The Dignity Index
Hamden news, including 'accreditation
What is the Dignity Index?
“The Dignity Index® scores distinct phrases along an eight-point scale from contempt to dignity. By focusing on the sound bites, not the people behind them, the Index attempts to stay true to its own animating spirit: that everyone deserves dignity.”
Tim Shriver, who developed the Dignity Index, was recently invited to speak for Hamden teachers’ Professional Development Day. There’s a sleight of word-play going on: everyone does not ‘deserve’ dignity. Everyone already has dignity.
“Tim Shriver is married, a father of 5, the Chairman of Special Olympics International, co-creator of the Dignity Index, and founder and CEO of UNITE. Tim began his career as an educator and co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). He earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master's degree from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut…”
Shriver’s CASEL work was a forerunner of SEL (Social-emotional Learning).
“We formed UNITE in 2018 to find ways to help ease divisions in the country. In 2021, we began developing the Dignity Index, an eight-point scale for measuring how we talk to each other when we disagree. Our faith in the Index is grounded in a few core beliefs:
Contempt causes division; dignity eases division.
If we put a spotlight on dignity and contempt, we will use more dignity and less contempt.
If we show Americans how they can help ease our divisions, they will jump on it.”
“Contempt causes division; dignity eases division.”
It is not ‘dignity’, but the remembrance of human dignity which eases political division from our midst. Scoring Guide.
Superintendent Highsmith spends $50K on his old pal
Hamden school district spent between $50,000 - $100,000 of taxpayer funds to have Tim Shriver - whose degrees are from Yale and UConn, respectively - come and speak.
The irony? Hamden Superintendent Gary Highsmith said Shriver was his worst teacher ever. Shriver passed Highsmith with a D minus back in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, the ceiling got neglected at Hamden high; one of a multitude of problems, the ceiling alone probably costs more than $50,000. Student health and wellness is not a priority, much less learning something.
Speaking of Dignity…
It appears classroom teachers aren’t receiving much of that from their students. The CEA released it’s annual survey, to be solved (likely) by more funds; funding hasn’t yet solved the Dignity crisis for teachers on the front lines.
Administrator Shuffle
Administrators are being moved in the traditional Shuffle dance:
Scott Trauner selected to lead the middle school as principal. Take a stroll down memory lane for last year’s Shuffle track.
Melissa Richardson escaped a middle school teaching position to be an administrator at the high school once again.
Newcomer Dr. Michelle Baker, former Climate and Title IX coordinator for the New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) joins Hamden’s crew as the director of Human Resources.
McClain strikes (out) again, with the NEASC
Hamden high school seeks its accreditation every 10 years from the Northeast Association of Schools and Colleges; the last time was in 2015, when the NEASC Visiting Teams decided HHS deserved to be accredited.
What is HHS accredited for? It’s unknown.
How long does it last?
The process is continuous.
Is the NEASC a federal agency?
No. The word “accredited” suggests subconsciously that Hamden high school has pursued a reliable method to determine its educational merit.
Emily McClain (email above) is in charge of accreditation for Hamden high. With an online tone that rivals Ben Stein in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, the excitement for possible (otherwise meaningless?) accreditation — is almost palpable.
