US Colleges Are Shutting Down: Here’s Why (+ the Impacts)

Students walking on a college campus during the fall, representing the fact that large colleges are doing well while small colleges are shutting down

Why are so many small colleges shutting down in the US? How do these closures affect students and communities? Small colleges are rapidly disappearing across the US, with more than 500 private nonprofit institutions closing since 2014, and one closing every week in 2024. Many students whose colleges close never complete their degree—college closures also upend local economies. Keep reading to learn why small colleges are closing in the US and why it’s such a big deal.

How to Teach Responsibility to Your Children at a Young Age

A cartoon image of a young boy standing in a clean bedroom while holding a broom, representing teaching responsibilities to your children

Why is teaching responsibility to your children so important? How early should you start? What are the benefits? In her book 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do, psychotherapist and mental strength trainer Amy Morin stresses the importance of instilling a sense of responsibility in your children. Responsible children grow up to be more self-reliant, empathetic, and more. Here’s how to set your child up for success.

Punishment vs. Discipline: Which Is Most Effective as a Parent?

A young boy sitting in a chair in a living room looking sad, representing punishment vs. discipline in parenting

What’s the difference between punishment and discipline? Which one should you be using on your children? While often confused, discipline and punishment are not the same thing. Discipline is the act of teaching your child whereas punishment is making your child suffer for a mistake. Punishments are unhelpful and can oftentimes make situations worse. Continue reading for a deeper look into punishment vs. discipline when it comes to parenting.

What Are You Curious About? Rekindle Your Innate Wonder

A boy thinking about a beehive, a guitar, and books illustrates innate curiosity and asking "What are you curious about?"

What are you curious about? How can you reclaim your authentic interests and independent thinking? In Awaken Your Genius, Ozan Varol explores the suppression of natural curiosity in traditional education systems. He offers insights on rediscovering your true self and nurturing your innate wonder about the world. Keep reading to get Varol’s techniques for rekindling your innate curiosity.

How Internet Reading Moves Us From the Depths to the Shallows

A bearded man engaged in internet reading on a laptop at a desk with a mobile phone and a cup of coffee

Is the internet changing the way we read? How does online reading affect our ability to concentrate? Internet reading has transformed our habits and cognitive processes. Nicholas Carr explores this shift in his book The Shallows. He examines how deep reading, once encouraged by printed books, is being replaced by skimming and shallow engagement online. Read more to get Carr’s insights and discover how our digital habits are reshaping our minds and media consumption.

Higher Education and Race: Why Do US Schools Get a Bad Rap?

Racially diverse students on a university campus illustrate the intersection of higher education and race

How has the history of college admissions shaped our current educational landscape? Why do conservative politicians deride higher education? Ijeoma Oluo’s exploration of higher education and race reveals a complex history of exclusion and change. In her book Mediocre, she examines how American universities were initially designed for wealthy white men and how this legacy continues to impact our educational system today. Continue reading for Oluo’s analysis of race and American educational institutions.

The 3 Types of Mental Roadblocks You Need to Defeat

A brain hitting a mental roadblock from a wall in the road

What types of mental roadblocks are you likely to face when reaching your full potential? Why is it important to encounter these roadblocks? Just because you learn more when you’re having fun doesn’t mean that the path to your full potential will be a walk in the park. Adam Grant notes that the most effective learning is fun, but it also has uncomfortable roadblocks. Let’s look at the three uncomfortable mental roadblocks you’re bound to cross.

Can You Learn in Your Sleep? Yes—With Lucid Dreaming

A sleeping girl dreaming of a book and learning in her sleep

How can you learn in your sleep? How can lucid dreaming help you improve your athletic performance? The authors of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming argue that through lucid dreaming, you can improve nearly any skill, both cognitive and physical. They even believe that training through lucid dreaming is more powerful than using mental imagery while awake. Keep reading to learn how you can learn and train while lucid dreaming.