Hello on Friday Morning

Dear Friends,

It wasn’t a good day for my Boston teams on Thursday. The Sox lost an afternoon game at Fenway, while the Celtics lost their game in Los Angeles.
Maybe these losses were a carryover from the lack of our power washers not finishing the job at our house. They are bringing back a forty foot ladder to get to a couple portions of the house, and to reach the gutters in the front of the house.

Linda had a great time with her book club members at Jae’s Spice last evening. She said that the food was wonderful, and that I would have enjoyed it.

We both won’t be home when the Power washer guys return this morning. My Friday golf with the seniors has a 7:30 AM start because there is noontime golf tournament.
Linda has a 9 AM appointment which is just about the time that the workers will be at our house.

Our annual UNICO installation of officers takes place this evening at the Cranwell Resort and Spa in Lenox. The cocktail hour starts at 6 PM. The food will be gourmet since the Chef is an honorary member of UNICO. He was too busy to become a regular member. If you remember, I missed it last year when I a pancreatitis attack, and eventually had my gall bladder removed.

Oil Spill – I can’t bear to watch the creatures covered in oil. The oil slick coming in with the tide is also an ugly sight. This oil spill will wreak havoc on the environment for decades to come. You can’t clean up after a hurricane, but not after an oil spill of this magnitude.

Observation – There is a movement across the country for a national test for our students. For anyone who thinks that this is some new or great concept, it is actually something that most of us have been talking about for years. As the influx and outflow of our students started when we baby boomers started teaching in the 70’s, most of us educators could see a need for national testing. We could see that our mobile society needed students learning the same base of knowledge in all subject areas. I remember a student form California who entered an honors’ class of mine. His base of knowledge was so different from what we were teaching in Pittsfield. It took months for the student to adjust.
National testing is not a new concept. They do it all over the world, and often it is for placement for Universities or Vocational schools. I do like our open enrollment system instead of pigeon holing someone in a tract which may turn out to be less than desirable, as time progresses.

Charter Schools are another thing that Politicians use as part of their campaign speeches as a way to solve problems with respect to public education. I haven’t seen too many great results with respect to these Charter Schools. The students at these schools don’t test any better. After a couple years, the Charter Schools usually shut their doors, and return to the Public School System.

Well, I have to read the local newspaper, do some quiet activities, and select my wardrobe for golf.
Since I am up a bit early, I will need an afternoon nap if I expect to make it through the UNICO installation.
Have a great Friday and a great weekend in general.
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad