HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-02-03 Human Relations Advisory Committee MinutesCQ4
HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
February 3, 2005 at Police Station First Floor Community Room
Present: Margaret Soli, Chair, C. McDonald, P. Kelley, Nancy Najmi members and among guests
Representative Patrick Natale, Selectman Rick Schubert, , School Committee members Pete
Dahl, John Carpenter and Elaine Webb, Terry Jones, Bob Brown, Dennis Johnson, METCO
parent, Ben Tafoya and wife Maureen, Lorraine Louanis, Jack Goldberg, Anne Mark, Emily
Maughan, Carolyn Whiting, Barbara Kelley, Bob Soli and invited speakers Wilma Fraser,
Reading METCO coordinator and Jean McGuire METCO Executive Director - a good sized
group was present for the program, METCO Update.
Terry Jones, Reading resident, former member of the committee and a former METCO
student spoke first to inform those present of his experience as a METC student, subsequent
history and the importance he placed on the program. He attended through METCO Walpole
schools graduating in 1977 and later graduated from Brown in 1982. He later taught for 10 years
and later attended the Sloan School of MIT and now is employed as a Consultant. It all started
with METCO. There was a lot of chaos at the start. He would have to arise early and drive 40
miles. He later was an athlete and in high school rose at 5:30 and work until midnight. He had the
benefit of a great host in Walpole, an attorney Tom Powers who allowed him to stay with his
family and gave him rides.
He described the different levels of ambition in his home neighborhood and how school
helped him to set his goals of attending college and playing football. He feels strongly the
importance of METCO. The kids he met in Walpole he believes are better off from knowing him.
They came to Boston, his neighborhood and met his people. He made friends with white, middle
class kids. His skills improved and this enabled him to have high expectations. Boston schools are
still not what they could be. The long term success of METCO is favorable and his success
started with METCO.
Wilma Fraser, the METCO has been the METCO coordinator since 1991. Then there
were 91 students; now there are 41, only 2 in the elementary grades. The reduction has been
largely due to growing town enrollment. Since the new elementary school ha s been built, it may
be possible to introduce students at grade 1. It was traditional to take students starting at grade
lbut later they have introduced students at grade 6, 7, 8 and 9. She will be speaking to the
Superintendent, Pat Schetttini who has told her he supports the program and has gone to lunch
with the METCO students and heard their concerns. She hopes soon that they will be able to
increase the number above 41. This year 3 seniors will be going on the college. Last year 5 went
on to colleges including U. Mass., Lowell, U. Mass Amherst, Bunker Hill, Bowdoin and Keene.
Reading has done a good job but will do a disservice to its students if the program declines and
the students are deprived of knowledge of other cultures.
She called attention to METCO Lobby Day on March 15 when supporter speak to their
representatives to seek support for the METCO budget. A number of METCO communities are in
the same situation as Reading. John Carpenter and Pete Dahl expressed support on behalf of the
School Committee by comments. Parents have to sign their children up early. There are 4000 on
the rolls. There is no income requirement just the desire for a better education. It is a hard road
for them having to rise early and drive a distance to school. They have to live in two worlds. It is
particularly difficult if they wish take part in activities such as sports. Some girls have been
unable to take part in track because it would compel them to get home too late.
Dennis Johnson, a METCO parent spoke. He has two daughters in the program. The
older, Leanne has graduated and is now at Keene. She did do track. They have to be up at 5:00
and he drops them off at the bus at 6:00. They have to work hard and have no TV during the
week. They wake him up to go and have learned a work ethic. They sacrifice with joy for the
children. They have learned to speak up and be at home in diverse community. He lives in
Dorchester in a three decker and attends the Presbyterian Church. He inspired all with the
explanation of the role played by METCO parents.
Margaret Soli, the Chair, added a comment of how as a teacher herself she had had such
good contacts with METCO parents and introduced the main speaker Jean McGuire, Executive
Director of METCO.
Ms.McGuire gave a wide ranging and inspiring talk describing her upbringing in Canton
in a family of 8 children and later move to Stoughton. Life has changed following World War II,
schools have been integrated but there remains much still to change. METCO tries to cross the
borders separating people and the schools are essential for promoting democracy. There are still
problems in housing and equal rights and we seek to educate everyone. METCO is a form of
desegregation in lieu of integrating housing. In recent years the METCO budget has been frozen
and now they are trying to have approval of a budget of $5,000,000. METCO is a finger in the
dyke and is important because we all need each other.
It was a very inspiring and educational evening for all present.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul A. Kelley, Secretary
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