Hartford, Bridgeport schools urgently need state takeover

By Chris Powell How could Aleysha Ortiz go through the Hartford school system and be given a high school diploma without ever learning to read and write? Who exactly was responsible in every grade that advanced her anyway? State government’s growth causes record spending on lobbyists Does Trump’s budget really spell doom for Connecticut? ProtestsContinue reading “Hartford, Bridgeport schools urgently need state takeover”

‘Rule of law’ advocates have many blind spots

By Chris Powell Hooray for the 500 lawyers who this month formed the Connecticut Rule of Law Committee, reprimanded President Trump, without quite naming him, for his recklessness about due process and his bullying of the judiciary, and righteously recommitted themselves to the rule of law. Trump often deserves scolding, even if it has yet to doContinue reading “‘Rule of law’ advocates have many blind spots”

Who’d want to be governor amid what’s lurking ahead?

By Chris Powell In an interview the other day Governor Lamont sounded unenthusiastic about seeking a third term. He complained that legislators and municipal officials parade through his office asking for goodies at state government expense even as the Trump administration is slashing away at financial aid to Connecticut, punching big holes in state government’sContinue reading “Who’d want to be governor amid what’s lurking ahead?”

‘Intervention’ in Bridgeport is just cover for a bailout

By Chris Powell Last week Governor Lamont and his education commissioner, Charlene Russell-Tucker, went to Bridgeport to discuss what news organizations described as state government’s “intervention” in the impoverished city’s horribly performing schools. But the “intervention” was mainly for show.  For the State Board of Education’s three-part plan for the city’s schools practically proclaims thatContinue reading “‘Intervention’ in Bridgeport is just cover for a bailout”

Puzzle isn’t Musk but Biden; and state should take over failing city schools

By Chris Powell Democrats in Connecticut and throughout the country are seeking laughs by asserting that the political noise being made by zillionaire Elon Musk shows that he is not just an adviser to President-elect Donald Trump but the de-facto president-elect. Musk is an odd duck in some respects. But he seems to have gotten richContinue reading “Puzzle isn’t Musk but Biden; and state should take over failing city schools”

Even awful school systems must play the hand they’re dealt

By Chris Powell School officials in Meriden are sore that this column recently included the city in a list of Connecticut cities whose schools have serious problems, a list with New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, and Bridgeport. These problems include chronic absenteeism, an influx of immigrant students who don’t speak English, parental neglect, and other pathologies of poverty. Continue reading “Even awful school systems must play the hand they’re dealt”