Progressive Democrats of Cambridge - DFA

When I was in college, I volunteered for an innovative educational program called PeaceGames. PeaceGames teaches grade and middle school children about the principles of nonviolence, and practical lessons in getting along peacefully. In addition to the lessons on nonviolence, PeaceGames includes a mentorship/tutoring component. When I was a volunteer, I wore two hats: one as an assistant volunteer teacher on nonviolence, and another as a tutor to third graders who needed help reading. It was a great, rewarding way to help out the Boston public schools.

In about a week, the group will host an exciting event called PeaceRocks Boston: May 22, 2007 at the Roxy in Boston. The event will have some great music - James Montgomery, Bill Paxton, Rashida Jones, and Donal Logue, among others - and a silent auction.

It should be a great event - check it out!

I'm now serving on an advisory board for an upcoming PeaceGames technology initiative, although only in a volunteer capacity for the time being.

(Disclaimer: my wife is a public school teacher)

Go read this account of the unity rally last night in Roslindale Square, and tell me Deval Patrick won't make a terriffic governor.

This is a candidate who is willing to listen to everyone - including a 5 year old! - and argue for his point of view, while respecting the other person. This is a candidate who trully values the people of this state. This candidate will look a 5-year-old in the eye and tell her why her school day should be longer. This candidate understands that education is not just about smaller class sizes, better teacher pay, more funding for art and music; it's about nurturing children and showing them all the potential that the world holds for them. You can see it in his platform, and you can hear it in his personal behavior.

And what do we have on the other side? The Healey/Cheney ticket, saying the same old junk we've been hearing from these conservative clowns for twenty years now.

Let's go win some votes for Patrick/Murray.

Update: Adam tells me Greta is 8, not 5. Shame on the Patrick campaign for ignoring the 7-and-under demographic!!

The Harvard Crimson reported on Friday that Thomas Fowler-Finn, the embattled superintendent of Cambridge public schools, may be given only a one-year, rather than the customary two-year, contract extension:

As Superintendent of Schools Thomas Fowler-Finn’s future hangs in the balance, two veteran School Committee members—Joseph G. Grassi and Alfred Fantini—are pushing to extend Fowler-Finn’s contract for an additional year.

As I suspected, the balance of power rests with Patty Nolan, Luc Schuster, and Richard Harding. Depending on how this group acts, we may be witnessing the formation of a four-person progrssive majority on the school board, possibly adding Ken Reeves into the mix. Of the three, Patty Nolan appears to be the most amenable to the one-year compromise.

The next school board meeting is July 18. Apparently, there are rumors that the board will have a closed executive session on July 25 - a good thing, too, since we wouldn't want the public involved on this issue! I'll add the meetings to the calendar as time permits, so keep your eyes peeled!