Age of Anxiety, and The Dyer’s Hand. From 1956 to 1961 he was Professor of Poetry at Oxford; his lectures were popular with students and faculty. After his death at age 66, his poems became known to a much wider public than during his lifetime because of their use in films, broadcasts, and popular media.

_____________________________

To read Auden’s poem, ‘September 1, 1939,’ click:

Chris Reykdal, state superintendent of public instruction in Washington State, published this excellent letter to the Democratic candidates.

It overflows with wisdom and common sense.

An Open Letter to the Biden-Harris Ticket:

Mr. Vice President and Senator Harris, there is so much at stake with this year’s presidential election, including the very foundation of our country’s democracy – the future of our public education system. Led by Betsy DeVos and fueled by years of education privateers, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has been an utter failure in advancing student learning, racial equity, and gender equity over the last four years. Under DeVos, the USDOE has jeopardized the financial future of too many young adults and actively worked against civil rights protections for our most vulnerable students.
​
As Washington State’s elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, I have worked with leaders across the state to build bipartisan coalitions to improve…