Education

Happy Hour Forum – Tapping into Chesapeake History

September 26, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Phil Hesser

It doesn’t take much to get Phil Hesser to tell stories about ‘Bob Random,’ the pen name for an early Baltimore Sun correspondent sending dispatches from all over Delmarva. “I came up with the idea for this “happy hour” program when I was looking at a back issue of the Baltimore Sun,” explains Hesser. “This ‘Bob Random’ did a whole series in 1845… a correspondent’s report of his travels throughout Delmarva. Hesser has a simple explanation for his interest in Delmarva and in Bob Random. “Since I’ve moved to the Eastern Shore, I have been caught up in the life, livelihood and landscape of Delmarva.

The happy hour will allow us to look for clues that we will assemble like the famous detectives of the past – even using a board to compile the information. One important clue, for example, is his noting which taverns serve alcohol and which do not at a time when the temperance movement was becoming a major force in U.S. public life.

Hesser concludes, “We’ve got our work cut out for us in this happy hour to unveil who Bob Random was and do it in a short time – no longer than the detective show episodes we see on television. What makes him tick? What makes him say those awful things about Delmarva? Pour yourself a glass of spring water (or a glass of something stronger). I promise you that you will quench your thirst not only with what you drink, but also with what you learn about Bob Random and Delmarva history of the mid-1800s – a period of great changes for Delmarva and the nation.” Hesser will send out advance copies of ‘Random Readings’ columns for participants to read in advance of the course. This Zoom class meets on Thursday, October 8^th at 4:00pm. Go to www.chesapeakeforum.org to register $5.

Steve Goldman, “That Newspaper Guy”

September 25, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Anyone who has been in Talbot County any time at all knows who you are talking about when you refer to “that newspaper guy.” Steve Goldman is “that newspaper guy” – the fellow who has turned his passion for collecting into teachable moments using historical newspaper coverage to bring history alive. Steve’s two courses this semester thru Chesapeake Forum, an Academy for Lifelong Learning, do just that: “Fake News” and “Presidential Elections.” Both of Steve Goldman’s recorded courses are available for $5, go to www.chesapeakeforum.org to register.

Goldman says he started out lecturing about newspapers, but the subject was just too big. “So instead, I looked at what subjects I thought people would be interested in that I could use newspapers to present how it was reported at the time. “Basically speaking,” he concludes, “I talk about war, and I talk about social movements… topical subjects… which is where the ideas for ‘Fake News’ and ‘Presidential Elections’ came from.” “I just use the newspapers as a storytelling vehicle,” describes Goldman. “I call it the Magic Carpet Vehicle in order to take you on a trip through a time machine. And it is. You are reading what people were reading back in those days and that’s basically what I do.”

After 50 years of collecting, his humor remains. Just look at the name he came up with for this semester’s course. Not just ‘Fake News,’ but ‘Five Hundred Years of Fake News: From False Facts and Fictitious Fallacies to Forgotten Foibles and Fabulous Frauds, 1502-2019.’ Readers can find more recorded Fall Classes from Chesapeake Forum on the website www.chesapeakeforum.org or by visiting us on Facebook.

How Can You Confront the Future with Hans Kuschnerus

September 24, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Hans Kuschnerus

This interactive course explains the nature of change with examples (new and old) in many categories. We’ll consider and discuss major concerns for the future in technology and in other life challenges. Our present Covid-19 pandemic serves as an apt wake-up call. Future scenarios will be presented that anticipate changes in transportation, Artificial Intelligence and the internet, healthcare, and climate change. Participants will be given tips and tools to make adoption of change least disruptive and not so frustrating. 3 Sessions: Choose between Live Zoom Classes or Recorded Classes, $15. Tuesdays, Oct. 6, 13 and 20 from 9:30-11 am. Go to www.chesapeakeforum.org to register.

The Many Faces of Fascism with Ray Vergne

September 22, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Ray Vergne

Although it affected, influenced, and dominated the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the XX Century, Fascism is difficult to define accurately and succinctly. This exercise in history will try to identify the major characteristics of Fascism in different countries, some of which existed under Fascist governments, some of which did not, and their differences. The roots and origins of Fascism will be explored, as well as its relationship to established religion, its economic systems, its prejudices, and its implacable hostility to Communism. The goal of this exercise is to better understand the phenomenon of Fascism, which so painfully scarred the history of the XX Century. Both teens and adults would find this interesting. Three sessions: Oct 5, 12 and 19. Recorded webinar to watch at your convenience, $15. Go to https://chesapeakeforum.org/ to register. Visit us on Facebook.

Adkins Arboretum’s Mystery Monday: This Little One won’t Stay Little Forever

September 21, 2020 by Adkins Arboretum Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Every Monday, Kathy Thornton, the land steward at the Adkins Arboretum, will be asking Spy readers to identify critters and plants from their 400-acre native garden and preserve. We ask readers to answer in our comment section and Kathy will provide everyone with the answer next Monday.

Today’s question: This little one won’t stay little forever. In fact, it can grow up to 5 feet long! What is it?

The Adkins Arboretum is centrally located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 25 miles east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at 12610 Eveland Road, near Ridgely, MD. For more information and their public programs please go here.

Bruce Jones to Speak at Chesapeake Forum September 25

September 20, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Bruce Jones

Conversation: “What’s Good and Bad About Talbot County” with Bruce Jones.

Discuss how Talbot County compares with other counties within Maryland with regards to education, rates of crime, housing availability, social services, transportation, infrastructure, and more. Choose between a Live Zoom Class or Recorded Class, Friday / September 25 / 10:30- noon, $5. Go to www.chesapeakeforum.org to register.

TCPS Appoints Hannah Seek and Zoe Pochron as Student Representatives to Board of ED

September 19, 2020 by Talbot County Public Schools 1 Comment

Easton High School Senior Zoe Pochron and St. Michaels High School Senior Hannah Seek will represent their schools as members of the TCPS Board of Education for the 2020-2021 school year. The students were chosen following an application and interview process, and were officially sworn in during the September Board Meeting.

A high achiever in academics, Zoe Pochron is also actively involved in many extracurricular activities. She is the president of the National Art Honor Society and an active member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and the Easton High Debate Club. She has worked as a Public Defender Intern, and volunteered as a youth camp Administrator’s Assistant as well as with the Groove Theater in production, marketing and costuming. Zoe has received numerous awards including the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Excellence in Spanish 2 and Spanish 3, Excellence in Pre-Calculus and Principal’s Honor Roll.

“I am incredibly excited to have been chosen as the Student Member of the Board because I now have the opportunity to represent the voices of those who are often left in the shadows,” Zoe explained. “More often than not, those who are introverted and quiet have strong opinions that are never heard. My goal is to share those opinions and help make the changes they want to see. I hope to maintain a relationship with all groups of kids at Easton High School, and communicate their ideas with the Board.” After high school, Zoe plans to attend a four-year college or university to study Mathematics. She hopes to use her degree to pursue a career in a European country yet to be determined.

Easton High School Senior Zoe Pochron and St. Michaels High School Senior Hannah Seek.

Hannah Seek describes herself as highly motivated, ambitious and a great time manager. She demonstrates this through her academic performance and her extensive involvement in extra-curricular activities at St. Michaels Middle High School. She has participated in Students Helping Other People (SHOP)/Interact serving as Treasurer, Vice President and President, the Student Government Association as Sophomore Class President, Prom Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Geo-Political Club. Her volunteer service includes Character Counts, Vacation Bible School and Trunk or Treat for Royal Oak United Methodist Church, and the Homeless Shelter. She is also a student athlete, competing in Varsity Basketball, Softball and Golf. Her recognition as both a student and an athlete includes the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Principal’s Honor Roll, Most Improved Award (Basketball), Coach’s Award (Golf), and the “Minds in Motion” Student Scholar Award.

“I feel truly blessed for this opportunity, to be able to communicate with administrators who have the ability to change school policy for the better,” Hannah said, “especially as we continue to adapt plans for learning during a pandemic, and to be trusted to represent my school during these unprecedented times.” Having completed the TCPS Teacher Academy, Hannah hopes to study English at university after graduation and pursue a career as a secondary teacher.

Climb Aboard Airship 103 with Chesapeake Forum

September 19, 2020 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Hunter Harris describes himself as a farm boy from the eastern shore with a keen interest in things mechanical and anything aviation oriented. Harris will be chronicling his adventures piloting blimps from 1986 to 1995 for McDonald’s, Sea World’s Shamu, the Met Life Snoopy Blimp, and the Pink Floyd Airship, yes, THAT Pink Floyd, that flew around the countryside promoting the Division Bell World Tour and was used for media coverage during their concerts. He has soared above major golf and tennis tournaments, NASCAR and Indy-car races, parades, Super Bowl, and World Series games, all while accumulating thousands of hours as one of only a handful of Airship pilots.

Hunter Harris (left) and Mike Fitzpatrick.

“When you are flying an Airship, you are flying a big bag of helium thru the atmosphere that is affected by wind, sunlight, precipitation… It’s a type of flying that requires much more situational awareness (than other types of aviation),” describes Harris. “The series for Chesapeake Forum is all about my piloting experiences. I want to explain and share the experience of something that is really unique,” says Harris. “This will be my third time teaching this class. I will use video that I created on the computer with stills and music and will stop at certain points to tell a story and answer questions before carrying on.” The three classes begin with a trip from Miami to the West Coast (with a side-excursion along the length of the Mississippi valley). From there we go from San Diego up the coast to British Columbia and we finish with a repeat of last Semester’s Montreal to Miami trip.

The course will be presented live on Zoom. This three-session class is $15. For those who cannot attend the live course, recordings of the ZOOM sessions will be available after each class and may be purchased for viewing during the course registration. August 24^th is the first day to register at www.chesapeakeforum.org. Mark the date, the first session begins on Monday September 21st.

Talbot Schools Announce Successful “Virtual First Day”

September 15, 2020 by Talbot County Public Schools Leave a Comment

After months of development and planning, Talbot County Public Schools opened the 2020-2021 school year with all students attending classes virtually on September 8.

“I am so pleased with the results of the planning and tireless work behind the scenes that led to a successful start of the school year,” said Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent. “We are working through a few technical challenges, but overall the day went extremely well, and we will remain RESILIENT!”

Dr. Kelly Griffith, Superintendent of Schools and Kim Seidel, White Marsh Elementary School Principal celebrate a successful start to the school year.

The District reports that 94% of students were in attendance for the first day. Schools are now reaching out to approximately 275 students who did not participate in their online learning Tuesday. “We believe this is mostly due to connectivity issues, which we will continue to address in the coming days,” Dr. Griffith added.

Most teachers were teaching in secure “Zoom” meetings from their classrooms. Intensive Professional Development prior to the first day of school enabled them to transition well to a fully synchronous virtual learning environment. The length of class time varied depending up student grade level, however all state mandated time requirements are being met.

Donna Midcap, 5th grade teacher at Chapel District Elementary, made cardboard “students” to bring her classroom to life while teaching virtually.

“I thought the first day went exceptionally well,” said Megan Beaufait, Easton High Social Studies teacher. “It was exciting to see our kids’ faces again, to be back in front of a classroom and to see how eager and happy they all were to engage. We even had an unexpected fire alarm which made it even more memorable!”

David Cherry, Easton High math teacher and Talbot Teacher of the Year said, “Being able to reconnect with students, even virtually, was a blessing and the reason I became a teacher.”

Megan Beaufait, Easton High Social Studies teacher.

“The first day went really well for us in Kindergarten! We were really excited to see the students and they were excited to see us,” said Amy Gardner, who was teaching from her brand new classroom at Easton Elementary School. “They were very interactive with us and each other, and they had great attitudes the entire time. We were really impressed!!”

Some teachers used creative ways to bring their classrooms to life. Donna Midcap, 5^th grade teacher at Chapel District Elementary, made cardboard “students” to sit in the chairs in her classroom, but she also found the virtual teaching experience a positive one. “Seeing the kid’s smiling faces was refreshing. The kids were eager, engaged, helpful, and patient. What a way to be welcomed into the new school year!”

Talbot Teacher of the Year David Cherry.

Next week, approximately 5% of the student population will return to school buildings for “face-to-face” learning as part of the district’s phase-in recovery plan. This will include students with special needs, English Language Learners, homeless students, those not engaged last spring, and students who do not have internet access. Dr. Griffith will continue to review County and State health metrics and consult with the Talbot County Health Officer daily to make decisions about future phases of the plan. The district will also ask ALL parent to commit to either continuing with virtual learning for the remainder of the semester or transitioning to face-to-face learning for second quarter.

Distance Learning Especially Challenging for Students With Disabilities

September 14, 2020 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Noah, a pseudonym for a middle school child with autism, had been doing well in his public education program until school buildings closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unable to understand why his routine was disrupted, he sometimes displayed aggressive behavior with his mother when she encouraged him to participate in distance learning. Once, he headbutted her so hard that she blacked out.

Despite these hardships, Noah’s mother was unsuccessful in getting in-person services for her son, Leslie Margolis, managing attorney of Disability Rights Maryland, told state lawmakers during a briefing Friday on students with disabilities and virtual learning. Instead, Noah’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, which helps create a plan with specialized services for students with disabilities, told his mother they could only provide those services virtually.

Similarly, Eduardo, a pseudonym for a 6-year-old boy with autism, has not been able to engage with people on a screen and his mother does not speak English. As a result, he has gotten no educational services from March to August and his IEP team did not recommend in-person services because “it’s not the policy of the school system to do that,” Margolis said.

These are the realities of families with special needs students — who make up 12% of the Maryland student body.

“Our clients face huge barriers and they’re often not successful in obtaining the appropriate services for their children, despite the guidance coming from [the Maryland State Department of Education], despite the PowerPoints, the reality for families looks very different from the ground,” Margolis said.

The main challenges facing students with disabilities during distance learning include the need for additional assistive technology that goes beyond having reliable internet connection and a laptop — such as customized keyboards and audiobooks, Rachel London, executive director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, said. It has also been difficult when students with disabilities cannot return to school buildings for small group in-person learning because they are immunocompromised.

The state Department of Education has given guidance to local school systems to enforce IEPs as best as possible during distance learning, but there is a huge variance among the 24 districts, Margolis said.

Del. April Rose (R-Carroll) asked how the state will push counties that currently have no plans for any in-person services for students with disabilities to do so. She noted Harford County Public Schools, which is all-virtual through the first semester, as an example.

Schools that had originally planned to stay online until the second semester are looking for ways to bring small groups of students for in-person instruction in the fall, Carol Williamson, Deputy State Superintendent of MSDE, said. In late August, State Superintendent Karen B. Salmon and Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) strongly urged schools to do this by the first quarter of the school year, which is in November.

While there are special education liaisons in five regions of the state who are trained to coach and support IEP teams and local school systems in instruction during distance learning, “the best for this response is that our children re-enter schoolhouses in a safe environment,” Marcella Franczkowski, assistant state superintendent of MSDE, said.

Like many teacher unions, local school systems and state officials, Margolis expressed disappointment in the “lack of leadership” from MSDE.

There’s a difference between the state creating a framework for local school systems to choose from and delegating local school systems to develop a framework almost entirely on their own, she said.

The result has been a “complete patchwork collection of approaches that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, not necessarily based on the needs of the jurisdiction or the children within that jurisdiction, but seemingly based on whim,” Margolis said.

Local school systems must offer other options for students who are unable to participate in distance learning, whether it means bringing small groups of students into school buildings or contracting with private providers, Margolis said. Schools cannot simply default to all-virtual learning, she said.

“We will monitor, there’s no question,” Franczkowski of MSDE said. “Monitoring is not for an ‘I gotcha’ monitoring, it is for a support of technical assistance and need so that we can see where there are gaps and provide feedback to support.”

However, some experts do not think that schools should open solely for students with disabilities, but should be more nuanced in how they select students to return for face-to-face learning.

“If schools are going to open, they can’t just open for students with disabilities,” London said. “Not only are there other students in need of critical supports, there is a variety of reasons students with and without disabilities may need to return or may not need to return…it is based on an individual assessment.”

By Elizabeth Shwe

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