Slate Illustrated, 2014
Our favorite illustrations of the year.
“ ‘But You Speak French So Well!’ ”
Why are Parisians so surprised that an American would want to live in France?
“My Year of MOOCs”
Lessons learned from earning the equivalent of a B.A. in 12 months, online.
“It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s—AAAACK!”
The unexpected dangers of drones.
“Minor Leagues, Microscopic Paychecks”
Should we care that a huge number of low-level ballplayers make as little as $1,100 per month?
“Dear Kids”
This Mother’s Day, write a letter to your children. Leave them something for after you’re gone.
“Quit Picking on Old Professors”
Bullying boomers into retirement won’t help the sad state of higher education in this country.
“In Pursuit of Knowledge, and Profit”
How universities aid and abet patent trolls.
“Neither a Wallflower nor a Paris Geller Be”
The use and abuse of class participation in the college classroom.
“The Other Way to Legalize Marijuana”
D.C. is about to make pot legal. Good, but it should keep the cannabis industry out.
“Pluto Wins”
It may not be a planet, but Pluto explains the whole solar system.
“Interminable Degrees”
Is the future of higher education a program from which you can never graduate?
“The Scariest Campfire Story”
More horrifying than bears, snakes or hook-handed killers.
“ ‘I Have Never Been Up’ ”
The persistent, powerful meme of Abraham Lincoln as a “failure at 50.”
“The Sad Demise of Collegiate Fun”
The helicopter generation has gone to university, and campus has never been so boring.
“Close Stuyvesant High School”
Why super-elite public magnet schools aren’t necessary anymore.
“Moses and the American Constitution”
If Texas wants biblical characters and states’ rights in textbooks, publishers are happy to deliver.
“The Melting Pot Is Broken”
How slowing down immigration could help us build a more cohesive and humane society.
“What Makes People Look Like Their Pets?”
The eyes are a window to the ego.
“Is All of Twitter Fair Game for Journalists?”
Social media has blurred the line between “public” and “private,” and reporters need to adapt.
“The Princess Trap”
Our daughter is getting into dolls and dress-up. What are programmer parents to do?
“The Case for the 13th Grade”
Some Oregon high schools offer a fifth year that’s actually a free first year of community college. That’s great—but it doesn’t go far enough.
“Facebook’s New Secret Sauce”
The social network keeps getting more addictive. Here’s how.
“The Kids, They Know Things”
I used to do everything for my children. Now, they do things for me.
“Revise and Resubmit!”
Peer review is slow. It’s unhelpful. It’s generally awful. Here’s how to fix it.