Electric Agora (archive)

Tag: high school

  • Philosophy (of Education): What’s the Point?

    by Kevin Currie-Knight ____ The following piece is a reflection I wrote mainly in response to undergraduate questions about philosophy’s purpose and value. I teach philosophy-of-education themed (and other) classes in a College of Education, so most of my students are neither philosophy majors nor in any way fluent with philosophy coming into my course.…

  • Yearbook

    by Daniel A. Kaufman ___ It was a big deal that time of the year, when our high school yearbook came out. In truth, it was a big deal all year: when the staff was being elected; while photos were being taken; and as the year’s theme was worked out. 1984’s was, well, 1984. 1985’s…

  • Adolescent Politics

    by Daniel A. Kaufman ___ The sub-heading of the late-Christopher Hitchens’ book, God is Not Great, reads: “how religion poisons everything.”  Now, maybe that’s true and maybe it isn’t.  I really don’t know.  But one thing I do know is this: Politics poisons everything. And the reason it does is that we are not serious…

  • Breaking Kids

    Don’t you ever feel like everything we do and everything we’ve been taught is just to service the future? — Marissa Ribisi as “Cynthia,” Dazed and Confused (Dir: Richard Linklater, 1993) ___ No sixteen or seventeen year old can have a “resume.”  Or should have one.  Resumes are things that adults submit when trying to…

  • Platonism! (For Inspiration)

    by CJ Uberroth As a high school math teacher, I have had my fair share of interesting conversations, ranging from my students’ favorite music to my addiction to American Spirit cigarettes. Sure, some may say that I shouldn’t speak with students about things like alcohol and nicotine but I can’t imagine a stupider objection. How…