Community Conversation—

Students Note Concerns, Make Suggestions On Education Topics

By Kendra Bobowick

Ian Lew was among five high school students each holding posters noting thoughts on school climate, student-to-teacher relationships, and more Saturday, March 10, during a Community Conversation About Education. The day was made possible by a grant through Connecticut-based Community Mediation Inc, a nonprofit dedicated to “making democracy work fairly,” according to its website, CtConversations.org.

The  website states, “Participants are able to speak openly in a safe, civil environment. People listen to each other respectfully.”

Ian’s poster, headed Questions and Concerns, asked, “What defines bad behavior?” His list also inquired about when student and teacher relationships may become inappropriate, what the school could do for students who do not show effort, and why do teachers teach “if they don’t like kids.”

According to ctconversations.org, for 16 years Conversations About Education in Connecticut have been funded by the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund. Community Mediation, manager of Community Conversations About Education, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to making democracy work fairly, inclusively, and vibrantly for all.

Student Tim Eames attended the day as an observer, and also recorded different parts of the afternoon. He described an afternoon of students separated in groups with moderators discussing the school’s climate, areas of agreements and disagreements, next-steps, and questions. “I think it’s interesting,” he said. “There are a lot of next steps and that can definitely have positive reactions.”

Holding up her group’s list of next steps, Jill Lyon’s poster read: “Teacher advisor or meeting with a teacher before grades become an issue; students should have in-class sessions where they can talk about issues with the teacher and a plan to make the learning environment better; increase student and staff awareness of issues such as mental illness and bullying; during lunch period, the library is open to everyone.”

As students voiced their points of discussion, they mentioned disappointments with the library saying it was one of only a few places to go for students with free periods. Students agreed that student and librarian relationships were “not that good sometimes. We get kicked out if we are not doing work.”

Many agreed with the complaint that Newtown High School is a closed campus and students cannot leave during a free period.

Other group findings noted that the school climate is supportive, school provides opportunities, the guidance counselors are supportive, and social networks are a good way to connect. Other next-step lists noted that while scenarios are not always bullying, there is sometimes a lack of understanding among students.

Students also suggested assemblies where students could talk about emotional aspects of high school, friendships, etc.

Community Conversations have been held in Newtown annually over the last few years, and Saturday’s event marked the first student-driven Community Conversation.

The Community Conversations were first brought to Newtown in 2009, when roughly 100 community members gathered together over several meetings to discuss the topic of bullying. A year later another group of roughly 100 community members discussed the topic of underage drinking, and last year’s Community Conversation centered around character development.