After UCONN Torrington CT closing, What Other Schools or Programs May Get Cut? How about More Prevention and Proactive Planning for All in Life?

Submitted by livfully

on Thu, 04/28/2016 - 20:50

This is a summary from a post I put out there. Need to go soon but condolences to the UCONN Torrington Community. Hope the Waterbury and Winsted Options can allow you to stay in the area or pursue your education. For staff, that may be more challenging but again, I hope you can find ways to stay in the area or keep connected if you branch out. Read up locally in our state and community about state funds being cut from schools or other programs you care about.

The property taxes could be raised to help offset increases to keep programs in place people need. If there are gaps in funding, some services may be cut back or stopped altogether. Small groups of people thinking of ways to do outreach to a community via facebook groups (such as CT's Northwest Chatter which is now a closed group but has about 2K people tuned in) can make a difference.

Each school could promote a parenting network within each class and grade level, pair up with another school and even have regional meetings with other pairs of schools. Interstate parenting networks to benefit from ideas and programs from sports to robotics, academics and arts could all help each family feel includes, inspired and even supported since there are often scholarships for students to participate.

Go Fund Me ideas (or Kickstarter such as one for 97-year-old Leonard Weber's Fenway Park painting and prints which will run in mid May 2016) are more common so that may help bridge gaps. Never give up and do get creative.

Parents and others in any 'group of people'--singles, moms, single moms, single dads, teens, elders, people with particular needs, etc need to try to be their own advocate and connect with existing services such as through www.211.org. The more of a team each person has, the better success they can meet (and more practical help and social support they can receive.) Walking Our Talk (WOT) is a great example of women networking in the Great Barrington MA area for 7 years, with some 8-week sessions and bigger circles and many informal get -togethers and ways to help people with projects big or small through mutual respect and networking. Sounds revolutionary!

Well, I will put this on my livfully blog since one great idea led to the next. For the record, I am very fond of Kellogg from the time I went there K-8th grade. It is a very special place. It turns out Howard Reed has two stepsons who are becoming rather famous so maybe there's a whole new angle to think of to raise funds for the school. Curious? Thanks for skimming as you can and keeping an open mind.

Tom Reed ( www.tomreed.info) and his brother Matt reportedly have contact with beings and a spaceship up in Sheffield MA only 50 years ago. Now the scientists are saying that could be more the case (due to evidence, and some paperwork that the GB Historical Society has on display.) Not the typical reason to respect a school place and community, but gets one thinking out of the box.

Regarding the current challenges with keeping all services such as schools funded by the public,the problems many places are facing are heating buildings and keeping up with public school teacher salaries (there is no going down in budgets, only up even if far fewer students).

Most local families struggle with paying taxes (and heating their homes) if they have children (or even if they don't..and free daycare from birth on if not support for all pregnant women to not smoke and eat well likely would bring our best ROI...and also to be in safe, supportive housing--yes, separate from their stressful folks in their lives).

These are not easy options for pregnant women or moms with young children. They are in Invisible Bunch until their kids are old enough for public school. Then if they aren't there, schools need to wonder why (or towns who might still want kids in them.)

There are many problems beyond the higher education..such as keeping kids safe and sober during their formative years (and more adults healthy to avoid obesity and diabetes. Alcohol is sugar and even if pot can be helpful to address illness or even prevent cancer, the depressive aspect or other psychological symptoms should not be ignored or the violence or jail time that comes with drug use too often.)

No one wants to look at comprehensive, early-intervention approach (I've asked the Board of Ed even Regionally for Years, and they don't want to think about having to do MORE thinking about other than what's on their agenda..even if it could help everyone in practical and educational ways. )

Homeschooling is a great option with a few folks willing to pitch in, though many moms do it with little means and lots of free time for the kids.

Why don't we realize we have a LOT to talk about..and thankfully (30 years later for me at this point of trying to do this stuff),

Facebook and some other discussions are happening..but it's still in such small circles that the majority doesn't have access to healing, helpful information whether for their relationships (get out and stay out safely with your kids and have David Mandel from Safe and Together Programs in CT type assessments if trying to reunite with a troubled partner, usually the Dad or male role model).

Take it easy on kids and let them talk and be respectfully listened to and engaged in play indoors and out with lots of time for Free, Unstructured Play (see Rudolf Steiner and Unschooling or Montessori ideas, and trust that small towns do a lot of good stuff in terms of helping kids with networking. Rides and fees to pay for sports, scouts, camps and so on are sometimes needed such as Salisbury and Cornwall offer through social workers.

Plenty more would still help with daycare or even childcare at home costs is people would promote such to help families starting out or adding to their brood. The future is not only about the parents having kids.

Few brave that path or are able to do so, therefore more towns could embrace the opportunity to help rear infants and youth. Then the school progress would be better. Maybe more could take college level classes senior year (AP classes or programs with a college, but again all students need to be coached from Jr High on about their options and have help to apply to college and plan their HS careers accordingly.)

Parent and other volunteers could help with this regionally if not in a wider outreach to other towns and states. Online videos could be made or used if they are already up and running. All area youth could be offered a computer based learning option if requested if homeschooling (or even to supplement their learning if needed and it's not covered.)

That would take fundraising but again there is a need for such an option (even scholarships and ride to adult ed if some really would take the programs.) That kind of investment can be done with funds raised for such causes, so that would be another task..and again maybe volunteers from other parts of the state or country could help do that.

Small towns, especially tiny ones, have limited numbers of people and it's best not to overtax their energies or funds if possible. They are caretakers of the earth so should almost be paid as nature center stewards...get a stipend or credit in an ideal world. That's where befriending folks from the city and helping them appreciate 'the real natural world' could build a meaningful alliance.

Back to school ideas: Don't rush daycare, preK or K or 1st grade..Don't worry they can and will learn, but don't leave them alone in front of a TV or computer for hours on end. Move the ages up to about 6 to enter Kindergarten and 7 for first grade to balance the great learning and growing that happens at these ages, especially for boys.

If we had more camps and creative programs to encourage kids to hone their nature skills, gardening, hiking, being part of learning teams, and lots more (think www.gaia.org and saving the earth) we'd make progress while the Climate Change Woes grow. Everyone in the rural environment has much more insight into nature and LAND to work with, Ideally more folks could be 'adopted in' to one's town to help it stay afloat. Recruit more members for all volunteer groups from the city.

Many would be interested if they knew the opportunities--fire departments, daycares, libraries, recreation programs. If more kids could come to summer programs (maybe more we start) and even adults enjoy a warm welcome to the area (camping, singing, healthy eating and so on) maybe more would move or even donate to town budgets. Forming alliances is the new way to stay competitive.

Big business, law and unfortunately education will drive more people out without some 'softer or more creative options' to staying part of a community. The computer courses and Science Center such as Housy could bridge gaps if ways were made to help people use them.

Thanks for letting me chime in. Likely housing for elderly (or others to have help or live affordably) to stay put would be a great investment. Western MA does not offer much in that area with home health aides but does have a good ride service and even buses from GB to Ashley Falls. We need a few vans circling the area to help in a regular way, but again have to know who would use the services.

People can face needing help 24-7 to stay in their homes if alone, students can face needing to repeat a grade (even senior year if missing some credit or not passing etc), or some may opt to drop out if on the brink.

Others are driven out with lack of housing (one shelter for men and one for women like www.constructinc.org in GBarrington MA would be a great starting point. We aren't talking about these things though so maybe we need a brainstorming assessment and more liaisons to help more people, especially families with kids or elders etc, know what options there are. All the best as we face the future which happens to be rather dynamic and in need of all of our talents.

Tags:

UCONN Torrington CT branch closing