Paul Bass Photo
Abdussabur, Ginsberg, Webster, Lewis at WNHH Wednesday.
Lucy Gellman Photo
Haufe and Bennick.
New Haven’s school-reform drive, five years in, needs a new jolt of energy and refocusing.
So said Will Ginsberg, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, a prime sponsor of a key school-reform program called Promise to New Haven.
Ginsberg made the comments Wednesday on WNHH radio’s “Dateline New Haven program.”
In addition to Ginsberg’s interview, which covered a range of Community Foundation efforts as well as his own career in New Haven and Washington, D.C., broadcasts on WNHH radio covered how the male stripper troupe “The Thunder from Down Under” relates to patient services and care in Connecticut’s hospitals, and what New Haveners can do to work toward human rights and conflict resolution.
“We as a community need to see school change as a long-term proposition,” Ginsberg said. “Certain goals were set when school change started. Not all of them have been achieved; we know that. We’ve seen significant increases in graduation rates and college matriculation. Today at the end of 2015, five years in, we don’t see the same level of excitement. We don’t see the same level of focus in the community as a whole as we saw in 2010.
“Some of that is natural. It’s hard to sustain that level of excitement and momentum. … We need to reinvigorate that. We need to get the community behind plans for School Change 2.0. We need to … broaden the vision [of Promise]. This is about creating the next generation of opportunity. We need to tie it into development efforts.”
To hear the full Ginsberg interview, click on or download the above audio.
Tis the season to talk about human rights, and how to be a better practitioner of them. That was the thesis on “Urban Talk Radio,” where host Shafiq Abdussabur welcomed Community Stakeholder Peter Webster and Pastor John Lewis, liaison for the Connecticut Center for Non-violence at Life Center Ministries. They discussed religious and racial discrimination in New Haven and beyond, how to get out into communities, and their hopes for the Elm City in 2016. To listen to the full episode, click on or download the above audio.
On the latest episode of “K Pasa,” host Norma Rodriguez-Reyes was joined in the studio by mayoral aide Joseph Rodriguez, chair of Puerto Ricans United Inc., Johnathan Rivera, board member of Puerto Ricans United, and Feny Taylor, member of the Latino and Puerto Ricans Affairs Commission and New Haven business owner. In both English and Spanish, the four discussed Puerto Rican United, Inc. and the annual Fiestas Patronales de New Haven. To listen to the full episode, click on or download the above audio.
Susan Haufe, executive director of patient experience, and gastroenterologist Michael Bennick, associate chief of medicine and medical director of patient experience at Yale New Haven Hospital, joined Mubarakah Ibrahim on “Mornings with Mubarakah.” The three discussed new developments in the field of patient care and patient advocacy. To listen to the full episode, click on or download the above audio.
Disappearing acts, the power to become invisible, and magic as metaphor were all on the menu for the latest episode of “Book Talk.” Host Cyd Oppenheimer talked about novel Vaclav & Lena with author Haley Tanner, bringing avid readers Jessica Sager and Annie Thoms into the conversation during the latter half of the show. To listen to the full episode, which also includes a suggestion from New Haven Free Public Librarian John Jessen, click on or download the audio above.
On “This Day in New Haven History,” Yale President Charles Seymour announced that 1942’s students will study through the summer to complete their courses in three years, and then be ready to serve. Within months, the university’s dormitories would begin to house soldiers, sailors, and Marines for special training. Oh, and Igor Sikorsky gave a lecture at the art gallery predicting his new helicopter would have a great future and be in every American’s driveway! To listen to the full episode, click on or download the above audio.
Paul,
During your interview with Will Ginsberg, you said that our New Haven public school system is not successful.
I generally disagree with your assessment. I attended our public schools K-12, and am now in my 13th consecutive year of professional teaching in New Haven public schools.
Our schools are now providing much higher quality personalized support to our children and their families than I recall in the 1970's and 1980's. We have a magnet school program that provides amazing experiences to the children of our region. Many of our schools allow children to share diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
Our schools are full of dedicated professionals. We work long, hard days, weekends and breaks in direct service to children. We do this because we know our investments of time and money will help the next generation realize their potential. We constantly connect with families in support of children.
We don't do this because of "School Reform" (whatever version...1.0 or 2.0) or because of merit pay or raises paid for by the "Teacher Incentive Fund". Our dedication and child focus was here before Garth Harries and the other Eli Broad billionaire evangelists arrived in 2009. After weathering this, we plan to be here supporting children when the next initiative rolls in.
When you say our system is not successful, I feel you need to be much more specific. Are you talking about school district leadership? Are you talking about the damage that results when power, politics, ego and big money intersect in an urban school district? Or, are you implying our school staffs are not doing everything possible with the allocated resources?
Specificity matters. Each of these challenges deserve a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion.
There are many unheard voices in this city. Your Independent has done much good in forcing transparency.
I encourage you to clarify your comments, and open space for a genuine school policy discussion.
Thanks.