Saturday March 13,2021

Good morning everyone, today is Saturday March 13, 2021. As I am sitting here I am watching a beautiful blue sky with pink over the horizon. That always means a nice day, however much cooler temperatures than the last few days. That’s okay because it is March.
I’ve been thinkinking about things I hear on the news and most of it is quite disturbing, they rarely report good things that happen. As you know most of you I taught in the city of Newark for a good part of my life and in all those years I was in 3 schools. My first position was at Rose Terrace, I don’t even think it exists anymore, but I graduated in June and in September I started there, it was a school for socially and emotionally maladjusted boys 13 -18. Now I was a fresh teacher and arrived with my brand new briefcase ready to change the world. What I found was a school more like a prison all the students had been in the youth house or Jamesburg a youth penitentiary at the time. I tried very hard to teach but everyday there were incidents with knives and axes. I soon realized this was not for me but I had nowhere to turn. About 3 weeks in, I also worked for my soon to be father in law. I walked into his office and told him of my situation, I think that was one of the lowest points of my life , I felt like a complete useless failure,
. He said to me everyone makes mistakes if teaching is not for you, you could work here we always need you. Don’t ever feel embarrassed by your choices. I said it was not teaching what I was doing, I love to teach but this was being a warden, he called Abalu in, the big guns, he said walk out. Then he said you have sick days use them til we figure this out. Stay here til we do. 3 weeks later I was At Helen Keller a School for the blind. I loved it there and then it closed and I left teaching for many years. When I returned it was to Wilson Ave. 7th grade and there I stayed in that grade for about 17 years. So I saw many adolescent boys over the years, then I was asked to do an after school program at the Ironbound boys club with a special class for high schoolers again I had many boys pass through. I mention only the boys for a reason and you will see why. In our discussions and health class and group meeting the subject of that age group always turned to girls. My advice was you must always have respect for the girls because someday you will want to marry one and spend your life together and you have to have mutual respect to make it work. Another piece of advice and many might not agree but I would tell them leave the girls alone do not touch them, they are not playthings and if you are inappropriate and get in trouble no matter what the situation is they are going to believe the girl so do put yourself in those situations. I don’t know how many listened or took that advice but I do know that was always and is the way. When I had to deal with girl my advice was the same stay away and leave the boys alone, they many times will misinterpret what you are doing. Finally I get to the news part maybe someone should have given Governor Cuomo that advice and he wouldn’t be fighting for his political career right now. Look there are always three sides to a story so we very rarely know the truth but this is a story as old as time with men and there behavior. That’s why when Mike Pence once in an interview said he didn’t go anywhere without his wife I agreed. To me I always wanted her near my side, because she is the only one that mattered. But power gives people a sense of intitlement and they feel they could do as they please and then there are others wou take advantage of that to get what they want. So, I guess if we had respect for each other maybe this wouldn’t happen time and time again. We will never know the true story but I think it is belittling to both men and women of good character.
It is cooler so on your quest for enjoyment bundle up. Enjoy this beautiful day. Til Tomorrow!