New York Times Magazine, March 2 The cover story examines the growing practice of underperforming schools turning to single-sex education. Two schools of thought bolster the trend: One believes boys and girls should be educated separately because they are “essentially different”—i.e., different biologically and thus better suited to different learning practices. The other argues that they “have different social experiences and social needs.” Supporters credit the programs with allowing girls to develop self-esteem in a “less sexualized” environment while helping boys avoid the boredom that can lead to ADHD diagnoses in coed classrooms. But opponents fear that with separating boys and girls “comes a lesson that our gender differences are primary … [which] is at odds with one of the most foundational principles of America’s public schools.”… A piece reveals the difficulty of foreign-born Jews in procuring marriage licenses from Israeli rabbinates, who demand official proof of Jewish descent and are increasingly suspicious of non-Israeli rabbis.
Harper’s, March 2008 Scott Horton investigates the bitter partisanship of the Bush Justice Department, “where putting fidelity to the law ahead of the G.O.P.’s election efforts [is] a career-ending move.” The unprecedented control asserted by the president over DoJ could have far-reaching consequences: Historically, “once a power or prerogative is successfully asserted by a president, his successors have generally guarded that power carefully, whether they make actual use of it or not.”… A first-person account explores the “neo-hobo lifestyle” that “blur[s] the boundary between ingenuity and criminality” as the author follows the entire length of the Mississippi on a raft made of stolen objects and found debris. … In a personal essay, a descendent of slavery comes to terms with the discovery of an African burial ground in Portsmouth, N.H.
Economist, March 1 The cover story looks at problems facing Russia’s soon-to-be President Dmitry Medvedev. While he inherits Putin’s largely positive reputation among Russians, the improvements in the standard of living, economy, and foreign policy initiated during Putin’s rule will be difficult to sustain. … A piece casts doubt on John McCain’s ability to win the White House, pointing out that to get the Republican nomination, “Mike Huckabee had to beat Mitt Romney in Iowa, Rudy Giuliani had to pursue a deranged strategy, Fred Thompson had to contract narcolepsy, and the ‘surge’ had to go well.”… An article details Indian women’s predilection for Mills and Boon romance novels. While India’s conservative sexual environment fuels the popularity of the books, the recent upswing in sales can also be attributed to working women’s increased spending power.
GQ, March 2008 An article looks at former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsak’s involvement in the Clinton primary campaign in that state. Vilsak’s devotion to the Clintons goes way back: His brother-in-law shared an office with Hillary during the Nixon impeachment and was so impressed with the young lawyer that he wanted to name his first daughter after her. Clinton also campaigned for Vilsak while she was first lady “in the middle of Monica-gate.”… A piece that goes behind the scenes with “Chuckabee” in New Hampshire notes: “(1) Many young people come to Huckabee rallies exclusively to cheer for Chuck Norris and care not a bit about any non-Norris-related content at said rallies. (2) Nobody involved with the Huckabee campaign seems to understand this.”
Best Obama Campaign Coverage
The New Republic talks to white supremacists about why they aren’t more virulently opposed to the Illinois senator’s candidacy.
Best Clinton Campaign Coverage
New York takes a new look at the unusually media-restricted Chelsea Clinton as she steps into her mother’s presidential campaign.
Best Interactive Feature
GQ’s 2008 Campaign Quiz, which tests readers on their knowledge of the name of Mike Huckabee’s band, the reason the Arkansas governor’s son was kicked out of Boy Scout camp, and which candidate has probably touched more vaginas—former Wellesley student Hillary Clinton or former gynecologist Ron Paul.
Strangest Letter to the Editor
An indignant 11-year-old tweaks Harper’s January article about food allergies: “Food allergies are a huge deal. Many people can DIE from having an allergic reaction, including me. And the part where you said that FAAN is a marketing scheme—you’re wrong again, Miss! They help people with food allergies. They really help us!!!!”
Most Amusing Diatribe
In the Weekly Standard, a computer science professor laments feminism’s destruction of the English language. Referring to a stylistic preference for the gender neutral “he or she,” he complains, “The well-aimed torpedo of Feminist English has sunk the whole process of teaching students to write.”
