We all remember teachers who have made a major positive impact on our lives. But even teachers we have forgotten have made a major impact on us, whether for good or ill. It’s from teachers that we learn the ideas, values, and skills that shape our lives. Teaching is therefore a very special profession. But […]
E.D. Hirsch on Education Reform
E.D. Hirsch, Jr., now retired, was until recently Professor of English and of Education and Humanities at the University of Virginia. He is the author of several widely read books on the subjects of cultural literacy and education reform, including Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know (Houghton Mifflin, 1987), The Knowledge Deficit: Closing the Shocking […]
The Great Books Alternative
Contemplating all the different undergraduate degree programs on offer in U.S. colleges and universities today is enough to make anyone’s head spin. Therefore, you may not be exactly thrilled to hear us say that there is one more kind of degree program that you really ought to take into consideration. But bear with us, because […]
Gustavo Dudamel and El Sistema
Classical music lovers will probably know that Gustavo Dudamel is the recently appointed music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. But all those interested in education should take an interest in this remarkable young man. Mr. Dudamel, who is thirty years old, is certainly an excellent conductor. To see for yourself, watch this YouTube video […]
Is Academia Still Relevant?
A brief article by journalist Naomi Schaefer Riley appeared recently in the July 20 edition of The Wall Street Journal under the provocative title of “Academia’s Crisis of Irrelevance.” In this delightfully acerbic piece, Ms. Riley basically notes the disconnect between the fact that the financial foundation of most institutions of higher education is undergraduate […]
