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 HeadlinesReturn to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of today's news. |
| Impeachment Trial Return to index of stories... |
Two supreme court justices took the witness stand today in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice David Brock. They described former Justice Stephen Thayer as a vindictive man. Brock's attorneys tried to discredit Thayer, who is due to testify tomorrow. Thayer has said that Brock routinely allowed disqualified judges to comment on cases. We'll have a comprehensive review of the days proceedings in a few minutes. |
| Winter Fuel Warning Return to index of stories... |
Winter is still a few months away, but a Northeast regional taskforce is saying now is the time to prepare. Fuel prices are already high and supplies are low. The heating fuels task force recommends a coordinated response to supply problems. Its members want to increase storage, boost energy efficiency and find ways to move fuel into and throughout the region. The government estimates the typical Northeast homeowner will pay about 900-dollars for fuel this winter. That's up 130 dollars from last year. |
| Performance Drugs Return to index of stories... |
When we think of drug use among children, we think of alcohol or narcotics. But a new study shows half a million schoolchildren across the country use performance enhancing drugs. The surprising poll results were released to New Hampshire principals and coaches today at a gathering in Bedford. The survey was conducted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association's Healthy Competition Foundation. It found children used the over the counter drugs because they believed they could enhance muscles, perform better in sports, or improve their looks. The two drugs most commonly used by the children polled - creatine and an-dra-sten-DIE-on - do not provide any of those benefits. He says they can cause kidney failure, heart disease and sudden death. |
| Jenny Thompson Return to index of stories... |
Here's someone whose performance speaks for itself. New Hampshire's own Jenny Thompson has won a record seven Olympic gold medals. She did so by anchoring the United States to victory in the 800 freestyle relay in Australia. The 27-year-old Dover woman snapped a tie with Germany's Kristin Otto in career golds by a woman swimmer. She will get a final chance to take home her first gold medal in an individual event Thursday at 8 pm Sydney time, or 6 am our time tomorrow. |
| Summary wrap Return to index of stories... |
That's our news summary. We'll be back with our focus on schools, the impeachment trial and more after the weather. |
| Weather Forecast Return to index of stories... |
TONIGHT MOSTLY CLEAR LOWER 60S THURSDAY PARTLY SUNNY CHANCE OF SCATTERED SHOWERS HIGH 75 TO 80 FRIDAY MOSTLY CLEAR HIGH 65 TO 70 |
| Intro Impeach today Return to index of stories... |
Today - attorneys for Chief justice David Brock attempted to paint former Justice Stephen Thayer as a vindictive person. Thayer is scheduled to testify tomorrow in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice David Brock. Thayer alleges Brock regularly invited justices to comment on cases from which they had been disqualified. Justice Sherman Horton testified that fellow justices often suggested grammatical changes to rulings, but Thayer was the only one who tried to influence the outcome of a case in which he had personal interest. Justice John Broderick also testified today, defending the court as a place of honor. Richard Ager and Tom Rath put the day in perspective. It began with clerk Howard Zibel defending the court as he reflected on the impact of his decision to report Thayer's conduct. OUT: |
| Impeach today Return to index of stories... |
For today's impeachment report, please view our webcast. |
| Calendar Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow, Justice John Broderick concludes his testimony. And former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Thayer takes the stand. You can see gavel to gavel coverage here on New Hampshire Public Television starting at 9:00am and listen to it on New Hampshire Public Radio. |
| Intro Schools Return to index of stories... |
The Claremont School suit placed responsibility for providing an adequate education on the state. That decision has created a maelstrom of political debate. We spend some $1.5 billion dollars a year on public education. Deciding how we will raise that money is important. But some educators believe that debate is obscuring an even more important issue. What kind of education are we getting for our money? How do parents judge the quality of their child's education? Producer Chip Neal went back to school to find out. OUT: |
| Big Picture-SCHOOL Return to index of stories... |
2nd grade teacher Susan O'Byrne - Look at the beautiful night sky. Is that kind of what you meant Sven with the colors? That you saw. We have over 200,000 student in our public schools and all of them have parents who want them to have a good education. But what is a good education and how do you know if your child is getting one? These children at the Moharimet Elementary School in Madbury are getting a good education, according to Offspring Magazine, a parenting magazine, which selected the Oyster River School District as well as Hanover and Littleton to be in the top 100 school districts in the country. But besides awards how can a parent judge the quality of the education in their child's school? Principal Dennis Harrington - If I were a parent going into a school that is the first question I would ask. What is your turnover rate of teachers? If you see a turnover rate of 50 or 60 percent, you know that something is happening in that school.that is making the curriculum unstable, the administration unstable, etc, etc. Other things this principal suggested a parent might check at your school are: - How your school teacher's salaries compare to the state average - Is there a written curriculum available to parents? - What is the physical condition of the building? - Are class sizes reasonable? - Is there a positive environment in the school? - Do parents feel welcome? 2nd Grade teacher Susan O'Byrne - I don't think a parent can truly judge the quality of his or her child's education until after the child has experienced the education. I think that on a daily basis when a child goes home from school and connects something he/she has done in class to something at home, then thatis a key - that's something a parent can look at. If a child is looking forward to going back to school the next day. If a child is happy at school that's an indication that things are going well. But as far as the kind of quality that parents might be looking for.I think that is hard to judge until after some time has gone by. Another element which makes judging the quality of an education hard is the fact that educational philosophy is evolving. Principal Dennis Harrington - What is good education today five years from now may not be what is a good education.The impact of technology on the school has already been great and I think it is only going to accelerate. We need to look at curriculum and technology together so they don't get separated, so that we don't teach technology by itself, so that technology is used as a tool. We need to reassess consistantly what it is that children need to learn and how they need to learn it. Another tool that is available are the results of the New Hampshire Educational and Improvement and Assessment tests given to 3rd, 6th, and 10th graders for the past few years. A state law established these assessment tests and a set of curriculum frameworks or guidlines for mathematics, english language arts, science, and social studies. The purpose of the tests and the frameworks was to establish what New Hampshire students should know and be able to do. 2nd grade teacher Susan O'Byrne - the test is designed to measure how well local school districts are alligning their own curriculum with the New Hampshire State Frameworks, so in my view it is not a measure of how well a child is doing with day to day learning. It is a measure of how well our school district has alligned its curriculum and has carryed out that curriculum in line with the state frameworks. Helen Schotanus State Dept. of Education - I see it as an opportunity to initiate a dialogue with the school about how a child is doing. Parents have to realize that these tests are different from the tests that they took when they were in school because those tests - which of course I also took and administered as a teacher - compared what the child did to other children nationwide. Our statewide tests compare our children to a standard and it is set high. Principal Dennis Harrington - The best assessment I see done is not done by the state or by the standardized tests. It is done in the classroom by the teachers and they know what the children should know and how well they're doing. And they are the best people to communicate that. |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining me now in the studio to talk more about how we can tell if our children are getting a good education is Doug Hall. Doug is the from the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy studies. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Doug Hall Executive director NH Center for Public Policy Studies Hall discusses his "Class Size and Demographics Project." One interesting conclusion from the testing was that "rich" school districts do not always have the smallest class sizes. He also addressed the the funding of education in N.H. To hear and see tonight's discussion, please view our webcast. |
| Tag Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to Doug Hall from the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy studies for being here with us tonight. Two weeks from now each night will focus in on individual school programs. including sports, music and discipline. |
| Orchard Return to index of stories... |
A piece of New Hampshire's agricultural heritage is being preserved. Concord's Sunnycrest Farms is being sold to a land preservation group to prevent commercial development. 400 people have pledged money to save the 176-acre apple orchard. The details of the agreement are still being worked out. Like many New Hampshire farmers, the orchard's owner has been facing financial hardship. |
| Intro Tech house Return to index of stories... |
Finally tonight, many of us know that buying a home in New Hampshire these days can be an exhausting ordeal. Whatever's for sale, disappears quickly. Often, new home construction is delayed because of the labor shortage. The Manchester School of Technology is doing something about that. OUT: |
| Tech school house Return to index of stories... |
This is a building trades course, we learn to build a house, from buying the land to framing to roofing. Chris Woltering is one of 45 high school students who spend part of their school day here, learning and applying their chosen trade. This is a beautiful program, we built all the homes on this street. The students come in as Jrs. and spend two years building two homes, then they might go on to a trade school. Dick Frazier is an instructor at the School of Technology. As a former builder, he makes sure that the environment the students work in, is a professional one. This is the real world here. This is how they would work in the field. W e have all the tools for them, where in the classroom it's nice and warm. This is the way the program works. Students from around Manchester spend part of their day at their academic high schools. The rest is spent here, studying their trade. When I was young, my dad taught me how to build. I've been doing this since I was 13. It makes me feel good. I think they're doing a great job. Susan Brady and her family will be moving into this home once the students are finished. My parents live near here, we tried to buy the house across the street last year but it was taken. We heard about this and put in a bid. This home sold for market value-- in the 159,000 dollar range. The proceeds will go toward the building costs of next year's home. We knew they built it. They did a good job with the other homes and each is different. They gave us what we wanted. By the time the students finish the two year course, they'll be prepared to move on to trade school. Perhaps the next time you're ready to buy a new home one of these students will have helped out. When we're done, I'm going to bring my dad and girlfriend by. When I have kids I can show them and tell them that I helped build this. I think it's a great idea. I drove by one weekend and saw one of the students out here with his parents -- that's pride. |
| Website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can give us your feedback, review program scripts and participate in our daily poll. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on NH Outlook. Preserving New Hampshire's pride of place. Could small town life be a thing of the past? Meet the people who are trying to help our communities thrive in a changing world. Plus. day four of the State Supreme Court Chief Justice David Brock's impeachment trial. And.we'll look at the words of impeachment- words like malfeasence and maladministration. do we really know what they mean? |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Allison McNair. Thanks for joining us. Nova is next. We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| Tonight's Sponsors Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| Promo Return to index of stories... |
Hello I'm Allison McNair, tonight on New Hampshire Outlook… Could small town life be a thing of the past? Meet the people who are trying to help our communities thrive in a changing world. Join us tonight at 7:30 on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Emissions Return to index of stories... |
Some Central New Hampshire residents living down-wind from a coal burning plant say they're concerned about air quality. According to a survey by the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, 73 percent of the two hundred people surveyed say they regularly see soot on their windows, cars and houses. The Citizen's Alliance says the Bow plant -built in 1960 - does not have to meet the same emmissions standards as newer plants. |