The first meeting of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District Strategic Planning Committee was held on May 27, 2010. At this first meeting committee members came to a consensus in the identification of Stakeholder Groups and named liaisons for each. Once this was accomplished an open discussion regarding the core values of the district took place. The Stakeholder Groups and Liaisons are:
Group I: Parents – Liaison: Chante Jillson
Group II: Collaborative Agencies - Liaison: Susan Wallace
Group III: Local Businesses – Liaisons: Olinto Paoletti and Rick Kwiatkowski
Group IV: Educational Agencies – Liaison: Dr. Edward McCaul
Group V: Fire and Police – Liaison: Officer Chad Softic
Group VI: Students – Liaison: Adam Bergantino
Group VII: Elected Officials – Liaisons: Robert Andrews and Rick Kwiatkowski
Group VIII: Organizations and Clubs – Liaison: Olinto Paoletti
Group IX: School Council – Liaison: Chante Jillson
Group X: School Committee – Liaisons: Judy Curley and Scott Hemlin
Group XI: Mahar Staff – Liaison: Matthew Parsons
Group XII: Sports Boosters – Liaison: Chad Softic
The next meeting of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District Strategic Planning Committee will be held on June 30 at 4:00 PM in the Eileen Perkins Media Center at the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. Any person who is interested in speaking with the any of the above named Stakeholder Group Liaisons is encouraged to contact the Superintendent’s Office at the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School at 978-544-2920.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Gardner News Article: Published June 11, 2010
This past Saturday I attended the Retirement Banquet for the Teachers and Staff who will be closing out their long and distinguished careers in the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. As I prepared my congratulatory speech for these consummate professionals, I came to know that our seven retirees worked a combined 222 years in the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. I could not help to stop and reflect on how many students were served by these individuals or think about the total number of lessons that were given by my esteemed, soon to retire colleagues.
Our seven retirees along with all of the other educators who began their teaching careers in the 1970’s have been witness to and lived through the continuous flux that has surrounded the American Education System for a very long time. When our most veteran retiree, Mrs. Softic started teaching in 1971 federal legislation had yet to be passed to require individuals with disabilities be included in the education of their same aged peers. The students did not have cellular phones, video games, or I-pods, and nor were there computers in the classrooms to assist in the instruction of curriculum. In many cases, the only curriculum to speak of was the one that the teacher decided to implement each day.
In 1971 the starting pay for a teacher at Mahar was $6,500.00. If a teacher hired in 1971 were to receive a 3% raise each year, every year until 2010, he or she would be taking home approximately $20,000.00 per year after 39 years of full-time service. And let us not forget that when teachers were hired in 1971 there were still educational requirements that they must have in order to get teaching jobs. Now, in 2010, a teacher must have a Bachelors Degree, must have had some formal education in the area of teaching and learning, must pass tests for educational licensure, and must obtain a Masters Degree within the first five years of hire.
Today, the expectations of the teaching profession are being compared to the expectations of the world of business. This can be found in the focus on results and outcomes on tests of basic skills with the accompaniment of rewards for excellence and penalties for underperformance. To be blunt, the Federal Government is telling schools that they must improve and the improvement of a school is based on how well students do on tests of basic skills in the areas of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The demands of the Federal Government are being adhered to by each state’s Department of Education and we are all working to improve student outcomes while at the same time providing your children with a place that is first and foremost, safe.
The fiscal crises that are being faced by each town are calling upon local officials and local school leaders to make reductions to school budgets. Educators are being called upon by the Department of Education to do more, and then called upon by Town Governments to do more with less. So it is through improved effectiveness and increased efficiency that we make the educational environment safer with fewer counselors and have our students read and write better with fewer teachers. Adding to the dilemma that some suggest lowering the salaries of those who might be successful in the completion of these tasks, the field of education becomes less attractive to those who would be deemed the best and the brightest teachers. The most qualified simply go elsewhere and become employed doing other things.
What happens next?
Student test scores fall.
School culture plummets.
Families choose to send their children to other public school districts via School Choice.
Those who can afford private schools for their children exercise this option.
There is then less funding for essential services such as bussing, counseling, and mediation.
Losing sports teams.
Drop out rate increases.
Schools become characterized by violence and drugs.
Property values decrease.
Those who can afford homes elsewhere leave.
Tax base decreases.
Go back to the top of this list and start the process again.
I am proud to say that this is not the case in the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. We boast a school committee that displays the understanding that a strong school system is the axis on which an entire community can transform and improve. We have clarity in our belief that a strong school attracts the attention of families who seek the best for their children. We are driven by a strategic plan that provides an inspirational and motivational compass. Many in the area are now aware that Mahar is a great school – and the school committee and administration is on a path to make it even better.
If you would like for your children to be part of our excellent programs, our championship sports teams, or feel that that they would benefit from the support of our outstanding Coordinated Counseling Team or Special Education Department, please do not hesitate to contact us. With the completion of the 2010 – 2011 Schools’ Master Schedules complete, we are looking to fill seats that we have available for students to come to Mahar via Massachusetts School Choice Policies. It would be my pleasure to schedule a tour of our multi-million dollar facility and answer any questions that you may have. For more information please visit http://www.rcmahar.org/.
Our seven retirees along with all of the other educators who began their teaching careers in the 1970’s have been witness to and lived through the continuous flux that has surrounded the American Education System for a very long time. When our most veteran retiree, Mrs. Softic started teaching in 1971 federal legislation had yet to be passed to require individuals with disabilities be included in the education of their same aged peers. The students did not have cellular phones, video games, or I-pods, and nor were there computers in the classrooms to assist in the instruction of curriculum. In many cases, the only curriculum to speak of was the one that the teacher decided to implement each day.
In 1971 the starting pay for a teacher at Mahar was $6,500.00. If a teacher hired in 1971 were to receive a 3% raise each year, every year until 2010, he or she would be taking home approximately $20,000.00 per year after 39 years of full-time service. And let us not forget that when teachers were hired in 1971 there were still educational requirements that they must have in order to get teaching jobs. Now, in 2010, a teacher must have a Bachelors Degree, must have had some formal education in the area of teaching and learning, must pass tests for educational licensure, and must obtain a Masters Degree within the first five years of hire.
Today, the expectations of the teaching profession are being compared to the expectations of the world of business. This can be found in the focus on results and outcomes on tests of basic skills with the accompaniment of rewards for excellence and penalties for underperformance. To be blunt, the Federal Government is telling schools that they must improve and the improvement of a school is based on how well students do on tests of basic skills in the areas of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The demands of the Federal Government are being adhered to by each state’s Department of Education and we are all working to improve student outcomes while at the same time providing your children with a place that is first and foremost, safe.
The fiscal crises that are being faced by each town are calling upon local officials and local school leaders to make reductions to school budgets. Educators are being called upon by the Department of Education to do more, and then called upon by Town Governments to do more with less. So it is through improved effectiveness and increased efficiency that we make the educational environment safer with fewer counselors and have our students read and write better with fewer teachers. Adding to the dilemma that some suggest lowering the salaries of those who might be successful in the completion of these tasks, the field of education becomes less attractive to those who would be deemed the best and the brightest teachers. The most qualified simply go elsewhere and become employed doing other things.
What happens next?
Student test scores fall.
School culture plummets.
Families choose to send their children to other public school districts via School Choice.
Those who can afford private schools for their children exercise this option.
There is then less funding for essential services such as bussing, counseling, and mediation.
Losing sports teams.
Drop out rate increases.
Schools become characterized by violence and drugs.
Property values decrease.
Those who can afford homes elsewhere leave.
Tax base decreases.
Go back to the top of this list and start the process again.
I am proud to say that this is not the case in the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. We boast a school committee that displays the understanding that a strong school system is the axis on which an entire community can transform and improve. We have clarity in our belief that a strong school attracts the attention of families who seek the best for their children. We are driven by a strategic plan that provides an inspirational and motivational compass. Many in the area are now aware that Mahar is a great school – and the school committee and administration is on a path to make it even better.
If you would like for your children to be part of our excellent programs, our championship sports teams, or feel that that they would benefit from the support of our outstanding Coordinated Counseling Team or Special Education Department, please do not hesitate to contact us. With the completion of the 2010 – 2011 Schools’ Master Schedules complete, we are looking to fill seats that we have available for students to come to Mahar via Massachusetts School Choice Policies. It would be my pleasure to schedule a tour of our multi-million dollar facility and answer any questions that you may have. For more information please visit http://www.rcmahar.org/.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
State Representative Christopher Donelan's Keynote Address - Commencement 2010
Distinguished platform guests, class officers, faculty and staff, parents and friends and members of the class of 2010.
So tonight is the big night. I have to say that this class, of 2010, is probably one of the more talented, both in academics and athletics, than any I have seen at this school. You deserve our applause.
I want to thank the class of 2010 for inviting me to be a part of this special night.
Having kids of my own here at Mahar, I know most of you. I have attended your games, some of you have camped out on my living room floor.
I have written college recommendation letters for a lot of you, So I am honored to be a part of your special ceremony and I want to take advantage of that honor by using my time tonight to speak directly to you and pass along a few thoughts I hope will help you as you begin the next journey of your life.
As you contemplate your future and prepare for the several steps you have yet to take in life, allow yourself to remember all of the people, places and interactions you have had in life.
Your family and friends. Priests or ministers. The staff at Mahar and the friends you have made here.
All of the contacts and experiences you have in life are what weave the fabric of your being.
Who you are, your values, your goals are all influenced by the interactions you have and what you bring away from those interactions.
This goes for past interactions, current experiences and it will apply to all future interactions.
So here is a thought that you can feel free to use whenever you are trying to figure out where you are going and how you are going to get there.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw said this and there is so much wisdom in that short statement.
You do not find values, you form them. You do not find knowledge you aquire it. You do not find character, you build it.
Who you are today you did not find, you are the product of your creation and that creation has its foundation in all of the interactions you have had right here.
Think about your experiences at Mahar. The goal here has been to educate you. To teach you and prepare you for life.
Here you have acquired the knowledge and skills you will need to create yourself: dedication, hard work and self discipline. Here you have been challenged to change and grow.
What is fascinating about today is that this is just the beginning. The job of creating yourself has just begun, and as you leave here, I want you to remember that the process of creating yourself never ends. As long as we experience life, we continue to grow and change. The creation is ongoing.
So as you contemplate your choices and look at all your options, I want to ask you to consider public service as a path toward continuing that creation.
Getting involved in your community is very rewarding. Volunteering, working in the service sector or being in elected office offer ways that we can contribute to our quality of life. It is a way of influencing the creation of others.
I started in public life a month after my college graduation. I accepted a position as a police officer in my community and eventually worked in the criminal justice field for 16 years before changing course. I am now completing four terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
One thing I have learned along the way is that there is no shortage of complainers, but there is a severe shortage of people willing to get involved.
This leads me to the second thought I wanted to share with you. Think about this one. “The world is run by those who show up.”
The first time I heard that I chuckled to myself until I realized how true it is.
Think about local government. Your school committee or board of selectmen. Think about the state House or the White House. Those in charge choose to show up, and now they make decisions that shape our community, our Commonwealth and our country. The question is, will any of you decide to show up?
It is our hope that you will. That is why so many of us in this community worked so hard to build this beautiful academic and athletic facility, so that the many talented students who pass through these doors will be the future leaders of America.
It is our hope that you will be the men and women who will make the right choices, rather than the easy ones. That you will be the ones willing to show up.
Some of you might wonder if these thoughts really apply to you. Can a graduate from a small high school in the tiny town of Orange really do anything that will make a difference?
I had those same thoughts when I sat with my classmates on this stage waiting to receive my Mahar diploma.
Draw inspiration from a story I want to tell you about a man who did make a difference. He is someone you are all familiar with, but none of you know. A man who often inspires me.
He graduated from Orange High School in 1930. He had greater challenges than most of us. He was legally deaf and needed braces on his legs to help him walk.
He went off to college and, despite his handicaps, he excelled , earning his bachelors degree and eventually a law degree. He returned to his small town and taught high school for a time but then decided that he wanted more. He wanted to make people’s lives better.
He was a strong believer in intergenerational responsibility; that is the obligation of each generation to leave our community stronger for the next. He wanted to be one of those people who show up.
He ran for state representative. He lost. But think about it. It is the early 1930’s. He is deaf and struggles to walk.
Many gave him credit for trying and left it at that, but trying wasn’t enough for this young man. He was determined. He ran again for state representative the next available opportunity. He worked harder and longer.. and this time he won.
Now picture his arrival in Boston. He gets off the train, he has difficulty hearing, there are no handicap ramps to ease his steps and he comes from a part of the state where there are more cows than people.
If he was noticed at all it was because the city folks were looking down their noses at him. That was alright. No excuses. He would just work harder than everybody else.
He served in The House of Representatives from 1938 until 1944 when He was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate.
This small town boy was using all he had learned in high school, college and in daily interactions to create himself.
I could keep you here all night listing his accomplishments, instead I will simply tell you that he went on to serve with distinction for 18 years in the Massachusetts Senate rising to the position of Chairman of Senate Ways and Means, arguably one of the three most powerful men in State government.
During that time he wrote and passed the law that created regional schools in Massachusetts and he wrote and passed the law that created the University of Massachusetts.
Think about this for a moment. This one man transformed education in Massachusetts.
Every person who has had the benefit of a good education because they were able to attend a regional school has him to thank,
and nearly 50 years after his death, thousands still benefit from their University of Massachusetts Degree, because he chose to show up and use his leadership and vision to create a state university in Massachusetts.
He was a young man from the small town of Orange. You all know his name, but I would bet most of you did not know his story. He was Senator Ralph C. Mahar.
This high school you are graduating from tonight serves as a monument to Senator Mahar and his dedication to education and to future generations. This school also serves as a monument to you and your potential.
And if you have the opportunity to visit the University of Massachusetts, there is a round building next to the Isenberg School of Management, the Ralph C. Mahar Auditorium. Again, a monument to a great man from a small town who chose to show up.
In 1962, Senator Mahar was the guest speaker at this very podium, talking to the graduates of the high school that had just been named in his honor. He said to them;
“"May you always have faith in yourselves whatever hardships may develop in the years ahead.
May you be individuals in the sense that you make up your minds, that you think straight and that you stand on your own two feet. May you have a sense of social conscience which shows concern for your fellow man.”
He was telling those graduates to create themselves.
When you leave here tonight for the last time, remember the story I have told you. Let nothing hold you back. Be the one willing to show up. Forget about finding yourself, go out there and create yourself…. and with the grace of God and your hard work – I know each of you will create something special.
So tonight is the big night. I have to say that this class, of 2010, is probably one of the more talented, both in academics and athletics, than any I have seen at this school. You deserve our applause.
I want to thank the class of 2010 for inviting me to be a part of this special night.
Having kids of my own here at Mahar, I know most of you. I have attended your games, some of you have camped out on my living room floor.
I have written college recommendation letters for a lot of you, So I am honored to be a part of your special ceremony and I want to take advantage of that honor by using my time tonight to speak directly to you and pass along a few thoughts I hope will help you as you begin the next journey of your life.
As you contemplate your future and prepare for the several steps you have yet to take in life, allow yourself to remember all of the people, places and interactions you have had in life.
Your family and friends. Priests or ministers. The staff at Mahar and the friends you have made here.
All of the contacts and experiences you have in life are what weave the fabric of your being.
Who you are, your values, your goals are all influenced by the interactions you have and what you bring away from those interactions.
This goes for past interactions, current experiences and it will apply to all future interactions.
So here is a thought that you can feel free to use whenever you are trying to figure out where you are going and how you are going to get there.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself, Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw said this and there is so much wisdom in that short statement.
You do not find values, you form them. You do not find knowledge you aquire it. You do not find character, you build it.
Who you are today you did not find, you are the product of your creation and that creation has its foundation in all of the interactions you have had right here.
Think about your experiences at Mahar. The goal here has been to educate you. To teach you and prepare you for life.
Here you have acquired the knowledge and skills you will need to create yourself: dedication, hard work and self discipline. Here you have been challenged to change and grow.
What is fascinating about today is that this is just the beginning. The job of creating yourself has just begun, and as you leave here, I want you to remember that the process of creating yourself never ends. As long as we experience life, we continue to grow and change. The creation is ongoing.
So as you contemplate your choices and look at all your options, I want to ask you to consider public service as a path toward continuing that creation.
Getting involved in your community is very rewarding. Volunteering, working in the service sector or being in elected office offer ways that we can contribute to our quality of life. It is a way of influencing the creation of others.
I started in public life a month after my college graduation. I accepted a position as a police officer in my community and eventually worked in the criminal justice field for 16 years before changing course. I am now completing four terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
One thing I have learned along the way is that there is no shortage of complainers, but there is a severe shortage of people willing to get involved.
This leads me to the second thought I wanted to share with you. Think about this one. “The world is run by those who show up.”
The first time I heard that I chuckled to myself until I realized how true it is.
Think about local government. Your school committee or board of selectmen. Think about the state House or the White House. Those in charge choose to show up, and now they make decisions that shape our community, our Commonwealth and our country. The question is, will any of you decide to show up?
It is our hope that you will. That is why so many of us in this community worked so hard to build this beautiful academic and athletic facility, so that the many talented students who pass through these doors will be the future leaders of America.
It is our hope that you will be the men and women who will make the right choices, rather than the easy ones. That you will be the ones willing to show up.
Some of you might wonder if these thoughts really apply to you. Can a graduate from a small high school in the tiny town of Orange really do anything that will make a difference?
I had those same thoughts when I sat with my classmates on this stage waiting to receive my Mahar diploma.
Draw inspiration from a story I want to tell you about a man who did make a difference. He is someone you are all familiar with, but none of you know. A man who often inspires me.
He graduated from Orange High School in 1930. He had greater challenges than most of us. He was legally deaf and needed braces on his legs to help him walk.
He went off to college and, despite his handicaps, he excelled , earning his bachelors degree and eventually a law degree. He returned to his small town and taught high school for a time but then decided that he wanted more. He wanted to make people’s lives better.
He was a strong believer in intergenerational responsibility; that is the obligation of each generation to leave our community stronger for the next. He wanted to be one of those people who show up.
He ran for state representative. He lost. But think about it. It is the early 1930’s. He is deaf and struggles to walk.
Many gave him credit for trying and left it at that, but trying wasn’t enough for this young man. He was determined. He ran again for state representative the next available opportunity. He worked harder and longer.. and this time he won.
Now picture his arrival in Boston. He gets off the train, he has difficulty hearing, there are no handicap ramps to ease his steps and he comes from a part of the state where there are more cows than people.
If he was noticed at all it was because the city folks were looking down their noses at him. That was alright. No excuses. He would just work harder than everybody else.
He served in The House of Representatives from 1938 until 1944 when He was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate.
This small town boy was using all he had learned in high school, college and in daily interactions to create himself.
I could keep you here all night listing his accomplishments, instead I will simply tell you that he went on to serve with distinction for 18 years in the Massachusetts Senate rising to the position of Chairman of Senate Ways and Means, arguably one of the three most powerful men in State government.
During that time he wrote and passed the law that created regional schools in Massachusetts and he wrote and passed the law that created the University of Massachusetts.
Think about this for a moment. This one man transformed education in Massachusetts.
Every person who has had the benefit of a good education because they were able to attend a regional school has him to thank,
and nearly 50 years after his death, thousands still benefit from their University of Massachusetts Degree, because he chose to show up and use his leadership and vision to create a state university in Massachusetts.
He was a young man from the small town of Orange. You all know his name, but I would bet most of you did not know his story. He was Senator Ralph C. Mahar.
This high school you are graduating from tonight serves as a monument to Senator Mahar and his dedication to education and to future generations. This school also serves as a monument to you and your potential.
And if you have the opportunity to visit the University of Massachusetts, there is a round building next to the Isenberg School of Management, the Ralph C. Mahar Auditorium. Again, a monument to a great man from a small town who chose to show up.
In 1962, Senator Mahar was the guest speaker at this very podium, talking to the graduates of the high school that had just been named in his honor. He said to them;
“"May you always have faith in yourselves whatever hardships may develop in the years ahead.
May you be individuals in the sense that you make up your minds, that you think straight and that you stand on your own two feet. May you have a sense of social conscience which shows concern for your fellow man.”
He was telling those graduates to create themselves.
When you leave here tonight for the last time, remember the story I have told you. Let nothing hold you back. Be the one willing to show up. Forget about finding yourself, go out there and create yourself…. and with the grace of God and your hard work – I know each of you will create something special.
Superintendent's Commencement Address 2010 - It Takes A Village
Thank you to The Ralph C. Mahar Concert Band and Director, Mr. William Choe for providing us with the musical accompaniments for our ceremony today.
Thank you to Mrs. Kilhart, Ms. Smith and Ms. Smith, Ms. McKenna, our director of Facilities Mr. Bates and his crew for creating the appropriate atmosphere for celebration.
Thank you State Representative Donelan for your words of inspiration and for your continued leadership in our school community. Please know that we are saddened by your departure from the State Legislature. But should you engage your new position as Sherriff with the same fervor that you as you have the role of Representative, we know that Franklin County is in hands that are sure to keep us safe.
Mr. Goodhind – Thank you for the last three years of leadership. We wish you the best as you return to your roots as an elementary school principal. I will be calling you in the fall when our MCAS scores are released to thank you for a job well done.
ORA NA AZU NWA – This statement was made famous in 1996 when Hillary Clinton wrote and spoke about it. It is an African Proverb that means – IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
Moms and Dads, Friends and Families – much went into this moment - the students that are sitting here about to receive their diplomas – It all started about 18 years ago with the work that you did as families in your homes.
Then there was Kindergarten, First, Second Grade and so on. In the Spirit of “It Takes a Village” Thank you Superintendents Burnim, Martin, and Wickman, Principals Hunter, Haggerty, Haigh, Softic, and Phillips and the teachers and staff at Swift River, Petersham Center, Dexter Park, Butterfield, and Fisher Hill Elementary Schools for teaching these young ladies and men how to write, read, add, subtract, and treat others with respect. Mahar could not succeed without your continued efforts and works.
And Thank you Mr. Hemlin, Ms. Curley, Mr. Trill and all of the Mahar faculty and staff. Our work as educators is important. We hope that our graduates continue with success that brought them here today. We hope that they will continue to learn and grow. We hope that they will come back to our community, open businesses, buy homes, and be leaders. Give us reasons to build new and bigger schools, and new libraries to accompany those that we already have.
There are many more who need to hear and read these words of Thanks.
Thank you to the Mahar School Committee for the policy decisions that allowed these students to sit here today.
Thank you to Mr. Kwiatkowski, Ms. Bull, and Mrs. Alrdrich for you leadership in our four towns and for your continued support of our Regional School District.
Thank you to the Seeds of Solidarity for our school gardens and the Mahar After Prom Party Group for giving our seniors a safe place and enjoyable evening after the prom.
Thank you to President Daniel Asquino and Mount Wachusett Community College for opportunities for our students to earn college credits during the school day and for our partnership in the nationally recognized drop out prevention program – The Gateway to College.
There are a number of students graduating today because of the support of the Communities Collaborative and Director Jim Regan. Having personally witnessed Mr. Regan’s work, I can say that it is a travesty that the funding for his organization is no more. Jim, you made a difference and you need to hear me say that. ORA NA AZU NWA my friend. It takes a village.
Thank you to the Orange Historical Society for opening your doors for our student to research the history of this beautiful Town.
Thank you to Wal Mart for allowing our students to raise funds at your store.
Carol Stockwell, Alice White, Anne Grosky, Michael Roche, Nate Bruer, Lori Seymour and Ellen Softic please stand up. I could spend the evening talking about your works alone. Thank you for a combined 222 years of service to our students and their families. Join me in a round of applause for our retirees.
Thank you to Chief Spear, Officer Softic and the Orange Police Department along with The Community Coalition for Teens, Dial SELF, Quabbin Mediation, Cydi Boyle and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and NELCWIT for your work in providing proactive solutions for safety and wellness for our teens.
There was a time not long ago when our students with specific learning needs had to board a van each morning and go to Gardner so that they could get the quality education that they deserve. Now, these students come to school with their same aged peers right here at Mahar and they take part in the highest quality education that I have seen. Thank you Dr. McCaul and the CAPS Educational Collaborative for making this possible. While these young men and young ladies are recipients of the excellent education that you provide – they are teaching our whole school community life’s most important lessons – those of perseverance and possibility.
This school, this education, and the experiences of these graduates do not happen all by themselves. What we are here to celebrate is the work of the people and organizations that I thanked, and all of those who I missed in this speech.
I hope that more people and organizations will join us in the next academic year. ORA NA AZU NWA – IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
Thank you.
Thank you to Mrs. Kilhart, Ms. Smith and Ms. Smith, Ms. McKenna, our director of Facilities Mr. Bates and his crew for creating the appropriate atmosphere for celebration.
Thank you State Representative Donelan for your words of inspiration and for your continued leadership in our school community. Please know that we are saddened by your departure from the State Legislature. But should you engage your new position as Sherriff with the same fervor that you as you have the role of Representative, we know that Franklin County is in hands that are sure to keep us safe.
Mr. Goodhind – Thank you for the last three years of leadership. We wish you the best as you return to your roots as an elementary school principal. I will be calling you in the fall when our MCAS scores are released to thank you for a job well done.
ORA NA AZU NWA – This statement was made famous in 1996 when Hillary Clinton wrote and spoke about it. It is an African Proverb that means – IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.
Moms and Dads, Friends and Families – much went into this moment - the students that are sitting here about to receive their diplomas – It all started about 18 years ago with the work that you did as families in your homes.
Then there was Kindergarten, First, Second Grade and so on. In the Spirit of “It Takes a Village” Thank you Superintendents Burnim, Martin, and Wickman, Principals Hunter, Haggerty, Haigh, Softic, and Phillips and the teachers and staff at Swift River, Petersham Center, Dexter Park, Butterfield, and Fisher Hill Elementary Schools for teaching these young ladies and men how to write, read, add, subtract, and treat others with respect. Mahar could not succeed without your continued efforts and works.
And Thank you Mr. Hemlin, Ms. Curley, Mr. Trill and all of the Mahar faculty and staff. Our work as educators is important. We hope that our graduates continue with success that brought them here today. We hope that they will continue to learn and grow. We hope that they will come back to our community, open businesses, buy homes, and be leaders. Give us reasons to build new and bigger schools, and new libraries to accompany those that we already have.
There are many more who need to hear and read these words of Thanks.
Thank you to the Mahar School Committee for the policy decisions that allowed these students to sit here today.
Thank you to Mr. Kwiatkowski, Ms. Bull, and Mrs. Alrdrich for you leadership in our four towns and for your continued support of our Regional School District.
Thank you to the Seeds of Solidarity for our school gardens and the Mahar After Prom Party Group for giving our seniors a safe place and enjoyable evening after the prom.
Thank you to President Daniel Asquino and Mount Wachusett Community College for opportunities for our students to earn college credits during the school day and for our partnership in the nationally recognized drop out prevention program – The Gateway to College.
There are a number of students graduating today because of the support of the Communities Collaborative and Director Jim Regan. Having personally witnessed Mr. Regan’s work, I can say that it is a travesty that the funding for his organization is no more. Jim, you made a difference and you need to hear me say that. ORA NA AZU NWA my friend. It takes a village.
Thank you to the Orange Historical Society for opening your doors for our student to research the history of this beautiful Town.
Thank you to Wal Mart for allowing our students to raise funds at your store.
Carol Stockwell, Alice White, Anne Grosky, Michael Roche, Nate Bruer, Lori Seymour and Ellen Softic please stand up. I could spend the evening talking about your works alone. Thank you for a combined 222 years of service to our students and their families. Join me in a round of applause for our retirees.
Thank you to Chief Spear, Officer Softic and the Orange Police Department along with The Community Coalition for Teens, Dial SELF, Quabbin Mediation, Cydi Boyle and the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office and NELCWIT for your work in providing proactive solutions for safety and wellness for our teens.
There was a time not long ago when our students with specific learning needs had to board a van each morning and go to Gardner so that they could get the quality education that they deserve. Now, these students come to school with their same aged peers right here at Mahar and they take part in the highest quality education that I have seen. Thank you Dr. McCaul and the CAPS Educational Collaborative for making this possible. While these young men and young ladies are recipients of the excellent education that you provide – they are teaching our whole school community life’s most important lessons – those of perseverance and possibility.
This school, this education, and the experiences of these graduates do not happen all by themselves. What we are here to celebrate is the work of the people and organizations that I thanked, and all of those who I missed in this speech.
I hope that more people and organizations will join us in the next academic year. ORA NA AZU NWA – IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
Thank you.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
NHS Awards Ceremony Keynote Speech - May 17, 2010
I was asked to post my keynote speech from the NHS Awards ceremony at the Elks Club on Monday Night:
Delivered May 17, 2010
Good Evening. Before I begin, please allow me to express my gratitude to Mr. Bjorn, Nic Guerra, and to the Ralph C. Mahar National Honor Society for selecting me as this year’s keynote speaker. To be honest, I never thought I would see the day when I would be invited to speak to a group of people. Often in my life, and even more lately, I have asked myself – How did I get here? How is it that I am involved in this situation? I mean I think I’ve made it a habit to plan for things – but honestly, I never planned for this. Some of you might be surprised to know that when I started college, my intention was to become a social worker – and not a teacher, principal, special education director, or a superintendent.
So, did I get here by luck or chance, or was it something else? Thomas Jefferson said, “I am a great believer in luck, and the harder I work, the more I have of it.” President Jefferson knew then what we all know now – it was never luck. Luck comes in lottery tickets, and in games of chance and that is about it. You aren’t lucky to be here. Rather this night is the natural consequence of hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, discipline, and focus. We can all recognize the potential energy in this room.
Whether you are in grade 10, 11, or 12 – you have been defined by your membership in the National Honor Society as those who are most likely to succeed. You have all of the preconditions for success – you are nourished properly and cared for by your families who are sitting around you. You have the work ethic, the giftedness, or a combination of both that allowed you the opportunity to have the grades and recommendations necessary to be a member of this distinguished group. But because of your age in relation to mine, and to your parents, and to your grandparents – we still cannot say for sure if you will be successful. But that depends on how you define success.
Right now I can say for sure of the soon to be graduates that are here tonight:
· 1 will study art at MWCC
· 2 will go to UMASS
· 1 to Assumption
· 1 to St. Joe’s
· 1 to Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts
· 1 to Bridgewater State
· 2 to WPI for Engineering
· 1 to Babson
· 1 to Fitchburg State to study Special Education
· 1 to New England School of Business
· And 1 all the way to Western Carolina University
Someday an old friend may come to you and ask you what you do, or who you have become. Of these 13 seniors, the response could be:
I am an artist.
I am the Marketing Director for (Name your company)
I am a lawyer
I am a History Teacher
I am a Math Teacher
I am the Vice President of my company
I am the Director of Special Education at Mahar (I say that to Nicole since I heard she is going to school to be a Special Educator)
After you respond to the question, you will hear it. Someone will say “Wow you really are lucky!” Before you hear the question and before you answer remember me telling you this tonight. Are you lucky because you came to school every day? Are you lucky because you did and do all that is asked of you by your teachers and your families? Are you lucky because you do extra? Are you lucky because you will not accept failure? There is no luck in “Try”, no luck in “Work”, and very very little opportunity for luck in success.
I had a nice speech to deliver tonight about success, but it changed at about 10 AM this morning. I began my day at St. Mary’s Church on Congress Street in Orange, where I faced some cold and hard reminders about life. I was reminded that life is more like a series of Polaroid pictures than it is about a video that is always running. Each choice that we make is a snapshot that leads us to the next…and then to the next. If you took a picture of me when I was 15, you would find a boy washing dishes at the Pine Plaza Restaurant in Niagara Falls, NY – doing homework while waiting for the potatoes to boil so that I could peel and cut them into what would become home fries. Each of us has a snapshot of that time – and this morning while I sat at the funeral for a boy I knew – I wondered about his snapshots.
This morning, that young man reminded me that life is not perfect. We live in a world where hopes and dreams are constantly shattered by wars and fighting, by addiction, by accidents, by illness, by hate, by anger, and by greed. In some cases dreams can just slip away as we struggle to get through each day over a long period of time. But a simple change in perspective can bring joy to our lives everyday, if we are willing to do just two simple things….Take little bites, and chew them well.
My father used to say this to me when I was a little boy, he said it to my sisters, and now I hear him saying it to his grandchildren. He says this because he did not want us to choke on our food. I have found that this statement can mean so much more. Take little bites and chew them well.
Let’s take the song “100 Years” by Five for Fighting. If you haven’t heard it, I encourage you to seek it out in the near future. For me, it affirmed my understanding that life isn’t perfect, but that there are perfect moments, and there are also our dreams. Our dreams can be as perfect as we want them to be. I will use just a couple of the song’s lyrics to guide this point.
I’m 15 for a moment – just dreaming
Most of us in this room have already been fifteen. It went by so fast – and yes, at fifteen we did dream didn’t we? Remember all the requirements at fifteen? Wake up, get ready, go to school, go to practice, go home, eat dinner, do your homework, go to bed. Well, not exactly. When I look back at fifteen I remember my friends, my teammates, certain conversations. I remember a dance, and a first kiss. I remember the moments of perfection. Of course we remember the tragedies too – but at fifteen we didn’t stop the dreaming.
I’m 22 for a moment – and she feels better than ever and I’m just dreaming
At twenty-two there were more requirements – working 40 or more hours a week. Paying the phone bill, the electric bill, the gas bill, rent, auto insurance, gasoline, an occasional parking ticket. I remember the Oklahoma City Bombing when I was 22 too. I also remember my grandmother’s smile, my sister’s recital, and Sunday dinners with my parents. More perfect moments and still there were my dreams.
I’m 33 for a moment – still the man but you see I’m of age, family on my mind
This is just about as far as I can go with experience credits. I remember learning that there are people who lie and and there are people who cheat. Sadly you will learn this too, if you haven’t already. I learned that there are people in the world who will do anything that they can to improve their positions financially or politically, no matter who is affected by their actions or how. In this difficult and painful time there were still the perfect moments of breaking bread with all of my family and all of my friends. There was perfection in hearing the words, “I do.” And don’t forget, I still had my dreams.
I’m 45 for a moment – counting the years of my life
It seems at this part there are many people who are dissatisfied. The terminology is “mid-life crisis.” It’s the time when some feel as though they have not done all that they had set out to and perhaps feel unremarkable. I don’t know this for sure because I haven’t been there yet, but I am preparing myself by observing:
I know the mother of a severely disabled child has much to worry about – yet she finds perfection in that child’s smile, and feels the undying love in the hugs and kisses of her baby. And yes, through both the difficulties and those moments of perfection, that mommy still dreams.
Half time goes by (the age of 50)
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
In that time between 15 and 67, life will throw so much at you. But you have already proven that you are fighters – and no matter how hard it gets you will find perfect moments, and you will follow your dreams.
Right now, here in this room, we are together living a perfect moment. The students here tonight are amidst a snapshot – a moment, right now is a just little bite. When I say chew it well – I am just telling you to enjoy it as much as you can, and never forget it. Tomorrow when you wake up set out on a journey to find as many perfect moments, moments just like this. Maybe your dream is a beach house on stilts, could be a family of your own, or perhaps a trip around the world. No matter what your dream is and whether or not you able to get there, don’t ever forget to enjoy, to digest perfect moments along the way.
Back to the song:
I’m 99 for a moment – dying for just another moment – and I’m still dreaming
Even at 99 we can dream. What are your perfect moments? What will your snapshots look like? To the students in the NHS – the stage is set for you to be great. Don’t pass on your opportunity. What are your dreams? What will you do tomorrow morning to make them come true?
Delivered May 17, 2010
Good Evening. Before I begin, please allow me to express my gratitude to Mr. Bjorn, Nic Guerra, and to the Ralph C. Mahar National Honor Society for selecting me as this year’s keynote speaker. To be honest, I never thought I would see the day when I would be invited to speak to a group of people. Often in my life, and even more lately, I have asked myself – How did I get here? How is it that I am involved in this situation? I mean I think I’ve made it a habit to plan for things – but honestly, I never planned for this. Some of you might be surprised to know that when I started college, my intention was to become a social worker – and not a teacher, principal, special education director, or a superintendent.
So, did I get here by luck or chance, or was it something else? Thomas Jefferson said, “I am a great believer in luck, and the harder I work, the more I have of it.” President Jefferson knew then what we all know now – it was never luck. Luck comes in lottery tickets, and in games of chance and that is about it. You aren’t lucky to be here. Rather this night is the natural consequence of hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, discipline, and focus. We can all recognize the potential energy in this room.
Whether you are in grade 10, 11, or 12 – you have been defined by your membership in the National Honor Society as those who are most likely to succeed. You have all of the preconditions for success – you are nourished properly and cared for by your families who are sitting around you. You have the work ethic, the giftedness, or a combination of both that allowed you the opportunity to have the grades and recommendations necessary to be a member of this distinguished group. But because of your age in relation to mine, and to your parents, and to your grandparents – we still cannot say for sure if you will be successful. But that depends on how you define success.
Right now I can say for sure of the soon to be graduates that are here tonight:
· 1 will study art at MWCC
· 2 will go to UMASS
· 1 to Assumption
· 1 to St. Joe’s
· 1 to Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts
· 1 to Bridgewater State
· 2 to WPI for Engineering
· 1 to Babson
· 1 to Fitchburg State to study Special Education
· 1 to New England School of Business
· And 1 all the way to Western Carolina University
Someday an old friend may come to you and ask you what you do, or who you have become. Of these 13 seniors, the response could be:
I am an artist.
I am the Marketing Director for (Name your company)
I am a lawyer
I am a History Teacher
I am a Math Teacher
I am the Vice President of my company
I am the Director of Special Education at Mahar (I say that to Nicole since I heard she is going to school to be a Special Educator)
After you respond to the question, you will hear it. Someone will say “Wow you really are lucky!” Before you hear the question and before you answer remember me telling you this tonight. Are you lucky because you came to school every day? Are you lucky because you did and do all that is asked of you by your teachers and your families? Are you lucky because you do extra? Are you lucky because you will not accept failure? There is no luck in “Try”, no luck in “Work”, and very very little opportunity for luck in success.
I had a nice speech to deliver tonight about success, but it changed at about 10 AM this morning. I began my day at St. Mary’s Church on Congress Street in Orange, where I faced some cold and hard reminders about life. I was reminded that life is more like a series of Polaroid pictures than it is about a video that is always running. Each choice that we make is a snapshot that leads us to the next…and then to the next. If you took a picture of me when I was 15, you would find a boy washing dishes at the Pine Plaza Restaurant in Niagara Falls, NY – doing homework while waiting for the potatoes to boil so that I could peel and cut them into what would become home fries. Each of us has a snapshot of that time – and this morning while I sat at the funeral for a boy I knew – I wondered about his snapshots.
This morning, that young man reminded me that life is not perfect. We live in a world where hopes and dreams are constantly shattered by wars and fighting, by addiction, by accidents, by illness, by hate, by anger, and by greed. In some cases dreams can just slip away as we struggle to get through each day over a long period of time. But a simple change in perspective can bring joy to our lives everyday, if we are willing to do just two simple things….Take little bites, and chew them well.
My father used to say this to me when I was a little boy, he said it to my sisters, and now I hear him saying it to his grandchildren. He says this because he did not want us to choke on our food. I have found that this statement can mean so much more. Take little bites and chew them well.
Let’s take the song “100 Years” by Five for Fighting. If you haven’t heard it, I encourage you to seek it out in the near future. For me, it affirmed my understanding that life isn’t perfect, but that there are perfect moments, and there are also our dreams. Our dreams can be as perfect as we want them to be. I will use just a couple of the song’s lyrics to guide this point.
I’m 15 for a moment – just dreaming
Most of us in this room have already been fifteen. It went by so fast – and yes, at fifteen we did dream didn’t we? Remember all the requirements at fifteen? Wake up, get ready, go to school, go to practice, go home, eat dinner, do your homework, go to bed. Well, not exactly. When I look back at fifteen I remember my friends, my teammates, certain conversations. I remember a dance, and a first kiss. I remember the moments of perfection. Of course we remember the tragedies too – but at fifteen we didn’t stop the dreaming.
I’m 22 for a moment – and she feels better than ever and I’m just dreaming
At twenty-two there were more requirements – working 40 or more hours a week. Paying the phone bill, the electric bill, the gas bill, rent, auto insurance, gasoline, an occasional parking ticket. I remember the Oklahoma City Bombing when I was 22 too. I also remember my grandmother’s smile, my sister’s recital, and Sunday dinners with my parents. More perfect moments and still there were my dreams.
I’m 33 for a moment – still the man but you see I’m of age, family on my mind
This is just about as far as I can go with experience credits. I remember learning that there are people who lie and and there are people who cheat. Sadly you will learn this too, if you haven’t already. I learned that there are people in the world who will do anything that they can to improve their positions financially or politically, no matter who is affected by their actions or how. In this difficult and painful time there were still the perfect moments of breaking bread with all of my family and all of my friends. There was perfection in hearing the words, “I do.” And don’t forget, I still had my dreams.
I’m 45 for a moment – counting the years of my life
It seems at this part there are many people who are dissatisfied. The terminology is “mid-life crisis.” It’s the time when some feel as though they have not done all that they had set out to and perhaps feel unremarkable. I don’t know this for sure because I haven’t been there yet, but I am preparing myself by observing:
I know the mother of a severely disabled child has much to worry about – yet she finds perfection in that child’s smile, and feels the undying love in the hugs and kisses of her baby. And yes, through both the difficulties and those moments of perfection, that mommy still dreams.
Half time goes by (the age of 50)
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
In that time between 15 and 67, life will throw so much at you. But you have already proven that you are fighters – and no matter how hard it gets you will find perfect moments, and you will follow your dreams.
Right now, here in this room, we are together living a perfect moment. The students here tonight are amidst a snapshot – a moment, right now is a just little bite. When I say chew it well – I am just telling you to enjoy it as much as you can, and never forget it. Tomorrow when you wake up set out on a journey to find as many perfect moments, moments just like this. Maybe your dream is a beach house on stilts, could be a family of your own, or perhaps a trip around the world. No matter what your dream is and whether or not you able to get there, don’t ever forget to enjoy, to digest perfect moments along the way.
Back to the song:
I’m 99 for a moment – dying for just another moment – and I’m still dreaming
Even at 99 we can dream. What are your perfect moments? What will your snapshots look like? To the students in the NHS – the stage is set for you to be great. Don’t pass on your opportunity. What are your dreams? What will you do tomorrow morning to make them come true?
Friday, May 7, 2010
Greenfield Recorder - May 7, 2010 - A Response
Earlier this week I received a call from the Orange Town Administrator in which he invited me to attend an emergency meeting at Orange Town Hall on Saturday morning, May 8th. Mr. Kwiatkowski informed me that the topic of discussion at the meeting would be the projected budget shortfall for the Town of Orange in the 2011 Fiscal Year. I informed Mr. Kwiatkowski that I would be in attendance and I asked him if the Orange Finance Committee or Selectmen would like for me to bring anything. By anything, I not only meant the Mahar budget materials and information about our organization. I was also willing to bring the coffee and donuts that could help set the stage for meaningful dialogue about how we would work together to create the best situation for the families in the Town of Orange.
This morning [Friday] a staff member at Mahar came into my office and handed me the front page of the Local section of the Greenfield Recorder. She said to me, “Sorry to ruin your day…but you have to read this.” I carefully read the article that was written about the budget crisis in the Town of Orange, and then I read it again. Orange Finance Committee Member Jane Pierce speaking of the teachers at Mahar was quoted; “I feel if we have more excellent teachers then there are fewer needed. Doesn’t it sort of beg to a larger class size?” The reason that I read this twice was that I could not believe what she [Ms. Pierce] said. I have been in communication via E-mail with Ms. Pierce this week and I have been preparing a Mahar class size report for her. I thought that we were working together…but then I read her quote.
One of my mentors taught me that a public action should always receive a public response. With this in mind I am compelled to respond to the statements made by Ms. Pierce publicly. To be fair, if you did not read the article in Friday’s Recorder please stop reading this and go back and read it before you proceed in reading my response. If you did read it and my response is of interest to you, please continue. I am writing this article on behalf of the students who attend our school, their families, our staff, and the four towns that make up the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. It is also important to say that more than 75% of the students who attend Mahar reside in the town of Orange.
There are really only two points that I need to make. The first is that when one talks about the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in terms of “they” you would expect that the person who is speaking does not reside in the Towns of Orange, Wendell, Petersham, or New Salem. It would be okay for a person from Athol, Gill, Turners Falls, Montague, or Amherst to talk about Ralph C. Mahar in terms of “They” but not for a person from Orange. The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School is here for the education of the children and young adults from Orange and our other member towns. I don’t call our teachers “the professionals.” Rather, I refer to them as “Our professionals.” Mahar is Orange. Mahar is Wendell. Mahar is New Salem. Mahar is Petersham. I have an agreement that was drafted in 1956 and later amended to back these statements up.
Second, I am going into Saturday morning’s meeting with a different paradigm than the one that Ms. Pierce conveyed in her statements to the Greenfield Recorder. I am going in to the meeting with the intent of building and sustaining synergy with my colleagues from the Town of Orange. I want to be part of a solution rather than part of an argument that has gone on for years. Rather than remind readers about what a wonderful school community Mahar is and rather than write about the ills of educating children in crowded classrooms, I am choosing to write about the need to change some hearts and some minds. Mahar should not be viewed separately from the communities of Orange, Wendell, New Salem and Petersham.
This morning [Friday] a staff member at Mahar came into my office and handed me the front page of the Local section of the Greenfield Recorder. She said to me, “Sorry to ruin your day…but you have to read this.” I carefully read the article that was written about the budget crisis in the Town of Orange, and then I read it again. Orange Finance Committee Member Jane Pierce speaking of the teachers at Mahar was quoted; “I feel if we have more excellent teachers then there are fewer needed. Doesn’t it sort of beg to a larger class size?” The reason that I read this twice was that I could not believe what she [Ms. Pierce] said. I have been in communication via E-mail with Ms. Pierce this week and I have been preparing a Mahar class size report for her. I thought that we were working together…but then I read her quote.
One of my mentors taught me that a public action should always receive a public response. With this in mind I am compelled to respond to the statements made by Ms. Pierce publicly. To be fair, if you did not read the article in Friday’s Recorder please stop reading this and go back and read it before you proceed in reading my response. If you did read it and my response is of interest to you, please continue. I am writing this article on behalf of the students who attend our school, their families, our staff, and the four towns that make up the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District. It is also important to say that more than 75% of the students who attend Mahar reside in the town of Orange.
There are really only two points that I need to make. The first is that when one talks about the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in terms of “they” you would expect that the person who is speaking does not reside in the Towns of Orange, Wendell, Petersham, or New Salem. It would be okay for a person from Athol, Gill, Turners Falls, Montague, or Amherst to talk about Ralph C. Mahar in terms of “They” but not for a person from Orange. The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School is here for the education of the children and young adults from Orange and our other member towns. I don’t call our teachers “the professionals.” Rather, I refer to them as “Our professionals.” Mahar is Orange. Mahar is Wendell. Mahar is New Salem. Mahar is Petersham. I have an agreement that was drafted in 1956 and later amended to back these statements up.
Second, I am going into Saturday morning’s meeting with a different paradigm than the one that Ms. Pierce conveyed in her statements to the Greenfield Recorder. I am going in to the meeting with the intent of building and sustaining synergy with my colleagues from the Town of Orange. I want to be part of a solution rather than part of an argument that has gone on for years. Rather than remind readers about what a wonderful school community Mahar is and rather than write about the ills of educating children in crowded classrooms, I am choosing to write about the need to change some hearts and some minds. Mahar should not be viewed separately from the communities of Orange, Wendell, New Salem and Petersham.
Breaking Down Bullying
The unfortunate suicide of South Hadley teen, Phoebe Prince has brought about a renewed sense of purpose for school officials, legislators, those in law enforcement, parents, teachers, and students. Events such as those that recently took place in South Hadley, MA have a way of setting off a chain of events that forever change the landscape of the day to day operation of schools in America. I can compare the anti-bullying vigilance of recent days to the exponential increase in lockdown drills and implementation of Emergency Planning that took place in schools after the events at Columbine High School in 1999.
Never before has the actions of bullies been so clearly defined. In the book “The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander” Barbara Coloroso (2008) describes three elements of situations that involve bullies and those being bullied. First, the situation always involves an imbalance of power. That is that the offender is often bigger, older, stronger, more verbally equipped, or has more capital with peers. Second, the bully always acts with intent to harm. The offender means to inflict some type of physical or psychological pain on the victim or victims, and it is never an accident. Third, in instances of bullying both the offender and the victim know that the bullying can and most likely will occur again. This threat of further aggression is often the reason that bullying goes unreported to adults.
Coloroso (2008) asserts that the terror that is generated from the above mentioned actions renders victims powerless. Once this terror exists there is potential for extreme acts of aggression, retaliation, and a cycle of violence that can come from either the offender or the victim. School administrators and teachers now intimately aware and focused on the interactions of students with one another in classrooms, in the hallways, in the cafeteria, and on the sports fields have been hyper vigilant about ensuring that students are not engaging in these behaviors.
When crises such as those in South Hadley strikes the public school system groups of people whom I refer to as “Crisis Entrepreneurs” move quickly. These are groups of people and corporations who profit from seriously unfortunate events. To date, I have received about a dozen invitations to seminars and weekend retreats to meet with “professionals” about mitigating the problems caused by bullying in schools. One of these conferences was $600.00 per person to attend, and it came with a weekend stay at a four star hotel. These invitations come to me by fax, by E-mail, and in via the US Postage service. The faxes go in the recycle bin along with the mail, and the E-mails go directly to the junk E-mail box.
The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School has a department that focuses specifically on Student Support Services. Among this group of highly qualified professionals are veteran school counselors, a school psychologist, licensed school social workers, and a support team facilitator. This group meets weekly to discuss the interactions of individual and groups of students, their behavior in and outside of school, and proactive approaches to stopping violence while ensuring school wide social-emotional wellness. At Mahar, we understand a very simple fact: If students are not well, learning cannot and will not take place. How could a student who fears for his or her safety focus subjects like Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, or anything else for that matter?
The No Child Left Behind Act calls upon school administrators to focus on student drop out rates, performance on state assessments, graduation rates, and specifically the performance of students in selected populations such as Special Education, English Language Learners, and those from Low Income Families. Take the pressure of these accountability standards and when added to the previous and approaching budget crises the public schools are faced with an entirely new set of problems. There is only so much funding, and where should it go? Do we risk lower test scores to keep our students safe? Do we focus on their wellness even though it might mean that class sizes may go up in our schools?
To me the answer is simple. The safety of our students comes first. Those who are best poised to ensure student safety are those who are trained to listen to them and when needed, act as their voices. I recognize that we are in a budget crisis – but I will not allow any reduction in funding to fall on the backs of our children who are in need of the most support. Those who are reading this article who have been bullied or been bullies know that bullying is not isolated to schools. Perhaps there are bullies in our adult lives too. It is my hope that the proactive approach of Mahar and the proactive approaches of other public schools will not only keep our students safe now, but educate them for a future in which they go out of their way to help, rather than hurt others.
Never before has the actions of bullies been so clearly defined. In the book “The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander” Barbara Coloroso (2008) describes three elements of situations that involve bullies and those being bullied. First, the situation always involves an imbalance of power. That is that the offender is often bigger, older, stronger, more verbally equipped, or has more capital with peers. Second, the bully always acts with intent to harm. The offender means to inflict some type of physical or psychological pain on the victim or victims, and it is never an accident. Third, in instances of bullying both the offender and the victim know that the bullying can and most likely will occur again. This threat of further aggression is often the reason that bullying goes unreported to adults.
Coloroso (2008) asserts that the terror that is generated from the above mentioned actions renders victims powerless. Once this terror exists there is potential for extreme acts of aggression, retaliation, and a cycle of violence that can come from either the offender or the victim. School administrators and teachers now intimately aware and focused on the interactions of students with one another in classrooms, in the hallways, in the cafeteria, and on the sports fields have been hyper vigilant about ensuring that students are not engaging in these behaviors.
When crises such as those in South Hadley strikes the public school system groups of people whom I refer to as “Crisis Entrepreneurs” move quickly. These are groups of people and corporations who profit from seriously unfortunate events. To date, I have received about a dozen invitations to seminars and weekend retreats to meet with “professionals” about mitigating the problems caused by bullying in schools. One of these conferences was $600.00 per person to attend, and it came with a weekend stay at a four star hotel. These invitations come to me by fax, by E-mail, and in via the US Postage service. The faxes go in the recycle bin along with the mail, and the E-mails go directly to the junk E-mail box.
The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School has a department that focuses specifically on Student Support Services. Among this group of highly qualified professionals are veteran school counselors, a school psychologist, licensed school social workers, and a support team facilitator. This group meets weekly to discuss the interactions of individual and groups of students, their behavior in and outside of school, and proactive approaches to stopping violence while ensuring school wide social-emotional wellness. At Mahar, we understand a very simple fact: If students are not well, learning cannot and will not take place. How could a student who fears for his or her safety focus subjects like Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, or anything else for that matter?
The No Child Left Behind Act calls upon school administrators to focus on student drop out rates, performance on state assessments, graduation rates, and specifically the performance of students in selected populations such as Special Education, English Language Learners, and those from Low Income Families. Take the pressure of these accountability standards and when added to the previous and approaching budget crises the public schools are faced with an entirely new set of problems. There is only so much funding, and where should it go? Do we risk lower test scores to keep our students safe? Do we focus on their wellness even though it might mean that class sizes may go up in our schools?
To me the answer is simple. The safety of our students comes first. Those who are best poised to ensure student safety are those who are trained to listen to them and when needed, act as their voices. I recognize that we are in a budget crisis – but I will not allow any reduction in funding to fall on the backs of our children who are in need of the most support. Those who are reading this article who have been bullied or been bullies know that bullying is not isolated to schools. Perhaps there are bullies in our adult lives too. It is my hope that the proactive approach of Mahar and the proactive approaches of other public schools will not only keep our students safe now, but educate them for a future in which they go out of their way to help, rather than hurt others.
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