In light of the brouhaha that arose in response to President Trump’s recent comments lauding nationalism, I think it’s illuminating to revisit two quotes from Allan Bloom’s 1987 book The Closing of the American Mind. Here’s the first: Contrary to … Continue reading →
At 88, she writes that she has been diagnosed with dementia, probably Alzheimer’s. “I will continue living in Phoenix, Arizona surrounded by dear friends and family,” she wrote and added, “While the final chapter of my life with dementia may … Continue reading →
When something is done by administrative order, it can be undone by administrative order. That’s been happening a lot lately. The most recent example is this: The Justice Department will scrap seven guidance documents issued by the Education Department under … Continue reading →
Newton is a wealthy Boston suburb that is known for its great school system, among other things. One of those “other things” it’s known for is that it contains a large percentage of Jews among its residents, approximately one-third. And … Continue reading →
They’ve been the jewel in the crown of New York City’s public school system: Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, and Brooklyn Tech (here’s a longer list). They provided a chance for any of New York’s students, regardless of finances or race or … Continue reading →
A few years ago a town in Minnesota decided the time had come to institute some changes in its public school system: …[I]n 2013…Edina [Minnesota] school leaders adopted the “All for All” strategic plan””a sweeping initiative that reordered the district’s … Continue reading →
Long before Nikolas Cruz decided to shoot up the high school in Parkland from which he’d been suspended, he was known to be troubled and to have the potential for violence either to himself or others. But it’s a myth … Continue reading →
But then again, people are very strange. This is what it’s come to: Last month, a teacher at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, Calif., was captured on video telling his history class that members of the military are … Continue reading →
And take up a pen. The evidence indicates that taking notes by hand leads to more learning. The article lists reasons why this may be so: The experiment found that the students who used a laptop did not understand the … Continue reading →
It’s been clear for a long time that boys do worse than girls in school these days. This is true for all socioeconomic levels and all races, but there are differences in the degree of the gap, depending on circumstances: … Continue reading →
This news is from Britain, and it’s still an outlier. But perhaps not for long: Teachers should not refer to pupils as “girls” or “ladies” because it means they are “constantly reminded of their gender”, the Government’s former mental health … Continue reading →
[NOTE: This is written in conjunction with this post on recent events on college campuses.] Robert Frost has long been one of America’s best-known poets. During his lifetime, he was also seen as a sort of folksy New Englander on … Continue reading →