Welcome!

Community Conversations about Education

Hartford

TODAY’S GOALSHartford Areas Rally Together (HART) seeks

to:

Build relationshipsAct CollectivelyBring about lasting change in Hartford’s

neighborhoods

Hope to inspire and move community members to action

OUR QUESTION

What are the purposes of a public education?

OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONWill help us understand our own values

and beliefs about education.

Will help us understand the range of views in our community.

Will not produce a consensus.

Will explore possible steps to engage the larger community in action to improve education

APPROACHES

What are the consequences of these approaches for issues such as….

Length of school hours/year Extracurricular programs Gifted programs Varied learning styles Special accommodations Teacher evaluations Budget priorities

APPROACH 1: PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN

THE JOB MARKET

APPROACH 1: PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN THE JOB MARKET

Building curriculum around workforce needs? Focusing on science, technology, engineering and math? Early tracking of students to college prep vs technical paths? Teaching students social skills for the workplace? Establishing a dress code?

Does this mean…..

Is this too limiting?Could students lose sight of their ambitions and goals?

APPROACH 2: WIDEN STUDENTS’ HORIZONS & HELP THEM EXPRESS THEIR INDIVIDUALITY

APPROACH 2: WIDEN STUDENTS’ HORIZONS & HELP THEM EXPRESS THEIR INDIVIDUALITY

Encouraging creativity? Nurturing independent thinking? Developing a lifelong passion for learning?

Does this mean…..

Would there be a lack of structure?Would academics be less than rigorous?Is this good for society?

APPROACH 3: PRODUCE RESPONSIBLE AND CAPABLE

CITIZENS

APPROACH 3: PRODUCE RESPONSIBLE AND CAPABLE CITIZENS

Teaching values such as patriotism, community service, acceptance? Focusing on history, public policy, civics and social studies? Developing analytical skills? Introducing robust community service programs?

Does this mean…..

Would there be a lack of focus on the hard sciences?Could students become content with their beliefs?Could there be a narrowing of perspectives on global cultural differences?

APPROACH 4: IS THERE ANOTHER APPROACH?

SMALL GROUP SESSION

SHARING SMALL GROUP

CONVERSATIONS

NEXT STEPS:FOLLOW UP MEETING

WILL SHARE REPORT AND DESIGN ACTION PLAN

DATE:TIME:PLACE:

THANK YOU! Planning Committee Moderators & Recorders Hartford Areas Rally Together (HART) Hartford Public Schools Achieve Hartford! Our Piece of the Pie Trinity College William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund Community Mediation of New Haven

If you have questions or would like more information, contact HART at: (860) 525-3449 or info@hartofhartford.org