Category Archives: School / Education

Geoffrey Moore, author of the pathbreaking and essential business book Crossing the Chasm, just blogged about the Davos ’07 theme "The Shifting Power Equation." Moore says:

The shift from computing to communications also has profound implications for the redistribution of power. As the Internet continues to work its transformation of the globe, the single most powerful force it is unleashing is memes, that class of ideas that are uniquely able to capture people’s imaginations and shape their behavior. Some of these memes are inspiring and uplifting (think spirituality and altruism), some are crass and banal (advertising and, yes, much blogging), and others are dark and pernicious (sexual exploitation and suicide bombing). All are vying for a commitment from each of us, and when we give that commitment, we give it for free and put all our life energy behind it. That is what makes memes so powerful.

The ability both to create and promulgate such memes and to recognize when a meme is acting upon you or one of your constituents is core to being effective in this new reality. A connected world places an enormous premium on people who are fluent in communications: expressing ideas, positioning offers, inferring power relationships, decoding nuances, deflecting the manipulations of others. We are witnessing the rise of the articulate and the marginalization of the inarticulate, whether in our political and business leaders or in our leading brands and most favored Internet sites.

 

In sume, if the past few decades were heralded as the revenge of the nerds, the next few will be the revenge of the liberal arts graduates.

I basically agree.

As a side note, however, I do believe that notwithstanding "this new reality," as Moore says, liberal arts degrees are not for everyone. Despite the fact that my entire family has been educated at liberal arts colleges, and I myself am heading for one, I still am a fan of vocational schools and specialized degrees. The fact is a lot of people would be better off if they went to a vocational school after high school instead of straight into the workforce. Unfortunately, vocational schools are often demeaned, especially by intellectuals. This Wall Street Journal op/ed notes:

A reality about the job market must eventually begin to affect the valuation of a college education: The spread of wealth at the top of American society has created an explosive increase in the demand for craftsmen. Finding a good lawyer or physician is easy. Finding a good carpenter, painter, electrician, plumber, glazier, mason–the list goes on and on–is difficult, and it is a seller’s market. Journeymen craftsmen routinely make incomes in the top half of the income distribution while master craftsmen can make six figures. They have work even in a soft economy. Their jobs cannot be outsourced to India. And the craftsman’s job provides wonderful intrinsic rewards that come from mastery of a challenging skill that produces tangible results. How many white-collar jobs provide nearly as much satisfaction?

This is similar in theme to the wonderful essay called "Shopclass as Soulcraft," (called one of the best essays of the year by David Brooks) which is about a guy who left his job at a think tank to be a car mechanic — and found it more stimulating and challenging on every front.

While reading Sunday’s New York Times at Starbucks on Pearl Street here in Boulder, I smiled at the article declaring toga-themed college parties “old news.” Apparently, “nude” is the hot new theme. No clothes, and you’re in the door.

Just another college trick to make sexual exploration a little easier? That may be the intent, but the result, according to students, is more sophisticated and serious conversations. As the eminently sensible Tyler Cowen comments:

I would expect the [nude] parties to be more socially egalitarian, given that clothing cannot be used for social signalling, or for that matter for social concealing. I would expect less flirting, less drinking, less aggressive behavior, less lying, and more social seriousness. These effects should also wear off over time, as people get used to nudity and develop other means of signalling and concealing.

Kai Chang mentioned this for the third time over noodles yesterday, so I’m glad he finally blogged this brilliant technique of one of his college professors:

“Now I know some of you have already heard of me, but for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar, let me explain how I teach. Between today until the class right before finals, it is my intention to work into each of my lectures … one lie. Your job, as students, among other things, is to try and catch me in the Lie of the Day.”

At the end of each class the students anxiously reviewed their lecture notes to see if they could spot the lie.

I can’t think of a better way to impart the life lesson: “Think critically. Even if it comes from an expert”.

Last night I asked a couple friends who go to college in Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut, respectively, how the east coast fashion culture differs from what we’re used to on the west coast. They said in unintended unison, "They tuck in their shirts!"

Most of us California folk who have never lived or studied in the east have a sense of shared fascination and horror at the ultra-preppiness that infects all private prep schools (and then the prestigious colleges and universities the prep-school kids attend).

While the fashion annoys me — popped collars, Polo shirts, button down shirts, khakis, Brooks Brothers blazers — I also hate the elitism / condensation that seems to come with it. I’m not sure which comes first: the clothes, then the attitude, or the attitude then the clothes. They feed on each other. It’s hard to blame the student for coming out of a prep school with a pompous attitude. Can you imagine being sent away from home at 14, living with tons of other old money rich kids who want to know what your father does for a living, having to obey insane rules about when you can interact with someone of the opposite gender, and on top of it all, comply with the intense academic pressure these schools project?

I’m biased, but I much prefer the San Francisco high school style. First, it was extremely casual by east coast prep-school standards. With a few exceptions, no button down shirts or loafers, no perfectly combed hair and suave mannerisms. Sandals, shorts, and t-shirts ruled. Second, even though 75% of my junior and senior year teachers had PhDs, we still addressed them by their first names. Finally, since it was a day school, you really got to know the families of all your friends. This gives you a deeper sense of the person and the issues at home that animate their life. At boarding school, you have nothing to go on but your friend’s performance in the high pressure environment of school.

I don’t want to seem too heavy handed — not all east coast prep school kids are fuck-ups. And surely there are good reasons to participate in an institution that has a long history and prestigious brand name. But I’m happy I’m headed to Southern California for college — I do plan on living on the east for some part of my life, but not for college.

My close friend Andy started as a freshman at Vassar College and has had some great posts on his blog. He just posted a hilarious Top 10 list for "How to hit on girls in co-ed bathrooms." Andy, how sophisticated you’ve become since entering the elite ranks of American higher ed, big man.

Money grafs:

10) Shave at least three times a day. Make sure that you are wearing minimal clothing while doing it. Remember to create serious tension on your pectoral muscles so that they look as defined as possible.

…

5) Sometimes, DON’T flush the toilet. Then, hang around the sinks, pretending to brush your teeth or even flossing if you feel like being really naughty. When the hot babe you wanna get with walks over and squeals audibly, that’s when you make your move. Strut over to "see what the commotion was," express your outrage, and then be the champion stud that flushes the toilet for the fine doll. If you can somehow flex your biceps while doing this, that’s mad respect and an obvious turn-on. If she still isn’t feeling you up by this point, you can mention that you’re going to "kick that fucker’s ass real good," and show him, "how to treat a lady." You gotta be careful with this one, but when you pull it off, it’s pretty pure.

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4) Explain to her that there is a water shortage some South Asian country (it doesn’t matter which one; feel free to be creative. Bonus points if it doesn’t actually exist). Describe the conditions: infants dying of dehydration at a horribly innocent age, families not having enough water to wash their clothes, young children reaching for mugs that they think are full of water only to put it up to their lips and realize that there is nothing there. If you’re particularly brave, act out each of these scenarios, and on the last one, make sure that you look tormented and confused upon realizing that your imaginary glass of water is empty. She should be crying by now if you have any semblance of skill. Swoop in, console, and admit that there is very little that "we" can do about it, but there is one simple way to save water that could one day be used in that country: sharing showers. Then grab your towel and suggestively look at the nearest shower. If you’ve made it this far, you’re in.