Join The Conversation

For 11 years the Hamden-based organization Community Mediation has sponsored conversations on education in local communities. The group's goal is to get 100 residents from a variety of backgrounds to take part in an honest, non-confrontational discuss about the role of education.

On Saturday, the group will host its latest conversation at the Haddam-Killingworth Middle School. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and those interested in attending are asked to make reservations. To do so, residents can email hkcommunityconversation@yahoo.com, or contact Killingworth First Selectwoman Cathy Lino at 860-663-1765. There will be refreshments and free daycare on site. 

With focus on education, town conversations are monitored to be civil, open discussions devoid of the personal attacks or yelling that can often erupt at school budget meetings or other gatherings on school issues.

Some of the topics to be discussed include teaching methods, school funding, purposes of education and parental involvement.

The Community Conversations website explains, “People listen to each other respectfully. They may agree or disagree; consensus is not the goal.”

You don’t have to be a parent to attend a Community Conversation; in fact, Community Mediation feels it is essential to reach a larger audience.

 “We see employers, non-parents, the clergy, home schoolers, college students and school dropouts,” says the Community Mediation team.  “Everyone is represented.”