Monday, October 20, 2008

Current Reading List

Current Reading List
I have a large stack of books with an education bent going right now. Must be the crisp autumn weather that’s triggering my current brain-cravings for non-fiction that’s educational on all levels. They are all interesting (especially to education junkies/geeks like me) and worth reading if you’re into that sort of thing. Stuck in [...]

I have a large stack of books with an education bent going right now. Must be the crisp autumn weather that’s triggering my current brain-cravings for non-fiction that’s educational on all levels. They are all interesting (especially to education junkies/geeks like me) and worth reading if you’re into that sort of thing.


Stuck in the Shallow End: Education, Race, and Computing by Jane Margolis

The co-author of Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing writes again about the computer science have-nots. This time it’s students of color in three different Los Angeles high schools. Margolis makes an excellent point regarding the difference between having access to a computer and having access to computer science education.


Scholarship in the Digital Age: Information, Infrastructure, and the Internet by Christine L. Borgman

How the Internet and access to incredible amounts of information and information-sharing can and will affect academia, and the infrastructure needed to maintain that information, research and knowledge. I like books that make me think a few aisles over from the intended subject matter; this one is making me ponder mankind’s modern day intentions for the pursuit of knowledge.

Research and the accumulation of information used to be (mostly) for the betterment of human existence. Now it seems to be an embarrassing competition for grant money, tenure, and recognition. If everyone’s in it for the money/fame, then I suppose we can just chuck the whole Internet infrastructure improvement idea and it can be every researcher for themselves. No more sharing, no more building on past data, no more standing on the shoulders of giants. If you can’t figure out how to play together, then you’re on your own.


Learn Me Good by John Pearson

A thermal design engineer gets laid off, becomes a teacher, and writes effing hilarious e-mails to his friend about his first year of teaching.


Tested: One American School Struggles to Make the Grade by Linda Perlstein

A well-written account of how the No Child Left Behind Act affects a suburban Maryland elementary school that was already on the edge and falling apart.

Posted by Alexa Harrington


23 school bonds appear on L.A. County ballots

L.A. Unified's $7-billion plea may be the largest ever; community college district seeks $3.5 billion.

A staggering 23 school bonds appear on the November ballot across Los Angeles County, including some of the most expensive ever. Topping the list is Measure Q, a $7-billion request from the Los Angeles Unified School District that is the largest ever for a California school district. Another, Measure J, would provide $3.5 billion for the Los Angeles Community College District. Read the rest ...

Corrupt NSW: liquor vice lords jockey up sleazy MPs

The head of the Australian Hotels Association, Sally Fielke, said last night she hoped the Government would not resort to "shock-jock politics". "If the Government is serious about addressing the binge drinking culture they'll [instead] look at long-term, sensible solutions that address personal responsibility and drinking education," she said. Read more ...

Gov.Palin 'perfect' candidate, but wait just a minute BUCKY!

Gov.Palin 'perfect' candidate, but wait just a minute BUCKY!
"She has extreme right-wing fringe views on most of the issues that the Jewish community cares about … opposed to a woman's right to choose, even in the case of rape or incest … really wrong on civil rights and civil liberties, wrong on public education, wrong on healthcare," she said. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla.