Web Browsing- Professors' Liberalism Contagious? Maybe Not - NYTimes.com 3 November 2008Do liberal faculty affect the political leanings of students? These people say no. But let's look a little deeper. One author says "it is really hard to change the mind of anyone over 15." Does this mean that the average American thinks about politics now the same way he did when he was 15? Yikes. It appears to imply that political opinions are not firmly rooted in ideas, but in feelings and prejudices. The article also suggests that the real problem is that students aren't actually being educated. They aren't getting the "good stuff." In fact, this may be the root of the problem. Even if students don't buy the liberalism of their teachers, they don't get much else either. Notable deficiencies appear in political and military history, especially of the West, but also include traditional literary criticism (and probably content), civics, and economics.
- Obama, Shaman by Michael Knox Beran, City Journal Summer 2008 3 November 2008Beran brilliant combines culture, religion, and literature into a powerful commentary on the religious aspects of Barack Obama's candidacy. The article is rich (and lengthy), but certainly worth digesting.
- Obama and the Politics of Crowds - WSJ.com 30 October 2008Fouad Ajami offers a rich and culturally insightful glimpse into Senator Obama's magic. He draws upon broad themes and key historical features of American cultural history to make his case for caution. Perhaps most telling is his observation about an American distinctive. Whereas the rest of the world champions equality, American has championed liberty. Obama offers the former, and the current financial panic has suspended Americans' faith in the latter. Consequently, we are on the verge of electing someone who inspires in the way a relgious leader, a messiah, does. But the religious hype quickly fades and people realize too late that they have been fleeced.
- America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree - Chronicle.com 24 October 2008Chronicle of Higher Ed points out the pointlessness of most bachelor's degrees.
- Professors' Liberalism Contagious? Maybe Not - NYTimes.com 3 November 2008
Mar
31
Rethinking Higher Education
Filed Under Education, Ideas, Philosophy, Random Thoughts | 2 Comments
There has been an interesting series on edwired about changing higher education to match the “free” economy. The series is called “The End of Western Civilization (as we know it).”
My question is this: Would the amorphous, free learning environment that the author appears to propose actually contradict the content of the learning? Part of education (a liberal education) is to learn the structure of and connections between spheres of knowledge. I would be concerned that the undirected learning approach might create a contradiction between content and vehicle.
Thoughts?
Mar
29
Doping for Bible Quiz?
Filed Under Random Thoughts | 4 Comments
If only I had known in high school or for Scholastic Bowl…
What is the world coming to?
*Addendum: Duncan notes in the comments that the veracity of the story is very much in question.
Mar
20
Spring Break
Filed Under Events | Leave a Comment
I had spring break last week for the first time since Jr. High. I went the Greenville for the week. I spent several hours each day working on projects that were due the week back, but I was also able to see a lot of my friends at BJ. On Thursday I was a guest speaker in the Introduction to Communication Disorders class. I spoke about graduate school and answered questions.
The real reason I went to Greenville was to help with two bridal showers. Friday night was a shower for Abby Garland at my parents house. Saturday night was a shower for Melanie Reem. It was great to visit with friends again.
Andrew took Friday off of work and came down Thursday night. We had a good time visiting family. Now it’s back to school. Only five weeks left!
Mar
3
Just for the record, I am not a baritone
Filed Under News, Random Thoughts | 5 Comments
In case anyone was confused, I am not singing in the opera at BJU this week.
If you google my name, my site (this one) is the second link. In a wonderful twist of irony, the guy whose site is first is singing one of the lead roles in BJU’s production. I’ve actually known that he was going to be doing it for a while. One of the times that I googled my own name, I clicked on his performance schedule and saw that he would be at BJU for this year’s Barber of Seville production. Alas, it will be the first (or nearly the first–I’ve forgotten for sure) BJU opera that I haven’t attended in a very long time. Someone get his autograph for me. :-p