Who will you vote for in the city-wide School Committee contest between Margaret Albright and challenger Cyrus Vaghar?
Vote in this unscientific poll and then share your thoughts in the comment section.
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POLL: Margaret Albright or Cyrus Vaghar for School Committee?
by Village 14 | Oct 26, 2015 | Newton | 26 comments
Clearly Margaret is going to win this race. But does she really deserve your vote? As a candidate she reiterated her support for later high school start times, right here on this blog. As a SC member she has failed to bring about that change, and has declined my request for a timeline of when that change might be made…
At some point we have to stop voting for candidates because they are intelligent or well meaning people. When a candidate clearly articulates a position that they fail to deliver on once elected, a reelection vote for that person simply endorses their failure…
If this were a small issue, I would say nothing. But early morning start times have created a culture of sleep deprivation among our teen students. Sleep deprivation has been definitively linked to depression, and that connection is magnified in teenagers…
Through their inaction, Margaret and her SC colleagues have left thousands of Newton teenagers exposed to a variety of mental and physical health issues resulting from sleep deprivation…
Some people may feel that issue does not warrant withholding their vote. I would urge those people to “google” “teen sleep deprivation,” read a few of the articles, then come back and tell me why you’d vote for Margaret or any of the incumbent SC members.
Mike, I welcome you to attend the school committee meeting this evening. We will be discussing both the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and will have a report from the School Start Time Working group. We will also be discussing our wellness policy which includes many aspects of mental health.
This year as last year students in middle and high schools will be screened for depression and anxiety. We are one of the most pro-active school districts in the state in this area and we are also one of only a handful of districts statewide looking at changes in school start time.
While this may not be the pace of change and the actions you are looking for, we are working toward change – something that is never easy or swift in a system as large and complex as a public school district.
The “Youth Risk Behavior Survey” is one of the worst surveys in the State.
Students often lie on it and who can blame them when it asks if you have ever tried “China White.” You wouldn’t know this unless you were a student. The School Committee should be fighting this survey that wastes taxpayers money and creates the illusion of actually combating the drug problem effecting our State instead of embracing it with open hands.
Just in case you are wondering, I am the ONLY candidate who has:
1) Agreed to donate their pay to charity, if elected.
2) Not take donations because I am running for the STUDENTS only.
3) Agreed to fight for the students to have a VOTE on the School Committee. (As of now there are student reps. They do not speak as said by multiple SC candidates. Students deserve to vote just as parents do.) This would diversify the School Committee and make sure everyone is heard.
4) Fight the drug epidemic effecting our schools as one of their top priorities.
5) Stop excessive spending acting tougher with the unions. Our spending has almost doubled in the last 10 years to $200,000,000 ANNUALLY.
6) Drafted a legitimate plan to combat our start time problem instead of waiting for a group to possibly think about a solution to a problem that needs to be addressed ASAP.
7) Actually campaigned to our students by talking with them 1-1. Not because it will get me the most amount of votes, but because our students need to be more involved. (Most candidates campaign to the voters 18+ only).
If you don’t agree with what I am trying to do (give our students a voice in our schools), then don’t vote for me. BUT, if you are ready to change up the status quo then please consider voting for CYRUS VAGHAR on Nov. 3
Win or lose, let’s send a message to the current School Committee.
P.S. spread the word about all the SC elections to your friends!! Since there are so many contested races in Newton, we could always do with more press!
@Cyrus,
Having seen many school committee meetings, I’ve observed student representatives offering their input during school committee meetings, and I’ve seen that input welcomed by the voting members. As you no doubt are aware, most of the students in the NPS are minors. As a society, we recognize that minors are still developing their skills and judgment and need the guidance of their parents in order to learn to make good decisions, and thus we do not give them the full legal capacity of adults. We protect minors by limiting the number of hours they can work, by limiting the hours that they may drive a car, by permitting them to get out of a contract. And, we exclude them from the voting booth until they have reached the age of majority, an age at which we believe they are ready to take on the full rights, privileges and responsibilities of adulthood.
But, the point is, that they do have input on the school committee. They are chosen by their peers and they appear in a representative capacity where they are treated with courtesy and respect. But the decision makers, as you have so often said in your campaign, are mostly parents, and it is those parents of actual students in the NPS who care most deeply about the well being of the students – all of the students from pre-K through 12th grade, the students in all 3 high schools, all 4 middle schools and all 15 elementary schools. Parents, like Margaret Albright and Steve Seigel, Matt Hills and Ellen Gibson, who bring a direct line of communication from their kids – their students – straight into the committee room, but with judgment, insight, maturity and wisdom that hopefully comes along with the experiences and skills they each bring to the table.
Take a closer look around the room Cyrus; the students are already in there.
“They are chosen by their peers and they appear in a representative capacity where they are treated with courtesy and respect.” – Lisap
History has taught us that this statement doesn’t happen in the real word. Think of when woman were trying to get the right to vote or people of color. Looking back we are sure that anyone who defended NOT giving them the right to vote was wrong. Flat out wrong. But at the time it was not so clear. Just as easily as our students can be listened to, they can be drowned out.
“Take a closer look around the room Cyrus; the students are already in there.” – Lisap
That is the point, they are already there, so give them the vote they deserve! But the truth is our students aren’t there. How many students (many of whom are close to turning 18, if not already), do you see showing up at local election debates or forms? They don’t.
If as a voter you truly think that our students are not ready to have a vote in THEIR OWN future, then maybe you should question how good of a public education they are getting in our schools. Teaching them how a college loan works isn’t mandatory but teaching them what sine and cosine is is mandatory? That isn’t how the real world works and it makes sense that many of them graduate with so much student debt.
Even though i’m the Longshot in this race, if you think that the School Committee could do with some diversity in the people holding positions (not all parents), then consider voting CYRUS VAGHAR on Nov. 3
Cyrus,
You’re comparing not giving voting rights to children to disenfranchised women and people of color. I rest my case.
Your case is weak and you only want to take out my most intense example. That’s ok, it will take a while for some parents to consider ever giving their students a vote in the schools just like it took a long time for past cases (as I said above), to come around to the idea.
I know it is useless trying to connect with you because I’ve tried many times before, but do you not see you are criticizing Lisap’s using your “most intense example” but then you double down on the same one in the next sentence? It’s a ridiculous analogy that not only doesn’t work but is insulting to two groups of people, disenfranchised adults. Children on the other hand are a protected group not being discriminated against, but in many instances being allowed special circumstances.
“Children on the other hand are a protected group not being discriminated against, but in many instances being allowed special circumstances.”
First off, I am talking about students and generally I consider children someone before puberty. Second, if you think student’s have more special circumstances than the parents on the current SC and therefor probably have more pul than parents, then we can’t connect on that.
Viva the students and vote CYRUS VAGHAR on Nov. 3
You plainly have no idea what you are talking about.
If you want to connect or discuss current issues with me it’s important that you write out the reasoning behind your statements. If not, then ok agree to disagree, I guess.
Best,
Cyrus Vaghar
In the past minute or so, votes for the incumbent have gone from the mid 90’s to 110+.
I guess I know why they call these polls unscientific, but i’m glad someone feels like messing with the whole honesty system. It means my campaign is working. I’ll post a couple of pics to my Twitter as proof: twitter.com/cyrusvaghar
Best of luck to all the candidates and I, CYRUS VAGHAR, hope to get your vote on Nov. 3
I’ll call it a night at that. I’m always willing to talk: [email protected]
Mike,
I was thinking of the late start times issue last night. (Thats right, I have no life). AND one of the biggest issues as I can see is that when we move the start time from 7:40am to 8:40 am the natural logical next step would be to take the end time (lets say it’s 2pm and we back it to 3pm). So our times would change from 7:40-2 to 8:40-3pm.
My idea and it’s so simple that I would think it muct have been thought of already is this. Switch 7:40-2 to 8:40-2. Push the start time back an hour andkeep the end time, so we don’t interfere with sports and after school programs.
Where we make up the difference of the 5 hours is we open up the school on Saturdays, so the start time is 8:30-2:30 (or whatever). I know there will have to be some buy in with the unions, etc. BUT, I think this is doable.
Tom – Are you suggesting a 6 day school week?
Tom – are you suggesting holding school on a day that many people in Newton hold as the Sabbath? Are you suggesting that observant Jews shouldn’t be able to send their kids to the Newton public schools?
“Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferrals of information.” – Paulo Freire
The problem I have with what Lisap shares above is that we are talking about students as lacking requisite judgment and maturity, rather than inviting them to lead. If we want Newton to return to #1 in the nation, we need to listen to students and view them as leaders today – not presume that just giving our students rep. spots (with no voting power) will accomplish this. Let’s inject students’ voices and ideas into the SC and let them help shape their education moving forward. I think of the tech sector and how it has been shaped by youth – imagine how innovative our education system could be if we infused it with students’ own ideas and influence on what is required to excel in today’s environment.
We should give students votes on the SC – they invest so much time into their future and should have voting power to help shape it. Good to see Cyrus Vaghar running for SC – the more students who step in to share ideas and influence their future, the better.
Jane, I am suggesting that it should be on the table.
mgwa, you’re objections are easily answered. When I went to College we were given a choice of schedules, I often created a schedule that either I didn’t have too many early classes (as I was never a morning person) or I made my schedule so I would have Fridays off. Why can’t we transfer that type of scheduling in HS. If someone has the Jewish holidays then they can create a schedule that doesn’t have saturday classes. Next.
Don’t the Japanese or someone have 6 day work/school weeks? I guess not many Jews in Japan, :).
I read much Paulo Freire when I was a student at BU-SED! I actually saw him speak at Boston College in the 1980’s!) He was my favorite educator!!
Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere
Here is the link… https://libcom.org/files/FreirePedagogyoftheOppressed.pdf
Tom– I don’t love the idea for a couple of reasons. First, I think high school should start at 9:00am. Secondly, I think kids already spent too much time in classrooms. I’d rather see their weekends free to explore other things, like sports, recreation, or some of the programs that currently take place after school. But I’ll say this, Tom, you’ve already [by virtue of your suggestion] given this issue more serious thought than the School Committee as a whole. Respect! [And best of luck in your upcoming election].
@Cyrus Vaghar– I know you have caught endless crap on this blog. And I probably didn’t help your cause by declaring your opponent the inevitable winner with the first post on this thread. But I want to tell you what I really think…
Win or lose, you should be tremendously proud of what you are doing. It took a lot of courage for someone your age to run for office. You make me proud to live in a community that produces young people like you…
Although we’ve never met, your youthful enthusiasm reminds me of Bobby Kennedy. Like Kennedy, you “saw wrong and tried to right it” [to quote his brother, Ted]. And the cause you’ve selected, defending the rights of students, is one that desperately needs a spokesperson…
Your work should not end with this election. Even if you are defeated, look at it as a warm-up for the next election. Because two years from now high school will still start at 7:30 in the morning, and your opponent will be offering up the same excuses she offered in the second post of this thread.
You are a leader, Cyrus. If you win you deserve it. If you lose, hopefully you’ll be back for another go. But the one thing I can tell you with certainty, you did the right thing by running and calling attention to the issue of early morning start times. I sincerely thank you for your effort on behalf of Newton students.
Classes on Saturday? Nothing like pointing out who observes the Jewish Sabbath? Why not have school open SEVEN days and pick the five you like most???? (I don’t like this idea).
My kids have two parents that work full time out of the house. . . . . and Saturdays and Sundays are special. Yes, I drive my kids here, there and everywhere, but Friday night is a time for a great family dinner (no rushing to complete homework for the next day), and have friends over or attend a Shabbat service. I relish the days that I get to spend with my kids (even if we are in the car). Please don’t open school seven days a week. There will be pressure for kids to spend all seven days there.
As members of our community, kids should spend time with family, friends and in the community: decorate Halloween windows, rake leaves for the elderly neighbors, babysit for neighborhood kids, catch a movie with friends or do whatever.
Once we open schools for classes on Saturdays and Sundays we pressure our kids to go to school and be the best at school. We don’t encourage resting and enjoying an unstructured time.
And I will be voting for Margaret. . . . she was called me to speak about issues that are important to me, and not just during an election year. Margaret works well with others. I fear that Cyrus will not work with other school committee members. I get one vote for Ward 2 school committee and Margaret has earned that vote.
Last night the school committee had its first report from the start time working group. The group is in the process of gathering data from all constituencies and is developing both student and parent surveys to collect objective data. There will be public hearings early in 2016 to allow people to offer their views. Mike, Cyrus and Tom, I encourage you to make your voices heard.
The next report of the working group will be on November 23.
Thanks Mike.
Let’s see what happens on election day. If I win, then I will get working on day one.
If not, I hope the School Committee starts taking the start time issue, the drug issue, the student voting issue and the financial literacy issue more seriously than they are now.
I’m not sure what I will be doing in two years, but feel free to reach out in about a year and a half if the issues are still being ignored. Perhaps a more intensive run will be in store.
@Margaret– Thank you for encouraging me to make my voice heard. Let me respond with some encouragement for you. I would encourage you to [in Patriots’ parlance] “do your job.” Stop making excuses. Prioritize and correct a situation that you have already acknowledged has significant negative consequences for thousands of students every day. Taking years to fix an obvious problem is not acceptable to me, and should never be acceptable to the voting public.