Archive for May 2025
Treat international students as you’d want to be treated
The truest measure of any civilization isn’t found in its monuments or military might, but in how it receives the stranger. I’ve been contemplating this ancient wisdom lately as I navigate courtrooms challenging Trump administration policies that affect those who come to our shores seeking knowledge or safe harbor. Beyond the legal briefs and…
Read MoreWhy our peak learning years are being wasted
A few summer internships aren’t enough — and we know it. Going to college has become the norm, but it’s time we stop and ask: Is this really the best way to maximize our peak learning years? Especially in an age where artificial intelligence is redefining how we interact with information, we have to…
Read MorePrinceton, stop using ChatGPT
It’s always interesting to hear a professor’s policy or opinions on ChatGPT. Some strictly prohibit it, some allow it with proper disclosure, and some condemn its inability to be intelligent — or even accurate. I usually don’t pay much attention to these warnings, as I and the people around me rarely use ChatGPT in lieu of…
Read MoreSave our clickbait souls
[Editor’s note: Our archives contain several years of excellent articles, most of which remain relevant and important to today’s young people and the adults who work with them. This one is a “Director’s Choice” that we are reposting this week.] The metaverse. Virtual Reality. Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce. We live in a time…
Read MoreGetting It All Wrong
This week’s NYT Magazine features a long bit of education arcana twirled by Paul Tough, the Canadian-American author who popularized “relentless perseverance” in his bestselling book, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. The aptly named Tough is not an educator or a scientist and is a college dropout, thereby diluting his authority as to…
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