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Education is the cornerstone of democracy The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write. John J. Petillo Even in the early days of the aftermath of such an upheaval, educators bear a significant duty to offer perspective and to model ci...

Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state. The Democrats have more than working control of the legislature and, obviously, have the governor’s office. So, who will have control over the Republican Party in Connecticut? Romano was a down-the-line person sup...

Miguel Cardona, who are you? Miguel Cardona introduces himself to the country after being nominated to be the next U.S. Secretary of Education: 'I, being bilingual and bicultural am as American as apple pie and rice and beans. For me, education was the great equalizer, but for too many students, your zip code and your skin color remained the best predictor of the opportunities you’ll have in your lifetime.' President Joe Biden has nominated Miguel Cardona, the current Connecticut Commissioner of Education, to be the next U.S. Secretary of Education. Anyone he nominated would be better than ...

The plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges in Connecticut into one college with 12 campuses is called “Students First,” which is ironic because it does not fund students first.  It funds a new administration in a new, statewide bureaucracy. The Board of Regents (BOR) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system office presented the “Students First” plan in April 2017 with an aim to reduce administration and save $46 million annually. Three and a half years later, the plan has added dozens of new administrators, cost tens of millions of dollars, and there i...

Hamden taxpayers are left in the dark It's time we shed some light on Hamden's finances. “A budget is a moral document.” This phrase is often heard during budget season from both sides of the aisle advocating for their personal values. The municipal operating budget is the cost of running a town which includes paying for employees, schools, and other services. Asking residents to pay property taxes requires a public trust. Lauren Garrett While disagreeing on what to spend is as American as apple pie, we need to be honest about true costs and Hamden’s financial outlook. Additionally, the...