Sunday, October 19, 2014

A professor’s encounter with two Teach For America recruiters - The Washington Post

A professor’s encounter with two Teach For America recruiters - The Washington Post

Academia for Dummies: Tortured and twisted language


Poor kids who do everything right don’t do better than rich kids who do everything wrong - The Washington Post

Poor kids who do everything right don’t do better than rich kids who do everything wrong - The Washington Post

As the midterm elections near, it’s unclear who can vote

As the midterm elections near, it’s unclear who can vote

The Booth

To the south, steel gray clouds moved quickly, low in the sky. Suddenly a patch of puffy white was revealed above and behind them. It was huge and stationary, like a big down comforter tossed over the whole scene below. The day changed from one minute sunny to next spitting droplets to next slanting horizontal shards of rain followed instantly by cheery clear and bright.

The space heater is blasting hot dry into the six by six foot space. Cool air wafts or gusts through the space between the door and frame. The people who walk by sometimes smile or wave or call a greeting or walk with head-down determination toward their destination. The ones who stop have need of information or direction or assistance or attention. They come to the booth. Maybe the person inside can help.


But now it is quiet.

Through the four walls of glass the booth keeps silent watch. It is a fixed point of reference in a place always changing. Now to the east a long sliver of clear blue appears between thin strands of white cotton candy clouds in the sky. The attendant in the booth switches off the heater and pushes the sliding door open. The person steps out and quickly back in as the phone on the counter rings, and two people approach from opposite directions. Now a page comes over the intercom requesting help. On the heels of all this, a replacement slips in to take the post at the booth.

American Schools Are Training Kids for a World That Doesn't Exist | WIRED

American Schools Are Training Kids for a World That Doesn't Exist | WIRED