Tag Archives: Culture & Society

The fading of the teen summer job

A 2015 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that fewer and fewer teenagers have been working summer jobs over the past several decades. What are the reasons for this trend?

Middle schoolers navigate transitional tween years

In this article, middle school kids share their thoughts on what it’s like to be a “tween” and give advice for navigating this sometimes awkward phase.

Newest Immigrants Assimilating as Fast as Previous Ones, Report Says

In September of 2015, the National Academies published a report that explored how immigrants fit into American society. The study applied current research to try to clear up common misconceptions, including the idea that immigrants frequently commit crime. Read this article to learn about the report’s findings.

Do You Believe in Magic?

Why would the citizens of the small town depicted in “The Lottery” persist in the ritual the story describes? It’s human nature to cling to superstitions.

Rings, dwarves, elves, and dragons: J.R.R. Tolkien’s Old Norse influences

J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces of fantasy, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, sprang from the rich storytelling traditions of the far north.

Richard and Mildred Loving Interview

Like Romeo and Juliet, Richard and Mildred Loving married despite overwhelming opposition to their relationship. But this mild-mannered Virginia couple’s love changed the law of the land. Watch an interview from the time of their Supreme Court victory.

Police geese: A Chinese crime-fighting plan isn’t quite as ridiculous as it sounds

Fighting crime isn’t just for dogs. Learn about another animal that can be trained to stop “fowl” deeds.

The night I helped my mother escape North Korea

Read an excerpt from the memoir of a woman who managed to escape from one of the most repressive regimes in the world. In this passage, she helps her mother escape while her brother faces a difficult choice.

Economy in The 1950s

After World War II the Fifties brought about a change in the standards of living for Americans. How did advertising contribute to consumerism?

Humans once opposed coffee and refrigeration. Here’s why we often hate new stuff.

Harvard professor Calestous Juma explains why people often resist innovation.

How a Black Lives Matter protest became a community picnic with police

Police officers in Wichita, Kansas, met with members of the community, including Black Lives Matter advocates, to start a conversation about possible solutions to the conflict between law enforcement and black citizens.

College move-in day: What would Henry David Thoreau say?

Columnist Danny Heitman compares the relative luxuries of his daughter’s LSU college dorm room to what famed author Henry David Thoreau experienced at Harvard in the 1830s.

The Philosophical Differences on Immigration Between Canada and the U.S.

This article examines the differences between the United States’ and Canada’s immigration policies and asks whether Canada’s new program to expedite skilled foreign workers would work in the U.S.

Cities make us forget what’s great about nature

This article examines a study in the journal Science that argues that as urban density grows, humans’ connection to nature decreases. The authors of the study propose that smart city planning can counteract this trend.

Why We Won’t See More Games Like ‘Pokemon Go’

Read this argument that other game developers will find it difficult to replicate the success of ‘Pokemon Go,’ which was created by large established companies and brands.

Author Says a Whole Culture—Not a Single “Homer”—Wrote “Iliad,” “Odyssey”

The tale of the Trojan War reached 21st-century readers largely through the oral tradition. Learn about its source and why it still matters today.

Shifting Gears

With half the population but holding less than a quarter of elected offices nationwide, women are vastly underrepresented in American politics. A nonpartisan organization analyzes ways to change that.

Pay It Forward Day

The idea of “paying it forward” is simple—do a good deed for someone, and ask them to pass on the kindness to someone else, who will then pass it along, and so on.