"Living in Nuclear Free (Almost) World"

Experience is one of the most powerful elements of our learning and growth. In class we have debated, simulated, and discussed a variety of International Relations issues and cases from English reactions to the rule of the Belgian Congo to proposals for solving the current Darfur crisis and how to effectively partition Palestine.

Another aspect of experience is to interact with the decision-makers themselves. Dr. John E. Endicott's visit to our school offered us this type of opportunity. Endicott has served in a variety of positions that have put him at the center of nuclear incidents; from his experience during the Cuba Missile Crisis to his involvement with providing intelligence and analysis during the days following the Pueblo Incident. His current interests include the creation of a nuclear free zone in Asia and the North Pacific, a zone that would include North and South Korea, and parts of China, the USSR and the USA. It was a privilege to host him as a guest speaker and to answer questions from our students. Endicott is currently President of Woosong University in Daejon.

UN Day at TCIS

The United Nations is one actors in International Relations of the 20th and 21st centuries. One of the best ways to learn is to teach others so students of our International Relations class designed display materials and a presentation to the student body to highlight the development of the UNO and some of the present and past UN activities around the world. October, 2008.

Political Cartoon Contest: Election 2008

Authentic assessment, student publishing, real-world experience, experiential education ... any of these terms can be applied to our political cartoon contest. It was a privilege to again collaborate with Dr. Alan Marcus of UCONN's Neag School of Education and Mr. Bob Englehart of the Hartford Courant to sponsor a Political Cartoon Contest. Mr. Englehart's editor at the Hartford Courant proposed the topic of the 2008 election. Top entries were published in the Courant and can be viewed here.

In preparation for the contest Mr. Englehart came to Bloomfield High School and conducted a cartoon drawing seminar for our students. It was an amazing experience to watch Mr. Englehart at work and to have him critique some of the student's projects.

School-Wide Cartoon Contest & Gilder Lehrman Exhibit

I sought and was awarded a display grant by the Gilder Lehrman Instutite to host one of their professional quality traveling exhibits. From early December 2006 to early January 2007 we hosted the “Looking at Lincoln” display. In order to promote school and community awareness of this exhibit and political cartoons we conducted surveys amongst the student body and provided interpretation for the exhibit during the annual winter concert. View images of the display, survey, and interpretation here.

In conjunction with this exhibit I initiated the first school-wide Political Cartoon Contest which was judged by a university professor and prominent, nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist. View the cartoons here.

Sandwich Board Promotion & Grant Award

I initiated a district-wide publicity program using sandwich boards at each of the district school sites. This program directly addressed one of our district’s Strategic Action Plan points. Working with the Bloomfield Education Association we sought and received matching grant funding for the project. I worked with Association leaders and colleagues and Bloomfield Board of Education collaborated to complete the project, see the sandwich boards installed and maintain appropriate district-wide signage. View the Grant Proposal and details of one of the fourteen sandwich boards.