By researching India's poorly staffed schools, this MIT group figured out how to fix them.A teacher-less classroom is an all-too-familiar scene for primary school students in many low-income countries. In 2006, a study by economists from the World Bank and Harvard University turned up disastrously low teacher attendance in six such countries, including India, where on any given day 55 percent of all classrooms either get a teacher who is present but not teaching or no teacher at all. With salaries for teachers accounting for the biggest fraction of governments' education budgets in the developing world, the study highlights an important challenge: how to get a bigger bang from a country's teaching buck.To that end, researchers associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab worked with the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to randomly select 500 government-run primary schools in which to test interventions aimed at boosting teacher performance. The biggest effect came from performance-based pay. Scores on standardized tests went up in schools where teachers were incentivized with a possible bonus of about a third of a month's pay if their students achieved a 10 percent increase in test scores.How big a grain of salt does a study of 500 schools merit? "It's large enough that the results have to be taken seriously," says lead researcher Karthik Muralidharan, an economist at the University of California at San Diego, "but it doesn't give you a roadmap to implementation." He recommends that policymakers begin larger-scale pilot projects. There was no magic to it, he points out; teachers simply started doling out more classroom work and homework. Still, that's a big improvement over sleeping on the job (or not showing up at all).Photo by Karthik MuralidharanGo back to the interactive site
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This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.