The GSV Big 10: ...And Its Copy Cat
Critics & Caricatures, China Syndrome, The List You Don't Want To Be On...
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Charts of the Week
The Big 10:
The DeVos’ing of Linda McMahon | Education Next
It’s come to be expected that as part of the nomination process, people formerly known for their accomplishments get turned into caricatures. Betsy Devos, who was a heroic school reformer, was re-labeled as the devil incarnate when she went through the process 8 years ago. Now, it looks like Ms. McMahon is up for the same treatment. Who used to be a wildly triumphant entertainment executive and successful leader of the Small Business Administration is now being portrayed as a cartoon from WrestleMania. I think most people have learned to tune it out.
Chris Whittle’s Teachable Moment | Air Mail
Chris Whittle has had nothing if not a full life. These ups and downs and highs and lows go with being a go-for-it entrepreneur. Like being a quarterback in New York - when things are going well, you get more glory than you should and when things are going poorly, you get more criticism than you deserve. Chris is not only one of the great entrepreneurs but also a first-class guy, so here’s to hoping that his new venture, Baret Scholars, is a wild success.
Lawsuit Reveals How Colleges Really Talk About Rich Applicants | WSJ
Money over merit is disgusting, but it’s not a surprise and certainly not new. Georgetown’s “President’s List” shows once again that privilege has its privileges, and among them is an easier on-ramp to the most elite schools and halls of power. Your future shouldn’t be determined by how well you selected your parents.
As China’s economy advances, investments into public education expand | Brookings
There is not often an argument for efficiency in a communist economy vs. a capitalist one, but if there’s one thing the Chinese love and prioritize, it’s education. The passion is reflected in both its spending and effectiveness.
Top 10 “What We’re Reading” Articles of the Week | Whiteboard Advisors
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and we’re humbled that Ben Wallerstein and Co. have come up with their own version of The Big 10. We’re always interested in Whiteboard’s perspectives on things…but we’re slightly confused by Whiteboard’s take on Ryan Craig’s take on Michael Horn’s book…🤣
Are adults forgetting how to read? | The Economist
Today, the average attention span of a human is 8 seconds. The average attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds. It’s not just teenagers who are overstimulated and under-focused, adults are feeling similar pain. You’ve got to use it, or you’ll lose it – and reading comprehension is foundational for learning.
15 Colleges With the Lowest Acceptance Rates | U.S. News & World Report
The list of who rejects the most students is one that most of us could predict – the usual suspects. We forecast that it won’t be long before this list becomes more of an indictment of mixed-up priorities rather than a badge of honor. Elite education will be measured by excellence and scale impact, not by how exclusive you are.
A Mom Asked for Public School Board Records. They Charged Her $33 Million. | The FP
Who’s the customer, and who’s paying the bills? It’s absurd that there is controversy over parents seeking access to information about their children’s schools. But even more absurd is how much the schools are projecting by suing the parents for their inquiries. The parent army has been unleashed, and I would not want to be on their bad side.
11 Higher Ed Hot Takes for 2025 | Tyton Partners
Leading education advisory firm Tyton Partners released their top insights for the year ahead. From specialized career tracks, to inside baseball views on policy, and the obligatory generative AI predictions, this report provides a solid framework for the world of education in 2025.
🎙️ Ep 31 · Betsy DeVos: Former U.S. Secretary of Education | Ed on the Edge | Dash Media
Stalwart education choice advocate and 11th U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, gives her advice on how we can improve our education system. Tune in for hot takes on Covid, President Trump, incoming secretary of education Linda McMahon, and much more.
This Week’s People Moves
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Who else is changing jobs? Get the latest data for the companies that matter most to you for free.
David Douglas: Veritas Technologies LLC ➡️ Cohesity, Regional Sales Director
Owen Beck: Oracle ➡️ NVIDIA, Account Manager - Higher Education and Research
Sean Tierney: Institute for Higher Education Policy ➡️ Arnold Ventures, Director of Higher Education State Policy
Kelly Vezendy: Axiom ➡️ Coursera, Director of Legal Operations
Raghav Srinath: Swiftly ➡️ Handshake, Senior Manager, Strategy and Operations