COVER STORIES
African-Americans
Shaping History:
Interview: Professor Christine King Farris
by Joan Baum, Ph.D.
Perhaps it is because on that fateful day, April 3, 1968,
just hours before his assassination in Memphis, Martin Luther
King spoke so eloquently of God's allowing him to go up to
the mountain where he saw the promised land, that this man
among men has become enshrined in myth as a man still on
the mountain: heroic, larger than life, mythical. READ MORE
Interview:
Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP
by Pola Rosen, Ed.D.
Ed. Update: Describe a pivotal point in your life. What direction
did you take as a result?
Bond: One pivotal moment occurred in February 1960 when a
fellow student at Morehouse College approached me with a
copy of the day's newspaper-reporting on the sit-ins in that
had just begun in Greensboro, North Carolina. He asked my
opinion and whether we should replicate that action in Atlanta-I
said "yes" and
we did. That marked my entry into the civil rights movement-which
has lasted until this day.
READ MORE
Brown's Half Century-And Mine
by David B. Wilkins
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Supreme Court's
historic decision in Brown v. Board of Education. READ
MORE
Personal Perspectives: Brown v. Board of Ed
by Cheryl Brown Henderson
Our nation is fast approaching a watershed year. In Kansas,
as well as all over the country, we will witness the 50th
anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in
Oliver L. Brown et.al. vs. the Board of Education of Topeka
(KS), et.al. on May 17, 2004.
READ
MORE
My Journey As A Woman of Color
by Johanna DuBose
On May 18, 19, The Borough of Manhattan Community College's
Student Government in collaboration with formerly incarcerated
men and women will hold a criminal justice conference with... READ
MORE
Victor Goines: Leaving a Legacy of Jazz
by Joan Baum, Ph.D.
He modestly allows that at Lincoln Center he is the Artistic
Director of Jazz Studies in the B.A. program in Music. Later
on, but only because the subject of getting youngsters to
know about and appreciate jazz comes us, does he indicate
that he is also Educational Consultant. READ
MORE
TEACHERS OF THE MONTH
Outstanding
Teachers of the Month - February 2004 READ
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NEW JERSEY NEWS
Dr. Susan Cole, Montclair State: Reversing the New Jersey
Brain Drain
By Joan Baum, Ph.D.
Concluding her fifth year as president of New Jersey's second
largest university, the first woman to have been chosen to
head Montclair State, Dr. Susan Cole recalls how early on she
saw the position as an opportunity and a challenge to realize
her "ambition for the institution," to ensure its
potential to make "huge strides" not only for its
15,000 undergraduates and graduate students but for New Jersey.
READ MORE
Single Moms' College
The Camden County College Foundation has begun a new partnership
that will provide low-income single mothers who attend CCC
with money to purchase books for their courses. READ
MORE
EDITORIALS
Guest Editorial:
Black History Month: Lincoln’s
Unfinished Work
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo
Black History Month is designed to focus attention on how far
we have come in correcting the grotesque damage done in our
nation by our early years of slavery. READ
MORE
SPOTLIGHT ON SCHOOLS
No Relief for Education in Bush's State of the Union
by Linda Hodge
President Bush's 2004 State of the Union address left the education
community, once again, concerned that there is little relief
in sight for our nation's struggling public education system.
READ
MORE
Keeping the Best Teachers in City Classrooms
by Randi Weingarten, Pres., UFT
Study after study shows that, with the exception of parents,
the single most important ingredient in a child's success in
school is the quality of the teacher in each classroom. READ MORE
From the Superintendent's
Seat
by Dr. Carole G. Hankin with Randi T. Sachs
Giving our young children the love of learning is the optimum
goal for parents and educators. In our elementary schools in
Syosset, we have found that children will always want to learn
something new when it concerns a topic that they have a personal
interest in, and we have the evidence... READ MORE
Sesame Street Curricula at 35
by Joan Baum, Ph.D.
Anna Housley-Juster couldn't be happier working as the Assistant
Content Director of Research at Sesame Workshop. "It's
what I wanted to do all my life," she says, bubbling over
with enthusiasm, the chance to design and test out programming,
formats, feedback that make learning fun. READ MORE
Reaching the World
by Michelle Accorso
Ms. Sue Capote, a third grade teacher at CES 70 in the Bronx,
set out for a voyage this school year without even leaving
her classroom.
READ MORE
Advocating for Our Children
by Jill Chaifetz
Judge Jack B. Weinstein of the Eastern District of New York
has provisionally approved a settlement in the lawsuit brought
by former students of Franklin K. Lane High School (FKL) alleging
that they were illegally pushed out of school. READ MORE
President Richard Cook and Hundred Year Association Grant
Awards
The Hundred Year Association of New York today granted its
top KeySpan Corporation Charles E. Inniss College Scholarship
for sons and daughters of career New York City employees to
Jessica Hernandez, a junior at New York University. READ MORE
New City Hall Academy
New York City Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein announced the
creation of a new after-school program at City Hall Academy
that will enable high school students to fulfill the Participation
in Government graduation requirement. READ
MORE
Florida HS Students Teach Seniors About Internet
EarthLink, one of the nation's leading Internet service providers,
AARP Florida and Orange County Community Action launched
Generation Link in Orlando recently, bringing together seniors,
net-savvy teenagers and the Internet. READ MORE
Students
from Lycée Français de NY Take Top
Honors in International “Grande Dictée”
Students from the Lycée Français de New York
swept the top three honors at the prestigious International
Pivot Grande Dictée (part of the series Les trophées
de la langue française) recently, winning all prizes
in the junior division. READ
MORE
Poly Prep Students Improve Community
Recently, Poly Prep Country Day School's ABC Mentors traveled
to The Gilman School in Baltimore for two days of presentations,
workshops, and conferences focusing on diversity. The mentors
were invited by Headmaster Jon McGill, who was previously
Associate Head of Poly Prep. READ
MORE
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Foundations, Source of Needed Funds for Education
by Dorothy Davis
New York City abounds in foundations. However, many of them
do not accept unsolicited applications for grants. Here are
four that do:
READ
MORE
The Churchill School: A Portal to Success
by Joanna Leefer
The first thing you see when entering Head of School Kristine
Baxter's office is a large photograph of Winston Churchill,
Great Britain's prominent, albeit dyslexic, prime minister
and... READ MORE
Churchill's Students Speak
Children at the Churchill School are delighted to talk about
their school. Education Update interviewed two sisters, Astrid Moresco,
13 years old and Thea Moresco, 9 years old. Jesse Medalia,
dressed as the Artful Dodger for a production of Oliver,
when we visited, happily consented... READ MORE
COLLEGES
Ribbon-Cutting at New Dr. Charlotte K. Frank Math Center at
CCNY
by Joanna R. Leefer
Math supervisors from school districts around New York City
were joined by education notables Dean Alfred Posamentier,
President Gregory Williams, Deputy Chancellor Diana Lam, President
of MacMillan Sari Factor and President of McGraw-Hill Education
Henry Hirschberg, to pay... READ
MORE
Dr. Paris Svoronos: Oustanding Community College Professor
of the Year
by Marylena Mantas
Students taking Dr. Paris Svoronos' organic chemistry class
at Queensborough Community College (QCC) walk away having memorized
at the very least the following equation: discipline + focus
+ hard work=success. The equation constitutes the formula for
success for Svoronos who firmly believes that if given the
opportunity and if adequately challenged all students rise
to the occasion. READ
MORE
Free Resources for Teachers
The Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) website
makes it easy for teachers, parents, students, & others
to find learning resources from more than 40 federal organizations.
READ
MORE
Fern Khan: Bank Street Dean Forges Social Work,
Community Outreach & Continuing Education Into Powerful
Force for Change
by Sybil Maimin
With over 25 programs and 13 full-time directors, the Division
of Continuing Education at Bank Street College is a truly impressive
example of the successful coupling of dynamic, imaginative
leadership with a mission to help children "grow and learn
to their full potential." READ
MORE
New Honors College at Polytechnic University
Offers 21st Century Undergrad Technology Education
by Dr. Mel Horwitch
How best to educate future technology professionals and leaders? This
was the fundamental question confronting Polytechnic University's
Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies when the Institute
decided to launch an Honors College for talented undergraduates.
READ
MORE
Public
Speakout at City Hall
by Michelle Accorso
Contractual agreements was the subject of concern at a recent
panel discussion led by Councilwoman and Chair of the New York
City Council Education Committee, Eva Moskowitz. The main issue
being addressed was the clarity of these age-old documents
and whether or not teachers, principals, and custodians truly
understand their rights. READ
MORE
MEDICAL UPDATE
Aldo Dominguez - Teacher Needs Kidney
From Someone With A Heart
by Merri Rosenberg
Aldo Dominguez doesn't let much get in his way. Like other
young men, Dominguez traveled when he could, had a personal
trainer to help him keep fit, and socialized with his friends.
READ
MORE
How Ten CCNY Students Won Scholarships
for Medical School
Ten fourth year students in the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical
Education at The City College of New York have been awarded
Sophie and Leonard Davis Scholarships for medical school by
Dean Stanford A. Roman, Jr. The recipients were Carolyn Chang,
Marina Frimer, Sharmin Haque, Ajita Kundaikar, Donald McLaren,
Tiffany Newman, Priya Patel, Mohammed Bilal Shaikh, Henry
Siu, and Chizoba Umeh. READ
MORE
CHESS FOCUS
Chess Camps: Coming Soon to an Area Near You
by Cathi Belcher
It may only be the middle of winter as you read this, but
believe it or not, it's not too early to get your application
in to reserve your slot at a summer chess camp right now!
READ
MORE
Food for Thought: Software's Think Like a King.
by Mitchell Levine
Although it may be true, as Edgar Allen Poe wrote, that "the
greatest Chess player in the world may just be the greatest
player of Chess," that doesn't mean the game can't provide
student participants with extensive benefits off the board
also. In fact, numerous studies have found that children that
master it also gain superior skills in memory, concentration,
logical reasoning, and foresight. READ
MORE
The Grandmaster of Chess Teachers
by Mitchell Levine
Although he's only been a resident here since defecting from
the Soviet Union in 1979, Lev Alburt is a national treasure.
A three-time U.S. champion, GM Alburt is well-known to the
chess world as the only world-class competitor to make a career
of exclusively instructing beginning and intermediate players,
an impressive credential in a field which not only encourages
elitism, but, in fact, mandates it.
READ
MORE
I.S. 228 Wins Chess Championships!
Two eighth grade students from I.S. 228 in Brooklyn were named
the top U.S. chess players at the National Junior High Chess
Championships, the largest and most prestigious student...
READ
MORE
BOOKS
Logos
Bookstoreís
Recommendations
by H. Harris Healy, III, President, Logos Bookstore
On Wednesday, February 11, 2004 a presentation and book
signing will be held at Logos Bookstore at 7 P.M. by the
authors of Public Enemy Number One: Stress, Herman Todorov,
Ph.D., Robert Nadler and I.N. Todorov, Ph.D. READ
MORE
Children's Book Reviews
In this wonderful story written by Harvard University psychiatrist,
Pulitzer-prize winner Dr. Robert Coles, for ages 5-10, there
are more than 12 full pages of magnificent illustrations
that convey the feelings of a child, supported by a loving
family, who must endure the hardship of being... READ
MORE
My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris
Reviewed by Merri Rosenberg
In time both for the observance of the late Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr's birthday, as well as for Black History Month, this
delightful book makes a distinctive contribution to the many
volumes... READ
MORE
Winter
is the Season for Pleasure Reading-Warm up with Excellent
Titles
by Selene Vasquez
" It's easy to nap/tucked into a flap..." reflects
a sleepy toddler surrounded by her stuffed cuddly toys. Parent/baby
pairs are displayed in all the tranquility and security of naptime.
Retro gouache art exudes as much joy and comfort as the sweet
verses. READ
MORE
MUSIC, ART & DANCE
"And I Teach, Too"
by Joan Baum, Ph.D.
As school administrators rev up their rhetoric in preparation
for the state's annual spring offensive on the budget, Philip
Campanella, District Chairperson of Music and Art for the
Malverne Long Island School District, which comprises two elementary
schools, one middle school and one high school, good naturedly
chuckles that he has no real concern. READ
MORE
Great Questions Stimulate Imagination
by Scott Noppe-Brandon
Several weeks ago my wife and I went to see a movie. Being
the parents of two young kids, we think of getting out to see
a movie, as compared to renting one, as a real treat. As we
left the theater we could hear comments, bits of conversation
about the film. READ MORE
"Fame on 42nd Street" Offers
Students Paid Apprenticeship with Theatre Professionals
Five New York City high school students have been chosen as
the February participants in the Father Fame Apprenticeship
Program (FFAP), the result of a partnership between the producers
of Fame on 42nd Street, the Father Fame Foundation and the
New York City Department of Education. READ
MORE
Six Weeks Remain-Register for
'Young Artist Talent Search'
Young performers have approximately six weeks remaining to
register for an audition in the F ourth Annual New Jersey
Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) "Young Artist Talent
Search." READ
MORE
Midtown Theatre Festival Extends
Submission Deadline
Those interested in applying to the Fifth Annual Midtown International
Theatre Festival (MITF5), which will be taking place from
July 12th to August 1, 2004, have an extra month to do so
as the MITF Selection Committee has pushed back the Festival's
submission deadline...
READ
MORE
METRO BEAT
A Budget Good for
All New Yorkers
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
I recently presented the City's preliminary budget for
the next fiscal year. It's our $45.7 billion plan for funding
City services for the 12 months beginning July 1st. READ
MORE
Pataki
Budget Proposal "A Big Nothing"
for
City Schools
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The only thing good that one can say about Governor Pataki's
budget proposal for education is that it is not as bad as last
year's-although the Governor entirely ignores the Court...
READ
MORE
Bluffing and Boasting at City Hall
by Jill Levy, President, CSA
A number of criticisms about the performance of the reorganized
school system have been aired publicly of late. Yet, Chancellor
Klein is apparently impervious to comments and concerns from
dedicated professionals and citizens as he repeats his mantra
of the month, his pride in... READ
MORE
ONLINE LEARNING
Math-Kal's Math Teacher
by Mitchell Levine
Now that the digital revolution in education is a generation
old - my high school in Rochester, NY got its first Apple
II+ in 1984 - pundits from both the political Right and Left
have begun... READ
MORE
Stealth Signal's xTool Computer Tracker
by Mitchell Levine
While the current technology procurement initiative underway
in the New York City schools - culminating in the deployment
of laptops to most of the community - is certainly commendable
from a purely educational perspective, it's motivations are
primarily political.
READ
MORE
MUSEUMS
Studio
Museum in Harlem: A "Happening" Art
Scene
by Sybil Maimin
Lots of attention is paid these days to the bustle of activity
and development in Harlem, especially on 125th Street. Yet,
a unique cultural institution, The Studio Museum in Harlem,
has been creating excitement on the block for over 35 years.
READ
MORE
MOVIES AND THEATER
A Rare Pearl Earring
by Jan Aaron
British director, Peter Webber has turned the famous Vermeer
portrait, "Girl With a Pearl Earring," into a lustrous
movie. The portrait itself hangs permanently in the Mauritshuis
in the Hague, capturing the imagination. READ
MORE
Bag
Full of Fun: "Where Is
That Bear?"
by Jan Aaron
Take all the kids you can to "Where Is That Bear?" and
celebrate the Paper Bag Player's 45th season. Then, don't shush
when they call out or stamp their feet. Bags' founder and long
time director Judith Martin wants kids to feel at home in the
theater. READ
MORE