Blog 2 Columns Left Sidebar

The Tragedy of Laquan McDonald 0
- Culture
- January 20, 2016
A little while ago, Mary Mitchell wrote a powerful opinion piece for the Chicago Sun-Times detailing the tragic life of Laquan McDonald. If you’re not familiar with Laquan McDonald, you should be. In many ways, he is a microcosm of many of our societal challenges and a reminder of the enormous vulnerability of children. 17-year-old
READ MORE
Is There a War on Childhood?0
- Culture
- January 20, 2016
In a recent article for the Washington Post, Petula Dvorak writes on a treehouse battle in her neighborhood. This battle, she claims, is just part of an ever increasing war on childhood. Dvorak says that a pretty little treehouse is dividing her neighborhood in Washington D.C.: “The parents who built the Capitol Hill treehouse for
READ MORE
Homeschooling is Becoming an International Phenomenon 0
- January 20, 2016
First there was the news that the number of homeschooled children in the U.S. rose 61.8% in the last decade. Then came the report that homeschooling is exploding in the U.K. – with a 65% increase in the last six years. And now comes the news that homeschooling’s popularity is spreading to other countries as
READ MORE

Why a New Computer Program May Improve Writing Proficiency 0
- Education
- January 20, 2016
I admit to rolling my eyes when I first read the title, “Can a Curious Computer Improve Student Writing?” in Slate Magazine. “Honestly!” ran my internal conversation, “Haven’t people realized by now that students need more than a computer program to become better writers?” But I changed my mind as I read the article, primarily
READ MORE
The Perfect Video when the Markets go to Hell 0
- Economics
- January 20, 2016
As of January 20, MarketWatch is reporting that the S&P 500 index is trading 10% below its 200-day moving average. Ouch. But not to worry, it could drop a lot further. And since there’s a strong chance things will get worse, we decided to resurrect a classic E-Trade video from 2011. Enjoy! And,
READ MORE
8 Deeper-Than-Usual Critiques of American Education 0
- Education
- January 20, 2016
In 1987 Allan Bloom’s The Closing of the American Mind was published. It represented a penetrating critique of higher education in America. Almost thirty years later, his criticisms—including the following eight—are still very much relevant: 1) “Fathers and mothers have lost the idea that the highest aspiration they might have for their children is
READ MORE

The Tragedy of Laquan McDonald 0