If Nothing Else, This Period Is Rich in Satiric Possibilities, in Particular in Education and, Even More Narrowly, in Higher Education: Part 3

Here is a small collection of recently published satiric items, largely from The Onion, on topics typically covered in other posts to this blog. Almost all of the items have been published just in this past year.   “Spring Break Safety Tips” http://www.theonion.com/graphic/spring-break-safety-tips-38177   “Pros and Cons of the Greek System” http://www.theonion.com/graphic/pros-and-cons-of-the-greek-system-38515   “College Rape…

The Most Common Job Held by Immigrants in Each State

The following map was created by Andy Kierz at the website Business Insider.  Much of its content is not surprising: the most common jobs for immigrants on west coast are in agriculture, in the south housekeeping and construction.  But note that in four states — Maine, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio — the most common job…

Addendum to Aaron Barlow’s Post on Contingent and Adjunct Faculty

Another element of the broader issues addressed in Aaron’s post is the disparity in the nature of adjuncting–of teaching part-time–in different disciplines and in covering different levels of courses. The adjunct faculty in professional schools very likely have full-time employment outside of the university. The same is true for the great majority of adjunct faculty…

Is Something Understood Metaphorically Always Preferable to and More Palatable than Its Literal Alternative? (Or, Could the King of America Abolish Teachers’ Lounges?)

Earlier today, I did a post on very clever political messaging from the Kasich presidential campaign. I closed that post with this observation: “Whatever limitations he may have as a speaker or as a campaigner, he has managed to offset them with a great deal of political experience and political savvy.” In this post, I…

Scholar Activism As Practice

All learning at all levels starts within the student. It ends there, too, but the start is what concerns those of us who teach. When the learning doesn’t start with the student, the student never becomes fully engaged; what results is a smorgasbord of sampled bits without cohesion. The fundamentals aren’t mastered for that primary…

A Lesson in Political Messaging from the Kasich Presidential Campaign

Yesterday I received the following e-mail from the Governor Kasich’s presidential campaign: “Martin, Governor Kasich has a strong pro-life record and now anti-life groups are attacking him. Can you chip in and help John fight back? “No Governor in Ohio history has signed more pro-life legislation than Governor Kasich. The governor signed a ban on late-term abortions; began…