Yesterday on his blog, John Fea highlighted the chart that sociologist Ryan Burge had generated from the study done by FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) about colleges with the highest percentage of students who had been homeschooled. First, […]
The Arena
Healing stories
Thereâs an episode of Northern Exposure, when Leonard the shaman comes to town to gather some stories. In his own practice, he often uses âhealing stories,â so he wants to know what kinds of stories are in use in Western […]
A blessing of unicorns: Higher ed, Homeric deodorant, competitive sleeping, and the peace of an uncluttered room
Many unicorns band together to form a blessing for your Saturday. In a nod to the conclusion of Currentâs two-week forum on higher education, there are more recommendations on this topic than usual. But first, Homeric deodorant… *** Giving every […]
The pumpkinification of autumn: recipes edition
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the pumpkinification of autumnâthis annual season, peculiar to the United States, that lasts precisely from midnight on September 1st to approximately sunset on Thanksgiving Day, and that requires pumpkin (or, at least, […]
The tale of two colleges
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. I would like to tell here the tale of two colleges or universitiesâreally, the tale of two types of college right now, but we are going to go […]
No, Donny, these men are nihilists
Are we a pagan people? There seems to be an upsurge in concern, in some cases celebration, that Western culture in general and perhaps the United States in particular may be experiencing a repaganization. There is an online doofus, whose […]
Utilitarianism, higher education, and pricing human life
Recently, my eight-year-old son has become mildly obsessed with the nineteenth-century English philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Inspiring my son to write his own illustrated last will and testament, upon his death Bentham bequeathed his body to science, requesting that following a […]
A common fund of knowledge
This essay was originally published in February 2023. In conjunction with the forum on higher education that is taking place at Current this week, we are re-running it, as it addresses a topic significant for conversations about education right now. […]
A blessing of unicorns: a weekly roundup
Many unicorns in one civilized place form a blessing for your Saturday. Here is this weekâs herd, corralled all together: *** Louise Perryâs latest for First Things, âWe Are Repaganizing,â is the most important thing I read this week. A […]
You really can just unplug: three months later
This past July, I posted here at the Arena about the challenges of finding a way to unplug from the internet and devices regularly without having to pay the price of answering approximately one million e-mails, messages, and more once […]
Hunting invisible elephants
As I look out the window, there is a large ash tree. In that ash tree is an invisible elephant. You donât believe me? Well, prove there is no elephant in the tree. You canât see the elephant, you say? […]
Ideas in progress: Robert Fleegler on the history of smoking in the U.S.
Robert Fleegler is Associate Professor of History at the University of Mississippi. He is the author of two books, Ellis Island Nation: Immigration Policy and American Identity in the Twentieth Century (Penn, 2013) and Brutal Campaign: How the 1988 Election Set the Stage […]
Paul Thompson on higher education, temperance, and biblical views on race
Paul Thompson is Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences and Professor of History at North Greenville University. He is the author of A Most Stirring and Significant Episode: Religion and the Rise and Fall of Prohibition in Black […]
Let us now praise famous men (and women) or do some praiseworthy deeds
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weatherâd every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the […]
A blessing of unicorns: a weekly roundup
One unicorn may just be a figment of your imagination: did you even see it? But many unicorns put together form a blessing. *** Letâs start with a news story that my children, who have been digging up the backyard […]
The pumpkinification of autumn
âTis the season of pumpkin spice and everything nice. At midnight on September 1st, it happened again, just as it does every year in recent memory: the pumpkinification of autumn. The term is one, I should note, that existed already […]
Observations for students in higher ed at the beginning of the semester
1. Higher ed is not K-12. Expect things to be different. 2. Your professors are not here to entertain you. Your professors are not here to motivate you. Sometimes they will be entertaining or motivating, and when they are, consider […]
Letter to my freshman self
Dear Self (17), Youâre weird. Or maybe not? Youâre not sure yet. A lot of self-discovery lies ahead. First of all, youâll be confused at orientation when your new friends call themselves âkids.â You yourself have been grown up for […]
Know when to fold âem
Americans are living longer. Americans are working longer. Are some of them working too long? Earlier this year, headlines shared the saga of a 95-year-old judge who is refusing to retire. Pauline Newman has been a federal judge for 40 […]
A blessing of unicorns: a weekly roundup
Many geese form a gaggle, many rabbits form a fluffle, and a group of unicorns forms a blessing. As we gear up for the long weekend, here are this weekâs unusual unicorn-worthy reads, coming to you on a Friday instead […]