“My country owes me nothing. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, opportunity for service and honor.”
— Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover’s Expectations
Sharpen Up Your Knowledge of the Pencil
As summer ends and students return to school, it is appropriate to take a moment and reflect on one of the things that is as indispensable to studies as notebooks and backpacks: […]
The Loneliness of Originality
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) is one of the most-widely quotes Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. His concise and pithy judicial opinions reflect his sharp and creative […]
The Confidence of Never Meeting Your Intellectual Equal
One of the hallmarks of Abraham Lincoln’s personality was his humility. He frequently used self-deprecating humor to defuse difficult situations.
Meet the Cat Who Co-Authored a Scientific Paper
F.D.C. Willard was 7 years old when he became a published researcher. As you might expect with someone so gifted at such a young age, there were some difficulties in coping with […]
The Indiana Pi Bill and the Attempt to Redefine Mathematics Through Legislative Fiat
Do you remember when you first learned of the concept of π? Have mathematics always been at least a little bit difficult for you? Haven’t you wished you could just pass a […]
Silent Cal on the Value of Persistence
President Calvin Coolidge was certainly gifted with talent and intelligence. Even so, he was quick to point to an even more important quality that ultimately is responsible for a person’s success. Coolidge […]
Could You Pass Edison’s Employment Test?
Thomas Edison famously distrusted formal education. It isn’t that he did not recognize the importance of knowledge; he just thought it was more important that a person be able to remember a […]
Harvard’s History of Rebellion and Food Fights
Student protests seem to be a phenomenon that started in the 1960s, but they are much older than that. The proud history of protests on college campuses got its start in America […]
Literature Professors Who Know More Than the Authors
Who hasn’t sat through a class, wondering if you knew more about the subject than the person who is teaching? Have you ever received a grade that you absolutely knew was unfair? […]
When History Hung on a Minor League Baseball Career
David loved athletics of all kinds, but it was football and baseball that really drove him. Later in life, he would be remembered for other things. In those formative years, however, it […]
D.A.R.E.: The Anti-Drug Program That Increased Drug Abuse
In an effort to address the rising trend of illegal drug use, membership in gangs, and violent behavior among students, a new initiative was created in 1983. Started as a joint venture […]
Supreme Court Justice Job Opening: Law Degree Optional
If you have ever wanted a top-level job in the federal government but feel that you don’t have the necessary education or experience, look no further than a spot on the Supreme […]
Reading, Writing, and Accordions: Education in North Korea
Due to its portability and ability to be carried during a march to a construction site or a “voluntary” day of hard labor in the fields, the accordion has been a favorite […]
Is it Easier to Get Into Harvard or Walmart?
Students who are accepted to Harvard University may pat themselves on the back for overcoming the odds. Only 4.5 percent of all applications are accepted. Workers at Walmart may actually have more […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 