This Week's Article

[sachem_head]

I went to the Jonathan Kozol reading at Greenfield High School last week and it provided the grist for my contribution to this week's Valley Advocate, a Between the Lines column called "Black and White." I think education and local aid are the next things up in Massachusetts, after the health care reform compromise. And House Speaker Sal DiMasi,

Comments

"It's a better education for every child that is tough."

[redbaydreamer]

Just like it is better health care for everyone that is tough. It is especially hard when the folks that are sitting in whatever legislative body is making the decision don't really have a clue. The problem is that the people who care and understand can't afford to run for the office and become one of those decision makers. The people who are making the decision's are also not really asking their constituents what they should vote for, they are making their decision's based on the loud voices and the moneyed voices. I guess that is just the cynic in me but it just seems so much that way. Oh well.

[sachem_head]

What you can do, though, is let your local legislator know how you feel. I was on the phone with a state rep. this week and he told me that if he hears from five or six people on an issue, that's a lot of people.

education the next big issue

[delrosario]

"I think education and local aid are the next things up in Massachusetts, after the health care reform compromise. "

You really think so?? That would be great. I live in Amherst and this considered one of the wealthy districts, that does well on MCAS, etc. A lot of people move here because of the schools and I'm not comfortable with this! It attracts a lot of white (liberal racist) flight from other areas and drains those areas even more. Creates more segregation. And makes it impossible for Amherst to truly be "diverse". Also even in Amherst, the budget situation this year is terrible. But too many parents here are looking at this as just a local problem. Education should not be tied to real estate. It should not be something for rich people only -- that's what the idea of public education is supposed to be.

[sachem_head]

I agree with you that tying public education to real estate is problematic and creates inequality between wealthier towns and poorer towns. However, the fact that people move to towns so their chidren can go to specific school districts is proof that education has real, measurable value -- a good argument for why the state should invest in it. Look for my story in this week's Valley Advocate. In it, I'll talk more about public education and the state budget. It should hit the streets Wednesday and the Internet Thursday. I'll certainly post about it here.

By the way -- your user pic of Cafe Bustelo gives me warm memories of Florida and my Cuban friends from Miami. They would make coffee on the stovetop in one of those aluminum percolators. Mmmm.