12:00: Challenging the legitimacy of standardized testing
1:00: How 'bike boulevards' have changed cycling in one local town
A group of Rochester teachers and retired educators is preparing to host an event with a mission: to rally the public against standardized testing. They describe the exams as “high stakes” and will make the case for different ways to assess students. We discuss how they would change student assessment. In studio:
- Dan Drmacich, coordinator of the Rochester Coalition for Public Education, retired principal of School without Walls, consultant for the NYS Performance Standards Consortium, and member of the RASE Education Committee
- Ed Donnelly, member of the Rochester Coalition for Public Education; retired special education, elementary, and high school teacher with the Hilton Central School District; and member of the Rochester International Academy Advisory Council
Then in our second hour, a special rebroadcast of one of our most popular shows. A local town has taken steps to make its community safer for bicyclists of all ages. As reported by WXXI’s Jeremy Moule, Henrietta has installed “bike boulevards.” The alternate routes parallel roads with heavy traffic, making them more comfortable for cyclists. The boulevards came to fruition after bike safety advocates pushed for the change. This hour, our guests explain the project, the impact it has had, and what other towns can learn from Henrietta’s work. Our guests:
- Jeremy Moule, deputy editor for WXXI News
- Millie Sefranek, member of the Henrietta Town Board
- Christine Merrill, bicycle safety advocate
- Jesse Peers, cycling manager for Reconnect Rochester
- Bryan Agnello, Rochester cyclist
"Connections" is livestreamed each day on the WXXI News YouTube channel. Watch here.
