Every year a large number of economists typically converge on a single city for multiple days to talk about the latest in economic research. It's also the same time I'm reminded of all my frustrations with how little this profession has changed.
I want to thank you for producing and curating materials for economics educators to use. Your posts and tweets and general curiosity have improved my high school level teaching because you have provided access to information (and your own instructional approach) that I would not otherwise have. I look forward to the Monday Morning Economist and the Tuesday Links to see what new thing(s) I can learn and use, as an educator. Your honesty and generosity with materials is doing a great service for the field and I hope that members of the AEA and your employers realize and value this!
On a related note---I stopped attending social studies conferences because there are few Economics teachers in attendance and so little relevant offerings for Economics instruction. I am so appreciative that you and a few others have more than made up for this gap.
Thank you, Kate! It took me a long time to realize that there are other people like me, but I just had to find them. A lot of them are quiet because they don't want to upset "the big dogs" but I finally got to the point where I don't care. They're going to judge me anyway.
If I can be of ANY help with your classes, please reach out and let me know.
I stopped going to the AEAs years ago in large part because much of the research presented there was so esoteric to border on meaninglessness, and the self-reverential attitudes of presenters (including some in the econ ed space) meant that productive conversations were few and far between. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so eloquently.
With the AEA's being virtual the past two years, there was basically zero conversation unless you were one of the presenters. I go to conferences to interact with others and ask questions, not just to listen to someone repeat a presentation they gave earlier in the year.
I share your frustration. Your efforts will change the landscape. For now, know you have another like-minded economist reading your work and is encouraged by your efforts.
I keep teaching that decisions are made at the margin, but changing 1 person at a time is frustratingly slow. If only there was some "big push" that could make this go faster.
Big pushes in the academy are like moving the tectonic plates. The surface may look a little different, but it is only from the build up of enormous force (and sadly a lot of hot air and gas).
I want to thank you for producing and curating materials for economics educators to use. Your posts and tweets and general curiosity have improved my high school level teaching because you have provided access to information (and your own instructional approach) that I would not otherwise have. I look forward to the Monday Morning Economist and the Tuesday Links to see what new thing(s) I can learn and use, as an educator. Your honesty and generosity with materials is doing a great service for the field and I hope that members of the AEA and your employers realize and value this!
On a related note---I stopped attending social studies conferences because there are few Economics teachers in attendance and so little relevant offerings for Economics instruction. I am so appreciative that you and a few others have more than made up for this gap.
Thank you, Kate! It took me a long time to realize that there are other people like me, but I just had to find them. A lot of them are quiet because they don't want to upset "the big dogs" but I finally got to the point where I don't care. They're going to judge me anyway.
If I can be of ANY help with your classes, please reach out and let me know.
I stopped going to the AEAs years ago in large part because much of the research presented there was so esoteric to border on meaninglessness, and the self-reverential attitudes of presenters (including some in the econ ed space) meant that productive conversations were few and far between. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so eloquently.
With the AEA's being virtual the past two years, there was basically zero conversation unless you were one of the presenters. I go to conferences to interact with others and ask questions, not just to listen to someone repeat a presentation they gave earlier in the year.
I share your frustration. Your efforts will change the landscape. For now, know you have another like-minded economist reading your work and is encouraged by your efforts.
I keep teaching that decisions are made at the margin, but changing 1 person at a time is frustratingly slow. If only there was some "big push" that could make this go faster.
Big pushes in the academy are like moving the tectonic plates. The surface may look a little different, but it is only from the build up of enormous force (and sadly a lot of hot air and gas).