When Clever is Dumb

A wise man once said, being “too clever is dumb.”-1 And when we say that someone is “too clever by half,” we often mean that they are actually being devious and manipulating, rather than clever. With that in mind let’s consider this recent story that made national headlines.

As part of a routine interview with their new principal, student journalists at a Kansas high school uncovered some startling facts. The students did some digging and couldn’t find proof that the private university where their new principal said she had received both a masters and doctorate degree, was a legitimate, accredited university. A few days later, the journalists published their findings in a front-page story in their student newspaper, raising serious questions about their newly-hired headmaster’s qualifications.

“She was going to be the head of our school, and we wanted to be assured that she was qualified and had the proper credentials,” said the student-editor. “We stumbled on some things that most might not consider…