What happens if you do away with homework and grades in schools? Is the traditional "raise your hand" mentality a best practice in classrooms? What happens if you do away with competition and instead encourage collaboration? These are the kinds of questions on the minds of progressive educators and writers like Alfie Kohn, who will be the speaker at Friday's "Child-Centered Conversation" cosponsored by the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center, the Hayground School, and the Bridgehampton School District.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Friday issued its annual reminder to New Yorkers to steer clear of marine mammals that have come ashore. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals, the D.E.C. reminds us, "are protected by federal and state laws to ensure they are not harmed and to keep people at a safe distance."

Tripoli Patterson has organized a pop-up exhibition in Australia, where he competed in the World Qualifying Series, a surfing competition, 19 years ago.

Viewers of Noah Baumbach's latest film, "White Noise," may know of the director's connection to the area (a house on the North Fork), but might be surprised to find another East End connection. It's of a more recent vintage, but with long and illustrious roots.