AwardAward Volume XVII, No. 4 • New York City • MARCH/APRIL 2012 www.EducationUpdate.com Winner CUTTING EDGE NEWS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton

Michelle Obama Champion of Children’s Health

Tisa Joan Dora B. Maria Alice Deborah Carole Shelia Christine Carla Chang Kretschmer Schriro Mitchell Weiss Strobin Berotte Evans- Quinn Markell Joseph Tranumn 2 Education update ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ MAR/APR 2012

GUEST EDITORIALS Education Update

Mailing Address: Teachers College Young Women’s Leadership Network 695 Park Avenue, Ste. E1509, NY, NY 10065 Email: [email protected] www.EducationUpdate.com Tel: 212-650-3552 Fax: 212-410-0591 President Speaks Provides Beacon for Girls’ Education PUBLISHERS: By Ann R. Tisch Pola Rosen, Ed.D., Adam Sugerman, M.A. Out Against & Kathleen Ponze ADVISORY COUNCIL: s an organization that has dedicated Mary Brabeck, Dean, NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Ed., and Human Dev.; Christine Cea, the last 15 years to developing the Release of Ph.D., NYS Board of Regents; Shelia Evans- next generation of women leaders Tranumn, Chair, Board of Trustees, Casey Family from the population of inner city Programs Foundation; Charlotte K. Frank, Teacher Rankings minority girls we serve, we salute Education Ph.D., Sr. VP, McGraw-Hill; Joan Freilich, Update’s special March issue. Ph.D., Trustee, Barnard College & College of New Rochelle; Andrew Gardner, Sr. Manager, We believe that all girls’ education is a rich BrainPOP Educators; Cynthia Greenleaf, Ph.D., soil for training and motivating girls to take Sr. Assoc., Heidrick & Struggles; Augusta S. up the torch of community, government and Kappner, Ph.D., President Emerita, Bank St. world leadership, and we were thrilled by the College; Harold Koplewicz, M.D., Pres., Child response our recent national conference engen- Mind Institute; Ernest Logan, Pres., CSA; Cecilia McCarton, M.D., Dir., The McCarton Center; dered. Michael Mulgrew, Pres., UFT; Eric Nadelstern, Young Women’s Leadership Network co- in the country. Prof. of Educational Leadership, Teachers College; hosted the inaugural National Conference on YWLN and NCGS are doing a thorough Anthony Polemeni, Ph.D., Dean, Touro College; Girls’ Education (NCGE), the first conference analysis to determine the best way to stay con- Alfred S. Posamentier, Ph.D., Dean of Education, of its kind, which brought together public, nected with attendees, further the field of edu- Mercy College; Jerrold Ross, Ph.D., Dean, School of Education, St. John’s University; David Steiner, independent, and religiously affiliated girls’ cating girls, and capitalize on useful feedback Ph.D., Dean of Education, Hunter College; Adam schools along with several girl-focused non- to deliver a future encore. Sugerman, Publisher, Palmiche Press profits to Washington, D.C. With so many concerns across the landscape ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Over 400 educators representing over 25 of public education, we are heartened to sup- By Susan H. Fuhrman, Ph.D. Heather Rosen, Rob Wertheimer states and six countries including the United port a model of whole-child education that ASSISTANT EDITOR: here is no evidence that evaluating States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, works and to support the inspired and dedicated Jennifer MacGregor teachers solely on the basis of their South Africa, and India came together to teachers who go above and beyond daily for GUEST COLUMNISTS: students’ performance on standard- advance the field of educating girls globally. their students. Dean Mary Brabeck; Dr. Carole Hankin; Arthur ized tests improves schools, and The conference themes of competence, confi- If you are interested in this work or want more Katz, JD; Dean Alfred Posamentier; Ann Tisch; releasing the yearly “rankings” of individual dence, courage and community attracted top- information about how to support the initiatives Kathleen Ponze; President Susan Fuhrman; Josh teachers is demeaning and demoralizing. notch leaders in the girl-serving sector. Keynote of Young Women’s Leadership Network, please Golin;Devin Callahan Yes, teachers should be judged on their stu- speakers included Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, contact us at www.ywln.org. SENIOR REPORTERS: dents’ progress and achievement. However, as U.S. Department of Education Deputy Chief Ann R. Tisch is the founder and president Jacob Appel, M.D., J.D.; Joan Baum, Ph.D.; a 2010 compilation of research by the National of Staff Tyra Mariani, author Rachel Simmons, of The Young Women’s Leadership Network Vicki Cobb; Sybil Maimin; Lisa Winkler Research Council and the National Academy scholar Joshua Aronson, psychologist and and Kathleen Ponze is the director of New STAFF WRITERS: of Education demonstrated, “value-added” author JoAnn Deak, author Sally Helgesen, Initiatives, Young Women’s Leadership Network Jan Aaron, Gillian Granoff, Richard Kagan, Giovanny Pinto, Yurida Peña, Nick Stone methodologies can’t control for many factors author Irshad Manji, Dove Global Self- that affect students’ performance on standard- Esteem Ambassador Jess Weiner, President BOOK REVIEWS: ized tests. of the National Council on Women’s Health In This Issue Merri Rosenberg For example, if administrators routinely Dr. Gayatri Devi, Senior Research Scientist MEDICAL EDITOR: Editorial ...... 2 Herman Rosen, M.D. assign struggling students either to the “best” Dr. Cornelia Brunner, national expert on sin- COVER STORY...... 4 teachers (as one might hope) or to inexperi- gle gender schools Dr. Rosemary Salomone, Camps...... 4 MODERN LANGUAGE EDITOR: enced teachers (as too often is the case), those and prominent UCLA professor Linda Sax. Law and Education...... 9 Adam Sugerman, M.A. teachers’ measured gains in student achieve- Keynote speakers referred to this event as the Spotlight on Schools . . . . 7-9, 27, 29 MOVIE & THEATER REVIEWS: ment typically suffer in comparison to those of “Who’s Who” in educating girls. Letters to the Editor...... 10 Jan Aaron their colleagues. Conference attendees called this “the single, Col. & Grad Schools. . .11, 19, 21, 23-24 MUSIC EDITOR: Value-added measures also fail to capture or most effective conference ever attended on Special Education...... 12-14 Irving M. Spitz Books ...... 15 to take into account a multitude of other fac- girls’ education” while others suggested that it SPORTS EDITORS: Ethics...... 15 Richard Kagan, MC Cohen tors that drive student performance, such as the offered “utilizable practices grounded in solid Women Shaping History . . .16-18, 30 effect of prior-year teachers on students’ test research.” The conference aimed to connect Sports...... 20 ART DIRECTOR: scores, or the different content of many tests and bridge both in- and out-of-schooltime orga- International Education...... 22 Neil Schuldiner from one grade to the next. Nor do these mea- nizations, public and private, so that all could Music, Art & Dance ...... 26 INTERNS: sures account either for classrooms with high maximize the impact of our work toward the Medical Update...... 26 Leah Metcalf, Barnard College; Dominique Carson, turnover, which frequently have an adverse healthy development of girls. The conference Parades...... 28 Brooklyn College; Mohammad Ibrar, CCNY; Lydia impact on students’ test scores, or for small achieved this goal, connecting professionals Liebman, Emerson College; Ethan Arberman, Johnson and Wales University; Scout MacEachron, Landmark classes in which a few students’ scores can with other girls’ educators in thoughtful and College distort the size of overall gains. meaningful ways. NCGS Board President Ann Education Update E ducation Update is an independent newspaper, Until we can evaluate teachers with better Pollina closed the conference by emphasizing which is published bimonthly by Education Update, measures of their actual classroom work, it to attendees that, “Our network is our strength. is an independent newspaper. Inc. All material is copyrighted and may not be simply is bad policy to rely too heavily on the Your work is vital,” and in the words of Irshad printed without express consent of the publisher. www.EducationUpdate.com blunt instrument of standardized test results to Manji, “You will never be a footnote in the life POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: assess a teacher’s effectiveness, particularly of a girl you have transformed.” Education Update; 695 Park Avenue, Ste. E1509; when individual reputations and livelihoods are Ann Tisch used her closing remarks to rally New York, NY 10065-5024. so clearly at stake. # public practitioners to greater and greater Subscription: Annual $30. Susan H. Fuhrman is the president of heights in the quest to rival the best practices of Scan QR Code with your Smartphone Copyright © 2012 Education Update Teachers College, Columbia University the finest private and independent girls’ schools MAR/APR 2012 ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ Education update 3

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Michelle Obama’s Legacy: President Obama Recognizes A Healthier Generation Hunter Grad Mildred Dresselhaus With Award for Scientific Achievement

by Devin Callahan highly original research.” President Obama has named Born and raised in New Dr. Mildred S. Dresselhaus York City, Dresselhaus was as one of two recipients of inspired at Hunter College by the Enrico Fermi Award, a future Nobel Laureate Rosalyn prestigious award for scien- Yalow, who recognized her tific achievement. The award, talent and encouraged her to honoring the memory of pursue science. Dresselhaus Nobel Laureate Enrico Fermi, graduated summa cum laude is administered on behalf from Hunter College in 1951 of the White House by the and received a Ph.D. from U.S. Department of Energy. the University of Chicago in Dresselhaus shares the honor 1958. Her extensive portfolio with Dr. Burton Richter of Stanford University. of research accomplishments includes many U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu con- discoveries leading to fundamental understand- gratulated Dresselhaus and Richter, noting ing in various condensed matter systems. “their achievements as pioneers in innovative A professor of physics and electrical engi- research.” Dresselhaus was selected for her neering at the Massachusetts Institute of “scientific leadership, her major contributions Technology, Dresselhaus has served in many to science and energy policy, her selfless work scientific roles, including President of the in science education and the advancement of American Physical Society and the American diversity in the scientific workplace, and her Association for the Advancement of Science. #

CAMPS 1,600 students, ages 8 - 18, join us each summer on Usdan’s idyllic Long Island THiS Summer By Adam Sugerman campus. Usdan offers programs in Music, Art, a generation. Theater, Dance, Writing, Nature & Ecology, Diet and exercise. To lose weight, we need The mission of improving the nation’s health to burn more calories than we consume. If we isn’t an abstract idea for Obama. For example, Organic Gardening, Chess, Swimming, eat 2,500 calories, but only burn 2,400, we’re she incorporates exercise into her morning rou- UsdanUsdan Center for the Creative & Performing Arts and Tennis. going to get heavier. Simple math, right? tine before she embarks on her hectic schedule. The people of our nation, and of the Western Brawn and brains. As a graduate of the world for that matter, are increasingly becom- Chicago public school system and with an ing heavier. undergraduate degree from Princeton and a Empowering people to get healthier is the law degree from Harvard in 1988, she became premise behind the Let’s Move campaign, an an attorney in Chicago. She never abandoned initiative first lady Michelle Obama helped to her desire to work in the community. She launch two years ago. While President Barack served as assistant commissioner of planning Obama has led the way in health-care reform and development in City Hall, and became the to provide insurance for most residents of founding executive director of the Chicago the U.S. by 2014, the health of the American chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps pro- people is in their own hands regardless of uni- gram that prepares youth for public service. versal access to health care. In 1996 she conceptualized and launched the As part of the campaign, Michelle Obama University of Chicago Community Service has visited schools, partnered with profes- Center to assist UC students to serve the com- sional athletes and worked with community munity. This service center today has over and business leaders to help children and 2,000 students serving annually at over 150 their families develop lifelong habits of eating Chicago area nonprofit organizations. In 2002, healthy foods and incorporating exercise into She joined the UC Medical Center as executive their daily routines. From planting gardens to director of community affairs, and then was participating in sports events, the first lady is promoted to assume the position of vice presi- leading the way toward people eating healthier dent for community and external relations. foods and getting children to exercise at least Today she considers her career as a mother 60 minutes per day to help people avoid the to her two children to be her most important Air-conditioned buses from all NY-area neighborhoods. Week- future consequences of obesity, including heart obligation. But perhaps, we should consider days: 4 or 7 weeks. Tuition: $2,925 - $3,825 plus transportation disease and diabetes. Obama has helped mobi- her our nation’s mother as she reminds us to and fees. Visit us at: www.usdan.com lize teachers, doctors, nurses and parents to eat healthy foods and to exercise regularly. 212-772-6060 | 631-643-7900 attempt to eradicate childhood obesity within And to exercise the mind, of course. # MAR/APR 2012 ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ Education update 5 Women ads_EdUpdate 3/6/12 1:18 PM Page 1 Pride of New York Shirley Chisholm Brooklyn College Former Congresswoman and Candidate for Democratic Presidential nomination In Memoriam ‰ ‰ ‰ Martina Arroyo Barbara Boxer Hunter College Brooklyn College International Opera Star United States Senator

Ruby Dee Rita DiMartino Hunter College College of Staten Island Award-winning star of stage, CUNY Trustee; Chair, Bronx Lebanon Hospital Board; screenwriter Former AT&T VP of Congressional Relations ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ Gertrude Elion Augusta Kappner Hunter College Hunter College Nobel Laureate in Medicine NYU Steinhardt Institute for Higher Ed. Policy, In Memoriam Former President, Bank Street College; Rosalyn Yalow Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education Hunter College Nobel Laureate in Medicine In Memoriam ‰ ‰ ‰ Helen Marshall Iyanla Vanzant Queens College Medgar Evers College, CUNY Law School Queens Borough President; Former New York City Council Member Best-selling author, Inspirational Speaker and New York State Assembly Member The City University of New York celebrates Women’s History Month VISIT WWW.CUNY.EDU 1-800-CUNY -YES CUNY-TV CHANNEL 75 6 Education update ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ MAR/APR 2012

AnAn Open Open Letter Letter to to New New York York City ParentsParents NewNew York York City City is losingis losing its its teachers. teachers. MoreMore than than 66,000 66,000 have have either either resigned resigned or or retired retired sincesince Mayor Bloomberg Bloomberg took took control control of of the schools.the schools. TeachersTeachers leave leave one one of theof the toughest toughest jobs jobs in in New New YorkYork City forfor a a variety variety of of personal personal and and professionalprofessional reasons, reasons, but but the the most most common common single single reasonreason isis aa lack lack of of support support from from supervisorssupervisors and and the theDepartment Department of of Education. Education. TeachingTeaching is a iscraft a craft that that is acquiredis acquired over over time, time, and and teachersteachers desperatelydesperately want want to toimprove improve their their skills.skills. That That is whyis whythe the United United Federation Federation ofof TeachersTeachers led thethe campaigncampaign to to create create a bettera better teacher evaluation system, one that put a priority on helping all teachers do their job better. teacher evaluation system, one that put a priority on helping all teachers do their job better. The UFT’s role was critical in creating the new system, and in going to Washington, D.C. to The helpUFT’s get rolefederal was funds critical for itin through creating the the Race new to system,the Top andprogram. in going Starting to lastWashington, spring, many D.C. to help ofget our federal members funds with for expertise it through in evaluation the Race worked to the Topfor months program. on theStarting state subcommittees last spring, many of ourdesigning members the with new expertisesystem. in evaluation worked for months on the state subcommittees designing the new system. We have been trying to work with the Bloomberg administration to iron out the final details of We havethe new been system, trying but to thework administration with the Bloomberg has refused administration to engage in meaningful to iron out talks the about final teacher details of the newand system,principal but improvement. the administration Instead it has focusedrefused onto ensuringengage in that meaningful administrators talks have about unlim teacher- and principalited power improvement. over their employees. Instead If itwe has agree, focused it will on mean ensuring that supervisors’ that administrators decisions can have never unlim - ited powerbe properly over reviewed,their employees. much less If overturned. we agree, itThis will wouldmean bethat true supervisors’ even if their decisions negative ratingcan never of be properlya teacher reviewed, or a principal much can less be overturned.proven to be Thisthe result would of theirbe true refusal even to if inappropriately their negative change rating of a student’s grade or to give students credit for courses they have not properly completed. a teacher or a principal can be proven to be the result of their refusal to inappropriately change a student’sMake nograde mistake or to about give studentsit. The administration credit for courses has put they tremendous have not properlypressure on completed. principals to make their schools appear to be successful. But any claims of success ring hollow in the light Makeof no national mistake tests about that showit. The very administration limited student hasprogress put tremendous for the system pressure as a whole, on principalsand state to makemeasures their schools that show appear that to while be successful. the high school But anygraduation claims rateof success is increasing, ring hollow the number in the of light of nationalgraduates tests ready that for show college very is onlylimited about student one in progressfive. for the system as a whole, and state measures that show that while the high school graduation rate is increasing, the number of The sad graduatestruth is that ready Mayorfor college Bloomberg’s is only about “reform” one in agenda five. — raising class size across the system; closing schools and “warehousing” the neediest students; pushing art and The musicsad truth out ofis thethat schools Mayor to Bloomberg’smake room for “reform” more test agenda prep; turning— raising a deaf class ear sizeto parents’ across the system;concerns; closing and appointing schools and a completely “warehousing” unqualified the neediest publishing students; executive pushing to be Chancellorart and music— out hasn’t of themade schools our schools to make better. room for more test prep; turning a deaf ear to parents’ concerns; and appointing a completely unqualified publishing executive to be Chancellor A real teacher evaluation system that helps all teachers improve while providing checks — hasn’t made ourand schools balances isbetter. a critical step toward stopping the hemorrhaging of our teaching force and making our schools more effective. At the same time it would help ensure that teachers who A realcannot teacher succeed evaluation in the classroomsystem that leave helps the profession.all teachers improve while providing checks and balances is a critical step toward stopping the hemorrhaging of our teaching force and We have an open offer to the administration to continue our negotiations on this issue, or makingeven our to takeschools it to morebinding effective. arbitration. At It’sthe timesame the time administration it would help sat downensure with that teachers teachers who cannotand succeed principals in tothe come classroom up with leave an agenda the profession. that will actually help our children learn. We haveSincerely, an open offer to the administration to continue our negotiations on this issue, or even to take it to binding arbitration. It’s time the administration sat down with teachers and principals to come up with an agenda that will actually help our children learn. Michael Mulgrew Sincerely,President United Federation of Teachers

Michael Mulgrew President United Federation of Teachers MAR/APR 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ spotlight on schools 7

Hunter College Audience Enthralled ‘The Intuitive Teacher’: By Dr. Pola Rosen Before a large and enthusiastic audience A Series Based on the Works recently, cultural icons Steven Pinker and Rebecca Goldstein appeared as the first speak- of r aleb attegno ers in the Hunter College Writing Center’s 2012 D . C G “Great Thinkers Of Our Time” series. What Students Need Are More Questions the moon and then at an apple, and wondered: This is opposed to questions that “cancel Pinker, who is married to Goldstein, led off Than Answers. “Why doesn’t the moon fall from the sky the themselves out” upon getting an initial answer. by speaking about the evolution of his career We’ve often heard the expression: “There are way an apple falls from a tree?” “What is your name?,” “What time is it?” or and his latest work, in which he suggests that no bad questions.” But could this be true? It was a “why question” that contributed “Is it raining?” are obviously legitimate ques- there is less violence in the world today than World-leading educator Dr. Caleb Gattegno to Gattegno’s own understanding of how we tions but ones that really don’t go behind any in the past 2,000 years. Goldstein then briefly spent a great deal of time pondering just this learn, when he asked: “Why is it that the young awareness of the immediate needs that gener- talked about how the two had met and about her question, and he saw within the answer the key can learn so much, such as a whole language, ate them. own evolution as a writer from mathematician, to obtaining new and higher levels of knowl- yet the general belief remains that babies have Therefore, while there may not be any “bad” to philosopher, to novelist. Goldstein is the edge in easier and more efficient ways. no intellectual powers at their disposal? questions per se, there is a hierarchy of ques- author of many books, the most recent of which Questions mobilize learning: “Good ques- The “why” question is truly a probing one. tions; and, as a rule of thumb for educators, “a is “36 Arguments for the Existence of God … A tions should loosen and remove the grip of It’s the one as children that we asked the most good question is one that generates fifty new Work of Fiction.” familiarity on our perception of the realities we as we explored how the world works and our ones,” according to Gattegno. Last year in the series’ debut at Hunter, the are involved with, and it put us in an attentive place in it. According to Gattegno, a “why” In the classroom, generating 50 new ques- Writing Center and its director, Lewis Burke and alert state.” question leads to “self-examination, which in tions without providing the answers requires Frumkes, had showcased the likes of physicist/ In other words, the key to accessing new and turn, generates further questions, all of which some practice and understanding of how to futurist Freeman Dyson, Harvard’s renowned worthwhile knowledge lies in being able to have the potential to help us overcome our create challenges that deeply engage students. Howard Gardner, feminist pioneer Carol question what may seem obvious and familiar insensitivity to the reality around us, as well as However, it begins with a teacher’s own aware- Gilligan, and Nobel Prize in physics winner to us. That is how we gain access to our own our inner capacity to notice much more of it.” ness of how questioning the obvious and famil- Frank Wilczeck, establishing the series as one intuitive thinking processes where the most However, the best questions are not necessar- iar can soon led to understanding complex of the premiere intellectual venues anywhere. complex of problems are solved. ily “why” questions but could be any question topics and even the creation of new knowledge, Pinker and Goldstein will be followed by History is littered with great thinkers and that generates further questions and frees us up if “good” questions are asked. # John Donoghue, the head of Brown University’s inventors who began their knowledge quest to think intuitively, which is at one with our You can learn more about this topic and Institute for Brain Research, Seth Lloyd the with what seemed liked an obvious question sense of what we know internally to be true how it relates to crafting challenges and other Quantum Computer Engineer and author of that led to creating a unique piece of knowl- or right. Hence, good questions are what drive Intuitive Teacher approaches and topics by “Programming the Universe” from MIT, and edge or truth, such as Archimedes who one day our personal evolution and, in some cases, the going to www.calebgattegno.com. This series Harvard physicist and theorist Lisa Randall who is said to have asked: “Why is it that we can world’s as well, when they lead to new knowl- provided by Educational Solutions Worldwide is also an expert on the Great Hadron Collider. # float in the tub?” Or Newton who looked at edge and ideas. Inc., www.educationalsolutions.com. 8 spotlight on schools ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ MAR/APR 2012

THe MET project: MEASURes of effective teaching Teacher Evaluation Systems New Study Evaluated Under Scrutiny by NYU Dean

By Mohammad ibrar By Dean Mary Brabeck Feedback for Teaching: In the fall of 2009, the Bill & Combining High- Teaching is a complex and challenging task, Melinda Gates Foundation initi- Quality Observations so it is not surprising that finding good measures ated the two-year long Measures of with Student Survey and of teaching is just as complicated. Consider an Effective Teaching (MET) project, Achievement Gains.” observation tool to measure the effectiveness which is a research project designed The report outlined of doctors, dentists, or lawyers, and you can to help determine what teaching guidelines for research- begin to see the complexities. The authors of and classroom management meth- ers to conduct a com- Measures of Effective Teaching (http://www. ods, skills, and techniques can be prehensive and accurate metproject.org/) have done an enormous ser- measured and how they affect a analysis of effective vice by critically examining the five current teacher’s effectiveness. The proj- teaching measures. The observational tools that are most used to assess ect was launched in Charlotte, report indexed data what effective teachers do. The MET study is Dallas, Denver, Memphis, Tampa, found in initial assess- the first of its kind: researchers used 7,491 vid- Pittsburgh, and New York City. The ments. A value-added eos of 1,332 teachers who each taught between long range goal of the MET project system was used to four and eight lessons, and those videos were is to support teachers and provide them with assess the impact of teacher competencies in rated by 900 trained raters using the five teach- information to do their jobs more efficiently. targeted fields such as, intellectual engagement, er observation measures. The 2012 MET study employed 5 different teacher-student interactions, usage of teaching Using a value-added model of standardized measurement systems that observed and rated strategies on achievement in different subjects. test scores in mathematics and literacy, all five Dean Mary Brabeck teachers and also assessed student progress, The report detailed challenges, questions, and measures were associated with student achieve- student classroom feedback, classroom record- possible solutions that emerged as the research ment gains. Teachers performed better on tasks of teachers with student achievement data and ings, evaluations of teachers’ pedagogical progressed. like classroom and time management than on student feedback. They emphasize training in knowledge, and teachers’ feedback on support Current teacher evaluation systems fail to higher-order skills like questioning, analysis, the proper use of the observation tool, including services provided at their schools. It involved provide educational institutes and profession- and problem solving. This information is use- impartial second raters for at least some data, 7,491 videos of 1,332 teachers who each taught als with accurate information on educators’ ful for those who prepare teachers, and suggest and ensuring checks on the accuracy of those between four and eight lessons. The videos instructional performance. Additionally, the where we should put our efforts. However, sub- who are using the measure. were rated by 900 trained volunteers using systems do not provide insight into what needs jects like science, history and the arts were not Perhaps if New York City had followed this five teacher observation measures. After the to be done to close the achievement gap, which studied, and only teachers in grades 4 through advice before releasing data based on value- research is concluded, MET Project and its differs among school districts. Nor can the 8 were included. added modeling of student standardized tests, affiliates will have “pinpointed” what effective current systems conclude why student achieve- Researchers reported that a combination the public would have more trust in the results, teaching “looks like in practice” and share their ment differs from teacher to teacher. of scores on the observation measures, stu- and many teachers would not have been unde- conclusive findings with policy makers and The MET project is a study of the observa- dent feedback, and student achievement gains servedly shamed. practitioners in the summer or fall of 2012. tion tools available (reliability and validity) and (value-added) are better in predicting student There is agreement that “teachers matter,” as In January of 2012, the foundation released uses them to study factors that predict effective performance than graduate degrees or years President Obama proclaimed during his 2012 its recent findings in a report, “Gathering teaching. # of teaching experience. These findings contra- State of the Union. In the same speech, the dict other research and beg for programmatic president noted that we still lack data on what it study of the kinds of graduate experience that is that effective teachers do that matters. We are GUEST EDITORIAL promote student achievement and schools that closer to answering that question because of the promote ongoing teacher development. MET study on the reliability and validity of the While no one was looking, The authors do caution, however, that reli- five teacher observation measures. # able ratings of teacher practices require mul- Dr. Mary Brabeck is the dean of the Steinhardt tiple observations and suggest that any high- School of Culture, Education, and Human Congress eliminated an stakes decisions should combine observations Development at NYU. alternative route to college federal grants and loans. Superficially, it appears Metropolitan College of New York has not to call into question our societal commitment to actively recruited ATB students, but we accept By Dr. Vinton Thompson promoting high school completion. But, under- older students who successfully complete the In a December action that has gone largely stood in a larger context, this alternative route test and meet our other entrance requirements. unnoticed in the education community, Congress to college for older students is a manifestation In 2011 almost half of our freshmen entered with eliminated an important route to higher education of America’s unique commitment to educational non-conventional high school credentials. Most for non-traditional students. Presently, students second chances. of these students earned GEDs, but 12 percent without a high school diploma or GED can dem- Students who don’t go the conventional route entered through the ATB route. Even then, less onstrate college-ready proficiency by passing a — out of high school and into college at age 18 — than one third of our ATB applicants pass the test. federally designated test and win eligibility for have multiple re-entry points to education. In con- It is a screen for the able — not a backdoor to Title IV federal aid programs like Pell Grants and sequence, even though we have lost a little ground college for the unskilled. student loans. This route to college is designated to other advanced post-industrial countries in rate There is still a window of opportunity for stu- “Ability to Benefit” or ATB. As of July 1, 2012, of college completion by traditional-age students, dents to take advantage of ATB. To do so they students without high school credentials will no we still surpass all other countries in bachelor’s must pass an ATB test and enroll in college before longer qualify for Title IV federal aid, effectively degree completion among adults over 35 years July 1. If they don’t, they will have to earn a high closing this alternative route to college. of age. This flexibility of educational opportu- school diploma or a GED to qualify for federal It may surprise some in the educational com- nity has served us particularly well in light of our student aid. Time is short. # munity that we have admitted uncredentialed pronounced and well-documented disparities in Dr. Vinton Thompson is the president of students to college and supported them with family wealth and K-12 educational outcomes. Metropolitan College of New York MAR/APR 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ spotlight on schools 9

THE LAW & EDUCATION Who is Your Lawyer? by Arthur Katz, J.D. the educator that represent the university. You can get your own of the educator. # (A lesson for Educators arising he or she repre- lawyer.” A mistake like this is easy to under- Arthur Katz is a member of the law firm of out of the recent Penn State trag- sents the school, stand, since Penn State’s lawyer actually took Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen, P.C. edy) not the educator, Messrs. Curry A parent, a student or your that anything the and Schultz school lodges a complaint against educator reveals to the hearing, you, and you are asked to attend to the lawyer and sat at the a hearing or meeting in connec- may be used table with them tion with the complaint. Since the to support the when they were complaint relates to your duties school’s posi- being ques- in a school-related activity, you tion, and in the tioned. report the request to the school and event of a con- As a result of ask for assistance at the hearing. flict which may an educational

Subsequently, the school’s lawyer develop the edu- institutions’ meets with you and during your cator will not understandable hearing sits at the table with you. be receiving the zero tolerance“An Intimate “An Intimate Place Place to Learn to Learn in in thethe Heart Heart of a Greatof a GreatCity” City” Is the lawyer really representing you? The full (if any) benefit of counsel. Moreover, the policies towards simple answer, surprisingly, is probably not. A lawyer should advise the educator that there is sexual harass- good rule of thumb is that a lawyer normally no duty of confidentiality between the educator ment, physical represents the entity or person who pays for the and the lawyer, since the lawyer’s primary duty abuse and bul- lawyer. There are, of course, exceptions such as is to the school, and it is the school (and not the lying, etc., an “An Intimate Place to Learn in the Heart of a Great City” when the lawyer is furnished by an educator’s educator) who has the right to waive the privi- educator who is “An Intimate Place to Learn in the Heart of a Great City union (if this is a service the union supplies), lege, if any, with respect to statements made by caught up in an ” but if you think about it, a union is financed the educator to the lawyer if the school believes alleged incident by union dues and union dues are paid by the that doing so is in the school’s best interests. should immedi- union’s members. If the lawyer is an “in-house lawyer” for an ately understand It is common for an educator who needs educational institution, the lawyer always will that the institu- to consult with a lawyer concerning a school be representing the interests of the institution, tion’s interests related incident to ask the school for represen- if there is a conflict between the institution’s may divulge tation and, if a lawyer is furnished, the lawyer interests and the educator’s. When outside or from the educa- may not always clearly explain who is being special counsel is retained by the institution, tor’s, and that, represented. And, even when explained, and the lawyer’s primary duty will be to the institu- at a minimum, under the pressures of the moment, it is not tion, unless the institution specifically hires the anything said to unusual for the educator to not fully understand lawyer to represent the educator, in which case, the lawyer fur- distinctions that the lawyer may draw. And, the educator should request that the lawyer nished by the even when the educator believes that he or she enter into a retention agreement directly with institution will fully understands all of the implications of the the educator so that there will not be any con- not be withheld York Preparatory School lawyer’s explanation, the educator may believe fusion when the institution’s and the educator’s from repetition YorkYo Prkr Perpepaarraattooryr yS cShocohl ool that the limited representation being provided interests diverge. to the institu- 40 West 68th Street – New York, NY 10023 40 Westth 68th Street – New York, NY 10023 (at the school’s expense) will be adequate An issue was recently reported in the Penn tion, itself, and 4coeducational0 West 68 college Street prepara – tNeory wschool Yo servrk,i nNg Ystud 10023ents from coeducational college preparatory school serving students from since the educator may believe that he or she is State / Jerry Sandusky investigation, when that the institu- grades 6-12. innocent of any wrongdoing or that the matter Penn State’s athletic director, Tim Curry, and tion may, incoeducational its college preparagradtoryes 6- 1school2. serving students from is not serious. Penn State’s interim senior vice president for best self-interest grades 6-12. If the interests of the educator and the school finance and business, Gary Schultz, testified (and, depending Outstanding Academics do not diverge, it may not make a practical before a Grand Jury last year and said that they on the circum- Outstanding Academics difference. However, it is not unusual in a were being represented by Penn State’s then stances, may problematic setting for interests to diverge at general counsel, who sat at the table with them. be required to), Superb College Guidance OuStusptearnb dCionllgeg eA Gcuaiddaenmcei cs some point, in which case (and assuming that And, according to the Patriot-News reporter reveal some the different potential interests are recognized who wrote the story, such statement was not or all of such early enough) separate counsel should be used. corrected by counsel at the time although information Championship Sports Teams Championship Sports Teams A lawyer made available by the school has counsel is reported to have earlier told Messrs. to appropriate Superb Colle ge Guidance an ethical duty under his or her respective Curry and Schultz (both of whom were subse- authorities, all Endless Extracurricular Activities state’s rules of professional conduct to advise quently charged criminally) that “You know, I to the detriment Endless Extracur ricular Activities CAhna Omapsisi oonf Lsehairnpi nSgp anodr tCso Tmpeaasmsiosn An Oasis of Learning and Compassion Education Update Intern

There IS something for everyone at York Prep! There IS something for everyone at York Prep! Wins Prestigious Award Endless Extracurr icular Activities

For more information, contact our Admissions O ce at Dominique Carson, a journal- the prestigious honor this semester. For more information, contact our Admissions O ce at ism and Italian major at Brooklyn Students selected for the Wall of [email protected] or 212-362-0400.www.yorkprep.org [email protected] or 212-362-0400.www.yorkprep.org College and intern at Education Fame have shown leadership, sig- An Oasis of Learning and Compassion Update, was recently inducted into nificant academic progress, or have the Brooklyn College Wall of Fame. overcome adversity of one kind She was the only student selected for or another. # There IS something for everyone at York Prep!

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

New YOrk on applications to get in should be of impor- The Road to Schools Renaissance tance to everyone, and they should have to To the Editor: repay any grant money they received. This Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story. would also go a long way to deterring future Eager children are a joy to teach, especially for cheating. Shame on ETS and any school that volunteer teachers. It was encouraging to hear turns a blind eye to this misrepresentation. We that the government is putting such effort into owe it to the honest majority of students. education. Kelly Mohn Jessy Brooklyn, New York New York City, New York Learning Through the Creation of Games Closing the Achievement Gap by To the Editor: Empowering Black and Latino Boys Wow, so inspired to read this, Adam. Thank To the Editor: you so much for sharing your experiences! I love your story on calling for smart phones Allysin to be used for learning. I too teach in low SES and Latino majority school and we only have Mount Vernon, New York one computer lab (40 computers) for the entire The Bard College Prison Initiative 1,200 plus students to share. I would love to To the Editor: introduce more mobile or smart phone lessons Dear Mr. Kenner: I’m a corrections officer with my class. The challenge is only half of my in Westchester County, and I’m very interested students own a smart phone. Perhaps, someone in starting a college program at our facility. It knows of applications or exercises in which is my passion to see inmates given a chance to pairs of students share a phone. re-enter the community as positive and success- Joe Tedesco ful individuals. Please help me get started down the right roads to start this program. Aventura, Florida S. Moore Why Don’t Schools Improve? To the Editor: Walnut Creek, California Prof. S. Grant: Your note is useful. I decided Mary Lu Christie: Journey to Afghanistan to do my share in education and help implement To the Editor: the few changes needed, while monitoring the I worked with Mary Lu at a small labor law whole system. I am finishing the integrated firm in California. She’s dynamite! So happy to platform for education/research/development/ read she is turning her considerable talents to service that could be a basis. I can’t endure to help educate girls and women in Afghanistan. see that 636 classrooms full of students drop Melanie Hopkins out of high school every week! And do nothing. Adolfo T. Jurado, Ph.D. Granville, New York A Glimpse into the Imprisonment of Jean Put-in-Bay, Ohio Harris Kurt Landgraf, ETS Pres. & CEO Refocuses To the Editor: Premier Testing Organization This woman is a positive influence in our To the Editor: lives. I was shocked when watch- Lois Anne Jasek ing Sixty Minutes New Year’s Day concerning SAT cheating. I can’t believe that EMAIL YOUR Discover Marymount the other parties, the stu- dents who benefited were LETTERS TO not affected. Informing the schools that students cheated [email protected]

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At a recent Writing Center event hosted by director Lewis Frumkes under the aegis of Hunter College. President Jennifer Raab of Hunter College and author Tina Santi Flaherty discussed literature, writers and the world of books at Doubles, in the Sherry Netherland Hotel. Among those present were Christopher Lehman-Haupt, Malachy McCourt, Bel Kaufman, Erica Jong, Charlynne Goins, Edith Everett, Joannie and Nick Danielides and a host of literati. Flaherty has supported the Irish Writers series and will now be supporting the Churchill Lectures. #

Transcribed by Mohammad ibrar hood, we will be doing the neighborhood a Part one of a two part series public service. There are certain times when we reserve the theater for student use, film department, animation, MFA thesis defenses, design or Being good neighbors ... interaction design are all held there. We expect in the fall to be hosting the Documentary Film Representing their professions ... Festival. And we’re looking into doing the only professional animation festival, in the world. Changing lives .... David Rhodes, President of the School of PR: Do you have a major in profession- Visual Arts since 1978, has increased the stu- al animation? dent enrollment, course offerings, faculty and DR: There are three different programs. One campus to an amazing 18 buildings! The cur- is an undergraduate program in animation. riculum has changed with the innovative tech- Another is part of the computer art/computer IT’S WHAT nological advancements occurring in the fields animation and special effects program. And of photography, film, art, and design. third, is the graduate level in the computer art Dr. Pola Rosen (PR): We last visited you in program, which is very successful in garnering WE DO. 2007. What’s new since then? student academy awards. The program seems President David Rhodes (DR): We now to win about one a year. The undergraduate and New York State United Teachers have 18 buildings including a dormitory on graduate programs dominate a festival called celebrates the work and commitment Ludlow Street, academic space at West 21st Metrocafe, which is a festival for animation street and West 16th street, and a theatre at programs for the Northeast area, and at the last of its members, professionals in West 23rd street. It seats 750 and we host, in one, 14 of the 25 films chosen were from SVA. education and health care who make part, the Tribeca Film Festival in addition to PR: One of our team members, Mohammad a difference on the job and in their our own film festivals. This March we’ll be Ibrar, posed the following question: Your grad- community every day. hosting a BBC film festival on films on design. uate programs are expanding in all fields of One of the things we hope to accomplish is to visual art and design; what about your under- have a real world-class theater with world-class graduate programs? Bronx music teacher Caroline Duggan introduces an projection and sound. There’s actually a studio DR: The latest undergraduate program cre- afterschool Irish dance program that has performed that wants to use one of the theaters to help ated is visual and critical studies. They are at the White House. Read more about her story. mix sound on actual feature length films. They expanding slowly and in a controlled manner; come in, bring in their sound editing equip- growing at a rate of 1 or 2 percent a year. It’s Visit ment, project the film on the screen and make not clear that we will be adding any additional http://itswhatwedo.nysut.org sure it sounds right. So, we’ll be doing that programs at the undergraduate level in the which will open up internships and opportuni- immediate future. ties for students. Program expansion is more likely to occur at PR: Is the theater primarily designed for the graduate level. There are things we’d like “ I want my students to know they students to showcase their work or is it to col- to do in design management or an interesting have the ability to do anything laborate with outside organizations? architecture program but at the moment after DR: It’s supposed to be a cultural destination having grown so quickly at the graduate level they put their minds to. for Chelsea, so it’s primarily for collaboration. we think for the next five years our empha- ” Currently, there is no central focus in Chelsea; sis will be to consolidate and ensure that all — Caroline Duggan we would like it to become that over time. In programs are functioning in the way we want becoming a growing attraction to the neighbor- continued on page 21 12 Special Education ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ MAR/APR 2012

Reelabilities Film Festival Education Update Generates ‘Reel’ Awareness is planning its third New York Citywide By Karen Kraskow listens to their sing-song advertisement and is daily lives. Seeing films like these Special Education Conference in The Reelabilities Film Festival features indi- unable to respond. Though he can drive, and his humanizes us — to be more patient May 2012. Some of the great minds viduals who faced enormous hurdles and came cognition is not impaired, he never knows when with ourselves, and understanding from universities in the tri-state area out winning. Those hurdles can be anything from the response he wants to call up will require of others. # learning to speak again (after a stroke), being the a sound (like the “f” as in “Frozee) he cannot Karen Kraskow, M.A., M.S.W., will be presenting the latest research sibling of a person with a disability, facing love articulate yet. As he struggles to make the sound is a learning specialist in private and developments. In addition, there as a blind individual, and the numerous others come out, cars are honking behind him. practice in New York City who has will be a parent panel and a student that life can hand us, either temporarily, in old The film makes clear the situations a person seen the issue of “acceptance” of a age, or during the greater part of our life. with aphasia is likely to encounter during his or learning disability play out in many panel. For further information, e-mail The following films were screened recently her time recovering. Fortunately it provides us ways, with eventual overcoming and [email protected]. Place “Special at the Reelabilities Film Festival at the Jewish with hope as the waitress eventually learns to success in reading and writing by Community Center, one of the Festival’s 23 ask for the patience of the patrons behind him students of all ages. Education” in the subject line. nearby locations. in the drive-in line, as he gets closer and closer Learning StepStones - … for all ages “Mabul” (Israel) depicted the troubled rela- to articulating his choice. Learning StepStones - … for all ages tionship of a young boy to his older autis- There was a standing ovation when McIntyre Learning StepStones Karen Kraskow, - … for M.A.,all ages M.S.W. Karen Kraskow, M.A., M.S.W. tic brother whose behavior — his obsessions himself walked on to the stage after the film with insects — embarrassed and startled him. (as is customary during this festival) and tells Educational Therapist Learning StepStonesKaren - …Kraskow, for all ages M.A.,Educational M.S.W. Therapist Tenderly it shows how he became his warmest us, in not-yet smooth language, that yes, he • Writing Coach: teaching ‘reluctant writers’ (use • Writing Coach: teaching ‘reluctant writers’ (use support. The devotion of his mother, under a is frustrated and angry, but that “every day is LearningKaren StepStones Kraskow, M.A.,- … for M.S.W. ofall Inspiration, ages Co-Writer) of Inspiration, Co-Writer) variety of stressors, is also movingly depicted. good, too” — every day has possibilities. “I need Educational Therapist

KarenEducational Kraskow, TherapistM.A.,• M.S.W.Reading remediation: using Orton-Gillingham “Aphasia” (United States) introduced us to hope every day.” “Hope is everything.” “No • Reading remediation: using Orton-Gillingham approach (games, creative activities support Carl McIntyre, who, after a successful career good insulate yourself,” he said. McIntyre left • Writing Coach: teaching ‘reluctantapproach (games, writers’ creative (use activities support • Writing Coach: teaching ‘reluctant phonics)writers’ (use Educational Therapist phonics) in acting, suffered a massive stroke. The stroke the audience with this message: “Aphasia still of Inspiration,of Co Inspiration,-Writer) Co -Writer) caused aphasia, which required him to re-learn sucks, and I win every day — you can too.” He • Writing Coach: teaching ‘reluctant• Math:writers’ Stern (use Math and other school program • Math: Stern Math and other school program to speak, read and write, and affected his abil- gardens and paints, makes movies, and reminds • ofReading Inspiration, remediation: Co-Writer) using Orton-supportGillingham (K- 10) • Reading remediation: usingsupport Orton (K-10)-Gillingham approach (games, creative activities support ity to understand what others were saying. The us that “what happens to one happens to two,” approach (games, creative212 activities989 -0339 support documentary shows him working with a speech speaking of his devoted wife, and of course his • Readingphonics) remediation: using Orton-Gillingham 212 989 -0339 approach (games,phonics) creative activities support therapist to regain his skills, but more sig- three children. • summer tutoring also available • • phonics)Math: Stern Math and other school program • summer tutoring also available • nificantly the trial of ordering a “Frozee” from The themes of these films can apply to us support (K-10) • Math: Stern Mathhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/karenkraskow and other school program a drive-in concession. Repeatedly he goes back, all in whatever level of struggle we face in our • Math: Stern Math and other school program http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenkraskow 212 989 -0339 support (K-10)support (K-10) • summer tutoring also available • 212 989 -0339 212 989 -0339

• summer tutoring also available • http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenkraskow Is your child Dyslexic • summer tutoring also available •

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Beyond the Classroom: Searching for Success By Dr. James A. McDaniel So, how are we doing with our children dispositions to learning skills, social behaviors, Environmental factors are overlooked in during the almost 142 hours that exist around and general mental and emotional wellness. managing and changing behaviors of children these academic time periods? What kind of However, the power of environment, around with ADHD, LD and NVLD. Class time and consistency exists during the many hours that the clock and over the course of calendar years curricula are getting the focus of the scientists habits are being learned? For that matter, is can truly neutralize just about any flaw that our and those charged with improving our teaching there consistency in the academic model of predisposed genetics suggest. methods for this group that has slipped through our middle and high schools that promote the Keeping children connected with their educa- the cracks of our traditional educational plat- transference of novel learning experiences to tional and after school/weekend environments form for generations. Considering that most long term memory storage by means of repeti- is as impactful as a sharp, responsive, tailor- school days consist of no more than seven peri- tion and positive reinforcement? made educational experience. “Does what I ods of 45 minutes, or 5 hours and 15 minutes of Children need to feel connected. For young think or do matter? Am I valued and needed in direct instruction, or 26 hours and 15 minutes people, who we become as adults is actually a my community? Do adults and peers expect the over the course of a five-day week. There are compilation of the experiences that we encoun- best from me?” 168 hours in a week. ter. Certainly, genes play a major role in pre- Once we understand the deep and powerful impact of a consistent, supportive and thought- ful environment on positive developmental LEARN TO TEACH THE PROVEN WINDWARD WAY. growth of our children, then we will truly have solved the riddle of how to best educate and The Windward Teacher Training Institute provides professional development based on inculcate positive values into our children, scientifically validated research in child development, learning theory and pedagogy. The IMSLEC-accredited training program leads to national certification making them healthy and productive citizens in multisensory structured language education. not only of our country, but of our global community. Twenty-six hours of classes is Dr. James A. McDaniel only 15 percent of the hours that our children live weekly. some of this consistency and control over these Spring and Summer Courses and Workshops It is in this 85 percent of time spent living fragmented, inconsistent, and fast-paced lives • Expository Writing Instruction • Multisensory Reading Instruction • Language, Learning and Literacy and learning where I have experienced that of our children lead is a pressing issue that • Multisensory Instruction in SpecificLindamood-Bell® Content Areas New boardingYork schoolLearning environments Center have a large demands our attention in the discourse of how For Further Information: advantage in restoring positive life habits and we best raise and educate our children to keep • (914) 949-6968, ext. 1270 • [email protected] • www.windwardny.org •NY @WindwardTTI Ed Update self-image- March of our 2012middle school boys who have them, and ultimately our country, competitive Robert J. Schwartz Memorial1/2 Lecture page (Horizontal) - experienced10.0” wide the damaging x 5.15” mismatch deep between and healthy. # Louisa C. Moats, Ed.D. • Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. their learning style and traditional education Dr. James A. McDaniel is the headmaster of The Windward Teacher Training Institute is a division of The Windward School, an independent school for students practices and environments. How to translate the Linden Hill School. with language-based learning disabilities, located in White Plains, NY.

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www.LindamoodBell.com *Minimum sign-up requirement of 80 hours “After just a few weeks my grades went up! Thanks!” ©Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes 14 Special Education ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ MAR/APR 2012 Enabling the Blind to See: Visit to the MoMA By Mohammad Ibrar Imagine walking into an art museum and not having the ability to see the art on display. Because of a program called Art inSight at the Museum of Modern Art, the visually impaired and legally blind do not have to miss out on experiencing the art of the museum. The program was designed for individuals who are blind or partially sighted, and specially trained tour guides provide extensive and detailed visual descriptions of artwork while engaging participants in discussions about a variety of themes, artists and exhibitions. The group, consisting of sighted, partially sighted and blind art lovers, toured the archi- tecture and design galleries. Visitors and vol- unteers walked along as sight-seeing dogs and pose a problem for blind pedestrians who rely “It would make a good room divider, instead people with special needs. Many museums are the tour guide led the way to the first display. on their hearing to cross roads safely. Other of a bookcase,” said Gordon, a visitor at also widening their accessibility through other Exhibited on the third floor was a Smart Car, visitors nodded their heads in agreement, and the exhibition, who admired its pellucidity. programs. parked amid other artwork. criticized the new wave of “smart cars” that “Looks like a gigantic wine rack,” said Spider, The Philadelphia Museum of Art has cre- “Why is there a car in the museum?” asked are silent but deadly for the visually impaired. an avid monthly visitor of many New York ated a series of accessible programs such as Myra, one of the visually impaired visitors. Another work of art that raised more than City museums that offer services to the blind. Art Talk, where 10 to 15 participants discuss The car’s aesthetic qualities, functionality an eyebrow was a piece by French artists One of the blind visitors inquired whether works of art in the museum with a facilita- and design marked the German and French Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, called “Nuages it could hold plants or home décor, but after tor over the telephone. This is a great option automobile as an exceptional work of art. (Cloud) Bookcase.” The bookcase is made the group described the piece’s honeycomb for individuals who are unable to visit the The group walked around the car to allow from a white opaque plastic. Similar to a design to her, she had a better understanding museum. Other museums collaborate with the individuals to comprehend the actual size cloud, which carries water, the shelf-like of the cloud’s physical qualities and usage. surrounding community to foster awareness of the car. Myra discussed the Smart Car’s sculpture can hold household items. Some of After the tour, many of the visitors took and involvement. noise level; most smart cars are quieter than the visitors questioned its practicality and oth- part in lively conversations, expressing their The Detroit Institute of Art is one museum the average gas-guzzler. She said quieter cars ers, its functionality. opinions and reflections of the galleries and that works with local schools and universities the tour as a whole. One of the visitors, an art to provide art-making and art appreciation aficionado who is partially blind, visits dif- experiences. Another unique program there ferent museums each month and participates is called Minds on Art, which is especially in programs for the blind. She and other par- designed for individuals with Alzheimer’s and ticipants believe that being involved in these dementia. These accessible programs continue programs allow them to see. to grow across the nation, evincing the impor- The MoMA and many other museums have tance of art in society. # developed and are continuing to develop David Beltran, an intern at Education accessible programs and train tour guides for Update, contributed reporting for this story.

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Review of Review of ‘Taking Charge: ‘The Politics of Latino Education’ Leading With Passion and Purpose The Politics of Latino Education and ethnic groups, or that dropout rates are in the Principalship’ By David L. Leal and Kenneth J. Meier, Editors disturbingly high. In the essays that deal with Published by Teachers College Press: 2011, New York and these issues (including social promotion), the London: 230 pp. authors unpack some of the complex reasons Taking Charge: Leading With Passion to focus on specific aspects of leadership that that hinder Latino progress and make sug- and Purpose in the Principalship can be embraced and adopted no matter what By Merri Rosenberg gestions for improvement. One of the most particular challenges they face. intriguing essays looks at the issue of Latinos By Paul L. Shaw He advocates strong, take-charge leader- Published by Teachers College Press: 2011, New York and The growth in America’s Latino popula- in higher education, a subject that all too often ship, where successful principals develop a London: 228pp tion has been undeniably significant in recent gets little attention. school that actively encourages leadership years. According to recent data, Latino stu- The overall collection of essays has been By Merri Rosenberg learning for all, where collaboration defines dents account for two-thirds of the increase carefully selected and edited to offer substan- the culture, and where principals are unafraid in public school enrollments between 1993 tive, significant topics. Pity the school principal. Buffeted by pres- to take action. and 2005. Schools throughout the nation — Consider that the proportion of Latino teach- sures from politicians, parents and teachers, Shaw acknowledges that the relentless bar- not only in states such as California, Texas, ers in the nation is declining. Non-Latino teach- and confronted by unyielding, highly public rage of mandates and new standards can Florida, and New Mexico that have tradition- ers, who have worked with other immigrant expectations to improve student performance, undermine teachers’ willingness to embrace ally attracted Hispanic immigrants — have groups, may have more of a learning curve principals have a demand- ing, change (or, conversely, can lead to teach- confronted the challenges of educating a stu- when it comes to Latino students. The diversity almost impossible role to ful- ers who innovate new programs dent population that is often quite different of where Latino students come from means that fill in many school communi- merely for the sake of novelty). from other student groups. a monolithic approach to their specific educa- ties. The grind of administra- When school leaders can effectively At the same time, the ongoing, often ugly tional challenges may not, in fact, work. tive responsibilities can blunt communicate why programs need to political debate about immigration, along with On the local level, Latino participation in principals’ enthusiasm for be implemented or adopted, there’s the concomitant controversy about such issues school boards also affects resource alloca- whatever big-picture vision a greater likelihood that stakeholders as bilingual education, allocation of district tion and policy decisions. In David Leal and they once entertained for will join in. resources, high-stakes testing results, and the Frederick Hess’s essay on “The Politics of their school. Some of the strategies Shaw sug- achievement gap between Latino and other stu- Bilingual Education Expenditures in Urban Rekindling that spark, for gests include: knowing students dents, has made it extremely difficult to frame School Districts,” they note that “the percent- the good of students and well, developing a culture of inqui- the discussion in a productive way. age of school-board members who are Latino teachers, is one of the goals ry, working with data from many This volume of essays seeks to explore has a statistically and substantively significant of this book. Paul L. Shaw, sources, supporting teachers as they the issues surrounding Latino education in impact on bilingual spending.” the author, is a former prin- continue their own lifelong learning, a thoughtful, measured and non-polemical For the editors, and contributors, the real- cipal who knows exactly encouraging participation and — as way. There’s no denying that, for many of ity is that politics matters. As Kenneth Meier what it’s like to walk the halls the principal — modeling these val- the authors, high-stakes testing is counter- writes, “Politics, even in education, cannot be of a school, observe teachers in a classroom ues. Principals shouldn’t try to be “head teach- productive — but no fear, these essays aren’t divorced from policy or from the implementa- and engage with students. For him, leadership ers” as much as “head learners.” soap boxes. tion of policy. Politics can also be the vehicle starts with identifying a higher moral purpose As Shaw writes, “In today’s climate, educa- Instead, what’s impressive is the nuanced for addressing education problems as Latinos that suffuses whatever practices are put in tional leaders can easily become overwhelmed approach that prevails. No one makes excuses gain greater access to the political system and place to improve what he calls “life chances” in a veritable tsunami of agendas and pressures for the reality that Latino student achieve- make their preferences felt throughout the edu- for students: ultimately leading to success in and fall back on a ‘management’ stance that ment is low, indeed lower than other racial cation system.” # work, relationships and their respective com- will safely see them through the day but, in munities. doing so, diminish the opportunity of improv- As a researcher and educational consultant, ing the learning experiences and life chances The ETHICS COLUMN Shaw draws upon a variety of school settings of students and teachers in the future.” and leadership examples to build his practical, So, be brave. Cultivate your own passions, NEW! WE WELCOME DR. JACOB APPEL TO EDUCATION UPDATE AS OUR eminently useful book. It’s not about offering fearlessness, risk-taking and tenacity, for the REGULAR COLUMNIST ON ETHICS AND MEDICINE. Dr. Appel has a BA from one style or strategy; rather, he urges principals good of your school. # Brown University, a JD from Harvard and an MD from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. He has taught Ethics at Brown University. to choose their patients, when a large number disease. (Unlike the general risk of exposure of doctors decline to perform a particular pro- upon the streets or even in schools, the risk is Unvaccinated Children & the Duty to Warn cedure or treat a particular group of patients, likely higher at the doctor’s office—because the discretion of practitioners is sometimes people, including non-vaccinators, go to a by Jacob M. Appel, M.D., J.D. out of well-established public health measures curtailed. In theory, if a family proves unable to doctor’s office specifically when they become Despite a strong scientific consensus favoring creates an ethical dilemma for physicians. find a new healthcare provider for unvaccinated sick.) Unfortunately, the average parent visiting the health benefits of childhood immunization Shirley Wang of the Wall Street Journal children, the current pediatrician may have an a pediatrician rarely thinks: “I might be sitting against serious infectious diseases, approxi- recently reported on the growing trend of ethical duty to continue care to avoid charges next to an unvaccinated patient who will endan- mately 1 in 10 American children remains pediatricians refusing to treat patients opposed of abandonment. ger my children.” And there lies the problem. entirely unvaccinated. In New York State, for to childhood immunizations. According to What is rarely discussed with regard to this While parents have every right to endure example, 89.3 percent of children had received Wang, this trend is growing: For example, 30 conflict—but should be—is the duty that pedia- these “waiting room risks”—which are indeed the recommended Measles-Mumps-Rubella percent of Connecticut pediatricians surveyed tricians who treat non-vaccinators have to their small—they are also entitled to know what risks inoculation at the appropriate age in 2010— have asked a family to leave care over vaccine other patients. Some children are too young to they are accepting. Physicians who treat non- slightly below the national average. Although refusal. The motivations of these pediatricians receive certain vaccines and a small number vaccinators have an ethical duty to inform all of New York State requires such shots to attend include the belief that vaccine refusers are like- cannot receive vaccines for legitimate medical their patients that they do so. A simple sign in the public schools, exemptions exist for par- ly to prove incompatible patients and the desire reasons. Other children are vaccinated, but the the waiting room reading, “Both vaccinated and ents who claim “genuine and sincere religious to take a stand on a matter of public welfare. vaccines fail to “take”—leaving them suscep- unvaccinated children are treated here,” might beliefs” against them. While New York does Inevitably, this approach makes it more diffi- tible to infection. If these innocent third parties well suffice. Such a warning would enable all not compel these individuals to vaccinate their cult for vaccinate refusers to find pediatric care share waiting rooms with unvaccinated chil- parents to make reasonable and informed deci- children, the choice of so many parents to opt at all. While physicians generally have a right dren, they face an increased risk of contracting sions about risks and exposures. # 16 WOMEN SHAPING HISTORY 2012 ■ MAR/APR 2012

Tisa Chang: Founder, Joan Kretschmer, Ph.D.: Pan Asian Repertory Theater Musician, Conductor, Creator areer Choice: areer Choice: After many years as a dancer and My love of music has been the aspiring actress I became a creator driving force of every aspect of and director at LaMama ETC in what I would call a variegated the early 70’s when I asked Ellen Stewart career in music. As a musicologist, critic, to direct an adaptation of a famous Chinese performer, teacher, interviewer, as well as Peking opera, Return of the Phoenix, into a 5 the founder and artistic director of the Lyric character, intimate comedy with music using Chamber Music Society of New York, I have both English and Chinese. This work was a had a life-long passion for — and interest in — tribute to my mother, whose untimely death so music of all kinds. traumatized me and this was my way of saying Challenges and resolutions: thank you and goodbye to her. In every aspect of my work, there have been Challenges and resolutions: challenges, of course, but I simply push ahead Founding a non-profit ethnic company, Pan and try to overcome whatever the obstacle. Asian Repertory Theatre, on a shoestring bud- Colleagues and friends tease me, saying that get in the early years without a financial base I won’t take “No” for an answer and that I am was really scary and I had to make sacrifices in earth and whose La Mama ETC gave my AA willing to speak to anyone who can be helpful daunting, daily activities in my life. Learning order to keep the work going; challenges help artists and me a home. in resolving an issue. Those are handy, useful on the job by taking everything step by step has to define values, e.g. what is of real worth vs. Turning points: ‘tools,’ but they are just a part of accomplish- been coupled with finding sympathetic, caring, what is temporary celebrity. Seeing Martha Graham dance as ing goals. supportive music lovers—an ongoing search Accomplishments you’re proudest of: CLYTEMNESTRA in 1959 - that was the For example, I wanted to help musicians to support excellence, showcase talent, and Pan Asian’s international tours as cultural perfect fusion of theatre, music and dance and to be ‘heard,’ and was encouraged by my son, enlarge the audience for great music. bridge building representing the United States shaped my directing work and my choice of Elliot Thomson, to create a concert series. As a young girl, I was programmed to be in Cairo and Johannesburg Theatre Festivals in projects for Pan Asian Rep. Good intentions were followed by an enormous a wife and mother, to have no career. Piano 1995 and to Havana in 2003. Future goals: learning curve, with inviting artists, fundrais- lessons were part of my education, but I was Most influential mentors: We are celebrating our 35th anniversary this ing, promoting concerts, developing mailing certainly not to even think about performing. James Lipton as personal friend in my early year with a Gala on March 19 and my goal is lists, creating a website, developing boards, When my children were off to college, and I years and Ellen Stewart who was my mother on continued on page 30 and much, much more suddenly becoming continued on page 30

Dora B. Schriro: Commi- Dr. Maria Mitchell: ssioner, NYC Dept. of Correction President, AMDeC areer Choice: nspiration: My inspiration to go into the When I had the good fortune to field of corrections goes back to witness first hand the depth and my grandparents. From the earliest breadth of the research resources age, they exposed me to ideas and experiences available in the medical research institutions in that opened my eyes to the urban landscape New York, I realized that so much more could and rural America, and to see firsthand the be accomplished through a better coordinated, struggles of good people everywhere. I con- collaborative effort. Working with AMDeC tinued to think about those people and places offered a unique opportunity to work closely throughout my childhood, and as a teen, I fol- with these world-class medical research insti- lowed the news with a keen interest in social tutions, creating an environment designed to issues, especially social justice. One day in accelerate research and discovery. I love New high school AP history, the discussion turned to York City and really welcomed the idea of corrections, and that was it, everything gelled. creating something that would leverage many It was my ‘ah-ha’ moment. I was a goner. of its brightest stars and make it a better place. Challenges and resolutions: Challenges: Early on, and right after that ah-ha moment systems reform—largely criminal justice and Starting a new organization always poses hard to understand the needs and culture of in high school history class, and I knew gener- more recently, civil justice—reform and there challenges, and the early days of AMDeC were each of our constituent organizations, and these ally what I was going to do, the next question was no better place to master those principles no different. In addition to the more typical efforts paid off. was how I was going to go about it. At the than in a sociology department. Another early challenges of starting a new organization, such Accomplishments: time, there were very few criminal justice pro- challenge was coming out of school with no as defining a mission, there was the challenge AMDeC has been able to accomplish much grams and they were largely fledgling efforts. real world experience in the field; none of us of encouraging collaboration among institu- in its 14 year history, and there is much to be You could view that as a challenge. But most had any. Who would have thought that years of tions that were not accustomed to working proud of, including the fact that we have raised challenges are opportunities to find your own retail-store sales and management experience together. more than $100 million for research and have way. I opted for an urban campus with a strong as I worked my way through both bachelor’s I understood that many of the challeng- taken on—and completed projects—that many sociology department with several phenomenal and master’s degrees would help me to get my es required political skills—skills that I had experts said couldn’t be done. An early exam- criminologists. It may have been largely luck, first break in corrections? acquired during my years in government—to ple of this is the New York Cancer Project, a but it was a really lucky break. Throughout Truth be told, I have been very fortunate. The get so many different organizations focused groundbreaking initiative that created a DNA most of my career, my focus has been on continued on page 30 on some key issues in the same way. I worked continued on page 30 MAR/APR 2012 ■ WOMEN SHAPING HISTORY 2012 17 Women Shaping History 2012 2 2 2 arla arkell Women Shaping History is a time to reflect on the achievements of women in C M : the past. It is also a time to recognize the achievements of contemporary women who have made outstanding contributions in various fields. Education Update First Lady, Delaware interviewed a number of multi-faceted, fascinating, dynamic, intellectual women who nspiration: have improved the lives of people all over the world. Here are their responses to the My “career” as First Lady found following questions: What inspired you to pursue your current career? What are me, more than I found it. I wasn’t some of the challenges you have faced and how did you resolve them? What are some sure how active of a role I wanted of the accomplishments you’re proudest of? Who have been the most influential to play when Jack first got elected. I heard mentors in your life? What would you describe as a turning point in your life? Michelle Obama speak on her own transition What are your future goals? and she said she was getting started by going around visiting various federal agencies to let folks know they were cared about and appreci- ated. I decided to do the same thing in our own helia vans ranumn state. Something I knew I sincerely felt and S E -T : was interested in doing. I started with Ferris School, a Level 5 high security detention center Chair, Board of Trustees, Casey for adolescent boys. I ended up organizing a book drive for the kids which ended up in a Family Programs Foundation series of good will, volunteerism efforts which nspiration: ultimately created a small library, classrooms our time of being able to make a big impact Where I am today is definitely not and a voice for the children to share their art while we’re each in our roles is finite. I have where I thought I would be even 10 and writing. The evolution of that process con- two teenagers and an aging mother with health years ago. So where am I today? tinues to give me my inspiration.....knowing the issues and want to be here for them as much I retired from the New York State Education difference a person of influence can make in a as possible. Probably no different than most Department after 16 years of service as the positive way. working mothers. Associate Commissioner of Education. My Challenges: Pride in Accomplishments: long-term plan in 1993 was to work for the My biggest challenges continue to be my I’m very proud of the work we are achieving Department for three to five years (the term of schedule and balance of family life and trying around increased levels of volunteerism and office of my two predecessors Dr. Lester Young to do all I can while in this position of First mentoring. I really believe each child deserves and Dr. Irving Hamer). My goal was to then Lady of Delaware. My husband has a two and needs one on one interaction with a caring teach on the university level and live happily term limit, four years each term, so I know continued on page 25 ever after. So, where am I today? I am the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Casey Family Programs (Foundation) based in Seattle, Wash. I am the first African American to serve as largest operating foundation in America serv- Christine Quinn: chair of this prestigious foundation started by ing children and the 11th largest foundation in Jim Casey, the founder of UPS. Casey is the continued on page 29 City Council Speaker nspiration: Growing up, I was only interested in one thing –government and poli- arole erotte oseph tics – my father always said it was C B J : my curse. At the library, I would only check out biographies of important leaders or impor- President, Bronx Comm. College tant women. This gave me, from a very young nspiration: age, a real sense of the potential that govern- My father who was a teacher, ment has to make people’s lives better. principal and entrepreneur inspired Challenges: me to become an educator and take I’ve encountered many challenges but if I leadership positions. Since childhood, I knew have learned anything from my experience that I wanted to be a teacher. Today, as I lead, as Speaker thus far, I have learned that any I teach. woman has the opportunity and ability to cre- Challenges: ate her own standing in this world. I have faced many challenges during my Accomplishments: career and the way that I resolve them is to From my position as Speaker of the City nerships in order to effect positive change for question and reflect upon the directions that Council I am right in the middle of the chal- New Yorkers, especially in our schools where I have taken to make sure that I am making lenges that the rapid acceleration of develop- last summer we reopened a playground in the good and objective decisions that are in the ment brings along with it. There are many Bronx and repaired a school tennis court in best interests of the majority. As an educator, things that I can say that I’m proud that the Brooklyn. We are also proud to have worked my guide has always been what is best for Council has worked on but some that come to with Governor Cuomo in getting same sex the student and so that is my compass. I try mind are passing legislation requiring preg- marriage legislation passed last year. These are to resolve specific challenges through honest I am most proud of the following accom- nancy centers to disclose their services in some of the many things we’ve been able to conversation and dialogue, then by document- plishments: the turnaround that occurred at my order to better inform women of what they’re achieve by the collaborative efforts of legisla- ing the processes of a particular discussion and previous institution. We methodically worked being offered. We’ve worked with non-profit tive leaders and the community. making sure that the message is clearly com- on reorganizing the academic departments, groups in helping provide free mammograms Mentors: municated via my allies. hiring stellar faculty, developing and recom- for underinsured or non-insured women. We My parents, influential female leaders Accomplishments: continued on page 25 are currently working with Public/Private part- continued on page 25 18 WOMEN SHAPING HISTORY 2012 ■ MAR/APR 2012

Alice Weiss: Deborah Strobin: Teacher, Lawyer, Poet An Uncommon Philanthropist By Joan Baum, Ph.D. areer Choice: Since I have had at least three ounds cinematic: immediate depar- of what are usually considered ture, Vienna overrun by Nazis, careers, I have had to think through comfort gone, friends gone, borders what was consistent throughout the 50 years closed, last boat out, but to where? it took me to make my way through them. Italy it was rumored. But the destination was Teacher of English and American literature a city in eastern China. Between 1938 and (my last teaching job ending in 1974 was at 1945 Shanghai was haven, the sole haven, for Colgate University), Louisiana civil rights Europe’s Jews, 18,000 of whom would consti- attorney and public defender, and, poet; I was tute the only transplanted Jewish community 10 years at the teaching, 21 years in Louisiana, to survive, even though the Jews were placed and 14 years relearning the language so I am in the filthiest, poorest, more overcrowded able to write poems and not arguments. Does district in the city, and under Japanese occupa- a river run through them? Of course. tion and American bombing lived in constant Probably two streams meet sometime in my fear (by 1945, 1,500 Shanghai Jews had died early twenties: independence of mind (then of hunger and disease). Film producer Mike called oppositional defiant disorder) and a creant children of the city of New Orleans. Medavoy who was born in Shanghai, is work- she and Ilie went to the Holocaust Museum in strong sense of justice (then called rejecting Now I write poems. I write about my ing on a movie and a mini series on the Jewish Washington, D.C., she a bit reluctantly, and Ilie my role as a woman). Despite the fact that Louisiana encounters, generation, aging, lan- ghetto in Hongkou, but no need to wait for a cried out on seeing an old Japanese propaganda I loved the freedom of the classroom, the guage and dust. What any poet writes about. movie version of this incredible and still little- photo — “My God, that’s my sister!” She institution of the university was not going to On good days I think I might have 20 more known story. A recently published memoir remembers staring at the image, not seeing her- hold me, so I went to law school, not to work years to do it (I am 70) but I am working by brother and sister Ilie Wacs and Deborah self in it, only the “sad eyes” of the youngsters. for a big law firm but because I knew I could toward being a really good poet and a recog- Strobin, “An Uncommon Journey,” recalls She recognized the look, not the subjects. And set up my own practice, operate, so to speak, nized poet. that traumatic time and life in the U.S. after- that was the start of a new beginning. Freed of outside the establishment (a term we used a lot Inspiration: wards with pointed humor and unforgettable trying to avoid or bury a hurtful past, Deborah in those days, you don’t hear it much now, not That would have been the Holocaust. I bold detail, while also showing that exem- Strobin honed her philanthropic talents and even at Occupy encampments). knew about it when I was very young, and it plary lives can emerge from horrific events. It’s skills, most of them intuitive (“nobody taught Throughout, I was a social activist. My first troubled me. I love being Jewish so it made Deborah’s story, however, that claims attention me about philanthropy”). gig was teaching in a school in Englewood, me feel endangered, of course. After years of for Women’s History Month. She chooses her causes carefully. She has N.J., which at the time was a segregated mulling (I started very young), I decided the When they finally were settled in the U.S. to “believe in” what she sets out to do. She school, called, I think, Liberty. The 60s and following: after a good deal of relocation, Ilie became is, she says, neither a fund-raising machine on 70s were made for me. Civil Rights, Anti- The only way for Jews to feel safe is to a well known clothing designer who would automatic pilot nor a socialite craving media War, Feminism. make sure everyone feels safe. renew his interest in visual art, much of it turn- attention, though she has come to appreciate Highlights: The only way for Jews to be safe is to make ing on the imagery of exile. Deborah worked the need for “fun” in the philanthropy business My organizing and directing a little group sure everyone is safe. first in interior design, but with the death of her and for fundraising committees to enjoy them- of my Rutgers students into a Kazoo Brigade Hence my activism, hence my voting rights, husband Ed Strobin (COO of Banana Republic selves. Still, she doesn’t disguise her purpose to entertain up and down the sides of anti- employment cases, because the corollary to and a founder of Discovery Channel stores), when she goes looking for support. She tells war marches, establishing a woman’s stud- the first assertion is that everyone needs to she found her stride as a philanthropist. She prospective donors up front what she needs and ies course at Colgate and, as well, working feel equally empowered. wants to do more than raise funds, she writes in how much will go to administrative overhead. among the students and the women teachers And this: When I was about 13, my fam- “An Uncommon Journey, she wants “to heart- This is not a typical M.O. for a fundraiser so we could resist the male-dominated institu- ily had a black woman housekeeper named raise and ambition-raise.” She always wanted but it is Deborah Strobin’s way and it’s what, tions at the school (I haven’t used that phrase Inspiration. She was a follower of Father to help, even as a 10-year-old in Shanghai, among other features, distinguishes her efforts. for years). We even got the Deke fraternity Divine, hence the name. Nonetheless, I was when she saw war injuries: “If someone had She likes a challenge and meets it with grace, kicked off campus for two years. this snotty, narcissistic beginning teenager told me to bandage a man’s leg back to his aplomb and strength. And then Louisiana, I went down to work and I made some kind of remark (thankfully I body, I would have done it…” Years ago, when HIV awareness was still in for the ACLU, a job which lasted seven can’t remember exactly what I said) implying Never having lived alone and thus not its infancy, she recalls being “threatened” by months (remember that authority problem) that blacks were not smart, or that they didn’t having had to determine new directions by those who feared her fundraising activities for but which connected me with other attorney organize their lives very well or that they were herself, she discovered when her husband died research would attract an influx of gay agitators activists, thus, two decades challenging condi- all criminals or some horrible thing and she a “strength inside” she never knew existed. to San Francisco. Prospective donors boycotted tions in jails as cruel and unusual punishment; said, “If you tie a chicken by its foot to a little And she came to understand that the tragedies her events, they would not meet with infected voting-rights cases, integrating municipal and tree for a long time, when you untie it, it will she experienced in exile with Ilie and her victims, they would not go to hospitals. She county governments, integrating the manage- limp around in circles. It will not be able to parents forged her character and fueled her to did. She is particularly proud of being a volun- rial ranks of Quality Assurance Agency, an walk straight.” I am to this day thankful that reach out — to help others by raising money teer and of her determination to support causes agency of the Department of Defense, and I was able at that point to apologize to this for causes that at the time were overlooked. not yet fully appreciated. Her latest endeavor representing the beautiful and doomed mis- valiant lady. I never forgot what she said. # Her early work for HIV/AIDS, the first such is assisting the International Medical Corps benefit to be held at Davies Symphony Hall in (IMC), a global operation that began in Santa San Francisco in the ’80s, and her subsequent Monica 25 years ago and that tends to be con- work to raise funds for stem-cell research, the fused with the Geneva-based Doctors Without www. EducationUpdate.com largest such fundraiser then in U.S. history, Borders. IMC stays the course, no matter the were far sighted. She was coming into her difficulties in the country being served. “quietly assertive” own, serving in 1994 as Deborah Strobin’s is an uncommon phi- QR Code Deputy Chief of Protocol for the City of San lanthropy, a continuation of her “uncommon Scan Francisco, but she was still not ready to “claim journey.” The writing of the memoir proved with your Smartphone her heritage” as a refugee. cathartic, but it speaks to everyone. As does It was shocking, of course, when in 1998 her work. # MAR/APR 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ COLLEGES & GRADuate Schools 19

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LIU Holds Off Bryant’s St. John’s U.: Red Storm Women’s Upset Bid, 75-70 Basketball Team Rises Up By Richard Kagan When the season is completed and hopefully the team has met some of its goals, the Long Island University Blackbirds can look back at the Bryant University game as a victory LIU will certainly take. LIU’s win over Bryant wasn’t easy. The Bryant Bulldogs were dogged in playing LIU tight and smart, and never let the Blackbirds build up a big lead. This game came down to the final minute when Julian Boyd hit a turn-around jumper to give LIU a 70-66 lead with about 35 ticks on the game clock. LIU held on in the end, and breathed a sigh of relief. Coach Kim Barnes Arico coaches the St. John’s women’s basketball Sophomore point guard Jason Brickman hit team to victory some key 3-point shots to give the Blackbirds Jason Brickman, guard for the LIU some breathing room. He led the team with Blackbirds By Richard Kagan The Red Storm’s win over Georgetown 15 points. Junior forward Julian Boyd had 12 It may be that the St. John’s men’s basketball closed out the regular season and the win made points and his basket in the closing minute was ing us hard,” Ferry said. We are the reigning team often gets the headlines; however, as the it eight straight wins. huge. Jamal Olasewere scored 11 points and champs.” Every time LIU made a move to take regular season winds down and the post-season “We’re playing at an all-time high,” Coach grabbed seven rebounds. Olasewere held Alex a lead, the Bulldogs answered and it was a slim tournaments beckon, it’s the women’s basket- Barnes Arico said, after securing victories over Francis to 6 points in the second half. Francis LIU lead at halftime, 37-36. ball team that is generating real positive buzz. three nationally ranked teams in the past two scored a game high 20 points for the Bulldogs. In the second half, the Blackbirds hit 55 per- The women’s hoops squad (21-8, 13-3) beat weeks. The Red Storm is doing it with a great “We were grinding it out,” Jim Ferry, head cent of the shots, Jason Brickman made some the Georgetown University Hoyas, a nationally defensive effort. coach of LIU said. “We didn’t do a very good key treys, and Boyd’s basket with about 35 ranked team, 54-45 recently, behind balanced The Red Storm trailed the Hoyas 27-25, then job of setting a tone in the game. And we seconds on the clock sealed the win. scoring. Three Red Storm players scored 12 came out and in the second half put the clamps allowed a team to get some life in them.” “I think Jason Brickman is the best point points as St. John’s put on a defensive clinic in down to hold them to 22 percent shooting from Bryant carried a seven-game losing streak guard in the league,” Ferry claimed. “He makes stopping the Hoyas on the road. the floor. The Red Storm is rebounding the into the Wellness and Recreation Center on shots, he makes us roll.” In the Bryant game, This has been a season of firsts for the wom- ball and hitting their free-throws. Those are the LIU’s Brooklyn campus. But they played it was Brickman who was the difference. He en’s team: the first time they defeated the No. 2 markers of a good team. This year, SJU is bet- tough. “I give them credit,” Ferry said. They calmly made big shots and his on-court pres- UConn Huskies since 1993. It was the first time ter than good. In four games, four Red Storm played very hard.” ence makes you think he is an upperclassman. they beat Rutgers on the road since 2007. After players scored in double figures, and St. John’s LIU is the defending Northeast Conference He’s only a sophomore, and the accounting beating UConn, the Red Storm were ranked won all four games. Champs and went to the NCAA Tournament major should have some great games in the 20th in the AP poll — two more Big East wins Da’ Shena Stevens is All Big East Senior. last March. The Blackbirds currently lead the future. For now, Brickman is balancing his lifted SJU to No. 18 in the AP poll. Junior Nadira McKenith, Barnes Arico claims, conference and hope to have a strong finish to coursework and court work and the team is Coach Kim Barnes Arico is pushing the right is one of the top point guards in the country. get there again. “Everybody is going to be play- ready to defend its title. # buttons as the Red Storm is rising, literally, in She can pass the ball, hit a shot when she needs the women’s college game. SJU is gathering to, and has a great floor game. Recently, she some serious momentum as the Red Storm was named Big East Player of the Week. National Advocacy Group gets set to play in the Big East Tournament, in Competing in the tough Big East conference Hartford, CT. “(It’s been) a great run,” Coach is like playing in an NCAA Tournament game. Barnes Arico said. In defeating some of the top teams in the coun- Organizes Screen-Free Week 2012 SJU beat the Huskies on their home court, try, the Red Storm has become battle tested. which put the Red Storm on the map. “It was Barnes Arico thinks there is more to come By Josh Golin Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff) is a a great accomplishment,” said Arico. The team for this team come tournament time. “They “It’s amazing how much free time you have wonderful way to help children lead healthier, punctured UConn’s streak against non-ranked know they’ve had a great year,” said the coach. when you’re not in front of a screen ... I never happier lives by reducing dependence on enter- teams that lasted for almost 20 years. “They’re not satisfied.” realized how much fun I missed by using tainment screen media. By encouraging chil- Junior Shenneika Smith buried a three pointer The streak goes on. St. John’s won its ninth screens instead of playing outside.” dren and families to unplug, Screen-Free Week to give the Red Storm a 57-56 lead with just straight game beating No. 17 Louisville 68-61 —Mackenzie Rothfuss, 7th grader, Bay provides time to play, connect with nature, read, seconds left and she was mobbed by her team- in overtime behind Shennieka Smith’s six City, Michigan daydream, create, explore, and spend more time mates — an athlete who seizes the moment points in the extra session. SJU advances to On April 30 through May 6, 2012, children with family and friends. takes that shot. So far, it’s been the biggest its first Big East Semi-finals matchup since around the world will celebrate Screen-Free Organizing a Screen-Free Week in your class- basket of the Red Storm season. 1988. # Week by turning off television, video and room, school, library, or home has never been computer games, and handheld devices — and easier. This year, for the first time, the Screen- board for important lifestyle changes that will Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood turning on life. Imagine what children and their Free Week Organizer’s Kit — which includes improve well-being and quality of life all year (CCFC), a national advocacy organization ded- families could do with an extra 20, 30 or even everything you need to plan a fun-filled week round. For example, after completing a success- icated to reducing the impact of commercialism 50 hours a week! — is free! Not only does the 68-page guide ful week without screens, students in the South on children. In addition to providing resources We all know that children spend far too much walk you through the organizing process, it’s Orange/Maplewood, N.J. school district decid- for parents and educators to reduce children’s time with screens: an astonishing average of also packed with fact sheets, suggestions for ed they wanted to keep going. So school librar- screen time, CCFC holds corporations account- 32 hours a week for preschoolers and even screen-free activities, pledge cards and other ians designed the yearlong Ultimate Screen- able for their harmful marketing practices and more for older children. Excessive screen time handouts. Download yours today at www. Free Challenge. The program is now in its 12th advocates for commercial-free time and space is harmful for children — it’s linked to poor screenfree.org year and every elementary school in the district (especially schools) for children. # school performance, childhood obesity, atten- Of course, Screen-Free Week isn’t just about participates — as do a majority of students. Josh Golin is the associate director of the tion problems, and the erosion of creative play. snubbing screens for seven days; it’s a spring- Screen-Free Week is a program of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. MAR/APR 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ COLLEGES & GRADuate Schools 21

School of Visual Arts The DEAN’S COLUMN: Mercy college continued from page 11 Enriching Mathematics Instruction, them to function. Meaning, they at least have five applicants or more for each place available in each program. We need to grow the applicant Rather than Teaching to the Test base by allowing the programs to mature with- By Dean Alfred Posamentier out having to divert our resources to promote as young as 7, there are puzzles, games, and new programs. We’ll eventually have a gradu- With the impasse about teacher evaluation astonishing relationships that can be brought ate population between 700-750. We are open- dominating our thinking about education, and into the classroom and made an integral part ing multiple programs with a certain number of the controversy over using test results to deter- of our teaching of mathematics — taking this applicants for each, such as: Design and Social mine a good teacher, it might be time to take a important subject out of the realm of “a strange Innovation that’ll have 50, Products of Design step back and consider another way that one of language that must be memorized but not nec- that’ll have 36, Critical Theory in the Arts America’s most tested subjects — mathematics essarily embraced.” The Fibonacci numbers that’ll have 14 and a Visual Narrative program — can be more effectively taught. about which many books have been written that’ll have 50 over 3 years. Let’s take just one example that demonstrates (including one by this writer) have bound- PR: We are now in 21st century—the age how the subject can be enlivened. less applications to enrich mathematics (and of technology. Many colleges and universities Imagine, as you begin to collect your tax 12 of that very same book, he considered the beyond) at all academic levels. have embraced online learning and have done information for 2011, if we still used only procreation of rabbits. Fibonacci sought to find All too often, we hear the lament that our so very successfully and lucratively. What Roman numerals. For starters it wouldn’t be the number of pairs of rabbits that would result children are growing up disliking mathemat- are some of the efforts SVA is attempting in 2011. It would be MMXI. over the course of a year, if a pair required one ics — and then, as adults, boasting about how that sphere? Looks strange, right? Our Hindu-Arabic num- month to mature and to produce an offspring bad they were in the subject all through school. DR: Well, our efforts are much more modest ber system must have looked just as strange 810 pair. His calculations of rabbit pairs produced Perhaps our teachers are so often obsessed with in comparison. We will have three programs years ago when it was first introduced to the month-by-month led to the sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, preparing students for tests they lose sight of that have online components. The first one is Western world by an Italian named Leonardo 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, and 144. the pleasures and applications that help students our Digital Photography program. Two semes- of Pisa, who was later known as Fibonacci. In This sequence of numbers became known as to learn about mathematics in different ways. ters completed online following a nine-week 1202, he wrote Liber Abaci, a book of calcula- the Fibonacci numbers — the most ubiquitous If teachers were to expand their knowledge to on-site residency. The second program, Art tions, which introduced the numbers 9, 8, 7, numbers in all of mathematics and beyond. We the more creative aspects of mathematics, we Practice, an MFA program where the theoretical 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. “With these nine figures,” find these numbers in nature — for example may instill a more inquisitive spirit into the and historical portion of the program is done Fibonacci wrote, “and with the sign 0, which the numbers of the three types of spirals on a classroom and enrich our students’ experience online and the remaining on-site. The third the Arabs call zephyr, any number whatsoever pineapple are 5, 8 and 13 (Fibonacci numbers). with mathematics. program, Visual Narrative is the same. We are is written.” The Fibonacci numbers are also found in the At age 810, the Fibonacci numbers still pro- looking to do some hybrid coursework, but we Europeans didn’t embrace this strange new proportions of famous architecture – including vide many topics for the creative teaching of are not looking to port entire degree programs idea right away. It took nearly 50 years before the Parthenon, the United Nations building, and mathematics. Who knows what strange, new, to the web. We are concerned that it is very dif- other parts of Italy began to accept the base-ten the doors of the Cathedral of Chartres. They and groundbreaking insights might result. # ficult to do studio work, painting and drawing number system. Merchants were suspicious of provide a direct connection to the golden ratio Dr. Alfred Posamentier is dean of the School effectively at a distance. We only tried photog- those who used these clever numbers instead of that in itself has a plethora of applications. They of Education and professor of mathematics raphy because it is already in digital form and the more familiar Roman numerals. It wasn’t even have some practical features: They allow education at Mercy College. He is a member displayed on a monitor. It is difficult to concep- until more than two centuries later that the use an instant (approximate) conversion of miles of the New York State Mathematics Standards tualize most of the other things we teach onto of numerals caught on across Western Europe, into kilometers and the reverse. Committee, and has authored over 45 math- the internet. I think we’ll find some solutions about the time the Leaning Tower of Pisa Fibonacci explored mathematics at a time ematics books, including: Mathematical to these problems, but I don’t think we’ll move was completed. when it was not at all a subject to be consid- Amazements and Surprises (Prometheus, away from the fact that we’re a ‘brick-and- This was not Fibonacci’s only — or even ered on its own but merely as a tool. We need 2009), Math Wonders to Inspire Teachers and mortar’ place and hands-on. We’d rather have most famous — contribution to the world’s to infuse his creative and playful spirit into Students (ASCD, 2003), and The Fabulous our students here and not at a distance. # body of mathematical knowledge. In chapter our teaching of mathematics. With children Fibonacci Numbers (Prometheus, 2007).

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AMNEDU2136_EdUpdate.indd 1 3/9/12 4:07 PM 22 Education update ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ MAR/APR 2012

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION: INDIA Up Close and Personal: Schools in India By Andrew Gardner schools directly, they have set up afterschool The magazine advertisement made a bold remedial math and literacy programs. claim: India needs 20,000 new schools each In the class that we observed, polite and year for the next 10 years. Wow! Ask yourself, neatly dressed students worked in small groups, how would you build them? How would they with a “community activist” (not an accred- be funded? How would you find the teachers? ited teacher) trained very specifically in the How would you control quality? In light of a Naandi approach — the class uses a standard- newly enacted law asserting all children the ized textbook curriculum. Interestingly, the right to education, this challenge is reality for students were seated on the floor in mixed- the largest democracy in the world. ability groups, given various manipulatives, In January and February this year, I observed (one group was even given unlit matches) and this educational challenge first hand. My father, encouraged to illustrate multiplication facts stepmother, wife and I spent three weeks touring with the objects. The “community activists” the cities of Delhi, Agra, Bangaluru, Chennai, helped guide the stronger students who in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. We visit- turn helped guide the struggling students. This ed schools, talked with teachers, met professors approach recognizes that heterogeneous peer of education and encountered a wide range of interaction can be effective for raising the per- perspectives from government officials, mem- Andrew and his father Howard Gardner at Gandhi’s ashram in Ahmedabad, India formance level of the most struggling students. bers of nongovernmental organizations, union This approach also gives the more successful representatives and private-sector education students opportunity to lead and express under- reformers. Despite a lot of finger pointing and and the teacher training, I was impressed standing to help their peers. handwriting we did see successful and effective with this approach to reforming the sys- Finally, and most subversively, the after- education ventures put forth by various players tem. Note, however, Muktangan works with school Naandi initiative is intended to “trickle in this national game of future building. Did this seven schools. Remember the numbers I down” into the normal class day. Impressive experience lead to the silver bullet for success? mentioned above? was the documentation by the community activ- Of course not, but it did prove there are many In Ahmedabad, a city famous for Gandhi’s ist who clearly noted the daily progress for each dedicated people, working hard to do the right Ashram, we visited Riverside, an indepen- student. This Indian-style individualized educa- thing for the children of this rapidly developing dent school known for its charismatic leader, tion program informed the classroom teacher country. Let me share three examples. Kiran Sethi and for spearheading “Design about which groups work well and how to help In Mumbai, the “maximum city” that makes for Change,” an international design com- students advance and build skills. New York seem small, I visited an inspirational petition for students. The program was Though I’m sharing the specifics of three government school run in conjunction with a founded only 11 years ago, in Sethi’s living different reform models, there are countless community-based project called Muktangan. room. Since then, she has worked tirelessly more developing even as I type. One of the Working with children from a low socioeco- to create a learning community aligned most notable consistencies of the trip was the nomic bracket, the teachers at this school closely with her personal values. Students practice their math skills at the visibility of colorful school signs with hot ticket employed many of the progressive approaches The school is divided into three “stages,” Naandi afterschool remedial math program phrases like “Montessori,” “Waldorf” and “Arts that I see in the best schools in the US. and our tour of the school was led complete- Based Learning” adorning the thoroughfares of in Hyderabad, India Each classroom emphasized developmentally ly by students from the respective stages. every city. Some of these schools are govern- appropriate play. In the kindergarten room I During our tour, our student tour guides not ment run, some for profit, some non-profit: the saw 5-year-olds wearing colorful costumes and only explained what was happening in every make comfortable and effective learning spac- only common thread is that they are all new. “cooking” in the dramatic play area, while glee- space, but also explained why. A second grader es. These students had worked with the archi- Clearly people are planting seeds and trying ful yelps of excitement came from the young told us, “we are learning about our school com- tects and builders to make their own school! out every conceivable method. The question drummers sitting beside. munity because it is important for us to under- No wonder they run the contest called “Design is — will there be a way of identifying and As the teachers transitioned the children stand how to work together. If we work together for Change!” Embodying the Gandhian spirit, distributing best practices, once the thousand from choice time to circle, the 40 students in school, we can work together as a world.” this school was a place where desire for social flowers have had a chance to bloom? Will best began putting away their materials like a well Most unique was the school’s approach to change and formation of ethical values were practice from one region work in another? Is trained army! They were seated and talking helping children build empathy. To learn about at the forefront of the mission. Riverside was there any government oversight? More general- quietly together in no time. In the third-grade forced child labor, the sixth-grade students sat a clear example of how an independent school ly, in a democratic market society, how can we room, students were seated on the floor in silently in a ramshackle tent rolling incense with great leadership can innovate pedagogi- encourage experimentation without constantly small groups preparing different re-tellings of sticks for the entire afternoon. We saw a video cal approaches. However, Riverside, though it reinventing the wheel? This is a question we are the “ugly duckling” story through music, pan- depicting the same students going through seemed to be a “world-class” school, is literally struggling with in this country, too. The three tomime and writing. Clearly the pedagogical their “normal” class day with one arm literally one in a million. models I’ve described here seem to work with approach at Muktangan valued various expres- tied behind their back for the afternoon. These Unlike the well-funded and independent the quite different populations for which they sions of understanding. classroom experiences made me think about Riverside, many government schools are over- were devised. But with 200,000 schools to build Interestingly, as a community project, my own attempts as a teacher to help students crowded and underfunded, with upwards of 70 in the next decades — or even 100,000 —the Muktangan is a teacher training center, too. build empathy. These effective and immersive students in a single class, so it’s not surprising possibilities for chaos are real. Within the school walls, pre-service teach- experiences would endure far longer than read- that many students are unsuccessful and leave For pictures and more commentary, and an ers take classes, observe students, work to ing The Giving Tree and following up with school barely literate. Naandi, an NGO that opportunity to pose questions, please visit develop best practice and connect theory and a discussion! focuses on education and children’s health, my Voice Thread at https://voicethread.com/ practice like better schools that I’ve seen in As we walked through the “third stage” upper is doing its best to fix this problem. Based in share/2756150/. A special thank you goes to the United States. In this school, the teach- school buildings, the students pointed out the Hyderabad, and led by a strong and thought- the leadership of iDiscoveri, the Delhi-based ers carried themselves as real professionals, individual tiles they had laid as they worked ful leader, Manoj Kumar, this organization is educational social enterprise, who sponsored treating the students, the curriculum and their with builders to construct the building. They addressing a wider scope of educational reform: this life-changing experience. # peers respectfully and with integrity. Needless drew our attention to how seamlessly integrated pedagogy, curriculum, teacher training, health Andrew Gardner is a senior manager at to say, between the pedagogy, the curriculum the indoor and outdoor area were designed to and scale. However, because NGOs cannot run BrainPOP. MAR/APR 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ COLLEGES & GRADuate Schools 23 Queens College Program Helps Abused Start Anew By Richard Kagan course praised the program. stronger sense of self. Dr. Carmella Marrone is the founder and Women and Work is an innovative program “If you save the life of a woman, you also executive director of Women and Work, a that helps women who have been victims save the life of a family,” Dr. Marrone said. 15-week course taught under the auspices of of domestic violence, those who have been Dr. Marrone has taken a remarkable journey Queens College, that serves disadvantaged forgotten by society, women who have given in her own life to lead a program that has women and gives them a new start. Education up, to find a safe haven, a place where each the support of President James Muyskens at

Update spent some time at the offices of Women can learn to gain increased self-esteem. This Queens College, and an impressive lineup of Nancy Baneis, Queens College and Work and interviewed Dr. Marrone and her program includes practical courses in learning corporate sponsors, like the Helena Rubenstein daughter, Tinamarie Nylund, who works at the and maintaining good office skills, and offers a company. Carmella T. M. Marrone, program. Several students who were about to person a chance to explore their own interests Dr. Marrone was in a corporate position executive director and founder graduate and enter the shorter “reentry to life” in a concerted effort to re-build or establish a with a major airline and had a big house in of Women and Work a nice suburb with her husband and she had seven students and six computers. daughter. After a Today, her program has more than 50 students major illness, she per 15-week course and a lengthy waiting list. retreated to the Blue Women in her course work on improving To The PARENTS of New York CiTY: Ridge Mountains critical thinking skills, take classes on Women in Georgia to die, in Media to better understand the way society but instead found perceives women and their changing roles in a renewed sense of the workplace and in raising children. There is purpose and mean- work on discovering one’s vision and creating ing to her life. a plan to achieve one’s goals. At the end of the Marrone, earned course, graduation is held on the campus of a BA, MA & PhD Queens College, where President Muyskens at Queens College. and Senior Vice President Sue Henderson She found office regularly attend. Thank You space at Fort Totten “She’s remarkable,” Henderson said of FOR YOUR SUPPORT in Queens where Marrone. # Greek Games at Barnard College By Kirstyn Crawford Games, as Barnard students began We are approaching the sec- playing a more active role in the ond year of the revival of the events of world at that time. Barnard College Greek Games, a Decades later however, the rich long-standing tradition that brings history of the Greek Games main- pride to our students. The Barnard tains a special place within the College Greek Games is an his- larger history of our college. By toric tradition that celebrated the reviving this beloved tradition, spirit and energy of the Barnard while translating the events into classes of 1906 to 1968. First a more modern context, we hope held in 1903, and inspired by the to attempt to remember and cel- athletic competitions of heroic ebrate the inspirational women of Greece, the Greek Games cel- Barnard’s past. The Greek Games ebrated the liberal scholarship were an integral part of campus on which Barnard College was life for many of our alumnae and founded. These Games continued we hope that they will become an Despite attacks by Mayor Bloomberg and his allies, tens of thousands of to be held each spring until the integral part of campus life today 1960s, when they took a 50-year as well. New York City public school teachers go to work every day to make their hiatus, until the revival in 2011. “The photos of women from students’ lives better. The Greek Games began when Barnard’s past participating in the the class of 1905, then sopho- games have always been a con- Thank you for your continuing support for the work our teachers do. mores, challenged the first-year stant reminder that as a student class to a friendly competition. at a women’s institution I’m part The students prepared choreo- of something bigger. I’m real- graphed Grecian dances and ly excited that the return of the Michael Mulgrew perfected their form for discuss Greek Games will give us the President throwing and hurdle jumping chance to remember and honor United Federation of Teachers competitions. The games became the amazing Barnard women of the event of the year, every year, the past,” one junior said about often with months of preparation. the revival. We hope to continue However, with the aggravated the legacy of the past for many political atmosphere of the 1960s, years. # protests and activism took prece- Kirstyn Crawford is a student dence over preparing for Greek at Barnard College in New York. 24 COLLEGES & GRADuate Schools ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ MAR/APR 2012

NEW WRITERS A Different Path to Success College Students Share by Ethan Arberman leges with computer programs. I found riting alents My name is Ethan Arberman. I am Johnson and Wales (JWU). It has a W T : 21 years old and I was born and raised network engineering program and I got in New York City. I am also dyslexic. accepted and enrolled. I am now gradu- Editing a College Newspaper My story begins when I was in first ating from JWU in May 2012 and have grade and was having difficulty acquir- a part time job that I hope will become By Scout MacEachron ing reading and writing skills. By a full time job after I graduate. istic that was, I became a second grade, not only did I start to see Besides network engineering I have Running a college newspaper is a difficult better leader. that I was not like everyone else but many other interests that coincide with job. Running a college newspaper at a school I learned to play to so did the other kids. There was some teasing technology as well as some other fields. One of for students with ADHD, dyslexia and other other’s strengths: getting although I don’t remember all that much. For the big ones right now is technology and how it learning disabilities is even harder. those who dreaded writing all I know I may have blocked it out. When my is being used in schools. I think that for people I attend Landmark College, a school specifi- to work on layout design mom realized what was going on she immedi- with learning disabilities using some form of cally for college students with learning disabili- or allowing shy students ately set up a plan for what she was going to computer assistance can be very helpful whether ties, in Putney, Vt. When I first saw Landmark’s to write articles that didn’t do in order to help me. Instead of just finding a they are using a program to help them spell or newspaper, “The Independent,” I was unim- require interviewing peo- school that may have been able to help me she one that allows them to type by talking. I think pressed. A thin, magazine-like booklet — it ple. started a school just for dyslexic kids, named that as we go forward we will see lots of new looked more like a pamphlet than a newspaper. One particular instance has stuck with me. I The Sterling School for my grandmother. She ways that technology and computers can help Worse, no one read it. kept assigning articles to a staff member, David, opened the school with five students and started people with learning disabilities learn and thrive. Despite this, I signed up for the class that who has Asperger’s syndrome, which he failed to grow from there. At the time of this article There are also a lot of free tools that people can produces the newspaper, “Journalism in the to turn in. If I tried to talk to him, he avoided the school is in its 12th year. The school is very use in order to help them. For example, in order Digital Age.” Within weeks I was selected to me. The only thing I knew about David was that small and because of that, all of the students get to help myself stay organized, I use a free calen- be the first-ever student Executive Editor, a role he liked video games. Finally, I came up with a lot of one-on-one time with all the teachers. In dar from Google which then syncs to my phone previously held by a professor. the idea of asking him to review video games. this learning environment I was able to thrive so I always know where I’m supposed to be With the help of my professor and editorial Days after giving him the assignment, he and grow, and ultimately learn to read and write and when. I also use my phone to help me keep team, I began to establish systems for writing, handed me a three-page article — one of the with the help of a computer. Graduating from track of assignments that I’m working on as well editing and laying out the paper. I learned as I best I received all semester. I featured his article Sterling School was one of the scariest things as doing just about everything I need to do in a progressed and constantly adjusted my meth- on the cover of our next issue. He went on to I have ever done; it had been a safe haven for given day; like check my email when I’m on the ods. The newspaper became better with every eagerly write video-game reviews for each sub- me for almost three years. The next part of my go so that I don’t walk all the way to class only issue. Now, its release is highly anticipated sequent issue. Additionally, he got the chance journey was to find a school for seventh grade to find out that the professor called in sick and on campus. to be proud of his work. Inherently shy, he now and then in high school. After some research sent me an email saying so. One of the most challenging parts of my job greets me with a smile around campus. and networking, my mom found Bay Ridge My personal philosophy is that everyone that is dealing with fellow students. I find myself As the editor of my school newspaper, I have Prep (BRP). It had seventh grade all the way up wants to use technology should, but everyone’s frequently disappointed when they fail to turn become a better writer and leader, but it has through high school. Being at BRP I was able going to do it differently. The trick is finding out in articles, ignore my emails or forget to attend also taught me how to bring out the best in my to continue my growth, getting help in those what you want to do and then using technology the event they are covering (as one student peers. In my role as editor, I’ve not only made a subjects I still needed support and challeng- to make it easier. I am lucky to have found a infamously did). place for myself on campus, I’ve helped other’s ing myself in subjects like microbiology and field in which I am genuinely interested and I’ve had to slowly learn that not everyone’s fit in, too.# psychology. in which my strengths outweigh my deficits. brain is like mine. I am quick, highly verbal Scout MacEachron is a sophomore at I began to think about future careers. In high Hopefully if you are dyslexic you too can gain and organized, for the most part. I found myself Landmark College in Putney, Vt., and is editor- school, I realized that I was pretty good at com- the basic skills you need so that you can also expecting the same of those I worked with. in-chief of the college newspaper. She will be puters; fixing them, helping people with them. pursue your area of talent. # When I eventually came to realize how unreal- interning at Education Update this summer. As this hobby grew I realized that I might want Ethan Aberman is a senior at Johnson and to do this as a career, so I started looking at col- Wales University. only thing that matters for a child’s education is that battle to schools, by pushing state govern- his or her test scores, since schools that receive ments to create more charter schools. Even in low test scores lose the privilege to teach: there schools where private parties do not have deci- Diane Ravitch Speaks have been 150 schools closed in New York sion making in schools, public schools are not City alone. This creates a “near apartheid-like set up to succeed, since it is nearly impossible at Barnard College situation” in districts where schools push low to get 100 percent proficiency on tests. Schools scoring students into other schools, and charter have become undemocratic, with teachers los- Only a concerned public part of a larger “raid schools fight for resources with unprivatized ing most of their autonomy, and students’ on the public sec- public schools. interests losing to an increasingly narrow cur- voice will save our schools tor,” which weak- Ravitch argues that democracy is failing in riculum. Ravitch noted that no school that is By Leah Metcalf ens our national our public schools. She argues that schools in taken over by the state has been successfully Diane Ravitch, professor of education history social fabric. California that have been taken over by par- turned around, and that many charter schools and policy at New York University’s Steinhardt Ravitch argued ents (under the new “Parent Trigger” law) are perform poorly. School of Culture, Education and Human that the testing of unjustly taken from their proper caretakers: Ravitch concluded her talk by analyzing the Development delivered a speech entitled “Is students under No the public. It is the public, not a small group of new turn to value added measures. She said that Education a Public Good or a Shoestore?” to a Child Left Behind and Race to the Top make individuals, that schools have been entrusted to Tennessee has been using value-added scores full auditorium at Barnard College. Ravitch’s public schools akin to shoe stores, where test because the public can make the best long-term to measure teacher performance for years, and talk focused on the adverse effects of the scores could be seen as profit. A failure to pro- decisions for schools. that they are not a highly ranked state in terms privatization of public education. Ravitch, who duce high enough test scores, causes schools “You can’t sell Central Park”, Ravitch said, as of education. Ravitch’s ultimate message was formerly worked for the Hoover Institute, a to be shut down, just like a shoe-store that a way of highlighting how we value and trea- that only the unified and firm voice of a con- conservative think-tank, argued that the priva- does not make a profit is forced to shut down. sure things that we share in ownership. Ravitch cerned public will make our policies less adver- tization of public schools by turning them into Ravitch argued that this type of reform does not argued that too many “billionaires” who seem sarial, more thoughtful policy for our schools. # charter schools, and high-stakes testing are both translate into a viable model. It assumes that the to have an anti-government agenda have taken Leah Metcalf is a student at Barnard College. MAR/APR 2012 ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ Education update 25

Alice Weiss so it made me feel endangered, of course. continued from page 18 After years of mulling (I started very young), I Education Update Publisher decided the following: years). We even got the Deke fraternity The only way for Jews to feel safe is to make kicked off campus for two years. sure everyone feels safe. To Receive TC President’s And then Louisiana, I went down to work for The only way for Jews to be safe is to make the ACLU, a job which lasted seven months sure everyone is safe. (remember that authority problem) but which Hence my activism, hence my voting rights, Award of High Distinction connected me with other attorney activists, employment cases, because the corollary to the thus, two decades challenging conditions in first assertion is that everyone needs to feel jails as cruel and unusual punishment; voting- equally empowered. rights cases, integrating municipal and county And this: When I was about 13, my family had governments, integrating the managerial ranks a black woman housekeeper named Inspiration. of Quality Assurance Agency, an agency of the She was a follower of Father Divine, hence Department of Defense, and representing the the name. Nonetheless, I was this snotty, nar- beautiful and doomed miscreant children of the cissistic beginning teenager and I made some city of New Orleans. kind of remark (thankfully I can’t remember Now I write poems. I write about my exactly what I said) implying that blacks were Louisiana encounters, generation, aging, lan- not smart, or that they didn’t organize their guage and dust. What any poet writes about. lives very well or that they were all criminals On a good day I think I might have twenty or some horrible thing and she said, “If you tie more years to do it (I am seventy) but I am a chicken by its foot to a little tree for a long working toward being a really good poet and a time, when you untie it, it will limp around in NYS Commissioner John King, Jr. Dr. Pola Rosen recognized poet. circles. It will not be able to walk straight.” I My inspiration. That would have been the am to this day thankful that I was able at that holocaust. I knew about it when I was very point to apologize to this valiant lady. I never Teachers College President Susan Fuhrman young, and it troubled me. I love being Jewish forgot what she said. # will be awarding Education Update’s pub- lisher Dr. Pola Rosen, the Teachers College President’s Award of High Distinction at the Carla Markell wrought with chemical dependency and men- Academic Festival in April 2012. continued from page 17 tal health issues. I always wanted a better life President Fuhrman cites that Dr. Rosen has for myself and was working toward that, but “raised the level of informed interest in New adult in order to overcome difficult societal and had deep insecurities and fear. My husband York about public education, independent edu- familial challenges. We are working very hard believed in me before I believed in myself and cation, and services for children with special to build public and private partnerships with taught me I can do anything I set my mind needs. Education Update has become the ‘paper our local Boys and Girls Clubs to try and keep to. He has a very supportive family that have of record’ for the education community in New their facilities and staffs strong to provide the been great to me and through the years. One York and reaches every corner of the education services needed in our community. step at a time, I’ve grown to be a much more sector.” Mentors: confident, capable and secure person. This President Fuhrman adds that Education Professor Jeffrey Sachs My biggest mentor, without a doubt, is my probably helps to explain why mentoring is so Update has “embraced technology and evolved husband, Jack. Next would probably be his important to me. into a publication of the times, connecting with sister, Judy. Jack has taught me a great deal Future Goals: readers not only on the web but through social presented with the Teachers College Medal about human decency and making a difference In terms of my role as First Lady, my goal is media as well.” The President continues that of Distinguished Service. Additionally, TC in the world. Judy lives those principles as to try and help bring focus and attention to all the award is “based on your achievements and Alumnus Matthew Pittinsky (Ph.D. ’08) CEO well, and has also taught me a lot about parent- areas of volunteerism and bring as many high tireless support in the sharing of information in of Parchment and founder of Blackboard, Inc. ing and family. quality mentors into the lives of our children in the name of education.” will be honored with the Teachers College Turning Point: need as possible. My personal goals are very Academic Festival will feature keynote President’s Medal of Excellence. A turning point for me was re-meeting my basic. To continue to work hard to try and do speaker Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Commissoner of Education Dr. John King husband. Jack and I grew up together, both good things every day I’m alive and to be the Institute at Columbia University, who will be will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. # attending a public high school in our home- best mother, daughter and wife I know how to town of Newark, DE. I had a lot of family be. I always keep an open mind about where challenges growing up with in a family over- that leads me. # Carole B. Joseph with my board and my staff were able to continued from page 17 celebrate getting a very positive accreditation review at one college I worked at after having Christine Quinn questions I get is, “what is it like being Speaker staff who were hard workers and who were had many challenges from a group of uncoop- continued from page 17 of the City Council as a woman?” I have to committed to the philosophy of “students first” erative faculty and staff. That reinforced the confess, that I really don’t dwell on it that and hiring new academic deans with teaching fact that in order to make lasting change, lead- Turning Point: much. My focus is on being the best leader I experience thus ensuring the credibility and ers must stay “laser-focused” on the ultimate Six years ago, I was elected Speaker of the can, helping all New Yorkers as best I can, and authenticity of academic leadership at every goal if real change is to occur. New York City Council, and I consider myself installing a sound political mechanism that will level in the organization. Future Goals: extraordinarily fortunate to have this chance guarantee responsible government, no matter Mentors: My future goals include motivating my cur- to help make people’s lives better. And as who is in office, for years to come. The most influential mentors in my life have rent campus to aspire to “new beginnings” Speaker, and as a councilwoman before that, Future Goals: been my maternal grandmother and grandfa- which would help us to make lasting changes and as a political organizer before that, I come As Speaker of the Council, my goal is to ther, my parents and powerful women in all as well as providing technical assistance to the into the office every day with the goal of continue the work I was elected to do and that walks of life. Ministry of Education in Haiti so that they can improving our city for the 8.3 million people is to serve the 8.3 million people in New York Turning Points: make the necessary changes in the educational who call it home. One of the most frequent City. # A turning point in my life was when I along system of that country, the country of my birth. #

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: Helen Keller once said, “It is better to walk with a friend in the dark than alone in the light.” 26 COLLEGES & GRADuate Schools ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ MAR/APR 2012

MEDICAL UPDATE Eating, Exercising and Losing COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND Weight: Simple Math, Right? By Bertha Dolly Sugerman, getting people healthier. One example, the Let’s GRADUATE STUDIES ARNP, BC-C, WCC Move campaign, which first lady Michelle For the past decade, I have been a primary Obama helped to launch, has brought healthier care provider with certification in wound care. lifestyles into many homes. When I started my career, most of my patients Regarding foods, the Web site ChooseMyPlate. were older adults with chronic issues such as gov illustrates the fruits, vegetables, grains, high cholesterol and diabetes. More recently, I protein foods, and dairy items that should go have been treating a greater number of people on a plate, or in a cup or bowl. It also has a in their 30s and 40s who are diagnosed with program to track what you eat and drink as the same problems. My colleagues are also well as provide a personalized plan for what confirming that they see younger patients with you should eat and drink. It also has resources the same chronic problems. In addition to my for weight management, graphs that show the primary care patients, I also have been treat- empty calories that many foods contain, pho- ing younger people with skin ulcers who are tographs of portion size dimensions, such as of in danger of amputation due to infections and corn tortillas and glasses of orange juice, and poor circulation. dozens of other features. Part of this realization of chronic problems at Since I work with minority and immigrant a younger age is due to increased health screen- communities, the ChooseMyPlate Web site ings. But I also notice that when I see a patient doesn’t have many foods that my patients and for the first time and take a thorough history, their family members eat at home: Lychees, people sometimes admit that they eat a lot of passion fruit, cactus pears, soursop, rhambu- unhealthy fast food and do not exercise enough tan, mole, huancaina sauce, tamales cooked (if at all). One of the things I ask patients to in banana leaves or corn husks, and arepas, to CREATING LEADERS, CHANGING LIVES do is to create a food and exercise journal with name a few. detailed information on what they eat daily as Of course getting enough exercise is just as well as list the activities and the amount of important as feeding the body nutritious foods. exercise they perform. If we lose weight by burning more calories than But better nutrition and exercise habits must we consume, how can we increase the number become engrained when we are children. Yes, of calories our bodies metabolize? First of all, MASTER OF ARTS AND SCIENCE POST-MASTER’S AND ADVANCED CERTIFICATES there are certain barriers we must overcome. muscles consume more calories than fat. A per- Biology (MS) Leadership in Education (Post-Master’s) No doubt that the streets are not as safe as they son who is active and builds muscle mass burns Business Management (MS) • School Building Leader used to be. More children in urban areas, for far more calories at rest than a person who isn’t example, experience a more sedentary lifestyle building muscle. Of course our bodies burn Cinema and Media Studies (MA) • School District Leader than the kids of a generation ago, with more even more calories during exercise. Studies Computer Science (MS) • School Building Leader and homework and video games today and fewer have shown that building strength along with Education (MSEd) School District Leader (Dual Certificate) spontaneous physical activities on the streets working on the cardiovascular system is most • Childhood Education Nursing (Post-Master’s) and on playgrounds. Many kids go home from effective in losing weight. Just as important • Adolescence (Biology, English, • Adult Health school to an empty house and snack on sugary as eating “smart” foods is also to do “smart” Mathematics, and Social Studies) • Gerontological and fatty foods. And for dinner, junk food and exercise, incorporating activities in our daily • Special Education Nursing (Advanced Certificate) fast food is sometimes more convenient and routines, such as walking up stairs instead of economic than slow cooking with quality ingre- taking an elevator or escalator, parking a car a English (MA) • Cultural Competence dients and organic fruits and vegetables. longer distance away from a store and moving Environmental Science (MS) • Nursing Education Although we have a poor track record in our legs and arms when we’re seated are some History (MA) reducing the incidence of obesity, and the dan- examples. How to burn more calories while Liberal Studies (MA) DOCTORAL PROGRAMS gers of being overweight are just around the consuming “smarter” calories is the key equa- Mental Health Counseling (MA) The College of Staten Island offers Doctoral programs corner for today’s children, there are efforts to tion we need to solve. # Neuroscience, Mental Retardation, jointly with The CUNY Graduate Center and Biochemistry (PhD) Developmental Disabilities (MS) Biology (Specialty in Neuroscience) (PhD) MUSIC, ART & DANCE Nursing (MS) Computer Science (PhD) Nursing (DNS) • Adult Health John Chamberlain at the • Gerontological Physics (PhD) Polymer Chemistry (PhD) Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) Guggenheim Museum By Sybil Maimin Museum, examines the 60-year career of the “Crush,” “squeeze,” “compress,” “twist,” man who brought abstract expressionism to 718.982.2019 “crumple,” “fold,” are words that come to contemporary three-dimensional art as he [email protected] mind when describing the work of John broke through boundaries and experimented Chamberlain, the sculptor commonly associ- with a broad range of unconventional materi- www.csi.cuny.edu/graduatestudies ated with creating and exhibiting “car wrecks.” als, scales and techniques. An exciting retrospective of the artist’s work, The rest of this article is online at www. currently at the Solomon R. Guggenheim educationupdate.com. MAR/APR 2012 ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ Education update 27

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK Bank Street Children’s Unrealistic Expectations Can Book Awards Hinder Children from Discovering Their Greatest Talents By Dr. Carole Hankin that gives him or her Children develop interests and cultivate tal- pleasure. On the other ents when they are exposed to a wide variety of hand, children who Pat Schmatz received her award Allan Wolf signs a copy of his book opportunities over the course of their elemen- show no special talent tary, middle and high school years. Some of at an early age often By Yuridia Peña book “Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story the activities they enjoy, and even excel at, may surprise us in the long The Children’s Book Committee at the Bank of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade”. become long-term pursuits, while others may run. The child who Street College of Education honored five chil- Pat Schmatz received the Josette Frank Award just be passing phases. As children grow and doesn’t play sports today may become an all- dren’s book authors and an illustrator for their for fiction in Bluefish. During her acceptance mature, it’s important for parents to encour- star tomorrow. literary works in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. speech, she recalled as a young girl reading age them to explore many different kinds of It’s important to give children a positive For more than a century, the committee has books in the school bus and during math class. activities, allowing them to discover their own message as they grow and develop a variety of helped parents, teachers and librarians select She expressed how humbled she felt to be part distinctive abilities and interests. interests. Encouraging your child to feel good the best quality books for children. Each year, of such an elite group of writers. It isn’t unusual, however, for parents to draw about small accomplishments has lasting value. the committee reviews about 6,000 titles and “We need to remember that we are all in the conclusions about their children’s abilities pre- Regardless of whether your child is successful chooses about 600 fiction and non-fiction books. Titanic right now… we are all sailing towards maturely. We are all, of course, inclined to in any particular endeavor, he or she will be Since the 1940’s, the group has recognized something,” said Author Allan Wolf, recipient believe that our children are exceptional — and more likely to develop the confidence that leads children’s book authors for their contribution of The Claudia Lewis Award for “The Watch every child certainly has unique gifts. The dan- to success later in life. to literature. that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic”. ger is when we make judgments about a child’s We can unintentionally limit our children Albert Marrin won the Flora Stieglitz Straus A performance poet, Mr. Wolf gave an energetic strengths or weaknesses that limit his or her when we give them a set of expectations we Award for non-fiction. Mr. Marrin is a histo- acceptance speech, which he finalized by fever- development of other interests, or that create would like them to fulfill. We could be depriv- rian who taught social studies for 9 years in ishly reciting a poem. “Poetry finally gained expectations the child may not be able to meet. ing them of discovering “hidden” talents that a junior high school in the Bronx. He later traction and popular culture,” said James Navé. When a young child draws a beautiful pic- may truly be the seeds of exceptional ability. became a college professor; soon after writing Author Kristine O’Connell George was also rec- ture, plays a piece of music well or kicks a soc- Parents and educators alike must remember in four scholarly journals he decided to tap into ognized for her poetry in “Emma Dilemma: Big cer ball with enthusiasm, proud parents some- that children need to explore and develop many a younger demographic. “Its more fun writing Sister Poems”. Nancy Carpenter was presented times believe they have a little Rembrandt, interests in order to achieve their full potential. for children,” he said. Mr. Marrin has written with a certificate for her illustrations in the book. Beethoven or Pele in the making. However, the Dr. Carole Hankin is the superintendent of more than 40 books about history for kids. The celebration took place at the Evelyn Rome child may just be discovering a new activity Syosset Schools in Long Island, N.Y. His award winning book “Flesh and Blood So Tabas and Daniel Tabas Auditorium at Bank Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy”, gives Street College and was hosted by the Center’s a historical perspective about the poor work- Director Lisa Von Drasek. The Center is housed Dr. Timothy F. Lisante Prepares for ing conditions endured by immigrant workers in the Bank Street College Library. The Library and how the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire has a circulating collection of over 68,000 was the catalyst that infused labor reform in children’s books, the Claudia Lewis reference Changes to Juvenile Justice System the U.S. Melissa Sweet also received the Flora research collection, as well as curriculum mate- Stieglitz Straus Award for non-fiction in her rials for teachers. # By Joan Baum, Ph.D. notorious Spofford [Bridges] Juvenile Detention The timing could not be better for Dr. Timothy center in the Bronx — to the city. F. Lasante, former principal of The East River The rate of recidivism is substantially higher keep kids from going back to jail (the perpetual provide for an immediate return of released kids Academy for incarcerated youth on Rikers for youth than for adults, the mayor noted, revolving door), to help them get their lives on to their schools. The idea is to have a continuum Island, and newly appointed director of the city’s and the financial outlay outrageous: “keeping a track and to improve public safety in the process. of study and an integration of behavioral and reorganized education initiative for children in youngster at a limited-secure state facility, the The challenge, of course, is how to manage the educational services. the juvenile justice system. Dr. Lasante, with 35 most common type, costs — listen to this — diversity of problems. So many who are await- Lasante is particularly pleased that he will years in the public schools, has degrees in special $270,000 per year, per kid.” Transferring plan- ing court disposition have an inadequate or no have jurisdiction over professional develop- education, with a focus on alternative education, ning and accountability for housing, counseling family structure, and at the average age of 15 are ment, which was the subject of his doctoral including oversight for GED preparation, career and educating those kids (those awaiting court already way behind grade level. thesis. Unlike some European countries, The and technical curricula and programs particularly hearings and those already adjudicated) to city The revised education component will involve United States has no pre-service certification tailored for those in correctional facilities. jurisdictions makes sense, and acting on the Passages Academy, a network of eight single-sex programs for those teaching in juvenile justice Mayor Michael Bloomberg had just testified new plans immediately, which legislation will secure detention facilities located in the Bronx systems. What to do with a cohort of kids with before the State Assembly’s Ways and Means effect this September, makes excellent sense, (for youth in the Bronx and Manhattan) and a wide range of skills — some years behind Committee and the State Senate’s Committee Lasante adds. Brooklyn (for youth in Brooklyn, Queens and in literacy, others ready to go to college? And on Governor Cuomo’s Executive Budget and The new administrative and funding struc- Staten Island). Central to curricular revision will middle school students (“the toughest,” Lasante Reform plan. What the mayor said was cru- ture builds on the merger in 2010 of the city’s be the introduction of six-week modular courses says), where the differences between grades cial for the city and for Lasante’s new role Department of Youth and Family Justice and the that will enable those in the juvenile justice pipe- 7 and 9 are the most divergent? He is eager as Superintendent of District 79 Alternative city’s Administration for Children’s Services, line to earn credit that will appear on their tran- to see what might be adapted from existing Schools and Programs in devising and imple- which integrated juvenile justice and welfare scripts that typically reflect only semester work. best practices that turn on group, rather than menting education plans for youth at risk. programs, moving programs for both secure Lasante will have full authority in approving one-on-one arrangements. He has also been At his testimony, the mayor laid out for Albany and non-secure detention services under one and implementing all education plans for these looking at foster-care housing models whereby a new administrative structure that would move umbrella, and cutting delays in getting children children, including reviewing proposals from such “crossover kids” would live for a year juvenile justice responsibilities that hitherto into schooling, even as they wait for adjudication various community organizations that would with an approved family — parents, children, relied on expensive, underused and ineffective of their cases. be involved in housing on-site schooling facili- maybe even a dog. At the least, and for sure, Dr. state lock-ups — such as the now-closed and The goal, of course, remains what it was: to ties, along with therapy programs. Plans also Lasante is barking up the right tree. # 28 Education update ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ MAR/APR 2012

Chinese New Year Parade By Dr. Pola Rosen Superintendents Receive This year marks the Year of the Rabbit at the Lunar Books from McGraw-Hill New Year celebrations in Chinatown. The spectacle features elaborate floats, Jennifer MacGregor marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, musicians, magicians, acrobats and a procession of local organizations. Over 5,000 people marched in the parade. Who could Superintendent Kimberly Hart, resist the opportunity to Dr. Charlotte Frank of McGraw-Hill, Principal Krista Bethke and fourth Superintendent Kay Johnson and grade teacher Tracy Carbarx of shoot a confetti gun into Whitmore Lake Elementary School, in the sky and feed a dragon Principal Suzy Wilson of Westwood Elementary School in Greenwood, Michigan. The fourth grade students New Year lettuce? # Arkansas with students. enjoyed being the co-authors of “Nickels, Dimes, and Dollars.”

By Dr. Pola Rosen Thanksgiving Day Parade Superintendent Benny Gooden and Dr. The 85th Macy’s Charlotte Frank are discussing the Superintendent Dr. Rob Slaby and Thanksgiving Day Parade small size of Israel in comparison to all the countries around the world, at Karen Staffen, the fourth grade teacher in New York has been Cavanaugh Elementary School in Fort at Hugh Gallagher Elementary, Virginia an annual event since Smith, Ark. City, Nev. 1924. Over 3.5 million Herman Rosen Dr. people watch the parade Superintendents from the United States they start to make a lifetime of financial deci- in Manhattan and mil- who visited school systems in Israel a few sions about saving, spending, sharing, earn- lions more through their months ago have each been given wonder- ing and growing their money. The Campaign televisions. It’s an experi- ful books for their fourth grade classes in for Financial Literacy is being spearheaded ence unlike any other to appreciation. by The McGraw-Hill Companies and its non- see the floats, enormous The Nickels, Dimes, And Dollars Book: A profit partners and targets the general public balloons and marching Wise Kid’s Guide to Money Matters inspires with an emphasis on supporting kindergarten bands in person. # children to be confident and thoughtful as through high school teachers.

Thank You For Your New Section For Pet Lovers!

Veterans Day Parade By Dr. Pola Rosen Nearly 25,000 par- ticipants marched in the Pobrecita lying on Moo right Shaggy waving to the camera 82nd annual Veterans Day after Moo was born Parade, which included Pola Rosen Dr. officers, veterans, their Sadly I recently lost my Dog Shaggy to bloat. She was the sweetest dog and families, bands and stu- I had her for over 13 fantastic years. dents. The parade marched —Erin Medina, NYC up Fifth Avenue, as the Send us your pet photos. If we print them you will receive a veterans were cheered by Gift Certificate for pet supplies or services. crowds of pedestrians for Please send high-resolution (300 dpi) TIFF or JPG files to [email protected]. their courage and strength View more pets online at www.EducationUpdate.com in defending our nation. # MAR/APR 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ spotlight on schools 29 Philanthropy Camp Inspires Teens PASE Awards Honor Leaders in to Become Leaders Afterschool Education By Yuridia Peña David Aldrich is shaping the next generation of altruists with Grab the Torch, a nonprofit he founded in 2007; its hallmark program, Philanthropy Camp, equips teens with the basic leadership skills necessary to lead humanitarian projects in their communities. Aldrich said he caught the volunteer “bug” on a trip to Block Island — which is nestled on the The Def Dance Jam Workshop performs Award winners Atlantic Ocean approximately 13 miles south of the coast of Rhode Island — where 40 per- David Aldrich by Jennifer Macgregor PASE, stressed that they were “all about chil- cent of the land is set aside for conservation. The Partnership for After School Education dren” and giving them a chance to find and con- “Block Island was a great place to meet times a year in Vermont, Connecticut and (PASE) honored five outstanding leaders in nect to their passions. really cool, innovative people,” he said. Aldrich Colorado. The five-day leadership camp caters afterschool education recently who have made a “Afterschool is not a luxury — it’s essential,” participated in projects like the Block Island to career-oriented youth who aspire to become difference in their communities and the lives of she said. Race Week, a popular sailboat race held every leaders in the nonprofit sector. “We take kids children they have impacted. John Shutkin was recognized as an afterschool June. “These guys were incredibly passionate from every single possible demographic,” The audience was treated to a moving perfor- champion for his service and dedication to about sailing, youth sailing and community Aldrich said. From private school students to mance by the Def Dance Jam Workshop, where PASE, including his pro bono work as gen- sailing,” he added. Truman High School students in the Bronx, students and teachers, those “conventionally eral counsel as well as serving on the Board of He left Block Island inspired and went on to every year, eclectic groups of teenagers come able” and those “differently able,” danced and Directors for many years. organize the first commercial recycling pro- together from across the states to participate. played drums throughout the venue, culminating The first PASEsetter award of the evening was gram for neighborhood kids and employees “We give these kids an organic and true life in an exciting performance on stage. After the presented to Deena Hellman, the program direc- in the Village of Rye Brook in Westchester experience,” he said. performance, a student said that the program was tor of the Star Learning Center at the Goddard County, N.Y. He then decided to exchange his Campers hear from nearly 40 nonprofit pro- important to her because it kept her and her peers Riverside Community Center on the Upper West business career for his own start-up organiza- fessionals who lead lectures and hands-on active and off the streets. Via a sign-language Side of Manhattan. Hellman stressed that in her tion for teens interested in the greater good. workshops. The sessions include presentations interpreter, an instructor who has worked with one-on-one tutoring program, the advocacy ser- Aldrich created a three-part learning service by foundation leaders, development profession- the group for 14 years said that the program is vices they provide for students is what makes the curriculum heavily focused on lecture series, als, college admission representatives, street not just about dance, but how it makes people program special. which he thought would serve as a marketing volunteers, grant writers, corporate marketing grow. He wants to support his community by Award-winner Mi Jung You is a first-genera- tool for the Philanthropy Camp. The camp was professionals, nonprofit strategic planning pro- working with people with disabilities, like him- tion Korean-American who came to the Korean introduced as a supporting component for the fessionals, and presidents of boards and foun- self. “There is a community of equality no mat- American Family Center seven years ago as lecture series. Donations from many supporters dations. ter what the disability,” he said. Dr. Max Gomez, a volunteer. She has stayed with the program poured in and the first camp launched in 2008. To be eligible, students need to complete medical correspondent for CBS 2 News, brought since then, and now as a licensed mental health However, the economic downturn turned away an application, which includes an essay that his wit and wisdom as master of ceremonies. counselor has spread her compassion to reach many of the nonprofit’s financial backers, and describes who they are, what they’ve accom- In her welcome, Fern Kahn, the president of the lives of many in the community. “everything came to a screeching halt,” he said. plished for service learning and their goals. the PASE board of directors and special advisor Faybiene Miranda of the Ifetayo Cultural He later promoted the camp as the nonprofit’s Each camp holds a capacity of 35 students. to the president for community affairs at Bank Arts Academy has been serving communities main attraction to potential partners. “I took our “The demand is growing every year,” Aldrich Street College, said the awards ceremony was in Brooklyn for 22 years. When accepting her camp program from the back burner and put in said. His goal is to see the program replicated the first and only event of its kind, and stressed award, she spoke passionately about the trans- the coal point,” he said. And it worked. “I got in every state and across Europe. the “critical importance” of PASE to the lives of formative nature of arts programs and how she people to sign up to speak [at the camp] and “We want to touch millions of kids,” he said. the children the nonprofit serves. Often the after- herself feels transformed when teaching. did a lot of cold calling to people such as John However, lack of funding continues to barri- school programs supported by PASE provide Patrick Pinchinat of the Queens Community Griswold, executive director, Commonfund cade the organization from reaching its highest services, tutoring and arts programs that public House stressed the need for afterschool educa- Institute,” he added. potential. “The stumbling block has been rais- schools no longer offer. tion to prepare youth for leadership roles and Presently, Philanthropy Camp is offered four ing money,” he said. # Alison Overseth, the executive director of promote positive outcomes for them. #

Shelia Evans-Tranumn in schools, I am the Executive Director of the performance-based management into government dren. She had served as Bush’s domestic policy continued from page 17 UFT Charter School where work is going on to systems. Being honored by President Bush to adviser before going to the U.S. Department of provide a quality education to children. It is great serve as an educational adviser on accountability, Education. I was a part of various types of the country. The goal of Casey is to reduce the to be back on the ground, receiving big smiles the transition to other countries was easy. workgroups under her leaders on various topics. number of children in foster care by 50 percent by and hugs from children as they go to and from So today I am free to travel the globe, working One day sitting in her conference room at one 2020. The foundation is well on its way of com- class. Seeing the hopes and dreams on the faces on behalf of vulnerable children and vulnerable of her meetings she asked me several questions. pleting its goal before that time as it works with of a thousand children and understanding their families around the world and that to me is the I suddenly became keenly aware that I was the legislators, systems and youth across America. future is dependent upon your ability to execute greatest gift that life can provide to any one only African American in the room. I also under- In addition, I serve as the Chair of the Board of an educational plan that will enable them to suc- human being. stand that my plea for the underserved and the Directors of the National Council on Educating ceed remains a humbling experience. Challenges: undereducated was being heard and supported by Black Children, an organization founded by the Finally, the work I am doing in Denmark clearly I have faced the challenges that most women someone in America who had the power to make late Congressman Gus Hawkins of California. was not on my radar screen 10 years ago. If who find themselves on the leadership trajectory a difference. I continued to attend those meetings We are now pleased to work with Congressman someone had asked me about international con- face. I continue to operate in a male-dominated despite what others said about the Bush admin- Bobby Scott of Virginia. More than 25 states sultancies I probably would have said more work arena where few African Americans are able istration. I did see some changes for the better. have adopted NCEBC’s Black Male Action Plan in China, American Samoa or on the continent of to achieve influential status. I remember one Sometimes challenges are to be faced head-on, and the Gus Hawkins’ Literacy Centers are being Africa. Sweden and Denmark were not a part of day sitting in the office of Margaret Spellings, and the belief in the power of one can ultimately opened across the country in houses of faith and my consulting vocabulary. But today, I am work- the Secretary of Education under George Bush. add to the pages of “her story.” # in community-based organizations. ing with the country and its various ministries Margaret was sharp and focused on what educa- Continue reading the rest of this compelling Making sure that I continue to serve children including the Minister of Education to infuse tional advancements should look like for all chil- interview on EducationUpdate.com 30 WOMEN SHAPING HISTORY ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ MAR/APR 2012

concerning their institutional lives. In 2008, the Music Society of New York; and my recent Dora B. Schriro Arizona Department of Corrections won the Joan Kretschmer writing: my novel YONA, about a little girl with continued from page 16 Harvard University ‘Innovations in American continued from page 16 magical, musical powers, as well as a memoir I Government Award’ for “Getting Ready: Keeping have just completed. majority of people for whom I worked or who Communities Safe” -- the first time a correctional was in my 40’s, I decided to study the instrument Most influential mentors: referred me for jobs, especially early on, were system was recognized in the Award’s 20-year seriously. I went to Aspen as a music student, Jascha Zayde was a great, great musician, a men. To a person, they saw things in me that I history.] although I had a Ph.d. in musicology already. I wonderful teacher, and a surrogate father figure. didn’t see in myself yet. I didn’t have the chal- Most influential mentors: had sight-read as a kid, not really practiced, and He enabled me to play the piano and encouraged lenge many women experienced of the glass ceil- My most influential mentors were grandparents, there was a lot to learn. I sought great teachers, my writing as well as other artistic endeavors. I ing. I was just out there, crazy in love with this my husband, and Secretary of Homeland Security like Edward Aldwell, Lilian Kallir, and Jascha was very fortunate to know him. field, and saying, ‘I want in,’ and none of them (former Arizona Governor) Janet Napolitano. My Zayde to teach me the scales and repertoire. At Barnard, Dr. Joel Newman was the per- dared to say ‘no.’ grandparents made my little world very big at an An inner need to make music had reared its son who introduced the history of music to Over the years, I’ve been asked quite a few early age. They taught me how to ask the good head, and I sat every morning at the piano for this very innocent, ignorant girl from Newton, times, ‘Aren’t you scared?’ and other questions questions. My husband helped me to find my 3 hours, before I did other work. Soon Joe Massachusetts. Growing up in the home of along the lines of, ‘What’s a nice girl like you internal compass and to learn to trust it. Janet Robinson, Principal Oboe of the New York immigrants, I had never been inside a museum doing in a job like that? Isn’t it very hard, isn’t it Napolitano is one of the smartest people I’ve ever Philharmonic, invited me to play the Mozart and had attended only one concert, before my very scary?’ You know, for me it’s none of those met, and she’s totally capable of having a great Piano and Wind Quintet with his colleagues and basic music history class with Joel. He changed things. For me, my greatest challenge would be time wherever she is and regardless of the work- sent his Manhattan School students to teach me my life, inter-relating the arts, and serving as a not to be able to do this work at all or anymore. load. And just like NYC Mayor Bloomberg, she the piece. Other opportunities followed suit, role model, a performing, teaching musicologist. For me, even a bad day in ‘jail’ is still a good day is a leader who, when they choose you for a job, and I was learning from and playing with great Turning points: because I’m doing the work that I love. This is they make a commitment to see you through it so musicians, feeling very lucky. Moving to New York City from suburban work worth doing. you can get your job done. At the same time, I began to give piano les- Connecticut in 1985, about to go through a Accomplishments you’re proudest of: Turning Points: sons. I put up a sign in my building, shortly divorce, and needing to find a career beyond Without a doubt, achieving a very success- I came into this field dedicated to the profes- after I moved from Connecticut to New York mother and part-time music person. The empty ful resolution to the prison hostage situation in sion, with a heartfelt commitment to doing good City: “You don’t have to leave the building to nest and new, exciting location required soul- Arizona was a watershed moment. I can be at works, probably in a direct service capacity, I take piano lessons.” I had had only one student, searching, experimentation, and ‘finding’ myself peace with a lot of stuff because of that. I feel thought. In a relatively short time however, I was am adult, before that time. Within a few days, I as an artist. grateful that I was the right person at the right time appointed director of the Missouri Department of had 9 beginning students and was experimenting Future goals: and place for that. Corrections. As a new director, I sought out other with various method books in order to see what To ensure the continuity and flourishing of [Schriro was the new director of the Arizona commissioners and directors and what I quickly was ‘out there.’ Musicians have often told me the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New State Department of Corrections in 2004 when learned was that the average tenure for correction they learned a great deal from teaching, and that York, with great music making and expanding there was a hostage situation at the Lewis Prison. chiefs was just less than two years! And I thought has certainly been true in my experience - - a outreach through our education programs. And Two violent inmates took over an armed guard’s to myself – after watching some of my peers long story…. I enjoy students of all ages but to do some movie scores with our wonderful tower and kept two staff members hostage for 15 posturing and being careful – “There’s little point have a particular sympathy for adults who have artists. days. The incident ended without any loss of life in playing it safe. If all I have is two years, I’d music inside of them and want to express it. In addition, and very important to me, to – the only time a major prison crisis in the U.S. better make the most of the time that I have.” This Accomplishments you’re proudest of: publish my writing, to create more books and ended with everyone alive.) realization has guided me ever since. It’s enabled My sons; my development as a musician, adventures (including animation) about YONA, 2. I’m really proud of the work I did at me to be fearless, true to my commitment to do writer, and photographer; the Lyric Chamber to teach piano, and to do my photography. # Immigrations and customs Enforcement, albeit as much good, to make as many changes, in the for the short period of time I was there. I traveled time I had. Over time, I’ve taken on hard issues, the country and got my arms around a national like privatization, sentencing reform, and capital Maria Mitchell When I think about my important mentors, system of sorts, the U.S. system of civil detention, punishment. As long as I’m informed with the continued from page 16 Rudy Giuliani and Hank Greenberg are always a system that was not particularly well understood facts, I don’t back down. In corrections, no mat- top of mind. What I admire most in them – and or operated, and I documented it, made sense ter how good you are some days are just going to library, with medical and lifestyle informa- how I try to model myself – is their determi- of it, and proposed a comprehensive series of be messy. It doesn’t matter whether you’re at the tion, from more than 18,000 New Yorkers. The nation, persistence and belief in themselves. very practical recommendations to measurably city, state or federal level – someone, somewhere, DNA samples, which are still being used today, These attributes are what enabled them to improve it. The report and its recommenda- doesn’t like what you’re doing. If you look for have been used in numerous research studies, achieve so much. tions were adopted almost immediately by the the undying approval of others, as we say in New which have generated more than 25 scientific Turning Point: Department of Homeland Security. York City – ‘fuhgeddaboudit! ‘ publications. When I started working in government, I 3. I’m very proud of “Getting Ready” and the Future goals: One of our most recent projects – the devel- realized that it was possible to effect change on development of the underlying principles of this In the short term, I’m going to tear out and re- opment of AMDeC F.I.R.S.T., an online reg- a much larger scale than was conceivable work- system reform, which I call “Parallel Universe.” invent the backyard of my 100-year-old house this istry that allows researchers to easily find ing individually. This experience solidified my It was remarkable to see the measurable improve- spring and if there’s time left over, try to remem- services, instruments and technologies avail- commitment to focusing on the changes that ments in the lives of correctional staff and inmates. ber how to sail. able throughout the AMDeC consortium – was can make a big difference for a great many. [“The Getting Ready: Keeping Communities In the for-real future though, I’d like to see if thought to be equally daunting, especially Future Goals: Safe” program designed by Schriro is premised on I could fulfill one of my longtime goals. I’d like because of the amount of information that we There is still so much for AMDeC to accom- the notion that life inside prison should resemble to run my own thing, my own program, unen- needed to gather from each of our Members. plish. Certainly, I would like to see it grow, life outside prison (“parallel universe”) and that cumbered by others’ rules. It could be at front Not only did we collect the needed informa- with many more institutions taking advantage inmates can acquire values, habits, and skills end, maybe working with at-risk adolescents or tion about the offerings of the Core services in of its services and benefits and many more that will help them become productive, law- at the back-end with justice-involved chronically our Member network, but we were able to do scientists embracing the value of AMDeC abiding citizens if they are given the chance mentally ill or female offenders. It’s something I’d this in a very short period of time. We were F.I.R.S.T. Most importantly, I would like to to make progressively more difficult decisions really like to try. #. successful because of the positive relation- see AMDeC bringing in sufficient funds to ships and trust that we had built up with our have a surplus so that we also will be able to Members. provide the research community we serve with Tisa Chang Who are the Snarks? Mentors: an ongoing source of funding. # continued from page 16 The Snarks are a theater company founded in 1909 by seven imaginative to ensure Pan Asian Rep’s future with a per- We salute the Women Shaping History in this issue of and theatrically minded young women manent home in New York and with ongoing Education Update in NYC who wanted more opportunities . Please visit us online partnerships to Hawaii and Asian countries that to perform on the stage than were at www.EducationUpdate.com, view our video interviews have been the source material of so many of our available to amateurs at that time. original plays and musicals. # on Youtube, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. MAR/APR 2012 ■ For Parents, Educators & Students ■ Education update 31

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