Over the weekend I read several interesting pieces related to the issues we see at 48 Days. I’m including a few here with questions for you to respond to:
- A new study from Pew Research Center found that 61% of 19-34 yr olds get their political news from Facebook, whereas only 19% look to local or national TV as their source. We no longer trust the “news” as being unbiased so we might as well get our updates from people who already align with our views.
Is news from our peers rather than from “professionals” a good thing or a questionable trend?
- Cambridge University – the prestigious institute of higher education in England – was just given $6 million from The Lego
Foundation to foster study in the field of playing. The Foundation wants the university to create a professor position and a research center dedicated to examining the role that play has in development and learning. The ideal candidate will be smart, innovative and have a head that can be interchanged with Homer Simpson.
Are studies in “walking, maple syrup, fishing, and duck calling” a legitimate part of a university degree?
- A recent study from Bentley University found that of millennials (approx 12-30 yrs old), two-thirds (67%) plan to start their own business. By contrast, only 13% said they see themselves climbing the corporate ladder. That’s a huge shift from previous generations. One of the implications is that it’s no longer necessary to go the big cities where the corporate jobs are. They can choose based on climate, creative culture, and proximity to mountains, water or snow.
Is is reasonable for a 20-yr-old to start his/her own business or do corporate jobs provide needed training for moving into that later?
- A Trenton, New Jersey elementary school teacher who was allowed to keep his job despite being late for work 111 times in two years. He says eating a heathy breakfast is to blame for his tardiness. In a decision filed Aug. 19, an arbitrator in New Jersey rejected an attempt by the Roosevelt Elementary School to fire Anderson from his $90,000-a-year job, saying he was entitled to progressive discipline. Anderson remains suspended without pay until Jan. 1. The arbitrator found that the district failed to provide Anderson with due process by not providing him with a formal notice of inefficiency or giving him 90 days to correct his failings before terminating his employment. This dude says it’s only been “1 or 2 minutes” and it’s in that time when students are just coming into the classroom. Guess what he teaches – Math. 2+2=5 Hey that’s close enough!
Does teacher tenure provide needed job security or does it protect incompetence and inefficiency?
Let me know what you think. I’ll share some of your interesting comments on the 48 Days Podcast this week.
