education

The workings of our democracy can be confusing to anyone, especially in today's political climate. Do young people get exposed to politics and government in school? We talk with educators to find out what Maine students learn about civics, and whether schools promote teaching about more controversial issues.

The Harold Alfond Foundation recently announced an unprecedented grant of more than $500 million to higher education and research institutions in Maine, with the goal of fostering growth and opportunities for Maine's future. We learn about the diverse ways in which the grant recipients will apply those funds, and what they see as the best approaches to promote Maine's economy.

Greg Powell, chairman of the board, Harold Alfond Foundation

Joseph Aoun, president, Northeastern University

We discuss how to handle the inevitable challenges that students and families will have to deal with as they return to school—whether it’s online or in-person. We’ll address the range of issues, from mental health and anxiety to the effects of mask-wearing and distancing—especially on younger kids and those with special needs.

Last week, the state announced that, based on current health data, schools across Maine can consider reopening this fall. Many districts are taking that lead and planning to reopen, at least partially.

The state is advising that schools across Maine can consider reopening their classrooms this fall if they follow certain guidelines. The state unveiled its new advisory system for schools, and it has classified all 16 counties as "green," suggesting there is relatively low risk of COVID-19 spread. But those classifications don't mean that all schools will reopen, and many still face lots of challenges before they can bring kids back to class.

According to a June 2020 state report, Maine’s 38 colleges and universities educate more than 72,600 students and employ more than 20,000 regular and student employees, generating $2.2 billion in annual revenue. The pandemic is forcing schools to alter their normal schedules and modes of instruction, as well as housing and use of campus space. We'll talk with leaders, educators and students from a range of Maine colleges and universities about what school will look like, how institutions will balance public health with financial health, and how people are reacting to the planned change. And we'll discuss the impact of college decisions on the Maine communities that surround them.

Whether or not to re-open K-12 schools for in-person instruction in the fall has become a heated national debate. We’ll examine what factors are being considered in Maine, from public health concerns to the role schools play in providing instruction and support to families. We will hear from state leadership, educators, a health professional, students and parents to explore the complex dilemma of how to keep kids learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on students of all ages. We discuss the many ways in which high schools students have been affected, academically and emotionally. Remote learning and social distancing have altered their schooling and many have missed out on the landmark events that mark the high school experience. For juniors and seniors, the path to college or other post-secondary plans may be in limbo. We discuss how they are handling the changes during this critical period of their teenage years.

Now that Maine’s K-12 schools will continue with remote learning through the end of the school year, we talk with Maine’s Commissioner of Education, teachers, students and parents about how they have adapted to at-home learning so far.
 

This program has been edited for content accuracy.

The COVID-19 pandemic is posing a particular challenge for many families, as parents face the task of educating their children at home while, in some cases, trying to work at the same time. Other parents may have lost their jobs and are trying to put food on the table.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date October 22, 2019); no calls will be taken.

We discuss the growing efforts to integrate nature into the classroom at all levels of a young person's education, and how this practice might benefit children's physical mental and emotional well being. Richard Louv, author of the landmark book "Last Child in the Woods" and national expert on kids and nature, joins us to talk about the importance of connecting kids with the environment through the curricula. He is in Maine for the Maine Conservation Voters' Evening for the Environment event at the University of New England in Portland on Oct. 22nd.

Through many federal mandates, our country has long relied on test scores to objectively define school success. But what does “success” mean for students, teachers and families? Maine schools are working to shift away from emphasizing assessments and standardized tests as isolated measures of success, instead making way for a more holistic approach to learning and gauging students’ readiness as global citizens of the future.