MIT Lays the Foundation

Boston, (9/5/09) 1229 EST -- "It's an exquisite animal that sits on four dainty toes," said John Ochsendorf, describing the thin shell structure that is being assembled this week at the MIT Museum outdoor courtyard.

Ochsendorf, a professor of architecture and civil engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, lead his graduate students in breaking ground, Monday, on their full scale model of an adobe brick structure. The piece of art is a "trial run" for the actual structure that the students will assemble in New York City at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum this spring.

Inspired by the works of Antoni Gaudi,the students at MIT were asked to create a vaulted sculpture in the traditional Guastavino vaulting style, using thin tiles. The structure boasts self-supporting arches, built in the customary fashion as the original Valencian structures, yet it incorporates several modern day phenomena.

By using only a single layer of adobe brick, the 15 foot-high structure has an extremely low carbon footprint. Yet, unlike older brick and mortar vaults, this vault is designed with much more elaborate arches and angles--meaning that the students had to crunch a lot of numbers in the planning process.

The architecture students used new, high-tech structural design software to design the project, which they plan to show to the public on Friday with a celebratory gathering at the Museum's location at 265 Mass. Avenue.

There are over 75 structures and buildings throughout Boston built with the Guastavino tile arch system. These works include Boston University's Marsh Plaza archways and sections of the Boston Public Library.


By Catherine Moore, camoore@bu.edu

American Learning (at Every Level of Life)

            Secretary Arne Duncan cares about kids. He worked for seven years successfully restructuring the Chicago school system and now he is in charge of distributing 100 billion dollars of federal stimulus money to schools all around the country.

            “We have to educate our way to a better economy,” said Duncan at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Friday. “Our children only have once chance to get an education.”

            Duncan said that he thinks that we have a huge window of opportunity right now to really change things in our education system. He noted four key factors that will influence the success of education reform efforts: absolute leadership from the top (referring to President Barack Obama, who appointed Duncan to his position), bi-partisan support, great ideas, and real resources.

            “With unprecedented resources, we expect to see unprecedented reform, “ said Duncan. He is thinking big.

            Duncan plans to put money towards programs that support early childhood development, statewide student data tracking systems, teacher merit programs, and an increase in college grants, scholarships, and loans. Duncan also believes that there needs to be a huge focus on decreasing student dropout rates. 

            “There are no good jobs out there for high school drop outs,” said Duncan, claiming that a failure to graduate with a high school diploma condemns students to a life of poverty and “social failure.”

             “I worry a lot about the dreams of our young people that are starting to die,” said Duncan. With sincerity uncommon to politicians in this day and age, he spoke about the urgency he feels in bringing about change to the American school system.

            “We are lying to our students,” said Duncan. He described the false sense of achievement that the United States education system endorsed in the past. The schools would tell students that they were “meeting states standards,” which was a false measurement of achievement, because state standards were not up to par. Because of this falsehood, Duncan said that students were inadequately prepared when they took SAT or ACT tests for college admittance and were then shocked with their poor performance.

            In his viewpoint, Duncan said that if the student had been expected to meet internationally benchmarked standards, then they would have been aware of their weaknesses as early as the fifth grade, and they could have been working on those problem areas all throughout high school. By the time they took the college tests, the results could be drastically different.

            According to Duncan, “No Child Left Behind” failed because it had goals that were far too loose and a plan of action that was far too rigid. He focused not on the previous administration’s inability to reform education, but more on his desire to “fundamentally flip it (the program) on its head.”

            Duncan said that in the past the American government has lacked the political will and the courage to do the right thing by children. He plans to change that.

            In an age-old game of “copy and paste,” Duncan wants to take a look at the prosperous schools in our communities and replicate them throughout the country. He noted the “extraordinary” Thomas Jefferson High School in Fairfax County and said, “Let’s clone that magic.”

            But Duncan is not open to all educational options. When asked about school choice and a voucher program (an alternative option where the government would allow federal funding to “follow the child,” and parents would receive money to choose where to educate their students), he was prickly.

            “I don’t think vouchers work,” he said. Claiming that vouchers only serve one to two percent of American children, Duncan deemed the idea exclusive. “I don’t want to save one to two percent of our children and let the other 98 to 99 percent drown.”

            Interestingly, Duncan’s criticism of voucher programs avoided any reference to the successful local Washington D.C. voucher system, as well other similar programs across the country such as the 15-year Milwaukee program.

            Statistics gathered by the National Center for Education Research and Regional Assistance for the 2008-2009 year show that after three years, students enrolled in the Washington D.C. voucher program show a significant positive increase in reading ability and parental satisfaction in their child’s school. More information about school choice is available through the Alliance for School Choice, The Black Alliance of Educational Options, and the Greater Washington Urban League.

            In light of his efforts to de-privatize education, Duncan’s viewpoint on a couple hot topics was surprising. Duncan chose not extend his attack on charter schools, however, and actually supported the work of these non-governmental education programs. He did not say that he thought charter schools were the answer—it is obvious that he is invested in the restoration of public schools—but he did applaud the charter schools for their success and he said that he doesn’t see why he would ever want to end something that was working.

            When asked what he thought about home schooling as another alternative option, it was obvious that Duncan was finished speaking about options that deterred from his plan. He merely stated, “God Bless them (home schoolers).”

            Duncan centered his speech on the challenge that he wants to present the American people with to raise their expectations and to find the courage to “not just tinker around the edges” of education reform, but to do something about it. He said that he plans to walk the talk.

            Duncan pledged to overhaul American public schools, especially the absolute bottom one percent “dropout factories”—about 1,000 schools per year where the dropout rates peak 80 percent at times. He said that if he doesn’t do this within the next four (or maybe eight) years, then he would have failed at his job.

            “We know what is possible,” Duncan said. “We should be in the business of investing in our children, not subsidizing banks.”

            This comment is interesting in the wake of General Motors’s announcement yesterday that it was filing for bankruptcy. Despite the Obama administration’s resolve to stop spending unnecessary money and focusing federal funds on areas with “real” potential--like education--President Obama just gambled 50 billion dollars away to bailout the automotive industry.

            Now we, the American people, have a huge stake in a bankrupt company and we spent half the money that we want to spend on education to buy it. Our motives are good, but will they be enough to counteract our spending craze? In truth, perhaps this is a different kind of spending, but money is money, and even if it’s for a noble cause, if you don’t have the money, then you don’t have the money.

            Furthermore, how can money that we wisely invest into our schools help us break free from the chains of recession when we are still caught up in the same degenerative patterns?

By Catherine Moore, camoore@bu.edu

Doctors Now Prescribe Books

BOSTON, Mass. (10/21/08)--The heavy, red-furred dog costume, worn by Dr. Perri Klass’s 13 year-old son, Anatol, was just one of several costumes donned by volunteers, Sunday. Story book legends came to life at the Seaport Hotel in Boston Harbor at the annual Reach Out and Read “Read and Romp” event.

Norman Bridwell’s children’s book character, Clifford the Big Red Dog, was led around to greet youngsters on the arm of his mother, one of the early members of the Reach Out and Read organization.

Dr. Perri Klass joined the Reach Out and Read (ROR) organization 16 years ago, with a passion to promote literacy. She said that today, according to Reach Out and Read statistics, 35 percent of children who enter kindergarten lack the basic language skills they will need to learn to read.

These children come from mostly from low-income families. Without intervention, those children will have low literacy skills and poor economic potential in their adult lives. This is where Reach Out and Read comes in, providing books, while promoting literacy by educating parents on the importance of reading to children at early ages.

A journalism and pediatrics professor currently at New York University, Klass returned to Boston this past weekend on her annual trip to Beantown for the Read and Romp. Despite relocating to New York City for her career, Klass continued her volunteer legacy as a Reach out and Read medical doctor on the Board of Directors.

The Reach Out and Read organization, started in 1989, was an attempt by pediatricians and primary caregivers to become more involved in their clients’ lives. They went beyond conventional healthcare to give low-income children a chance. These doctors and nurses left behind tradition in order to tell parents about the importance of reading in child development. Upon each check –up visit, nurses and doctors provide parents with information on how to read to children at each developmental age as well as sending each child home from his or her appointment with a new book to keep as his or her own.

“The books hold so much meaning, so much pleasure, and so much possibility,” said Klass. “It is so much fun for parents to see their child enjoy a book. It’s inspiring. It’s what we want all children to have. We want every child who comes into the office for medical care, to leave with a book in hand.”

The Read and Romp is a Reach Out and Read event, co-sponsored by the Cabot Corporation, Walden Media, and Scholastic Inc. The event brings in over 80,000 dollars each year that is used to buy books for more than 4,000 ROR programs nation wide. The Read and Romp has helped more than 3.3 million children explore their favorite books.

This year the Seaport Hotel Plaza conference room was transformed into a storybook land, featuring 11 stations, each focusing on a favorite children’s book with an activity to accompany it.

Margaret Wise Bloom’s The Runaway Bunny station gave children the opportunity to coddle live baby bunnies. Next door at Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar station, children make their own butterflies out of clothespins and coffee filters. Laura Joffe Numeroff’s book If you Give a Mouse a Cookie station was in the center of the room and children could decorate their very own cookies. The timeless book Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton, recreated a “construction zone” in one corner of the room, with trucks and blocks scattered all over the floor. Throughout the afternoon, the storybook characters literally came to life for the children to enjoy. Clifford the Big Red Dog was joined by Frog and Toad from Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad are Friends as well as several other characters. The children and their parents were busy as bees, moving from station to station as they share each other’s pleasure.

“I think for all of us that work for the program in any capacity,” said Klass. “It’s all about the pleasure that parents and children get together, from reading.”

More than 60 volunteers spent time and energy planning this year’s Read and Romp. Co-chair of the event committee, Kirke Hall from Westwood, MA, said that she has been involved with Reach Out and Read for more than 12 years and she has been working at the Read and Romp for all five years of its existence. “A friend got me involved,” said Hall.

With her husband and both of her children present at the event, Hall said that she got her whole family involved. “ROR can offer its full five year program for a mere $40 per child,” said Hall. “That means that by the time the child enters kindergarten, he or she will have a home library of at least 10 books, and parents who understand the great importance of reading aloud.”

One of a handful of paid employees working the event, Matt Ferraguto has only worked as the communications director for ROR since last December, but he already says that promoting literacy is the “best job ever.” Before ROR, Ferraguto worked as the public relations representative for Senator Kennedy and Congressman Lynch on their political campaigns.

Ferraguto explained that ROR’s crusade is not to teach reading, but to let parents know of their responsibility to read to their children, far before the kids are actually learning to read by themselves.

“I’m about to have my first baby,” said Ferraguto, referring to his wife’s pregnancy. “If it were not for ROR, and if I did not work here, I would never have known that you should read to a 6 month old baby.”

Ferraguto said that studies have shown that spending time talking to a child from infancy to the toddler years can prove to be a much more effective form of preparation for kindergarten than planting children in front of the television.

Abbie Bloom, the event coordinator employed by ROR, said that she thinks the best part about the event is that it is “impossible not to have fun.” Bloom, who has helped to plan the past three Read and Romps, is also planning an ROR fundraiser for adults in the springtime.

“The ‘Read, Romp and Rock’ event is a non-traditional gala fundraiser for adults that will be held on April 3^rd this year.” Bloom said, “It’s at The Estate venue, and it will feature dinner by the bite, music, dancing, and games.”

“It’s the perfect night out for, parents, many of whom have brought their children here today and will continue to show their support for ROR by attending the gala in the spring,” she said.

Michael and Joy Surprenant were not only in attendance at this year’s Read and Romp, but they were also sponsors of the event. The Surprenants said that their monetary donation to the event is a reflection of their investment in the importance of reading. They have been bringing their five year-old son to the event since he could walk and he has come to look forward to it.

“We started to support ROR and attend the Read and Romp while we were still reading out loud to him,” said Mrs. Surprenant. “Now he’s starting to read on his own; beginner books. He loves it. That’s part of why we want to promote ROR, we want to let everyone enjoy reading.”

By CATHERINE MOORE