Andy Rowell

Author: Andy Rowell

  • The alumni advantage at Harvard in college admissions

     

    Richard Tofel summarizes: Harvard accepts alumni children at a rate almost four times that of others. More than 20% of white students there are such “legacies.” And more than 16% of Harvard’s white students are admitted as athletes. Another side of the “affirmative action” debate. https://twitter.com/dicktofel/status/1016987598252838912 

     

    How the Fight Against Affirmative Action at Harvard Could Threaten Rich Whites
    If preferences for black and Hispanic applicants are abolished, expect a backlash against admissions boosts for children of alumni and donors.
    by Daniel Golden July 11

    https://www.propublica.org/article/affirmative-action-how-the-fight-against-at-harvard-could-threaten-rich-whites

     

     

    ‘Lopping,’ ‘Tips’ and the ‘Z-List’: Bias Lawsuit Explores Harvard’s Admissions Secrets
    The admissions office at Harvard. A lawsuit against the university has illuminated little-known aspects of its selection process.

    The New York Times
    By Anemona Hartocollis, Amy Harmon and Mitch Smith
    July 29, 2018

    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/harvard-admissions-asian-americans.html

  • Rationale for kids getting a phone

    Parents get child a phone so they can text their friends to go for a bike ride and so child can stay in touch with parents. In reality, the phone’s games keep the child from thinking of friends or even answering texts. And they don’t even bring their phone so they don’t break it.

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1016434298575118337

     

     

    More

    Getting kids off screens and having them socialize and do constructive things seems to be THE task of parents today. I recommend waiting, dumb phones, limiting apps, limiting time on screens, being proactive about scheduling kids into activities, and providing non-screen options

     

     

     

    https://twitter.com/ahc/status/1016388664593670146

    “Quietly, using screens and phones for entertainment has become _the_ dominant activity of childhood.” I’m late to this piece—but if you need convincing that The Tech-Wise Family is, if anything, not radical enough: (tx )

  • Rec and travel sports and youth soccer

    Any huge believers in traveling youth sports out there? If so, which reasons? (a) I want my kids to play on high school team, (b) for learning teamwork, hard work, and confidence, (c) for a possible college scholarship, and (d) they’re obsessed with the sport. Have any doubts?

    I’ll give away my leaning toward recommending kids play (instead of travel sports) a recreational sport each season with (if possible) school classmates and focusing on teamwork, hard work, families, and exercise, rather than scholarships and specialization. But still processing.

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1016419857666015232

     

    Rev. Jess HB
    @jess_h_b
    Replying to @AndyRowell
    Rec teams have really suffered due to travel clubs. By the time my boys got to 3rd grade the kids who enjoyed the sport went to club/travel and rec programs generally disorganized and not much emphasis on skill building 🙁 In our experience anyway…

     

    @AndyRowell
    Yes, good point. I think your experience is the norm. Trying to swim against this tide, I have coached a lot so that our kids have a good experience with rec. (And the massive time I have put in causes other parts of our lives to suffer).

     

    Dan Reid
    @editordanreid
    Jul 9
    Replying to @AndyRowell
    Tough, isn’t it. Its dismaying how sports threaten to rule lives. My thinking is get them involved in a sport they can participate in all their lives. Like tennis or swimming. I wish I’d pursued tennis. It wears well.

     

    Little Sailboat
    @AmaraSailboat
    Replying to @AndyRowell
    I think it’s a balance! If they truly love it, let them pursue a more competitive traveling team. If they just want to try a sport out, a rec league or ymca class may be the right lane. Your attitude follows you in whatever you end up doing.

     

    See also on Youth Soccer

     

     

    Here, here to playing with your classmates, not destroying family life with travel, playing multiple sports, and not being delusional about getting sports scholarships.

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1016421057866158081

     

    https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/07/the-downsides-of-americas-hyper-competitive-youth-soccer-industry/565109/

    The Downsides of America’s Hyper-Competitive Youth-Soccer Industry
    The sport’s top tier is organized around the goal of producing a tiny group of elite players, at the expense of kids’—and parents’—well-being.

    LINDA FLANAGAN
    JUL 13, 2018

     

    See also: 

    This is quite a powerful article on youth sports development, particularly soccer. Ted Kroeten argues against tryouts because of Relative Age Effect and argues the best players emerge late (age 15) after developing creatively by playing for fun.

    What I take away from this is to facilitate (as a coach and parent) kids enjoying playing the sport. Encouraging pick-up games, small-sided games, scrimmaging.

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/967626950994006017

     

     

    The revolution will not hold tryouts
    February 23, 2018

    Ted Kroeten

    https://www.poweredbyjoy.org/single-post/2018/02/13/The-revolution-will-not-hold-tryouts