scotisle.bsky.social
@scotisle.bsky.social
@jgieseking.bsky.social I am a History teacher at an Episcopal school in the East Village. One of my students is reading your book, "A Queer New York," She requests to interview you before the end of December 2025. Please let me know at jmcdonald[at]gcschool[dot]org or on Bluesky. Thanks!
October 23, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I designed my own t-shirt based on the mural found on the wreck of the #Yorktown
June 11, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Screened the movie GLORY for my Civil War class. The movie holds up very well after 36 years, and students were enthralled.
April 17, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Today I learned that in this same period in 2017, there were 700 protests against T.

This time there are over 2000.
March 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Trump signed an Executive Order attacking Federal Funding for Libraries.

Please send an email to your legislators and governors before it's too late!

action.everylibrary.org/emaileo2025 via @everylibrary.bsky.social
SEND AN EMAIL: Stop Trump's E.O. Attacking Federal Funding for Libraries
We need your help TODAY to tell your governors and key members of the House and Senate that federal funding for libraries - the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - needs to be preserved!
action.everylibrary.org
March 19, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Today I learned my colleague Kazuo Tsuda passed. Kazuo and I ran a Japanese Film Festival at UNIS for many years. He was a wonderful teacher and friend. I haven't spoken to him since I left UNIS in 2006, but I have many fond memories of working with him.
February 20, 2025 at 12:33 AM
2/2 Me: Where is Davenport, Iowa?
Terry: It's near the Quad Cities
Me: That...doesn't help. I don't know where those are either.
(Fun fact: There are five Quad cities!)
February 20, 2025 at 12:33 AM
1/2 Since WWII and the American Civil War battles didn't really happen in Iowa, I am ignorant of the geography of that state. It is a failing on my part. It leads to conversations -
February 20, 2025 at 12:33 AM
(12/12) Peter died recently. I left UNIS in 2006 and we had talked very infrequently. But he will always hold a place in my heart for what he did for my family on 9/11. Here's to Peter's memory.
February 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
(11/12) Of course, that's the kind of man Peter Atkinson was. Kind, supportive, a wonderful teacher and mentor. He wouldn't have told me that he had soothed my Mom. He wouldn't have crowed about it. He just did it.
February 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
(10/12) It was a few days later when I called my parents. My Mom couldn't stop gushing about how Peter relived her worry. How his calm demeanor made her feel like I was safe. That he spent a considerable amount of time listening to her and respected her concern. I was really surprised and touched.
February 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
(9/12) Of course, I was in the lobby, assuring kids they would not die walking home alone. I had no idea that any of this was going on. When I got back to my office Peter calmly said, "Your mother called. I assured her you were alive and okay." I thanked him.
February 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
(8/12) Only I didn't pick up. A teacher named Peter Atkinson did. Peter taught History at UNIS for many years. Peter spent some time on the phone with my Mom. His lovely calm British accent assured her I was safe. That I would call her soon. And I would continue to be safe.
February 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
(7/12) I heard from so many people that they never got through to their loved one that day, so she must've dialed my office number a lot.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(6/12) While I was in the lobby cajoling kids into believing they could walk home safely, my Mom was in Buffalo New York. She was beside herself with worry. I don't know how many times she dialed the phone.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(5/12) The Head cut everyone loose into a changed city with no working transit system, a sky full of smoke, and the absolute terror of our students as we pushed them out the door. I still think this was the worst move he made ever, by far, and our Head made a lot of questionable decisions.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(4/12) Within minutes, my office, the Media Lab, which was a classroom as well, filled up with faculty to watch the news. I left to talk to the Assistant Head. He and I unsuccessfully attempted to talk the Head out of dismissing the students.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(3/12) I watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center all alone. I couldn't process it. At first, I thought there was something attracting planes to the tower. That's how naive I was.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
(2/12) My boss came in to tell me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. The two of us turned on CNN to confirm and he left to tell the Head of School.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Here's my first post on Bluesky. (1/12) On September 11, 2001, I was working at the United Nations International School. I had the only working television connection in my office at the time.
February 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM