Book bans, censorship… what’s next?

Courtesy Morrisville Centennial Library I oppose book bans. Having said that, I don’t believe freedom is an absolute. History has taught us that we need commonly agreed upon limits to… Read More

Save the Children: Eliminate Cellphones in Our Schools

Public Domain image Vermont Senate Bill 284, “Phone-free School Legislation,” now sitting in the House Education Committee is winding its way through the legislature and should garner the attention of… Read More

Our Young People and the Imperative of Social-Emotional Learning

   Courtesy Penn Live Our public schools have become the focus of our efforts to support youth mental health. Many parents are stressed beyond imagination because of the pandemic, flooding, and… Read More

Camping, Daycare, Early Education?

  Image Courtesy of Oregon Public Broadcasting With the second highest per capita homeless rate in the nation, the legislature ended, as of July, current state funding for providing hotel/motel… Read More

Education or Childcare?

    In the final moments of this legislative session, the legislature passed H.217, in which a combination of revenue resources will inject $130M a year into Vermont’s struggling childcare… Read More

Vermont State University… a way forward

  Photo courtesy of Northern Vermont University I’m hearing from friends around the country about the soon-to-be Vermont State University’s (VSU) recent decision and subsequent back-pedaling about removing physical books… Read More

Comments to Vermont Adult Learning Graduates 9/16/22

We’re here tonight to celebrate you and your achievements. Yes, I did come to celebrate with you and to share some thoughts but I also came to learn from you… Read More

Our Communities, Our Schools, Our Children

Elmore Town School: VT Community Newspaper Group I recently led a discussion at the Elder College, a life-long learning division of Elderly Services in Middlebury. I’ve led many classes and… Read More

Citizens Benighted?

Why are we surprised that our nation doesn’t function? Or that we’re so divided politically — unable to talk to one another? Or that our children don’t vote or volunteer… Read More

Childhood Trauma Leads to Lifelong Chronic Illness — So Why Isn’t the Medical Community Helping Patients?

When physicians help patients come to the profound revelation that childhood adversity plays a role in the chronic illnesses they face now, they help them to heal physically and emotionally… Read More

We must consider “childcare” as public education.

It’s time to reimagine and redesign Vermont’s public education system. Patching up a system that’s failing us in equity, access, and quality, we’re running out of financial caulk as the… Read More

John Klar and Critical Race Theory

Like science, history is an ever-emerging narrative based on curiosity, exploration, discovery, debate and interpretation. But like science (and journalism), it must be informed by fact. The recent screed by… Read More