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By Kerri Provost, March 9, 2010 6:28 am

Other than the military personnel who are armed to the teeth with coffee and junkfood from Dunkin Donuts, I rarely see significant foot traffic near the Legislative Office Building. Mostly, people drive to the parking garage and enter the building through the pedestrian entrance, never needing to come into contact with sunlight. Yet, there are large, well-marked warnings painted on the driveway, warning motorists to slow down. There are stop signs posted in places that make them more noticeable. There are even neon yellow signs telling motorists to stop for pedestrians — the signs are posted right in the crosswalks. I do appreciate this, as I use the area as a safer passage to downtown, given that the alternative of continuing along Capitol Avenue means having to cross the I-84 on/off ramp. Even with the stoplights all working and with the pedestrian walk signal on, the cars do not stop. Last week I saw a noticeably pregnant woman pushing a stroller across and the cars were not even obeying the law for her. It seems strange that few such safety features exist along a major street, but within a parking lot, traffic is managed quite well.

Sunday morning, when I read about the volunteer crossing guard who was threatened with arrest for keeping children safe, my heart sank. I read the article a few more times, trying to find a hidden clue that would make this story make sense. In a nutshell, a grandfather, who happens to be a disabled Vietnam Vet, decided to contribute to society by helping children safely get across the street to the Achievement First Academy in the Blue Hills neighborhood. He began this back in September. He had been honored by the school in the school newsletter and by being given a vest and stop sign. That sounds like his actions had been more than merely approved of by those he was interacting with directly.

Why threaten a man with arrest for helping society? Continue reading 'Whose Interests Are We Guarding?'»

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By Kerri Provost, December 23, 2009 1:12 pm

ConnCAN has released its school reportcards. The data shows overall student performance (Average percentage of students meeting state goals across all subjects), performance gains, improvement, low-income student performance, African-American student performance, and Hispanic student performance. Findings reflected the oft-discussed racial and class-based achievement gaps. The Milner School, located on Vine Street in Hartford, and listed as Core Knowledge at Milner on the Hartford Public Schools site, had 5.2% of students meeting state goals across all subjects. Continue reading 'Report Cards'»

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By Kerri Provost, December 22, 2009 8:10 am

Three more schools are in the works for the next school year. The Achieve Hartford! site explains that “In May of 2007, the Board approved a five-year framework that would guide the opening of at least 22 new schools in Hartford.” Here’s what is planned:

Annie Fisher STEM Magnet School (k-8)
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. There was little to be impressed by until I reached the sample curriculum in the design specs, where, I saw that 4th graders might design water filters and alarm circuits. The school will have a number of partnerships, including with the Connecticut Science Center and the Children’s Science Museum.

Dwight-Bellizzi Asian Studies Academy (pre-k - 8th)
This school will feature:

A robust, engaging curriculum that seamlessly integrates district and state academic mandates with global content and competencies to foster high academic achievement and to create awareness and understanding of the world and its workings
Language instruction, on a daily basis, from kindergarten throughout the elementary experience, with widespread exposure to native speakers

The language featured? Mandarin Chinese. The language and culture was chosen based on its growing popularity worldwide. Opportunities for students will include:

Two representatives from each classroom will serve as student ambassadors. Student Ambassadors
create activities around global awareness and run the school’s Global Council. The Global Council
will make recommendations for monthly activities and school improvement to the leadership team.
Students will also have opportunities to participate on a mock United Nations Council using multiple
languages at grades 7 and 8.
Students in grades 7 and 8 will read the “Book of the Month” with students in grades 1 and 2.
Students will participate in a competitive Debate Club in grades 5-8.
Students in grades 1 and 2 will practice Mandarin with grades 7 and 8.

Beyond building language and rhetorical skills, this seems promising as it enables students to work with those in other age brackets. This helps the older students to reinforce their knowledge via teaching/tutoring, and provides younger students with another possible way to learn material. The possible lesson plans for 6-8th grade contain material that many are not exposed to until college, if ever:

1. East Asia: An Overview
A broad overview is given of Asia’s great cultural traditions as well as the development of this
region throughout the twentieth century. Due to colonialism, Japanese militarism, World War II
and the Cold War, particular attention is given to changes within the region.
2. Politics in East Asia
Students are introduced to the political developments of the post-colonial period, with an emphasis
on the rise of communism after World War II and the evolution of more Western-style
democracies. Also included are discussions about the differences between Western and Asian
views of democracy and society.
3. The East Asian Economic Miracle
The materials give an analysis of how post-colonial countries created economic policies to
promote growth. Special attention is directed at economic policies which encouraged foreign
investment and the development of export-based industries.
4. Social Issues, Human Rights, and the Environment
Topics such as poverty, crime, environmental degradation in the wake of economic growth, the
changing role of women, the legacy of Japanese militarism, and the conflict between Western and
Asian views of human rights are introduced.
5. U.S. Interests in East Asia
The role of the United States in East Asia is explored from a framework of economic and military
interests. Topics of interest include U.S.-Japan trade relations, the wars America fought on Asian
soil, and the future of U.S. security amidst the growing economic and military power of nations
such as China and North Korea.

Humanities Studies at Bulkeley Upper School (11-12th)
I don’t really get this one. There’s block scheduling, which I think is a positive framework for a course, and a few intriguing classes, but really, isn’t “humanities” the general studies taught in most high schools? Is it specialized because of the number of math/science and performing arts type of schools emerging in the city? I don’t know. I like that there will be a Logic & Rhetoric course, as well as a Hartford, Connecticut Studies course. There are some courses offered that will gain students college credits. Aren’t these the types of things we should expect from all schools?
Continue reading 'Choosing Your School Choice (part one)'»

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By Kerri Provost, November 6, 2009 5:53 pm

Some people I have spoken with in the past few days were totally unaware that there was an election on Tuesday.

Others, however, are sharply aware. Check out the latest posts on Live in Hartford and IonHartford.

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By Kerri Provost, November 4, 2009 1:38 pm

Heather Brandon has published the results of yesterday’s Board of Education election on her blog, Urban Compass.

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By Kerri Provost, November 1, 2009 3:24 pm

Just a reminder that the Board of Education election will be held this Tuesday from 6am to 8pm. For a list of polling places, go to the Registrar of Voters site. To read a detailed review of last week’s candidate forum, go to “BOE Candidates Forum: A Glance at Our Options.“

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By Kerri Provost, October 29, 2009 3:53 pm

There were only a handful of us, but we were affiliated with a much larger, older group. We would wear all black, or at least black shirts. We wore black eyeliner, crimson lipstick, and black boots. Our symbol was written on all of our textbooks and sometimes on bathroom walls. We called ourselves the Bitches Against Rules. Some of us stole liquor from our parents. One brought kittens to school. We argued over who would marry Axl Rose (not me) and who got stuck with Slash (me). At worst, some of us smoked cigarettes or drank underage. At best, we scared the crud out of our too straightlaced suburban peers whose musical tastes were only as developed as New Kids on the Block.

I never considered myself a part of a gang, but using the criteria described in the recent 5 billion 138 gangs in Hartford controversy, I guess I have to now come to terms with knowing that my adolescent and teenage behavior would have had me labeled as a gang member.
Continue reading 'How to Become a Samurai in One Hour* (Or, I Was a Pre-Teen Gangsta)'»

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By Kerri Provost, October 28, 2009 1:03 am

There was a good showing of Board of Education candidates  Tuesday night, with only two no shows: Nyesha McCauley (Republican), whose absence was noted as related to her having recently given birth, and Richard Barton (Republican). On the panel: Milly Arciniegas (Parents’ Choice), Albert L. Barrueco (Democrat), Robert Cotto, Jr. (Working Families), Michael J. Fryer (Republican), Lori Hudson (Democrat), Elizabeth Brad Noel (Working Families), Sharon Patterson-Stallings (Working Families), Ines Duke Pegeas (Petitioning Candidate), Cherylann Perry (Parents’ Choice), Luis Rodriguez-Davila (Democrat), and Mary R. Storey (Parents’ Choice).

As always, in Hartford politics, some people had to bring their posse to fill the audience and testify. The annoying theatrics were kept to a minimum, thanks to the moderation of John Motley, who also provided well-timed comic relief. Still, what gathered the most applause did not tend to be the most intelligent comments, but those who shouted the loudest. From a rhetorical standpoint, Hartford voters tend to respond directly to emotional tactics. One hopes that reason will rule when they enter the voting booths.

Robert Cotto, Jr. of the Working Families Party was the most prepared, as he provided facts and statistics nearly every time he responded to a question. The teacher and Harvard graduate argued that while magnet schools help students, charter schools do not. An example he gave was Achievement First, where a parent reported that her autistic child was not being sufficiently helped. When asked about the reduced transportation budget that has forced more children to walk to school, he suggested that other parts of the budget should have been cut first, citing page 234 of the budget, which shows that three people have a salary of $100,000 $300,000 each. To show the poor choice in budget cuts, he referenced the recent accident in which a school crossing guard was hit by a car, explaining that it is not safe for children to be walking such distances to school. To address the gang problem that has created controversy this past week, he said that the first thing we need to do is admit there is a problem. Continue reading 'BOE Candidates Forum: A Glance at Our Options'»

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By Kerri Provost, October 27, 2009 6:05 am

Tonight is the Board of Education Candidates Forum at 6pm in the Hartford Public Library (main).

On November 3, 2009, Hartford voters will elect four members of the Hartford Board of Education.  The Hartford Public School System is in the midst of significant reform efforts. Attend this forum to learn more about the candidates, their vision for Hartford schools, and their ideas and positions on the issues.

In a city where it seems most people make their voting choices entirely by which political party they belong to or by using second-hand information that is too often filtered by the media, it is especially important for the voters to actually meet and see the candidates in action.

If tonight’s forum is not an option for you, I would suggest checking out the BOE Candidate Focus series on Cityline, which has the candidates all responding to the same questions:

Achieve Hartford! has also compiled questions for the candidates. It is telling when candidates simply do not respond to such requests. Does this mean they have no answers? No time for explaining their perspectives to the public? No sense of commitment? Assumption that they’ll be carried by their political parties?

It’ll be interesting to see which candidates decide that the library forum is worth their time.

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By Kerri Provost, May 31, 2009 2:41 am

On Saturday, May 30th, the Connecticut Science Center hosted “Out of this World,” a pre-opening celebration. You’ll probably read plenty of fact-filled reviews and articles about the new center; let me guide you through the gala and science center with no attempt at objectivity. Continue reading 'Connecticut Science Center Blast Out of this World'»