Category Archives: Education

Is Cheating by Colleges Just Another Clever Marketing Ploy?

by Brooke Allen Should “caveat emptor” be the operative philosophy when colleges market to students, or should they hold themselves to a higher standard than, say, a drug dealer? Emory University confessed that for 11 years it has been fudging data it sent in for U. S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. The publisher said that,Continue reading “Is Cheating by Colleges Just Another Clever Marketing Ploy?”

To get a job, write your story instead of a resume

by Brooke Allen  I am 61 years old and I have been doing paid work since I was 16. I’ve been a grocery clerk, camp counselor, film projectionist, sound man, light man, cameraman, freight loader, computer programmer, teacher, operations research analyst, manager, salesman, writer, consultant, and for the last 30 years I’ve been a securitiesContinue reading “To get a job, write your story instead of a resume”

Why business schools charge so much and pay their teachers so little

by Brooke Allen You and I know why business schools charge so much for an MBA. Because they can. But why do they pay so little to everyone except their superstars? It’s not just because they can. I think the real reason is much more sinister than that. Once upon a time—before starting my MBA at NYUContinue reading “Why business schools charge so much and pay their teachers so little”

The Problem with Talking About Intellectual Virtues

By: Brooke Allen This piece is a response to Colleges Should Teach Intellectual Virtues by Barry Schwartz and Kenneth Sharpe. The problem with talking about Intellectual Virtues is that it can give intellectuals the feeling they are virtuous when they are just talking. Colleges might not think of themselves as being in the business of teachingContinue reading “The Problem with Talking About Intellectual Virtues”

Want passion? Look for something that makes you angry.

Whenever I speak at colleges I begin by asking, “Why are you here?” This catches the students off guard and after batting the question around for a bit someone says, “To find my passion.” The rest agree and they imagine they are done with the topic. But I am not done with them. I ask them toContinue reading “Want passion? Look for something that makes you angry.”

How to write if you cannot concentrate.

Jack Rieur was the most wonderful teacher I ever had and perhaps the best teacher anywhere on the planet and for all time. I first met him in 1963 when he was my 6th grade teacher and we have kept in touch ever since. Sure, he covered the state mandated syllabus, but what he reallyContinue reading “How to write if you cannot concentrate.”

URGENT: Help Make Work More Fun

Over Super Bowl Weekend (Feb 1-2) some friends and I will be attending an Education Start-UP Weekend to develop tools that will help people bring more fun to work. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Here is how you can help us: 1) Tell us your stories: How did you or someone you know make an onerous taskContinue reading “URGENT: Help Make Work More Fun”

Bad Owners

© 2010 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine Shareholders have a problem – themselves. My friend asked me when his mutual funds would rebound, and I asked him why he cares. He said, “Because if they are not going to rebound, I am going to sell.” I asked him what heContinue reading “Bad Owners”

Your Education is Your Most Valuable Asset, not Your Schooling

© 2008 Brooke Allen brooke@brookeallen.com http://www.BrookeAllen.com Originally published in International Family Magazine My mother was born in West Virginia and that made her an American citizen by birth. Her father was a naturalized German-American, and her mother was a native Italian. Her parents decided to raise her in Florence, Italy. When it became clear thatContinue reading “Your Education is Your Most Valuable Asset, not Your Schooling”