Safeguarding Your Child's Digital Experience
- Details
- Written by: Wendy MacMillan
- Hits: 4038
Meredith Dutra and Jennifer CronkRaising kids in this rapidly changing digital age can be overwhelming to say the least…from toddlers to teenagers, there always seems to be something for parents to worry about. And questions like, “How much screen time is okay,” or “Should I let my tween use this new app,” can feel even more overwhelming when we don’t know where to turn for answers or if we feel like we are alone with our concerns about technology. Luckily for parents here in Scarsdale, we have technology teachers like Meredith Dutra and Jennifer Cronk to help us wade through the uncertainties. On Tuesday, January 23rd, this dynamic duo gave a presentation “Digital Parenting: Tips & Triage,” which aimed to answer questions, give guidance, and create a digital parenting community for our PTA members.
The presentation began with Ms. Dutra and Ms. Cronk (who are not only teachers but parents themselves) sharing some of the findings from the Technology Survey which was given to the Scarsdale School Community at the end of the last school year. The survey found that we are in fact, not alone and many parents, teachers, and even students are concerned with how technology can impact attention, mental health, social well-being and so much more. With these concerns in mind, Dutra and Cronk went on to discuss a plethora of tips and suggestions for establishing a sense of digital well-being at any age.
One of the first pieces of advice they offered is to start talking to your kids about their use of technology when they are young. Not only does talking about digital safety and your family’s rules around screen use establish a foundation for communication in regard to technology norms, but according to Dutra and Cronk, it’s easier to make an impression with young children who still want to comply with adults. Starting discussions early also promotes a sense of community and lets kids know they are not alone if/when they encounter troubling issues in their digital worlds.
This doesn’t mean that as parents, we shouldn’t still talk with our teens about their use of technology, quite the opposite…in their presentation, Dutra and Cronk emphasized that because their prefrontal cortexes are still not fully developed, teens need help from their parents to curb screen use. We can’t just tell them, “Get off your phone,” or “Don’t sext” we need to show them how and to give them healthy limits and boundaries. For tips navigating the digital world with teens, the presenters suggest reading, Behind Their Screens, by Emily Weinstein and Carrie James.
For any age, the teachers also suggest utilizing parental controls on your children’s Apple devices saying, “ With Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time, you can block and limit specific apps and features on your child’s device. You can also restrict the settings on your child’s iphone, ipad, or ipod touch for explicit content, purchases, and downloads, and privacy.”
Dutra and Cronk discussed the use of parental control and monitoring apps like Bark, WebWatcher, Flexispy and more. While these types of apps are beneficial in that they allow parents to monitor their children’s online activity and personal messages, Dutra and Cronk warn that it can be a lot of work for parents to constantly check these apps and it could threaten the bonds of trust between you and your child. Ms. Cronk suggested using some of the more intrusive monitoring apps more sparingly and only on an “as needed” basis. In the same breath, she also made clear that with her own teenagers, she knows all of their passwords, checks their phones regularly, and doesn’t allow her children to have their phones in their bedroom past bedtime.
The presenters highlighted some of the pitfalls of several popular apps used by children and teens. First, they warned about “guilt by association” and detailed a story about how a large “group-text” between high schoolers ran amok when a few of the kids started making racist remarks. Unfortunately, the entire group was held accountable for the wrongdoings of just a few, prompting Dutra and Cronk to warn kids:
-Only text with people you know in real life
-Only say things on text that you would also say in person
-If something happens in a group text, leave the chat immediately
They also encouraged parents to spot check their kids’ conversations and audit their friend lists asking who they are, where do you know them from, and checking age appropriateness of the group.
When they talked about the widely popular app Tik Tok, Cronk and Dutra encouraged parents to be aware of popular “challenges” and “trends” describing how vaping and the new nicotine pouch Zyn were first popularized on the social media app. They also warned of Tik Tok’s algorithm and how it has one of the most powerful recommendation engines which quickly learns its users likes and vulnerabilities and shows the user more of the same content to keep them scrolling on their site. What’s more, Ms. Cronk explained that if a user lingers on a sad piece of content, Tik Tok’s algorithm will continually show the user more sad content and can even lead to recommending content with suicidal ideation. Cronk advised users to make sure they are only searching for happy things on the site like images of puppies and kittens.
Next Cronk and Dutra talked about how Snapchat seems to be the preferred app for teens to connect and communicate. Since the messages on this app “disappear” quickly, they encourage parents to extend message length to 24 hours and to have an account yourself so you can follow and audit your child’s stories. They also described some of the social pitfalls of Snapchat such as the Snapmap feature which allows users to see where all their friends are. Dutra and Cronk said this can be particularly hard if a group of friends is all together but have left one friend out.
Of greatest concern for parents, Dutra and Cronk informed the audience that Snapchat is currently being used by professionals (mostly from other countries) as a tool for “sextortion.” The professionals troll Snapchat looking for teen boys and then lure victims into sending incriminating photos before demanding money from them. Unfortunately, there have been several incidents across the US which have ended with the boys taking their own lives. The presenters urge parents to talk with their teens about this alarming trend and to remind them that if they are mixed up in a potential case of sextortion to immediately log out of the app, tell a parent, and that nothing is likely to happen. They also shared these tips to help parents navigate through a “worst case scenario”:
-Take a moment, take a deep breath and realize that you have just been trusted to help. A child who has gotten into this situation really believes they have ruined their lives; this moment is precious. The first thing is to de-escalate the child.
-Take the child’s phone, not in a punitive way. “Ok, this problem is too big for you to handle on your own. I am going to help you. I am taking your phone to give you a break. Let your friends know that I am taking your phone for a little while, make up any story you want. You need to unplug and get your bearings. These are criminals you are talking to and they make their living by sending teens like you into a panic.”
-Tell the child you will keep an eye on their social media and make sure nothing is released.
-Take pictures of everything, make a screen recording of the conversation.
-Let the police know and fill out an https://www.ic3.gov/ report.
To wrap up the program, the presenters shared several helpful resources to help parents navigate the digital world such as the website, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ and the books Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport and Digital for Good by Richard Culatta. In addition, Cronk and Dutra shared these important takeaways from the program:
-Our children’s childhood is different from our own
-Have conversations and ask questions from a place of interest
-Follow your kids on their social media accounts
-Create mental health/cell phone breaks and cell phone free zones for all
-Model behavior you want your children to follow
Administration Proposes 8.9 Additional Full Time Staffers for 2024-25 School Year
- Details
- Written by: Wendy MacMillan
- Hits: 3361
The Board of Education meeting on 1/22 (that was rescheduled because of a snow day on 1/8), was chock full of information regarding staffing recommendations, proposed school calendars, and more. Here are some of the highlights:
Budget Presentation/Staffing Recommendations:
Overall student enrollment is projected to go up by just 29 students from 4,703 this year to 4,732 for the 2024-25 school year. However, primarily due to the rise in the number of special education students and an initiative to keep them in district rather than placeing them out of district, the administration is proposing the addition of 8.9 full time staffing positions, bringing the staff count from 483.4 to 491.7, which would be the largest staffing figure in the past ten years. For context, in 2014-15 when there were 4,821 students,almost 100 students more than is projected for next year, the overall staff number was 436.
Dr. Drew Patrick explained that the budget planning process keeps in mind the District’s mission which, “...seeks to sponsor each student’s full development, enabling our youth to be effective and independent contributors in a democratic society and an interdependent world.”
The development process also considers factors such as school district organization and program drivers like effective class sizes, professional development, student and staff safety, and special education.
Patrick emphasized five key points that are considered when vetting proposed staffing:
-Educational Efficacy : A measurable positive impact on the educational lives of students.
-Student Educational Outcomes and Achievement Commitment to teaching and learning initiatives that Connect our WIDE Community and advance the elements of the Strategic Plan goals.
-Mandates and Best Practices; Thoughtful and contextual observance of internal and external mandates, and promotion of goal-aligned best practices. Examples include: Elementary class size guidelines, special education programming along the continuum of service.
-Strategic Planning & Educational Priorities
-Staffing Efficiencies and Financial Impact
After highlighting the budgeting process timeline and key budget influencers, administrators went on to discuss the staffing requests and recommendations for the 2024-2025 school year which you can see here.
In total there are 8.9 FTE, Tier I additional staffing recommendations for the 2024-2025 school year. Some were driven by a rise in the number of special education students and the increase in the number of students qualifying for 504’s and IEPs.. This year there are 45 sections of special education classes and next year that number is projected to rise to 54 sections. An increased number of special education students will be moving on to the middle school and ultimately to the high school. The district is working to keep more of these students in district and has done a phased in approach starting with elementary school.
The staffing requests include:
-2.0 Special Education teachers at SMS because of an increase in the number of special education classes.
-1.0 Special Education teacher at SHS. This special education teacher would begin the work of creating a continuum of services that will allow the school to provide an appropriate education for non-diploma bound students who are currently in middle and elementary schools, while also doing helping manage the increase in IEPs and 504s in our two level classes.
-High School Math Staffing (.5 FTE). Rationale: This position will be a .5 math (financial literacy and Multivariable Calculus). They are proposing two new courses for September 2024: Financial Literacy and AT Multivariable Calculus which this .5 FTE would support. They have seen an increase in the number of students taking more than one math course: In 2023 - 2024, 180 students are enrolled in 2 or 3 math courses simultaneously compared to 155 in 2022-23.
-1.0 District-wide Special Education Administrator. Rationale: The growth of the programs and leadership required to supervise program implementation and development, manage caseloads, and attend to multiple complex and time-intensive cases requires additional staffing. The proposed 1.0 FTE addition would allow for the following reorganization and enhanced leadership benefits
0.2 Clerical - Fox Meadow. Rationale: Fox Meadow has an increased need in the office to support the increased enrollment (481) with 24 sections. They are requesting an increase of 0.2 to our office assistant (currently a 0.8 FTE with benefits) to accommodate the growing population by answering phones, assisting the secretary to the principal; arrival and dismissal; parent engagement, etc. This will bring Fox Meadow into parity with Quaker Ridge.
10-month Special Education clerical to 12-month ($8,000). Currently, the Special Education office is supported by a 10-month clerk during the school year and intern support during the summer months. This 12 month position would allow for continuity of support and consistency in the office. The cost for the position would be $8,000. The intern support would no longer be needed in the office with the change to a 12 month employee. Given the high volume and confidential nature of the special education program, this consistency would ensure that student and family needs are being met throughout the entire calendar year.
After the presentation, board members asked questions. Some members wondered why the request for an additional Freshman Team of 3.0 FTE was made a Tier II recommendation (a request not recommended at this time but merits study for the future), arguing that students and our community would greatly benefit from having one more dean at the high school. Many of the BOE members were hopeful that a deeper study of the situation could possibly produce some sort of solution such as a phased-in approach…where perhaps we hire another dean and then hire the other two requested teachers in subsequent years.
During the Public Comment portion of the evening, Scarsdale resident Art Rublin voiced his support for hiring a freshman team because he believes it would greatly benefit the students (especially the 30 to 45 students who want to take Civ Ed but are turned away because there isn’t enough room). He also believes that the smaller class sizes afforded by having another freshman team would improve the students’ sense of well-being, especially in light of the current college admissions landscape.
For a more in depth look at the Budget Development and Staffing Presentation, please see this link
School Board Nominations
Jessica Resnick-Ault will not seek a second term.Jessica Resnick-Ault announced that she will not be seeking re-election following the completion of her first three year term on the School Board. She said that “although she has thoroughly enjoyed her time on the board and working with each of the current members, she has had a career change and her new job doesn’t provide the flexibility to give her the time and commitment needed to serve as a productive member of the board.”
Board Member Jim Dugan announced that the School Board Nominating Committee has been elected and has started their search to identify possible candidates to serve on the Board of Education next term. Dugan took the opportunity to clarify that after finishing his first three-year term, he will be running to serve out another term.
Therefore, the SBNC will be seeking one new nominee and considering the renomination of Dugan.
School Calendar
Jim Dugan will seek nomination for a second three year term on the school board.
Dr. Patrick was thankful for all of the feedback the BOE has received in regards to the two proposed school calendars for the 2024-25 school year and noted they will continue to take feedback until they put forth the final calendar draft on February 5th. Before describing the differences between the two proposed versions, he reminded the audience that the scheduled half days for parent-teacher conferences are contractual dates set with the Scarsdale Teachers Association.
As for the two proposed calendars, Dr. Patrick explained that the first version has students returning the day after Labor day and allows for a full two week Holiday Vacation in December. The second proposed version allows for an extended Labor Day weekend and has students returning to school on Thursday September 5th. The second version does not allow for two full weeks of vacation in December and instead calls students back to the classroom on Thursday January 2nd.
Dr. Patrick emphasized that a full two week holiday vacation for the 2024-25 school year would be in line with traditional calendar planning as Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, and is not a sign that there will be a full two week break every year, as that is a year by year consideration. He went on to highlight that both versions of the calendar include the three newly adopted holidays of Lunar New Year, Diwali, and Eid al-Fitr.
BOE President Ron Schulhof added that the District does not set the last day of school in June as that date is decided upon by New York State and is based on the timing of State Regent Exams.
Board Member Amber Yusef asked which version of the calendar the faculty preferred and Dr. Patrick responded that they seem to favor the first version.
Board Member Jessica Resnick-Ault reported that she really appreciated the two week break this past December from a mental health perspective and wondered what the feedback was around the District. Dr. Patrick made clear that there were no official measurements but anecdotal feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with teachers and students saying it was a great opportunity to recover and reset. In the same breath, Dr. Patrick took a moment to appreciate both opinions about a longer holiday break and acknowledged that any choice made, some people will be pleased and some people will be displeased.
Ron Schulhof also noted that the BOE has received feedback describing how two full weeks in December can be hard for some working parents. Schulhof expressed empathy for these situations while also pointing out that when Christmas falls on a Wednesday, many of our peer districts also have two weeks off and there are often more camps and activities for children to take part in.
Jessica Resnick Ault expressed that half days can also be incredibly challenging for working parents and suggested that maybe the District works with the Village and other local resources to offer afternoon programming on these days.
Amber Yusef said it is important to think about the wellbeing of students and staff when deliberating the calendar. Dugan agrees but feels it is equally important to consider the stresses on working parents.
Colleen Brown added that as a former teacher, she can see how having two, two-day school weeks, as proposed in version two, can be very challenging and disruptive for teachers and students.
A parent commented via Zoom that a two week break can be incredibly beneficial for seniors who are applying to colleges during the “regular decision” phase, as the applications for this deadline tend to fall between January 2nd and January 10th. The caller went on to explain that the extra time afforded in a longer break, can make a meaningful difference in the quality of the student’s applications in addition to protecting their well-being and mental health.
Kindergarten Registration
Dr. Patrick started the business portion of the BOE meeting by reminding the audience that kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year opened on January 16th. He encourages all families who know their child is eligible for kindergarten next year, to register before January 31st to help the screening and planning processes go as smoothly as possible.
Strategic Planning- Community Input
Dr. Patrick also drew attention to a recent email he sent all families of current Scarsdale students which reads:
“As you may recall from the video invitation sent this past Fall, Scarsdale Public Schools has embarked on a strategic planning process aimed at identifying key priorities for the next five or more years. In November and December of 2023, we held a series of World Café forums that invited our community to share their voice, values, and vision to inform this plan. While these forums were vibrant and resulted in valuable input, we knew it would be important to provide an opportunity to those unable to attend. This is that opportunity, and we hope you will take 8-10 minutes to complete our strategic planning input survey. The information gathered will be added to the feedback we have already collected and used to identify strategic priorities for the Scarsdale Public Schools. You can expect an update on our progress later this Spring. Thank you in advance for sharing your voice, values, and vision!
Click here for the survey.
During Board member reports, Suzie Hahn highlighted an upcoming the Scarsdale PTC Legislative Advocacy Breakfast on Friday, February 2nd, from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM at
Greenacres Elementary School.
“The breakfast will provide a space to meet, mingle and discuss legislative and advocacy issues with some of our elected officials, including Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and County Executive George Latimer. Other elected officials are expected to attend as well. There will be a moderated panel discussion of issues currently on the minds of parents, teachers & administrators in the Scarsdale Public Schools. Refreshments will be served.
RSVP at [email protected] and address any questions to Rachana Singh and Joshua Mitts at [email protected].
Sign Up for Kindergarten by January 31, 2024
- Details
- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 3328
The Scarsdale School District offers online Kindergarten registration. Current residents who expect to have a child attend Kindergarten during the 2024-25 school year are encouraged to complete this process by January 31, 2024. Although prospective Kindergarteners may register at any time prior to the start of the school year, completing this process early ensures a smooth screening and placement process. Children whose fifth birthday falls on or before December 31, 2024, may be registered for the 2024-25 school year.
Please visit www.scarsdaleschools.org/registration for instructions on how to register online.
Enrollment in one of the five elementary schools (Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote, and Quaker Ridge) is determined by the neighborhood in which you reside. If you do not know which elementary school serves your neighborhood, please call the District Registrar, Nunzia Mauro, at (914) 721-2444 or send an email to [email protected].
Hoff-Barthelson Music School and White Plains Youth Bureau Join Bring Free Music Classes to Local Youth
- Details
- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 3108
Hoff-Barthelson Music School is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the White Plains Youth Bureau to offer music classes in guitar and percussion free-of-charge for White Plains students in grades 5 to 12. The two organizations are cooperating to restore group instrumental classes for youth that had been disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic with first-year seed funding provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and New York State Legislature as well as the City of White Plains Youth Bureau.
“Guitar Club” classes, using acoustic guitars, are offered onsite at the White Plains Youth Bureau Saturdays from 1:00 – 2:00 pm for middle school students, and from 2:00 – 3:00 pm for high school students. “Percussion Club” classes, focusing on drum set and African drums, are offered on Saturdays from 3:00 – 4:00 pm for middle school students and from 4:00 – 5:00 pm for high school students. Through the partnership, students are loaned instruments and receive all required music and materials at no charge. A key program highlight includes a scheduled performance by students across both clubs at the White Plains Youth Bureau’s Annual Performing Arts Show at the White Plains Performing Arts Center on March 16, 2024, at 7:00 pm. Enrollment remains open through December 31 and families of interested students are encouraged to contact Gina Covington, White Plains Youth Bureau Director of Neighborhood Services, at 914-422-1378.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Youth Bureau to offer these music classes to students in White Plains. Music has the power to inspire, uplift, and transform lives; our goal in offering these classes is to help participating students develop their full creative potential," said Hoff-Barthelson Executive Director Ken Cole. “Hoff-Barthelson has been actively engaged in providing group instruction to children and teens free-of-charge in community settings for nearly 20 years. Our partnership with the White Plains Youth Bureau will extend these efforts well into the future.”
The percussion classes, led by Broadway veteran Glenn Rhian, delve into musical styles from around the world, with students exploring rhythmic notation and a variety of instruments while gaining a global perspective on music. Guitar students, under the leadership of acclaimed guitarist Daniel Conant, gain hands-on experience in fundamental guitar techniques, music reading, and musical styles ranging from Latin American to rock 'n' roll to pop. Glenn Rhian, a faculty member at Hoff-Barthelson since 1999, brings a wealth of experience from his career as a Broadway musician, jazz performer, and classical artist. Daniel Conant, praised for his colorful sound and intimate approach to the guitar, is an avid performer and teacher with a rich background in classical music.
“The White Plains Youth Bureau is excited to add the Guitar and Percussion Clubs to our existing roster of musical arts programming,” said Ms. Covington. “These new music clubs provide growth in our community and access to fundamentals skills all students should enjoy. This partnership exposes students to new possibilities and experiential opportunities with diverse music programming to engage even more youth in our mission to ensure young people realize their full potential.”
For more information about the music classes and other programs at Hoff-Barthelson Music School, click here. To learn more about these and other programs offered by the White Plains Youth Bureau, click here.
About Hoff-Barthelson Music School
Hoff-Barthelson Music School, based in Scarsdale, NY, has earned national recognition as a premier community music school, known for its outstanding leadership in education, performance, and community service. With a faculty drawn from the region’s most talented teachers and performers, the School has long been one of Westchester County’s most cherished cultural resources. At Hoff-Barthelson, students find a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of education, performance, and community service. Students of all ages, aptitudes, and levels of interest enjoy a supportive, joyful learning environment; a focus on the whole person; exceptional teaching; and a multifaceted curriculum. Hoff-Barthelson is excited to announce the introduction of private lessons on Sundays. This strategic expansion is intended to cater to the diverse schedules of our learners, underscoring our pledge to deliver education that is both flexible and accessible. Special incentives are available to those enrolling in our Spring Semester which begins January 16, 2024.
About White Plains Youth Bureau
The White Plains Youth Bureau’s mission is to provide children and youth ages 5 through 24, with the tools they need to become good citizens, and to acquire the skills needed to become competent leaders of the 21st century. The Youth Bureau provides opportunities for today’s youth to apply their energies and skills thus enabling them to believe in their futures and themselves.
Photo Credit: Students from the White Plains Youth Bureau participate in group guitar and percussion music classes provided by Hoff-Barthelson Music School. Photos by Gina Covington.
A Treat for the Intellectually Curious at the SAS Afternoon of Learning
- Details
- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 3810
Jill SerlingThough Scarsdale is primarily known for its public schools that educate students aged five to 18, the Village is home to another school without walls that does an exceptional job of offering education and enrichment to the adults in town.
On Sunday December 2, the Scarsdale Adult School commemorated its 85th birthday with an afternoon of programming at Temple Israel Center in New Rochelle that wowed the celebrants.
Introducing the day, Executive Director Jill Serling discussed the vitality of the school which has widely expanded its breadth and reach under her direction. She joked, “We’re 85 and still walking unassisted!”
She explained that until 2009 the school had only a fall and a spring semester, with primarily evening classes, but has now become a year-round endeavor with many offerings during the day. The program has extended beyond Scarsdale and classes take place all over Westchester and beyond with museum visits, tours of historic sites, gardens and neighborhood explorations.
And if that were not enough, in 2020, during the COVID crisis, the school began offering classes on ZOOM, which permitted students to study and explore online.
Along the way SAS has hosted classes taught by famous academics, writers and celebrities including Margaret Mead, Warren Buffet, Nicholas Kristof, Anna Quindlen and George Saunders.
The keynote presentation on Sunday was an interview with biographer Jonathan Eig who recently published a 669-page biography of Martin Luther King that has received much acclaim. He was interviewed by Lori Rotskoff who led him to share as much about himself as he did about the famed civil rights leader.
Lori Rostkoff and Jonathan Eig
Eig began his journalism career at the Journal News at the age of 16. As a shy kid he used his reporter’s notebook as a way to engage with others. He said, “Those little notebooks were a passport… my pass to get in anywhere. They gave me the power to walk into anybody’s room and ask for an interview. I am still doing the same job I did at 16.”
Eig has now written six biographies including the stories of Lou Gehrig and Muhammed Ali. He does exhaustive research on his subjects, searching for everything from “shoe size to cancelled checks to medical records.” King: A Life, took him six years to write.
He was inspired to write the book about King when he realized the last biography had been written 30 years ago and much had changed since then. He realized that there were still hundreds of people alive who knew King and set out to interview them all, targeting the oldest ones first.
Harry Belafonte was willing to talk. As famed biographer Robert Caro had advised him to do, Eig ”tried to get a feeling for what it was like to be in the room with King.” He asked Belafonte, “What did you do when you were bored?”
Eig was conscious of how he might appear to King’s family and friends. Eig explained, “As a white guy and a Jew, I approached this carefully. I asked for help from people in many different communities. No one objected to a white, Jewish guy writing the book. It helped that I asked for their help up front.”
Along the way, Eig found one of two copies of MLK’s father’s biography. No one knew it existed. It was quite a discovery.
Eig explained that King was born in 1929. He was not bruised by racism as all his ancestors, including his father, were preachers and he was surrounded by the church. A good student, he skipped grades and went to college at age 16.
King was launched into the national eye in September of 1955 when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. At the time, King was only 26 years old but was asked to speak the night of the bus incidents. He only had 20 minutes to prepare for the biggest speech of his life.
Eig continued to speak about the FBI targeting and following King, the March on Washington and his relationship with his wife Coretta Scott King. Eig explained, “King was a ladies’ man and had a blind spot when it came to women’s equality. According to Eig, King had many affairs, and King’s children may have refused to speak to Eig because they didn’t believe the stories of their father’s infidelity.
Discussing his own role, Eig said, “You have to try to look at the world through your subject’s eyes – but you know that you can’t know. It’s an exercise in failure. Your job is to be as accurate and honest as you can and admit what you don’t know. All I can do is to try to help you understand what he might have been going through.”
Following Eig’s interview, participants could attend one of three breakout sessions. We chose a look back at “American Protest Music in Literary and Cultural Contexts,” taught by Nicholas Birns.
Demonstrating an encyclopedic knowledge of his subject, Birns explained the historical roots of American folk music. He noted that in the 1800’s most political campaigns included a song that supporters sang to join in support.
Birns started with Woody Guthrie, nee Woodrow Wilson Guthrie who hailed from Oklahoma where is father was likely a member of the Klu Klux Klan. Guthrie’s songs mirrored the times. Pretty Boy Floyd romanticized the story of a bank robber. His song, I Ain’t Got No Home in this World emphasized feelings of alienation, joblessness, and poverty during the depression.
Woody Guthrie is best known for his song, This Land is Your Land, which the entire class sung together.
Birns went on to discuss Pete Seeger and his anti-war song, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, which asks a rhetorical question. The title encourages audience participation and has a role in answering the question posed in the song title.
Though Seeger came from comfortable roots, he had empathy for the common man and the down and out. The songs he sang with his group called The Weavers were sung in schools. Seeger’s We Shall Overcome, became the anthem to the Civil Rights movement. Birns also reviewed the role of Billie Holiday and her song Strange Fruit which told the story of the lynching of black men in the south.
Here are the powerful lyrics:
Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastor scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouths
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rut, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop
Birns himself is a masterful storyteller and shared the back story of many songs that we know by heart but knew little of their origins. I’ll be watching for more of his classes at SAS.
I was sorry to miss Francis Morrone’s class on the New York art scene in the 1930’s, including Fernand Léger, George Grosz, Pavel Tchelitchew, Hans Hofmann, and Salvador Dalí, and American artists Reginald Marsh, Edward Hopper, Jackson Pollock, Stuart Davis.
The third breakout class was on transgender youth today. The session was a lively and well-informed dialogue led by Columbia Assistant Professor Tey Meadow, whose vast knowledge of the topic was matched by her empathy and openness. The listeners included the speaker’s parents, which made for some funny moments as they exchanged a few quips. Lots of great information for both topic experts and newbies in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Harriet Langsam Sobol and Alfred HuntThe afternoon was capped off with an inaugural SAS Hall of Fame ceremony, where Executive Director Jill Serling inducted two legendary teachers, Alfred Hunt and Harriet Langsam Sobol. Everyone raised a glass for a champagne toast to Alfred, who has taught a news class called Let's Talk Current Events to more than 90 students each week for a decade, and to Harriet, whose Book Talk class is an addiction for many--including one student who is temporarily living in France, but taking the course virtually this term despite the time difference!
Here's to 85 more years of learning at the Scarsdale Adult School.
Deb Morel, Jill Serling, Jonathan Eig and Lori Rotskoff
