The Reading Wars: Ideological and Pedagogical Conflicts Ignited by The Writings of Rudolf Flesch

This dissertation seeks to answer the question: what were the social and cultural effects of Rudolf Flesch’s thoughts and writings on late 20th-century American literacy education? The purpose is to provide an understanding and articulation of the cultural and educational ramifications of Rudolph Flesch’s books Why Johnny Can’t Read and What You Can Do About It (1955) and Why Johnny Still Can’t Read: A New Look at the Scandal of Our Schools (1981). To achieve this goal an understanding and articulation of the cultural and educational ramifications of Rudolf Flesch’s books will be offered. This qualitative study will look at the history, arguments, and productive consequences of this ideological and pedagogical debate. An examination of the current state of reading education and recommendations for further study will also be discussed. This dissertation is limited to reading instruction in the United States. And while a history of reading instruction will be offered, it is limited to mostly northern states. Many factors influence who receives reading instruction and the type of reading instruction they receive, including race, gender, and socio-economic background. This dissertation is not an attempt to answer those complex questions. Rather, its goal is to examine the effect of two of the most influential books on reading instruction in the United States from the mid-twentieth century until present: Rudolf Flesch’s Why Johnny Can’t Read and What You Can Do About It (1955) and Why Johnny Still Can’t Read: A New Look at the Scandal of Our Schools (1981) and how Flesch’s writings outlined the history and flaws of a specific method of reading instruction and proposed a solution to the current literacy crisis. An overview of the history of literacy instruction and the methods used from the 1600s to the publication of Flesch’s first book in 1955 will lay the foundation for the study. An understanding of the early life and writings of Rudolf Flesch will provide insight into who he was and what made him an expert in literacy. Doing so will provide the basis for an in-depth analysis of his best-selling books, which will lead to an examination of the ramifications and consequences of his writings on American literacy education. A review of the current state of literacy instruction and recommendations for further study will be offered in the conclusion

The Incorporation of an Ethics Framework in the Development of Emerging Information Technology Systems

As a corporate technology veteran of twenty-five years, this author considers himself fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s leading companies in the development of their information technology programs. These companies have spanned nearly every industry including banking, retail and healthcare, but all shared the common purpose of leveraging technology for competitive advantage in the accumulation of profit. Throughout the development lifecycle of these programs, the systems design and implementation have required tremendous innovation and novel approaches to problem solving given recent technological revolutions. Although a review of regulatory mandates and relevant laws are part of the planning process, it’s interesting to note that in the development of these technologies, there was no standard methodology to consider the ethical implications of these systems. Why is ethics an afterthought in the design of these technology programs? With the frequent technological breakthroughs occurring across virtually every business segment, the timing is certainly relevant to begin integrating a standard methodology to review the ethical considerations of corporate initiatives into the information technology design process. This dissertation focuses on The Incorporation of an Ethics Framework in the Development of Emerging Information Technology Systems

DNA Production Photo

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film Angell Blackfriars Theatre DNA, written by Dennis Kelly February 1-3, 2024, 7:30pm February 3 & 4, 2024, 2pm Director, Aaron Andrade Scenic Design, Renee Surprenant Fitzgerald Lighting Design, Elissa Cerros Vocal Coach, Megan Chang Costume Design, Jaimy Escobedo Sound Design, Stuart Holland Properties Design, Claire Dancause Makeup Design, Maxine Wheelock Cast: Luke MacDonald - Mark; Maddie Rich - Jan; Sarah D\u27Andrea - Leah; Jack Jozefowski - Phil; Molly McGoldrick - Lou; Anthony Maldonado - John Tate; Anthony Joseph - Danny; Holli Hay - Regina; Mariama Bandabalia - Cathy; Anthony DiSpena - Brian; Kevin Bongiorno - Adam Photography by Maggie Hallhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/dna_photos/1024/thumbnail.jp

The Play That Goes Wrong Production Photo

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film Angell Blackfriars Theatre The Play That Goes Wrong, by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer April 12-14 & 19-21, 2024 Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30pm Sundays, 2pm Director, Patricia Tulli-Hawkridge Set & Props Designer, Scott Osborne Lighting Designer, Michael Clark Wonson Sound Designer, Stuart Holland Costume Designer, David Cabral Vocal Coach, Megan Chang Hair & Makeup Designer, Joe Rossi Fight Choreographer, Jim Beauregard Cast: Kevin Bongiorno - Trevor; Jack Josefowski - Chris; Brendan Phaneuf - Jonathan; Anthony Joseph - Robert; Jack Cormier - Dennis; Mari Bandabaila - Sandra; Luke Macdonald - Max; Caitlyn- Mitchell - Annie; Claire Dancause - Stage hand; Olivia Egan - Stage hand Photography by Maggie Hallhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/play_photos/1213/thumbnail.jp

LARO Streetwear Fashion Minizine

In my Editorial and Publication course, I had the incredible opportunity to design a fashion streetwear minizine. Throughout this project, I focused on creating compelling content for articles and advertisements, while also pushing the boundaries of design and incorporating innovative styles. By utilizing various design elements such as illustration, photography, typography, and layout, I aimed to showcase my understanding of visual storytelling and create a unique and impactful publication. This hands-on experience allowed me to express my creativity and explore unconventional ideas, ultimately pushing the boundaries of traditional magazines

Samson House: Sketch of Rebuilt House

Pen and Ink sketch of the design for the re-erected Samson House in Little Compton, Rhode Island.https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_plans/1180/thumbnail.jp

Samson House 030: Dismantling Brownell House

Dismantling the Brownell House in Portsmouth, RI to be re-erected in Little Compton, RI.https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_images/1935/thumbnail.jp

Samson House 044: Brownell House Timbers

Photograph showing the framing timbers and beams dismantled from the Brownell House in Portsmouth, RI.https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_images/1942/thumbnail.jp

Samson House 006: Brownell House in Portsmouth, RI - West side

Photograph of the West side of the Brownell House located at 94 West Main Road in Portsmouth, RI. Purchased by Hugh Samson to be dismantled and re-erected in Little Compton, RI.https://docs.rwu.edu/baker_images/1923/thumbnail.jp