Opus Dei sticks to the spirit
Paul Bompard's article from Italy ("Rectors accused of freemason link", THES, February 23) alleges that many rectors are freemasons and that, for some top jobs, masonic approval is needed "especially...
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Psyched out
If some scientists fear the "sinister" power of social science (THES, March 1) it is surprising that they have entrusted the task of telling the public about scientific psychology matters to STEM (...
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Asian trainspotting
In his review (THES, March 1) of Lester R Brown's book, Carl Riskin writes "rather than opting for a Japanese system of efficient rail transportation, China seems intent on promoting its motor...
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Robbins's foregone conclusion
If the Robbins report is anything to go by, Dearing and his committee may decide to disregard the evidence presented to it when making their recommendations for higher education, says James Tooley....
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Lessons closer to home
The Bangkok gathering of heads of Asian and European governments earlier this month was unusual. It took one regional grouping, the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN), to bring another,...
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Crumbling certainties
Deng Xiaoping, the so-called "paramount leader" of China, is still presumed to be alive. However, recent reports from Beijing have revealed that any utterance of the patriarch must be "interpreted"...
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Don's Diary
SATURDAY. Heathrow. LOT flight to Warsaw. A strange journey indeed. Read Primo Levi. Reflect on his words about being so preoccupied by power and money that we forget our essential fragility - "...
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Masterly nonsense
What a lovely spoof ("All-year study is inevitable", THES, April 12)! But a little over the top. The evidently fictitious "Lady Blackstone" (nice touch) was clearly too remote from the realities of...
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Triffid compulsion to reference
Sarah Nelson's article "Best footnote forward" (THES, April 12), seems to me to be based on cultural misunderstandings between the world of journalism and the world of academic writing. I frequently...
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Fears over school pupils on courses
I write to place your front page article, "Colleges plan to enrol children" (THES, April 5) in perspective. The initial enquiry (to me) related to the Dearing report and in particular my attitude...
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Grade inflation: true or false?
As the academies warn that research capability is under threat, Colin Lawson suggests ways to protect standards in teaching. In the past 20 years the most likely degree grade has risen in many...
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Aficionados of Italy fall at the first hurdle
I wish to draw your attention to a particularly absurd example of Italian protectionism with respect to the European labour market. Among the special hoops that foreign (EU) applicants must jump...
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Hell was best fundraiser
In more religious times the fear of hell, of long spells in purgatory, or of divine retribution provided a powerful motive for philanthropy. "Five hundred poor have I in yearly pay who twice a day...
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Report's sad note
When one of a report's recommendations is deemed "intriguing" even by its chairman, it is probably a suggestion that requires plenty of hard thought. 11 = /And a quick read of this week's National...