Mental Floss

SCHOOL

Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet made teaching sign language his mission in life.

When a minister and law student met a little girl named Alice, he became determined to help her communicate with the world.

School's out for the summer. And also Lunar New Year.

Lunar New Year and Diwali are being observed in New York schools in 2024. They also come with some challenges for administrators.

Secret societies and dark cabals? You'll find plenty of them in these tomes.

From murder mysteries to secret societies and more, the best dark academia novels from Donna Tartt and other authors capture the macabre in the most unlikely of places.

Library binding is the best way to keep books in circulation.

A very, very specific set of standards can keep books from falling apart. But it's usually too expensive for consumers.

Quinta Brunson in 'Abbott Elementary.'

A workplace mockumentary in the vein of 'The Office' and 'Parks and Rec', 'Abbott Elementary' focuses on an underfunded, predominately Black school based in Philadelphia.

Dorm life is worth getting hyped about.

Help the college student in your life personalize their new space with these dorm room essentials that’ll see them through freshman year and beyond.

Whether you’re a nostalgic kid-at-heart or a parent shopping for kids of your own, here are some fun retro back-to-school products from the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s that you can still buy today.

They would have loved learning on tablets.

After Labor Day, most kids in the United States will be back to hitting the books, and they’re probably not thrilled about it.

Help your loved one kickstart their next chapter with these fun (and useful) graduation gifts

From Apple AirPods Pro earbuds to Amazon Basics cookware, the best graduation gifts can help new grads kickstart their next chapter in style.

They make school days more exciting, that's for sure.

They often arrive at work unsure exactly who and what they’ll be teaching—but they have some tricks up their sleeves to get up to speed quickly.

Treat a teacher during Teacher Appreciation Week.

National Teacher Appreciation Week 2023 kicks off on Monday, May 8—and here are 20 of the best teacher gifts that could be perfect for the educator in your life.

Going to school in 1977

To see how much the high school experience has changed in the past 50 years, check out this video from the 1970s.

Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, and Stacey Dash in 'Clueless' (1995).

Whether you loved high school or hated it, filmmakers seem determined to give you as many opportunities as possible to relive it.

Middle school and junior high are not quite the same.

The two terms describe the period of education between elementary and high school, but middle school and junior high aren’t exactly the same.

These schools admit the best of the best.

Good grades and a little luck are needed to walk these hallowed halls.

Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson have been friends and colleagues since college.

Plenty of college students fret about their roommates, but be careful—that person on the lower bunk may someday win the Super Bowl.

Apples are a classic gift for teachers.

The link between teachers and apples goes back centuries.

Freshmen (and their parents) want their first home-away-from-home to feel safe, and many institutions excel in that department.

Everything you need to know about this most beloved of school supplies.

Here's how your favorite old-school school supply became an icon.

Kick off your fall semester with these weird but useful dorm essentials.

Dorm life can be tricky, but these 10 unusual dorm accessories under $25 can be an edge-maker.

Stock up on back-to-school essentials with Amazon's new college hub.

Amazon's Off to College page is loaded with back-to-school essentials so you can get the new year off to a great start.

It's not about aesthetics.

The white roofs on school buses help keep things cool in more ways than one.

The Ohio State University has officially registered a trademark for one of the most common words in the English language.

Tassels aren't one-side-fits-all.

Graduation tassel placement depends on what degree you’re getting—and whether you’ve actually graduated yet.