Thursday, February 19, 2009
Snow days vs Religion
Lawrence School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy recommended Good Friday, which falls on April 10, as a date for making up one of five days lost because of bad winter weather this school year. "A lot of students go to school that day," Laboy said. "I hope we don't appear to be sacrilegious in that way, but we don't have a lot of days."
In response, school committee member James Vittorioso said "I may not be the greatest Catholic, but I do go to church. I think it's a disgrace." Mr. Vittorioso continued his crusade last night on WBZ's radio program Nightside with Dan Rea. He argued that they should not open on Good Friday because many parents have already vacation plans so opening on this day would not work. He also said opening on a Saturday or running into July will also lead to low attendance - again because of parents keeping their children home for mostly vacation reasons.
I guess school is all about vacation and no longer about education or the future of the next generation. So much for that. He additionally commented that the founding fathers clearly wanted separation of church and state. Unfortunately for Mr. Vittorioso, separation of church and state would actually mean they should have class on a religious holiday instead having the day off. It may all be a moot point since Teachers' union president Frank McLaughlin called classes on Good Friday a contract violation and pledged to file a grievance if Laboy follows through.
Good luck to the school district and hope the students enjoy classes this July!
Labels: School
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Another semester FINALly over
Today marks the end of Operations Management and the beginning of Summer Vacation. I guess I'll have to wait for the snow to stop this week before summer starts! It's nice to see some snow in January, oh I mean April? Ahh New England. What's the saying... Wait 5 minutes.
Anyway, it's good to get this semester over with and to have completed another class toward my MBA. Just 8 more to go and I will have my master’s degree. Then what will I do with my time? PhD? Another masters, say in Mathematics? Or maybe just be done with school? Who knows, that's a ways off.
For now I am looking forward to some warmer weather, traveling to San Fran in May and enjoying New England this summer - camping in New Hampshire, beaches on the north shore, climbing Mount Monadnock, running a few road races, many, many BBQ's in the back yard, rollerblading the Charles on Sunday mornings, and biking around town. I can't wait for it to start. Now if it could just stop snowing for the season we would be all set.
Labels: School, Summer
Thursday, December 14, 2006
FINALly Over
Last night Lisa finished her last final and now we are both done for school for this fall. It was hard going back to school after a long hiatus for both of us and going to the "all on-line" model for Lisa was very challenging in the first few weeks. Now all of that is finished and we are both looking forward to some relaxing and the holiday season.
ORWe are really looking forward to installing the rest of our new windows [done], removing the wallpaper in the dining room and painting it Wildflower Honey Yellow and Frosted Pomegranate Maroon with new curtains, replacing the shower liner in our circa 1974 "blue" bathroom, installing ceiling fans in all of the bathrooms [that's three] and finishing off the "master" bathroom with a new shower liner, sink/vanity, toilet, floor, lights and paint.
It's actually going to be fun [and frustrating as all house projects are] to do some work on the inside of the house before school starts up again on January 15, 2007.
Labels: House, School
