The Irascible ProfessorSM
by Dr. Mark H. Shapiro
Here you will find articles previously published on our web site. Note that you can use the search box on the right to search our site for a particular author, title, or topic. If no author is listed, the article was written by the Irascible Professor. We also apologize for the formatting inconsistencies.
2010:
Comment of the day - December 18, 2010 - The write stuff. Guest
commentary by Kim Marie Wood.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - December 11, 2010 - I'll be burning books in my
fireplace this winter. Guest commentary by David Langley.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - November 20, 2010 - We are indeed waiting for Superman.
Guest commentary by Libby Segal.
education
K-12
Breaking News - November 9, 2010
- Half-time Interim Director of University Planning at CSU
Fullerton received $165,104 in FY 2009.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - October 27, 2010 - Forms, forms, and yet more forms.
Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - October 1, 2010 - The slow death of tenure. Guest
commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
tenure
Comment of the day - August 14, 2010 - Am I green? Guest commentary by
Carolyn Foster Segal.
education
environmentalism
Comment of the day - July 15, 2010 - Who should care? Guest commentary
by Mark Alton.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - June 18, 2010 - Sometimes a book is just a book.
Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - June 8, 2010 - The English professor's burden.
Guest commentary by John Brugaletta.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - May 30, 2010 - Civilization as we know it. Guest
commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day - May 17, 2010 - To grade or not to grade: that is the
assessment. Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - May 4, 2010 - The "if only" theory of school reform.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - March 19, 2010 - Reinventing the lead balloon -
team-based learning. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
college
university
Comment of the day - March 12, 2010 - Enthusiasm. Guest commentary by
Felice Prager.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - February 28, 2010 - Salinger and me. Guest
commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - February 17, 2010 - My letter to the world (of
technology). Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - February 11, 2010 - Two observations from a long-time
teacher. Guest commentary by Rick Fowler.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - January 31, 2010 - More unsung heroes. Guest
commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day - January 19, 2010 - Higher education in California -
time for a new Master Plan II?
education
college
university
Comment of the day - January 10, 2010 - Higher education in California -
time for a new Master Plan I?
education
college
university
Comment of the day - January 1, 2010 - Poor Elijah's 2010 education wish
list. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
2009:
Comment of the day - December 26, 2009 - The dissertation blues, then and
now. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
university
Comment of the day - October 31, 2009 - Education reform - not so much.
Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day - September 20, 2009 - Charter schools - a choice but not
necessarily a great choice.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - August 26, 2009 - The 16th annual Emperor's Awards.
Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day - August 7, 2009 - Harvard, Malcolm X, and Henry Louis
Gates, Jr. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
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 - April 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
2008:
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
2007:
Comment of the day -
December 19, 2007 - Stuck on the cutting edge. Guest
commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
December 11, 2007 - Let's get back to education in
education. Guest commentary by Rick Fowler.
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
December 5, 2007 - What you think you know.
Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
education
K-12
college
university
Comment of the day -
November 27, 2007 - I was a teen aged creep. Guest
commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
November 16, 2007 - Access to excellence
mediocrity.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
November 10, 2007 - Some will be left behind. Guest
commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
NCLB
Comment of the day -
October 26, 2007 - Matthew Meyer and Hugh Troy: hoaxes of a
different color. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
September 20, 2007 - A Clean Slate. Guest commentary
by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
September 9, 2007 - Assessmentdelirium. Guest
commentary by Carolyn Segal.
education
college
university
assessment
Comment of the day -
August 30, 2007 - Residence hall and fraternity/sorority
house fires a growing threat.
education
college
university
fire safety
Comment of the day -
August 22, 2007 - The fourteenth annual emperor awards.
Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
August 10, 2007 - Should that college course come with a
warranty? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
August 1, 2007 - LONG distance tutoring.
Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
education
college
university
K-12
outsourcing
Comment of the day -
July 25, 2007 - Helicopter parents - stop hovering!
Guest commentary by Diether H. Heinecke.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
July 19, 2007 - Dump the SAT!
education
college
university
SAT
Comment of the day -
July 10, 2007 - Gobbledygook, drivel, and tripe, oh my! Guest commentary by
Erik Deckers.
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
June 25, 2007 - The 100 "best" high schools in America - the
view from the litter box. Guest commentary by Felice
Prager.
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
June 12, 2007 - The teacher crisis. Guest commentary
by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
June 1, 2007 - Purple prose. Guest commentary by
Susanne Shaphren.
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
May 25, 2007 - Ethically challenged and tone deaf in the CSU.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
May 14, 2007 - Do I feel a wind blowing or is it just the
Draft? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
Iraq
Comment of the day -
May 5, 2007 - The assessment sting. Guest commentary
by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
testing
NCLB
Comment of the day -
April 22, 2007 - Sometimes a picture really is worth a
thousand words.
education
environmental education
global warming
climate change
Comment of the day -
April 18, 2007 - The thrill of history, the agony of math. Guest
commentary by Erik Deckers.
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
April 10, 2007 - The math-challenged dieter. Guest
commentary by Felice Prager.
education
health education
dieting
obesity
Comment of the day -
April 4, 2007 - The student loan trap.
education
college
university
financial aid
Comment of the day -
March 26, 2007 - Mission impossible. Guest commentary
by Carolyn Segal.
education
college
university
Comment of the day -
March 19, 2007 - Who needs a student bill of rights?
Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
David Horowitz
Comment of the day -
March 13, 2007 - Out of the darkness, into the light.
Guest commentary by Jane Goodwin.
education
K-12
teaching
community college
Comment of the day -
March 6, 2007 - Why I hope my children won't become
educators. Guest commentary by Rick Fowler.
education
K-12
teaching
Comment of the day - February
26, 2007 - The land of iPods and honey. Guest
commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
technology
Comment of the day - February
20, 2007 - The high price leaders.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - February 8, 2007
- Movie star teachers.
Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - January
30, 2007 - Combating plagiarism. Guest commentary by
Rick Fowler.
education
K-12
English
plagiarism
Comment of the day - January
25, 2007 - Rap this. Guest commentary by Christina M.
Rau.
education
college
university
English
Comment of the day - January 14, 2007
- Ulysses, undergraduates, and lifelong reading. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
English
2006:
Comment of the day -
December 30, 2006 - Trans facts.
education
health education
trans-fats
Comment of the day -
December 21, 2006 - Tag, you're dumb! Guest commentary
by Erik Deckers.
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
December 6, 2006 - Does it matter if English majors read Ulysses? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
English
Comment of the day -
November 25, 2006 - Malaise. Guest commentary by Poor
Elijah (Peter Berger)
education
K-12
Comment of the day -
November 10, 2006 - Liberty and the librarian.
Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education
K-12
libraries
Comment of the day -
October 30, 2006 - Careers beginning with a P.
Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education
college
university
Breaking News -
October 26, 2006
- Cal State University Auditor releases scathing report on
Business and Financial Affairs Office at Cal State Fullerton.
Comment of the day -
October 5, 2006 - How to raise a spoiled child. Guest
commentary by Erik Deckers.
education
K-12
children
Comment of the day -
September 20, 2006 - You can't take that away from me.
Guest commentary by Jane Goodwin.
education
reading
library
Comment of the day -
September 13, 2006 - Running into a former student at the
beach. Guest
commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - August
31, 2006 - Dispensing with the indispensable. Guest
commentary by Felice Prager.
education
books
Comment of the day - August
21, 2006 - The thirteenth annual Emperor's Awards.
Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day - August
12, 2006 - One-room schoolhouse redux. Guest
commentary by Jane Goodwin.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - August 6, 2006 - Hertz hurts.
Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education
university
college
Comment of the day - July 21, 2006 - It's time for Charlie Reed to go!
education
university
California State University
Comment of the day - July 12, 2006 - You probably don't remember me, but..." Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
university
college
Comment of the day - June 28, 2006 - Let the chips fall where they may.
education
university
research
Comment of the day - June 20, 2006 - Entitlement (a commencement address). Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
graduation
Comment of the day - June 15, 2006 - Diary of a strung-out search committee member. Guest commentary by Marilyn D. Davis.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - June 7, 2006 - Calculator dependence. Guest commentary by William Kohl.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - May 30, 2006 - What are we willing to do to improve education? Guest commentary by Georganne Spruce.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - May 18, 2006 - My last senior year. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education
K-12
high school
Comment of the day - May 11, 2006 - Who needs a four-year college? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
vocational education
Comment of the day - May 3, 2006 - Has Barry Munitz no shame?
education
college
university
Barry Munitz
Comment of the day - April 27, 2006
- Just tell me I'm wonderful and give me the
A. Guest commentary by Tina
Blue.
education
college
university
writing
Comment of the day - April 20, 2006
- Excuses, excuses, excuses. Guest commentary by Erik Deckers.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - April 13, 2006
- Politically correct but hardly ethical.
education
college
university
political correctness
Comment of the day - April 5, 2006
- Stairway to nowhere. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
NCLB
Comment of the day - March 30, 2006
- Drowning in Jessicas. Guest commentary by Beverly Carol Lucey.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - March 22, 2006
- College costs are stifling upward mobility.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - March 15, 2006
- How dangerous are David Horowitz's 101 most dangerous American academics? Guest
review by Sanford Pinsker.
education
college
university
Comment of the day - March 7, 2006
- Ready or not, reading matters.
education
K-12
reading
Comment of the day - March 1, 2006
- Email etiquette an oxmoron? Perhaps not. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
education
higher education
college
university
Comment of the day - February 22, 2006
- The best high school education that $25,000 per year can buy.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - February 5, 2006
- The silicon bullet. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment of the day - January 25, 2006
- A dialogue on the California High School Exit Exam. Guest commentary by Jo
Rupert Behm with a response from the Irascible Professor.
education
K-12
Comment of the day - January 15, 2006
- The purple stapler. Guest commentary by Miss Dennis.
education
K-12
special education
Comment of the day - January 10, 2006
- Kids today. Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
education
higher education
K-12
college
Comment of the day - January 2, 2006
- Student pressure and your average English department. Guest commentary by
Sanford Pinsker.
education
higher education
English
college
2005:
Comment
of the day - December 21, 2005 -
Great expectations.
Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment
of the day - December 19, 2005 -
Looking out
for number one.
education
K-12
college
university
Comment
of the day - December 5, 2005 - This is only
a test. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment
of the day - November 28, 2005 - Another shot
fired in the war against science.
education
K-12
evolution
Comment
of the day - November 15, 2005 -
Borderline
stupidity. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education
K-12
Comment
of the day - November 4, 2005 -
The teaching
of English may not be dead after all. Guest commentary by Nils Clausson.
education
Comment
of the day - October 28, 2005 -
The physics
classroom where science and superstition met. Guest commentary by
Sanford Pinsker.
education
K-12
evolution
intelligent
design
Comment
of the day - October 18, 2005 -
The virtues
of work. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
education
K-12
Comment
of the day - October 9, 2005 -
The world
according to señor Poje´. Guest commentary by Felice
Prager.
education
K-12
Comment
of the day - September 29, 2005 -
Not so intelligent
design.
education
culture
evolution
intelligent
design K-12
Comment
of the day - September 20, 2005 -
The rise of
the critic and the death of the teacher. Guest commentary by Mike Grayson.
education
culture
literary
criticism
Comment
of the day - September 12, 2005
- Totally awesome
in a groovy far-out kind of cool way, not. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
education
culture
K-12
Comment
of the day - September 5, 2005 -
The back-to-school
email blues (or the need for a Provost in absentia). Guest commentary
by Sanford Pinsker.
education
culture
Comment
of the day - August 28, 2005 -
Is it time
to establish more men's centers on college campuses?
education
culture
Comment
of the day - August 21, 2005 -
Students:
Take care of business! Guest commentary by Tina Blue.
Comment of the day - August 14, 2005 - The twelfth annual Emperor's Awards. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
Comment of the day - August 7, 2005 - Left behind: A wake-up call for education. Guest commentary by Trish Gannon.
Comment of the day - July 31, 2005 - California's teacher tenure reform initiative - a recluctant "No".
Comment of the day - July 20, 2005 - School reform - left, middle, and right. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
Comment of the day - July 12, 2005 - Religion and literature in the age of Bush. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
Comment of the day - July 6, 2005 - Climate change McCarthyism.
Comment of the day - June 28, 2005 - The re-education of Cookie Monster. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
Comment of the day - June 11, 2005 - No child left unrecruited. Guest commentary by Eric Eaton.
Comment of the day - June 4, 2005 - Fighting the red menace.
Comment
of the day - May 17, 2005
-
Hellfire and
school assemblies. Guest commentary by Beverly Carol Lucey.
Comment
of the day - April 22, 2005
-
Tolerance or
lack thereof at the Air Force Academy.
Comment
of the day - April 14, 2005
-
I don't DO math.
Guest commentary by Jay C. Oddafer.
Comment
of the day - April 8, 2005
-
Keeping up with
the Jetsons. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
Comment
of the day - March 31, 2005
-
I know how much
it costs to hear The Caged Bird Sing. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
Comment
of the day - March 25, 2005 - Calling a cigar
a cigar. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
2004:
2003:
2002:
2001:
2000:
1999:
The
Irascible Professor
invites your
.