Why Faculty Like Me Support Unions
I joined the United Faculty of Florida my first semester at USF, in 1996. I joined because I wish there had been a graduate-student union at the University of Pennsylvania, where graduate assistants in some colleges were paid well below poverty rates and yet were told that if they were given any assistance, they could […]
To put on my wall…
Or at least to post on my blog so others can hold me accountable: [I]f you’ve reached the point where you don’t pay attention to anything that might disturb your orthodoxy, you’re not doing science, you’re not even pursuing a discipline. All you’re doing is perpetuating a smug, closed-minded sect. Paul Krugman, Nobodies of Macroeconomics […]
Note to Biddy Martin: You’re not the queen
Apparently University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Biddy Martin is blocking tweets from those who disagree with her on her preferred higher-ed policy, including her own faculty. Dear Chancellor Biddy Martin, A key way to lose confidence among faculty and students is demonstrating thin skin either by yourself directly or by whoever you have picked to manage […]
SB 736 on the way to Governor Rick Scott
The Florida House passed its version of the teacher working-conditions bill that was Senate Bill 6 last year and Senate Bill 736 this year. It's one of the policy issues I just haven't had time to discuss in the last month, though it's probably the largest attempt to change the nature of teaching as an […]
Test document for Google Docs comments available
Now that Google Docs allow comments, you may want to know how to work it and try it in a sandbox? Head to this hand-dandy Lorem Ipsum’ed document to try it out. It’ll probably be available for a few weeks for anyone to try their hand, and then I’ll take it down and change/delete this […]