The Irascible Professor^SM

Irreverent Commentary on the State of Education in America Today

by Dr. Mark H. Shapiro

I used to be offended, but now I'm just amused.... ... based on a line from the Elvis Costello song Red Shoes (1977) - thanks to Prof. Arthur W. Kelley for the source.

The purpose of these pages is to provide intelligent commentary on the successes, failures, and foibles of the American education establishment. We hope to do this with a modicum of wit, and without the rancor and mean-spiritedness that characterizes so much commentary today. The primary author and web master has had more than 37 years experience in American public higher education. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from a reasonably reputable Ivy League university. He taught at a second ~~rate~~ tier "comprehensive" university in southern California for more than 37 years before retiring. In addition, he has held a number of petty administrative posts within the education establishment. He is well known among his colleagues as a person who is fearlessly irascible. Neither his alma mater, nor his current institution (where he now holds emeritus status) should be held accountable for the comments that he makes, no matter how temperate and reasonable they may be.

Speaking of my current institution, it makes up for whatever it may lack in intellectual prestige with a healthy dose of kitsch. It probably is the only university in the world that hosts several Starbuck's Coffee outlets, a Carl's Junior hamburger stand, and a Marriott Hotel on its campus.

Comment of the day - June 26, 2009 - Education's new angle. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12

Comment of the day - June 18, 2009 - Fees or tuition - let's call it what it is.
education college university
Comment of the day - June 8, 2009 - A Fortunate Age - my commencement season reading. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university
Comment of the day - June 2, 2009 - Longing for the good old days. Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
education K-12
Comment of the day - May 13, 2009 - What accountability won't do for higher education. Guest commentary by Jerry M. Hatfield.
education college university
Comment of the day - April 27, 2009 - On the assembly line. Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education college university
Comment of the day - January 15, 2009 - On teacher accountability. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12
Comment of the day - April 9, 2009 - Terms. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education college university
Comment of the day - March 23, 2009 - The one minute egg(head). Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education college university
Comment of the day - March 16, 2009 - Where are all those kids marching to lunch and recess with their arms folded across their chests?
education K-12 NCLB
Comment of the day - March 6, 2009 - We need the liberal arts now more than ever. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university
Comment of the day - February 25, 2009 - Social networking for dummies. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education social networking
Breaking News - February 16, 2009 - Budget Crisis Forces Cal State Fullerton to Cut 2,000 "Students" -- System to Cut 12,000.
education college university
Comment of the day - February 9, 2009 - Reading film. Guest commentary by Libby Segal.
education college university
Comment of the day - January 28, 2009 - Economic crisis hits higher education hard.
education college university
Comment of the day - January 12, 2009 - Predicting the past. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12
Comment of the day - January 5, 2009 - Books are the things with pages. Guest commentary by Henry Marchand.
education K-12 college university
Comment of the day - December 22, 2008 - A breath of fresh air, at long last!
education science
Comment of the day - December 15, 2008 - So you want to be an English teacher. Guest commentary by Evanthia O. Rosati.
education K-12 college university
Comment of the day - December 8, 2008 - The department of complaints. Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education college university
Comment of the day - November 29, 2008 - The bigger bailout. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
Comment of the day - November 16, 2008 - Some straight talk about elitism. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university
Comment of the day - October 25, 2008 - How will you go to college? Guest commentary by Doyle Wesley Walls.
education college university
Comment of the day - October 6, 2008 - Putting the special back in special education. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12 special education
Comment of the day - September 20, 2008 - Great expectations. Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
education K-12
Comment of the day - September 9, 2008 - My ever steepening learning curve. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education college university K-12
Comment of the day - August 19, 2008 - Fifteenth annual Emperor's Awards. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education college university K-12
Comment of the day - August 6, 2008 - So what if college gamers' GPAs suffer! Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university
Comment of the day - July 28, 2008 - Slacker profs make for slacker students. Guest commentary by Herbert Jack Rotfeld.
education college university
Comment of the day - July 14, 2008 - Educator's digest - volume 24. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12
Comment of the day - June 22, 2008 - Time to add basket weaving as a course. Guest commentary by Ben Baker.
education K-12
Comment of the day - June 14, 2008 - The shrinking univers[ity]. Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education college university
Comment of the day - June 5, 2008 - Migrants, money, and migrains: headaches of the adjunct professor. Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education college university
Comment of the day - May 20, 2008 - As the song says "Girls Rule, Boys Drool." Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
education K-12
Comment of the day - May 13, 2008 - Stakeholders. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12
Comment of the day - May 6, 2008 - Smart (or not so Smart) People. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university film
Comment of the day - April 18, 2008 - Color me Ishmael. Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education
Comment of the day - April 11, 2008 - Neglected disabilities. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education
Comment of the day - March 30, 2008 - To close or not to close -- the office door. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university
Comment of the day - March 22, 2008 - Educator's digest. Volume 23. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12
Comment of the day - March 12, 2008 - Singapore math and a possible truce in the "math wars."
education K-12
Comment of the day - February 28, 2008 - Don't bug me! Guest commentary by Eric Eaton.
college university
Comment of the day - February 20, 2008 - On the wrong track. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education K-12
Comment of the day - February 8, 2008 - History lessons. Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education K-12 college university
Comment of the day - January 30, 2008 - The Irascible Professor recommends a "No" vote on Proposition 92.
education college community college
Comment of the day - January 15, 2008 - Real life 101. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education college university
Comment of the day - January 8, 2008 - The world according to Professor Blog. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education college university
Comment of the day - January 2, 2008 - No need for math or science, think again!
education K-12

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Vol. 11, No. 17
ISSN: 1527-3849
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