Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Education
Can we teach moral character?
The Barclays scandal can tell teachers a lot about character education says GTP student Alex Crossman, as he reflects on his experience of working in the City
Alex Crossman, Guardian, 4 July 2012
The Barclays scandal can tell teachers a lot about character education says GTP student Alex Crossman, as he reflects on his experience of working in the City
Alex Crossman, Guardian, 4 July 2012
Spoiled Rotten
With the exception of the imperial offspring of the Ming dynasty and the dauphins of pre-Revolutionary France, contemporary American kids may represent the most indulged young people in the history of the world.
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 2 July 2012
With the exception of the imperial offspring of the Ming dynasty and the dauphins of pre-Revolutionary France, contemporary American kids may represent the most indulged young people in the history of the world.
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 2 July 2012
The GCSE / O-level debate: Everyone’s a bloody expert
In all the kerfuffle over GCSEs and the potential return of O-levels, one question remains unanswered: why doesn’t everyone just ask me? After all, I’m the sodding expert.
Glosswatch, 22 June 2012
In all the kerfuffle over GCSEs and the potential return of O-levels, one question remains unanswered: why doesn’t everyone just ask me? After all, I’m the sodding expert.
Glosswatch, 22 June 2012
Death by Degrees
Like the market for skin care products, the market for credentials is inexhaustible: as the bachelor’s degree becomes democratized, the master’s degree becomes mandatory for advancement.
The Editors, n+1, 19 June 2012
Like the market for skin care products, the market for credentials is inexhaustible: as the bachelor’s degree becomes democratized, the master’s degree becomes mandatory for advancement.
The Editors, n+1, 19 June 2012
Child-Centered Learning Has Let My Pupils Down
"Nowadays, child-centred learning is an article of faith in the state sector. Whenever I question it at work I am met with bemusement at best, but usually righteous anger."
Matthew Hunter, Standpoint, June 2012
"Nowadays, child-centred learning is an article of faith in the state sector. Whenever I question it at work I am met with bemusement at best, but usually righteous anger."
Matthew Hunter, Standpoint, June 2012
The university: still dead
Andrew Delbanco’s insightful new book on the history and future of the American college exposes an institution that has no idea what it should be.
Angus Kennedy, spiked, 25 May 2012
Andrew Delbanco’s insightful new book on the history and future of the American college exposes an institution that has no idea what it should be.
Angus Kennedy, spiked, 25 May 2012
College: What it Was, Is, and Should Be
In a brisk and vivid historical narrative, Delbanco explains how the idea of college arose in the colonial period from the Puritan idea of the gathered church, how it struggled to survive in the nineteenth century in the shadow of the new research universities, and how, in the twentieth century, it slowly opened its doors to women, minorities, and students from low-income families.
Andrew Delbanco, Princeton University Press, 20 March 2012
Elected, but how democratic?
The EU needs more democracy—and yet the European Parliament is flawed
Economist, 17 March 2012
The EU needs more democracy—and yet the European Parliament is flawed
Economist, 17 March 2012
What are Universities For?
Stefan Collini challenges the common claim that universities need to show that they help to make money in order to justify getting more money. Instead, he argues that we must reflect on the different types of institution and the distinctive roles they play.
Stefan Collini, Penguin, 23 February 2012
Consumerism in higher education: the rise of the helicopter parent
Parental intervention was once a rare occurrence in higher education. Not any more. Afshan Jafar shares her experiences of dealing with a consumerist HE culture
Afshan Jafar, Guardian, 23 January 2012
Parental intervention was once a rare occurrence in higher education. Not any more. Afshan Jafar shares her experiences of dealing with a consumerist HE culture
Afshan Jafar, Guardian, 23 January 2012
Abortion: how late is "too late"?
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Professor Neil McKeganey, director, Centre for Drug Misuse Research
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