Why are American students falling behind those of most other developed nations? The author of this blog entry argues that one important reason is the popularity of our high school athletic programs.
Tag Archives: Culture & Society
India, Home of the Nonviolent Protest, Embraces More Extreme Dissent
Protesters in India are taking novel approaches to the tradition of nonviolent resistance.
That Lady With the Scales Poses for Her Portraits
Courthouses often display sculptures of Lady Justice wearing a blindfold to show that she is impartial. Read about two scholars who have researched how artists have portrayed justice in many different cultures and time periods.
Why I Gave Up a High-Paying Corporate Career to Start a Charity
Jim Ziolkowski left a high-paying job in the financial industry to start buildOn, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping teens give back to their communities through public service. Read the article to find out more.
Slavery’s Last Stronghold
The African country of Mauritania officially ended slavery in 1981; however, an estimated 10%–20% of the population is still enslaved. Read this article to find out more about the struggle to free the last slaves on earth.
The Five Percent Problem
Conflicts may be universal, but most can eventually be resolved. However, researchers estimate that about 5% of conflicts are so entrenched and complex that they seem impossible to solve. In this video series, Peter T. Coleman discusses examples of such conflicts, including how they started and what could possibly end them.
Trojan War
The tale of the Trojan War has fascinated people for centuries. Why? Check out this site to learn the story of the war, the epics that mention it, and what archaeologists have discovered over the years. While you’re there, be sure to click links to related topics, such as “Greek Mythology” and “Ancient Greece.” There’s a lot to learn.
Texting May Be Taking a Toll
Thumb cramps, sleeplessness, distractions, falling grades. . . . Is it possible that texting teens are too busy making their voices heard? Read this article to discover what some experts suspect. It may be time to turn off that phone and get some rest.
A New House in the Old Country
Sometimes events fit together as neatly as a five-foot-wide house in an alleyway. In this essay, author Etgar Keret relates how he came to inhabit the world’s narrowest house—one perfectly meshing with his minimalist writing style—located in a place deeply significant to his family.
Tapping Our Powers of Persuasion
As Lady Macbeth illustrates, sometimes the greatest power people have over others is not force but persuasion. In this article, a noted psychological expert pinpoints the most effective techniques used to sway us.
The War Over King’s Legacy
Martin Luther King Jr.’s life ended before his work was complete, leaving others to interpret his intentions and delineate his legacy. Vern E. Smith and Jon Meacham discuss the history and the ongoing disagreements over who King was and what his work means today.
Dangerous Exotic Pets
Lions and tigers and bears—and cougars, leopards, cheetahs, chimpanzees, lemurs, anacondas, and pythons—are sometimes kept as pets. How wise is it for people to keep dangerous exotic animals? Visit this site to learn the Humane Society’s opinion and arguments about whether anyone should keep an exotic pet.
Felicity Aston: Explorer, Speaker, Author
In January 2012, British adventurer Felicity Aston became the first woman to ski alone across Antarctica. But that is just one of her many adventures. Explore this site to find out more about Aston’s amazing expeditions and upcoming quests.
Sunflowers Melt Fukushima’s Nuclear “Snow”
The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Read this article about how local residents are planting sunflowers not only to help absorb radiation leaked from the damaged reactors but also to bring hope to local residents.
Lessons Learned from My Birthday Friend
In high school, Robert Yoon learned that he and a classmate shared the same birthday. Read about the lessons Yoon learns from sharing this bond with his friend.
Manal al-Sharif: A Saudi Woman Who Dared to Drive
Women are forbidden to drive in Saudi Arabia. Listen to the story of women’s right advocate Manal al-Sharif, who dared to challenge the system by posting a video of herself driving on YouTube.
South African Town Accused of Keeping Apartheid Alive
Decades after the end of Apartheid, race is still an emotional topic in South Africa. Read this article about a community accused of trying to keep Apartheid alive.
From Divided States, A ‘United’ Nation—Thanks To These Men
In this interview, we hear from Simon Winchester, author of The Men Who United The States: America’s Explorers, Inventors, Eccentrics, and Mavericks, and the Creation of One Nation, Indivisible, about the people who made the United States such a great nation.
Miami Museum Celebrates the Art of a Crossroads
Miami is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The new Perez Art Museum Miami strives to celebrate and showcase that diversity and all the unique perspectives that come with it.
Anne Frank’s Amsterdam
A new digital scrapbook combines images from World War II Amsterdam with images of modern-day Amsterdam to give viewers a unique perspective into the world of Anne Frank.