By Sandra Stotsky – July, 2013 Why Massachusetts needs to defund implementation and testing of Common Core’s current standards In this essay, I suggest why Common Core’s English language arts and mathematics standards need revision before further implementation in any Common Core state—and well before tests are given that are based on these flawed standards. […]
Lawrence Catholic Academy is pleased to announce the graduation of 38 students on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at a commencement held at Saint Patrick’s Church in Lawrence, MA. It was a special day for graduates and their proud parents, guardians, grandparents, faculty and staff. The ceremony was a celebration for everyone to recognize our young […]
By Dani Langvin – July 2013 It’s time to think outside the igloo. We, here in the Merrimack Valley, live in an area of extreme weather patterns. Summers can be excessively hot and wet or dry, and winters are snowy and unpredictable. Because of these extremes, schools have been shut down due to flooding (a […]
By Jeff Katz – July, 2013 I am happy to reflect on the fact that as a young man I was in a number of what were then called “advanced” courses. I excelled in English, history and social science and the Philadelphia school system provided me with an opportunity to delve deeper and more […]
By: Tom Duggan – July 17, 2013 With Jeanne Pappalardo leaving the city council because of term limits this year, three people are seeking to fill two seats on the city council representing Methuen’s West End. Incumbent Councilor Sean Fountain, School Committeeman George Kazanjian and Methuen’s most outspoken member of the school committee Evan Chaisson […]
By: Dani Langevin – June, 2013 When parents are denied the right to have contact with their children you have what is called Parental Alienation Syndrome or PAS. This is not simply a burden that an alienated parent must bear, but their children too, must deal with being forced to live without one of the […]
At the risk of sounding elitist, Massachusetts schools should not have to lower their exceptional education standards to be equal to other states. Alabama is a very nice place, but it does not necessarily share our educational requirements, especially if we hope to compete in the high tech and medical fields that attract students and […]
By: Crystal Galloway Arnott – May 2013 Shelter Manager, Lowell Humane Society Sure signs of spring have arrived, sunshine and blooming flowers, but for those of us in the animal sheltering field we have a different name for it: KITTEN SEASON. The usual reaction to kittens is a chorus of “awwws” and the fierce desire to snuggle […]
By: Tom Duggan – June 5, 2013 An Essex County Grand Jury has refused to indict Carmen D’Ambrosio on state terrorism charges after the 18 year old Methuen High School Student posted what police say, were threatening messages in texts and on Facebook. The teen was released early Thursday. D’Ambrosio was being charged under Massachusetts […]
LAWRENCE – Funusual Records is proud to release the Charity album ‘We Stand With You’ featuring 17 tracks. An album that features both local artists from around Massachusetts and artists of the ‘80s for a cause. With the tragedy that hit Boston recently, Funusual Records has decided to help those in need and […]
By: Tom Duggan – May 22, 2013 First Amendment advocates and free speech organizations have taken notice of Methuen High School student Cameron D’Ambrosio, who is being held pending a $1M bail for what Methuen Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s office say are threats of “terrorism.” On May 1st, Methuen Police Chief Joe Solomon […]
By: Dani Langevin – May 2013 “Derek” is a forty-eight year old divorced father of two who has not seen, heard from or spoken with his two children ages 13 and 10 since June 11, 2011 due to, what he claims, is a corrupt court system that is skewed in favor of mothers. When I […]
By: Cheryl Hajjar – May, 2013 As I listen to my Ipod, I hear Christina Aguilera’s voice reciting “Nobody’s gonna hold us down, nobody’s gonna hold us down “, I remember a friend of mine once told his daughters they could be anything they wanted to be, that nobody could hold them back from […]
By: Clare Donegan NORTH ANDOVER: Town Meeting voters are considering a $4M expenditure involving 16 municipal buildings, including 8 schools. If the contract is awarded to AMERESCO the $40k study will be “free.” Forty percent is allocated for “new energy management systems” that communicate using wireless microwave radiation. Why install expensive infrastructure, which increases security […]
The GLCAC’s Head Start program recently won recognition for its innovation and leadership in teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics to preschoolers. In a ceremony attended by Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua, Lawrence Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Riley, parents and GLCAC staff, three prize-winning teachers were honored for using bridges and statues to help preschoolers learn […]