With Good Reason

Equal Time by With Good Reason

First published in 1947, Goodnight Moon has become one of the most popular books for young children. Yet the book’s author, Margaret Wise Brown, always wanted to write for adults. With Good Reason producer Kelley Libby tells the story of Brown’s life, from Hollins College to her tragic early death. Also featured: Opened after the ravages of World War II, the International Youth Library in Munich was an effort to introduce Germany’s children to the literature of other cultures to promote understanding. It’s now the largest repository of children’s literature in the world. And: With busy schedules and media-soaked lives, have our children lost their ability to engage in moment-by-moment experiences?

A common historical myth is that Native Americans were an “oral people” and did not engage in literacy. In his new book Red Ink: Native Americans Picking Up the Pen in the Colonial Period, Drew Lopenzina (Old Dominion University) argues that Native Americans early on acquired the skills of reading and writing. Also featured: In the movies, the American frontier is a lawless place. But historian Turk McCleskey (Virginia Military Institute) studied 18th-century court records and found that the first settlers of Virginia’s frontier actually took the law very seriously. And: We have a sense of what early America looked like, but Bonnie Gordon and Emily Gale (University of Virginia) ask: What did it sound like? From bawdy tavern songs to tunes commenting on Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, Gordon and Gale are uncovering the soundscape of early America.

2013 is predicted to be a record year in terms of stink bug population in the U.S. Entomologist Ames Herbert (Virginia Tech) is looking at ways to control this voracious insect, which has caused millions of dollars in crop damage. Also featured: Want to rid your backyard of mosquitoes? Justin Anderson of Radford University conducted an experiment to see if coffee would do just that. And: In 1816, volcanic eruptions caused unusually low temperatures around the world. That same year—known as “the Year Without a Summer”—Mary Shelley wrote the classic scary novel Frankenstein after being forced indoors during a vacation because of the weather. Callan Bentley (Northern Virginia Community College) discusses the effects geological events have had on human culture.

Call it java, brew, mud, the a.m. savior, or just coffee. Many people can’t conceive of starting their day without their dose of caffeine. Lisa Pawloski of George Mason University is a part of team of researchers who say coffee may reduce the risk of liver disease. Also featured: Some of us are more apt to succumb to a calorie-rich Frappuccino over a simple cup of coffee. But Niels Christensen (Radford University) says there are ways to avoid unhealthy decisions and strengthen your willpower. And: People who are addicted to drugs tend to choose instant gratification, without thinking of the long term costs. Warren K. Bickel (Virginia Tech) is looking at ways of curbing addiction by increasing the value of future rewards in the minds of addicts.

Feminists tend to be thought of as “anti-motherhood.” But psychologist (and mom) Miriam Liss (University of Mary Washington) says feminists are actually more likely than non-feminists to be intense mothers who practice parenting techniques like co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and carrying a child in a body sling. Also featured: To some, being funny at work might seem counterproductive. But John Morreall (College of William and Mary), past president of the International Society for Humor Studies, says many industries, including health care, have begun to appreciate the benefits of humor in the workplace. And: Near the end of his life, the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo burned most of his drawings. Of the masterpieces that remain, 25 are now on a rare, two-stop tour in America. The exhibition’s curator John Spike (College of William & Mary) gives With Good Reason producer Kelley Libby a guided tour.

The Gospel Roots of Rock and Roll (February 16, 2013)

Sister Rosetta Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll. She became the first superstar of gospel music and was an early influence on Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash. Chris Kjorness (Longwood University) plays some of her groundbreaking recordings and talks about her legacy. Also featured: The Broadway musical has often taken up southern themes, from Show Boat and Porgy and Bess in the first half of the twentieth century to Memphis, which hit the Broadway stage in 2009. For all their popularity, Gary Richards (University of Mary Washington) argues that these musicals nevertheless tend to have a negative view of the South and don’t reflect its diversity today.

In 2009, fewer than 2% of physical science degrees—like physics and chemistry—went to African-Americans. Considering African-Americans make up 12% of the U.S. population, these numbers are shockingly low. And they’re getting even lower. In the second episode of our ongoing series about STEM education, we ask: what does a scientist look like? Short, tall, black, brown, male or female? We talk to Lindsey Kraatz, Sam Lake, Daniel Maxey, and Stephanie Salisbury about their outreach project at William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science. We also hear about what might be keeping American girls out of laboratories, and Laura Puaca (Christopher Newport University) explains the WWII history of Edna the Engineer.

National interest in the spiritual practices and beliefs of our presidents is as strong as ever. In his new book, The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents, David Holmes (College of William and Mary) looks at the role of religion in the lives of the twelve presidents who have served since the end of World War II. He also shares little-known anecdotes, such as Dwight Eisenhower’s effort to conceal his family’s Jehovah’s Witness background. Also featured: When Abraham Lincoln drew his last breath, his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, famously said “Now he belongs to the ages.” Allen Guelzo (Gettysburg University) says the ages haven’t always been kind to the reputation of our 16th president. Guelzo, the author of eight books on Lincoln, delivered the keynote address at Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies.

To boost performance in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), the White House has launched an “Educate to Innovate” campaign, and it even held the first White House Science Fair. In this series on STEM education in America, With Good Reason is asking national policy experts, educators, and innovators why STEM matters and why women and minorities are being targeted. We talk with Linda Rosen (Change the Equation) about changing how we teach, Robert Tai (University of Virginia) about the origins of the acronym S-T-E-M, Leanna Giancarlo (University of Mary Washington) on the “mad scientist” stereotype, and Sevan Terzian (University of Florida), who says it all begins with—what else?—Sputnik.