Sense and Nonsense

Grading Papers: The Circles of Hell

Or "The Stages of Grading," according to Debby Thompson.  Sublime.

(UPDATE:  But maybe there is help for weary teachers on the distant horizon, just as I prepare to hang up my cleats.)

The Benefits of a Gap Year

 

Gareth Cook has an interesting op-ed piece in this morning's Boston Sunday Globe about the benefits many students can gain from taking a "gap year" or "bridge year" between high school and college -- a great opportunity to gain some maturity and perspective.

 

Scourge of the Deanlets

This morning's Wall Street Journal carries a review of a new book about the problem of administrative bloat in American colleges and universities. The author of The Fall of the Faculty is Benjamin Ginsberg, a distinguished political scientist at Johns Hopkins University.  

From the review:

In his lacerating "The Fall of the Faculty," Mr. Ginsberg argues that universities have degenerated into poorly managed pseudo-corporations controlled by bureaucrats so far removed from research and teaching that they have barely any idea what these activities involve. He attacks virtually everyone—from overpaid presidents and provosts down through development officers, communications specialists and human-resource staffers—but he reserves his most bitter scorn for the midlevel "associate deans" and "assistant deans" who often have the most direct control over the faculty. Mr. Ginsberg refers to them as "deanlets," but at my institution they are often called "ass. deans."

From 1975 to 2005, the costs of attending an American university tripled. During that period, faculty-to-student ratios stayed relatively constant, but administrator-to-student ratios ballooned. The number of administrators increased by 85%, and the number of staffers rose by 240%. Administrative salaries shot up as well. Today, 81 university presidents are paid more than half a million dollars a year, and 12 earn more than a million.

Ginsberg has put his finger on a serious problem in American colleges and universities. 

More about the Universe

I know I just posted something about the enormity of the universe a couple of days ago, but here's another interesting video.  I'm on an astronomy-education kick because I recently learned that some of the high-school seniors I teach were unaware that there is anything out there beyond our own solar system.  I'm not kidding. (See the post immediately below for a look at the problem of contemporary American students.)

 

 

The Dumbing of America

© Clay Bennett

See my piece at The Atlantic's website on this issue, along with follow-ups here and here.

UPDATE:  Also, see this dispiriting op-ed piece by Jesse Singal in the Boston Globe.

World's Top 100 Universities

Harvard knocked out of first place:

For data, go here. 

 

Eliminate Senior Year

Why not eliminate the self-indulgent, debauched waste that is the senior year of high school?

That's the interesting question that Walter Kirn addresses in today's New York Times.  Great idea. 

A Message to Students

Relax.  Kick back.  Have fun.

Great Expectations

Teachers and students: see this interesting post by Chris Mackowski at Scholars & Rogues.  Be sure to peruse the comments, too; many of them are also very good.

Your Kid Sucks. And You're an Awful Parent