I have had some contact from the community about the profile that appeared in today's Newburyport Current. I wanted to take a moment to clarify a point that was made in that profile.
We have two great kids. My son spent his pre-school and kindergarten years at Newburyport Montessori; he stayed at the Montessori School for first grade because I was teaching there that year. He then went to the Brown School for 2nd grade, will be at the Bresnahan for 3rd grade, and the Molin for 4th grade. That makes 4 schools in 4 years, the first one a private school.
My daughter spent pre-school and kindergarten at Montessori, then 1-4 at the Brown, and 5th grade at the Middle School.
As a School Committee member, my first and foremost concern has always been making sure that our educational system meets the needs of every child where they are, encouraging and working with their strengths, and recognizing and providing support for their challenges. I have worked very hard to do this; our system is on the way, but not there yet.
As a parent I have a responsibility to ensure that any unique needs my child has, socially or educationally, are met in a setting where my child is most likely to succeed. To that end, my daughter will not be attending the middle school next year; she will be returning to attend Newburyport for High School. Perhaps she will return later this year, if we and she feel that she isn't getting what she needs to succeed. That decision is one our family made based on the unique needs of our particular child, and in no way should be construed as a rebuff or critique of the current Middle School. I am very excited and optimistic about the changes, and firmly believe we are closer than many think to achieving some wonderful goals as a system. And The Middle School will lead us there.
As difficult a choice as this has been, we feel we have done what any parent would do.
For those of you who believe that making the decision as a parent that the current system serves the needs of one of my children, but may not meet the needs of another is critical to my credibility as a School Member, you are free to settle on that judgment on Election day.
Despite the choice my family has made regarding what may be in the best interest of one of our children, it is worth noting that that we continue to pay full taxes, and make additional donations of cash and time to ensure viability of our schools; our son, who is part of the "cohort" that will experience the greatest change over the coming two years will continue in the system; and that my record of working hard six years as a passionate and relentless advocate, working my butt off to kindle a School system that serves every child where they are and helps them fulfill their greatest potential remains unquestioned. How that would change, should I be re-elected, is unclear to me. Please let me know if you think you have some insight into how my role would change.
We are all human, we all make assumptions. As a hypothetical, suppose you had to make a choice about finding a program that served your child best because of a particular range of learning challenges; and that program existed outside the current school system you were in. And you chose to send your child there, footing the bill yourself. Is that fair game for public debate and judgment? Would the parent who made such a choice, yet continued to advocate that local schools need to be supported to the fullest extent possible, be a hypocrite?
For those of you you who understand my responsibilities as a parent and SC member sometimes don't overlap exactly, I appreciate your understanding.
If anybody has any questions, or comments that stay within the disclaimer guidelines, I'd very much like to hear from you.
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While I do not reside in Newburyport, having kept up with the struggles of the local school committee during the past couple of years, I was saddened to learn of the recent comments received by Mr. Menin regarding his family's decision to send his daughter to a private school this year. So I decided I had to add my two cents--for whatever it's worth.
Any keen observer of Mr. Menin's tenure on the school committee would certainly have to agree, whatever they think of the decisions he has made, that he is committed to the best interests of Newburyport's children. He has certainly been a totally dedicated, principled and passionate advocate. He has made the school committee a significant priority in his life---often sacrificing sleep, his health and time with his family--to do the best job he can do for his young constituents.
Given all the above, Mr. Menin certainly should not have to defend his family's decision to do what they think they need to do to best meet the educational needs of his daughter.
Does anyone truly think that it is impossible to do what one has to do for the sake of one's own children's educational needs and still do everything one can to make the public school system a better place for the community's children? These two goals do not negate each other--they are not mutually exclusive.
The decision that Mr. Menin and his family have made for their daughter is consistent with what any decent parent would do-what any responsible parent should do.
What purists conveniently forget is that while we live in a world in desperate need of radical changes--we still have to deal with this world "as is" at any given moment. And that fact often leads to what seems like contradictory decisions.
We all need to do the best we can do to make a living and take care of our families and our communities in the world that exists, while hopefully also doing what we can (some of us much more than others) to make the world a better place for everyone. We all make compromises, some more than others.
But those who can manage to live without contradictions--as if the world already is the wonderfully just and equitable place that it should be--are few and far between. Most of us do the best we can with what is in front of us. Many do so while continuing to struggle valiantly to improve things for others as they go.
After all, Karl Marx spent his days and nights writing his critique of capitalism while living off the proceeds of his friend and comrade Frederick Engels' factory profits--go figure.
Mr. Menin is willing to do what is right for his daughter--despite the possible repercussions on his reelection to the school committee. That should tell you all you need to know--that should indicate what kind of person he is. If that isn't evidence of his personal integrity, I don't know what is.
I, for one, have no doubt that even if Mr. Menin is not reelected, he will be as tirelessly involved as any parent/citizen can be in promoting the best interests of all of the children of Newburyport in whatever role he is able/permitted to play as he has been as a member of the school committee.
But that really is beside the point. That doesn't change the fact that a decision regarding whether to vote for Bruce Menin should not be based on where he sends his daughter to school.
Hopefully the voters of Newburyport will base their decision on whether to vote for Mr. Menin on his record as a committee member for the past six years--a record which clearly speaks for itself. To do anything else would be to deny the children of Newburyport one of the best, advocates around solely because this admirable candidate is trying to provide his daughter with the best opportunity to succeed under the circumstances she faces. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. The community as a whole and it's children in particular deserve better than that.
I urge the citizens of Newburyport to vote based on who they think will act in the best interests of its children. It's the only right thing to do. It's really that simple!
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