UCONN EDUCATION WEEK EVENTS
2/16 - 2/20
2/16 Waiting For "Superman" Movie Screening and Discussion
On Monday, February 16th, UConn Education Week commences with a screening of the documentary “Waiting For Superman” at 7:00PM up until about 9:00PM in the Homer Babbidge Library Video Theater 1. Following the viewing of the movie there will be a short discussion of what participants took away from the movie. The movie itself is 102 minutes long and attendees are free to come and go whenever it is most convenient.
This event serves the purpose of exposing students to both the statistical and personal effects of educational inequity and the achievement gap. It closely chronicles the obstacles that students and schools are facing on a daily basis. Watching this documentary can serve as an educational experience for students who know little about education, or students who are interested in teaching, in that it paints a very real picture about what education in America is today.
“For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates. Despite increased spending and politicians’ promises, our buckling public education system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) reminds us that education “statistics” have names: Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily, whose stories make up the engrossing foundation of Waiting for “Superman.”
As he follows a handful of promising kids through a system that inhibits, rather than encourages, academic growth, Guggenheim undertakes an exhaustive review of public education, surveying “drop-out factories” and “academic sinkholes,” methodically dissecting the system and its seemingly intractable problems. However, embracing the belief that good teachers make good schools, Guggenheim offers hope by exploring innovative approaches taken by education reformers and charter schools that have—in reshaping the culture—refused to leave their students behind.”
2/17 Inside of the Classroom
Tuesday, February 17th, 4:00PM – 5:00PM, Student Union 104
Those in attendance will be engaged in learning what it is like inside of the classroom. It is one thing to talk about America’s education system as a whole, but another experience to learn how students and teachers cope with challenges and obstacles to quality education on a daily basis. This event will feature teachers and students of underprivileged schools sharing their experiences, as well as the opportunity for questions after.
2/18 Humans of New York and Social Media's Impact on Social Justice
Wednesday, February 18th, 7:00PM – 8:30PM, Student Union 325
Humans of New York was able to raise over $700,000 for Mott Hall Bridges Academy in Brooklyn, NY in a matter of four days through an online fundraising campaign, which was a direct result of Humans of NY posting a picture of a student describing his appreciation for his principal. The student had these kind words to share about her, as the individual who most influences him:
“When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society was built down around us. And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built. And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of us that we matter."
From fundraising to awareness building to movement organizing, social media has taken on a new role in affecting change for social justice. This event serves as a forum to discuss ways in which social media can be both beneficial and detrimental to social justice efforts, as well as a forum to discuss the ways in which those who are passionate about social justice can better utilize social media. We invite specific examples of the benefits or drawbacks of social media, and submissions for points of discussion (ie. an excerpt from a Humans of NY post) can be sent to julian.rose@uconn.edu if you wish for the group to cover them!
2/19 Roadmap to Educational Equality
Thursday, February 19th, 12:00PM – 4:00PM, Union Street Table
Aiming to bring awareness to the geographic nature of educational inequality, Leadership In Action (LIA) and UConn Honors Council are collaborating in an interactive tabling event. Students walking through the Student Union can grab a snack and find out how their hometown fares in various measures of educational success. Based on their hometown’s performance, students will be able to place a green checkmark or a red minus mark on our “Roadmap to Educational Equality.” Before leaving, students can also write their hometown’s graduation rates on a sticker that they can wear around to spark campus-wide conversation about this topic. Overall the event aims to provide visual and statistical evidence of the persistent inequalities in America’s educational system.
2/20 Benefit Concert for Windham High School
Friday, February 20th, 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Student Union Theatre
With live performances from UConn's own Husky Records, an artist collective on campus, and other acts including but not limited to spoken word, and UConn's best, Justis Lopez as the MC, our goal is for UConn to raise $500 for Windham High School! A large factor contributing to educational inequity is inequitable funding of schools, so every cent helps! Windham High School has let us know that all money raised will go towards their Unified Sports Program. Special Olympics Project UNIFY is an education-based project that uses sports and education programs to activate young people to develop school communities where all youth are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.
Throughout the course of the event, facts about America’s education system and educational inequity will be shared. All proceeds collected at this event and throughout the day will go towards Windham High School, so come out, enjoy the show and help change the world!
For more information, contact: Julian Rose at julian.rose@uconn.edu