Senator James Donovan: Education and Beyond

Posted on August 17, 2011 by admin

When Senator James H. Donovan died, Ralph J. Marino said “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was the state’s top priority.” He also described Donovan’s death as a “tremendous loss.”

Before serving in his role of chairman of the Senate Education Committee for fourteen years, James Donovan also served as chairman of the Committee on Roads and Public Works, as well as the Committee on Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control. He worked to reduce teenage illiteracy and pregnancy as well.

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Senator James Donovan’s Most Lasting Contribution

Posted on August 1, 2011 by admin

Senator James Donovan, known for his fourteen years of service as the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, put a lot of effort into improving the quality of education in New York. He also fought teenage illiteracy and pregnancy. When he died in 1990, senate majority leader Ralph J. Marino said “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was this state’s top priority.”

In addition to serving in the Senate Education Committee, James Donovan served as the chairman of the Committee on Roads and Public Works and the Committee on Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control, as well as two tours of duty in World War II as a marine.

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Education, Technology and James H Donovan

Posted on July 14, 2011 by admin

In his lifetime, Senator James H Donovan worked out his priorities vis-à-vis education.  He realized that technology was very important for the development of education in particular, and society at large.  Donovan saw that many individuals lacked efficient knowledge in the field.  This would lead to them incurring difficulties finding meaningful and satisfying employment.  So it was one of Donovan’s main tasks to find ways of bringing technology to the forefront of the educational curriculum.

One of the ways Senator Donovan achieved this, was by raising  monies for the following projects: ‘Writing to Write,’ Technologies Network Ties (TNT), Graphics Expression Reading Improvement System (GERIS), Reading Achievement Through Publishing Activities (RATPAC), ‘Writing to Read,’ and ‘Starlab.’

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Utica’s Senator James H. Donovan Middle School

Posted on June 29, 2011 by admin

The Senator James H. Donovan Middle School is an institute for sixth through eighth graders in the Utica City District. The parental evaluation has rated the school three out of five.

A public school, Senator James H. Donovan Middle School offers a customized curriculum and a unique educational philosophy. Named after New York’s much loved Senator James Donovan, the school aims to “promote student diversity” by accepting numerous students from outside the tradition boundaries of the school district.

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Senator James H. Donovan

Posted on June 14, 2011 by admin

Senator James H. Donovan served as the chairman of the Senate Education Committee for fourteen years. During his time in that role, Donovan expanded and supported educational organizations and programs, worked to reduce teenage illiteracy and pregnancy, and created the New York City School Construction Authority. This program cut through numerous obstacles that new schools encountered.

When Jim Donovan died, it was described as a “tremendous loss” by New York’s governor. Ralph J. Marino also stated that “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was the state’s top priority.”

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The Life and Death of Senator James Donovan

Posted on May 28, 2011 by admin

Senator James Donovan, remembered as a “man of the people,” made many lasting contributions to the state of New York.

He grew up on a farm in Marcy, NY, and grew up to serve two tours of duty in World War II, as a marine. In 1959, Jim Donovan was first elected to serve in public office. On the Chadwicks Board of Education. In 1961 he became the New Hartford Town Councilman, and the Town Supervisor two years later. In 1965 Donovan was elected to the senate.

James H. Donovan passed away in 1990, after battling cancer. He was survived by his wife Esther and his seven children. He also had 14 grandchildren at the time. His death was described as a “tremendous loss” by NY Governor Mario M. Cuomo, who also stated that Donovan’s “courageous struggle to overcome his illness served as an inspiration to us all.”

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Utica’s Senator James H. Donovan Middle School

Posted on May 11, 2011 by admin

Utica’s Senator James H. Donovan Middle School is located in the Utica City District. Named in honor of Senator Donovan, the school is a public school which promotes “student diversity.” It does so by accepting students from areas outside of the traditional school districts.
Utica’s Middle School offers a customizable curriculum, and often attracts high-quality students through competitions. Though the state’s test results give the institute three out of ten stars, it has an average rating of three out of five from the parental evaluation.

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Senator James Donovan and Tecnological Education

Posted on April 20, 2011 by admin

Senator James H Donovan understood that technology’s role in education and society has become incredibly important. He noted that a great number of people lack knowledge and skills in the field, and, as a result, are unable to find employment. Therefore, he worked to integrate modern technology into the school curriculum.

Jim Donovan also raised funds in support of ‘Writing to Read’, ‘Writing to Write’, GERIS (Graphics Expression Reading Improvement System), TNT (Technologies Network Ties), RATPAC (Reading Achievement Through Publishing Activities), and ‘Starlab’ planetariums to be transferred from school to school. Senator Donovan also supported school library renovations.

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Senator James H Donovan: Chairman of the Senate Education Committee

Posted on April 12, 2011 by admin

Senator James Donovan served his district for more years than any other senator, as the chairman of the Senate Education Committee for fourteen years. Prior to that role, he also served as chairman of the Committee on Roads and Public Works and the Committee on Mental Hygiene and Addiction Control.

One of James Donovan’s most important accomplishments was his enhancement of programs which worked to reduce teenage pregnancy and to promote literacy within the teenage population of New York. He also reduced the bureaucracy and red-tape required to begin construction by creating the New York City School Construction Authority.

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The Importance of Reading Skills and PARP

Posted on March 14, 2011 by admin

Every parent understands that reading skills are an integral part of a child’s education. Not only does reading provide a child with a large vocabulary- it also enhances their imaginations and provides them with a means to pursue knowledge and broaden their horizons.

The late Senator James Donovan recognized this as well, and so he founded the program Parents as Reading Partners, or PARP. The program encourages parents to spend a minimum of fifteen minutes reading with their child every day. The technique is intended to show children that reading can be an enjoyable experience, as well as strengthen the bond between the child and his or her parents. In order to prevent frustration or embarrassment, the child should not read alone. Instead, the parents and child should alternate while reading aloud. Today, many schools and families have adopted this method of reading education.

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