From hands-on career training to internet legends education and kids standing up for their ideals, 2024 brought factors to observe
As is often animal nature, the good news reports tend to fade quickly from memory, while the “if it bleeds, it leads” howlers remain.
The time 2024 had no lack of the absurd and disturbing, but there also was a lot of great happening in academia.
But, in keeping with the pleasure of the holiday season – and in making a conscious effort, as we all may, to concentrate on the good in life, this remember:
Students like Allie Miller, a senior at Marian University, whose art restoration project of a 17th century” Madonna and Child” is on millions of postage stamps this Christmas.
And young scientists like Preston Cooper, a senior colleague at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, whose studies exposes operational misuse and other causes that add to the burden of paying for a college.
Then there are brave young people like a law student at American University who fought back against his entire course for the rights of newborn babies.
Or two East Tennessee State University traditional student leaders who are determined to keep their Turning Point USA section going despite continued bullying, threats, and abuse.
Additionally, academics and private citizens have fought against “woke” school lifestyle, occasionally being forced to bring their cases before the court.
Sarah Fendley, owner of a coffee shop, won a$ 4 million lawsuit against Boise State University after claiming that her company was forced to close down campus because of her public support for law enforcement.
After a University of Oregon individual blocked him for responding to her “racism bit” fast with the phrase” all men are created equal,” another court ruled in favor of liberal researcher Bruce Gilley.
A few schools took positions for facts, too. Both Sweet Briar in Virginia and St. Norbert in Wisconsin made coverage changes to make it clear that there are only two women: men and women.
Finally, there are those working to reform higher training, moving it away from the Marxist-focused La philosophy and up to the ideals of significance, free and open discussion, technology, and moral character.
And, perhaps most essential for any education institution, career preparation.
Consider Clemson University’s construction science and management degree. It has a 100-percent job placement rate. A new degree with a focus on career technical education and life skills is also being developed by the College of Western Idaho.
Through a number of grants administered by Wake Forest University, other institutions are promoting moral and civic character development.
Other academicians continue to cultivate students ‘ thirst for knowledge and truth.
The Catherine Project, for instance, has grown by double the amount since it first started offering online classical education courses online four years ago, starting with Homer and Plato to William Faulkner and Virginia Woolf.
At the Michigan-based Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal, where students will be able to “deep dive” into conservative thought, is also a School of Conservative Studies in development.
Students are flocking to campus ministries and Christian universities, too. The University of St. Thomas in Texas is responding to this demand by providing a new graduate certification that examines the issues of gender and sexuality from a Catholic perspective.
The “good” list could go on with the ending of racial discrimination and the closure of DEI offices. And on. And on.
However, the stories cited above serve as enough reason to celebrate and look forward to a better year ahead.
MORE: 103 things higher ed declared racist in 2024
IMAGE: Bill Masson/Flickr
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