In the News - hotel tax

The first non-property tax to create additional revenue for Franklin goes into effect today. Read more about this in the Milford Daily News:

Optional meals, hotel tax hikes go into effect in Franklin

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Gregory Kwasnik/Daily News correspondent

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Gallery 218 - new art show reveals talents!

By now, you know that I am a practicing photographer. I take lots of pictures, some of which you see here. I get nervous about taking pictures of artist's work. I am now imposing my view, my frame of reference upon the work. It may create something other than what the artist intended.

Gallery 218 opened a new show featuring the creations of personnel throughout the District who are non-art teachers. I counted at least 28 artists with one or more pieces in this show!

This opens a new world. A math teacher does quilts. A computer technician does sculpture. The Director of Instructional Services does a head in plaster. The list goes on. Wonderful works. Here is a sample of what you can see:



I hope you are teased enough by this to visit Gallery 218 at Franklin High School.


Note: For those email subscribers, you may need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the photo slideshow.

Proposal to restructure around literacy

Though adolescent literacy instruction is prime for more research and development, A Time to Act underscores the importance of teaching reading within the nuanced context of each subject area, and beyond the current concentration on decoding skills in grades K-3.

Read the full posting about the new report just released by the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Council on Advancing Adolescent Literacy here


The new report advocates restructuring schools K-12 around literacy.


You can also obtain the full report here.


Recall that the elementary school of Franklin have literacy as their number one goal across the School Improvement Plans just presented to the School Committee

In the News - Vietnam casualties, education

New signs in planning to recognize Franklin's Vietnam War casualties

A sign of respect

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

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I think that we are too obsessed with control as a concept. Most societies which suffer from intellectual rigidity don't produce much that is original. They tend to perfect what others have done as original concepts. Do we really want our kids to be cogs in well oiled machines? It's too bad that too many people reading this will say, "Yes, and what's wrong with that?"

If you are asking that question in a rhetorical way, there really is nothing that anyone can tell you. If the idea of the concept of an eight-hour school day and an 11-month school year is up for vote, President Obama, my vote is "No!"

Read the full essay by James Johnston here

JAMES JOHNSTON: The ideal society and education

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by James Johnston/Daily News columnist

Gallery 218 - NonArt Teacher Show - opens today

Gallery 218 (in Franklin High School) is opening a new show of art by non-art teachers within the Franklin Public Schools on Tuesday, Sep 29th with a reception from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Come to view the new show in the Gallery!

Services available at Tri-County

The Auto Tech Program provides oil changes, tire repair, rotation, and mounting, front end and brake realignment, and much more. Additionally, the Carpentry, Facilities Management, and HVAC&R Career Programs offer a variety of services upon request.

Two benefits from this, you should be able to get a service for a reasonable price, and the students get to learn from real work.

Tri-County offering vocational services to public

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

What is differentiated instruction?

The development of differentiated instruction over the years is outlined in a good article.

Washburne takes the reader through a short history of reform efforts aimed at making education more individualized, beginning with the efforts of charismatic educator Preston Search, of Pueblo, Colo., and proceeding through the work of Frederic Burk, who "started a movement to make textbooks self-instructive and enable children, systematically, to progress according to their own ability." From the Project Method to ability grouping, Washburne's history shows how evolving understanding of learning and development shapes educators' efforts to meet the needs of all students.

Read the full article here. Bold in quote for my emphasis.