Critical theory, critical culture, & postmodern humanism
In a nutshell: While the dilemmas of the middle classes are always a fit subject for drama, UK theater critic Michael Billington argues that Britain’s theater currently neglects the issues and concerns of the working class. Michael Billington on working-class Continue reading Michael Billington on the demise of working-class theater in the UK
In a nutshell: One higher ed expert predicts 2013 will be the year of the MOOC, adaptive learning, and bargain-basement college degrees. Brian Kibby is President of the Higher Education Group at McGraw-Hill Education. On the Huffington Post yesterday, he Continue reading Brian Kibby’s Higher Education Predictions for 2013
In a nutshell: A group of 12 educators, including prominent experts on online education, this week published a draft “A Bill of Rights and Principles for Learning in the Digital Age.” The draft bill of rights for digital learners got Continue reading Online education advocates propose students’ bill of rights
In a nutshell: Legislation on same-sex marriage is moving towards passage in the UK and in the state of Rhode Island. As reported by the AP, the British government today published a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill will Continue reading Same-sex marriage advances in UK and Rhode Island legislatures
In a nutshell: Alexandra Petri is a political humorist manqué with no particular qualifications to write about contemporary poetry. A young woman named Alexandra Petri pissed off a lot of people on January 22 by writing a Washington Post blog column Continue reading Is Alexandra Petri (brain-) dead?
In a nutshell: Charles Murray’s 2003 book Human Accomplishment: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950 continues to have pernicious resonance today. Ten years ago, Charles Murray, co-author of the influential 1994 book The Continue reading Murray’s Human Accomplishment ten years later
In a nutshell: Brendan O’Neill, editor of the online magazine spiked and a columnist for The Big Issue and The Australian, has an interesting take on the emergence of “working-class” as an identity category in today’s United Kingdom. Read O’Neill’s Continue reading Working-class chic in the UK
In a nutshell: Despite earlier reports, a threat still remains to the return of Mexican-American Studies in Tucson. As I reported last month, the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) on December 11 voted to approve a plan designed to satisfy Continue reading Update on Mexican-American Studies in Tucson
In a nutshell: The fiftieth anniversary of George Wallace’s 1963 inaugural address provides an opportunity for teachers to explore the painful and difficult history of civil rights. Fifty years ago this week, Gov. George Wallace, Republican of Alabama, delivered his Continue reading A dark moment fifty years later: Wallace’s 1963 inaugural
In a nutshell: Public art celebrating organized labor has often been a matter of controversy, and became so once again this week in Maine, providing an opportunity for teachers to explore public art and organized labor in their classrooms. In Continue reading The fine art of organized labor