In an editorial in the Jewish Advocate headlined “Newton needs to take anti-Semitism more seriously” the editors write:
The town should use all available resources to investigate the current incidents. Town officials refuse to call in federal law enforcement to assist local police in finding the perpetrator or perpetrators. Catching the offenders, and making known publicly the consequences to them of their actions — even if not their identities — will deter others.
“Call in the feds.” Really?
Dear Jewish Advocate: I think our police and school departments are quite capable of handling this investigation of what was terribly hateful graffiti.
Also, Newton is a city, by the way. Moreover, Brian Turner is not being “scapegoated”; he has admitted to being negligent.
And some people on this blog have described some of my editorials as “over-the-top”….
“Call in the feds.” Really?
Dear Jewish Advocate: I think our police and school departments are quite capable of handling this investigation of what was terribly hateful graffiti.
Also, Newton is a city, by the way. Moreover, Brian Turner is not being “scapegoated”; he has admitted to being negligent.
And some people on this blog have described some of my editorials as “over-the-top”….
Got the name of the school wrong as well.
Got the name of the school wrong as well.
What Andy said.
What Andy said.
Silly me, I thought Newton was a City.
When someone writes an article and can not get simple facts correct such as school names and towns versus cities, their commentary holds no weight.
Silly me, I thought Newton was a City.
When someone writes an article and can not get simple facts correct such as school names and towns versus cities, their commentary holds no weight.
They would have better off taking the ADL’s lead in calling for the city and school dept to investigate underlying causes and making long term curriculum changes (not sure what that means exactly) emulating Catholic Memorial: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/17/anti-defamation-league-urges-newton-probe-causes-hate-incidents/mNqaFP8G5ywUEDt6kffncO/story.html
…which according to this it seems the *city* is already doing: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/18/newton-mayor-announces-initiatives-combat-hate-incidents/WVGMjefHdqrMj0jrYgJefJ/story.html
They would have better off taking the ADL’s lead in calling for the city and school dept to investigate underlying causes and making long term curriculum changes (not sure what that means exactly) emulating Catholic Memorial: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/17/anti-defamation-league-urges-newton-probe-causes-hate-incidents/mNqaFP8G5ywUEDt6kffncO/story.html
…which according to this it seems the *city* is already doing: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/18/newton-mayor-announces-initiatives-combat-hate-incidents/WVGMjefHdqrMj0jrYgJefJ/story.html
when one is at the top of the totem pole, all one materially sees are those below. Might a big part of the situation be that, beyond municipal affluence, those professed leaders address ‘pc’ in their leadership as a ‘do as we say – not as we do’ way? This apparently undermines their own integrity, falling victim to their own perceived success. Might they be their own worst enemy?
when one is at the top of the totem pole, all one materially sees are those below. Might a big part of the situation be that, beyond municipal affluence, those professed leaders address ‘pc’ in their leadership as a ‘do as we say – not as we do’ way? This apparently undermines their own integrity, falling victim to their own perceived success. Might they be their own worst enemy?
Facing History and Ourselves was a program introduced into the Newton School curriculum in the late 1900’s. I don’t know whether it was cut because of budget constraints or ignored because individual schools may have had the choice to drop it, as unnecessary, if it wasn’t mandated. But NOW is certainly the time to bring it back! See (facinghistory.org.) It actually works at eliminating ignorant biases through education.
Just today, Mayor Warren sent out an e-mail discussing the City’s robust responses to these anti-Semitic acts:
1.The first annual community discussion to ensure that Newton is a welcoming place for all will be held in the War Memorial at City Hall on Thursday, April 7 at 6:30pm.
2. The City will be “working with Richard W. Cole, Esq, a Civil Rights and Safe Schools consultant. Attorney Cole is a former Assistant Attorney General and former Chief of the Civil Rights Division at the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General. ”
It doesn’t look like we need the Feds…yet.
Facing History and Ourselves was a program introduced into the Newton School curriculum in the late 1900’s. I don’t know whether it was cut because of budget constraints or ignored because individual schools may have had the choice to drop it, as unnecessary, if it wasn’t mandated. But NOW is certainly the time to bring it back! See (facinghistory.org.) It actually works at eliminating ignorant biases through education.
Just today, Mayor Warren sent out an e-mail discussing the City’s robust responses to these anti-Semitic acts:
1.The first annual community discussion to ensure that Newton is a welcoming place for all will be held in the War Memorial at City Hall on Thursday, April 7 at 6:30pm.
2. The City will be “working with Richard W. Cole, Esq, a Civil Rights and Safe Schools consultant. Attorney Cole is a former Assistant Attorney General and former Chief of the Civil Rights Division at the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General. ”
It doesn’t look like we need the Feds…yet.
I did Facing History in another district in the 1980’s. As a student I loved it. I wondered if it was still around!
I did Facing History in another district in the 1980’s. As a student I loved it. I wondered if it was still around!
Facing History and Ourselves began in the 1970’s, not the 1900’s. I went to Brookline Public Schools and they were among the first system to teach the curricula. Forty-five years later, my husband is a teacher in Brookline at a private school, and they still participate in Facing History and Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/
Facing History and Ourselves began in the 1970’s, not the 1900’s. I went to Brookline Public Schools and they were among the first system to teach the curricula. Forty-five years later, my husband is a teacher in Brookline at a private school, and they still participate in Facing History and Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/
Jo-Louise…I said the late 1900’s (not knowing whether it was 1970’s, 80’s or 90’s). Sorry I was not clear. (I should have said late 20th century.) I don’t know whether the program is mandatory or has been cut by various municipal budgets. My hope is that it is still available and that it is integrated into the curricula of all the schools in Newton.
Jo-Louise…I said the late 1900’s (not knowing whether it was 1970’s, 80’s or 90’s). Sorry I was not clear. (I should have said late 20th century.) I don’t know whether the program is mandatory or has been cut by various municipal budgets. My hope is that it is still available and that it is integrated into the curricula of all the schools in Newton.