Mostly Cloudy, 70 °F An educated conversation
Most of us had that special teacher early on in our lives, the one who made learning feel easy, even fun.
For Jerome Price ’12, a black studies and history major from Rahway, N.J., it was his first-grade teacher, Mr. Sclafani. Through creativity, engagement, and the imaginative use of a piano in his classroom, Sclafani made a big impression on Price, and their friendship continues to this day.
Years later, partly inspired by his experiences in Mr. Sclafani’s first-grade class, Price has developed a real passion for education.
As an America Reads volunteer and advisory board member, Price goes out into the community and sees firsthand how people influence students’ lives. He also understands that the system isn’t perfect.
Through his experiences and observations in local classrooms, Price began to wonder what makes our American education system tick? Why are some schools more effective than others? Why do some students get left behind?
These and other questions led Price to hold a formal conversation on campus to talk about education with students, faculty and area residents.
Although Price didn’t expect to reach some revolutionary solution, he did want to expand the discussion. The conversation wasn’t meant as an endgame—it’s only the beginning.
As Price continues on his own educational path, he hopes to one day be a part of that solution.
One Comment
4:51 PM November 5, 2011
Kim Howard wrote:
As a teacher of 20+ years of students from preschool to 8th grade, special and regular students, and also a parent of a Denison student, I commend Mr. Price on widening the discussion of education. Maybe, with people such as this doing the questioning, students who have difficulties learning might have more of a fighting chance, rather than the educational focus remaining on test scores, and lock step learning.