Category Archives: politics
On the Truth and Importance of “I Told You So”
As millions more become politically engaged in these dark times, there has been a fair amount of Columbusing (discovering what was already there). “This is the beginning of a movement” or “first they came for the immigrants and we said … Continue reading
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Free Speech and Fighting Fascism
Three events which presage the world to come and require us to choose which conflicting values we prioritize. Up to now there has been a building uncomfortable stalemate on some of our social tensions, the Trump/Bannon era will escalate these … Continue reading
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Colorblindness is Racism
I started with a provocative headline, but I have come to believe that this is a necessary approach if we want to design policies and systems that bend the arc of our moral universe towards justice. Let me start with … Continue reading
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Learning the Wrong Lessons from Newtown
It is four years since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, and we’ve had the benefit of extensive investigation and reflection. Many of the open questions in those horrible moments and days after the shooting have been answered, but we … Continue reading
5 truths about character and poverty that David Brooks has too much self-control to grasp
My David Brooks posts tend to be blockbusters (tens of hundreds of viewers!) so I am leaning in and going full listicle for this rant about his latest column, which in Brooksian fashion puts a modern social scientific sheen on old conservative … Continue reading
Student Learning and Labor Policies, follow up
My piece for the Atlantic ran yesterday, on how student learning is not directly connected to exploitative labor policies. I had some interesting conversations, on twitter and over email, so I thought I would share those with my readers. It … Continue reading
Teaching and learning, labor and fairness
It seems a requirement that any conversation about higher education in America must begin and end with costs and economic outcomes. Along the way, our economic analysts nod to the power of knowledge (economic research shows it improves career prospects!), … Continue reading
Posted in education, higherEd, politics, teaching
Tagged econometrics, highered, labor, learning, teaching
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Hopes and Fears about Obama’s Change in Higher Education
I am trying to be optimistic, and I will get there by the time the semester starts in a week and a half. But today, with the White House releasing its plan to make college more affordable, I am finding … Continue reading
Cedar’s Digest reads “Twilight of the Elites”
This week at the beach I also got a chance to read Chris Hayes’ superb social commentary, “Twilight of the Elites.” Instead of gathering thoughts later to write a blog post, I tweeted some thoughts as they occurred to me. … Continue reading
Posted in bookreview, education, politics
Tagged Chris Hayes, education, elites, meritocracy, Twilight of the Elites
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Sandy Hook and Useless Common Sense on Guns
As a parent and a human being, I am horrified and terrified by the events of last week in Newtown, Connecticut. I have hugged my kids, I have sat and cried upon reading notes sent by six year old best … Continue reading
Posted in news, politics, psychology, science
Tagged availability heuristic, guns, psychology, SandyHook, teaching
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