Connecticut’s public schools have received a lot of press lately. But it’s not necessarily the kind of coverage we all want for our school system. A few days ago, Shonu wrote an entry about Rell’s veto on banning junk food from our schools. Today, Connecticut headlines are cluttered by news of a student bringing a gun to school in Hartford and Milford public schools’ problems with bullying.

Youth violence in our schools is an issue we must address.  There are enough distractions outside of our education system that pull our children away from their books.  We need to ensure that inside our classrooms, Connecticut’s children are given the best opportunity to maximize their potential without the fear of gun violence and bullies.

In yesterday's Hartford Courant, the State Education Commissioner said that the state needs more control over struggling urban school districts.

Instead of confronting the realities of what urban school children need to thrive, the commissioner proposes adding yet another layer of bureacracy to school systems already overburdened with far too many layers of administration.

Doesn't the Commissioner and the Governor who appoints her realize that the single most important thing that the State of Connecticut can do for urban school children is provide children with the high quality early education experience they need to start school right?

With one of most intense income divides in the country, our inability to prioritize serious investments in early education is truly unacceptable. We are doing little to address the growing gap in the possibilities and opportunities available to children depending on what families they are born into.

Today John visited the Barnard School where a massive solar photovoltaic project was launched.  What is a photovoltaic project you may ask? (I sure did)  It's a solar power system that will cover 16% of Barnard's school electricity needs and save nearly $300,000 over the lifetime of the system.

The Connecticut Clean Energy fund helped support this endevour along with New Haven and the State of Connecticut.

This is just another step in John and New Haven's initiative requiring a minimum standard of 20% of New Haven's energy to come from renewable energy by 2010. 

Unlike the absent energy policy at the national level, New Haven is leading the way to developing renewable energy sources.