------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Announcing Connecticut's First Electronic Barn Raising Hartford, CT, April 24 -- Emphasizing the need for all of Connecticut's children to be able to access the Information Superhighway, a broad based citizen effort is underway to connect all elementary and secondary schools and public libraries to the Internet. This ambitious project was announced today at the State Library. The effort is spearheaded by John Larson, former president of the Connecticut State Senate and currently a senior research fellow at Yale University's Bush Center on Child Development and Public Policy. When asked why he started such an undertaking, Larson stated, "This is an extraordinary opportunity to develop a template for cooperation that will enhance our children's ability to compete in a global economy." ConneCT '96 is modeled after a similar effort in California where 17,000 trained citizen volunteers wired 2,600 schools in one afternoon. Janice Gruendel, Project Manager for ConneCT '96 and Co-Director of Citizens for Connecticut's Children and Youth, talked about the initiative. "On September 28th, ConneCT '96 volunteers will wire participating public libraries along with K-12 schools, using wiring kits that cost about $600 and include a high-speed modem. Importantly, this effort builds upon the wonderfill work already begun in Connecticut to bring students into the global information age," Gruendel stated. The electronic hub of ConneCT '96 is its web site, designed and hosted by DynaMind of Avon, Connecticut. At this site, schools, libraries, citizen volunteers and organizational sponsors can register to participate. The site is located on the Intemet at the following address: http://www.connect96.org. Some of the educational and parent organizations that have already joined the effort include the Connecticut PTA, the Connecticut Education Association, the Connecticut State Federation of Teachers, and the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents. Corporations are also joining the effort. Today's announcement comes with the support of one of the State's largest businesses. Howard Taylor, President, S.N.E.T Custom Business Group, announced that Southern New England Telephone will become the official ConneCT '96 Internet provider by offering one year of free Internet access to participating ConneCT '96 schools and public libraries. "In this dawning information age, we want to do our part to ensure well-educated students," remarked Taylor at the press conference. --- Squish v1.11 * Origin: Live From BECKERSVILLE, U.S.A (203) 775-6198 (1:141/1030) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 265 EDUCATOR Ref: D5Y00002 Date: 05/27/96 From: RAND Time: 09:54am \/To: ALL (Read 3 times) Subj: 2 ConneCT 96 The ConneCT '96 initiative will also include a fall symposium, sponsored by S.N.E.T., in conjunction with the Vice Presidential Debate being held in Hartford on October 2. At the symposium, Governor John Rowland and Vice President Al Gore will send email messages to participating schools and libraries. Symposium attendees will work to define next steps to further enhance the Internet's role in education. ConneCT '96 is guided by a broad-based citizen Steering Committee, including members of the Connecticut General Assembly and the State Department of Education. A Technical Advisory Network is being formed to assist the community volunteer effort. A Media Committee will provide ongoing information to the public. For more information, to learn how to "adopt" a school, or to register if you do not have access to the Internet, contact Citizens for Connecticut's Children and Youth at 203-498-4240. Thanks for wanting to help! Your contribution is what will enable our children to benefit from the vast information resources available today. All monetary contributions will be a 100% write off as a charitable donation for tax purposes. In addition, all sponsors will receive a title of appreciation in our thanks to our sponsors page. With your involvement, we hope many will follow, so tell your family and friends about this wonderful project. Donations can be made in the form of company or individual sponsorships or through volunteering. Sponsors can donate connection kits and/or human resources either to individual schools, towns, or to the project as a whole. Volunteers are needed to help organize the effort, to install the connection kits in schools, and to test the connections once they have been installed. For more information about how to organize local planning teams, see below. By becoming a sponsor of ConneCT '96 you commit to do at least one of the following: Provide the technical and/or organizational support for at least one school Provide funding for Connection and Wiring kits Loan the tools and equipment to install the kits on September 28 Train volunteers who will install wiring and connection kits on September 28 Pledge employee participation in the effort Volunteer to help with the organization and installation efforts If you would like to be a part of ConneCT '96 please fill in the following form. We will call to confirm your donation as soon as we receive this information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact Name: If representing a business or organization, enter the name here: Address: City/Town: Zip Phone numbers: Day: Eve: E-mail address: Let us know how you would like to help: (Connection kits will have a modem and cable adapter, Wiring kits will have category 5 cable and ends. Costs are approximate and should be used as a guide only.) Connection Kit - $300 qty. Wiring Kit - $500 qty. Other dollar amount $ Time and expertise If volunteering time, please give us more information below: How would you like to contribute (select below) Where would you like to contribute (select below) If you chose a specific location, enter it below: Name: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Q&A Welcome to our questions and answers area. Here you will find a list of planning team tasks, a basic introduction to the Internet, and a link to frequently asked questions and answers. Planning Team Tasks: Sign up as volunteers electronically using the web site or by fax (203.498.4242) or phone (203.498.4240) at CCCY. Check to see what schools are registered using the web site. If the school you are interested in is not registered, sign them up using this web site, or by fax or phone to CCCY. Contact the school district principal/school contact person to organize the planning team. Enlist community organizations (e.g. Board of Education, PTA, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, High School service organizations, businesses, students and teachers already on-line). Form teams for individual schools, or by district. Pick a team leader. Create local publicity through community newspapers, PTA letters, radio and public access television. Recruit volunteers from the community. Work with the school contact person to survey the schools to plan where and how wiring will be installed. Order kits (kits will be standardized). Secure funding for kits. Encourage citizens and organizations to "adopt" individual participating schools for resource development and wiring assistance. Train volunteers in September for the wiring installation on September 28. Install wire/modems/software, and certify that wiring is completed per the survey/plan. Connect to on-line service and test. Participate in the launch on October 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Internet Background The world is undergoing an information renaissance in which anyone with the know-how and the proper equipment can obtain vast amounts of information ranging from artwork at the Tate Gallery to the latest news on current events. All this is currently available on the Internet commonly known as the Information Super Highway . Originally created 25 years ago by a government organization known as ARPANET and some of the world's most noted universities, the Internet today consists of over 65,000 computer networks worldwide. Attached to these networks are approximately 60 million computers of which over 50% reside in the United States alone. How do we access this vast information resource? The World Wide Web is a primary means of information access, enabling graphics, text, animation and even interactivity. Moreover, the World Wide Web makes it easy to access other network protocols such as FTP, GOPHER and USENET creating a very powerful communication tool. Many companies, government organizations, universities, libraries and schools in the K-12 community are taking advantage of this resource. In addition to its function as a vast source of information, the Internet provides an effective means of communicating. It can enhance internal communications as well as provide instant worldwide exposure. Today, the Internet is the fastest growing communication medium the world has ever seen. Although many K-12 schools have taken their own initiative and have created some of the most creative projects on the Internet, the majority of schools have yet to go on-line. ConneCT '96 is striving to provide this information resource to all of our children, for their benefit now and in the future. The following is a price guide for sponsoring the ConneCT '96 project. Each sponsor banner is color coded for different areas of the site. In order to accommodate the many companies in Connecticut, all banners will have a random rotation schedule of up to five companies per banner sponsorship. The banners will rotate every five minutes, ensuring that all sponsors receive the recognition that they deserve. All rates apply for the period specified and is subject to change upon the period ending date. ConneCT '96 is a statewide endeavor that will receive national and international notoriety. It is only the second model in the nation, the first being Netday in California. Connect '96 differs in many ways from the objectives and tactics of Netday, but the end goal of integrating computer based learning into our schools remains the same. Thomas C. Kwon (860)678-8125 phone (860)678-8403 fax --- Squish v1.11 * Origin: Live From BECKERSVILLE, U.S.A (203) 775-6198 (1:141/1030) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 265 EDUCATOR Ref: D5Y00003 Date: 05/27/96 From: RAND Time: 09:54am \/To: ALL (Read 3 times) Subj: 3 ConneCT 96 info@ConneCT96.org --- Squish v1.11 * Origin: Live From BECKERSVILLE, U.S.A (203) 775-6198 (1:141/1030) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 265 EDUCATOR Ref: D5Z00000 Date: 05/28/96 From: TOM COTTON Time: 03:47pm \/To: EVERETT HOUCK (Read 3 times) Subj: Textbook Selection & Hid EH>I thought teachers were responsible for the education of children. I love a person with a sense of humor. :) ___ X QMPro 1.53 X c+]nof --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: North East Texas Datalink (1:3819/128) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 265 EDUCATOR Ref: D5Z00001 Date: 05/28/96 From: TOM COTTON Time: 04:14pm \/To: SHEILA KING (Read 3 times) Subj: National Curriculum 1/ SK>-> Setting this standard may in fact create a product that is not of the >-> highest possible quality for the $$$$ spent. SK>True. My husband works for a company that has been a big government >supplier and had to contend with mil specs for a long time. This problem >(that you mention above with the entire mil spec process) is what has >lead to the abondoment of that procedure. The military and the >government are (I believe) no longer using this procedure in new >contracts. At least, that's what I gather from what hubby tells me about >more recent contracts they have bid on. That would be for the good of all :) SK>-> A National Curriculum by design would probably be dumbed down to >-> accommodate the lesser academically inclined students. SK>This is certainly one possibility, but I don't believe that it is the >only one. I have read a fair amount on this topic in Educational >publications which intend teachers as their primary audience, and many >educators are warning against this. Most educators I have come in contact through the years are not very happy with the current dumbing down of the public system. It has only been in the last few years where we have regained discipline to some extent. A few law suits have been filed by the NAACP, ACLU ect but when they realize the community will support fighting them to the max to make policy stick they back off. While all may be entitled to attend school they are not entitled to the right to disrupt the educational process. The dumbing down has been a result of people at the state level giving into minority demands. We may have voted enough of them out to start turning that around as well. BUT if we go in with our eyes open, and aware >of such problems and conflicts, perhaps there is a way to deal with it. >The alternative, of course, is to do nothing and give up. Another alternative is to stop hiring individuals who come from substandard education districts. To some extent this is already the case. Not all college degrees are equal and as we all know not all high school diploma's mean the student is remotely well educated. If the National standard is high enough it will IMO be supported. If it is not we are better off where we are on a local basis. SK>-> The result could be that districts who must only meet this minimum >-> standard would be overly generic. While it is nice to believe that >-> teachers would be able to hold a high standard in the education >-> process I have seen little in the current methodology to indicate >-> that is the case. SK>I can see what makes you write this. However, to already admit defeat is >to accept the status quo and attempt nothing. Our district is far from admitting defeat. It simply offers the highest standard a student wishes to attain. The vast majority get a less than mediocre education, not because it is not available but simply because they do not make the effort. Current social systems are far too rewarding of failure to encourage students to succeed. SK>-> SK>I'm sorry, but this is just a bit too "Big Brother" for me to buy. No need to buy, big brother is free. Free lunch, free housing, free medical, free transportation, the V chip, Ruby ridge, WACO, FBI, CIA, IRS, ATF, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, ect. News flash, 56 % on average is what we pay in taxes all inclusive. Does that mean free really isn't free ? The reality is that anything GOVERNMENT is set to a minimum standard. Usually not as high as many would believe. SK>I am well aware of the example on nuclear testing that you cite above, >and agree that your hypothetical examples would likely be targets of >information supression. But I think that that is INDEPENDENT of anything >to do with the school system. The supression of the nuclear testing >results and activitity had NOTHING to do with schools. You have to make >some sort of tie-in showing how adoption of a National curriculum or >standard would cause teachers or schools to supress publicly available >information, and I just don't believe that would happen. As soon as >something like the nuclear testing has come to light, there have been >teachers in their classrooms talking about it. Remember the duck and cover routine. That had to do with schools and was not very realistic. All throughout my child hood the commies were coming to get us and now they are our friends if you believe what is discussed in the school locally. National curriculum has a great deal of potential for corruption unless it is addressed only in a few core subjects as has been suggested before. If they are to include BS items like pubic service requirements then it will simply not be acceptable to many people, my self included. SK>Others who have more experience with the system in Texas have also >corroborated that they have fallen into the "teach to the test" >syndrome. The primary reason for this is that teacher evaluation is (Continued to next message) ___ X QMPro 1.53 X TU++kI --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: North East Texas Datalink (1:3819/128) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 265 EDUCATOR Ref: D5Z00002 Date: 05/28/96 From: TOM COTTON Time: 04:14pm \/To: SHEILA KING (Read 3 times) Subj: National Curriculum 2/ (Continued from previous message) >heavily tied to student performance on these tests. :-( Sad but true. Judging from some of the student I know here I certainly would not want my evaluation tied to their performance. Hopefully things will change for the better in public education. IMO it will only happen when the parents really care enough to get involved and force the change to occur. ___ X QMPro 1.53 X TU++kI --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: North East Texas Datalink (1:3819/128) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 265 EDUCATOR Ref: D5Z00003 Date: 05/29/96 From: TOM COTTON Time: 08:06am \/To: SHEILA KING (Read 3 times) Subj: National Curriculum SK>"The" National Curriculum? Iyeeha! You're already talking about it as >though it exists. I would think that if there were such a thing as >National Standards or Curriculum, it might be one of those things that >schools would demonstrate to accrediting agencies that they are trying >to attain as part of their accreditation process. In such a way, it >would be voluntary compliance, and yet desirable as a way of attaining >accreditation. However, I understand that there are not only private >schools, but public schools as well, that operate without being >accreditted. What would entice such schools to reach for standards, I >simply don't know. Hi Sheila, In Hot Springs Arkansas and the surrounding area there are five high schools in five different districts. Of the five only three are actually state accredited schools or at least that was the case four years ago. One of the two schools that did not have state accreditation was actually better for the academically inclined that two of the ones that were accredited. I know get to the point :) Most parents in this part of the country look at racial mix first and then the quality of the school physical facility. When I was very active in the district 2 in ten new students parents ever asked about whether or not the school was state accredited. While I knew which ones were and were not I must confess I have no idea what the criteria is or was nor whether or not it really made a difference for the students. The colleges in Arkansas use ACT scores as a primary entrance acceptance criteria. It seems many changes will be needed for a national curriculum to have any real meaning to anyone outside the academic world. I do understand the reason why you and others would like a National Curriculum. I think ? What I don't understand is how it will make a difference in the actual education process. Students who care will still get a good education and those that don't will not. Could you offer some advantages of a National Curriculum ? Unless compliance were mandatory I doubt many would sign on if it increased the cost per student as many believe they are excessive now. --- X QMPro 1.53 X :ib+Pa)? + o^Xb Pv++f,u+ A^P --- Maximus 2.02 * Origin: North East Texas Datalink (1:3819/128)