JANUARY 2012: ECONOMICS

Generation Jobless
These days, workers of all ages face economic struggles, but the weak job market of the past few years has taken its biggest toll on teens and young adults.
Article •  Links •  Lesson

Out of School, Out of Work, Out of Luck
Men and women in their late teens and early 20s are struggling, but some are especially hard hit: The unemployment rate among high-school dropouts between ages 16 and 24 was 29%.
Article

‘Everyone Needs a Plumber’
The lack of interest among young people in many blue-collar trades—such as welding, machine production and aviation mechanics—means they're missing out on reasonably well-paid positions in fields where employment prospects are improving.
Article •  Links •  Lesson

No Pain, No Gain
College students continue to gravitate toward liberal-arts majors despite better pay prospects for those who study engineering, science and math—disciplines deemed too rigorous for many.
Article •  Links •  Lesson

ONLINE TEACHER GUIDE: JANUARY 2012
(Log in above for full access)

• QUOTE/UNQUOTE
• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
  
• ARCHIVE: DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE

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POLITICS
One for the Ages
Just as it was in 2008, the youth vote is going to be crucial for President Obama’s chances in 2012. But he could have a tougher time earning it this time around.
Article •  Links •  Lesson

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PHILANTHROPY
The 1% Solution
In the past year, Warren Buffett has carried his philanthropy to a new extreme and, in the process, sparked a revolution in the world of giving.
Article •  Links •  Lesson

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ADVERTISING
Facebook's Freeloaders
Companies find they can reach a target audience at a steep discount by generating buzz with free Facebook pages.
Article •  Links • Lesson

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AUTOS
Wheels of Justice
It may be the penal system’s most unusual workshop. At a Nevada prison, inmates take in rough and battered vintage cars and make them shine like new.
Article

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NATIONAL
Determined to Serve
At 59, Staff Sgt. Don Nicholas is the oldest of the 6,000 soldiers in the 25th Infantry Division in eastern Afghanistan, having started out as a Marine in Vietnam. “It's really not a fascination with war itself,” he  explains. “It's more trying to keep people from getting killed. I'm taking the spot of some 19-year-old.”
Article

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ON CAMPUS
Raise Your Hand
It’s up to you to interpret what you see and hear on a campus tour and figure out what it really means for your success at that college. To do that, you have to do more than follow the pack and listen to the guide. You have to be an active investigator.
Article •  Links • Lesson • Video

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OPINION
Students Are Getting Ripped Off
When it comes to what our colleges and universities are charging them for their degrees, the students who complain about their high debts and slim job prospects have a point. Too many have paid too much, and have been taught too little.
Article •  Links • Lesson

QUOTE/UNQUOTE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

 

WSJ.com

How to Ace a Google Interview
Brain teasers like the ones used for hiring by the Internet giant are spreading to other picky employers. Match your wits against puzzles that trip up even the cleverest applicants. Article

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Iowa: The Harvard of Coaching
Tucked away in the heart of Big Ten country, there's a different sort of football factory—one that specializes in coaches. Article

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Wage Hikes Force Tough Choices
Small businesses, already on a tight budget, are looking for new ways to cut costs as they brace for minimum wage increases in several U.S. states next month. Article

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NBA Owners Win Big
NBA owners scored an economic win in their new contract agreement with players. The two sides will now split the league's $4 billion in annual revenue almost equally; the players previously received 57%. Article

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Playing With Legos Is a Serious Business
Lego survived the rise of video games and its own brush with bankruptcy. Adult Fans of Lego—as the aficionados who build complex models call themselves—present a new hurdle. Article

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FRESHMAN JOURNAL
Make Yourself Uncomfortable
Antoine J. Allen Jr., Syracuse University

I Resolve to Be Me
Sara Garner, Columbia University

'Home Away From Home'
Symone Howard, Bowdoin College

Not in Any Rush
Katherine Mirani, Northwestern University

In Search of the Perfect Schedule
Taylor Wizner, University of Michigan

STUDENTS: Experience life on a college campus through the eyes of five first-year students. Follow this year's columnists at Freshman Journal

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WSJ.com
Is an Ivy League Diploma Worth It?
Fearing massive debt, more students are choosing to enroll at public colleges over elite universities. Article

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Students Pick Easier Majors Despite Less Pay
College students continue to gravitate toward liberal-arts majors despite better pay prospects for those who study engineering, science and math—disciplines deemed too rigorous for many. Article

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What Is the Best Way to Study?
While science can't promise that you'll ace every exam, a growing number of studies have shown which study techniques work best. Article

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Inside the Minds of Scary-Movie Fans
In the spirit of Halloween, we look at the biology of fear, showing how some people love the thrill of slasher movies and roller-coaster rides, while others can literally be scared to death. Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Korea's Underground Railroad
Reverend Chun Ki-won operates a modern Underground Railroad, which helps defectors from Communist North Korea escape across the Chinese border and make the long and dangerous trip to a life of freedom in South Korea. These days, that trip is getting more dangerous. By Josephine Jung
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Helmets: Last Line of Defense
The NFL and others on the front lines of football are zeroing in on helmets as the last line of defense against concussions and other serious head injuries, and as a critical tool in understanding how NFL-style hits affect the brain.By Aric DiLalla
Article

STUDENTS: To propose an article for publication on the Classroom Edition site, contact the editor of Student Voices

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WSJ.com
Teens, Too, Need Help With Sleep
More than two-thirds of U.S. high school students don't get enough sleep on school nights, and they're more likely than their well-rested peers to drink, smoke, and seriously consider suicide, according to a federal study. Article

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WSJ.com
Get Smart About College
Parents and students like to think they're rational when it comes to picking a college and paying for it. They aren't. Article

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WSJ.com
SAT Scores Hit a New Low
SAT scores for the high-school graduating class of 2011 fell in all three subject areas, and the average reading and writing scores were the lowest ever recorded, data showed. Article

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WSJ.com
Taking the Dread Out of Phys Ed
A gym teacher in Indiana is rethinking the way schools have taught girls and boys about fitness, making games structured so that more kids can play and enjoy. Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Hair Fashion Raises Hackles
Hairdressers are swarming tackle shops in hopes of capitalizing on the feather fashion kicked off by Steven Tyler. That has bothered fly fishermen, who are facing higher prices and depleted supplies of the specialized feathers they use for bait. By Lani Tuitasi
Article

• In Search of Cruelty-Free Feathers by Jane Herman Article

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WSJ.com
Dissecting Frogs in 3-D
More schools are trying out 3-D education materials to captivate students accustomed to experiencing the technology at the multiplex and on the latest gadgets. Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Music Festivals Take Center Stage
While single-artist concerts are struggling to fill seats, Coachella and other summer music festivals are booming. By Julian Ring
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Handwriting Is on the Wall for Cursive Instruction
Many elementary-school students may go without any cursive instruction at all as more states adopt the Common Core educational standards for the early grades. By Stephany Yong
Article

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WSJ.com
How Heavy Can a Backpack Get?
Students are hauling ever greater weight in their backpacks, risking back injury and nerve damage. Backpack makers are responding with more ergonomic features. Article

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WSJ.com
Lessons From the One-Room Schoolhouse
Tiny schools often lack amenities such as computer labs but possess strengths of their own. Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Arabic Students Mean Business
Career opportunities in national security and Mideast financial hubs boost enrollment in college Arabic-language programs. By Jordan Freisleben
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Lazy Summers Get Crazy
More high school students spend their vacations gearing up for college applications. Is there any time left for fun? By Lindsay Ellis
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Watching Their Mouths
More basketball players—at all levels—are realizing the benefits of wearing a mouth guard. Some learn the hard way. By Andrew Kallick
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Now Playing: My College Application
College admissions officers see video supplements as a logical way for students growing up in a technology-driven culture to showcase their personalities. By Stephanie Haven
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Term Limits
Honoring his sister, a college student challenges everyone to eliminate derogatory use of words like 'retard.' By Katherine Mirani
Article

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STUDENT VOICES
Transitions
Moving from family home to college dorm was a "surprisingly easy adjustment." By Phil Ryan
Article

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College Resource Guide
Financing the College Years
Taking a Tour
Managing Your College Life
Managing Your Future Career
Textbooks: Buying, Selling, and Renting
Hitting the Books

See the complete Guide

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The iSpies
Who's Tracking You Online? What Do They Know? Article

See the complete Special Report

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The 25 Hottest Colleges
Employers rank their favorite schools. Article

See the Complete Rankings

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A Career Crystal Ball
What will be the hot jobs of the future? Article

See the complete Special Report

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