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Why ‘Star Wars’ Gives People Meaning0
- Culture
- December 17, 2015
This weekend, millions of Star Wars fans will pack theaters to see the latest installment of the series – The Force Awakens. Some will go for the experience; others purely for entertainment. And some will be hoping—at least subconsciously—that the movie gives added meaning to their lives. In saying that, I don’t wish to be
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Should Parents Place Limits on Christmas Presents?0
- Culture
- December 17, 2015
According to Gallup, American adults plan to spend an average of $830 on Christmas gifts this year. And, if past experience is any indicator, a large percentage of them will go into debt to foot the bill. And then there are the more extreme cases, such as the British woman who was recently chided for
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Poll: Millennials want a Crusade0
- Culture
- December 17, 2015
The traditional adage is that “old men start wars, but young men fight them.” That might not be the case when it comes to ISIS, though. According to the Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) most recent poll, 60 percent of young Americans (aged 18-29) support sending troops to obliterate ISIS. In a revealing testimony to
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Is a Social Justice Curriculum One-Sided?0
- Culture
- December 17, 2015
There’s an interesting imgur post now floating around the internet. The image, from Montclair State University, advertises a seminar to teach elementary school teachers how to craft a social justice curriculum for their classroom. Among other things, the curriculum seeks to foster greater “self-love,” fight oppression, and encourage students to “engage in activism.” On the
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Has Feminism Caused Bad Manners?0
- Culture
- December 17, 2015
According to The New York Times, manners are increasingly falling by the wayside, and parents are beginning to take notice. So much so, that many parents are sending their children – boys in particular – to etiquette classes which teach “old-fashioned civility, even chivalry.” Classes are well-received by both parents and children, but according to
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Social Promotion in U.S. High Schools Reaches an All-Time High!0
- Education
- December 16, 2015
There is much rejoicing in recent headlines, for the U.S. high school graduation rate has reached a new high. NPR reports: “For the fourth straight year, the U.S. high school graduation rate has improved to an all-time high of 82 percent in the 2013-2014 school year, the Department of Education announced today. Achievement gaps have
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So Cool! Iceland’s Tradition is to Give BOOKS for Christmas1
- Culture
- December 16, 2015
Are you among those who tell people, “Just get me books for Christmas”? If so, then maybe Iceland is the place for you. According to a decades-old tradition, books are the standard Christmas gift in Iceland. As NPR reports: “The culture of giving books as presents is very deeply rooted in how families perceive Christmas
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Minnesota Teacher: “We’re Powerless to Discipline”0
- December 16, 2015
In Minnesota, the Saint Paul Public Schools district is in a state of chaos. Earlier this month, a high school student assaulted a teacher and left him with a traumatic brain injury. Last year, nine teachers at a middle school quit within the first three months because the students were “out of control.” Reports of
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Here Are Some REAL Ways to Avoid Massive College Debt0
- Education
- December 16, 2015
Yesterday, the Huffington Post put out a lousy article titled “This Will Make You Feel Better About Looming College Bills.” It offered a fairly ho-hum collection of advice that probably should not make students or parents feel any better about paying for college. The advice ranged from “Odds are, your child will likely get some
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