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A Ukrainian School in New York Takes on a Big Mission

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That is the Schooling Briefing, a weekly replace on crucial information in U.S. training. Join right here to get this article in your inbox.

In the present day: Ukrainian language colleges have turn into a lifeline for youngsters and oldsters within the diaspora. And the pandemic has created a nationwide studying disaster, particularly amongst youthful kids.


Greater than 2 million Ukrainians have fled the nation since final month, in response to the United Nations. For youngsters trapped within the horror of the sustained Russian assault, studying, a minimum of within the classroom, is on pause.

However kids within the massive Ukrainian diaspora — immigrants or these with robust household ties — reside a split-screen actuality.

In the US, they go to highschool. They find out about trigonometry or photosynthesis. They eat lunch. They discuss to mates who might have barely heard of the battle. Then, they go residence, again to folks consistently checking in with kinfolk, glued to the information.

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For these households, Ukrainian colleges, normally held on Saturdays, have turn into about extra than simply studying the language. They’re serving to kids perceive the place they arrive from — a process that feels extra pressing than ever.

“The world will get it, however they don’t get it as a Ukrainian individual would get it,” stated Ivan Makar, the principal of the Self-Reliance Saturday College of Ukrainian Research in Manhattan. “It is our tradition, it’s our individuals, it’s our custom, it’s our language. It’s our all the things.”

The college, in Manhattan’s East Village, opened in 1949. In the present day, the faculties presents courses on the Ukrainian language and tradition to about 225 college students, from pre-Ok to eleventh grade. College students find out about Ukrainian geography, historical past and literature.

“In instances of peace, it’s not all the time clear why this was vital,” stated Daria Melnyk, a Ukrainian American with two kids on the college. She added that now, “the consistency and stability of going to Ukrainian college and reinforcing this at residence offers us a strategy to reply in a second of disaster.”

Within the two Saturdays for the reason that battle began, the varsity has rallied behind a message of unity, making an attempt to assist college students perceive the invasion. Academics held an meeting, and the youngsters wearing conventional embroidered shirts, carrying blue and yellow ribbons, the colours of the flag.

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The kids come to the varsity on Saturdays “in order that you already know who you’re,” Makar stated. “So that individuals can by no means inform you one thing totally different. In order that you already know that there’s a language.”

For folks, the varsity is a respite. Many are fearful about members of the family nonetheless in Ukraine. Others are heartened that their kids are deepening their ties to Ukraine, regardless of the invasion.

“In some methods, nothing has actually modified,” Melnyk stated. “We’re nonetheless talking Ukrainian at residence, we’re going to Ukrainian college, but it surely feels greater.”

Melnyk and her husband have by no means taken their kids to Ukraine — they’re 6 and seven, and have been solely just lately vaccinated — however hope to someday.

“Once we made the selection to make Ukrainian our language at residence, it was extra about honoring our previous,” Melynk stated. “I feel it’s turn into now about imagining a future. And I imply that actually. We don’t understand how that is going to finish.”

The kindergarten disaster of final 12 months, when thousands and thousands of 5-year-olds spent months outdoors of school rooms, has turn into this 12 months’s studying emergency.

Because the pandemic enters its third 12 months, a cluster of latest research present that a couple of third of youngsters within the youngest grades are lacking studying benchmarks, up considerably from earlier than the pandemic. In Virginia, one examine discovered that early studying abilities have been at an “alarming” 20-year low this fall.

And whereas kids in each demographic group have been affected, Black and Hispanic kids, in addition to these from low-income households, these with disabilities and those that usually are not fluent in English, have fallen the furthest behind.

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“Studying is the constructing block of human data,” my colleague Dana Goldstein, who covers training, advised the Coronavirus Briefing e-newsletter. “It’s the all-consuming function of elementary educational training in some ways.”

Regardless of political controversies over masks, there’s not but robust proof that they’ve hindered the event of studying abilities.

As an alternative, the pandemic seems to have deepened a nationwide failure to show youngsters to learn: In 2019, nationwide and worldwide exams confirmed stagnant or declining efficiency for American college students in studying, and widening gaps between excessive and low performers.

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Practically half of public colleges even have instructing vacancies, and many colleges are lacking educators skilled in phonics and phonemic consciousness — the foundational talent that hyperlinks spoken English to the letters that seem on the web page.

And youngsters additionally spent months out of the classroom. Even when they’d an web connection, they struggled to be taught the fundamentals of studying with out express, hands-on instruction.

“Studying at residence is basically vital for constructing curiosity and motivation to learn,” Dana stated, “however many kids want much more express instruction to be taught to learn — greater than mother and father are in a position to present.”

In different virus information:

  • New York Metropolis public colleges have dropped masks necessities, and college students have combined reactions.

  • Chicago Public Faculties will cease requiring masks on March 14.


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  • The College of California, Berkeley, should freeze enrollment at 2020-21 ranges, after the state’s Supreme Court docket upheld a ruling.

  • A state choose in California fined an internet, for-profit college and its former mum or dad firm $22 million, saying they mislead college students.

  • Lives lived: Autherine Lucy Foster was the primary Black pupil on the College of Alabama. Lower than three weeks earlier than she died at 92, the varsity renamed a constructing in her honor.

Books and politics

  • Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa signed a regulation banning transgender girls and women from enjoying on women highschool sports activities groups and taking part in girls’s faculty athletics.

  • College students at a Florida college walked out of sophistication to protest the state legislature’s “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice, which might ban academics from speaking about sexuality and gender id with youthful college students.

  • New Mexico will focus extra on conversations about race and ethnicity, in addition to Native American historical past, within the state’s new academic requirements.

  • learn: The struggle over “Maus” is simply the tip of the iceberg in Tennessee’s training wars.

And the remainder …

  • Academics in Minneapolis went on strike yesterday after stalled contract negotiations, shuttering school rooms for about 30,000 public college college students.

  • A 15-year-old boy died in a capturing outdoors a highschool in Iowa. Police have arrested six youngsters.


You might have an interest on this week’s episode of “The Argument,” a Instances podcast about social debates, the place two main well being specialists talk about this new part of the pandemic. All through the dialog, they talk about a path ahead to fewer restrictions in colleges.

Dr. Aaron Carroll, the chief well being officer at Indiana College and an everyday Instances contributor, identified that kids commonly socialize outdoors of the classroom. “We give attention to college as a result of it’s what we are able to management, however I don’t suppose there’s quite a lot of proof that claims college is probably the most harmful factor that youngsters do all day,” he stated.

He additionally stated that vaccinations could also be a golden calf. Many mother and father usually are not lining as much as vaccinate their kids, so there’s little proof to counsel that opening pictures to even youthful youngsters can have a lot of an impact.

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“We are able to see that the chances of youngsters who’ve gotten vaccinated to date are already low,” he stated. “With out mandates, we don’t get very excessive ranges of vaccination typically.”

That’s simply a part of the wide-ranging dialog. I extremely advocate a pay attention!

Join right here to get the briefing by e-mail.


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Video: Clashes Break Out at U.C.L.A.

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Video: Clashes Break Out at U.C.L.A.

new video loaded: Clashes Break Out at U.C.L.A.

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Clashes Break Out at U.C.L.A.

Police arrested more than 20 pro-Palestinian demonstrators on U.C.L.A.’s campus after several physical confrontations with security guards.

“Are you OK, are you OK?” “Don’t hit him. Don’t hit.” “Wrong person, wrong person, wrong person.” “I was just holding you.”

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Read a Judge’s Letter of Recommendation for Elias Irizarry

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Read a Judge’s Letter of Recommendation for Elias Irizarry

Tanya S. Chutkan
Judge
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
June 1, 2023
E. BARRETT PRETTYMAN COURTHOUSE
WASHINGTON, DC 20001
202-354-3390
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina
Admissions Office
171 Moultrie Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29409
Re:
Letter of Recommendation for Elias Irizarry for Readmission to The Citadel
Dear Admissions Office,
I am writing to recommend Elias Irizarry for readmission to The Citadel. I first encountered Mr.
Irizarry in 2021, when he appeared as a defendant in one of my cases, and I have had the opportunity to
learn more about him during the plea hearing, status conferences, and sentencing hearing. It is rare for
me to write a letter on behalf of a defendant, and this is the first time I have done so to recommend a
defendant for college admission. But Mr. Irizarry impressed me and has demonstrated that he is an
individual worthy of a second chance.
In considering Mr. Irizarry’s particular circumstances, I am reminded of the words of human
rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson: “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” These
words acknowledge the potential for growth and transformation within us all, especially for someone as
young as Mr. Irizarry, who was only 19 years old when he committed the offense for which I sentenced
him. I ask that you look beyond Mr. Irizarry’s past mistakes, for which he has demonstrated genuine
remorse, defer to his exceptionally positive history, and allow him the opportunity to prove that the sum
of his character extends beyond a singular flawed decision.
Mr. Irizarry is a bright young man who wishes to serve his community and his country. He has
been a diligent and committed student and community member and received outstanding grades and
numerous accolades from esteemed institutions like The Citadel, the United States Marine Corps, Model
UN, and JROTC. Over the past five years, he has dedicated nearly 600 hours to community service,
assisting at hurricane sites and a Veterans Hospital. He has further demonstrated his commitment for
civil service by completing training to become a FEMA volunteer firefighter.
Although Mr. Irizarry’s actions were serious and were dealt with as such, it is important to weigh
his youth and susceptibility to influence. As a judge and the mother of two sons in their twenties, I
know that Mr. Irizarry is at a crucial inflection point for young adults. The educational system, like the
criminal justice system, can serve as a catalyst for positive transformation, enabling youth to learn from
their mistakes.
Accordingly, I write this letter because Mr. Irizarry has displayed impressive sincerity, remorse,
and a determination to make amends. I believe that if he is given the opportunity to re-enroll at The
Citadel, he will continue to thrive academically and personally, as well as encourage others to overcome
obstacles and pursue public service.
Should you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Tanya S. Chutkan
Tanya S. Chutkan

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Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests

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Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests

Protesters: “Disclose! Divest!” In student-led protests around the country, university faculty have stood in support of demonstrators, risking arrest. “He is a professor. He is a professor.” At the University of Virginia, The Times got an inside look at faculty’s role. “I can take you through the blow by blow of the day if you want.” And how their negotiations with police broke down at a crucial moment. “Why is he —” “Back up.” “In a wanton fashion, they allowed the Virginia State Police to come here fully armed, rifles, mace. One of my colleagues was standing right there trying to talk to the Virginia State Police. He got arrested. The other one standing next to him got pushed back behind the line, and he got partially maced. It didn’t have to happen this way.” The night before police raided a pro-Palestinian encampment, a few University of Virginia professors tried to deescalate the standoff and recorded their conversation with the university police chief, Tim Longo. The Times agreed to blur the faces of faculty who had concerns about their job security. Protesters had refused to engage with the university. So a handful of professors stepped in to be intermediaries. This, at times, frustrated administrators who told The Times the process required a leap of faith. “We basically took shifts, two-hour shifts being here. We had these yellow armbands that we wore to distinguish that we were faculty liaison. And our job really was just to communicate between the administration, the police and the students.” Hours later, Professors Walter Heinecke and Mark Sicoli, who documented the incident on his phone, approached the police chief again, stating confusion about what the campus policy actually states for use of smaller recreational tents. Within half an hour, before professors and police could come to an agreement about the tent policy, Chief Longo called the Virginia State Police. Troopers soon arrived with pepper spray and M4 assault rifles to help dismantle the encampment. In all, a few dozen protesters in about 20 tents. “Shame on you. Shame on you.” University officials say they warned protesters for days that they were in violation of school policy. Twenty-seven people were arrested, including at least one professor, who declined to speak with us for this story. “He is a professor. This is a professor.” “We were in front of the camp students. And then in front of us were faculty. And then the Virginia State Police were here and moved in. I was hit with a riot shield, which is when I got this bruise. They pepper-sprayed me. I was detained for about 10 minutes, if I had to guess. And then eventually, they just, like, cut off my zip ties.” The heavy police response raised alarm across campus. And now, several faculty members, including Heinecke, want to hold the university accountable for what they say was a violent clampdown on free speech, protesting Israel’s war in Gaza. “I’ve just got to show you one thing where they get around on —” “If they would have just said, you know, let’s negotiate, let’s leave the tents up for a couple more days and we’ll negotiate this out. It’s not like you’re robbing a bank or anything. You put a couple of tents on. Why couldn’t we have just done this a different way because the stakes were so low?” The university president and campus police chief did not respond to requests for comment. “And then I’ll turn to Chief Longo.” But in a virtual town hall on May 7, university police and administration defended their actions, citing unidentified outside agitators as a primary concern. “The police were met with physical confrontation and attempted assault, and didn’t feel equipped to engage given the situation. That’s when the decision was made to call on the state police.” “We have a duty to fight for Palestine.” “We have a —” “I was afraid that myself and the assistant chief would be surrounded, and that we would be put in a position to have to defend ourselves. It was clear to me by word and action, this was escalating.” “Free, free Palestine.” “In front of the historic rotunda.” In response, Heinecke and several other faculty members held their own town hall to try to show that the police action was unwarranted. Then on May 10, the U.V.A. faculty senate held a hearing with President Ryan to discuss the university response to protests. “I, for one, am thankful for him that he prevented us to get into a situation, which would be similar to a Columbia.” While there was support, most of the speakers were critical. “My heart broke because of what took place.” “To the condemnable call of the Virginia State Police in full gear, and the use of excessive force to terrorize our students in their own backyard.” “If all of you decide I’m not the right leader, that’s your choice.” In a vote, faculty called for an independent review of his and Chief Longo’s decisions on May 4, but stopped short of condemning the police action outright. “All right. Once again, I need people who are just here for court.” On the same day across town, supporters of protesters facing trespassing charges gathered in solidarity at the courthouse. “It’s first hearing for everybody who was charged with trespass, which includes our two students.” On May 15, many of those arrested at the protest encampment had their charges dismissed by the public prosecutor. A U.V.A. spokesman told The Times that the university has not yet agreed to an independent review of its decision to call in state police.

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