Dear John,

This week's newsletter theme is "connection," and reflecting on a full year of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have a new sense, I think, of what connection means. There are so many ways I feel even more connected to those I hold dear, and yet countless ways I feel disconnected. The connections are more intentional but also less spontaneous with everything planned and scheduled. I wonder how much of our civil society relationships rely on the accidental connection of bumping into a new neighbor on a walk versus the planned, logging into a school board meeting? What happens when we keep the planned and scheduled lessons, but there are no accidental conversations with students during passing or lunch? How does it change our relationships? How does it change our society? 

I, for one, am so grateful for unscripted experiences and I have loved chatting this week with a few of our "Super Users" (teachers with more than 30 students enrolled) of our new Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness digital resource. It was so nice to connect with teachers I don't know well! It was invigorating! We discussed how they are using it with their classes, the challenges they have faced this year, and how much this free resource has helped them navigate one of the most difficult teaching years in their careers.

And I am also grateful to be in touch with all of you! I hear from you on Twitter and Facebook, and I love hearing about how you are inspiring your students and colleagues. And while hours of Zoom calls don't compare to meeting you all over the country, I would love to hear from you on my weekly live Monday morning show! Find it on YouTube, Facebook, and starting next week, on Twitter!

I look forward to staying in touch,

Rachel Davison Humphries
Director, Outreach
Bill of Rights Institute