I’ve never been a big fan of lists and checklists. Their condensed statements oversimplify and sound definitive, as if that’s all there is to know. Often, they claim more than they can deliver— “best policies to prevent multitasking,” for instance. My hesitancy about them rubs against how meaningful many teachers find them. They’re attracted to their clarity, brevity, and the convenient way they present information. Lists and checklists offer knowledge in a nutshell, and like nuts, what’s on the lists supplies easy-to-consume, nutritional information.
