A short one today, the last of term. Normal service will resume January 4th, 2016.
It’s been an interesting semester. Progress on some fronts, I think. I was certainly very pleased that for the first time ever in this election, all three major national parties released platforms that included investments in students and, in one way or another, all targeted lower-income families. That’s progress. The incandescently idiotic Green platform suggests there’s still a market for dumb PSE ideas, but you can’t have everything.
But progress in one area, eternal return to bad ideas in another. Take for example the “students and universities suck these days” piece published in the LA Review of Books last week. Written by UPEI religious studies prof Ron Srigley, it’s almost a cartoon of every knee-jerk “kids these days! Why isn’t the academy the way it was in the 1960s” piece written in the last two decades. Unengaged students! Too many administrators! E-learning is an abomination! Etc., etc. Snore.
(If you’re curious why he wrote this piece for an American publication instead of a Canadian one, it’s possibly because he calls UPEI – and by extension his former haunts at Laurentian and Nipissing – “3rd and 4th tier Canadian institutions”. Wonder what the Arts faculty Christmas party is going to be like in Charlottetown this year.)
From a personal point of view, of course, the cockroach-like staying power of bad ideas in PSE is depressing. Why can’t the sector move on? Why must there be so many dinosaurs? But of course from a consulting point of view it’s heartening. The perpetual re-emergence of bad ideas means I get to re-do the same projects every decade or so, which really helps with margins. Plus I get to re-cycle blog posts.
And speaking of blog posts, it’s time for my twice-yearly bleg for feedback: How are you enjoying these blog posts? Is there stuff you like? Don’t like? If there are things I can be doing better, I’d love to know.
And finally, thanks to all for reading all year. It’s awfully nice to have an audience that is as engaged and committed to education as you folks are. Happy holidays to all.
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I appreciate these blogs. Yes, they get a little over the top at times on the sarcasm meter, but they are informative and provocative and the style contributes particularly to the latter.
As a college president, I probably learn more from the blogs on universities (e.g. the U-15) and other countries than those on colleges. that is just fine; we learn a lot by looking elsewhere rather than gazing endlessly in the mirror.
Thanks for making this notable contribution to lively debate about PSE.
Tony Tilly
Fleming College
The post today asks for for input; here is my “two cents”. First the blog post format is perfect for keeping important issue discussions percolating. Second the data focus in the posts is a HUGE contribution; this is a world where ideas and reputations are glamorized, often without much evidence… Third the Canadian-ness is very helpful. Thanks and Merry Christmas.
Have a good break! Your blog is always interesting and I look forward to its return.
All the best
Jon
Hi,
After reading this one I think you need a break and some good eggnog.
Happy holidays or whatever.
Kevin
Thanks for these posts! They challenge my thinking and point me toward emerging policy developments that I might miss otherwise. Your analysis of the PSE elements of the party platforms during the election was especially useful. Looking forward to what will appear here in the blog, my inbox, and twitter feed in 2016.
Hi Alex,
All the best for the holidays. I’ve been reading your posts daily since the spring. Your work and perspective are distinctive. My favorite posts include:
“An Interesting but Irritating Report on Graduate Overqualification”
And. “Defending Liberal Arts: Try Using Data”
Like all of your best posts, they point me to meaningful research (latter example) or contextualize (and critique) reports from influential sources (former)
Hope you will be back in 2016.
Philip Varghese