>>Valley Patriot>>


(04/04/07)
In the Face of Acusation
Peter Larocque, Lawrence School Committee

One of the accusations towards the Lawrence public schools is that we are putting so much HOPE in the new Lawrence High School that is being built. Well, that is very far from the truth!

Truth be told is that our hope and confidence is in the teachers in the Lawrence High School and throughout the entire school district. Take a good look at what they have now at the Lawrence High School building.

They have an old, rundown building that is being used way beyond what it was originally designed for.

The roof leaks and the basement gets wet when it rains. Bathrooms are overworked and the cafeteria is overcrowded. The classrooms and hallways are also overcrowded. Because of the overcrowding, discipline also becomes an issue. Thus, the reason for a new high school being built! So, yes, many of these issues that deal with the physical building will be non-issues at the new high school.

But the truth of the matter is that our HOPE is that since we know that with all the faults of the old building on Haverhill St., that EDUCATION is happening! Children are learning. WHY? Because of the quality and caliber and character of the teachers of the Lawrence High School. I believe that our teachers in the entire Lawrence public school system are second to none! They are asked to do miracles day after day with little to no parent involvement! But they show up the next day for work and for that

I am very thankful and proud to stand by them.

Now take these same teachers and place them in a new facility and new learning environment and a ratio of 1 to 20. You tell me what’s going to happen!
Six new high schools being built on one campus. The new Lawrence High School campus will have a college atmosphere that all Lawrence parents who send their children to Lawrence public schools will be proud of. If I sound excited about this wonderful opportunity for the children of Lawrence, it is because I am!
So is my HOPE in a building? My answer to that is that I am excited about the new buildings, but my HOPE is in the teachers and students who will occupy those new buildings on the new Lawrence High School campus. My expectations are high, my goals are clear, the future of the students in the new Lawrence High School is bright!

So if we can get all us adults on the same page and show our children in Lawrence that, yes, we can work together. That their EDUCATION is important to all of us, then maybe all of our HOPES and GOALS can become reality!

      

Peter Larocque is a member of the Lawrence School Committee. He was elected by the Lawrence City Council to fill the unexpired term of Amy McGovern. You can email him at pamelalarocque@hotmail.com

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The March 2007 Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007
, Valley Patriot, Inc.
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