“Well short” of ideal data, according to the authors
A quick note before I teach this morning: There are higher-ed stories in the New York Times, Chronicle, and Inside Higher Ed this morning on Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa's new book, Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses (University of Chicago Press, 2011). I talked very briefly with Arum about his project in the […]
Uncouth and consequences
So USF and former football head coach Jim Leavitt settled the pending lawsuit over Leavitt's firing for $2.75 million. My flippant email to fellow union activists: "DO NOT HIT STUDENTS IN HOPES OF GETTING $2.75 MILLION!!!! … the coaching staff is different from you and me."* The St. Petersburg Times says that the payoff was a terrible […]
Books have little direct influence, but that’s generally been the case
One reason is that books have lost their place as primary vehicles for shaping education policy. Just like in other realms, books are being displaced by other media. A film like Waiting for “Superman” can have considerably more influence over education policy than any book. Articles and reports can be released on the Internet as soon […]
Why “bankruptcy” is a stupid mechanism to get back at public-employee unions
After New Jersey Governor Chris "Powderkeg" Christie mentioned state bankruptcy in connection with health-care costs, New Jersey had to reduce a bond sale (hat tip: a friend in New Jersey). While state officials are denying any connection, this should put a damper on any foolish schemes to declare local or state bankruptcy for the sole purpose of […]
Short news items
It's the start of the semester, I've acquired a few added responsibilities, and so this entry will be a combination of a few items. Planning for disaster–please turn on head. Bruce Baker and Mike Petrilli have been battling back and forth over the best ways to cut school budgets, or rather the least worst way. Petrilli has […]