A letter to State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz

Dear Senator Chang-Diaz, I’ve written you before but I feel compelled to write you again. The Massachusetts Association of Charters has sent out an email saying that there will be a vote on Tuesday. They are already claiming victory. I wanted to write you want one last time to ask you to please not abandon … Continue reading →

How charter schools bankrupt public school systems

You may have heard that charter schools defund public school districts. This statement might leave you scratching your head. After all, if a child goes to a charter school, isn’t that just one less kid BPS has to educate? Doesn’t the money follow the child? Neither of these questions get to the real problem. That … Continue reading →

I’m calling it: Mayor Walsh is not a friend to public education

Guys, I know that it is early in the game, but I’m calling it. Marty Walsh is not a friend to public education. In fact, he may be an enemy. Boston Public Schools are in crisis. There is a 60 million dollar shortfall. Services are being cut, teachers and staff are being fired. My son’s … Continue reading →

BosMayor Race: Thoughts from an Undecided Voter

I have been to events with the two finalist, Walsh and Connolly. At this stage in the game the events are mob scenes and it is hard to get questions answered. But I’m nothing if not tenacious. From an overwrought voter, here are my thoughts. Marty Walsh: I like that Walsh is humble and self … Continue reading →

Mitigation Plans or What #SimCity taught Me about Casinos

The writer of this blog likes to gamble. You may not know that about me because I only gamble in Las Vegas. It became clear to me early on in my life that I have an addictive personality. There are some things that I don’t do like drinking and smoking. Not because I am morally … Continue reading →

36 holes of (mini) golf

One of the problems with mini golf in the summertime is that the course gets back up with people. When we played today, we hit a hole where there was a particularly long wait. There was a family with a lot of kids in front of us. A german family. Behind us was an emo … Continue reading →

My Word and Willywags

I have to pay $500 for a mouth guard. I blame this race for mayor. Yes. I blame you. With the exception of Felix Arroyo and Rob Consalvo, the candidates have given me some version of this: Yes, there are some serious problems with the charter schools i.e. attrition rates and cherry picking populations. But … Continue reading →

Changing the conversation in American Education: Children need time to play NOT more tests

There is one thing that I learned from my years of political activism. Advocacy is not so much getting people to agree with you as it is changing the conversation. That is why I think the Corporate Educational Reformers hold such a tight rein on what is discussed in the public sphere. If you read … Continue reading →

What’s is going on up there?

New folks have moved upstairs from us. They are a young, straight couple with a baby. They’re interesting. He has long hair that he pulls back into a ponytail despite the obvious onset of male pattern baldness. She smells like patchouli. The girl won’t do anything without consulting with her guy first. If I ask … Continue reading →

Charter Schools Kill

Not really, but I wanted to get your attention. I am against raising the charter cap in Boston Public Schools, and I have been talking about it. A lot. Of all the issues I tweet on about, this has been the one that has garnered the most dissent from my friends. Why would I be … Continue reading →