When I read this story, I realized at once what the problem was with American education--the abusive and idiotic bureaucrats who run the show. The thug in question is one Wilfredo T. Laboy, a super-intendent in Mass. who saw fit to lay off 24 teachers on UNPAID leave because they failed the same BASIC ENGLISH test that he himself failed THREE TIMES.

Over at Invisible Adjunct by way of a Critical Mass post, there's an interesting discussion of how instructors' looks affect their student evaluations. It kind of reminds me of women I know who put on makeup and call it "armor." How sad.

The yearly drama of the incoming reading list at UNC-Chapel Hill. This year people are pissed that students are being asked to read Nickel and Dimed. I am just finishing this book and I, too, am pissed. Not because it is leftist or anti-capitalistic but because Barbara Ehrenreich is herself "clueless," there are points throughout the book when she is downright racist and classist. I say she may be clueless because she seems to be trying to lighten the depressing situation of the working class poor. The only problem is that her jokes are often at the expense of the poor and often colored (as in people of color, not as in African American) folk.

One of the latest big stories (memes?) in the greater blogosphere is to select the 20 greatest figures in American history. The deadline has passed, but I think many bloggers are making a list anyway. Some of the people who are getting nods are making me cringe: an honorable mention for Rush Limbaugh?! Anyway, I'm glad Meryl Yourish points out the exclusion of women in most of the lists. She calls it what it is--sexism in the blogosphere: