The Irascible Professor^SM

Irreverent Commentary on the State of Education in America Today

by Dr. Mark H. Shapiro

I used to be offended, but now I'm just amused.... ... based on a line from the Elvis Costello song Red Shoes (1977) - thanks to Prof. Arthur W. Kelley for the source.

The purpose of these pages is to provide intelligent commentary on the successes, failures, and foibles of the American education establishment. We hope to do this with a modicum of wit, and without the rancor and mean-spiritedness that characterizes so much commentary today. The primary author and web master has had more than 35 years experience in American public higher education. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from a reasonably reputable Ivy League university. He taught at a second ~~rate~~ tier "comprehensive" university in southern California for more than 35 years before retiring. In addition, he has held a number of petty administrative posts within the education establishment. He is well known among his colleagues as a person who is fearlessly irascible. Neither his alma mater, nor his current institution (where he now holds emeritus status) should be held accountable for the comments that he makes, no matter how temperate and reasonable they may be.

Speaking of my current institution, it makes up for whatever it may lack in intellectual prestige with a healthy dose of kitsch. It probably is the only university in the world that hosts a Krispy Kreme doughnut outlet, a Carl's Junior hamburger stand, and a Marriott Hotel on its campus.

Comment of the day - May 6, 2008 - Smart (or not so Smart) People. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - April 18, 2008 - Color me Ishmael. Guest commentary by Carolyn Foster Segal.
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Comment of the day - April 11, 2008 - Neglected disabilities. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
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Comment of the day - March 30, 2008 - To close or not to close -- the office door. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - March 22, 2008 - Educator's digest. Volume 23. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - March 12, 2008 - Singapore math and a possible truce in the "math wars."
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Comment of the day - February 28, 2008 - Don't bug me! Guest commentary by Eric Eaton.
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Comment of the day - February 20, 2008 - On the wrong track. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - February 8, 2008 - History lessons. Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
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Comment of the day - January 30, 2008 - The Irascible Professor recommends a "No" vote on Proposition 92.
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Comment of the day - January 15, 2008 - Real life 101. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
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Comment of the day - January 8, 2008 - The world according to Professor Blog. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - January 2, 2008 - No need for math or science, think again!
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Comment of the day - December 19, 2007 - Stuck on the cutting edge. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - December 11, 2007 - Let's get back to education in education. Guest commentary by Rick Fowler.
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Comment of the day - December 5, 2007 - What you think you know. Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
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Comment of the day - November 27, 2007 - I was a teen aged creep. Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
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Comment of the day - November 16, 2007 - Access to ~~excellence~~ mediocrity.
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Comment of the day - November 10, 2007 - Some will be left behind. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - October 26, 2007 - Matthew Meyer and Hugh Troy: hoaxes of a different color. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - September 20, 2007 - A Clean Slate. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - September 9, 2007 - Assessmentdelirium. Guest commentary by Carolyn Segal.
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Comment of the day - August 30, 2007 - Residence hall and fraternity/sorority house fires a growing threat.
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Comment of the day - August 22, 2007 - The fourteenth annual emperor awards. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - August 10, 2007 - Should that college course come with a warranty? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - August 1, 2007 - LONG distance tutoring. Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
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Comment of the day - July 25, 2007 - Helicopter parents - stop hovering! Guest commentary by Diether H. Heinecke.
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Comment of the day - July 19, 2007 - Dump the SAT!
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Comment of the day - July 10, 2007 - Gobbledygook, drivel, and tripe, oh my! Guest commentary by Erik Deckers.
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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.
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Comment of the day - June 12, 2007 - The teacher crisis. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - June 1, 2007 - Purple prose. Guest commentary by Susanne Shaphren.
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Comment of the day - May 25, 2007 - Ethically challenged and tone deaf in the CSU.
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Comment of the day - May 14, 2007 - Do I feel a wind blowing or is it just the Draft? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - May 5, 2007 - The assessment sting. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - April 22, 2007 - Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words.
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Comment of the day - April 18, 2007 - The thrill of history, the agony of math. Guest commentary by Erik Deckers.
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Comment of the day - April 10, 2007 - The math-challenged dieter. Guest commentary by Felice Prager.
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Comment of the day - April 4, 2007 - The student loan trap.
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Comment of the day - March 26, 2007 - Mission impossible. Guest commentary by Carolyn Segal.
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Comment of the day - March 19, 2007 - Who needs a student bill of rights? Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Comment of the day - March 13, 2007 - Out of the darkness, into the light. Guest commentary by Jane Goodwin.
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Comment of the day - March 6, 2007 - Why I hope my children won't become educators. Guest commentary by Rick Fowler.
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Comment of the day - February 26, 2007 - The land of iPods and honey. Guest commentary by Poor Elijah (Peter Berger).
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Comment of the day - February 20, 2007 - The high price leaders.
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Comment of the day - February 8, 2007 - Movie star teachers. Guest commentary by Beverly C. Lucey.
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Comment of the day - January 30, 2007 - Combating plagiarism. Guest commentary by Rick Fowler.
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Comment of the day - January 25, 2007 - Rap this. Guest commentary by Christina M. Rau.
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Comment of the day - January 14, 2007 - Ulysses, undergraduates, and lifelong reading. Guest commentary by Sanford Pinsker.
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Vol. 10, No. 13
ISSN: 1527-3849
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