9/09
BOSTON—Eighteen children sit fidgeting in a circle on a slightly faded blue and purple rug with hands sprinkled by gold glitter.
“Is this what my germs look like?” a 5-year-old dressed in pink from head-to-toe asks with a puzzled look on her face.
Laura Bradford, as director of the Clinton Path Preschool, cannot explain the complex and scientific difference between bacteria or viruses to the children, whose age’s range from two to five years old. What she can do, however, is help them understand how easily sickness spreads by the use of a simple game.
Just a few moments prior, Bradford pretended to dramatically sneeze out a handful of glitter then shake the hand of the child next to her. In a “hot-potato” fashion, the hand shaking traveled around the circle. When it returned to Bradford, each child saw tiny specs of gold on his or her tiny hands.
“This is how germs spread,” she said to the intrigued children.
Bradford understands the importance of teaching the children the value of cleanliness and hygiene—especially in a time when the country is up in arms about the upcoming flu season and the recent H1N1 flu, commonly known as the swine flu, outbreaks, she said.
A single mom, Bradford has three children of her own—ages 12, 16 and 21—but she is responsible for the health and well-being of eighteen more on a daily basis.
“We’re not really doing anything different this season than we’ve done before,” she said of the way she plans to keep her students healthy. “We wash hands, use sanitizer and wipe down the tables and toys with bleach and water many times a day...just like we always have.”
Bradford, clad in loose-fitting jeans, a knit sweater adorned with multi-colored flowers, and a plastic necklace obviously made by the children that she cares for, has been the director of the preschool, which is nestled in the basement of St. Paul’s Church in Brookline, for nine years.
Even though the school is below ground, it retains no traits of a standard basement. Rather than darkness or gloom, Clinton Path Preschool exudes the warmth and coziness of home. The children treat Bradford as if she is a family member, not a teacher. They hug her, follow her every move, and act so comfortable around her that it may be hard to believe that it is only the third day of the school year.
Many of the children currently enrolled in the program are the younger siblings of Bradford’s previous students, which is also a testament to the dedication she gives the school. Even the class-pet, an 8-year-old lizard affectionately named Rainbow, seems completely content in the comfort of this underground safe haven.
Clinton Path Preschool was founded in 1972 by a group of parents and teachers, she said. This cooperative environment allows parents to maintain a strong presence in the school, as they help perform administrative and maintenance tasks, participate in planning and policy making, and have constant contact with Bradford and the rest of the staff.
These parents have not expressed increased anxiety about the upcoming flu season, although a meeting has been scheduled for next Monday to address the issue, she said.
“At one time or another a child will be sneezing, coughing and have a runny nose,” she said. “It’s just what you have in a preschool.”
Bradford said she is recommending all children receive both seasonal and H1N1 flu shots, in accordance with a notice published by the Brookline Public Schools superintendent, William H. Lupini, on September 3, 2009.
“It is important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and how to protect others from becoming infected,” the notice states. “If we all practice good hygiene, we can limit the spread of flu in our schools.”
Along with receiving the shots, Lupini recommends teaching children to wash their hands often, use sanitizer, cough into their elbows and avoid touching their nose, mouth or eyes, in order to keep from getting sick.
Janet Levatin, a holistic pediatrician in Brookline, said she is weary of the vaccine and recommends using alternatives such as Echinacea to protect the immune system of children.
“I don’t endorse the vaccine because I feel it is hastily put together and not well tested,” she said. “I don’t trust its safety.”
Regardless of any opposition, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention also released a statement on September 4, 2009 recommending that children and early childhood care providers be among the first to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine.
“I’m going to make my own kids get the vaccine,” Bradford said. “I just need to write it down so I don’t forget to tell them.”
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Mass. politicos defend candidates
Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Updated: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Two women debated for the presidential seat in front of a packed house at a mock debate hosted by Harvard University Wednesday night.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift, representing presidential candidate John McCain and Harvard University lecturer Stephanie Robinson, representing Barack Obama, debated the respective candidates' education policies at Harvard University.
Approximately 200 people attended Education Policy Forum, which was cosponsored by the Education Professional Interest Council and the Harvard Business School Education Leadership Group.
The forum, which was open to the general public, occupied the Kennedy School of Government's Bell Hall. Attendees lined the walls and floor of the auditorium, which reached capacity and closed off well before the event began.
Swift and Robinson emphasized the importance of education for future generations and for a successful nation.
"Education is the civil rights issue of our time," Robinson said. "Obama and Biden will ensure that all children are prepared and ready with the skills necessary to compete in our global economy."
"McCain believes that improving and achieving excellence in the education system is a long-term solution to all other issues," Swift said.
Both representatives also spoke about early childhood education, charter, choice and quality of teaching.
"Obama wants to assure that every American has access to college, that it is affordable, and that they succeed once they get there," Robinson said. "Education isn't merely about book smarts, we are talking about the education of the whole person, the whole character."
Obama's higher education policy includes a plan to make college more affordable for all students by overhauling the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would ensure the first $4,000 of tuition for most Americans in return for 100 hours of community service, according to his official website. His plan also includes simplifying the financial aid application process by integrating it within general tax forms.
McCain also supports simplified financial aid applications and improved student lending programs, as well as higher education tax benefits and information for parents, according to his official website.
Though Swift and Robinson agreed that education policies need to be revamped, the representatives disagreed on the means of funding the candidates' proposed plans.
"Obama wants to make sure we are taking care of those who can't take care of themselves," Robinson said. "There isn't enough money in education."
"The problem is lack of consistency and quality, not money in education," Swift said.
Boston University School of Management junior Peter Ghafari said he considered education an important issue in the presidential election.
"Education leads to increased efficiency, which will ultimately help better our struggling economy," he said.
Harvard student Sara Donatelli said she did not learn as much about the candidates as she had hoped.
"It's still a bit vague overall," she said. "Swift spoke more about herself than McCain."
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/mass-politicos-defend-candidates-1.748685
More colleges reject SATs
Published: Friday, September 26, 2008
Updated: Friday, December 26, 2008
The dreaded three-hour, Saturday morning SAT faces an increasingly uncertain future as more colleges have begun making the exam an optional component of the application process.
Now a report released this month suggests the exam should not carry much weight at all. The report, which was a culmination of a yearlong study by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, details the use and misuse of standardized testing in the college application process.
Standardized testing is already optional at more than 400 colleges, and for approximately 755 other four-year colleges in the United States, the SAT I or ACT is not heavily weighed for bachelor's degree applicants, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing website.
In 1984, Bates became one of the first colleges in the United States to decrease emphasis on standardized exams in the application process.
Bates Vice President William Hiss said optional standardized testing allows students from disadvantaged applicant pools such as women, multi-cultural students, bilingual students, students with learning disabilities and athletes to more easily apply to Bates.
College admissions test results often reveal considerable score differences among ethnic, gender and socioeconomic groups, according to the report.
Steven Syverson, Lawrence University's vice president for enrollment, said standardized testing provides an unfair advantage for the affluent who can afford expensive preparation courses.
"The highest correlation with test scores is affluence," he said. "So many affluent people are paying to take test prep courses in order to improve their skills. This is creating a bigger gap between the 'haves' and 'have nots.'"
Syverson said standardized testing does not give colleges an accurate predication of future success.
"Standardized testing doesn't tell us about likelihood of a student graduating, ultimate GPA or how an applicant might be successful at college in other ways outside the classroom," he said.
Wheaton College junior Chelsea Petrozzo said she decided not to submit her SAT scores when she applied.
My transcript was a better representation of who I was as a student," she said.
BU spokesman Colin Riley said that BU has more than 38,000 applicants each year, and that the standardized tests are a helpful way to sort through those applications.
Though Riley confirmed that Boston University uses tests like the SAT and the ACT to admit students, he minimized their importance in BU's overall admission process. He said standardized tests are the last thing the school looks at during admissions.
Still, Riley did not see BU letting go of standardized tests in the future.
"At this point and in the near future, I don't know that it's being discussed. We're looking at students that will be applying in the next few months."
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/more-colleges-reject-sats-1.1148922
Toll hikes loom for commuters
Published: Thursday, October 2, 2008
Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2008
Toll fares on the Massachusetts Turnpike could increase by as much as $5 if a proposal by the MTA passes.
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority discussed possible price increases in a recent board meeting, Mac Daniel, the MTA spokesman, said.
"The board requested some toll scenarios based on how much we need to generate to pay off our debts," he said. "Toll increases are the only way the turnpike generates revenue from the state for our operating budgets, because we are responsible for the Big Dig and the past bonds that were floated for it."
The proposed toll raises may cause a $1 increase at the Weston ad Allston-Brighton tollbooths and a $5 increase at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnels, a move which would generate at least $90 million more a year in revenue, according to a September Boston Globe article.
College of Fine Arts sophomore Christopher Maher, a commuter student from North Weymouth, said avoiding toll roads would add too much unwanted time to his trip.
"An extra 50 minutes of driving to save a few bucks a day isn't really worth it," he said. "I'll just skip buying my morning coffee."
College of Engineering sophomore Michael Moccia drives himself to Boston University through the Ted Williams tunnel from East Boston daily. He said he tries to balance his commute in terms of time and money.
"It's much easier and faster to travel by car, but with rising toll prices it looks like I'll be using the T more often," he said. "I can already foresee coming to class late."
Increased tolls will also place an expensive burden on cab use throughout Boston, Metro Cab general manager Stephen Sullivan said.
"Anything costing more tomorrow than it does today will hurt working people," he said.
Though some may still choose to hale a cab, taxi drivers are bound to suffer, Sullivan said.
"Tips will take a hit," he said. "The money used on the tolls will come out of the drivers' pockets."
College of Communication junior Max Emmer said he would seek more inexpensive options than taxis if tolls increase.
"Cabs have already raised initial fare surcharges due to the increased price of gas," he said. "If there are more extraneous charges in my fare, I'd be inclined to seek more affordable modes of transportation."
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/toll-hikes-loom-for-commuters-1.758356
Military seeks boost in ROTC participation
Published: Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Updated: Tuesday, November 4, 2008
For the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the U.S. Army is expanding the number of ROTC programs on college campuses.
The Pentagon requested this year that Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs produce 4,500 new second lieutenants each year, a 15 percent increase, according to an Oct. 31 article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Boston University Dean of Military Education Douglas Sears said there is a constant need for new officers because of U.S. involvement in two wars abroad.
“The U.S. military is stretched fairly thin in two major confrontations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “There’s a constant need to renew the officer core.”
Northeastern University military science instructor John O’Brien said expanding ROTC is necessary because the U.S. Army must meet a quota for officers recruited from academic institutes.
“The Army has a certain number of lieutenants they are looking to fill,” he said. “The ROTC is the largest way the Army receives its commissioned officers.”
Northeastern has raised its quota by 1,000 cadets this year to fill the minimum 5,000 spots the Army is looking to fill from the institution, O’Brien said.
Boston University offers ROTC students many merit-based scholarships and higher education benefits to encourage recruitment.
College of Arts and Sciences senior Michael Matern said the only way he was able to attend BU was because of the scholarship he received from the ROTC program.
“If it wasn’t for the ROTC, I wouldn’t be at BU,” he said.
However, the scholarships provided to cadets does come with a price.
Cadets must all serve a minimum of four years active service in the military, as well as four years as inactive members on the Reserve’s roster. ROTC students do not find out where they will be stationed until after they graduate.
Some colleges resisted the call for an increase in ROTC programs due to antidiscrimination policies that clash with the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prevents gay individuals in the military from telling others about their sexual preference.
Both U.S. presidential candidates support an increase in ROTC programs on college campuses and recently criticized Ivy League colleges in a joint appearance at Columbia University Sept. 12 for their resistance to an on-campus ROTC program, according to Bloomberg.
Like Columbia, Harvard University does not host an ROTC program because of the military’s stance on homosexuality.
“Current federal policy of excluding known lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals from admission to ROTC or of discharging them from service is inconsistent with Harvard’s values as stated in its policy on discrimination,” Harvard’s student handbook states.
Harvard students, however, can take ROTC courses on a non-credit basis by cross registering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/military-seeks-boost-in-rotc-participation-1.894190
College pitch: Go green with free bicycles
Published: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Updated: Thursday, November 6, 2008
Many schools advocate sustainable living, but a few colleges and universities have pushed the proverbial extra pedal to encourage students to leave their car keys at home and hop on their bicycles.
Universities across the nation are offering incoming students free bicycles and other incentives to avoid driving, decrease pollution, empty parking lots and encourage healthy habits.
The University of New England, a private school headquartered Biddeford, Maine, offered incoming freshmen the choice of a brand-new bicycle, a helmet and bicycle lock, or free access to two on-campus rentable Zipcars in return for the promise that the student would leave his or her car at home.
UNE provided incoming students with greener transportation alternatives to cut down the university’s carbon footprint, avoid building new parking lots and reduce the number of cars cramming in parking lots, UNE spokeswoman Kathleen Taggersell said.
“The bicycles are part of a comprehensive program,” she said. “We didn’t want to restrict our students, so we decided to provide them with options.”
University administrators found funding for the initiative, which cost approximately $130,000 and provided more than 150 students with bicycles, by raising parking fees for students by $210. Assistant Dean of Students Daryl Conte said the increased fee has already earned the university more than $200,000 this year.
The bicycle initiative both encourages students to use bicycles and discourages them from wasting gas and polluting the environment, Conte said.
“The program itself is an incentive and disincentive program at the same time,” he said.
Emory University, Ripon College, Duke University, Illinois State University and the University of Washington have also recently launched similar initiatives to reduce the number of vehicles on campus and the universities’ carbon footprints.
So far only a handful of colleges have offered free bicycles as a way to help the environment, but the move represents a concern for sustainability that many more colleges might follow, said Julian Dautremont-Smith, associate director for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
“It’s a great and very attractive idea,” Dautremont-Smith said. “We’re always excited when colleges try new initiatives to reduce their ecological footprints.”
Boston University spokesman Colin Riley said the bicycle program would not work at BU because of the Charles River Campus’ unique layout.
“We are fortunate in that we have a trolley line that goes right through the middle of our campus,” he said. “Public transportation makes it very accessible to go throughout the city and neighboring communities.”
Riley said he has seen more bicycles on campus since a new bicycle lane opened on Commonwealth Avenue in August, which he believes comes with a new responsibility for cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.
“There has been a lot to get used to,” he said. “People need to be better aware of their surroundings.”
Still, School of Hospitality junior Stephen Turner said BU should initiate a similar program to UNE’s.
“I didn’t bring my bicycle to campus because it’s hard to transport and store here,” he said. “If BU provided bicycles, it would make my life a lot easier.”
Some students at UNE said the first-year giveaway did not work as well as they had expected. UNE freshman Sean Aubin said in an email that the school had good intentions but did not plan the program effectively, because many bicycles have been stolen.
“It seems that September may have snuck up on the organizers,” he said in an email.
Aubin said stolen bicycles have been spray painted to cover the decals, but students can tell which bicycles are freshmen’s bicycles.
Aubin said theft is a problem because the bicycles all look the except for a decal with the owner’s name. UNE freshman Amelia Kelly said her bicycle was stolen during the first week of school.
Students have also reported trouble finding places to lock up their bicycles.
“We could use more racks throughout the campus and especially in front of the dorms,” UNE freshman Adam Dexter said in an email.
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/college-pitch-go-green-with-free-bicycles-1.898149
Local restaurants feel the pinch, owners say
Published: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Boston University students trying to tighten their wallets in an economic recession may be tightening their belts as a result of eating out less, local restaurants reported.
While some campus-area restaurants are being affected by the poor economy, others have yet to be affected, restaurant owners and managers said.
Brown Sugar Café Operating Manager Kao Niemseng said the restaurant has experienced a significant drop in sales over the past year.
“We are down about 30 percent or more, and this is usually our busiest time of the year,” Niemseng said.
The types of dishes customers tend to order have also changed, Niemseng said.
“Customers are now sharing dishes or ordering more inexpensive items,” he said. “It’s very obvious that they are budgeting.”
BU finance and economics senior lecturer Mark Williams said this is behavior typical of most Americans right now.
“Typically, during a recession, there is less spending on disposable things,” Williams said. “Though people won’t deprive themselves of going out completely, they will choose restaurants that are reasonably priced and avoid the expensive filet.”
College of Communication junior Cassandra Aviles said she eats on campus more often instead of spending money on dining out.
“I work hard and try to save as much money as I can,” Aviles said. “I don’t spend it as much as I used to . . . especially on food.”
T-Anthony’s Pizzeria Owner Joe Rastellini said his restaurant is beginning to see a drop in sales, although mainly during the day.
“At night time, you can only see it off a little bit,” he said. “We have a huge advantage because we’re located so close to a college campus.”
The close proximity can sometimes be negative, however, because sales tend to be seasonal, Rastellini said.
Boston Pizza and Grill Owner Elie Sarkis said he is taking firm action to prevent drops in sales, which he has yet to see.
“Without the recession, I would have been making better than a 20 percent increase this year,” Sarkis said. “But I’ve spent a lot more on advertisements, promotions and menu deals.”
Unlike many of its competitors, UBurger in Kenmore Square has not only maintained sales, but has continued to thrive and grow, so much so that UBurger is expanding and opening up a second location near West Campus, which is scheduled to start serving in two weeks, manager Nick Kouvlis said
“Usually in a recession, anything under $10 as a price point tends to thrive,” Kouvlis said. “We’re looking to have a strong start with our new location.”
Proximity to campus, as well as Fenway Park for summer business, are two factors that have greatly influenced UBurger’s success, Kouvlis said.
“I think over the years the amount of business we get from the students and Red Sox fans will always be consistent,” he said.
“The new location by West Campus will probably thrive for eight months or so and then hit a lull,” Kouvlis said. “But we expect that and are ready to handle it.”
http://www.dailyfreepress.com/local-restaurants-feel-the-pinch-owners-say-1.1331912
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