There was a reply to my comment on Paul Krugman’s Op-Ed. (See Krugman Relying on Flawed Data on “Skills Gap”) It asked an excellent question. Here is the comment and my reply. Comment: “Then, of course, we would see employers preferring those who received a degree when it still was an education. But we don’t […]
Archives for March 2014
Krugman Relying on Flawed Data on “Skills Gap”
March 31, 2014 by
In today’s New York Times, Prof. Krugman has a column arguing that there is no “skills gap”. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/31/opinion/krugman-jobs-and-skills-and-zombies.html?ref=opinion&_r=0 I believe he is making a misake which I explained in a comment. “I am afraid that Prof. Krugman – whom I admire greatly – is making a fundamental mistake. He is, probably unknowingly, equating a “degree” […]
Underwriting Standards for Universities? Why Not?
March 25, 2014 by
Today’s Wall Street Journal has a good article on graduate student debt http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303949704579459803223202602 It gave me an idea that I posted as a comment. I haven’t carefully thought it through but here it is. (If you regularly read this blog, you can skip the third paragraph.) “…”…if we had some sort of underwriting standards…” …[the author […]
“Common Core” or “Missing Core”?
March 23, 2014 by
I posted this comment on today’s New York Times’ Op-Ed http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/opinion/sunday/a-common-core-for-all-of-us.html?ref=opinion&_r=0 “The discussion about the Common Core is interesting, both politically and intellectually. But without the “missing core”, all of these discussions and disagreements about the nature and goal of education, won’t matter. What is this “missing core”? Call it integrity, scrupples, whatever. But, until we, as […]
The Atlantic Again. They Point Out That If You Are Big Enough, Who Cares?
March 22, 2014 by
That is what I think touting that we have a high percentage of high-performing students implies. (The link is the same article as the previous post.) My comment should make all clear. “Did I read that right? “…taking more math and science courses…” is evidence of learning? Then is “…investing more with Bernie…” evidence of […]
The Atlantic Publishes Yet Another Misleading Article Equating “Degree” with “Education”
March 22, 2014 by
Here is the link http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/03/the-myth-of-the-science-and-engineering-shortage/284359/#comments My comment should make it clear that what the confusion is. “The article talks about “…college-educated information technology workers under age 30…”. I don’t disagree that there is no shortage of “…college-DEGREED…” STEM workers under age 30 but the evidence is overwhelming that “college-degreed” does not equal “college-educated”. Colleges and […]
I Hope Princeton and its New President are Listening
March 22, 2014 by
I commented on the article http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304756104579453570560473730 . As I have posted before, I am concerned that Princeton faculty don’t see what is happening as clearly as the University of Chicago faculty saw in the nineties. (See my post Princeton Giving Up on Using Grades As Motivation and Feedback? for Princeton and “Content Deflation” Part II: University of […]
NYTimes Op-Ed Has Interesting Details On College Costs to Families
March 21, 2014 by
The op-ed is titled “A Quick Way to Cut Costs”. Though I don’t think it is realistic, or the right approach (I describe why in my comment, which is copied below.), I think it is excelllent for the information it contains, especially about the Expected Family Contribution. I recommend it. Here is the link. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/opinion/a-quick-way-to-cut-college-costs.html Here […]
Do Princeton’s Administrators Pass Their Letters Through the “Office of Communications” Before Publication?
It seems like it from this, http://dailyprincetonian.com/opinion/2014/03/letter-from-the-editor-increasing-transparency-in-guest-submissions/. If so, why? and what changes happen to the letters? Does the Office just help adminstrators? Are the administrators encouraged to seek help from “public relations”? Is the “Office of Communications” just a marketing department? I don’t know but it seems worrisome. Here is my comment. ” This letter does a good […]