The ACLU was out in force at our school board meeting on Wednesday night. The board would like to adopt a new proposal on sex education to replace the one adopted in 1994. The president of the school board quipped, "I guess that 1994 was longer ago that I thought it was." Apparently the school board adopted an "abstinence only policy" in 1994. Wasn't it Bill Clinton who was president then?"
I saw many visitors at this particular school board meeting. It turns out that they all favored the new board policy of a more comprehensive approach to sex education for adolescents. Two representatives from the ACLU spoke, one from a teen clinic and most interesting for me a young woman who was a graduate of Analy High School. She said that in her kindergarten through senior year education, she never received any sex education at all. I believe her and I know the source of the problem.
About the year 2000, in accordance with a district policy, Analy instituted a health education class. The big question became, "Who will teach it?" Since the ninth grade social studies curriculum is optional for college preparation, the administrators chose the social studies department to teach one quarter of health education. Most of the social studies teachers felt ill equipped to take this challenge on. Most social studies teachers felt especially ill equipped to teach sex education. No effort was made to in-service them on sex education or even health ed. So these teachers with fill it in whatever way they decided in their own curriculum. Some ignored the mandate completely.
Also the health textbook that was purchased in 2008, apparently has 12 pages on sex education that is extremely regressive according to one of the speakers. Instead of writing about sex (and drugs) in a positive way, it only emphasized negative consequences.
I've included my notes from the meeting if you are interested. It gives a little more detail on former programs promoted in this district. For a school board meeting it is interesting reading.
Letter M: Sex Education (Aligning it with the California Ed Code)
Old policy vs. new policy
Updating the policy to align with and reflect the more diverse population and listening to the sex education. We do not need to specify high school because we are a high school district.
No objection of the board members who will vote February 24
Members of the public:
Angie: Teen Health Advocacy Commission
Optimal adolescent health- comprehensive sexual health education
Abstinence Only group are not allowed to do their presentations to students.
Comprehensive Sex Education is more effective than Abstinence Only programs.
Abstinence Only has no effect on adolescent behavior.
Recommend discontinuing any use of abstinence only programs.
Speaker 1: “Free to be” was being taught at Brookhaven but the School Board didn’t know about it. Pointing out the textbook that they are using still has a “Free to be” literature in the textbook. I encourage you the read this textbook. (a 2008 adoption)
Speaker 2: ACLU of Northern California
Comprehensive Health Education- Science based medically accurate information about their sexuality. I am happy that the board is taking up this policy update.
Adopting a comprehensive curricululm- providing resources of supplemental materials.
Speaker 3: Public Health Nurse and served on the California Health
Core Competencies for Adolescent sexual Health.
Adopt a Curriculum that addresses all kind of adolescent health issues- mental health, etc.
Speaker 4
Chair of Volunteers of ACLU in Sonoma County . Former reporter. Healthy approach to family life, sex- the complete education- Encourage you to support the policy.
Create a transparent process:
Speaker 5: “I am a former Analy student. I didn’t get any sex education in all of my 12 years in the school system. “
Motion: Move that we approve the certification, corrective action.
Board Comments or questions.
Public Comments or questions. None
Passed
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
State of the Union Republican Rebuttal
The governor of Virgina, Bob McDonald, spoke the rebuttal for the Republican Party last night after Obama's speech. The speech was thin, I thought and full of cliches. They made a point of saying that in the large room where the governor spoke was full of friends. What made me laugh was the four people purposely placed at the four corners behind him. In the upper left hand corner, was a black woman; the upper right hand corner, an Asian man; the lower left hand corner, a military man in uniform and on the lower right a white woman. They were so carefully placed, but also acting- head shakes, smiling, clapping (only losing their composure at rare occasions). See it for yourself.
For Shields and Brooks it was all they could do to hide their amusement by the sheer hollowness of the presentation. Brooks, a republican, only quipped about "I don't thing that we're going to see a guy standing alone in a room any more." They were moderately kind but I felt they submerged their contempt. They then composed themselves and tried to make the most of the material. Check it out.
For Shields and Brooks it was all they could do to hide their amusement by the sheer hollowness of the presentation. Brooks, a republican, only quipped about "I don't thing that we're going to see a guy standing alone in a room any more." They were moderately kind but I felt they submerged their contempt. They then composed themselves and tried to make the most of the material. Check it out.
No to Race to the Top
Last night Obama gave his State of the Union address. I will write some reflections about that in another blog. At the same time I gave a speech to our school board about the Obama Administration's Grant Offering "Race to the Top". At the recommendation of the president of the California Teacher's Association, I, as president of our local association, refused to sign. Here is my explanation for not signing.
Speech before the School Board
January 26, 2010
Our superintendent, school board members, parents, Teachers, Administrators, and students-we are all aware that school budgets have been stretched beyond what was incomprehensible just a few years ago. (Most of you are aware of the tenuous funding of schools in California. Ever since the passage of Proposition 13 to reduce property taxes, it has been a steady slide downward for schools in California- kindergarten through the University system. We have, I think, almost hit bottom, but next year promises to be worse.)
So whenever a possible pot of money becomes available for our schools, we are all on board to see what we must do to make that money come to us. The hope is that the money could at least bring back the schools that existed only a year ago.
Schools where the library is open for a full day and after school;
schools that can provide modern technology and text books for students;
schools that can keep the heat on at least until 4 or 5 PM when many of the teachers go home (I am one of those teachers who stays here in the freezing cold and tries to do his lesson plans for the next day.); schools that know the value of small classes for English and Math students;
schools that keep relevant programs, such as computer skills, instead of dropping them. (Here also I am speaking about my computer skills classes that were cut this year because of budget cuts.)
(also I should have said- due to large class sizes and budget cuts classrooms do not have enough desks.' Here I am specifically talking about my classroom, where I am two desks short and have been trying for two weeks to get 2 desks in here, so every student can have a place to sit.)
We all want these programs that work for students.
Forgive the partisan revelation, but when the people of the United States elected Barak Obama president, I thought that real change was on our doorstep. But I started to rethink my position as I saw the Secretary of Education, unfold his plan for reform.
I am, of course, speaking of Race to the Top.
When the administration unveiled the plan, I was ready to jump on board because I was a true believer. I clung to a hope and trust that this administration would choose knowledgeable people with the interest of students at heart. (We actually had a document that we were ready to sign with the superintendent, approved by the CTA.)
To cut to the chase, I hoped against hope that I could join the superintendent and the board in signing the Memorandum of Understanding as part of the application for competing for Race to the Top funds.
Here is why I think Race to the Top is a bad idea.
RTTT relies on a three pronged strategy for reform:
1. Institution of more charter schools
2. Closing local schools that are failing
3. Merit pay for teachers and administrators
(There are actually other things involved but these three are ones that our association has strong objections to.)
Research consistently shows one thing about charter schools- that just like our traditional schools, some are good and some are bad.
Under RTTT schools with a API decile score of under 800, parents only need a simple majority to close a school – HOWEVER, Under performing schools need the input of educators and funding first to see if the can turn around. Closing schools means displacement of students, increased transportation costs and a scramble for parents to find a school that will meet the needs of their children.
Merit Pay- we as teachers, know something about merit pay- Merit pay divides faculties. Nevertheless evaluation of teachers is important but it’s broken and we need well-trained and competent teachers for our children. The California Teachers’ Association supports incentive pay- rewarding teachers who take on students with the greatest needs, especially in lower performing schools. We support teacher assessment based on the systematic collection of evidence that supports desired student outcomes.
But also I have some deeper concerns about the Department of Education, Arnie Duncan, his advisers and the whole orientation of the Federal Plan. There is a clue in the name:
Race To The Top.
Race to the Top is as it implies, a competition among school districts and schools for scarce resources. It comes from advisors who believe that schools are like businesses. Students are like widgets. Arnie Duncan, - not a former teacher OR EDUCATOR OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR- listens to a group of advisors who are from the Democratic Business Class.
You have heard of Bill Gates.
(1. The Gates Foundation gave $250,000 each to 15 states to help them with the application for Race to the top. 2. AP's Lbby Quaid and Donna Blankenship report. But now the foundation is taking "unprecedented steps to influence education policy, spending millions to influence how the federal government distributes nearly $5 billion in grants to overhaul public schools. The federal dollars are unprecedented, too.''Chicago Tribune, October 25, 2009 3. James Shelton, a former program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is now heading the U.S. Department of Education office that was seen under President George W. Bush as a way to help promote charter schools and choice. Education Week)
I will add a couple of other items that make me uncomfortable:
The small amount of money that Race to the Top offers COMES WITH an unprecedented amount of oversight and control from Washington, D.C.
We support assessment with high standards, such as the California Content Standards- the most demanding in the country. We do not support a one size fits all imposition of national standards.
We fear that Race to the Top is an extension of No Child Left Behind- one time monies that will impose more unfunded mandates on our schools.
We are desperately in need of money to fund our schools, but as one of our Rep Council members so cogently phrased it:
“Can we sign a contract, when we don’t know what is on it?”
Thank You
Speech before the School Board
January 26, 2010
Our superintendent, school board members, parents, Teachers, Administrators, and students-we are all aware that school budgets have been stretched beyond what was incomprehensible just a few years ago. (Most of you are aware of the tenuous funding of schools in California. Ever since the passage of Proposition 13 to reduce property taxes, it has been a steady slide downward for schools in California- kindergarten through the University system. We have, I think, almost hit bottom, but next year promises to be worse.)
So whenever a possible pot of money becomes available for our schools, we are all on board to see what we must do to make that money come to us. The hope is that the money could at least bring back the schools that existed only a year ago.
Schools where the library is open for a full day and after school;
schools that can provide modern technology and text books for students;
schools that can keep the heat on at least until 4 or 5 PM when many of the teachers go home (I am one of those teachers who stays here in the freezing cold and tries to do his lesson plans for the next day.); schools that know the value of small classes for English and Math students;
schools that keep relevant programs, such as computer skills, instead of dropping them. (Here also I am speaking about my computer skills classes that were cut this year because of budget cuts.)
(also I should have said- due to large class sizes and budget cuts classrooms do not have enough desks.' Here I am specifically talking about my classroom, where I am two desks short and have been trying for two weeks to get 2 desks in here, so every student can have a place to sit.)
We all want these programs that work for students.
Forgive the partisan revelation, but when the people of the United States elected Barak Obama president, I thought that real change was on our doorstep. But I started to rethink my position as I saw the Secretary of Education, unfold his plan for reform.
I am, of course, speaking of Race to the Top.
When the administration unveiled the plan, I was ready to jump on board because I was a true believer. I clung to a hope and trust that this administration would choose knowledgeable people with the interest of students at heart. (We actually had a document that we were ready to sign with the superintendent, approved by the CTA.)
To cut to the chase, I hoped against hope that I could join the superintendent and the board in signing the Memorandum of Understanding as part of the application for competing for Race to the Top funds.
Here is why I think Race to the Top is a bad idea.
RTTT relies on a three pronged strategy for reform:
1. Institution of more charter schools
2. Closing local schools that are failing
3. Merit pay for teachers and administrators
(There are actually other things involved but these three are ones that our association has strong objections to.)
Research consistently shows one thing about charter schools- that just like our traditional schools, some are good and some are bad.
Under RTTT schools with a API decile score of under 800, parents only need a simple majority to close a school – HOWEVER, Under performing schools need the input of educators and funding first to see if the can turn around. Closing schools means displacement of students, increased transportation costs and a scramble for parents to find a school that will meet the needs of their children.
Merit Pay- we as teachers, know something about merit pay- Merit pay divides faculties. Nevertheless evaluation of teachers is important but it’s broken and we need well-trained and competent teachers for our children. The California Teachers’ Association supports incentive pay- rewarding teachers who take on students with the greatest needs, especially in lower performing schools. We support teacher assessment based on the systematic collection of evidence that supports desired student outcomes.
But also I have some deeper concerns about the Department of Education, Arnie Duncan, his advisers and the whole orientation of the Federal Plan. There is a clue in the name:
Race To The Top.
Race to the Top is as it implies, a competition among school districts and schools for scarce resources. It comes from advisors who believe that schools are like businesses. Students are like widgets. Arnie Duncan, - not a former teacher OR EDUCATOR OR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR- listens to a group of advisors who are from the Democratic Business Class.
You have heard of Bill Gates.
(1. The Gates Foundation gave $250,000 each to 15 states to help them with the application for Race to the top. 2. AP's Lbby Quaid and Donna Blankenship report. But now the foundation is taking "unprecedented steps to influence education policy, spending millions to influence how the federal government distributes nearly $5 billion in grants to overhaul public schools. The federal dollars are unprecedented, too.''Chicago Tribune, October 25, 2009 3. James Shelton, a former program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is now heading the U.S. Department of Education office that was seen under President George W. Bush as a way to help promote charter schools and choice. Education Week)
I will add a couple of other items that make me uncomfortable:
The small amount of money that Race to the Top offers COMES WITH an unprecedented amount of oversight and control from Washington, D.C.
We support assessment with high standards, such as the California Content Standards- the most demanding in the country. We do not support a one size fits all imposition of national standards.
We fear that Race to the Top is an extension of No Child Left Behind- one time monies that will impose more unfunded mandates on our schools.
We are desperately in need of money to fund our schools, but as one of our Rep Council members so cogently phrased it:
“Can we sign a contract, when we don’t know what is on it?”
Thank You
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Religion in the Senate
I suppose that I should have known that it existed- a chaplain- Barry Black in the United States Senate. But I found it both surprising and disturbing. One clear dictate of the founding fathers was to separate Church and State. The whole gang of leaders who rebelled against England were Deists at least in name. But they were more a product of the enlightenment.
The early settlers were Pilgrims and so on were mostly Presbyterians, part of the crew who chopped off the head of Charles I. Many of this gang of criminals was kicked out of England at the time of the Restoration. Whether their philosophy, as Max Weber theorizes, was responsible for the rise of Capitalism, I do not know. I always liked the theory. But this was not the group (for the most part who founded this country).
Although the theists of the day apparently believed in God and went to a community church, their God was remote. These men had seen the damage of the wars of religion in Europe and wisely chose to make this distinction. Of course by now the enlightened leaders are long gone from the Senate and a strange kind of Christianity holds sway.
This cleric prays over the Senate every day, asking God for guidance. In his interview he spoke about often speaking to Senators. Senators actually say to him, "Pastor, I really don't know how to vote on this particular issue. Could you give me some guidance?" I think it is outrageous.
Of course, if you think that this is really a Christian country, and that some kind of Protestant Christianity should lead the thinking of our leaders, then things are as they should be. But I expect that Washington, Adams and Jefferson respectfully disagree.
Well, I've done a little checking and the first chaplain of the Senate was elected in 1789. From then till now there have been Christians chaplains of various denominations. There have been no Mormons, Buddhist, Jewish or Muslim chaplains. So my next research project is to find out exactly what Washington, Adams and Jefferson thought about this appointment. And the search goes on.
History shows the three people that I have mentioned in the way I have written- as almost completely sectarian. They only say that George Washington was private about his religion. Jefferson was almost anti-organized religion and Adams notably secular. But there must have been some tradition in English of appointing a religious "provost" to enhance the legitimacy of the body. There were a large number of Calvinists in the early colonies, a notably fundamentalist sect.
Monday, January 25, 2010
A real weekend (almost)
It's Monday morning. Friday night seems so far away. Six percussion members from Donna's band the Hubbub Club came to the house Friday night to practice. I asked Donna, "Is is all right if I watch a movie in the other room?" She replied, "It will be too loud. Why don't you use earphones?" (not a real question) Earphone were not helpful. As I watched Mamet's Homocide, the noise of drummers was all pervasive. Even at maximum volume I could barely hear the dialogue. By nine in the evening they were finished and I joined the crew with wine and snacks. As I entered the room the drummers asked me, "Who annoys you most in the band?" "The drummers!!!" but it was only a thought.
Saturday morning I took my usual sleep in with my 9 AM to 10 AM companion- NPR's Morning Edition. I cooked a soggy french toast and made espresso with the new machine. I washed my clothes, attended to my email and updated some of my new phone book. At Joey's urging I spend two more hours trying to connect the newly installed Windows XP to the Internet. Now a computer with a split personality, we have lightning fast Linex on one half and mentally deficient Windows on the other half. I actually bought a copy of the new Windows operating system but I cannot bring myself to install. I want a refund already.
I went to my favorite bargain store for groceries and an updated wine supply. I also returned two bad bottles. Donna cautions me against buying any meat, but the bargains on some gourmet items are hard to resist. I spent $175 and they say as you leave, "You saved $185." So I guess they paid me ten dollars to shop there.
Donna went to Berkeley to play giata with Kathy and Kevin Carr. Joey and I hung out and watched a flick, . He is also back on in his ping pong game, beating me two in a row.
Joey and I got together to play some music. I am performing at a fundraiser next Friday night to send the choir to Carnegie Hall here at Analy High School. Joe Craven is at the top of the bill. I had planned on doing one of my swing tunes, but Joey disagreed. "How about one of those folk songs you did at Jessie's party?", he said. After some deliberation we decided on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". He will play back up accordion. Donna sat in with us first on the snare and then on the tambourine. She would be great but does not want to perform.
After a leisurely breakfast on Sunday I took a couple of hours to catch up on my grading. Then visited Clair, my former vibes partner. We caught up. She now has more free time and less money. She's singing with a choral group and regularly playing standards with some local guys. She still wants me back to play with. That made me feel good.
Last night I fixed dinner, played a few games of ping pong, then back to the homework. I spent some time going through Joseph Campbell's Power of Myth. But most of it seems too dense for ninth graders. I ended my day falling asleep while reading Chapter 10 of Black Boy to prepare for my tenth grade class today.
Saturday morning I took my usual sleep in with my 9 AM to 10 AM companion- NPR's Morning Edition. I cooked a soggy french toast and made espresso with the new machine. I washed my clothes, attended to my email and updated some of my new phone book. At Joey's urging I spend two more hours trying to connect the newly installed Windows XP to the Internet. Now a computer with a split personality, we have lightning fast Linex on one half and mentally deficient Windows on the other half. I actually bought a copy of the new Windows operating system but I cannot bring myself to install. I want a refund already.
I went to my favorite bargain store for groceries and an updated wine supply. I also returned two bad bottles. Donna cautions me against buying any meat, but the bargains on some gourmet items are hard to resist. I spent $175 and they say as you leave, "You saved $185." So I guess they paid me ten dollars to shop there.
Donna went to Berkeley to play giata with Kathy and Kevin Carr. Joey and I hung out and watched a flick, . He is also back on in his ping pong game, beating me two in a row.
Joey and I got together to play some music. I am performing at a fundraiser next Friday night to send the choir to Carnegie Hall here at Analy High School. Joe Craven is at the top of the bill. I had planned on doing one of my swing tunes, but Joey disagreed. "How about one of those folk songs you did at Jessie's party?", he said. After some deliberation we decided on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". He will play back up accordion. Donna sat in with us first on the snare and then on the tambourine. She would be great but does not want to perform.
After a leisurely breakfast on Sunday I took a couple of hours to catch up on my grading. Then visited Clair, my former vibes partner. We caught up. She now has more free time and less money. She's singing with a choral group and regularly playing standards with some local guys. She still wants me back to play with. That made me feel good.
Last night I fixed dinner, played a few games of ping pong, then back to the homework. I spent some time going through Joseph Campbell's Power of Myth. But most of it seems too dense for ninth graders. I ended my day falling asleep while reading Chapter 10 of Black Boy to prepare for my tenth grade class today.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Parents and Free Will
Last weekend my youngest son (18), Joey, went to Santa Cruz to visit some friends who go to the University there. He had a great time. He told us a story about climbing a large tree and a falling knife from his friends pocket, and the near escape from injury- all part of the adventure. He told Donna that after 2 years at the Junior College he would like to attend University of California at Santa Cruz. UCSC is one of the top California schools and to get in a student must have close to a 4.0 grade point average. Joey has always been more of a B/C student. He has times where he works hard, then times where he just gets by. He knew it would take a lot of work. In fact when Donna relayed to me this message on my way home from the airport, she said that he was studying at home- highly motivated.
Wednesday night he had a paper due in English the next day. He was working on it when I came home from work but he still had a lot to do. About 8 PM two of his friends came to the house. Next we see him with his jacket on and he says, "Mom and Dad, I'm going out with Harley and Jake." This remark startled me, just after his previous assertion. I fired back, "You're going to get into what school?" Fortunately the remark had the desired effect. He bid his friends goodbye, took off his jacket and went back to his homework. Donna flashed me a thumbs up.
Despite the small victory this event was disturbing to me. How can an 18 year old have so much commitment to his studies for a clear goal one day, then toss it away the next? I am having much the same problem with many of my history students. I told them this story today in class. Then I read them an editorial commentary in the press democrat more about failing children and failing adults than about failing schools. It places the blame for unsuccessful students on undisciplined and lazy students themselves. It also placed the blame on parents who do not pay enough attention to their children's education, parents that do not properly use the "carrot" and the "stick" as the tools provided them.
I also mentioned to them that different students learn in different ways. Our school system for the comprehensive high school was developed at the turn of the century- the turn of the previous century- 1900; that the main model for high schools envisioned schools no larger than 600 students; that educational research has long criticized this old model of grade grubbing; that there are thousands of different models to run schools; and every child learns differently. I mentioned Neill's famous book Summerhill.
I talked about my different experiences with schools. I went to a private seminary away from home, all boys, strict scheduling and very high expectations. I taught at a Classical Studies school where Mortimer Adler's philosophy was the model. We had regular seminars one a week with small classes and challenging readings. We co-taught classes, had an integrated curriculum with science, social studies and English intermingled. We had site based government by the teachers who ran the school. I told them about another school where I worked where the students took high school and college classes at the same time. All students had to be interns in an outside business or non profit. Classes were co- taught by college professors. We had sometimes two and sometimes three teachers in the room at the same time. Our Middle College High School worked in close collaboration with other similar schools around the country. We met several times during the year to collaborate about curriculum, including one week at an estate on Long Island. We mixed radical thinking and political argumentation with social history.
Wednesday night he had a paper due in English the next day. He was working on it when I came home from work but he still had a lot to do. About 8 PM two of his friends came to the house. Next we see him with his jacket on and he says, "Mom and Dad, I'm going out with Harley and Jake." This remark startled me, just after his previous assertion. I fired back, "You're going to get into what school?" Fortunately the remark had the desired effect. He bid his friends goodbye, took off his jacket and went back to his homework. Donna flashed me a thumbs up.
Despite the small victory this event was disturbing to me. How can an 18 year old have so much commitment to his studies for a clear goal one day, then toss it away the next? I am having much the same problem with many of my history students. I told them this story today in class. Then I read them an editorial commentary in the press democrat more about failing children and failing adults than about failing schools. It places the blame for unsuccessful students on undisciplined and lazy students themselves. It also placed the blame on parents who do not pay enough attention to their children's education, parents that do not properly use the "carrot" and the "stick" as the tools provided them.
I also mentioned to them that different students learn in different ways. Our school system for the comprehensive high school was developed at the turn of the century- the turn of the previous century- 1900; that the main model for high schools envisioned schools no larger than 600 students; that educational research has long criticized this old model of grade grubbing; that there are thousands of different models to run schools; and every child learns differently. I mentioned Neill's famous book Summerhill.
I talked about my different experiences with schools. I went to a private seminary away from home, all boys, strict scheduling and very high expectations. I taught at a Classical Studies school where Mortimer Adler's philosophy was the model. We had regular seminars one a week with small classes and challenging readings. We co-taught classes, had an integrated curriculum with science, social studies and English intermingled. We had site based government by the teachers who ran the school. I told them about another school where I worked where the students took high school and college classes at the same time. All students had to be interns in an outside business or non profit. Classes were co- taught by college professors. We had sometimes two and sometimes three teachers in the room at the same time. Our Middle College High School worked in close collaboration with other similar schools around the country. We met several times during the year to collaborate about curriculum, including one week at an estate on Long Island. We mixed radical thinking and political argumentation with social history.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Dad (4)
Dad always moved from job to job. He was at heart a salesman, but a salesman for all the right reasons. He loved people. When I was a child, he sold men's suits for Jacob Reed's on Lansdowne Avenue in Clifton Heights. I remember visiting the store only once and seeing the rows and rows of suits. I have a vague memory of young salesmen in suits and ties. Some time in these early years he had a brief stint- it may have been only one day- at a chocolate factory. I remember his speaking about it. "You can't believe the size of these machines...You would have to take these giant heavy pots of melted chocolate and pour it into a giant vat."
On and off dad worked for text book publishers. Noble and Noble is the clearest in my mind. I know that his territory was all over the Northeast coast. He took long trips to New Hampshire and New York. Sometimes he was gone overnight. Sometimes he drove to the New York City suburbs and back in one day. I especially remember that he would gravitate toward selling text books to the Catholic schools. It fit his training. For about two years he attended the Catholic Seminary, St. Joseph's College in Princeton, New Jersey. I think that the years were 1940 to 1942. I remember asking him about joining up for World War II. He said that he had tried to join the army in 1939, but they rejected him because of his flat feet.
Nevertheless he was comfortable chatting with priests and nuns. Many of his life long friends were priests that he had met during his time in the seminary. Father Louis Trotta was one of his best friends. So he easily migrated from selling text books to selling Church goods. As far as I know he started at H.L. Kilmer in Center City on Arch Street. I remember visiting once. Vestments hung on hangers like the suits of Jacob Reeds. Chalices behind glass cases, numerous crucifixes, colorful icons, statues of the saints, incense holders of all types, montrances crowded the small shop. My dad was a sales rep most of the time as far as I can remember. And although he spent some time in the shop, he often drove all over the Philadelphia area meeting with the clerical clients.
I am not sure whether it was before or after the Kilmer's job, but dad worked for a brief time for Montgomery Wards. He was in the appliance department and I remember his complaining about how heavy the refrigerators were. It was also the time he had a heart attack. I remember his describing where he was and exactly what he was doing when he first felt the sever pain. You will have to ask him for that information. Nevertheless he drove himself to the hospital and survived the attack. I remember he said, "Now I know what I was doing wrong. I pretty sure that I know how to avoid one from now on." How prophetic.
On and off dad worked for text book publishers. Noble and Noble is the clearest in my mind. I know that his territory was all over the Northeast coast. He took long trips to New Hampshire and New York. Sometimes he was gone overnight. Sometimes he drove to the New York City suburbs and back in one day. I especially remember that he would gravitate toward selling text books to the Catholic schools. It fit his training. For about two years he attended the Catholic Seminary, St. Joseph's College in Princeton, New Jersey. I think that the years were 1940 to 1942. I remember asking him about joining up for World War II. He said that he had tried to join the army in 1939, but they rejected him because of his flat feet.
Nevertheless he was comfortable chatting with priests and nuns. Many of his life long friends were priests that he had met during his time in the seminary. Father Louis Trotta was one of his best friends. So he easily migrated from selling text books to selling Church goods. As far as I know he started at H.L. Kilmer in Center City on Arch Street. I remember visiting once. Vestments hung on hangers like the suits of Jacob Reeds. Chalices behind glass cases, numerous crucifixes, colorful icons, statues of the saints, incense holders of all types, montrances crowded the small shop. My dad was a sales rep most of the time as far as I can remember. And although he spent some time in the shop, he often drove all over the Philadelphia area meeting with the clerical clients.
I am not sure whether it was before or after the Kilmer's job, but dad worked for a brief time for Montgomery Wards. He was in the appliance department and I remember his complaining about how heavy the refrigerators were. It was also the time he had a heart attack. I remember his describing where he was and exactly what he was doing when he first felt the sever pain. You will have to ask him for that information. Nevertheless he drove himself to the hospital and survived the attack. I remember he said, "Now I know what I was doing wrong. I pretty sure that I know how to avoid one from now on." How prophetic.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Dad Turns Ninety
Where am I? Saturday I took a plane (two planes actually) to Philadelphia to join my extended family in a celebration of my dad's ninetieth birthday. I sat on my sister, Donna's couch at ten that evening. Donna, a middle sibling, lives with her husband, Jimmy, oldest boy, Jimmy- Annie, studying accounting, Chris, a seventh grader and Matt, nine years old. I caught up on much of family gossip, watched some of the ever present TV and fell asleep on the couch.
I had time in the morning to catch a game of ping with Matt. I consider myself the best player in our household, but my son, Joey is pretty close. Well Matt, at 9, studies all the spins, serves and returns from the Internet. We played two games. The first 21 to 7. The second 21 to 14- I was getting better.
My sisters and their significant others arrived first with arm-loads of food. Gina with sandwiches, Nita with ribs, Fran with pasta and fruit and I lost track after that. My older sister limped to the front door, cane in hand. "It's not as bad as it looks.", she quipped. Then my Joey arrived. Bernie, second youngest with his wife, Eva, and the two boys and a girl. Brian, the oldest and a high school senior, goes to Brandeis (I hope I got that right.) next year. My sister (Sister), Maryanne drove my ninety year old dad in from the Mercy Home he loves so dearly. I was his big surprise as we have not seen each other in a couple of years. For ninety he looked great and still had his old sense of humor. I managed to squeeze in some one sided conversation. I would yell into his ear and he would tell me what is on his mind.
My dad has started oil painting again. He talked about how he does reproductions and that he is working on a Van Gogh copy now of women at the river. He says modestly that they are only reproductions but his friends seem to like them. He gives them as gifts. At one point in the party all of the boy gathered around him for a photo. Then the seven sisters joined us.
The extended family was also there in force. Of the Coyles Kathy, Trudy, Mickey and Terry were there. Kathy, the genealogist, spoke of her latest research on George Kennedy from Clogh. He stayed in Philadelphia we now know and Kathy contacted his great grandchildren in New Jersey- the Dooleys. Trudy, down from New Hampshire told us that she and her husband Bill were planning another coastal California trip. It brings back to when they visited about 15 years ago and with their children. They took every nook of our bungalow in Berkeley. Their daughter Molly is in Seattle and we will probably see her when we go to the Honk Fest in March. Terry, the youngest Coyle, is a principal at an elementary school on the Main Line. As here, her problems come more from dealing with parents than with kids.
Three of Bill Lynch's grown children, Loretta, Chris and Bobby came with their children. Bobby remembers being threatened by a gang of thugs somewhere in a Philadelphia bad neighborhood as a kid. He called his cousin, Jimmy Lynch. Jimmy was a tough guy and could talk a tough game. "Hey, do you know who you're messin' with. That's my cousin. Nobody messes with my cousin..." and so on. The gang left Bobby alone after that.
At cake time my brother Joey held the cake, while my sister, Donna, lit the candles. All gathered around and midst singing happy birthday my dad blew out the candles. Donna made a move to try it again. I called her off. Dad has a right to blow out the candles when he wants to. His sons, including myself (sans Vince) sat with dad for a photo. Then all seven sisters jumped on top of a finale.
About 50- siblings, children of siblings, cousins, children of cousins, mates, significant others attended. We started at 1 PM. A few headed out early to other engagement or home to rest. As he was saying goodbye, my dad says to me, "Great seeing you, Ed. It's too bad I couldn't hear a word you said." Coyles and Lynches were the last to go- exchanges stories and laughs until almost eleven in the evening. At midnight I prepared my pillow and blanket on the couch once again. I set my ipod touch to 3:30 AM and the alarm like a traditional rotary dial telephone like the one in our home in Sebastopol.
The alarm jarred me from a deep sleep. I just put on my clothes, zipped up my luggage, double checked for wallet, keys and directions and left. Thrifty Rental is located in a warehouse district "near" the airport. I drove to the bottom of Island Avenue and back, asking for directions twice, until I found it. I did not need that extra little bit of strain. And so the pattern of "hurry up and wait" repeated itself several times on the return trip. The Sonoma County Airporter took me to a Rhonert Park blowing and teaming with rain.
To see more photos of the celebration click here!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Dad (3)
When I got out of bed this morning, I muttered to myself "I hate to get up in the morning." Just then a song popped into my head, "Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning,Oh, how I hate to get out of bed." And my dad's voice sang it. It must be an old memory because it has been many years since my dad and I lived in the same house at a time where he and I had to get up early.
My dad loved to sing, but he always claimed that he never knew the words to what he was singing. In church he had the words. His voice was the loudest and I remember that the girls would cringe every time he opened his mouth. But I loved his deep voice and as far as I could tell he was usually on key. The pure joy that he sang with instilled in me a joy for singing at an early age. I remember that both mom and dad used to laugh, when I sang at the top of lungs to the pop music on the radio.
Since I was away at the seminary for all of my high school years, my family dinner conversations were limited to summers and holiday vacations. Nevertheless, I remember many of those conversations. Well, I guess I could call them arguments. But I can fairly say that I think we both enjoyed them. The topics most often were hippies, the Vietnam War and Nixon. I remember the rest of the family sitting quietly by at the dinner table while my dad and I loudly debated the topics of the world. "You guys, are tearing down our country," he would say, lumping me in with Jerry Rubin and I was an open minded lefty. I remember exactly my dad saying to me, "You're too open." Yet I also remember his strong support of Civil Rights legislation. He real empathy with the poor and down trodden. He also had enough humility to admit when he was wrong. Several years after heated conversations about Nixon and his band of crooks, he said to me, "You know about those guys, you were right."
My dad had a great influence on my art. I always felt bad as a kid that mom criticized his work. I loved it. She even said one time that she thought that I was a better artist than him. Rather than feeling complimented I felt it was an insult to my dad. I knew that I could never match him as an artist. He not only worked in oils, but also in stone and wood. He would often get an old piece of cherry or some other hardwood from the wild and carve a head, or face or statue in it. The whole family became recipients of his products. I remember coming down to his place in Cape May, New Jersey one time seeing his great collection of pieces in the studio.
My dad loved to sing, but he always claimed that he never knew the words to what he was singing. In church he had the words. His voice was the loudest and I remember that the girls would cringe every time he opened his mouth. But I loved his deep voice and as far as I could tell he was usually on key. The pure joy that he sang with instilled in me a joy for singing at an early age. I remember that both mom and dad used to laugh, when I sang at the top of lungs to the pop music on the radio.
Since I was away at the seminary for all of my high school years, my family dinner conversations were limited to summers and holiday vacations. Nevertheless, I remember many of those conversations. Well, I guess I could call them arguments. But I can fairly say that I think we both enjoyed them. The topics most often were hippies, the Vietnam War and Nixon. I remember the rest of the family sitting quietly by at the dinner table while my dad and I loudly debated the topics of the world. "You guys, are tearing down our country," he would say, lumping me in with Jerry Rubin and I was an open minded lefty. I remember exactly my dad saying to me, "You're too open." Yet I also remember his strong support of Civil Rights legislation. He real empathy with the poor and down trodden. He also had enough humility to admit when he was wrong. Several years after heated conversations about Nixon and his band of crooks, he said to me, "You know about those guys, you were right."
My dad had a great influence on my art. I always felt bad as a kid that mom criticized his work. I loved it. She even said one time that she thought that I was a better artist than him. Rather than feeling complimented I felt it was an insult to my dad. I knew that I could never match him as an artist. He not only worked in oils, but also in stone and wood. He would often get an old piece of cherry or some other hardwood from the wild and carve a head, or face or statue in it. The whole family became recipients of his products. I remember coming down to his place in Cape May, New Jersey one time seeing his great collection of pieces in the studio.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Insubordination
I don't know who reads my blog. And in fact all that I share is not confidential. I know that I have to be careful about what I say in my capacity as president of the union. So I tell about this problem, without department names, without school names and of course without personal names.
Imagine getting $4500 per year extra for calling a meeting once a month. Attending to details of a department, like ordering supplies and attending a meeting with the principal every month. The head of this four member department resigned in December. This person will retire in June. Unfortunately this person is the only universally liked individual in the department. Let's say that what is going on here as expressed by another is a dysfunctional family.
I have talked to all members of the department. Two nights ago I talked for an hour with a dispirited member. And in fact I have talked with all members of the department. They seem to have an inability to talk to each other. My last conversation was as brief as it could be.
"Hello, this is _________________. You called me and you didn't say what it was for. I think that you meant to talk to _____________________." "No, I meant to call you. I am the President of our local Association and I am informing all members of your department that you are out of compliance with our collective bargaining agreement."
"That's good to know. Thanks for telling me." "Being out of compliance leaves you at the mercy of the administration to file an action against for insubordination." "Well, thank you very much." "Goodbye." "Goodbye."
Imagine getting $4500 per year extra for calling a meeting once a month. Attending to details of a department, like ordering supplies and attending a meeting with the principal every month. The head of this four member department resigned in December. This person will retire in June. Unfortunately this person is the only universally liked individual in the department. Let's say that what is going on here as expressed by another is a dysfunctional family.
I have talked to all members of the department. Two nights ago I talked for an hour with a dispirited member. And in fact I have talked with all members of the department. They seem to have an inability to talk to each other. My last conversation was as brief as it could be.
"Hello, this is _________________. You called me and you didn't say what it was for. I think that you meant to talk to _____________________." "No, I meant to call you. I am the President of our local Association and I am informing all members of your department that you are out of compliance with our collective bargaining agreement."
"That's good to know. Thanks for telling me." "Being out of compliance leaves you at the mercy of the administration to file an action against for insubordination." "Well, thank you very much." "Goodbye." "Goodbye."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Reluctant Geek
For ten years I taught computer skills in a lab with 33 PC's. This year because of budget cuts, the former vice principal dropped the class. What I do not miss about the class is trying to solve the multitude of hardware and software problems that arose. So about a week ago, the PC in our back room went on the fritz. Joey and Donna do their business on it. Donna checks email. Joey writes music, looks at Youtube video and does other things that I know not of. About a month ago when some spyware attacked us, he was desperately trying to fix it. He started saying, "Dad, can I trash this dll file?" "Please don't trash any dll files" was my reply. So the reason for the crash, I suspect was the loss of some critical Microsoft file.
My first several hour fore I could not even get the computer booted. I narrowed down problems in the keyboard. By that time I had decided to reinstall MS Office XP- a version I had bought in 2002. I changed the keyboard and rebooted. Finally my arrows worked but I still could not enter Windows in safe mode. I decided that a radical step was necessary. I would reinstall the operating system. I thought that I could do it without destroying all the data, but alas, I had to erase everything. When I got back in Windows and Windows only, there was no Internet.
I decided that I should either buy the new operating system- Windows 7 or install Unix and bypass the problem all together. I paid $110 at Costco for the new Windows and also picked up a copy of the Ubuntu magazine which has a recent version of Unix free with the purchase. I checked with Joey about installing just Unix. No, he has some sound program that he has been working for three years to learn and would like to have Windows back.
I divided the hard drive into two partitions, one Unix and one Windows XP. (I am taking Windows 7 back to Costco for a refund. Unix works like a charm- fast, stable and friendly. But I still cannot get Internet service on the Windows side. I spend about 3 hours the night before last download "Sevice Packs" from Microsoft, loading them on my computer, burning disks, and trying to load and test the software on the PC. It is necessary to first load service pack 2, then 3, then 4- I skipped to 6 and then 7. Still no Internet.
I asked Lanette- our professional on campus geek- today. She thinks that I must download some driver software that matches the Ethernet card that is installed in the computer. I will try this tonight. Is anyone really interested in any of this.
The only upshot is that the Microsoft company has always made shitty software. The time invested to fix problems is too great for the dysfunctional nature of the software. As much as I love computers, I hate the time-sucking frustration of trying to fix them.
My first several hour fore I could not even get the computer booted. I narrowed down problems in the keyboard. By that time I had decided to reinstall MS Office XP- a version I had bought in 2002. I changed the keyboard and rebooted. Finally my arrows worked but I still could not enter Windows in safe mode. I decided that a radical step was necessary. I would reinstall the operating system. I thought that I could do it without destroying all the data, but alas, I had to erase everything. When I got back in Windows and Windows only, there was no Internet.
I decided that I should either buy the new operating system- Windows 7 or install Unix and bypass the problem all together. I paid $110 at Costco for the new Windows and also picked up a copy of the Ubuntu magazine which has a recent version of Unix free with the purchase. I checked with Joey about installing just Unix. No, he has some sound program that he has been working for three years to learn and would like to have Windows back.
I divided the hard drive into two partitions, one Unix and one Windows XP. (I am taking Windows 7 back to Costco for a refund. Unix works like a charm- fast, stable and friendly. But I still cannot get Internet service on the Windows side. I spend about 3 hours the night before last download "Sevice Packs" from Microsoft, loading them on my computer, burning disks, and trying to load and test the software on the PC. It is necessary to first load service pack 2, then 3, then 4- I skipped to 6 and then 7. Still no Internet.
I asked Lanette- our professional on campus geek- today. She thinks that I must download some driver software that matches the Ethernet card that is installed in the computer. I will try this tonight. Is anyone really interested in any of this.
The only upshot is that the Microsoft company has always made shitty software. The time invested to fix problems is too great for the dysfunctional nature of the software. As much as I love computers, I hate the time-sucking frustration of trying to fix them.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Race to the Top
The primary issues on my mind, as co-president of the West Sonoma County Teachers Association in these past two months, has been whether to sign the MOU with District and opt to apply for Obama’s proposed Federal Race to the Top Funds. The signature would support the District in pursuing the grant application for RTTT. Our union leadership had been in close negotiations with the Arnie Duncan, Secretary of Education, about the final wording of the program. In late October hopeful signs were coming from Washington. The Department of Education had agreed to change the wording about teacher evaluation. The RTTT legislation would not require testing results as the sole measure of teacher success. Instead as the CTA had requested, testing results would become one of many measures to evaluate teachers. The CTA then opened the door for local CTA Chapters to sign the Memorandum of Understanding in applying for the funds.
Since then several factors have entered the mix. Most importantly the final word on what participation on RTTT will require is not complete. Last Monday, January 4th, Casey Shea and I met with Keller McDonald to talk about the pros and cons of signing on to participation in Race to the Top. We had formal letter supplied by the CTA to the district prepared to make all rules that impacted teachers negotiable. On Tuesday, January 6th I went to our local Sonoma County Educators Council meeting. Both the Santa Rosa Teachers Association and the San Rosa School District decided not to sign. Although many districts in the state had already signed on to the plan, conversation at the meeting started to run against the proposal. Then Larry Allen received an email from David Sanchez, President of CTA. Mr. Sanchez recommended “Do not sign the MOU.”
Since the district had to make a decision by this past Friday, I immediately emailed Keller McDonald and told him that the prospects looked grim for our local to sign on for RTTT. Your Rep Council met at El Molino High School on Thursday. A proposal to sign on with the District for Race to the Top Funds died without having a second to demand a vote. I emailed Keller later that evening. In the morning Keller wrote back to say that the district would not be applying for Race to the Top funding. In his words “To apply without the support of the Association would be like rolling a snowball uphill.”
On Saturday morning at the Redwood Council meeting of Northern California Association members Dean Vogel, Vice President of the California Teachers Association, spoke and gave an eloquent overview of the problems inherent in the entire Race to the Top Proposal. The problems are also endemic with the Obama Administration’s entire approach to educational reform. Look for the article in this newsletter: The Three Pillars of Race to the Top.
Since then several factors have entered the mix. Most importantly the final word on what participation on RTTT will require is not complete. Last Monday, January 4th, Casey Shea and I met with Keller McDonald to talk about the pros and cons of signing on to participation in Race to the Top. We had formal letter supplied by the CTA to the district prepared to make all rules that impacted teachers negotiable. On Tuesday, January 6th I went to our local Sonoma County Educators Council meeting. Both the Santa Rosa Teachers Association and the San Rosa School District decided not to sign. Although many districts in the state had already signed on to the plan, conversation at the meeting started to run against the proposal. Then Larry Allen received an email from David Sanchez, President of CTA. Mr. Sanchez recommended “Do not sign the MOU.”
Since the district had to make a decision by this past Friday, I immediately emailed Keller McDonald and told him that the prospects looked grim for our local to sign on for RTTT. Your Rep Council met at El Molino High School on Thursday. A proposal to sign on with the District for Race to the Top Funds died without having a second to demand a vote. I emailed Keller later that evening. In the morning Keller wrote back to say that the district would not be applying for Race to the Top funding. In his words “To apply without the support of the Association would be like rolling a snowball uphill.”
On Saturday morning at the Redwood Council meeting of Northern California Association members Dean Vogel, Vice President of the California Teachers Association, spoke and gave an eloquent overview of the problems inherent in the entire Race to the Top Proposal. The problems are also endemic with the Obama Administration’s entire approach to educational reform. Look for the article in this newsletter: The Three Pillars of Race to the Top.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Bandamonium
Last night Donna, Joey and I made a trip to Oakland to hear Bandemonium at 21 Grand, a small venue in gritty West Oakland. Greg has great musical talent and enthusiasm. He runs a brass band workshop every year at Lark in the Morning and turns out a powerful performance by the end of the week. For the past two years they have battled the Gaita (a loud Spanish bagpipe) band, and Greg's band won- not an easy feat.
Greg works with small community bands such as our own Hubbub Club to enrich their music. His focus these days is on world music done by brass bands across the globe. They are a legacy of the colonial military bands. The bands combine traditional music, brass arrangements and some modern improvisation. The sound is powerful.
How do I describe the power of this concert? A snare player and bass drummer carry the varied beats from Brazilian Chorro to Indian Brass- Macedonian, Siranim, Bolivia and Mexico. Greg's powerful slide trombone pushes the group with a confident bottom line. Soloist- sometimes in duets sour at improvisation- two trumpets, two clarinets, two slide trombones, two tenor saxes and a tuba. Imagine this line of instruments playing a world of rhythms and tunes. Then imagine the music at ear spitting volume.
He calls this group Bandimonium San Francisco. They had some pretty sophisticated recording equipment and expensive recording microphones. I expect that they were were recording for an upcoming CD. I will try to post some links here so you can get a feel for what I am writing about. Remember turn the volume way up to approach the live experience. I hope to see you all at Honk Fest in Seattle in March.
One band comes from Olinda, Brazil (pictured above)- a group of sanitary worker and the band is called something like Vaserine. Another band from Macedonia is very much like the band in the movie Gypsy Carvan. Here is a like to a trailer for the movie. The Moldovan band is much like Fanfare Ciocarlia.
Here are some sample I found on the web of this indigenous music: Peru, Macedonia, (There are lots of great samples here of the music of Kočani Orkestar.)
Friday, January 8, 2010
Dad (2)
I don't exactly remember how old I was, maybe seven or eight. It was my mother's birthday and my dad purchased this very fancy lamp. I can describe it. The center was a pure white porcelain tree. A young woman and a young man stood leaning on the tree and looking at each other longingly. The young woman had an apple in her hand. It was really a lovely lamp and I think it must be in the house of one of my siblings. I think that when my dad was taking it out of the box, it may have slipped and a piece broke off of it. I remember my mother crying- I am not sure whether it was out of happiness, or horror at the breakage of such a beautiful and expensive item. This lamp was indeed an unusual gift for our family. We were far from rich and I don't ever remember either of my parents spending so much money on such an item. I also seem to think that my mom had an issue about spending so much on the gift. But I guess after the breakage it certainly could not be taken back.
My dad used to take me with him when he was designing parts of Churches. I remember nailing something together. I helped him carry a big wooden statue into the church. He said that a great wood sculptor in Italy carved it. The best thing about going on these trips with him was having lunch together. He said that I could order what I wanted to. One day we were working late and we were going to have dinner together at a restaurant. He called my mom and she said that we had to come home. I remember that we were both disappointed.
I remember car rides with just him and me. He would listen to the Arthur Godfrey Show. He loved it and I loved it too. Then there were times when we were not alone. For a time we would pack up the entire family into the station wagon. We would usually drive down country roads west of Philadelphia. For a while there it was a big Edsel. My dad drove. Mom had a baby on her lap. Then there was a cherished place between mom and dad. The other cherished spot was the last row that faced out the back of the station wagon.
My dad used to take me with him when he was designing parts of Churches. I remember nailing something together. I helped him carry a big wooden statue into the church. He said that a great wood sculptor in Italy carved it. The best thing about going on these trips with him was having lunch together. He said that I could order what I wanted to. One day we were working late and we were going to have dinner together at a restaurant. He called my mom and she said that we had to come home. I remember that we were both disappointed.
I remember car rides with just him and me. He would listen to the Arthur Godfrey Show. He loved it and I loved it too. Then there were times when we were not alone. For a time we would pack up the entire family into the station wagon. We would usually drive down country roads west of Philadelphia. For a while there it was a big Edsel. My dad drove. Mom had a baby on her lap. Then there was a cherished place between mom and dad. The other cherished spot was the last row that faced out the back of the station wagon.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
My Dad (1)
My father is turning 90 on January 9th. I just received an invitation to his birthday party in Philadelphia at my sister's house (one of seven sisters). Now I am musing about whether just to jump on a plane and attend. My life is crazy busy at this point, but I will do what I can to get there. Also the family is creating a book of vignettes- our memories of his place in our lives. My Dad was an important person in my life- really this statement is understating his influence on me. An overwhelming feature of my Dad is that he is so self conscious of his own fallibility. Yet he has more integrity that any human being that I have ever met on the earth. So I have decided to take the next few blogs just to write some of my old memories of him.
I remember dad told us that he had a stint as a substitute teacher in some poorer school- in North Philadelphia, I think. He said that he use to pair the smart kids with the slower students and how well it worked. It was an early foray into cooperative learning.
He would tell a story about when I was, maybe 1 and a half and Jane was 2 years, the four of us were on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. A well dressed man came up to them and said, "I'll give you a million dollars for that boy." My dad refused. He always said that it was proof that I was worth more than a million dollars.
When I was about 9 years old, my dad used to take me to art classes with him in center city Philadelphia. I remember feeling really privileged to be able to go. I was probably the youngest person in a class of young people and the teacher was very kind. I remember one day that I drew a tree and when I showed it to him, he was very proud about what a good job that I had done. We went home and showed it to my mom. They discussed together how much talent I had. For a child who was not successful in school it really boosted my ego.
When I was eleven, I almost drown in a small reservoir at Immaculata, Pennsylvania while visiting my Aunt. (I tell that story somewhere else in my blog.) I remember feeling worried that I would be in trouble for going someplace that I shouldn't have, for getting my new shoes wet and for causing such great commotion and worry on a day that should have been celebratory. I remember my dad sitting on the bed next to me at the end of the day. I was reaching into my pockets and seeing what I may have lost in my watery brush with death. My dad had given me a little army helmet earlier in the day. I said to him, "I lost the army helmet." "I thought that I lost you." He said. That simple comment brought me to a realization of how much he loved me.
In seventh grade I had decided that I wanted to be a priest. My dad took me to see different minor seminaries to see which I might like. I remember taking an entrance test for one and not doing so well. Then he said, "I think that I'll take you where I know some of the priests." In fact he had gone school there when he was in college. By the time I was in eighth grade the girls had started to get my attention. I said something like, "Dad, I think that I'd like to wait until I graduate from high school before I go into the seminary." He replied, "It doesn't so much matter whether you become a priest on not. I think that by entering the seminary now, these priests can help you learn how to study."
Even though my first year at the seminary was difficult, indeed I did learn how to study. Almost flunking out my first year, I graduated from Niagara University Magna Cum Laude.
I remember dad told us that he had a stint as a substitute teacher in some poorer school- in North Philadelphia, I think. He said that he use to pair the smart kids with the slower students and how well it worked. It was an early foray into cooperative learning.
He would tell a story about when I was, maybe 1 and a half and Jane was 2 years, the four of us were on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. A well dressed man came up to them and said, "I'll give you a million dollars for that boy." My dad refused. He always said that it was proof that I was worth more than a million dollars.
When I was about 9 years old, my dad used to take me to art classes with him in center city Philadelphia. I remember feeling really privileged to be able to go. I was probably the youngest person in a class of young people and the teacher was very kind. I remember one day that I drew a tree and when I showed it to him, he was very proud about what a good job that I had done. We went home and showed it to my mom. They discussed together how much talent I had. For a child who was not successful in school it really boosted my ego.
When I was eleven, I almost drown in a small reservoir at Immaculata, Pennsylvania while visiting my Aunt. (I tell that story somewhere else in my blog.) I remember feeling worried that I would be in trouble for going someplace that I shouldn't have, for getting my new shoes wet and for causing such great commotion and worry on a day that should have been celebratory. I remember my dad sitting on the bed next to me at the end of the day. I was reaching into my pockets and seeing what I may have lost in my watery brush with death. My dad had given me a little army helmet earlier in the day. I said to him, "I lost the army helmet." "I thought that I lost you." He said. That simple comment brought me to a realization of how much he loved me.
In seventh grade I had decided that I wanted to be a priest. My dad took me to see different minor seminaries to see which I might like. I remember taking an entrance test for one and not doing so well. Then he said, "I think that I'll take you where I know some of the priests." In fact he had gone school there when he was in college. By the time I was in eighth grade the girls had started to get my attention. I said something like, "Dad, I think that I'd like to wait until I graduate from high school before I go into the seminary." He replied, "It doesn't so much matter whether you become a priest on not. I think that by entering the seminary now, these priests can help you learn how to study."
Even though my first year at the seminary was difficult, indeed I did learn how to study. Almost flunking out my first year, I graduated from Niagara University Magna Cum Laude.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
I am finding that by being the president of our local union, I am automatically a part of several other groups. Those memberships make me responsible for attending even more meeting. One is the SCEC, our local Sonoma County Union organization. My meeting with them is Wednesday. Then on Thursday we have our usual Rep Council meeting. Then I am a member of the Redwood Council, the regional organization for our union and it covers almost all of Northern California. Fortunately those meetings are every other month but they meet on Saturdays, but this Saturday at 9 AM is our meeting. Then there is the regular school board meeting- torture for me- especially because I have to find something to say every meeting. The there are negotiations coming up on my birthday, next Thursday. And then the many impromptu meeting such as the one with the superintendent on Monday.
Monday, January 4, 2010
January 2, 2010
A new year- and first day back to school. I was here last night trying to finish the last of my grading but did not get that far. It is a little bit surreal to come back after two weeks away. I remember looking at the empty seats last night and thinking- "In a few hours these all will be filled." And now here they are. I cannot help thinking that this is my last semester of teaching. Awesome!
Only a few days ago I played music at Camp Newman. The San Francisco Folk Music Club has been part of my life since 1978 when I arrived in California. Many of the generation of young people that I knew at that time are old like me. The beautiful people of 1978 now often walk with a limp or too much excess weight. But we all still love to sing, dance and perform. And the other age groups are starting to take their place from the infants, to teenagers, to twenty and thirty somethings.
One of those people is Katie, who I knew when she was four. She now organizes and runs the whole show at Camp Harmony. The music this year had the usual mix of old folk music, old tymie, Irish, French and Balkin music. Swing and jazz are becoming a little more prominent. The overall quality of musicianship seems to have improved over the years. Our professional song writter, Lisa Ashmann still blows me away with her great songs. I bought one of her CD's and gave it to Anna. At first she didn't like Lisa's low voice, but agreed that she did have some nice songs.
I returned home Saturday. Then Sunday went in to school for a few hours to catch up on my work. By 5 PM I started home and Donna drove by coming from her Hubbub practice. We had invited Amy over. Amy has a few rough edges but a great heart and she dearly loves my family. First she and Joey played accordion tunes, then Donna joined the group. By 10 PM she spent one to one time with Anna. I had to turn in early because of school today but- a truly splendid evening.
Only a few days ago I played music at Camp Newman. The San Francisco Folk Music Club has been part of my life since 1978 when I arrived in California. Many of the generation of young people that I knew at that time are old like me. The beautiful people of 1978 now often walk with a limp or too much excess weight. But we all still love to sing, dance and perform. And the other age groups are starting to take their place from the infants, to teenagers, to twenty and thirty somethings.
One of those people is Katie, who I knew when she was four. She now organizes and runs the whole show at Camp Harmony. The music this year had the usual mix of old folk music, old tymie, Irish, French and Balkin music. Swing and jazz are becoming a little more prominent. The overall quality of musicianship seems to have improved over the years. Our professional song writter, Lisa Ashmann still blows me away with her great songs. I bought one of her CD's and gave it to Anna. At first she didn't like Lisa's low voice, but agreed that she did have some nice songs.
I returned home Saturday. Then Sunday went in to school for a few hours to catch up on my work. By 5 PM I started home and Donna drove by coming from her Hubbub practice. We had invited Amy over. Amy has a few rough edges but a great heart and she dearly loves my family. First she and Joey played accordion tunes, then Donna joined the group. By 10 PM she spent one to one time with Anna. I had to turn in early because of school today but- a truly splendid evening.
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