In the Basement of the Ivory Tower

Remember that guy, Professor X, Kevin Carey was pissed off at? well here is the article that set him off, along with an excerpt.

In the Basement of the Ivory Tower

I wonder, sometimes, at the conclusion of a course, when I fail nine out of 15 students, whether the college will send me a note either (1) informing me of a serious bottleneck in the march toward commencement and demanding that I pass more students, or (2) commending me on my fiscal ingenuity—my high failure rate forces students to pay for classes two or three times over.

What actually happens is that nothing happens. I feel no pressure from the colleges in either direction. My department chairpersons, on those rare occasions when I see them, are friendly, even warm. They don’t mention all those students who have failed my courses, and I don’t bring them up. There seems, as is often the case in colleges, to be a huge gulf between academia and reality. No one is thinking about the larger implications, let alone the morality, of admitting so many students to classes they cannot possibly pass. The colleges and the students and I are bobbing up and down in a great wave of societal forces—social optimism on a large scale, the sense of college as both a universal right and a need, financial necessity on the part of the colleges and the students alike, the desire to maintain high academic standards while admitting marginal students—that have coalesced into a mini-tsunami of difficulty.

I really don't like the guy, but he tells the truth. Some people simply don't have the capability to do college level work, but do have the capability to imagine themselves as some sort of "feel-good segment on Oprah."

Needless to say, the paper she turned in was a discussion of the pros and cons of gun control. At least, I think that was the subject. There was no real thesis. The paper often lapsed into incoherence. Sentences broke off in the middle of a line and resumed on the next one, with the first word inappropriately capitalized. There was some wavering between single- and double-spacing. She did quote articles, but cited only databases—where were the journals themselves? The paper was also too short: a bad job, and such small portions.

“I can’t believe it,” she said when she received her F. “I was so proud of myself for having written a college paper.

I am not sure how I am meant to feel after I read the article. Unlike Kevin Carey, I don't get pissed off at the state of the K-12 education system. I do feel sorry for Mrs L., the poor middle aged woman in the article who has never operated a computer and can't string together even a decent paragraph. It's heartbreaking when she receives her "F", but at least she had a chance... and if she had a chance, so did the 37 year old enlisted guy who works full time, raises 5 kids, blogs semi-regularly, and just completed 18 credit hours with a 3.83 GPA.

The Quick and the Ed: Cruel, But Not a Hoax:

http://www.quickanded.com/2008/05/cruel-but-not-hoax.html

There's a good higher education article in the The Atlantic this month, not on-line yet, titled 'In The Basement of the Ivory Tower.' It's written by an anonymous 'Professor X,' an adjunct English instructor at both a small private college and a community college in the northeast. The gist is that many of his students are woefully unprepared for even the introductory courses he teaches. So he must fail them, exposing, in the words splashed across The Atlantic's cover, 'Higher Education's Cruelest Hoax.' Either that or, as the article's blurb puts it, the 'destructive myth' that 'a university education is for everyone.'

One thing's for certain: this piece will be catnip for those who like to adopt the contrarian too-many-people-are-going-to-college-these-days position. This is an especially attractive stance for elitists and/or people who spend a lot of time searching for opportunities to loudly begin sentences with some variation of the phrase 'I know it's not politically correct to say this, but...' as if this denotes intellectual bravery of some kind. The article's sad story of one Ms. L, who says she was 'so proud of myself for having written a college paper,' only to be crushed by a grade of 'F,' will be used as evidence that we are not doing people any favors by letting them into college. Charles Murray has apparently written a whole book about this--adorned with blurbs from Jonah Goldberg, Bill Bennett, P.J. O'Rourke, and Tom Wolfe no less--to be published later this year.

I love it when Kevin Carey gets pissed off.

There is a whole spiel about how adult non-traditional students are big dummies, the system failed us, we can't write sentences, colleges makes lots of money off of us, Charles Murray is evil, some students shouldn't go to college, that's B.S., poetry and Hamlet are a waste of time, adjunct professors are underpaid, etc, etc, etc, bla, bla, bla...

Writing as an adult non-traditional student, it's true. Many of us are big dummies. You should see some of the crap posted in my online and evening classes, especially when I was taking them at a community college in South Carolina. I finally transferred to an online four year college school/program that targets military students and the quality of my classmates has increased immensely.

Of course us online students have to be at least smart enough to navigate online classes. We also have to be fairly self-motivated to complete the classes, and the vast majority of us are holding down decent enough jobs to be able to afford the tuition.

Ironically, I want to get my bachelors degree in order to get a job earning less that I would if I stayed doing the same thing I am doing now.

Another one bites the dust...

Teaching in the 408: Meet Jake:

Jake's a graduating senior at Yale, with only a few days left, which means that as you read this, he is either hungover or drunk.
...
Jake's gonna report for duty at the TFA Los Angeles Training Institute sometime in the middle of June. He doesn't know how to diagnose, scaffold, or assess. He doesn't know what CELDT stands for and wouldn't know what to do with that information even if he did. Jake thinks objectives are something second-tier applicants put on the top of resumes and he's generally aware that standardized tests are badbadverybad, but couldn't really tell you why in any great detail.
...
Let's hope the smart-and-excited-trumps-experienced gamble pays off.

Let's hope like hell, cuz Jake or someone like him will be in room D2 next year, teaching my kids. I resign on Monday.

TMAO, a TFA alumni is resigning. I loved reading his blog, but it just won't be the same if he isn't teaching. Without his personal stories, he will be nothing but another highly educated, articulate, ex-teacher pontificating on the problems with education. Want to bet he ends up as a policy wonk at some education think thank? I will also give you 50/50 odds that he writes a heart wrenching book about how the young idealistic teacher ventured into the inner city to save the poor brown masses, but was stymied by the evil establishment.

Then again, maybe he will open up his own charter school, that's what all the cool TFA alumni do.

Note: Yes I am cynical today, but I spent all last week researching education programs for after I retire, and one of my favorite teacher blogger quits. Oh well, there is always dy/dan.

p.s. Just came across another TFA quitter.

Alaskans kids not on the path of higher education - KTVA

Alaskans kids not on the path of higher education - KTVA

A new study released by the Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education shows Alaskans kids are not on the path of higher education. In fact, a high rate don't even make it out of high school.

Stacked up against the rest of the nation, Alaska's children are near the bottom, when it comes to high school graduation rates and college success. Those stats are causing a lot of educators to sit up and take notice.

The numbers are staggering:

"For every 50 Alaskan ninth graders, 31 will graduate high school, 14 will go to college and nine will return to college after their first year. Only three will get their college degree within six years."

Personally, I just don't think you can compare Alaska to other states.

Despite our extremely low ranking in college completion, our average income remains above the national average. Many jobs in Alaska, just don't require a college education. There are plenty of workers who make way more money welding up on the north slope, than they ever would if they got a degree at old State U.

Having said that, Alaska's reliance on oil and fishing as core industries will not last forever. If our state is wise we will start transitioning our priorities now.

I might...

I think I am going to take the summer off school. I am completely burnt out. I will have completed 18 credit hours this semester, not to mention my full time + job supervising 28 personnel in my section.

What does this mean for you? I might just get off my lazy ass and start blogging.

That's typical

Three state department employees snooped on Obama's passport file. Isn't that just like a typical white person.

Anchorage housing market is bubblicious

adn.com Money : Anchorage housing market healthier than most perceive

Housing market just fine... "it's different here"... at least according to the brokers who wrote this op-ed.

From Zillow...

The dark green line is Anchorage, the light green line is the United States.

No Bubble here... right?

Hot Governor knocked up by fisherman

No, it's not gossip its news...

adn.com Alaska News : Gov. Palin reveals pregnancy

Talk about family values... it will be her 5th kid.

Of course here in Alaska, barely anyone blinked.

In other news... my kids were a couple of minutes late home from playing tonight.

They got boxed in by a moose at the playground...

I love Alaska.

UPDATE: For obvious reasons, I would like to point out that parentalcation officially endorses McCain and Palin, not because she is hot, but because she kicks ass. Also see the following posts:

Parentalcation Endorses McCain/Palin

Mayor of a Small Town vs Community Organizer

Hot Governor

Sarah Palin on Education

Also see the website Draft Sarah Palin For Vice President for much more information (and videos) on Sarah Palin.

And for those who want a good picture

This bear underestimated Sarah Palin too.

House refund

Fed chief says mortgage crisis set to continue - Stocks & economy- msnbc.com

One of the suggestions Bernanke made was for mortgage and other financial companies to reduce the amount of the loan to provide relief to a struggling owner. “Principal reductions that restore some equity for the homeowner may be a relatively more effective means of avoiding delinquency and foreclosure,” Bernanke said.

With low or negative equity in their home, a stressed borrower has less ability — because there is no home equity to tap — and less financial incentive to try to remain in the home, he said.

What a clown.

Don't worry if you miss a few house payments, Bernanke will have the mortgage companies lower your mortgage.

Do they seriously pay this guy to come up with ideas like this?

Leave Obama Alone

"How fucking dare anyone out there make fun of Barack Obama after all he has gone through..." wait, I meant Britney Spears.

Sorry, but thats how Obama supporters come across to me. Exhibit 1: this comment from O.J.

Hillary, her "husband," his intern and their cigar, are much more a celebrity that Sen. Obama is, so you Hil-hacks need to continue to WORK ON YOUR MESSAGE.

Luckily, after tomorrow, there will be plenty of time to do that...

Also, srsly dude! Barack scares me too.

The only thing than scares me more that Big black people are sinewy and hungry looking black people. Black people who appear smarter than me terrify me. I get an uncontrollable urge to make the sign of the cross at Black people who wear reading glasses. Black people whom other white people like and listen to, particularly, give me the chill. I fear and loath Oprah, Condi Rice, and especially Don Cheadle.Making fun of these people helps me to feel more powerful. Damn you, Don Cheadle...

Making fun of these people helps me to feel more powerful.

Damn you, Don Cheadle...

I don't really get the sarcasm since my fear of Obama has to do with his cult like status among his worshipers fans?(I mean supporters) as opposed to his race.

On another note, I had to google Don Cheadle. I had no idea who he was.

And remember, if Obama doesn't scare you, his cult followers should.

Alaska rocks...

The Official Site of the Iditarod®#

Woke up this morning, piled the kids in the car, drove 10 minutes, and watched the ceremonial start of the Iditarod, "the last great race".

Later today, the kids are going sledding.

My name is so much worse than Obama's

Republicans decry use of 'Hussein' in Obama's name - CNN.com

Barack Hussein Obama isn't so bad. My middle name is Donald (way worse than Hussein), but if I catch you using it I will kick your ass.

p.s. google "barak obama scares me" and I am the top result. Pretty awesome huh.

Disclaimer: for all you Obama worshippers out there, I am only joking. Lighten up, and don't hunt me down and sacrifice me in some weird Obamite sacrificial ritual.

McCain visits

McCainBlogette.com

I was going to post about how John McCain stopped by the hotel that our conference was at yesterday, but in trying to link to the relevant post at his daughters blog, I came across a much more significant issue.

McCains daughters website has no way to link to individual posts. WTF... Seriously poor blog design.

For the record...

1. John McCain doesn't look that old in person.

2. He was very friendly to us military guys, but obviously pressed for time.

3. All I heard from his speech was "keep the Bush tax cuts, blah, blah, blah..."

4. His daughter Meghan really is a huge hottie.

p.s.

I am in San Antonio this week for a conference. Talk about urban sprawl... nothing but strip malls as far as the eye can see.

And it's way to hot as well.

The government wants you to pay your neighbors mortgage

House discusses $15 billion mortgage bailout - Mortgage mess- msnbc.com

WASHINGTON - Investors could sell up to $15 billion of troubled mortgages to the government under a plan key House members are discussing to bolster the U.S. housing market.

The tentative plan would allow the government to purchase up to 1 million mortgages over five years in an effort to help struggling borrowers avoid foreclosure and financial markets avoid more credit-related losses. The loans would be bought by the Federal Housing Administration, a Depression-era agency that insures loans made to borrowers with poor credit.

The effort shows that the housing crisis has evolved to the point where government officials are considering bailing out large groups of borrowers and Wall Street investors — something that seemed anathema to Democrats and Republicans all last year. Still, many lawmakers and the Bush administration have been leery of proposals that would transfer risks to U.S. taxpayers.

Next year your taxes might very well be used to subsidize refinancing that upside down ARM mortgage that your want-to-be house flipper neighbors bought two years ago, you know the ones... they make $50K a year, yet still managed to buy a house for $600K. Yes those people.

American Idol 7

My wife makes me watch it... but for the record, these are the 6 guys who should make the top 12 finalists.

David Cook

Robbie Carrico

David Archuleta

Jason Castro

Michael Johns

Danny Noriega (I actually hate this guy and really, really want to punch him in the face, but its cathartic to scream at the television every once and a while)

The Importance of Alaska

The Importance of Alaska

What does the father of the U.S. Air Force have to do with Alaska? What does the world’s most advanced military aircraft have to do with the resource security of the United States? Byron King has some intriguing thoughts on these topics.

Billy Mitchell is a hero in the USAF, but he was also a big advocate of Alaska as well.

Part I of the series. See below for part II.

The Importance of Alaska

The Importance of Alaska

This is the second installment of a series on the strategic importance of Alaska. In Part I, Outstanding Investments editor Byron King discussed the life of Billy Mitchell, the father of the U.S. Air Force. Mitchell had a lot to say about both air power and Alaska. In this article, Byron will discuss Billy Mitchell some more and focus on both the geology of Alaska and its place in military strategy.

Bringing Alaska to blog land.

Designer jeans in Anchorage, Alaska? - American City Business Journals- msnbc.com

Designer jeans in Anchorage, Alaska? - American City Business Journals- msnbc.com

My new found home hits the national media.

The tumultuous years of oil booms and busts in the 1970s and '80s have given way to two decades of steady growth, and Anchorage's economy has expanded to include burgeoning retail, health care and tourism industries.

The influx of non-oil, non-military jobs has altered the city's demographics, making it less like a frontier town.

At one time, men far outnumbered women in Alaska. But in 2006, the city of 270,000 had 102 men for every 100 women, state demographer Eddie Hunsinger said. The ratio for the rest of Alaska was 108 to 100.

Leese Lloyd and Ashley Brusven, young baristas who grew up in Anchorage, said the notion that the city has an overabundance of men is an outdated stereotype.

"Where are they?" Brusven joked as customers in the adjacent New Sagaya City Market surveyed stuffed grape leaves, caprese, baklava and other un-Alaskan foods.

The city is also reshaping its modest skyline with a $100 million museum expansion, a $93 million convention center and a parking garage with room for 830 vehicles. Companies are putting up new hotels and glass-plated office buildings.

Anchorage really is quite civilized, but it's still Alaska and has its quirks. I regularly dodge moose in the road and dog sledding results are reported on all t.v. and radio sports round ups.

The winters here are over dramatized. It's actually a lot milder than some places in the northern lower 48. It's not that the winters are unbearable, they just last a long time. For me, I love it. When I see snow, I still feel like a kid, besides the skiing is great.

Battle of wills...

On monday, my sons "spelling" homework was to make a collage of spelling words. I made him write the words 3x each and sent a note in saying that we had run out of glue at home.

Today his teacher sent home a stick of glue...

Should I come up with another dumb excuse or just tell the teacher the truth... I am ethically opposed to cutting up perfectly good magazines and newspaper?