Is there room for improvement? Of course there is, there is and always will be room for improvement. But Devals plaintive plea regarding the state of our schools is a pandering attempt to appeal to our baser instincts. He should stop wringing his hands. He should come out and criticize the teachers union and support the rapid expansion of the charter school system. His commercial should address the crisis caused by the special education system in this state. But of course, he will never do that.
I like Patricks positions on early childhood education but I find his tepid endorsement of charter schools and the MCAS system to be a symptom of his being wedded to the teachers unions as all good lefties must do. His ad should be narrated by Bill Clinton because it seems that both Bill and Deval would say anything (within the lefts allowed parameters) to get elected. I think Deval should take my advice and hit Gabs where it hurts.
I’m not a big fan of teacher’s unions…and I’m a member. But I don’t follow where you attribute “his tepid endorsement of charter schools and the MCAS system” to teacher’s unions. Without their presence, what do you think he would say?
<
p>
As for the ad, I too was disappointed that Deval is trying to score political points at the expense of the public school system. Remember when the GOP decided it could shoehorn unqualified people into office by running against “politicians”? They succeeded at the price of blaming an entire system for the actions of a minority of its members.
<
p>
It’s sad that some Democrats are buying into the same narrative vis-a-vis education.
I believe that he is being disingenuous in the ad and I have to attribute the fallacies he puts forth to something substantive. The teachers have railed against the MCAS system and they have railed against the charter school movement. The teachers union is one of the few remaining unions that vote Democratic. He wants their endorsement.
<
p>
I read Devals missive on education when I saw the misleading ad. He states I see charter schools as a part of this strategy. Many offer enriching alternatives for students and their families. But our emphasis must lie in assuring that conditions exist for innovation and consistent success in our district schools, where most children are enrolled.
<
p>
Massachusetts has experimented with charter schools in the last few years. Some of these experiments have been successful, while others have been less so. Even in the case of successful charters, few of the innovations that seem to work have been imported to the district schools. Moreover, the funding of charters drains resources from district schools that still educate most of our kids. Meanwhile, promising reforms-such as extended school days or Horace Mann charter schools-remain bogged down by politics. District schools in particular are compelled to overemphasize the MCAS, ignoring additional educational assessments that address the whole child.
<
p>
Higher expectations for student performance are essential. I support the MCAS, including the addition of a science component, as a high school graduation requirement. However, I do not believe it should be the sole assessment of student academic progress. Consistent with our objective to educate the whole child, we must develop and use additional assessments tools to measure other vital aspects of academic achievement.
<
p>
To me, none of these statements seem to be ringing endorsements of MCAS or charters. Every one of his statements have a but or an however in them. It seems to me that there are only two reasons for this. Either he is completely off base or he is kowtowing to the teachers union. Maybe there is some other reason but I cant find it.
<
p>
By the way, you are dead on accurate in equating the Republican attacks on politicians with Devals attack on the public school system. He clearly knows the hot topic buttons to push. He must be channeling Lee Atwater or something like that.
I’m only responding because I don’t want to leave an impression contrary to what I meant to say. I agree that teachers (and not just unions) are generally against charters and the MCAS. Not all teachers, but many of us.
<
p>
I’d love to know how you feel that the “teacher’s union are one of the few remaining unions that votes Democratic” I would love to see some data to back that up. Among other things, there are two teacher unions of note — the AFT and the NEA.
<
p>
In any case, one of the reasons I couldn’t get psyched about Deval (who on paper is the type of candidate I could support) was that ambivalence on education issues. His feelings about MCAS changed shortly before the endorsement from AFT-Mass. I’ve said in the past that the portion of his platform that reads “I support the MCAS, including the addition of a science component, as a high school graduation requirement. However, I do not believe it should be the sole assessment of student academic progress.” sounds like MCAS-plus. He’s going to address the MCAS by adding more qualifications. I think. Tough to tell, and awfully vague by platform standards.
<
p>
As for charters, a state committeewoman who supports him once told me in frustration “we were in that meeting, and during the discussion, I heard three different positions on charters from him!”
I don’t think that the police union is behind Deval, or the elevator worker’s union, the laborer’s union or the steel worker’s union. I don’t think that any of those types of unions will go with him. I haven’t done much research into what unions will support him. I guess I will let it rest with this opinion:
<
p>
I feel that Deval’s ad is misleading and that his overall education message is geared towards getting the endorsement of the teacher’s unions. He doesn’t say differentiated instruction or NAEYC or anything like that but he would if he knew about it, just to appeal to the teachers.
<
p>
Don’t get me wrong, I love teachers. They have a ridiculously hard job. They deal daily with children who, in the evening, go home to houses that contain no books but have countless televisions. They try to teach children who have never been taught how to behave. Medicated kids that don’t need the medicine, unmedicated kids that do need the medication, they deal with it all.
<
p>
Despite their formidable burden Massachusetts public school teachers have done well by my children. What I was trying to say is that I feel that Massachusetts public schools have done a pretty good job and that if you compare them to schools around the country you would find that we are simply not being left behind. Deval’s message that the schools are slipping is pure demagoguery and a cheap shot at our state.
are listed on his site.
<
p>
<
p>
I don’t know if that list is complete or how recently it was updated, but that’s better than “just knowing” who will and who won’t back him.
You are right of course. I was using a bit of hyperbole. I knew that the information was out there somewhere, thanks for letting me know. You see, why should I do the research when I know you will do it for me?
<
p>
Soooo, the piledrivers union supports Deval Patrick. Now that comes as no surprise at all.
“Soooo, the piledrivers union supports Deval Patrick. Now that comes as no surprise at all.”
<
p>
Is Deval a pro wrestling fan?
All intellectuals hate wrestling, Charles. They think it is uncouth. I love it, not for all the violence but because treachery and street smarts always seem to prevail over brute force.
I still recall a midget tag team match I saw in the old Boston Garden with great fondness. A tremendous sporting event.
I oughtta stomp a mudhole in yer chest for impugning the taste of intellectuals.
<
p>
Why dontcha take yer post… shine it up reeeal nice…
You just gotta know your role
IBEW Locals 223 & 1505, UWUA Local 369, and Laborers’ Local 721. The Globe has a slightly more complete list than Deval’s website.
He would have a poll conducted and then would say something else to ingratiate himself to some other group.
I am guessing it is, because it is also wrong, just like your musings about his union support.
If my opinion is wrong then prove it to me. I don’t think you can, not because I am not open to suggestion but rather based on the fact that you really can’t refute it with data. Massachusetts public ed is doing fine and shame on Mr. Patrick for implying that we are lagging behind the other states.
<
p>
Regarding Deval’s union support, I don’t think the list that David so generously provided was all that impressive. Maybe its just me.
You make wild, unsubstantiated accusations (“What would Deval do if there were no teacher’s union? He would have a poll conducted and then would say something else to ingratiate himself to some other group.”) and then when someone says you’re wrong you demand proof?
<
p>
Incredible.
My post was answering sabutai who asked me in regard to the teachers unions, “Without their presence, what do you think he would say?” I was giving a flippant answer to his scathing question. I was also asking Open Society to prove his representation that I was wrong about Deval Patrick’s union support.
Compare Deval’s union support to that of the other candidates.
Maybe it’s just me, but this comment doesn’t make any sense. Can you please elaborate?
The simple fact is that unless you are living in a wealthier, mostly-white suburb, Massachusetts schools are failing you.
<
p>
Take a look at Lawrence, Springfield, Holyoke, New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton, and Boston. Those districts have a lot of kids in them.
<
p>
Using the ACT as a comparison doesn’t work. How many kids drop out? How many don’t take the ACT because they don’t plan to go to college.
<
p>
Let’s look at 8th grade statistics, available at the Boston Globe. I picked 8th grade Mathematics because, from what I’ve heard, there is this nasty trend toward ignoring the 10th grade dropouts when compiling data. I don’t know for sure, so I’ll go with the safer numbers.
<
p>
Springfield Public Schools. 2,022 students tested, 9% were “Advanced or proficient”.
<
p>
Lawrence Public Schools. 1,11 students tested, 13% were advanced or proficient.
<
p>
Fall River Public Schools. 993 students, 13%.
<
p>
Lowell: 1,236, 17%.
<
p>
Brockton: 1,350, 17%.
<
p>
New Bedford: 1,082, 17%.
<
p>
Worcester: 1,846, 19%.
<
p>
Boston: 4,612, 23%.
<
p>
In fact, when you total the numbers up, out of the 76,874 students taking the 2005 8th grade Math MCAS, 46,768, or 61% scored as “needs improvement” or “failing”.
<
p>
10th grade improves, but not that much. Out of 72,038 students taking the Math test statewide, 61.4% were “advanced or proficient”, 38.6% were “needs improvement or failing”.
<
p>
Urban schools again led the charge. In Springfield, 77% did not make the grade. It was 76% in Lawrence, 65% in Worcester, 61% in Boston.
<
p>
Meanwhile, in Weston, 92% of the students passed. 95% passed in Harvard. 95% passed in Dover. So from that perspective, things are just great.
<
p>
If you live there, you might even be in favor of eliminating the subsidized funding of those bad urban schools, since they’re failing so many students anyways, and they’re taking your “hard-earned” tax dollars to do so.
Are you implying that urban teachers suck or just don’t care about the plight of their students or is it just the mean old government that doesn’t care? In my opinion, the teachers are trying their hardest and the government has allocated sufficient resources to ensure a good educational environment for urban children. Take a look at the per-pupil expenditures in the cities that you mention. Money is not the problem in these areas.
<
p>
Isn’t the real problem in the urban schools the homes to which the urban children go home? In many, single mothers are raising families. There are few or no books in the home. The parent or parents just do not encourage education. For example, Deval Patrick is considered to be “acting white” because of his perfect diction and his lack of a discernable accent. The anti-intellectualism that runs through the African American and Hispanic populations is a distinct problem that no amount of education reform will solve.
<
p>
Teach your children how to read and how to speak. Gently correct them when they mis-conjugate a verb. Make sure they know where the library is and turn off the god damned television. Do math games with them at an early age and inculcate in them a love of education. Make sure that they get a chance to idolize the Deval Patricks and Barack Obamas of the world. Tell that that while Allen Iverson is a wonderful athlete, he is no role model. Buy them one pair of sneakers and replace them when they wear out.
<
p>
There are thousands of little Deval Patricks out there with all the ability in the world but their parents are squandering the small window of opportunity these children have. Maybe the government could pass a law mandating that parents read to their children every night. That would do the trick.
<
p>
do you explain the variation among high-poverty black and hispanic schools?
<
p>
ie, in some, kids make huge gains over baseline.
First off, you’re right about the perils of measuring students success with only the ACT — it is a self-selecting population. Which is why I prefer the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which bears out indications of the strength of Massachusetts’ public schools.
<
p>
As for your contention that “The simple fact is that unless you are living in a wealthier, mostly-white suburb, Massachusetts schools are failing you” I find that hyperbole. For example, there are plenty of towns that aren’t suburbs that do well. In my neighborhood, we have West Bridgewater. It is not a suburb, it isn’t particularly wealthy. It even has school choice — many students from Brockton study there. Guess what? 100% success rate on the MCAS, five years running.
<
p>
So let’s say by “wealthier, mostly-white suburb” you were trying to expand upon “poor, minority-heavy urban” to sound impressive. Well, it is true that “poor, minority-heavy urban” schools are failing. And they need help. I believe that state funding should allow these systems to pay more than suburban districts, in order to attract better talent.
<
p>
I checked out those Boston Globe stats — good find, by the way. And anyone looking to back charters, you might want to know that of the bottom twenty “districts” on either 8th grade test, exactly half were charters.
Let’s assume that the ACT is a perfect test. Even so, you can’t use ACT to measure schools.
<
p>
1. Not every high school senior in MA takes it. If you want to improve your scores, you just discourage kids from taking the test. The only kids who end up taking it are those who are heading to upper tier 4 year colleges, and voila! Your state has the highest scores.
<
p>
2. Not every kid even makes it to his senior year in high school. Those kids also don’t show up in the samples.
<
p>
I can’t speak to the elementary school tests, but I do know that ACT data is worthless when comparing the quality of education betwen different states.
Well tell me how fixing education will address the issue of the children (dropouts)who leave the educational system? Are you proposing some change in the GED program?
My post has nothing to do with educational policies. It only has to do with the analysis of data. Using the ACT to measure the quality of schools as a whole doesn’t make sense because of the reasons I listed, as well as some others.
<
p>
If 98% of the kids drop out in 9yh grade and the other 2% go on to Ivy League schoos, would you call the school system a success? You can be damn sure they’d have incredibly high ACT scores though.
ACT Data for Massachusetts suffers from the self-selection problem. The SAT is the dominant test for going to Northeastern colleges, as the ACT is for the Midwest and South. So, the ACT students tend to be ones who want to go to out-of-region schools–they’ve got a strong desire to go particularly to Texas A&M or Rice or Purdue or whatever school, and students who are just on the edge of deciding to go to any college don’t take the ACT. This latter group would likely draw down the average.
<
p>
I grew up in Arkansas, where the situation is reversed. There, the SAT average is high, around 550 Verbal, 540 Math. There most students took the ACT, and only the driven, high-achieving ones interested in out-of-region schools took the SAT.
<
p>
So, as Stomv pointed out, ACT is not good for state vs. state comparison.
I never said that ACT or SAT is a good way to compare across states. That is why I buttressed my argument with various state rankings such as the ones from Afromerica.com or PSK12.com. There are others that consistently rank Massachusetts at or near the top of the heap when it comes to public education.
<
p>
It is so typical of the pointy headed ones among us to seize on one bit of an argument and to flog it to death. The Massachusetts children who take the ACT test do very well, that is all I implied in my citing of that data. Other apparently unbiased publications recognize that Massachusetts has done well overall. If you disagree with them, fine. But that does not change the fact that we are recognized around the country as having a good public school system. Most states are envious of our position. The message that Deval is putting out there (that we are slipping behind) is just not accurate.
Anger and nastiness seems to be boiling over. This will not stand us in good stead after the primary to defeat Kerry Healey who gets the advantage of having no infighting and/or petty sniping. I am a Deval supporter, proudly so. I am a union member. I have a child in public school. I am satisfied, but not thrilled with the education she is getting. She had attended Montessori School earlier on and the education was far superior, but I couldn’t keep up with the tuition and I have a strong belief in public education. Deval is correct about public ed. There is an intense disaprity between richer and poorer communities, not because teachers are not good, but because of he lack of resources and the tendency to have to deal with far more social issues that pull away from teaching academics.
<
p>
Let’s stop with the nasty rhetoric and the attempt to make the news rather than discuss it. For example this idea that Deval is slipping is way off base. Desperate? Ihardly think so. Both Gabrielli and Deval are excellent candidates an we should keep that in focus as we each work for our prefered candidate.
I am not working for any candidate. My post was expressing my dissatisfaction with the misleading propaganda being promulgated by Deval Patrick in his ad.
<
p>
I don’t like the fact that Massachusetts is regularly bashed as being a horrible place to live. We have a great state and I am no fan of those who take pot shots at it in order to secure some political advantage.
Deval is shrinking in the polls. A few weeks ago he enjoyed a lead over Gabs and Reilly. Now he is neck and neck with Gabs or behind, depending on what poll you are looking at.
<
p>
I believe there is more hydrogen in the Gabs balloon than there is in the Deval balloon. When one sees their lead slipping away one becomes a little more desperate.
hydrogen
..
It’s fine if a bunch of parents want to get together and create an experimental educational center for their kids, but I don’t endorse the use of public money for them as they’re set up now. As a taxpayer, if I’ve got no say, control or oversight as to how that money’s spent, then charter schools shouldn’t be spending my money. Period. Those of us without school-age kids are already paying to educate other people’s children. I’m a big supporter of the public schools and vote for overrides to keep neighborhood schools open when they’re threatened with closure for financial reasons. But if people feel the public schools aren’t working, FIX THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. If a change is worthwhile, CHANGE IT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. Don’t create an expensive, parallel system that drains resources out of the public schools and causes more battling for the limited funding available. I’m glad Deval Patrick isn’t enthusiastically endorsing charter schools.
<
p>
As for our schools falling behind, I wish someone would address the state of public universities in the Commonwealth.
<
p>
You actually believe that you have control over how public schools spend?
I vote for school committee members. If I don’t like what they’re doing, I’ll vote for someone else.
<
p>
But, I don’t live in Boston.
At least I get to vote for the people who make policies. From what I can gather, charter schools are not accountable to any elected officials, even indirectly.
Public education isn’t just between k-12, it extends above and beyond that. Our state’s public colleges and universities are in the bottom five in public funding. I’m paying almost $20k a YEAR to go to school at UMASS Dartmouth… this is supposed to be “affordable.”
<
p>
Ya right. I’m going to have more than $25k in debt after I’m done with school and the job market really sucks. Of course we’re falling behind; I see the deterioration at UMASS Dartmouth every day.
<
p>
Furthemore, other states are investing in pre-k programs across the entire state, such as Florida. Massachusetts doesn’t even offer state-wide kindergarden. If we want parents back in jobs, we need students in school till 2:30-3 at the earliest.
<
p>
Furthermore, school after school is making after school clubs, sports and activities outrageously expensive and pricing students out of the things that keep them occupied, having fun and safe. In some public schools, playing a sport can cost as much as $500 per sport in fees. The town I live in – a very wealthy one at that – almost had to ban sports on a year we passed an override! It was only through the town coming together and fundraising that we were allowed to keep it.
<
p>
Deval wants to create more access to these vital programs, lower the cost of UMASS and our public higher ed schools – as well as improve our public educational system (which is failing our state’s working class population and minorities)… there’s a lot of improvement to be made and Deval inspires me as the only one who I trust to make that improvement. He knows how important quality education is because that’s why he’s here today instead of being poor and destitute in the south side of chicago.
Ryan, take a breath and relax. “Almost 20K a year” for college isn’t that bad, nor is a 25K debt after college. If you want to know what higher education really costs enroll in a private school. The taxpayers are subsidizing your college costs. You may not like the fact that you have to contribute something to the cost of your education, but that is the real world. By the way, UMass Amherst made the top one hundred Best Values in Public Colleges again this year.
<
p>
How much is enough, Ryan? You want free college, no sports fees, no activity fees. Everything should be free! Who gets to pay for all of the things you need and want? Now, this isn’t the federal government where no one pays for it. In this state we have to pay as we go. When I was a child my parents lived on a shoestring budget. We rarely had tonic, just Zarex and Kool Aid. I remember thinking how great it would be if Coke came right out of the faucet. Well, when I grew up I realized that even the water that comes out of the tap isn’t free. Nothing is. You have to pay for it. Sorry to burst your bubble.
<
p>
Regarding your statements regarding Deval’s position on pre k etc., I previously stated “I like Patricks positions on early childhood education.”
I have to give you a six for mentioning Zarex. I think it cost me my two front teeth at age five.
Ryan, you have an admirable tendency to take to the ramparts for your candidate using whatever ammunition available, and that will help the eventual nominee greatly. I agree that post-secondary ed is a major problem (though I’d love to know where Deval’s money to fund it is coming from) — agree there.
<
p>
But it is too much of a stretch to say this ad is aimed even obliquely at post-secondary education. I mean, look at this ad. Really — look at it. The classroom has Deval in a room with tiny desks with little chairs, a color map of the United States, a blackboard, a penmanship chart, and butterflies on the bulletin board. Who in their right mind is going to think he’s talking about college?
<
p>
And afterschool programs? Deval may mention it in passing, but anyone who’s going to run against Gabrieli on afterschool programs will lose.
Herakles, Are you the web master? You appear to drive the direction of all the conversation and you do not promote an exchange of ideas as you lecture to others. I am a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. I love it here. it could most certainly be a better place to live. I work in mental health and I see human suffering and unmet need everyday of my working life. Saying that something is “propaganda” does not make it so. Your negativity toward Deval is in and of itself propaganda.
Well, if you work in mental health I think you should have the coping skills necessary to deal with my expressing my problems with Deval. Mr. Patrick is a fine man with an impressive biography and resume. But his message regarding education is . . . well it is . . . I mean, what he is saying is . . . well its just plain false! There, I got it off of my chest. You know, I really feel better! I feel free and undurdened! I think we just had a major breakthrough!!
<
p>
We all see suffering, whether it is from parents growing old or cars going too fast or children grappling with problems that would crush most adults. That is sad and too bad. What that suffering has to do with Deval Patricks education advertisement is beyond me.
Sorry about that anger filled diatribe. Let me explain. I am a life long resident of Massachusetts and a product of Massachusetts public education. I went to UMass, Amherst in the 70s, where I met my wife. I love this state; it has been good for me to live here. I remember going to Nahant Beach in the 60s with my sisters. I remember playing baseball all day long until we could no longer see the ball. I remember chasing the mosquito killer spray trucks down the street on my stingray bike. I remember Yaz, Hondo and Bobby Orr. This state is wicked pissa, I feel this ab imo pectore. Masschusetts fares well with me not only nostalgically, but statistically as well.
<
p>
Massachusetts has an impressively low murder rate. It has historically enjoyed a very low divorce rate ranking first in 2004 and in 1994. The state enjoyed the lowest infant mortality rate in 2004. The state had the second highest per capita income in 2005. And yes, Massachusetts schools have consistently rated at or near the top of the national heap.
<
p>
So Deval, stop misleading and start leading. Now that is a snappy slogan.
You’re committing the crime of looking at the averages. I’m sure that the average wealth in Feudal Europe was pretty decent — it’s just that the kings owned everything and the peasants didn’t own anything.
<
p>
Yes, the murder rate is low in Massachusetts. Tell that to certain neighborhoods in Boston, or Springfield — ranked the 19th most dangerous city in the country.
<
p>
You seem to be using the average to deny that problems exist. They’re out there, and it’s awful public policy to ration things like safety, education, or even health by income.
<
p>
That’s what Deval Patrick is looking it. He’s not looking at Wellesley and saying “the education system is just fine” — which is what Mitt Romney seemed to do. He’s looking at the entire state and saying that our mission isn’t accomplished until everyone is served. And that’s why I’ll be voting for him.
So, in other words, the whole state stinks because Springfield has a high murder rate. If you think government can change what is happening in our urban areas then you should probably vote for Deval Patrick. I think the problems we face in urban America are not the type that government or its monies can solve.
No, in other words, the state should not sit back and say “we aren’t failing on crime, because it’s only high in the urban areas”. It shouldn’t say “our economy is going great because Boston is doing well, even though Western and Central MA are stagnating”. It shouldn’t say “our education system is doing great because only the urban kids are failing”.
<
p>
That, of course, is the Romney/Healey view in a nutshell.
<
p>
Let’s focus on crime for a minute. Police forces are usually funded with local monies. There’s no “Chapter 70” for police. Yet areas with high crime have a low tax base, making it impossible to fund the police force to the level necessary.
<
p>
The problem in this state has been that if the state was to create a fund to hire more cops in areas that need them, 300 other towns scream “hey, no fair!” like little kids. They want their share of the pie too, regardless of whether they need it.
<
p>
I’m sure that if you live in a wealthier town, your town police force probably does things like responding to alarms, ticketing speeding cars, checking on a group of kids who appear to be up to no-good. They probably routinely patrol the neighborhoods too. An urban force that is constantly responding to stabbings and shots fired can’t do that. And therefore the level of policing is different between towns.
<
p>
Public safety should not be rationed. It should not only go to those who can afford it. You should not have to feel unsafe if you can’t afford that $400k house in the suburbs.
<
p>
The problems of urban America can be reduced by government. Not by “throwing money” at the problems, but by implementing specific, targetted programs. Those problems certainly aren’t going to be solved by a bunch of suits screaming “just try harder” at people. Kids aren’t going to be educated by people wagging their fingers at them, saying “well, your parents should have raised you better”. The things that work in your town probably aren’t going to work in the cities — but it costs money to do things differently.
<
p>
At this point, things aren’t even being done the same. Wellesley is teaching their kids Chinese. That opportunity isn’t available in any urban district I know. I’m sure the divisions are far greater than I can even imagine. We look at things on a per-capita basis rather than an “as necessary” basis. People — commi
<
p>
The Massachusetts constitution speaks of “spreading the opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and among the different orders of the people…”. It doesn’t say “Each person is responsible for educating himself”.
<
p>
And the constitution says “The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it with the power of enjoying in safety and tranquillity their natural rights, and the blessings of life: and whenever these great objects are not obtained, the people have a right to alter the government, and to take measures necessary for their safety, prosperity and happiness.”. It doesn’t say “Everyone on their own, government should not intervene”.
You are absolutely right. The whole state is important and we can never say Mission Accomplished. I have been clear from the beginning that is there room for improvement? Of course there is, there is and always will be room for improvement. That does not mean that Deval Patrick’s ad was accurate in its assertion that we are slipping behind the other states.
<
p>
I understand your position regarding the lack of equity in educational opportunity. My position is that you will never get parity in this world. You won’t get it in the market place, you won’t get it in health care, you won’t get it on Beacon Hill, in the courthouse or across the public school spectrum. There are wealthy suburbs where privileged children enjoy wonderful schools that offer classes in Chinese. Some towns have wonderful athletic facilities, some have great school buildings. If you want your child to enjoy the challenge of conversational Chinese, you can move to Wellesley. That is the beauty of our country. You can move wherever you want to move. While we cannot assure parity we have established minimum standards which all public school systems must meet.
<
p>
By the way, Massachusetts has been helping localities build new school buildings at a decent rate. Just last week, State Treasurer Cahill announced delivery of $51,136,527 to Chicopee that will build 13 new schools across the city. Malden has built at least five new building in the last few years. Everett is building a new high school, Chelsea just built one a few years ago. Woburn is building a new High School and has replaced at least one elementary school. Melrose is building a brand new Middle School. These are not rich towns but they are building new schools due to the states School Building Assistance program.
The memories may be great, but the numbers show people are leaving. (And I am not convinced it is because of housing costs. If people like a place, they tend to stay.) The stats you mention do not really reflect quality of life here.
Well, it is cold here in the winter, houses cost lots of money and the state is small in size so that many towns have very little buidable land. Some people are fleeing due to the right’s propaganda about high taxes here in “Taxachusetts.”
<
p>
My friend moved to NC because homes are so affordable down there. He was a painter and thought he would do great with the building boom that was taking place. He found out that when out quoting jobs he would be rebuffed again and again. It seems he was too fond of the rate of compensation he had been receiving up here. Down there painters would be paid $8 to $10 per hour.
Sure, the little money he earned went a little further down there but the quality of life stunk. After two years of beating his head against the wall he moved back here.
Herakles, It is impossible to comment in a reasonable way when one individul is making this blog his personal forum. My comments have absolutely nothing to do with coping skills or the lackthere of. Why is it when someone responds to your diatribes with a different view, they are intolerant or unacceptingof your right to have your opinion? Why are you so intolerant of the views of others? You are entitled to your opinions, and you appear to have an opinion about everything and they are all negative. You have no clue about what you are talking about when it comes to the human suffering of the have nots of this community and this state. maybe if you would get out from behind your computer and see the world as it is, and the way it could be, you might have a different perspective. Try spending time volunteering with the chronically mentally ill or the institutionalized dvelomentally challenged, or talk to addicts who cannot access treatment and then see where you stand. But the reality is you are probably impervious to being affected by experience, let alone words.
Sorry to have offended you. I think I am a positive person; that is why I am defending our public schools from a scurrilous attack. Believing that everything will be okay is an optimistic viewpoint. I suggest you listen to a little song by the Carter Family. I frequently whistle to myself to help me get through the day.
<
p>
Keep on the Sunnyside
<
p>
There’s a dark and a troubled side of life
There’s a bright and a sunnyside, too
‘though we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunnyside we also may view.
<
p>
(Chorus)
<
p>
Keep on the sunnyside
Always on the sunnyside
Keep on the sunnyside of life
It will help us everyday
It will brighten all the way
If we keep on the sunnyside of life.
<
p>
Though the storm in its fury break today
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear
Clouds and storm will in time pass away
And the sun again will shine bright and clear.
<
p>
Let us greet with a song of hope each day
Though the moments be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Savior always
To keep us everyone in His care.
<
p>
Recorded 5/9/28 Camden, NJ 5/8/35 New York, NY 6/10/36 New York, NY