SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES

It's kind of appropriate that there is nobody in this picture cause nobody wanted to hear my courtesy call. Not only was there public notice of my intentions thanks to the ITEM. but I also sent Terry Young, Executive Assistant to the LYNN CITY COUNCIL asking if I wasn't put on the agenda as I had previously asked that a motion be3 made to suspend the rules so I could talk.

Nada, nothing. SILENCE STAN. Seems like my little petition is to hot a ticket, turf wars you know. It is a shame too, because folks our DISTINGUISHED AND HONORABLE MAYOR by charter is supposed to keep the council apprised of what's going on in the schools and I've only been to three city council meetings and I ain't heard no updating going on.

Just in case any councilmen HAPPEN to READ my blog, did you know it costs around $300,000 a year to hang the superintendent's name on the door. That's $184,000 in her salary, two confidential secretaries at $50,000 per, and oh yeah a $350 a month car allowance. You would think with her salary she could afford her own T PASS.

MAYBE I SHOULD WRITE A "LYNN CITY WATCH"!

CLAY COMES THROUGH

Taking time out of his work day, former CITY COUNCIL candidate CLAY WALSH comes to McDonalds to sign OUR petition.

BULLIES BLASTED BY THE BEST

 "To think that people would stand around and watch this ... that they would get any kind of thrill watching two female students batter each other."

Really! Really. It's hard to believe a professional who leads any group of KIDS would make such a HYPOCRITICAL statement. Only eight days before the nationally famous fight played out  on the COOK STREET stage,THOMAS "I put the BULL in BULLDOG" STRANGIE was a RING LEADER (Right MADAME MANGLER?) in a VOYEUR crowd who watched as premeditated testimonials to LATHAM'S leadership were presented in an effort to intimidate LSC members. Many were out-of-town mercenaries who's six figure salaries are under the direct control of their master, the GOOD DOCTOR.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for the bystanders to be punished and I like the fact the punishment is on a sliding scale. I just don't like the HOLIER THAN THOU the punishment was dispensed with.

AND while we are at it, let's talk about the PUNISHMENT. It will do little to prevent such incidents in the future. WHY because to refer to an old writer, SINCLAIR LEWIS, the fight and the punishment handed out is a RED BADGE OF COURAGE. See things haven't changed much over the years.

MR. STRANGIE, you may be a principal and maybe even a good one but before being elevated to a position of leadership, you were a TEACHER. Don't you recognize this incident is a TEACHING MOMENT? The participants should have been suspended but IN-HOUSE where they could have learned something other than their travel itinerary.


 Essays should be written on the dangers of BULLYING and maybe the students should have to do some PLAY about the subject for the whole school and maybe even have them take the show on the road, traveling to all the middle schools. Who knows maybe someone would write a poem?

PUNCHES AT PICKERING?

Tell me now, how come the bullying is so bad at PICKERING that a PARAPROFESSIONAL was transferred from a BEHAVIOR CLASS at FORD to babysit in the locker-room in PICKERING.

STRANGE LOVE, TOUGH LOVE

ENGLISH principal THOMAS "TOUGH LOVE" STRANGIE hands out suspensions for the participants in the BULLY CROWD in the COOK STREET CAPER as he reaches the heights of hypocrisy. Perhaps if he had been present for all of his OPEN HOUSE to talk with PARENTS this COLOSSAL CALAMITY could have been prevented. MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO.

Maybe not, but PRIORITIES!

I'M A STEAMROLLER BABY

Lynn superintendent petition drive gains steam

The fact that the SUPERINTENDENT did not want to comment, but then went ahead and did anyway illustrates the problem. You can take her at her word that she hadn't read my petition...

BUT.....,

I don't think she was completely ignorant of it since I gave a letter announcing my intentions to UNCLE TOM'S secretary with several copies for the administration, gave a copy to BRANDT DUNCAN of the teacher's union, and oh yeah, MADAME MANGLER.

Don't forget our breathless exchange in front of MARSHALL.

THE BLAME GAME,"PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF"

I learned something new today about the ENGLISH fight that sheds a whole new light on the COOK STREET CAPER. It seems like one of the girl's parents was already trying to reach out but the lack of translators. I am sure there are plenty of people who say that it's the PARENT'S responsibility to learn ENGLISH (the language). They are right but that has little practical consolation and in fact THEY are going to end up paying for the consequences of their righteous indignation.

Perhaps if there would have been services already in place the whole, ugly incident could have been avoided. In the short and long term taxpayers are going to have to foot the bill for the lack of responsiveness to parental cries for help.

Maybe if less money was spent on car allowances and endless layers of administration, we could afford a little more DIRECT service like more help with language translation.

MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT IS ANTI-PARENT

Today at the NORTH SHORE LABOR COUNCIL 11TH ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE (11th annual - that sort of shoots a hole in the theory the community  don't want to get involved. For you uneducated administrators, that's called HISTORY, a history of concern) I learned of a tragic mismanagement of community resources from this administration.

Some skilled union workers were prepared to volunteer their time and talents to fix up COBBETT SCHOOL. I had heard some people at the NEW LYNN COALITION talk about their less than successful COBBETT adventures before I started regularly attending the meetings but I never knew details. I still don't know all the details but hopefully some of you out there will fill me in.

PLEASE, spare me the RED TAPE SOB STORIES. It was the administration's JOB to make this happen.

WRAPPING THE DAY'S EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

MARIA CARRASCO SPEAKS

SMALL PART OF THE HUNDRED OR SO CROWD THAT WAS AT TODAY'S EDUCATION CONFERENCE

NORTH SHORE LABOR COUNCIL EDUCATION CONFERENCE

STARRING LYNN'S BB ALL-STARS

• 
  

  
  

  
  

BANNER BULLDOGS

• 

  Lynn English All Stars Catherine Stinson and Freddy Hogan Cousins 

  
  

  These two kids show that the FIGHT AT COOK STREET isn't only thing to focus attention at ENGLISH!

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Have an unconfirmed report that a new dress code was put in place at DIRTY DREWICZ this week Rumours are that there were sightings of TAILOR MADE HAZMAT suits. Someone please tell me that is some FALSE INFORMATION.  Info is harder to come by as my numbers go up. All someone has to do is check the FASHION POLICE log.

A GREAT DAY IN HARLEM IN CONJUCTION WITH THE NORTH SHORE CHAPTER OF THE NAACP Come celebrate Black History Month and view this 1995 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary. This film highlights the making of the famous photograph that would become emblematic of the golden age of jazz. It interweaves archival performance footage of jazz masters Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Art Farmer, Dizzy Gillespie & more!

FEBRUARY 29 at 6:30pm at Lynn Museum 590 Washington St. Lynn, Massachusetts 01901

MADAME MANGLER COOKS

http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Greater-Boston-11/episodes/Feb-23-2012Two-Lynn-girls-fight-while-others-cheer-on-36440#.T0fdN5W1YuM.email
 

(GRANDMA GAVE IT TO ME! The Link that is.)

MADAME MANGLER goes to the airwaves to react to the reaction. She talks about the need for the students to channel their creativity in a more constructive way.

May I suggest POETRY.

WAIT THEY GOT OVER THREE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND HITS?

I don't need the competition. Try KNITTING. Come on now, Knit 1, Pearl 2. 

There is no money in poetry anyway and at least you can give blankets and bibs as baby shower gifts.

STUDENTS PUNISHMENT A JOKE

Punishment awaits both students in fight, onlookers

You know me, I like good laugh but the only thing that funny and this incident have in common is the fact that comedy and hypocrisy end in "y".

How does ENGLISH principal THOMAS STRANGIE (I am fighting the urge to play with that name) have any CREDIBILITY when he participated in a BULLY crowd, the VERY night of the ENGLISH "Open House".

How can you "make an example" of some of your students when you yourself set a bad example?

What is funny is your bullying to protect a bully through questionably ethical rules manipulations to allow "out-of-towners" to speak. Do you know the number to the Attorney General's office? Don't worry a couple of my friends do.

STAYING ON YOUR FEET

I went last night to a screening and discussing of the Micheal Douglas film, FALLING DOWN at Centerboard. Usually I avoid all of that artsy, academic sort of stuff. I've always found it too self-pretentious. Still given all the drama that has went on with the ENGLISH FIGHT and all, I thought it was important I go, I mean some heavy social issues seemed to be on the agenda.

The movie showed a microcosm of life extrapolated to the large screen. It showed the difference between right and wrong, good or bad, is only a matter of degrees, Perhaps, it is only a matter of PERCEPTION viewed through the lens of the situation.

Society or even YOUR CROWD can pressure you into doing things, unacceptable things, that seem out of character. But it's not really out of character, it's just an extension of your being, all of our being.We all just have to fight to keep control of our own demons.

That's why it is important to have positive, constructive opportunities because the line between good and bad is fuzzy. How we react helps bring it into focus.

WHAT WE CAN DO

As of about lunchtime  perhaps LYNN'S greatest asset in teen violence prevention goes unused. It's been almost a week since the COOK STREET CAPER and from what I understand ANTONIO from LYSOA's phone has not rang with a call from the KING (okay queen, but king has that hard "c" sound this poet needs) of COMMERCIAL STREET.

For any kind of CONFLICT RESOLUTION or PREVENTION, you got to talk to the KIDS involved, not at or about them. For all the talk about people not wanting to get involved and all the bad-mouthing of parents, here is a PRIME example of what I have been saying --COMMERCIAL STREET  REALLY DOES NOT WANT PARENTAL OR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

Here's your chance COMMERCIAL STREET, prove me wrong. Don't worry, I'm good at being wrong, just ask my e ex-wives.

MADAME MAYOR (I so wanted to use your stage name), make a phone call. LSC members apply a little political pressure before I have to get all poetic on you.

APPROPRIATE TIMING

• 

  Centerboard

  Our Cut the Bullying T-shirts are still available! Buy a T for $10 and sign the pledge. Contact jblair@thecenterboard.org Bullying can be stopped!

  

THE PLOT THICKENS, MARSHALL MAY BE IN MAYHEM

• 

  Two Finalists Selected for New GMS Principal

   

  My sources could be wrong, I mean here it is in print and you know if it's print it must be true. I mean not everybody is as irresponsible with their journalistic standards as me.

COMMITTEE TO CONSULT MARSHALL

Marshall Middle School project moving forward

I am glad to see the ITEM finally get around to a story the WATCH covered on Feb. 15th after I went to the PRE-BID meeting at MARSHALL.(watch the sarcasm now, they've talked about doing a story on your petition and you don't want to blow it with your fresh mouth) You should have seen the look on the GOOD DOCTOR'S face when she came in and saw me sitting there. Who could forget the tender moments that we shared. I feel all warm and fuzzy thinking about it.

Not only did I go to the meeting but I got the minutes and other paperwork associated with the meeting. Did you know there is a BUILDING COMMITTEE? They talked about it at the meeting but never really said who was on it. Well one of the documents they sent me was a list of who is on it. Here you go:

1. Our Honorable Mayor, "MADAME MANGLER"
2.Mike Donovan, ISD
3.Charles White, CITY PURCHASING AGENT
4. John Ford, LSC
5. Dr. Rich Cowdell, MARSHALL PRINCIPAL
         (there was a notation that someone else may be appointed in his place {at the time he had his app in                                          for a job in Wakefield, supposedly got then turned down)
6.Dr. Latham, SUPERINTENDENT
7. Dr. Warry, LPS DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
8. Richard Fortucci, LYNN CFO
9. James Leonard, CONSULTANT (where have we heard that before?), former LPS SUPERINTENDENT
10. Edward T. Calnan, BOARD TRUSTEES, ST. MARY'S HS, RETIRED MA HOUSING FINANCE

The last two are supposed to represent the community with building, engineering, and architecture experience.

YOU KNOW, I WAS WONDERING IS THERE A STIPEND INVOLVED FOR SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE?

LYNN FIGHTS FOR HISTORY OF HIGHLANDS

With over $50,000 of donated labor and time by The Project Team a few lucky Youth drawn from Coalition partners Girls Inc. and Lynn Community Health Center’s KAYA Youth Program will take a 9 month-long journey of awareness that will culminate in a presentation and celebration of Film and Art at Girls’ Inc. in September of 2012.

The Youth will be engaged with classes on Lynn’s rich Immigration history, interview skills and video production and then will experience The Highlands story by gathering histories from Immigrants from Russia, Greece, Iraq, Nigeria as well as many Latin countries.

The Youth will then create a completed film with visual art and dance to express their new understanding and appreciation of their place within Lynn’s rich ongoing Immigrant experience.

The Highlands Coalition would like to thank Mass Humanities for their sponsorship which will enrich Youth experience and create a film able to be viewed at varied locations which will enrich all the Citizens of Lynn for some time to come!

THE ART OF EATING

• LynnArts

  Shop Whole Foods Market "5% Day" on Wednesday, February 29 to help benefit LynnArts & The Lynn Museum! At Whole Foods market, 5% Days are just one way we give back to the community. Shop at Swampscott Whole Foods Market 9331 Paradise Rd) on Feb. 29th and 5% of the day's net sales will be donated to LynnArts and Lynn Museum

  • THE ART OF EATING

FIGHT OR FLIGHT, CHOSE A WINNER

• 

  Win a Trip to Aruba & Support Educational Programs at Lynn Museum!

  conta.cc

MADAME MANGLER HAS MADE HER MOVES

Did the ENGLISH students MIMIC the moves of our own BELOVED MAYOR (a,k.a. MADAME MANGLER)? We need not be hypocritical in our responses.

As reprehensible as the COOK STREET CAPER was, we need to look at the examples our leaders set. She also voted to keep our biggest bully in at The schools at the head of our schools. TIME FOR A REMATCH.

SIGN MY PETITION!

MAYOR "RING" LEADER OF ENGLISH BULLY CROWD

Lynn's mayor brings mayhem into squared circle

It's hard to be too hard on the kids in the Cook Street Caper when you think about the examples set by those they should look up to. We have a MAYOR that promotes gratuitous violence and a SUPERINTENDENT who rallies her posse to INTIMIDATE the LSC into renewing her contract. I believe there is e mail evidence.

FIGHTING FOR A SEAT

With all that's going on around the LYNN ENGLISH fight situation, the need to have some community discussion is very timely. I have reserved my seat, how about you?

Heroes of City: A Film Series - "Falling Down: Mapping the ...

LEARNING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Latham: Fight video damages reputation of Lynn schools

Perhaps "damages" is the wrong word to use here. Perhaps "reinforces" is more accurate. Why hasn't LPS reached out to LYSOA already. Evidently there has been a history of refusal to work together. Someone please correct me if I'm WRONG. And why are we this far away from the fight and still discussing if it's going to happen.

I love how certain LSC members and the GOOD DOCTOR talk about investigating if they have the authority to intervene while the incident clearly originated on school grounds. They justified a $75,000 a year PROGRAM SPECIALIST because of a mandate that they be involved in afterschool activities.

LYNN ENGLISH "FIGHTS" FIGHT THEIR WAY TO TOP

The LYNN ENGLISH post has already shot it's way to the top five most viewed posts of all time.  What does that say to you? Clearly this incident has brought the school the kind of notoriety that is not welcome. Especially to a nationally ranked ROTC team who had a couple members in the crowd who  brought that squad attention and distinction that its trophies hasn't

READING NOT FIGHTING

• 

  Centerboard Book Fair

  Happening right now at Centerboard! Today, tomorrow and Thursday 9:00-4:00. Come on down for books, arts & crafts and storytelling!

  By: Centerboard

PETITIONING MY PETITION

You know what I'm hearing a lot, "I agree with you, I love your BLOG but I can't sign your petition because I work for the school system or I work for the city". It seems like all the bullies in Lynn don't hang out at COOK STREET.

These bullies don't throw punches the throw paychecks. It seems like the exact same behavior that people almost universally find distasteful and outrageous is a learned behavior. I guess the powers that be,be powerful.


If you can stand for change, you can stand the change.

ANTONIO, ANTONIO, WHERE FORE ART THOU ANTONIO?

Well, it's not SHAKESPEARE in the PARK, it's LYSOA in the PARK that we need. We need a little performance in the schools as well. The infotainment should not be limited to the high schools. Most people's personality and character is pretty well set by age twelve so the first street we need to start on is named SESAME.

WHO IS AFRAID OF A LITTLE COMPETITION

I SCARE people. Let's think about that. Why I am not an imposing physical specimen. Okay I have picked up some weight since I quit work and perhaps maybe I'm a little FAT now. What I've gained in weight I've lost in hair so I guess it balances out.

No, people are afraid of anything DIFFERENT, you know out of their comfort zone. Maybe that's why the MAYOR and four other LSC members, only DONNA and RICK weren't afraid. It seems that the MAYOR, JOHN FORD, PATTI CAPANO, CHARLIE GALLO, and MARIA CARRASCO  felt MORE comfortable with remaining failing with the leadership we had than taking a chance that someone better might be out there.

Maybe after looking, they would not have found everybody, they wouldn't have found anybody better. I mean not everybody is as good at being bad as we are. I mean there are only 16 school districts worse than us. Pretty impressive in a weird sort of way. Our HONORABLE MAYOR is even on record (thank you LYNNCAM) OF BEING CONCERNED WITH DR. LATHAM'S spending practices. No I guess those five LSC members were fine just where we are.

I mean somebody out there might be better for the job but they would be DIFFERENT and that frightens them.

MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID OF LOSING THEIR JOBS. I MEAN RECALLS ARE IN NOW AND WELL, I DO HAVE THIS LITTLE PETITION THING GOING.....

Stay focused Stan, one thing at a time: PUBLIC HEARING!

CLASSICAL STUDENTS SHOW THEIR SKILLS IN FIGHT

Classical students to show off skills at March 1 talent show

To keep ticket prices low. Okay the title was a cheap trick to get more hits on my blog. It worked, you are here.

This is a GREAT example of the positive use of creative expression in the educational process. It is an example of using what you LEARN. It's a shame that the coverage for this event will be dwarfed by the LYNN ENGLISH fight. I didn't make the rules, I just follow them. 

IF IT BLEEDS, IT LEADS!

WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE KIDS?

Online video shows Lynn English students brawl

School officials are too busy patting themselves on the back for developing a recognized bullying policy that obviously didn't work and will now be recognized probably nationwide before this thing plays out as a failed one.

They have been playing around with RACE TO THE TO TOP grant money until they could milk a both a six figure program specialist's salary and a $75,000 position to oversee other site manager's at 4 schools, we have 26. FORD SCHOOL has been doing WRAP-AROUND for TWENTY years for FREE. School officials should be beating down the doors to see how they do it.

Now can anyone doubt, the vital work that ANTONIO GUITERRES and LYSOA does? Programs need to be developed quickly to utilize him and THERESA as crucial solutions to a disturbing problem.

And then there is OCCUPY LVTI, my friends at the NEW LYNN COALITION have moved at a snail's pace for fear of offending the GREAT DOCTOR LATHAM. After a successful dog and pony show in her office, it was agreed that she would work in establishing a community board in implementing some after school activities.

I wasn't at the meeting the NEW LYNN COALITION had with DR. LATHAM because everyone felt my presence would make the administration too defensive. My understanding was that DR> LATHAM had several of her homies (so MAYBE that's where the student's learned to bully in numbers). Words like WRAP-AROUND and PILOT program were bandied about to kick the can further down the road. The time has passed for rhetoric and decorum, the time now is for action.

Not only should LVTI be opened up for the community but all schools should make their facilities available to the neighborhoods before more of our student's get national exposure for the wrong reasons.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

• 
  

  

  Official Calls For Criminal Probe Into Girl Fight

  www.thebostonchannel.com

  LYNN, Mass. -- A Lynn school committee member said he will call for a criminal probe into a fight between two teenage girls that was posted on YouTube recently. Monday, February 20, 2012.

  
  

  When a sports team's players get out of control, the manager gets fired.

NAME THAT TUNE!

SUPERINTENDENT LATHAM has often SERENADED us with  her security enhancements. Those self accolades have often been REVERBERATED by LSC  member JOHN FORD, ironically the last time was on a night, Feb. 9,2012, on the same night LYNN ENGLISH PRINCIPAL THOMAS STRANGIE was SINGING her praises.

The release of this latest YOU TUBE video shows how off key the song was. Perhaps it is time to find a new LEAD SINGER!

SIGN MY PETITION, LET'S LOOK!

LYNN ENGLISH FIGHTS TO KEEP SUPERINTENDENT?

I just finished watching the disgusting video of two Lynn English girls fighting on You Tube and it makes me even more convinced that we need to look for the BEST candidate to lead our schools. Will it mean we get a NEW superintendent?

I don't know, but I would like to point out that the PRINCIPAL of the high school where the combatants were from and was featured in the opening moments of the video was recently appointed by this same superintendent and he rushed to the OPEN MIKE the night of the school committee to encourage her contract be extended.

JUST SAYIN....

IT'S A REG, WE GOT TO DESEG

I hear that a lot. School people waive an old court decision like they are swatting away bothersome flies. There can be no doubt that we should treat everyone fairly, equally.

But I ask, at this stage of the game does a mandate from a few years ago do that? I don't know, that's why I am asking. Let's start with what I do know. I am part of an oppressed minority. Have I told you that I am a poor, disabled poet? I have two intelligent, articulate, and biracial middle school children. My four wives have been  plucked right of the RAINBOW COALITION.

So knowing all of that hopefully you will all agree, I got me some STREET CREDS. I even have a tattoo. What I will tell you is that artificial guidelines never work in the long run. Because people harbor resentment and that anger only serves to strengthen the walls of territorialism.

Once again I must quote my favorite philosopher, RODNEY KING, himself a victim, "CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG".

SUPER SIGHTSEEING

Home for the holidays,
with school vacation
out for the week,

Excellence in education,
that is the only goal
that we seek.

To insure we have
as our superintendent,
one who is clearly best.

What harm can there
be in seeing all the rest?

DEMAND EXCELLANCE IN EDUCATION, JOIN OUR DRIVE!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/245690712179949/?ref=

THE LSC NEEDS TO COME CLEAN

It seems that our present school superintendent is PROUD of being the best of the worst. Now I ask is that something to tout? Isn't "If I wasn't so bad,  I'd be good" still bad. Apparently, the majority of the school committee thinks so. They are addicted to failure.

If one of our kids was battling some kind of addiction in their personal life we would feel justified in doing something, we would feel compelled for their own sake because we love them. The responsible thing for us to do is to have an INTERVENTION.

Enter my petition drive, As parents, we are demanding that the LSC confront the demons of failure that plague our recovery. That is what a PUBLIC HEARING will do. Time for a little TOUGH LOVE!

MITT CALLS THEM VARMITS

Things sure are different than when I went to school, even in WV. I talked to my Mom this afternoon and she told me that all the wildlife that had started coming into the yard has started to disapear. It seems that neighbors have reported seeing a MONTAIN LION.

A MONTAIN LION, they are supposed to live there. Heck when I was a little poet we used to camp out up on the hill behind the hose. We built cabins, forts and just generally ran carefree through the forest. It was a forest to me then, but it was really just a small patch of trees, not near as big as LYNN WOODS. Still I could go where I wanted without too much worry.

Those days are gone there but similarly there gone here too. Today's predators here are TEST SCORES but this beast is domesticated and lives under the auspices of standard achievements. Both animals threaten to maim the creative play that allows for maximum expression of intelligence.

AN ACT OF BLIND REPETITION DESERVES A PETITION

I don't have a license
but this petition I will drive.

The sole purpose is so
that our education will thrive.

We must demand excellence
to stay competitive and survive.

The time to chose the best
may yet still arrive.

LADY DAWGS BOUNCE THIS WAY

Lynn English Girls Basketball play Woburn At: St. Mary's Spartan Classic Tourney. Come Check us Out!!

OUT OF TUCKER COUNTY

The benefits of becoming somewhat locally well-known (my son keeps asking, "Your famous, RIGHT?". Trippy, Please.) is that people pronounce my name right. The bad thing is now I have to pronounce it right.

YOU LAUGH, but it's not that easy. Half the time, my own wife (the 4th, current, and the one with seniority) pronounces it with a long "o". My paternal grandfather's daughter (for the geneologically challenged, my AUNT) spelled it W-A-T-R-I-N-G. For that matter so did all of his BROTHER and SISTERS.

I know since I come from WV you are probably expecting a COUSIN joke right about now. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

I HAVE SOME DIGNITY.

LOOK WHO'S WATCHING THE WATCH

You know you've become somebody when suddenly with people think your important enough to say they were with you!




"Drew Russo

Great night celebrating local arts. Congressman Tierney, Mayor Kennedy, Rep. Steve Walsh, Councilors Pete Capano & Brendan Crighton, and School

Committeeman Charlie Gallo all here showing their support! Thank you Corey Jackson and the AAH team for all that you do for Lynn! — with Brendan Crighton and 10 others."
..
OKAY, OKAY, I'M ONLY AN OTHER BUT TWO YEARS AGO I WAS A NOBODY!
.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTS IN EDUCATION

Of course, I had a great time tonight at/on BOURBON STREET tonight, Now what did you expect a poor, disabled poet to say. The music was loud and the food was good. I even got a green wrist band. That CORY JACKSON can sure throw a party.

For all the talk about the STEM subjects really being HOT in EDUCATION right now, it's in the ARTS that learning is best exemplified in it's application. In another life, people used to think I was pretty smart. I knew my way around a chemistry laboratory and BEAKER was my favorite MUPPET.

Then once life got in the way of my living, I had to chart a new course because I had been taught the most REAL lesson. If you live solely in the DIGITAL realm, you are nothing but a series of dots, it takes the ARTS to connect those DOTS.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Sometimes MUSIC can calm the SAVAGE poet.
                              SOMETIMES!

WHEN SCHOOL'S OUT, I GO TO ARTS AFTER HOURS

"ELEPHANT WRECKING BALL" ON BOURBON STREET

PUT ON YOUR HEART LIGHT

Sacred Heart students, staff salute retiring teacher

This story is a great example of not only the difference a teacher can make in a child's life but also the one a child makes in a teacher's.

TECH'S TATICS TROUBLESOME

Sorry, I left the ad building before all the festivities at TECH today. It seems that there was a blood drive there this morning. You would think with all the GOOD things I say about TECH. Principal DIANE PURANA (oops!I meant PARADIS) would have let me know.

I mean not only is it a GOOD,no GREAT activity, it fits right in with their HEALTH SCIENCE curriculum. Maybe she was too busy rehearsing her next out of town testimony to notify me.

TERMS OF MY SURRENDER

I, STANLEY H. WOTRING, JR. being of feeble mind and crippled body hereby offer to maybe suspend my petition campaign if the following terms are met.

WHEREAS, the current SUPERINTENDENT, DR. CATHERINE LATHAM gives sworn testimony before three judges (one each from SUPERIOR. DISTRICT, and PROBATE court), two priests, and a born-again preacher that she is willing to have the NEW middle school named after ME.

Let's face it, it would be the pinnacle of hypocrisy to keep calling it THURGOOD MARSHALL. After all he was a champion in the struggle for equal rights and the civil liberties of the citizens of Lynn have been and probably will continue to be trampled in the ongoing structure of this project.

THEREFORE, my name is as tainted as anyone's (ie.-four marriages) and subsequently would fit quite nicely above the doorway.

Respectfully,

Stan "SELL-OUT" Wotring

OKAY ALREADY. so I might be taking an ethical dive....

OR....

I'm doing just what Cathe asked "I'M TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER".

SMH Girls Basketball Fundraiser

SMH Girls Basketball Fundraiser
Today, February 17 at 8:00pm
Location: Old Tyme Italian Cuisine



Darn, I was just invited today and I don't think I can go and there's going to be food. Well, I encourage all of you to go and show your support with your stomach. NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR A DISABLED GUY READ POETRY, ANYWAY!

WHO SHOULD HAVE A VOICE

Well, I personally paid a visit to UNCLE TOM'S office to check up on my request for a copy of the "OPEN-MIKE" guidelines and a photocopy of the sign-in list. I had forgotten to put my address on my initial letter and I thought maybe they didn't know how to get in touch with me. You know me and those silly little details. I mean, UNCLE T did give me a ride home once but they do say the memory is the first thing that goes.

He is so thoughtful, he had it waiting for me on his desk in an UNSEALED envelop. That was clearly considerate on his part, knowing full well that since I am disabled I might have TROUBLE opening such an important letter. EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN UNCLE LIKE THAT.

I will tell you what the guidelines say. WHAT? WHY SHOULD YOU BELIEVE ME? "I COULD WRITE ANYTHING," you say. Well you see I only got a WORD document, not an actual photocopy of the policy manual. Who you going to trust?

Anyway, it says, "All speakers must be residents of the City of Lynn and eighteen years of age." You see that could have been problematic had not PATTI CAPANO, who was the only one of the subcommittee, suspended the rules to allow them to speak in favor of the SUPERINTENDENT and renewing DR. LATHAM'S contract. See most of them listed their address as their school or in one case the administration. I mean, I'm sure that some are so dedicated that they actually sleep at their school. (I bet they got those big, fluffy bathrobes with an embroidered RAM or BULLDAWG emblazoned on the lapel, maybe even a pair of those fuzzy little house slippers.)

There were 10 people speaking on the SUPERINTENDENT'S contract and only my BFF and myself speaking in favor of a fair and equitable search. We were also the only two that wrote down our street address.

MORE TRANS-PARENT-CY

Dear Ms. Young,



I am requesting that I be put on the agenda for the city council meeting of February 28th so that I may inform them of my desire to have a public hearing on the decision not to open up the superintendent Lynn Public School's position up for a competitive bidding process to ensure that LPS employs the most competent person at that post.
I feel that since half of the city budget gores to fund our schools, I feel it incumbent upon the councilors to take a public position on whether or not they want to see the most qualified person running our school system. With only 16 school districts doing worse than us statewide and we are starting to embark on a 65 million dollar spending project with the construction of a new Marshall Middle School,it is my contention that the taxpayers are owed that we have the best person for the job'
Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.

WHO ARE YOU SIDING WITH?

It's pretty clear. Some people are more concerned about getting re-elected so that they can have access to money and power than they are actually doing their job. Before his name plate is even done, CHARLIE GALLO had a fund raiser for re-election.

With only having sat through two regular an one Special Lynn School Committee meeting, he is hardly qualified and questionably justified to be able to ask people support his bid, much less ask for their monetary support....

UNLESS...,

certain people want to insure the status quo. Those same people don't want to see the best possible candidate selected for the next three years to run our school system. We owe it to our kids.

 OH, I FORGOT CHARLIE DOESN'T HAVE KIDS. 

Just why was he running again?

FIGHTING TRADITION

RAMS versus the DAWG'S. Everybody loves a rivalry. Everybody, that is except people at COMMERCIAL STREET. Many of the people that commute to occupy office space above the Tiger's Den came down to testify on behalf of the current superintendent. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and in this case they may have been right.

But, sometimes you don't always have a right to voice them. Last Thursday night's Lynn School Committe meeting was one of those time for the six figured imports that ambushed the committee with pre-planned rhetoric incited by a mass e mail. Had it not been for PATTI CAPANO suspending the  rules that require all speakers to be residents of LYNN, many of these bullies would not have had a pulpit.

PATTI may, may have been within her rights as acting chair of the LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE because our HONORABLE MAYOR so as to give her that power. The entire incident paints all involved with a tainted ethical brush.

Those same foriegners from afar probably promote the tradition of competition between schools but seemed to advocate the suppression of competition for the leadership of those same schools.

EVERYBODY HAS A STAKE

Half of the city's budget goes to support the public school system. With that being the case, how can any LYNN CITY COUNCILMAN not support a search for the best possible candidate for superintendent? On the MOST IMPORTANT issue to all LYNN residents. It is important not to be on the wrong side of the education of our children. THE NUMBERS NEED TO ADD UP.

POP (Power Of the Parents) PUTS ON PRESSURE!

As parents we have all supported at least some of our elected officials in the past. For any of them not to support us, parents, who are voters is UNACCEPTABLE. We are not advocating regime change, only the best for our kids. By failing to support our citizen's iniative any elected official who does not favor this iniative is positioning themselves to be in favor of less than the best for the children of their constituents.

I urge all of them to look at the big picture and know that we, as parents will not be satisfied with anything less than the best for our children. SIGN THE PETITION!

TRYING TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES WHEN IT'S NOT ON THE LINES

Every time I go to LSC meetings, I go to the back pages to check personnel changes. For whatever reason, this stuff is never put on-line.

I always circle the numbers of the teachers who are not certified for their assignment. To me, there are a couple of things at work here. First it's not fair to our kids to be taught by less than accredited teachers

AND...

it's not FAIR to the teachers who have sacrificed and worked hard to attain their credential. And let's not forget we were paying two consultants $800 to make sure all of the current teachers keep up with their certification.

ANYWAY...,

this last meeting had something unusual. Of the five new TEACHERS two were not certified for their positions and ONE, LAURIE PETERSON who was hired as a long term sub for Gr. 3 at INGALLS was not identified as being certified or not.

I am sure she is good at what she does TEACHING is a very difficult job and one that I found extremely frustrating in my couple of experiences, It's not fair to anyone to withhold information because pesky people like me get lead to have false speculations.

TASTE A LITTLE BOURBON

Local residents can learn what it is like to exeriance the culture of NEW ORLEANS without leaving Lynn, You don't have to worry about rising gas prices or changes to the T.
 http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fartsafterhours.com%2F&h=yAQH53qr7

TIME FOR ANOTHER PSA

Second Annual Frederick Douglass in Lynn Celebration at High Rock Park
Tuesday, July 3 at 6:00pm
Location: High Rock Tower




This was a GREAT celebration last year. It was a chance for the whole community of communities to come together the celebrate the differences that make us one.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE AFRAID OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE

You know, I hear some reluctance from certain politicians for wanting to be affiliated with a PARENT'S MOVEMENT to demand excellence in the selection of a superintendent for the Lynn Public School system, Now, I'm not necessarily talking a NEW superintendent, just the best one for our kids. LET THE DATA FALL WHERE IT MAY.

So, let me see if I can get this straight in my head now BY NOT SUPPORTING A SEARCH FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE, THEY ARE SAYING WE SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH SOMETHING LESS FOR OUR KIDS. Oh I forgot, kids don't vote.

You know what's funny is you had TWO CITY COUNCILORS come to a LSC meeting to oppose the Superintendent and the LSC over RATS, why wouldn't they want to take a stand for KIDS? Priorities I guess.

DEMAND THAT ALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TAKE A STAND FOR KIDS!

Kids may not vote now (their parents do), but they WILL.

MORE MESSAGES FROM MY MARSHALL MEETING INFILTRATION

The current space that LYNN HEALTH CENTER is not part of the LPS. The Lynn City Charter  maintains that an equal space must be provided for in the new building. That's a little confusing for me. Are they saying that Lynn Public Health OWNS the space just like a condo?

I thought they were just put in there on a grant. All of this financial stuff messes with my head,

MARSHA(LL),MARSHA(LL), MARSHA(LL)

I learned in the meeting today there are three different proposed sites for the new MARSHALL.  The supposedly favored one is on the sight of the current MARSHALL but a public park (not identified but clearly Kiley park) and the other is some private building vacant building that the land could be bought.

Site #1- at Marshall- If we build  it there demolishing completely would be the easest to do. The hardest thing would be to find a place to put the 961 students for however many years. We are not talking about moving a class or two, we are talking a WHOLE school. To hear MIKE DONOVAN from ISD talk today one possible option was to move them into the other two middle schools.

Really. really? BREED is overcapacity as it is and PICKERING is about 20 years older than MARSHALL

If they go with the other two sites the kids would go to school where they are now....

BUT...

Site # 2 - public park (Kiley) - demolish the current building and the city charter mandates that an equivalent park be built there.

OR...

Site #3 - The private property - MARSHALL would still have to be torn down because there are no plans to use that building for anything it is so bad, hence MSBA is calling for a NEW school without entertaining the possibility of rehab

A private parcel of land lends itself to the potential of CORRUPTION. I point to CLASSICAL as the classical example.

SO PICK YOUR POISON!

IT PAYS TO STUDY

Today's MARSHALL meeting was all about different firms seeing if they had  the ability to do a Feasibility Study for the construction of a new MARSHALL. The winning bid must complete the study by MARCH 2013 and then a special election for voter approval to go forward mst be held within 90 days from the completion of the study in order to begin construction,

Today's meeting was about who would get the $750,000 check for the study.

NOT SECRET (I was there) BUT NOT WIDELY KNOWN ABOUT

Today's meeting was a PRE-BID CONFERENCE. Attendees met with PAULA FLYNN from the CITY and DR. LATHAM, and DR. COWDELL from MARSHALL . I'll give you some juicy details later....

BUT FIRST.....

I got to tell youabout what happenened as we were leaving. Being slow like us disabled people are, DR. LATHAM was set to go out the door before me. Then she turned around and went back in. Of course I did the polite thing to do and hold the door. You know me and women. I have a proclivity to them all,

OKAY

 DR. LATHAM comes behind me now down the steps after me now. Have I mentioned I have a BALANCE problem? And CATHE is a formidable foe.

BUT....

she went to her car without incident as I exhaled a sigh of relief. Then as she was opening up her car door she looked at me with those misty, baby blue eyes and said, "MR. WOTRING (call me Stan), THINK HOW MUCH WE COULD ACCOMPLISH IF WE WORKED TOGETHER".

WHOA!

Was that a come on? Immediately my DEFENSES sprang up, so I replied, "I'D BETTER NOT COMMENT". She repeated what I said and looked into my eyes. I knew better than to exchanges glances but I did. Straight to jelly goes my knees and I said,"YES, YES, IT IS TRUE THAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH A LOT IF WE WORKED TOGETHER.".

After our special moment together she got into her car and I continued to walk away. I always fall too easily for women. I did get to thinking though if she really was sincere about "WORKING TOGETHER" she would have offered me a ride.

MARSHALL MADNESS

My Day Planner just got my 1 o'clock appointment time filled. It seems that meeting I was trying to find out about MARSHALL is going to HAPPEN later today. I called CHARLES WHITE'S office and they confirmed it. When I asked if I could attend, I was asked who I was with? "LYNN SCHOOL WATCH", I told them don't you know. Then I was put on hold for a couple of minutes and they came back with an affirmative. I just have to sign in. Well, I got the time.

I LOVE BEING POOR!

HOW'S THIS FOR TRANS-PARENT-CY?

Dear Hank,
I am writing to inform you of my petition campaign to force the Lynn School Committee to hold a public hearing on their decision to not to post the superintendent's position to allow a fair and equitable competition from the public to be able to select the best possible and most qualified candidate. Earlier on the night of February 9, 2012. the Personnel sub-committee had voted 2-1 to post the position. LSC member Patricia Capano was the sole dissssenting vote.
Later that night, acting as chair because the Mayor was not present at the regular meeting she waived the residency requirements for OPEN MIKE to allow members of the overflowing crowd to speak in support of Superintendent Latham. An email was sent around earlier to principals and other school department personnel to encourage them to attend the night's meeting. It seems to me that this is a questionable if not unethical use of the Lynn Public School's e mail system.





I strongly encourage you to investigate these improprieties and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.



(781) 248-8933


Hey, you can put your two cents in,here you go!
tellhank@whdh.com   

TRASH TALKING OR MAYBE NOT

I was rummaging through these old discarded papers, you see and well I came across one from the SECRETARY OF THE STATE, GALVIN (he's higher than Uncle Tom and he doesn't take dictation either) and I come across this fax or maybe this info was taken right off a website. It was the confirmation of a DESIGNER SERVICE submission.

At near the bottom of the first page it says there is going to be this non-mandatory meeting at MARSHALL at 1 pm. on 2/15/12. I called DONNA, she's on BUILDING AND GROUNDS to see if it was open to the public and if I could go. Well her response was, "WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT?". It seems she didn't know nothing about it. So she instructed me to call the MAYOR'S office. I did and wouldn't you know it wasn't on the city calender and they didn''t have a clue.

So what am I left to do? Well I found a number I can call. It is CHARLES WHITE the PURCHASING AGENT for the city. If you are curious, like me he can be reached at city hall and so you don't have to look up the number here it is: 781 598-4000. If you don't like to talk on the phone, his e mail address is cwhite@ci.lynn.ma.us.

I WONDER IF HE'LL SIGN MY PETITION?

NO PORRIDGE NEEDED

Grandpa, he's all through with it.
Talking about the runaround at Drewicz
.
For ten years there's been a complication.
Closed ducts, there's been no ventilation.

When he called to complain
he found no records, did they maintain.

Just so everyone's aware,
now he's hunting for bear.

PLUGGED PIPES AT DREWICZ GONE PAPERLESS?

It seems like the only thing scarier than GRANDMA is GRANDPA! It seems like today he was cooking up his own special recipe for alphabet soup. You know a little EPA and a little OSHA. It must be from an old family favor-ite. Can't wait to sample it.

MY CAMPAIGN TO CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT!

I was hoping to get a chance to speak. I didn't, they don't operate like the LSC, public hearings but no OPEN-MIKE. Just as well, I'm too SHY anyway I mean I was going to tell them publicly about my petition drive. I've already given our HONORABLE MAYOR a copy of the letter I gave to UNCLE TOM.

If I've learned one thing from PRECIOUS PATTI it's transparency. I mean I can see right through her.

Well, the evening wasn't a TOTAL loss. I mean I got some support, signatures and perhaps peaked the interest of the paper. PLUS I learned that WAYNE LOZZI is going to be my new WARD COUNCILMAN.

HOW YA DOING, WAYNE!

POETRY FORECAST

Raining on a reign,
that's what I do.

Walking with a cane,
that's me too.

Some call me a pain.
that also is true!

A BIG BAD VALENTINE

Won't you be my valentine?
If you are good
the numbers will bear you out just fine.

A little competition can only make you healthy?
Unless, your sole
concern is to continue to get wealthy.

Grandma's watching out for this little red Riding Hood.
There's more to worry
about than keeping your job if you should.

It seems like there's plenty to hide.
In your lawyer,
you may need to confide.

DRIVE TO FAIRNESS!

I am inviting everybody that is on Facebook to go to the group, "Petition For A Public Hearing". You can updated on the progress of our drive for educational justice. We want a public explanation why our children are being denied a fair and equitable search for the most qualified candidate to lead our school system forward. The out of town mercenaries had their turn to speak, now its OURS!

WHEN ARE THE REPORT CARDS DUE?

Yeah, PARENTS are wondering. How long has it been since they sent the snow that fell inside the FORD SCHOOL gymnasium? Are they afraid to disclose the secret recipe of LEAD, MOLD, and ASBESTOS? DREWICZ already has a REPORT CARD showing ASBESTOS in the NURSE'S office. Isn't that kind of funny in an ironic sort of way, GOING TO THE NURSE'S OFFICE BECAUSE YOU ARE SICK COULD HAVE MADE YOU SICKER.

SANTA CLAUS HAS BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO DREWICZ FOR TEN YEARS!

This CULTURE WAR thing has been going on for TEN YEARS or at least that's what GRANDMA says and I'm not brave enough to dispute her. See the VENTILATION DUCTS has been supposedly closed for all this time and since the school does not have a CHIMNEY there is no other way for jolly ole SAINT NICK to enter the building.

With all of the high tech cameras and security system OFFICER FERRARI could prove his existence once and for all. Since they have been closed for such a long time, I can only suppose that there is a conspiracy to discriminate against people with beards. Hey, maybe that's why my e mails are blocked.

A CHOICE MATTER

Currently if your kids in ELEMENTARY school, they eat what's served them and that's that. Hey, that's they way it was when I grew up. (I confess I walked home for lunch until I went to the tenth grade, even when I was on crutches.) No matter where you ate, you ate what you were served or I had to listen to my mom go on about starving kids in China and some kid working in the field all day on a bowl of rice. She was trying to teach me to be grateful and I learned.

Aside from the nutritional moral lesson there is something else at work here. Starting in MARCH some of the elementary students will begin having an option, the CHOICE menu. The biggest problem is where it starts, SHOEMAKER. I mean it's got to start somewhere, but why do all the GOOD new programs always seem to start in certain schools?

TAKE-OUT TIME

Well I haven't even had breakfast yet and here I go talking about food. I'm not sure what I'm going to have yet but at least I'm sure it's going to be made in THIS state. You can't say that for your child if he eats breakfast or any other meal at school.

Whether it's free, reduce, or full price it's fixed and frozen in PA and shipped up here the day before it is served to give it the illusion of being fresh. My old high school Physics class taught me that the freezing part damages the structural integrity of the food. POP QUIZ: "What are the three states of MATTER?". ANSWER: "gas, solid, and liquid".

You can't beat this a BLOG on education that's EDUCATIONAL!

North Shore Acappella Benefit in Lynn MA


http://www.lsahome.org/Event.html
 
YouTube Medley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiiQnT4RUPc

Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/NorthShoreSingOff


North Shore Acappella Website:

http://northshoreacappella.com/

Products
North Shore Acappella -- the fan’s favorite on NBC’s The Sing-Off -- performs a Benefit for Lynn Shelter Association (LSA)
at Lynn Veteran Memorial Auditorium, 3 City Hall Square, Lynn MA 01901
on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 7:30pm
Ticket Pricing: $42 [order online at www.lsahome.org under Event]

$62 for VIP Seating

NEW: $22 for Student/Child

IMAGINATION AT WORK OR WORK ON IMAGINING

This BLOG is getting risky. I've made a lot of NEW friends but I've made some POWERFUL enemies. I think I am about to make MORE. GE puts a lot of MONEY into LPS in the forms of various grants. There is the KNOWatom science in a box program that CERTAIN schools had the luxury of benefitting from. My own daughter was in the GE GIRLS GO TO MIT program last summer.

Perhaps though, GE's motives aren't altogether altruistic. I mean a little seed money spent here and there could create an enviroment where the enviroment ain't something to be so concerned about In GE's defense about them being so offensive, when most of the damage was done before anyone realized the extent of the problems.

IT'S ALL HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME

Regular WATCH watchers may remember a pertinent past post whereby I mentioned that the GOOD DOCTOR met on the day of every LSC meeting with student representatives from the various high schools to update them on the business of the Lynn Schools. If GOOD-TIME CHARLIE had attended the LSC meetings like me, he would have known that.

Instead he tried to make POLITICAL POINTS by trying to piggyback on the backs of what the LYNN CITY COUNCIL had done. Word is that he is climbing on the backs of certain councilmen to get their seat. Politics is a contact sport.

Anyway does he truly care about students cause if he did would he sacrificed students who were already doing the job? Knowing full well the particulars of this measure, LATHAM let it go forward for what reason? Perhaps to help train her pets. Give a dog a bone.

MOLD IS OLD, TIME TO PLANT FEAR BY THE STRAWBERRY BROOK

It seems the more I dig in to this story, the more I want a HazMat suit. The mold issue is well chronicled.
So is the ASBESTOS issues. Now I;ve found that DREWICZ is built on STRAWBERRY BROOK (key BEATLES music). Kinda explains the regular flooding.


Well our esteemed HONORABLE MAYOR has been so concerned about the potential liability of putting a BIKE TRAIL on old railroad tracks, what about exposing teachers, staff and STUDENTS to potential carcinogens and other bad stuff from a runoff of old GE stuff?

I have already told you I'm hearing of cases of cancer, lung problems and miscarriages.

We at the WATCH bring GOOD THINGS TO LIGHT!