NORWICH – A leadership retreat for a select group of Norwich High School students has sparked outrage in the community and among some members of the school’s faculty and student body, despite the attempts of the district’s administration to defend the program.
Critics of the leadership training program turned out in force at Tuesday night’s Norwich City School Board meeting to express their concerns. They raised questions about the timing of the trip, the planning process, selection criteria, and even the individual students selected to participate.
According to Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan, 26 high school students were selected for the four-day trip scheduled for this weekend. The purpose of the trip, he said, is to teach these students decision making skills, goal setting and to work as a team.
“When I looked at what we’re trying to accomplish with this program, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to build a strong group of student leaders,” O’Sullivan explained, stressing that it wasn’t a field trip or reward program. “The whole idea is to help grow, develop and nurture students.”
The students chosen to participate in the pilot program are “kids with all sorts of potential from all walks of life who were selected and identified by teachers as students who could benefit (from the training) in some form or fashion,” the superintendent reported.
The trip, which O’Sullivan described as “an opportunity of a lifetime” for those involved, was the idea of high school teacher Joseph Maiurano, who worked with a group of his fellow teachers and staff to plan the excursion. They also secured funding for the program and helped select the students who would participate.
While the program has had the support of the district’s administration, it has raised hackles among some community members, teachers and students.
High School Senior Ellie Sacks, salutatorian for the class of 2009, was one of those who spoke out against the program, calling it “deeply, deeply flawed.” She said the administrators she questioned about the trip all gave her different answers about what criteria was used to select participants. She also raised concerns that the timing of the trip would not only take students out of class during a time of the year usually reserved for studying for finals and Regents exams, but teachers as well.
“That means their classes will not be able to review with their teacher less than a week before their Regents,” Sacks said. “Is that not compromising the education of the rest of the student body who were not chosen for this event?”
Sacks, who herself attended the HOBY leadership seminar, said that “in theory” the premise for the retreat was a good one, but questioned its planning and execution.
“I’m asking the Board of Education to use their power, authority and judgment to reconsider their decision,” she concluded.
High school teacher Dr. Bruce Race, who serves as president of the Norwich Educators Organization, raised concerns about the “closed” nature of the selection process.
“What message do we send to our children when we claim to have an open process when in fact it has been closed?” Race asked.
High school teacher Dr. Ed Erickson expressed concerns about the planning of the trip from a health and safety perspective.
“This is not the school play; this is more like an athletic event,” he explained, as he talked about the dangers inherent in the activities planned for the retreat and questioned the availability of emergency medical care if it was needed.
“I don’t think you’ve done the legwork,” Erickson said. He encouraged the board to do their “due diligence” and “ask the right questions” before approving the excursion.
Several members of the local Jewish community spoke out against the selection of a particular participant who had been involved with the desecration of the Norwich Jewish Center last year.
Norwich resident Dr. Lawrence Rosenblum spoke of his experience walking into the center last year after it had been vandalized.
“The scene of devastation was such that I’d hoped I’d never see in my life,” he said, describing in detail the extent of the destruction not only in the building, but also emotionally.
“The sense of equanimity most of us had in this community has been destroyed and it can never be fully restored,” Rosenblum explained.
The desecration hit home for local attorney Jim Fertig, the son of two Holocaust survivors. “My parents roll over in their graves,” he said, accusing the administration for what he called “deception and secrecy” and criticizing the “pro forma approval” of the trip without a straight board vote.
“Do it openly and do not lie about it,” he said, before urging school board members to take into consideration the effect their decision will have on the community and the impression it will make on other students in the school.
Leslie Dopkeen, who wrote a letter to The Evening Sun earlier this week on the topic, questioned the message this selection sends and raised concerns about the district’s standards and expectations for students.
“This is a system that has lost its compass,” Dopkeen said. “If just staying out of trouble for a year means you are a leader, I question what we expect from our kids.”
Only Norwich Resident Perry Owen, who will not resume his role on the school board until July 1, offered a differing opinion. Quoting Alexander Pope, Owen said, “To err is human, to forgive divine.”
Following public comment, board member Priscilla Johnson made a motion to postpone the leadership conference to a later date, a motion which was quickly seconded by Sally Chirlin.
“I would recommend strongly that we step back and take the appropriate measures first to ensure that we have a program that has been carefully planned over a period of time,” said Chirlin, in a prepared statement she read during the meeting.
Johnson and Chirlin did not receive support from the rest of the board in postponing the trip, however. Board President Bob Patterson and board members Kathy Coates and Joe Stagliano all voted against the motion.
“Shame on you,” said one community member, as, in disgust, she and most of those in attendance walked out in anger at the board’s decision. Most of them did not have the opportunity to hear the statement read by Patterson in response to the issues raised during public comment.
“Our teachers and administrators handle selecting students for activities as part of their job duties from honor society to sports and music and other club activities,” Patterson said. “The theme from the comments tonight was that criteria and the selection process needs to be reviewed. This is something that can be looked at.”
Patterson also took the opportunity to address members of the Jewish community in attendance.
“We are truly sorry for your loss, and disrespect shown to your congregation,” he said. “We understand and acknowledge your feelings. We by no means, mean to belittle the tragedy that took place.”
“But we as a Board believe that this leadership program is a way in which the district, the program, the staff and community members involved can help turn negative actions into positives,” Patterson continued. “The door to education should never be closed.”