Let’s teach our children about global warming
According to a new national study, Americans overwhelmingly support teaching our children about global warming – in all 50 states, including Connecticut – and including Republican and Democratic...
View ArticleCombating intolerance at Connecticut’s colleges
What should be done about the increased intolerance of differing points of view at residential and community colleges within the Connecticut State university system? There should be the free exchange...
View ArticleCan you throw ‘em out if they’re not in school?
“Take your f…… hands off of me” a young man said to me after I tried lead him out of the hallway from a fight. Think about it. How many times have you heard people complain about the “bad” kids, the...
View ArticleDiversity — Middletown’s greatest weapon to close the opportunity gap
I was born and raised in Connecticut by my mother, a woman who was a strong advocate for my education. Looking back, I have no idea how she was able to be such a fierce and tireless champion of my...
View ArticleDysfunctional schools are crippling our children — and it’s our fault
I’ve taught English at Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford for six years. We currently have five math teachers for grades 6-12, and during my tenure, I’ve seen eight other math teachers come...
View ArticleAll students should have access to AP courses, and I am living proof
I took my first advanced placement class – world history—when I was a sophomore in high school. This year, I’m a junior currently taking three AP courses. Next year, I’ll take four more. As a student...
View ArticleOn access and success in advanced placement courses
Jacqueline Rabe Thomas’ excellent article about access to AP (Advanced Placement) courses being elusive for low-income students should lead us all to ask why. It should also lead us to ask how we...
View ArticleChildren of color are drowning — in pools … and in schools
Our children are drowning. The rate of drowning, in a literal sense, for children of color is three times that of white children in this country per Jeff Wiltse, author of Contested Waters: A Social...
View ArticleThe calculus of dumbing down community college math
I challenge the validity of the transfer of credits for the course Calculus III from Connecticut community colleges to the University of Connecticut. Generally speaking, the standards associated with...
View ArticleUConn Health must correct ‘blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars’
Over the past few months, multiple situations have come to light unveiling a pattern of failures at UConn Health that have severely damaged the public’s trust in your institution. We have seen blatant...
View ArticleWhat the Regents know that just ain’t so
“It’s not what you don’t know that gets you in trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” -- Mark Twain Recent coverage of the Board of Regents’ latest scheme to reorganize higher...
View ArticleResolved: That the CSCU system needs a better plan
In its April 24, 2018 decision letter, the New England Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (hereinafter Commission), noted that it was not persuaded that...
View ArticleFree college that is actually FREE!
Many complain about the high cost of college. I often read about free college. Bernie Sanders comes to mind. I like some of the principles that Bernie advocates, but exactly how many trillions of...
View ArticleOkjakian shares his revised Students First consolidation plan
This week the Board of Regents will convene to discuss, among other things, our proposed revisions to the Students First consolidation plan. In keeping with the promise to keep you informed, I am...
View ArticleJewish leaders condemn Trump family separation policy
The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford strongly condemns the U.S. presidential administration’s policy of separating children from their migrant families at our nation’s southern border. This...
View ArticleA new task force will examine trading custody for care
Parents of children with complex brain disorders routinely labor for special education services and insurance benefit coverage, but too often they’re directed to DCF’s Voluntary Services program to...
View ArticleRepublicans, please speak up against this immoral separation policy
To all Republican elected officials: As members of the party whose leader occupies the White House, you have influence that members of the opposition party do not. I am urging you to speak out against...
View ArticleBreaking up families? America looks like a Dickens novel
The news has been full these past few weeks of disturbing stories from the nation’s borders. The Trump administration has separated immigrant children from their parents precisely to discourage others...
View ArticleNot America’s first act of cruelty toward children
So many in the U.S. are decrying the Trump administration’s separation of immigrants from their children along our southern border, claiming, “This is not who we are.” It certainly isn’t all of who we...
View Article“Greatness all around us, and that greatness will change our world’
Graduation season is always special. Seeing the culmination and celebration of a year of student progress, learning, and teaching brings with it pride and a sense of hope for all our graduates’...
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