"It's All About Me" Votes Teachers Union

I was reading that the teachers union at Tantasqua Regional High School voted not to accept furloughs in order to help close the gap in the school budget. As a result there will be layoffs.

One temporary, for one day, the other permanent, and forever. In these tough economic times an act like this speaks of one thing: selfishness.

I know that times are tough. We feel it. Everyone is feeling it, but when we turn on our survival mode, and aim it only on ourselves there is something wrong.

The furlough would mean everyone going ONE day without pay. One day. The teachers union voted no, and showed how insular they are as a whole. "It's all about me." should be printed on t-shirts and worn by the teachers that voted to insure that their coworkers will loose their jobs instead of everyone loosing one days pay.

We recently had sixteen layoffs at the hospital I work at in Boston. We had a similar number last year at this time. This year is different, though, all of us that survived have been assigned THREE furlough days to take in the upcoming year.

Three days.

And, the amazing thing about it it was there has been a minimal amount of negative talk about the furloughs. You see, it is pretty obvious to us, if it were not for the furloughs the layoffs would have been far greater.

Maybe it's a different mindset, but what ever it is it is still a fairly simple thing, no work for a day, or no work for a lot longer. Doesn't take a a genius to figure out what is better.

The situation I am experiencing in Boston is not only a result of the economic downturn, but other factors as well. Doesn't really matter, though. It is all the same in the end.

The Superintendent Daniel Durgin said he was disappointed in teachers vote. I'd say that was quite the understatement. I am disappointed as well, but more shocked. The "It's all about me" culture is often associated with teachers groups, and this only confirms it. Individually, it may be different, but as a group, it 's not.

The teachers will work without interruption this year. Next year may be different.

In the meantime, my heart goes out to those being laid off, their New Year is not starting off too brightly.

We can thank the teachers union for that. They are only doing their job, I guess, and have taught us all a little life lesson in charity.

You can be sure this is one lesson I will forget.

Kids Free at Old Sturbridge Village in January Free admission for children through Jan. 31;

Includes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and “Fire & Ice” celebrations

(Sturbridge, Mass.) Dec.26, 2009 – Old Sturbridge Village is celebrating the new year with a special thank-you gift for visitors: free admission for children in January – (a $7 value per child). From Jan. 1 -31, all kids age 17 and under get free admission to the Village when accompanied by an adult (the offer does not apply to educational groups of 10 or more).

The “Kids Free at OSV” offer applies for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday on Jan. 18 and the museum’s popular Fire & Ice celebration on Jan. 30, when historians demonstrate vintage ice harvesting. Visitors can try their hands at cutting ice on the Village’s frozen mill pond using old-time ice saws. Other winter activities offered at Old Sturbridge Village include ice skating (bring your own skates), sledding on 1830s-style sleds, and weekend sleigh rides (snow permitting).

After enjoying the museum’s outdoor winter activities, visitors can warm up indoors by one of the Village’s many cozy fireplaces and take part in hands-on crafts and activities. Children can also spend time “pretending” inOSV’s popular “KidStory” indoor play area.

Old Sturbridge Village celebrates early New England life from 1790-1840. OSV is open year-round, but hours of operation change seasonally. In winter, the Village is open Wednesday through Sunday 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and on all Monday holidays, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Presidents Day. It is also open daily for School Vacation Week Feb. 13-21. Admission: $20; seniors $18; children 3-17, $7; children under 3, free. Admission includes free parking and a free second-day visit within 10 days. OSV members receive free daytime admission all year long. For details, visit www.osv.org or call 1-800-SEE-1830.

Ice Skating At Westville Lake Recreation Area

Ice skating available at Westville Lake Recreation Area

Southbridge: Ice-skating at Westville Lake Recreation area is now available. The skating area is located to the left of the park entrance gate. Parking and several benches are provided adjacent to the skating area. Skating is allowed during daylight hours only, and as long as cold weather and safe ice conditions exist. It is recommended that children wear helmets. For further information contact The U S Army Corps of Engineers East Brimfield lake office at 508- 347-3705.

Thomas Chamberland

One Tribe Y'all

The New Year is almost here. A new year. The whole idea of a new beginning got me to thinking on the way home from work yesterday morning. You see, I've seen a few of these new beginnings before. Each one was full of promise, each ended either somewhat less than where it had started, or not quite where it it could have been. That was for the year in general, and for my own personal year as well. I could have been better. I could have done better. Seems that as time has gone by, the changes the world has seen has affected me in subtle ways, too.

Some just call it aging, or maturing, becoming wiser, or more learned. Experienced, that's another name for it. The more I think about it I think it is none of these things. I believe it is just forgetting. Not in the elderly way, but more in a "getting lost in the moment" way. Life does get in the way. A lousy excuse, but it happens.

One of the things I was thinking about was when I was young I practiced "playground ethics". I'd play with anyone, no matter who they were, what they looked like, where they were from as long as we played well together. That is all that mattered. I carried that ethic into adulthood, and still practice it today. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are from, or what you look like if we can "play" well together, and share that ethic, we are good. If there is a reason we can't, then I simply move on. No harsh words, no lingering grudge, I just move on. It's a one on one thing, not a group thing.

So, as I was saying, I got to thinking about somethings on the way home from work the other morning, and that "playground ethic" thing came back to me. Getting along for a common reason. As a child it was for play, and friendship, as an adult it became more involved with all aspects of life, and living on this planet, but was the same. As an adult I seemed to have forgotten the roots of where this all came from, and how much it was so much a part of my life.

I was listening to the song, posted below, from The Black Eyed Peas "The End" CD in my truck. As I listened, I heard a younger self. I was listening to the musical version of "playing well with others". I was taken back to when I was eight years old on the swing set at school, when I was seventeen and protesting for a better world, and trying to live up to those rules later in life. Now, a much newer generation was espousing the same thing. I want to believe they learned it from their parents, friends, by examples set by others, but somehow I believe that, since the theme is so constant, it must also be part of our DNA as well.

And, if that is true, then I have renewed hope for us all, and for the new year.

(For lyrics to song click here)

Merry Christmas!