Don’t Give In to Poverty

James Harvey of the National Superintendents Roundtable has provided some valuable insights into the international education rankings that are so often used to bash the U.S.

And Thus Spake Google

The humanities are under attack. Enrollments are plummeting, tax cutting zombies in state legislatures are looking for more reasons to cut higher education funding and, most worrisome, a national panel of distinguished persons has published a report.

As an historian and former lesser deanlet in a college with the word “humanities” in its official title, I find the attacks discouraging. And, as someone who writes about technology, I can see further dangers. Specifically, is computer technology in general, and Google in particular, going to destroy the role of the humanities in studying foreign countries and cultures? Even foreign languages themselves? Is French writer Fabien Cazenave right to suggest Google’s Translate software as a solution to the EU’s multiplicity of languages?[i]

In Memory of Roger Blair

Roger Blair was a wonderful friend for 44 years.

We met through mutual acquaintances and got along extremely well though we couldn’t have been more different in personality and in interests.

Links!

TOTAL F*ING MAGIC

All You Need to Know about Computers and Telecommunications

If you’re uncomfortable reading news about computers and telecommunications, if you feel like you can’t quite get up to speed with what’s happening in this interesting and important area, Total F*ing Magic is the place to start. http://www.total-fing-magic.com/

You Can Do a Biography or Autobiography. And It Can Be Affordable http://www.partners-for-writers.com/

Culturally Transmitted Educational Fatalism FAQ

Note:  The views expressed here are those of the author, Garrison Walters, and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the South Carolina Higher Education Foundation, for which Walters is a volunteer staff member.

Culturally Transmitted Educational Fatalism is a belief about educational success that individuals get from the society that surrounds them. People with CTEF lack “self efficacy” about education, believing that fate, either in the form of genes or in the decisions of others (or both), determines whether education can have an important role in their own economic success and quality of life.  

>Isn’t talking about CTEF just a way of helping the schools avoid responsibility?

Given our long history of assuming that the only way to improve educational outcomes is through “fixing schools,” I can see why someone would think this way.

Does Speling and Grammer Mutter?

A day that shall live in infamy:  March 7, 2014.

First, I found this in the Washington Post:  “she’s just terribly board with nothing to do…”[i]

Next, in the New York Times: “The Commission has principle responsibility…”[ii]

If I Learn, You Get Paid

And, Frankly, I’m Not Interested In Your Topic

Today’s national discussion on improving education is dominated by self-described experts.

“I Am Going to Prison…I Don’t Want To. That’s Just What’s Going to Happen.”

Young people, ages 8-13, who grow up in the most deprived neighborhoods in Britain are seven times less likely to think they are “clever and good at school work” when compared to those in the least deprived areas.[i]

Cyborgs Won’t Drive Teslas

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is hot now. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is talking about it, which means it’s due to explode any time.

Musk believes that AI is a huge danger to humans and has donated $10 million to help keep AI “beneficial for humanity.” The super-entrepreneur actually thinks that AI can be evil.

Eeevil, I tell you!

We’ve Already Granted Amnesty

The standard argument from those who oppose a path to citizenship for illegal aliens, is “they broke our laws.” Consequently, immigration reform of the kind now proposed is described as “amnesty.”

Get Your History from Books

Angered by criticism that her movie, Selma, had misrepresented President Lyndon Johnson’s role in the civil rights struggle, director Ava Duvernay responded that she didn’t want to make a “white savior” movie and that the film was history through her own lens.

Understanding the Cloud

Introduction

“The cloud” is a confusing concept to many, something that’s not surprising given that the term is used in many different contexts and often not in a consistent manner. This short essay is designed to make the concept clear enough that users can understand its application in any context.

Jameis Winston

Mr. Winston’s bomb-throwing attorney may have done a good job of steering his client through the university’s disciplinary shoals, but the PR strategy is more problematic.

The Military Plan for Peace

By Garrison Walters and Patrick Marotta

One hundred years ago this month, people in Europe were starting to realize that the new war ravaging the sub-continent was going to be exceptionally violent and destructive.  

The nature of the unfolding struggle shocked many, but the fact of its appearance surprised few. The war had been widely expected for at least a decade.

Beam Me Up, Skypey

Not long ago, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, announced that his company was going to offer “real-time” foreign language translation in its Skype videoconferencing service. You speak German, I hear in English. And vice versa.

Making France Competitive

Making France Competitive

There’s much debate in France right now about peeling back laws limiting the work week to 35 hours. Proponents say that a change is needed to make the country more competitive economically.

Ferguson

Anti-government conservatives, the “stand up to fight the system” people, are standing up to support the system when it comes to the events of 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.