Comparative Textbooks: Tristram Hunt,"Conscription of the Past," The Guardian, 11 June, compares the recent production of textbooks in Great Britain, India, Japan, and the United States, particularly with an eye to the future of common school history education in Great Britain. Thanks to Chris Pettit for the tip.

Head Count: Chris Bray is preparing to report for duty; Tim Burke is in San Francisco; Miriam Burstein has been visiting at her alma mater, UC, Irvine; Sharon Howard is in the Archives; Rob MacDougall reveals the identity of Deep Neck, Deep One, Deep Blue, and the Unknown Comic; Caleb McDaniel briefly interrupts his silence for the important things in life; NathanaelRobinson is doing research in Alsace; Hugo Schwyzer is doing – ah -- a cleaning; and, for good measure, Brian Ulrich is doing research in Cairo.

Librarians of the World, Unite! Over at Inside Higher Ed, Scott Jaschik has a piece in which University of Chicago sociologist Andrew Abbott draws an analogy between academics' dependence on access to books and monkeys swinging through trees. Put us in cages, take away our trees, and we'd be left sitting over in the corner somewhere, sulking in self-destructive ways. Librarians are the conservers of our free-swinging jungles and Scott McLemee thinks it's about time they got themselves together in a group blog and maybe they should have a librarians' blogroll, as well.

Missing Persons: I'm not the first to call attention to it, but there is something obscenely misplaced about the media's headline attention to the cases of the runaway bride and the young woman missing in Aruba. And it is hardly less true of the New York Times than the cheapest tabloid. Obviously, people go missing every day without becoming the focus of a media frenzy. Being female, privileged, young, and white seems to qualify you for the burden and privilege of media attention.

Public Relations: At the University of Colorado, the fun just never seems to end. Most recently, two University public relations officers, who draw salaries in the $150 K range, were exchanging e-mail about plans to build public confidence in the University. One e-mail said that a reporter for the Boulder Daily Camera, Elizabeth Mattern Clark,"isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, so I agree with your recommendation yesterday that we walk her through this." Unfortunately, the e-mail was copied to Clark by its author. After initially denying the authenticity of the e-mail, the University's pr officer admitted that its message was"ironic and unfortunate." Thanks to Romenesko for the tip.

Self-Knowledge: I haven't bashed my friend, Clayton Cramer, in a while, but Clayton just keeps leaving himself open. I can't help myself! Stop me from doing this! It's too easy! I feel cheap! But, really, Clayton. [ed: the devil makes me do it.] There are lots of reasons that you will never be President of the United States and your getting good grades in college is far from the most important one. On the other hand, Clayton's got a legitimate point about the academy. He and Ward Churchill have roughly the same academic credentials: Master's degrees, publications, and teaching experience. Given those, Clayton knows that he'd never be considered for anything other than an adjunct position in higher education. Churchill's ethnic claims are the only rational explanation for his having been hired and tenured at a research university. When those claims subsequently prove false, it's an embarrassment to those of us who have supported Affirmative Action. Worse than that, there are many people with doctorates who are in adjunct teaching positions, with little hope of employment on a tenure track. For what Churchill is being paid, the University of Colorado could easily hire two young scholars with sterling credentials.

Ralph E. Luker - 6/14/2005

Yes, right! K. M. Lawson is in Korea for the summer.

Nathanael D. Robinson - 6/14/2005

That should be Munnin.

Manan Ahmed - 6/12/2005

While Manan just had a bottle of excellent Lebanese Cabarnet, he is, alas, not doing any research abroad - until August, for a short jaunt to the India Office. He will, though, raise a glass to Cliopatriarchs.

Ralph E. Luker - 6/12/2005

Nathanael, Manan has not told me that he is doing research abroad this summer. I hesitate to report on his activities after the last report I had on him -- that he was seen running buck naked through the streets of Dayton, Ohio, with a serpent draped around his neck. I am deeply envious of your being in Alsace and drinking the wines that I deserve. I trust that you will enjoy a good one for me. Ralph

Nathanael D. Robinson - 6/12/2005

Ralph,

Of all the bloggers doing research abroad this summer(you should add Mannan), I think that I am doing the best living it up on my meager research money. I will, of course, consume an excellent bottle of wine for you. Or, if you desire, send you a postcard.

Nathanael

Alan Allport - 6/11/2005

From The Guardian: "While Tim Collins might not have demanded the detention of subversive historians by Interpol (as leading Indian politicians have done), there is no doubt that his calls for a clear national narrative signal a rejection of the pluralist tradition in British history teaching." Oh, come off it. There's certainly room for a lively debate about the merits of different approaches to history in British schools, but one doesn't have to be a diehard Whig to think that the current curriculum is an incoherent mess. Labelling any attempt at greater methodological coherence an attack on "pluralism" (quelle horreur!) is just a way of avoiding the problem.

Ralph E. Luker - 6/11/2005

Yours or mine?

Louis N Proyect - 6/11/2005

Subject heading says it all.

chris l pettit - 6/11/2005

THought you might find the commentary worthwhile...doesn't really have anything to do with anything...except that it could be noted I suppose...

http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/comment/story/0,9828,1504070,00.html

CP