Author: Conor P. Williams
New Column at The New Republic
Forgive me the hiatus in posting. I’ve been parenting (and writing a fair amount). Saw Tod (et al) at Leaguefest and he (et al) encouraged me to share links here to my work elsewhere,...
Public Pre-K and Supporting Working Parents
Can early childhood programs support working parents while also benefitting their kids?
The Jim Leyland Experience
What Jim Leyland knows about baseball could save your life—or at least your sanity.
Open Thread: Opposite Day
I am **VERY EXCITED** to read your comments! Conor Williams has two kids and a PhD. Tweets here. Clue to inside joke here.
One Further Thought on Internet Commenting
A Twitter “conversation” with our own Tim Kowal yesterday reminded me of something that I neglected to mention in my previous post. Part of why comments sections struggle especially hard to move beyond style to...
Why I Stopped Allowing Comments on My Posts
Since I published a snarky piece clowning Internet Commenters today, I decided that it might be worth offering a few serious thoughts about comments sections. I don’t want my only words on the subject to be flippant.
The Education Reform Hero No One Recognizes
Conor is tired of catching flak for writing about education, so he finds a way to praise someone he’d usually critique.
Back to School, Back to War? A Review of David Kirp’s Improbable Scholars
How do we balance urgency against responsibility in education reform? David Kirp’s recent book is a valiant attempt to square these two priorities. But can we really put aside “The Education Wars” so easily?
Equality Can Be a Problem
Last week I wrote in the Daily Beast about the flack I catch when I take care of my kids. I’d been thinking about writing an article along those lines for years, but always...
Recognizing and Redefining Manhood
These days, I probably write more posts about being a parent than anything else (aside from left-leaning wonks, of course). This is as it should be, since I spend a solid 30 hours/week caring...
Why Support for (Any Old) Immigration Reform Won’t Solve the GOP’s Problem with Latino Voters
Immigration reform is up for debate in the Senate! Everyone knows the story by now: 1) with an eye to their electoral future, Senate Republicans are newly interested in reaching out to Latino voters,...
Hegel on the Playground
It is hard having children out-of-step with your friends. Ten months ago, you were down to hit the town on a Thursday night. You HAD been to the new noodles place, thanks very much,...
11 Ways to Hedge Your Claims Like an Academic—AND What Each Says About You
1. “In sum” What It Says About You: “Things are so slipshod in this piece that you wouldn’t notice the summary unless I signposted it.” 2. “Thus” What It Says About You: “In case you hadn’t noticed,...
8 Exciting Vistas that Parenting Makes Visible
1. Human Creativity: You. Made. A. Person. YOU MADE A PERSON. Are you #%$&ing kidding?!? How cool is that?!? What else can you make?!? There is no #%$&ing spoon. None. If you can make...
9 Things Progressives Are NOT
1. Fascists: Progressives pushed for women’s suffrage and the direct election of senators. They generally pushed for a more inclusive, robust democratic community. Today’s progressives are pretty similar—they’re certainly not a movement trying to...
This Is How It Felt
This is how I felt nine hours after you were born. You are asleep on my chest, a fine little miracle in a striped swaddling blanket. Of course you are a miracle. Parents always...
Fun Constitutional Facts: Gun Rights Edition
The words “regulate” and “regulated” appear three times in the Constitution’s current text. Here they are: Article I, Section 8: “The Congress shall have Power…To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States,...
