My Advice for High School Graduates: Learn a Trade

My Advice for High School Graduates: Learn a Trade

In the classic 1960s movie The Graduate, a family friend offers Dustin Hoffman, the recent graduate, one word of advice: “plastics.” My advice for today’s high school graduates: “learn a trade.” Unfortunately, there’s a historic stigma about “voc-ed,” the result...
Colleges Are Screwing Both Teachers and Students

Colleges Are Screwing Both Teachers and Students

On Friday, January 26, I was in a good mood. I was about to start teaching for the spring semester on Monday. I had set everything up online, and my syllabus was ready. I’d even emailed my students to let them know which textbook to buy. Then I got a phone call...