#342: Turning Back Time

Soon women in America will no longer have the right to an abortion. Since finding out on Tuesday morning about the draft decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, I have felt equal parts shock and rage. Born after Roe v. Wade, my life has corresponded with the expansion of rights in our country. Several of my friends and former students have exercised their liberty and right to choose. Now for the first time, and because of the decision of four men and one woman, we will see the abrogation of a fundamental constitutional right.

Like many of you, I have been trying (and failing) to make sense of it all: reading tons of articles, listening to podcasts, talking with friends. This week’s issue includes two pieces that may be helpful in offering context. The first – “Alito’s Plan To Repeal The 20th Century” – argues that Dobbs not only will ban abortion but will also erase the civil liberties fought for over the past 100 years. The second – “The Roe Baby” – emphasizes the complexities and nuances of the abortion issue. As several of you shared in Issue #312, abortion is complicated, messy, untidy, emotional.

I also understand if you’ve had enough and have no desire to read any more articles about abortion. If so, start with the pet photo and then enjoy a thoughtful antidote to loneliness and a concerning approach to school discipline. My hope is that they will spur your thinking.

+ I hope you take care of yourself this week. As always, please feel free to share your thoughts by hitting reply.

Reversing Roe And The 20th Century

About 100 years ago, the Supreme Court began to expand the rights that we enjoy as Americans. We’ve learned about some of these rights in school: the right to remain silent, the right to privacy, the right to contraception, the right to marry someone of a different race, the right to marry someone of the same sex. The Court protected a space for family, marriage, and children and told the government to back off.

In this thought-provoking essay, Adam Serwer argues that the Supreme Court is now reversing course. With Roe v. Wade overturned, nothing will prevent the state from threatening women’s bodily autonomy. Dobbs is like Plessy v. Ferguson, making a false case for states’ rights and federalism when really the point is segregation and control. For years to come, if the state wants to impose its religious or ideological beliefs on people, thereby constraining their liberty, it will be able to do so. (8 min)

+ Mr. Serwer is excellent and has appeared in this newsletter many times: See Issues #120, #131, #185, #225, and #253 for more of his writing.

Jane Roe’s Baby Tells Her Story

Last September I devoted Issue #311 to Roe. Leading that issue was this outstanding article by Joshua Prager, which profiles Shelley Lynn Thornton, who revealed last year that she is the daughter of Norma McCorvey, also known as Jane Roe. Landmark Supreme Cases like Roe v. Wade are so monumental that sometimes we forget that the litigants were real people living regular lives. In the piece, Ms. Thornton shares her complicated feelings about her mother, her place in history, and the constitutional right to an abortion. She said, “When someone’s pregnant with a baby, and they don’t want that baby, that person develops knowing they’re not wanted.” (28 min)

+ Mr. Prager wrote The Family Roe: An American Story, the recipient of many awards last year. I’m going to read it. Let me know if you want to join me.

We’re In A Loneliness Crisis

Tish Harrison Warren: “We need to reconnect with material things: nature, soil, our bodies and other people in real life. Go watch the rain for 10 minutes. Go on a walk with a friend. Get off social media and meet one neighbor. Keep your kids offline. Put your hands in the dirt. Play an instrument instead of a video game. Turn off your smartphone and have dinner with people around a table. Search for beauty and goodness in the material world, and there, find joy. The way back to ourselves, as individuals and a society, runs through old, earthy things.” (8 min)

The Price Kids Pay: Schools And Police Punish Students With Costly Tickets

When students misbehave, some schools try restorative justice. Others prefer detention and suspension. In Illinois, school administrators ask police officers to ticket and fine young people for minor infractions. Sophia got caught with a vape pen; now she owes $175. Abigail cut school and got hit with a $200 fine. If they can’t pay up, their parents’ tax refunds are docked. The collected money doesn’t go to improve the school environment or support students. It goes to fund the ticketing system. (29 min)

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? If so, give me a thumbs up below and tell me why. And if you didn’t like it, that’s OK, too – that’s what the thumbs down is for.

To our two new subscribers Monica and Prem – I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Kristin! Kristen! Kristyn!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Bob, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Word of mouth is how our reading community gets stronger. Here are a few ways you can help:

📬 Forward today’s issue to a friend and urge them to subscribe. If they use this sign-up form, they can say you referred them, and when I find out, I will shower you with thanks and praise (and maybe a prize).

☕️ Buy me a coffee (or many!) to express your love of the newsletter

❤️ Become a VIP member for $3 a month. You’ll join an esteemed group of generous readers who value the mission of The Highlighter.

On the other hand, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am PT.

#341: Fun-Size Hustle

Happy Thursday, loyal readers! Thank you very much for being here.

One thing I’ve always liked about our reading community is that we appreciate articles from a variety of publications. There’s nothing wrong with The New York Times and The Washington Post. But we see those sources every day. If we want our reading to help us understand different viewpoints, we must seek well-written pieces outside our regular feed. But many of you have told me you don’t have the time to scour the internet for hidden gems. That’s one reason I started doing The Highlighter almost seven years ago. I’m grateful for your readership.

This week’s selections (from around the web) explore how we raise our children to embrace capitalism, how one Black woman experienced school desegregation, how technology in the classroom is not productive for learning, and how our country might be headed toward civil war. If you have time to read just one article, make it “Fun-Size Hustle: How School Fundraisers Teach Kids That Work Is Sweet.” But all four pieces are on the shorter side this week, so who knows what’s possible? 😀 (Let me know if you read all four.)

+ Do you want to read more but struggle to carve out the time? I’d love to hear from you. All you need to do is hit reply. (I have some ideas.)

Fun-Size Hustle: School Fundraisers Indoctrinate Kids Into Capitalism

When I was in the fourth grade, I went door to door asking my neighbors to sponsor me for the school’s Spell-A-Thon. The goal of the fundraiser, I don’t remember. The point was to spell all the words right and bring home the cash. In this provocative essay, Mary Porto wonders why suburban educators solicit kids to raise funds when they could ask parents directly. It has to do with capitalism, Ms. Porto argues, and preparing children for grind culture. “The message of school fundraising is the same one that adults are taught about jobs: Working hard is rewarded, whether with a paycheck or a toy. And if your paycheck is too small or you want more than one backpack tag, work harder.” (5 min)

+ I won a robot as part of the sixth grade magazine drive. What do you have to show for yourself?

Busing Battle

Kelundra Smith: “I chose books and academics because that was the only choice I was allowed to make. I was a student who was tracked early on and set up for this college-bound life of achievement, and I walked it out all the way through graduate school. I have the student loans to prove it. Yet, surviving that level of scrutiny and perfectionism came at a cost. The idea that pronouncing a word incorrectly or wearing a certain outfit could rob me of opportunities is one that it took years to recover from. It is an ongoing effort.” (12 min)

Putting Technology Before Teaching

I used to be a big advocate of technology in the classroom, always looking for the next app (anyone hear of Diigo?) to engage my students. No longer. Maybe it’s just that I’m getting older. Or maybe I worry for our young people, stuck behind screens all day, sedating themselves from the effects of the pandemic. Former teacher Shane Trotter describes an iPad initiative at his school, which introduced a barrier between teachers and students that made building relationships and growing trust more challenging. The point was not about learning, Mr. Trotter says. It was about making sure Nearpod worked, and then surveilling students from afar, rather than interacting with them up close. (10 min)

We Are Living In The Age of Civil War

“Ask almost anyone who has lived through a civil war,” Barbara F. Walter warns, “and they will tell you that they didn’t see it coming.” An expert on international security, Prof. Walter worries that the United States now meets the three criteria that put nations at risk: weakening democratic institutions, citizens organizing themselves around identity rather than ideology, and once-dominant groups losing their power. Unless these trends reverse, our country stands a 4 percent chance of descending into conflict. The solution? Take away social media, and we’ll be fine. (12 min)

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? If so, give me a thumbs up below and tell me why. And if you didn’t like it, that’s OK, too – that’s what the thumbs down is for.

To our three new subscribers Sarangoo, George, and Evan – I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Joey! Joseph! Josephine!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Hal, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Word of mouth is how our reading community gets stronger. Here are a few ways you can help:

📬 Forward today’s issue to a friend and urge them to subscribe. If they use this sign-up form, they can say you referred them, and when I find out, I will shower you with thanks and praise (and maybe a prize).

☕️ Buy me a coffee (or many!) to express your love of the newsletter

❤️ Become a VIP member for $3 a month. You’ll join an esteemed group of generous readers who value the mission of The Highlighter.

On the other hand, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am PT.

#340: Hey Google, Please Write My Essay

Dear Loyal Readers,

Lately I’ve been thinking about reading – why we do it and what makes it so rewarding. In a recent interview, poet and author Ocean Vuong said, “I think, at the risk of sounding overly dramatic or emo, I feel truer to myself while reading than I do experiencing the world through my body — so any chance to read is ideal for me.” My love of reading may not be as strong as Mr. Vuong’s, but ever since I launched this newsletter almost seven years ago, I’ve believed deeply in the power of reading, both alone and in community. After all, if we read only the best stuff, and if we reflect and act on what we’ve read, we become better people, more kind and thoughtful. Loyal readers, I’m grateful that you appreciate the highest-quality nonfiction, and I’m happy that you read each week’s selections along with me.

This week’s issue explores the wonders and dangers of artificial intelligence, particularly in the world of language and creative expression. Even if you’ve been following the advancements of GPT-3, this week’s lead article, “A.I. Is Mastering Language. Should We Trust What It Says?” will blow your mind, especially if you’re an English teacher, or someone like me who struggles to write clear and coherent prose. If technology has indeed made our society dumber, as last week’s issue suggested, apparently all we need to do is get the machines to write our essays and emails (and novels and poems) for us.

📫 I’d love to hear what you think. Please go ahead and hit reply, leave me a voice message, or send me a text.

Happy reading!

Mark

PS - Many of you have been confiding in me lately. You’re saying: “I want to read more. I aspire to read more. But I just can’t carve out the time. What should I do?” If this is you, let’s talk. I want to make The Highlighter not just a digest of great articles but also a supportive place where we can figure out ways to read more and find more joy and calm in our lives.

A.I. Is Mastering Language. Should We Trust It?

Back in my teaching days, my colleagues and I used to assign “The Big Book,” which challenged our students to write 40 pages of original prose in a variety of genres centering on a common theme. Our students groaned the whole way through the yearlong project. But at the end, when they published their book, saw their words in print, and shared their work in a public exhibition, they beamed with pride. Their hundreds of hours of painstaking hard work had paid off.

But what’s the point of trying so hard? Soon, with the help of artificial intelligence and GPT-3, young people (and adults!) will be able to whip up perfectly cogent essays in the matter of seconds.

In this mind-boggling article, Steven Johnson explains how neural nets and large language models have combined to craft language that is becoming indistinguable from (and sometimes better than) human writing.

Mr. Johnson writes:

The machines have acquired language. The ability to express ourselves in complex prose has always been one of our defining magic tricks as a species. Until now, if you wanted a system to generate complex, syntactically coherent thoughts, you needed humans to do the work. Now, for the first time, the computers can do it, too.

Are you scared? I am. Despite the wishes of GPT-3’s founders to keep their technology open source in order to “benefit humanity as a whole,” there’s no guarantee that users won’t employ the software for nefarious ends. A current version sometimes spits out racist rhetoric – perhaps an accurate current portrayal of our species. A less-racist update is more palatable but sounds like a proponent of critical race theory. How do we teach values to a computer? Who gets to be the teacher? (45 min)

➡️ Click here to read the article. Or click the headline up top.

📚 Save the article on Pocket and read it later.

✏️ Check out a physical version of the article with my highlights.

⭐️ Hit reply and tell me what you think.

More great articles about artificial intelligence

As an astute loyal reader of The Highlighter, you may be noticing that I’m experimenting with the newsletter’s format and changing things up a bit. Indeed I am! I hope you like and appreciate the extra attention I’m giving to the lead article. After all, it’s the best of the best. But despite my intention to feature fewer articles, I just can’t resist recommending these two outstanding pieces, also exploring the ills of artificial intelligence.

“I’m The Operator,” by Lauren Smiley

Wired Magazine | March 8, 2022

Uber operator Rafaela Vasquez’s gray Volvo SUV was supposed to stop. That’s what the software said it would do. Except it didn’t, killing a bicyclist in the first fatal accident involving an autonomous vehicle back in 2018. Even though the investigation revealed that Uber had stripped Volvo’s automatic braking system, Ms. Vasquez found herself accused of negligent homicide. Is it the human’s fault when the computer gets things wrong? Especially when the computer belongs to a massive corporation that wants to replace the human? (48 min)

+ Did you hit a paywall? Don’t worry. Try this Google Docs version. And if you prefer, here’s a magazine version with my highlights.

“Love And Loss In The Age Of A.I.,” by Jason Fagone

San Francisco Chronicle | July 21, 2021

Eight years after his fiancée Jessica died from a rare liver disease, 33-year-old Joshua Barbeau, still could not escape his anxiety and depression. The loss was too much to bear. So when he discovered Project December, a website that uses GPT-3 to manipulate human language, Joshua had to decide: Did he want to communicate with an A.I. version of Jessica, one that could replicate her style of speech, one that approximated her personality? Why, of course he did. Note: This article first appeared in Issue #306. (50 min)

+ Mr. Fagone is also the author of “The Lottery Hackers,” which has nothing to do with technology but nonetheless was one of my favorite articles of 2018. He participated in Article Club in July 2020.

Reader Annotations

Last week’s lead article, “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid,” argued that the rise of social media has resulted in our society’s stupefaction. Several of you shared your appreciation of the article. Loyal reader Lisa called the piece “depressing as hell” but accurate. “It has enabled our worst instincts and has made us dumber, as thinking and discerning are no longer required for social discourse.”

But is social media the lone and ultimate cause of our society’s decline? I wasn’t so sure:

Really, has social media caused all this? Are we really beholden to our phones and newsfeeds? Can’t we all decide to sign off of Twitter (and Elon Musk) for a while? Couldn’t our politicians become less petty if they wanted to? Or are we too far gone?

Many of you, on the other hand, were sure. We are too far gone, you said, and social media is the culprit. Loyal reader Renée put it plainly, suggesting that even if we wanted to change our ways, our addiction prevents us.

Despite the gloomy tone of the article, several of you wrote in to share your progress on ridding yourself of Instagram or Facebook or TikTok. (Except for Twitter, I’m right there with you!) Maybe we should all heed loyal reader Kati’s idea: Let’s get off our screens and hang out with friends in real life.

Thank you Lisa, Renée, and Kati for taking the time to share your perspectives. The whole point of this newsletter is to read great articles, reflect on them, and see how we can apply what we’ve learned. Loyal readers, if today’s lead article resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can email me or send me a voice message.

That’s the end. Are you sad?

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? If so, give me a thumbs up below and tell me why. And if you didn’t like it, that’s OK, too – that’s what the thumbs down is for.

To our new subscriber Cem, I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Irene! Ingrid! Ilene!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Jo, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Word of mouth is how our reading community gets stronger. Here are a few ways you can help:

📬 Forward today’s issue to a friend and urge them to subscribe. If they use this sign-up form, they can say you referred them, and when I find out, I will shower you with thanks and praise (and maybe a prize).

☕️ Buy me a coffee (or many) to express your love of the newsletter

❤️ Become a VIP member for $3 a month. You’ll join an esteemed group of generous readers who value the mission of The Highlighter.

On the other hand, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am PT.

#339: America Has Been Dumb Lately

Hi Loyal Readers,

Happy Thursday and thank you for being here.

Last week was all about listening and empathy. I’m keeping up with that theme this issue with a thought-provoking article by Jonathan Haidt that helps explain how our country got so messed up. Not to give too much away, because after all, I want you to read the article, but Prof. Haidt argues that our problem is that we spend too much of our time attacking not only people who disagree with us but also people who agree with us.

And to what end? Instagram and TikTok and Facebook and Twitter likes.

Even before I tell you a little more about the piece, I’m intrigued by what you’ll have to say – both about Prof. Haidt and about his argument. Do you buy what he’s saying? Or is he naïve? Most importantly, are we all doomed, or is there something we can do to save ourselves?

📫 I’d love to hear what you think. All you need to do is hit reply.

Happy reading!

Mark

PS - If you like The Highlighter, please consider forwarding it with someone in your life who might like it, too. Thank you!

The Past 10 Years Of American Life Have Been Stupid

If you want to know when the United States really began to decline, the answer, according to Jonathan Haidt, is 2009 – the same year that Facebook published its Like button and Twitter introduced the Retweet. Americans were no match for the advancements (and dangers) of social media, and instead of listening to one another and seeking compromise, and rather than going out in public to meet real people who might disagree with us, we started to care more about building our personal brands and performing for our audiences because that’s what neoliberalism and Mark Zuckerberg told us to do.

The results? Stupefaction and dysfunction. An emphasis on emotion and outrage over reason and consideration. A greater visibility of extreme (i.e., white and rich) and hostile viewpoints. An online mob policing divergent perspectives. And most important: a deep decline of trust in our relationships and our institutions.

Really, has social media caused all this? Prof. Haidt thinks so. I’m not so sure. Are we really beholden to our phones and newsfeeds? Can’t we all decide to sign off of Twitter (and Elon Musk) for a while? Couldn’t our politicians become less petty if they wanted to? Or are we too far gone?

“If we do not make major changes soon,” Prof. Haidt warns, “then our institutions, our political system, and our society may collapse during the next major war, pandemic, financial meltdown, or constitutional crisis.” Good thing he proposes three solutions (one good, one unlikely, and one that will infuriate teenagers). But of course the questions remains – as it does with climate change and other existential crises – will we do anything about it?

+ Click here to read the article. Or click on the headline above. Or click on the blue link below. Or save it to read later on Pocket. Then hit reply and share your thoughts.

Want more great articles? Sure!

+ If you want to read something inspiring, I’ve got you. In Bastrop, Texas, Norma Mercado helps kids experiencing homelessness: “These students just need someone to tell them they are smart enough, they are beautiful enough. They deserve the very best.” A One-Woman Rescue Squad for Homeless Students,” by Jason DeParle, The New York Times.

+ Author of “The Battle for 1042 Cutler Street,” featured in Issue #294, Eli Saslow is back with another outstanding article about how for many people, the American dream is more like a nightmare. “The Death Spiral of an American Family,” The Washington Post.

+ “Before Enis could finish, Bebo started listing facts about cockroaches. That there were more than four thousand different species, and the one on his right hand, an American cockroach, could grow up to two inches long, and ate just about anything.” “Bebo,” by Jared Jackson, Kenyon Review.

Thank you + want to support the newsletter?

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? Were you more or less likely to read the lead article this time? Let me know by hitting reply or by leaving me a quick voicemail.

To our four new subscribers Jimmy, Alex, Shae, and Ghost, I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Hank! Helene! Haley!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Rae, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out. Also thank you Marsha for your coaching and keen ideas.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Here are a few ways you can help:

📬 Forward today’s issue to a friend and tell them to subscribe

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#338: Listen First

For my day job, I support teachers as an instructional coach. The first thing you learn in coaching school is how to listen. This seems basic but is harder than it seems. The reason is that educators who have left the classroom typically want to “fix the teacher” as quickly as possible. The problem with this approach is that it doesn’t work. Plus it’s disrespectful. The only way we get better, after all, is if people care about us and believe in us.

I think this is probably the case outside of education, too. But ever since the 2016 Election, and particularly since March 2020, the idea of listening to people – of having sympathy and compassion for people – has become rare, especially if they disagree with us. As my good friend from college says, “Why be friends with your enemy?” Besides, we know that people in general don’t change their minds. And maybe empathy shouldn’t be the goal in the first place, as we explored in Issue #226?

Maybe I’m a sucker, but I still believe in listening to people and believing in their capacity to change. This week’s issue includes four articles on the theme. My favorite is “My Father, The Fool,” by Richard Russo. I highly recommend it. If you have time, you’ll find that the other pieces – about caregivers, militiamen, and empathy tips – will also provoke your mind and heart.

+ This month at Article Club, we’re discussing “Children in the Garden,” by Devin Kelly. Featured in Issue #328, it’s about long-distance running, the nature of endurance, the beauty of the ordinary, and the importance of play and lightness in our lives. Find out more and sign up here.

My Father, The Fool

At the height of the pandemic, author Richard Russo gets a call from his wife’s sister, who watches FOX News and remains proudly unvaccinated. She’s sick with COVID. Mr. Russo’s knee-jerk reaction is I-told-you-so. Why do you have to be so foolish? But then he thinks of his father, who once had a stiff neck and instead of seeing a doctor, said, “I know a guy.” It didn’t end well. Maybe we’re all a bit foolish, Mr. Russo suggests. We all do things that don’t make sense. Instead of spending our energy feeling superior, maybe we should stop and listen. (18 min)

The Caregivers

Artist Danny Valentine was 55 years old and on parole after serving a 23-year stint in prison when he answered a phone call from a woman who needed help. “I just can’t do it alone anymore,” the woman said. “Can you please come?” Mr. Valentine said yes, and in this touching story by Kelly Loudenberg, went to care for the woman’s husband, who was suffering from dementia. “Some people are good at writing, some people are mechanics.” Danny said. “I’m good at taking care of people.” (40 min)

+ Who would you say yes to?

Notes On The State Of Jefferson

What happens to your sense of compassion when members of militia groups threaten blood in the streets and another Civil War? Residents of conservative rural counties in Northern California, frustrated by their state’s liberal policies, and feeling aggrieved that they have no power, want to secede and form their own state named Jefferson. In this well-written piece, author James Pogue does an outstanding job messing with the stereotypical Harper’s Magazine reader’s emotions. Just when you have a read on Patrick Henry Jones and Carlos Zapata, you learn that you don’t. (25 min)

+ How did you feel when you read this piece? Disgusted? Sympathetic? Superior? Threatened?

How To Be More Empathetic

Feeling grumpy lately and want to practice some empathy? In The Highlighter’s first-ever how-to guide, you’ll gain some tips on how to get out of your bubble and get out into the world. Suggestions include: “Talk to new people” (Really?) and “Be honest with yourself” (You mean it?). I’m interested: Should this newsletter start including ways to apply what we’ve read and other calls to action? Please let me know if you enjoy this kind of content or find it gimmicky and annoying. (17 min)

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? Let me know by clicking on “Yes” or ”No” below. I like hearing from you.

To our three new subscribers Ryann, Janice, and Kaili, I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Gregory! Greg! Gregg!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Sky, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Here are a few ways you can help:

📬 Forward today’s issue to a friend and tell them to subscribe

☕️ Buy me a coffee to keep my reading energy up

❤️ Become a VIP member to receive my undying gratitude

On the other hand, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am PT.

#337: Next Steps For Schools?

Happy Thursday, loyal readers. Thank you very much for being here.

Like me, many of you are educators. So it makes sense that you may have subscribed to this newseltter thinking I’d be sending high-quality and thought-provoking education-related articles your way. But at last count, in The Highlighter’s almost-7-year history, just 14 percent (191 of 1,362) of the pieces have focused on education. Why? Though I’m sure there are many reasons, I mostly blame the pandemic. After all, who wants to read more doom-and-gloom articles about the doom-and-gloom we’re already experiencing firsthand?

But something has been shifting of late. I don’t know if you feel the same way, but I’m coming across more outstanding articles about education. Is it maybe the light at the end of the tunnel? Or perhaps we have some distance now? Whatever it is, I am happy to devote today’s issue to education, as I was two weeks ago.

Now it’s time to choose your own adventure:

• Want the big picture view? Lead article all the way. (This is the one I recommend the most. Besides, it’s by Jill Lepore.)

• Tired of reading? Never fear. I’ve got a podcast for you, number two.

• Want to be disgusted? That’s the third article.

• Want something positive for a change? Head to the bottom.

Please enjoy, and let me know what you think! All you need to do is hit reply. Thank you very much for reading The Highlighter.

Why The School Wars Still Rage

Parents banning books, protesting mask mandates, and decrying Critical Race Theory in schools are not just advocating for “parental rights,” argues historian Jill Lepore in this thought-provoking article. Rather, they are waging a campaign against public education altogether.

Prof. Lepore compares today’s school wars with those of the 1920s, in which Southern states, most notably in the Scopes Trial, fought to make the teaching of evolution unlawful. Another campaign to reject the Progressive era’s tenets and to limit the power of public schools came after Brown v. Board, when white segregationists advocated for “school choice” so their kids wouldn’t have to learn alongside Black children.

With the rise of charter schools and homeschooling, and with the pandemic further decimating traditional public schools, Prof. Lepore wonders if the free-market values of neoliberalism have triumphed, leaving behind public education’s dedication to a “bigger sense of covenant, toleration, and obligation.” (22 min)

+ More: “A functioning democracy needs citizens who know how to make decisions together,” writes George Packer in this essay that I’m not sure I agree with entirely.

School’s Out Forever

We know that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on young people’s academic achievement and mental health. But with teachers quitting and families opting out, is school as we’ve known it over forever? That’s the question Chana Joffe-Walt explores in this outstanding episode of This American Life. You’ll meet fifth grader Neeah, whose mom prefers she stay home all day, alone, rather than getting in trouble at school. And you’ll follow eighth grader Maricela, who is back at school and ready to graduate, despite missing most of her middle school experience. (69 min)

+ Appreciation to loyal reader Melissa for making sure I listened to this outstanding episode.

My High School’s Fantasy Slut League

Piedmont is an affluent, mostly white and Asian town, situated inside but separate from Oakland, where high school boys a decade ago formed a fantasy league in which they drafted girls and tracked their sex acts for points. In this well-reported story, graduate Lena Crown looks back on the impact of the FSL and wonders if the league was “harmless teenage hijinks” or an example of toxic masculinity. One boy said, “Gossip about people hooking up was inherently interesting to me.” (41 min)

A School Created A Homeless Shelter In The Gym. It Paid Off In The Classroom.

In the daytime, the gym at Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8 Community School is like most across America: filled with students playing basketball and participating in physical education. But at night, the gym transforms into a shelter for young people and their families experiencing homelessness. Regarded as the first long-term, school-based shelter in the country, the Stay Over Program served 180 families in 2020. Educators at the school report that kids in the program are rested, fed, on time, and ready to learn. This is great news for a school district with an otherwise shaky reputation. (24 min)

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#336: Turning Red

Happy Thursday, loyal readers. Thank you very much for being here. If you’re new(ish), welcome! The Highlighter is all about reading the best articles on race, education, and culture. I hope you like what you read.

Last weekend, I watched “Turning Red” and found the movie delightful. So I was surprised that the Pixar and Disney film has received only a 73 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The reason? Maybe nothing nowadays – not even a cute coming-of-age movie – can escape the scrutiny of the culture war. While critics claim that kids should not learn about menstruation in a feature film, I’m wondering if the race and the gender of the protagonist have something to do with the negative reviews. After all, some American adults may not appreciate watching a brash Asian girl who unabashedly likes boys and boy bands.

Today’s issue begins with a review of “Turning Red,” then follows with an article exploring the hubbub about the movie. Then after the break, we expand our view to consider the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes: increasing 73 percent in 2020 and then another 339 percent in 2021. If you have time to read just one article this week, make it “How The Atlanta Spa Shootings Tell A Story Of America,” by May Jeong. The last piece, “Asian Americans Have Always Lived With Fear,” is also very worth your time. I hope that this week’s selections resonate with you.

+ Have you seen the movie? If so, what did you think? Leave me a voicemail or hit reply to share your thoughts.

Turning Red Made Me Feel Understood As A Chinese-American Teen

Representation matters, writes 14-year-old Tabitha Yuen in this review of “Turning Red.” Like Mei, the film’s main character, Tabitha feels overwhelmed with the “awkward stage” of puberty and its “huge hormonal changes,” wishing she could transform into an adorable red panda when she gets “mega-emotional.” She loves Blackpink and Olivia Rodrigo like Mei likes 4*Town. Most important, Tabitha is afraid of disappointing her parents, but appreciates “wrapping baos and dumplings” and doing #VeryAsian things with her mother. (4 min)

Pixar’s Turning Red Is An Unlikely Culture War Battleground

Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with Tabitha Yuen’s assessment of “Turning Red.” It’s not relatable, writes a middle-aged white male critic. It’s uncomfortable to watch a movie about a teenage girl experiencing puberty, writes another. Mei is “willful,” “annoying,” and “loud” – negative character traits, especially for (Asian) girls. Worst of all, the film teaches young people to disobey their parents, a terrible sin. Culture reporter Aja Romano summarizes the hullabaloo. (10 min)

How The Atlanta Spa Shootings Tell A Story Of America

May Jeong: “Before the immigrant becomes an immigrant, before this single act comes to define her, she is preoccupied with what lies ahead. She knows that this leaving will take her away from home. But what she often does not know is that folded into the decision to go away is also the decision to potentially never see her family or homeland again. On one side of the scale, she has put the sum of her life thus far. On the other is America and some vague yet hopeful feeling that life will be better there. And because she has to, or because she wants to, she chooses that one vague and hopeful feeling over everything else—an act that speaks to the vast and violent inequalities that exist in the world.” (34 min)

+ Eight people, including six Asian women, were killed in the Atlanta spa shootings last year.

Asian Americans Have Always Lived With Fear

Min Jin Lee: “Asians and Asian Americans pay the price of nativist fear. Ordinary nativists and the disenfranchised attack people who look like me and far too many others. The assailants may also believe that we are weak physically and politically, unwilling to organize, react or speak up. For some, deep down, my ordinary Korean face — small, shallow-set eyes, round nose, high cheekbones, straight dark hair — reminds them of lost wars, prostitutes, spies, refugees, poverty, disease, cheap labor, academic competition, cheaters, sexual competition, oligarchs, toxic parenting, industrialization or a sex or pornography addiction. What feelings do such reminders arouse? Distrust, defeat, uncleanness, humiliation, sickness, death, terror, envy, anxiety and contempt.” (11 min)

+ Reader Annotations: Several of you shared your appreciation for last week’s issue focusing on education in the Bay Area. A former middle school principal in Oakland, VIP Jamie wrote, “Good collection of local ed stuff, Mark!” That’s kind of you, Jamie. VIP Clare was inspired by Prof. Scott Galloway’s piece on the conflict in Berkeley, writing that she’ll be adding “Life finds a way.” to her list of most useful phrases. “The rest of the articles,” Clare added, “made me sad and angry and also committed to doing what I do and always learning to do it better.” Thank you for your contributions, loyal readers. Please keep them coming.

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? Let me know by clicking on “Yes” or ”No” below. I like hearing from you.

To our five new subscribers – including Tyler, Niam, Nick, and So-Jung – I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Eve! Eileen! Erica!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Rex, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

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#335: The State of Education In The Bay

Last night I attended a celebration for VIP Abby, an accomplished Bay Area educator, to honor her contributions as a teacher, teacher-leader, consultant, advocate of project based learning, champion of the graduate profile, and proponent of authentic performance assessment. It was wonderful to gather with outstanding educators to laugh and smile and remember why we do what we do.

It’s not news that things have been hard out there in the education world. That’s why last night was a gift. Depending on whom you ask, the pandemic has created, worsened, or illuminated the inequities and challenges we face. This week’s issue offers a snapshot of what’s happening in schools in the Bay Area, where many of us live.

Out here we might not have mean-spirited debates about mask mandates or Critical Race Theory or banning books from the school library. But the discord is deep, ranging from school closures in Oakland, Board recalls in San Francisco, lawsuits in Berkeley, and rancor at Lowell High School. Is this the sign of a fatally broken system? Or is it just democracy in action?

My hope is that you find time to read at least one article in today’s issue, then share with me your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to record a voicemail or hit reply. Please enjoy!

Why Do So Many Families Opt Out Of Oakland Unified?

This school year, 61 percent of children in Oakland attend a district school, while 28 percent go to a charter school and 11 percent opt for a private school. Certainly the pandemic has contributed to an exodus of families, with homeschooling a popular choice. But this article takes a longer view in explaining why fewer kids are attending Oakland Unified. The root causes include the ascent of charter schools, the instability of school closures, and the district’s open enrollment system. District 3 school board Director VanCedric Williams believes that we should not treat the education of young people as a capitalist enterprise. “We have turned our schools into a free-market-based system where there are winners and losers,” he says. As always, the perennial questions remain: What does it mean to be a public? What rights should families have in a democratic society? (15 min)

Will The New School Board Listen To Black Families In San Francisco?

The situation is no more optimistic across the Bay in San Francisco, where voters ousted three Board members last month. Many Black parents are skeptical that the district will put down politics and focus on academics, especially for their children. “It’s not designed for African American boys,” Joan Thomas said. With just 19 percent of Black students passing the state’s reading test (compared with 31 percent statewide), the problem is “not just a gap anymore in San Francisco,” Yvette Edwards says. A mother of two boys in San Francisco Unified, she adds, “It’s becoming a gulf.” (9 min)

+ If you hit a paywall, I suggest incognito mode.

College Town: The Conflict In Berkeley

Until three days ago, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law to allow admitted UC Berkeley students to enroll in the Fall, a contentious lawsuit between city residents and the university about the availability of housing had threatened the college plans of 2,600 students. In this clear piece, Prof. Scott Galloway blames recalcitrant homeowners who want to protect their high-priced property in a state whose dream Proposition 13 killed. It’s great to have an elite university in the neighborhood, he argues, but only if not very many kids get to go. In addition to ranting, Prof. Galloway offers six ideas to revamp higher education for the better. (9 min)

Lowell: What Happens When an Elite Public School Becomes Open to All?

Nathan Heller: “Lowell, founded in 1856, is the oldest public high school in the West and a long-admired jewel of public education. For decades, Lowell has been one of two public high schools in San Francisco to use selective admissions, with a grade- and test-score cutoff for most applicants. In 2020, when the pandemic made universal standardized testing impossible, Lowell suspended its admissions standards in favor of a randomized, lottery-like system. Parents cried out. Alumni threatened and launched lawsuits, and a few current students protested. Lowell, once a meritocratic beacon, had become something else: a bellwether for the uncertain future of selective public education.” (37 min)

+ Thank you to VIP Gail for recommending this.

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? Let me know by clicking on “Yes” or ”No” below. I like hearing from you.

To our two new subscribers Retha and Vanny, I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Deron! Derran! Deran!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Teri, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Here are a few ways you can help:

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#334: He Paid For America’s Fear

Happy Thursday, loyal readers. Thank you for opening this week’s issue.

I was reminded last Thursday at HHH of the kindness and joy of our reading community (photo evidence here and here and here). As usual, our gathering was sold out! I’m looking for (non-Zoom) ways to bring together loyal readers who don’t live in the Bay Area. After all, reading is often made better in conversation with other thoughtful and generous people. I’d love to hear your ideas.

The first two articles in this week’s issue discuss the power of fear in our society. This lead article, “He Paid For America’s Fear,” tells the story of Hamid Hayat, born an American citizen of Pakistani descent, who was swept up by the FBI after 9/11 and wrongfully convicted of terrorism. If you can, please read this piece along with “The United States Is Not A Nation Of Immigrants,” which explores our country’s longstanding xenophobia and fear of enemy invasion. Rounding off today’s issue are a statistical and analytical takedown of the U.S. News and World Report’s college rankings and a heartfelt and personal reflection on fatherhood by a man living with cancer.

I hope that you’ll read one or more of these pieces and that you have a great (reading-filled) weekend coming up!

He Paid For America’s Fear

Hamid Hayat was born in Lodi, California, spent his childhood in Pakistan, and was locked up for 14 years in a secretive prison in Indiana after being wrongfully convicted of terrorism after 9/11. In this special report, investigative reporter Jason Fagone tells Mr. Hayat’s story in comprehensive detail, focusing on our country’s Islamophobia and the pressure our government faced to incarcerate suspected terrorists without sufficient evidence or fair trials.

Mr. Fagone writes: “His country once looked at him and imagined a terrorist. Americans feared his anger, and for that, he lost nearly everything. So if he does feel anger now, he isn’t free to show it. He still worries what co-workers and neighbors will think when they learn about his story. He still feels the need to show that he has a good heart, a good mind. He is still afraid of America’s fear.” (75 min)

+ Mr. Fagone is is well known around these parts. He wrote “Love And Loss In the Age Of AI” (Issue #306), “The Race Realist on Campus,” (Issue #300), and my favorite, “Jerry and Marge Go Large,” one of the best articles of 2018. I got to interview Mr. Fagone in July 2020 for Article Club.

The United States Is Not “A Nation of Immigrants”

“The United States has never been a nation of immigrants,” argues Prof. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz in this well-written essay, in which she explores the problems of multiculturalism and assimilation. Instead, at the core of American history is settler colonalism. Efforts of inclusion, including diversity training, the notion of “people of color,” and “the production of Hamilton,” amount to the erasure of Indigenous peoples and “arrivants,” which include enslaved Africans, refugees, and immigrants forced out of their homelands. (15 min)

+ Prof. Dunbar-Ortiz is the author of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States.

How Columbia University Gamed The U.S. News And World Report Algorithm

If you like statistics, and if you don’t like the snootiness of elite college rankings, then you’ve come to the right place. Michael Thaddeus, a professor of Mathematics at Columbia University, breaks down how the school has soared to the top of the U.S. News and World Report. (The answer? Fudged numbers + inaccurate data + tons of money). “Students are poorly served by rankings,” Prof. Thaddeus writes. “No one should try to reform or rehabilitate the ranking. It is irredeemable.” (Ivy Day is March 31 this year.) (20 min)

Fatherhood, Cancer, And What Matters

Jonathan Tjarks is 34 years old and has metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. But instead of brooding about his illness, Mr. Tjarks focuses on how he can best raise his 2-year-old son Jackson, who loves cars because they’re fast. Having cancer “leaves you with a lot of time to think,” he writes. “I usually end up thinking about my son.” Mr. Tjarks also thinks about his dad, who died early of Parkinson’s, and the importance of investing in friendships at his church, in order to build supports for his son after he’s gone. (12 min)

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? Let me know by clicking on “Yes” or ”No” below. I like hearing from you.

To our five new subscribers – Virgil, Beatrice, Rina, Moster, and Chris – I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Craig! Carina! Char!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Kim, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Here are a few ways you can help:

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#333: What Doctors Don’t Hear, Interpreters Do

Welcome to March, loyal readers. Thank you for being here.

This week’s issue explores the effects of losing or lacking connection. The lead article, “Unspeakable Pain: What Doctors Don’t Hear,” examines the ethical dilemmas medical interpreters face when doctors and patients do not share a common language. In the second piece, “When Black Excellence Isn’t Enough,” a Black graduate student seeks common ground with her Black peers in a predominantly white elite university. If you have time, I suggest reading both articles as a pair. Though entirely different, they talk to each other.

Then comes a thoughtful video on the 10th anniversary of Trayvon Martin, followed by a profile of a champion auctioneer facing the demise of his industry. If you’re taking a respite from reading, good thing I’ve included an outstanding podcast for you – about Siegfried and Roy. Please enjoy!

+ What connections do you see among this week’s selections? I’d love to hear what you think. Hit reply or record a short voice message.

+ Tonight’s HHH is sold out! If you’re one of the lucky 24 people who were able to snatch up tickets, I’ll see you there. One of you will win the grand prize. If you couldn’t make tonight’s gathering, HHH will return in June.

+ This month at Article Club, we’re discussing “On White Violence, Black Survival, and Learning to Shoot,” by Kim McLarin. Everyone is welcome. Here’s more information and here’s where you can sign up. If you’re looking to read more deeply with a kind, thoughtful community, AC is it.

Unspeakable Pain: What Doctors Don’t Hear

When Lina María Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas goes to serve as a volunteer medical interpreter in a free clinic in Chicago, her trainer says, “Remember, you are not really there. Never, ever, add a single word to what is said. That is not your job.” Prof. Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas wants to follow the rules. But an interaction between an insensitive doctor and a frightened patient (who looks “just like and nothing like me”) prompts her to go off script. (14 min)

+ Trigger warning: This article includes a discussion of a suicide attempt.

When Black Excellence Isn’t Enough

C. Syl’violet Smith: “I don’t fully know why I keep putting myself through their fire. I keep reassuring myself that to be where I’m unwanted, or at the very least unexpected, is an act of resistance and self-affirmation, and other self-righteous pandering that feels good in the ear, but I’m becoming annoyed at how often I catch myself leaning so confidently on half-truths. The whole truth is, I still, no matter how hard I resist or deny it, long for their approval. The validation from Ma, Daddy, The Culture, isn’t, by far, enough, even though I want it to be. I want them to want me. ‘Who are “they”?’ My white therapist, white professor, white classmate ask. C’mon now, you know who they are, I think.” (14 min)

Eli Detweiler Is The Auctioneer

Growing up, Eli Detweiler Jr loved going to livestock auctions, where his dad would buy cows to milk. He wanted to become a professional bid caller, but his Amish upbringing forbade the career. So when Mr. Detweiler turned 18, he left his family to pursue his dream. Years later, he became the Wisconsin state auctioneer champion. That same year, in 1995, eBay launched its first online auction. Jarrett Van Meter poignantly tells Mr. Detweiler’s story while exploring how online platforms have decimated the live auctioneering industry. (17 min)

+ Listen to the audio clips of Mr. Detweiler’s precise chant. They’re awesome. Here’s another example, because I find the bid assistants hilarious.

‎Wild Things Podcast: Siegfried & Roy

German-American magicians and feline fans Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn made up one of the most popular acts in Las Vegas history. But during a show in 2003, white tiger Montecore attacked Mr. Horn, nearly killing him. This podcast explores the tragedy from many angles, criticizing the era’s homophobia, considering whether the attack was an inside job, and questioning if Siegfried and Roy told the truth of what happened. Somehow, in what could have turned out to be a campy conspiracy theory-laden production, Steven Leckart does a great job reporting and telling the story. (41 min)

+ Big thanks to VIP Jessica for recommending this podcast. The whole series is good!

Thank you for reading this week’s issue of The Highlighter. Did you enjoy it? Let me know by clicking on “Yes” or ”No” below. I like hearing from you.

To our four new subscribers – Matthew, Jed, Char, and Aid – I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. To our long-time subscribers (Brenda! Bora! Ben!), you’re pretty great, too. Loyal reader Kim, thank you for sharing the newsletter and getting the word out.

If you like The Highlighter, please help it grow. I appreciate your support. Here are a few ways you can help:

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On the other hand, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, please unsubscribe. See you next Thursday at 9:10 am PT.