Thom
Ronk


Thom Ronk is a multicultural educator with more than 20 years experience in corporate, government and non-profit educational programs. He has facilitated students’ and teachers’ learning throughout the United States as well as in China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Turkey. He has extensive experience writing and developing print- and Web-based curriculum materials, and he’s the primary author of Essay Writing for High School Students: A Step-by-Step Guide (Kaplan Publishing, 3rd Edition, 2006). Thom received a master's degree in Secondary Education/TESOL from Temple University and a bachelor's in English/Creative Writing from Florida State University.

Articles by Thom

Bringing 9/11 in the Classroom—Useful Lessons

As a matter of practice, we encourage teachers to integrate learning opportunities about religious tolerance and cultural understanding throughout the school year. But this is especially important as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.

We Can All Step In

One Sunday morning around 6:30 a.m., I boarded the 7 train in New York City to go to Queens. Scattered throughout the car were about seven weary workers, their clothes covered in dirt. They were trying to sleep after what I imagine had been a long night of hard physical labor. I thought many were probably immigrants who had collected a day’s pay. Before the train started its journey, two very alert guys boarded wearing hoods. One stood at one end of the subway, keeping watch outside and the other immediately started going through the pockets of one of the sleeping workers. I looked around for others to step in. Most averted their eyes from the crime.

Bullies vs. Overweight Kids: How Can You Help?

A new study shows that obese kids are 65 percent more likely to be bullied than their peers of normal weight. Wendy Craig, a professor of psychology, highlighted the importance of teachers being proactive when she told CNN, “bullying and obesity are both major public health concerns that teachers and schools—and not just parents—need to address.”

Taking a Closer Look at Religions Around the World

When I reflect on the incidents last week involving students who wore offensive shirts with anti-Muslim statements on them in Gainesville, Florida, I cannot help but to think of Jonathan Swift’s quote, “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” I don’t agree with Swift, though. All we have to do is observe how no local company in Gainesville, Florida would agree to print the T-shirts.
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