society
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How to Cheat
So I came across this Wikihow site the other day. It details 120 ways to cheat on a test. Does this say something about: a) kids these days? b) human nature? c) the inevitable descent into absolute amorality/immorality for which the internet will prove responsible? d) a revolution in human thinking that I’m too old and prissy Continue reading
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University Isn’t Everything
This is the final post in our series “What Students Think Should Change About School.” In today’s post, Ruth explains that our fixation on getting everyone to university means a poorer education for everyone. * Society has this idea that certain levels of education are necessary for a person to have any worth. I think Continue reading
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Students Need To Know Why They’re In School
It seems that there are a lot of things students would change about school if they could. For example, MaplesAndMerriment thinks that students need a clearer understanding of why they are in school at all. This is Post #4 in a 5-part series on what students think should change about school. * If I could change Continue reading
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Lighten Up About My Grades
What else should change about school as we know it? This is Post #3 in my series on what students would change about school, if they could. Today’s post is from Katy George, who believes that we need to change our attitude toward grades. * I am currently a senior in college majoring in journalism Continue reading
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If You Can’t Pay for College, Don’t Go
What would students like to change about school? Our series continues. Today’s post is from Aewl. His perspective? College should be reserved for those who can pay for it. * I’m currently a Freshman at a local Junior College. All my classes are online classes as I work during the day full time as a Continue reading
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School Is Too Easy
This week, I’m featuring posts from five students who have shared their thoughts on what they would, if they could, change about school. Today’s post is from Emily. Her take? School should be more of a challenge. * I’m a high school student at a nationally acclaimed magnet school. I go there because my home Continue reading
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What is the Deal With Class Size?
Does class size really make a difference? Frequent commenters Gen X and Army Amy have asked me to give you my thoughts on class size and its effect on learning. Early in this blog’s life, I wrote a post on class size, in which I assert that I believe that if every class in the Continue reading
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The Problem With Desire Paths
I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about “desire paths” lately, and I don’t like where the talk is going. Tony Baldusaro tells a charming story about desire paths: officials at Disney World were upset about customers scarring the lawns by cutting across them instead of sticking to the sidewalks. They asked Walt Disney how Continue reading
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Willing to Read and Write
Yesterday, I told my college students that they need to read the next 150 pages of the novel we are studying, Life of Pi, over the next seven days. This is not news – they got a reading schedule on the first day of class, and were told to read ahead. Nevertheless, there was a Continue reading
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The First Days of School: Then and Now
Today is the beginning of the new school year for me and my colleagues, and many of you will be getting back into the saddle in the next couple of weeks. As I prepare, my thoughts have returned to three of my past posts that still seem timely. The first is called “Mean ‘Til Hallowe’een: Continue reading
About Me
My job is to teach people to read and write; aside from that, I like to learn things.
Classroom as Microcosm 