Date: Apr 28, 2010

ERASE Racism documentary on race and education on Long Island to premiere at Hofstra

Panel discussion on equity in public education to follow screening

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY -  The public policy advocacy group ERASE Racism and Hofstra University are co-sponsoring the premiere of the organization's new documentary "A Tale of Two Schools: Race and Education on Long Island" on Thursday, May 6, 2010, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Student Center Theater, North Campus.

The 30-minute film, directed and produced by David Van Taylor, chronicles the experiences of two African American high school seniors from Long Island whose lives are remarkably similar, except for one thing: they attend different schools. Both are good students with after-school jobs at Carvel who are being raised by single mothers. But one boy goes to Wyandanch High School, an under-performing school in a predominantly minority district, while the other attends South Side High School in Rockville Centre, a highly-ranked school in a mostly white district.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion about the barriers to achieving educational equity in Long Island public schools and policy solutions. Light refreshments will be served. The event is co-sponsored by Hofstra's School of Education, Health & Human Services, the National Center for Suburban Studies and the Department of Sociology.

Panel speakers include Westbury Superintendent of Schools Constance Clark-Snead, Dr. Marc Silver, Ph'D, chairman of Hofstra's Department of Sociology, and Roger Tilles, the Long Island member of the state Board of Regents.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 150 undergraduate and more than 160 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services;  and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students' interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.
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