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Showing posts from April, 2024

Enfield's five best things? No Kings protest makes the list

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  Someone was telling me yesterday about a group effort to list the five best things about Enfield. The first was Costco. Everyone struggled after that. Then there was a suggestion to add Raising Cane's. ​ Enfield doesn't have a movie theater, much in the way of parks, a mall, or a downtown. Our main library hasn't been renovated in decades and has more videos than Blockbuster. Too many of our restaurants are fast food. The fastest-growing occupation in town may be takeout delivery drivers. You need your car for everything. But the town does have a civic spirit. ​ Saturday's No King’s protest was my third one. Similar to the others, it attracted a good number of people. Perhaps not as many as the first one, but a lively turnout. ​ It was a chance to strike up random conversations and meet new people, something that is hard to do in Enfield. One fellow I met turned out to be an EHS grad from my era. I graduated in 1972, and my newfound friend in 1973. He had a rally-free...

Are Enfield schools criminalizing adolescent behavior?

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  Enfield School District suspension rates by year. Black suspension are consistently high. The sharp decline in suspensions in the 2020-21 school year was a result of school 2020 school year was a result of COVID-related school closings.  The Enfield Town Council is set to approve approximately $200,000 tonight for police equipment to support its armed guards—a decision already settled in previous debates. However, as we move forward, it's crucial that we examine the broader implications of this action and address some concerning trends within our community. Last year, 42 students were arrested in Enfield Public Schools, with incidents evenly distributed between JFK Middle School and Enfield High School. This data alone prompts a serious discussion, but when coupled with the suspension and expulsion statistics, it becomes even more alarming. Approximately 21% of Black students were suspended, compared to 13% of Hispanic students and more than 8% of white students. This patter...