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The following was submitted by Alan H. Field, of the Winchester Democratic Town Committee:
On the evening of Jan. 8, about 45 people braved the bitter cold and windy evening to attend a lively discussion at a Democratic Town Committee event.
The draw? The issue of how the new administration in Washington might affect public education in Massachusetts and what residents of Winchester and elsewhere might do about it.
Three panelists made short presentations: Sen. Jason Lewis, Rep. Mike Day, and Legal Director for the Center for Law and Education Sky Kochenour.
Lewis began with a comprehensive summary of housing, climate, health, education, gun law, transportation and tax related legislation and actions over the past year. This might have seemed a bit off topic, but it demonstrated how much we can do in Massachusetts regardless of what the federal government does.
The senator then turned to the topic at hand. He felt that Title 1 funds coming to the state would be hard to cut — would take an act of Congress — but that some relatively small grant programs to the state could be cut.
He expressed greater concern about what the federal government could due to harm immigrants, including school children, in our state.
Day followed, expressing some of the collective anxiety that perhaps all in the room were feeling about the new administration. He felt, or hoped, that internal differences in the administration might temper the harm they might do.
Like Lewis, he felt that Massachusetts should be able to continue to thrive and make progress on a variety of fronts in spite of Washington.
An audience member suggested that up to $1 million federal dollars could be withheld from education in Winchester and Day responded that with the state’s “rainy day” and other education-directed funds, we should be able to get through the next two years, after which there could be a change in the makeup of the Legislature in Washington.
Finally, Kochenour spoke about future possible federal government action and inaction. Like the two previous speakers, he felt that it would be hard for the new administration to implement some threatened actions. But he was more concerned about inaction.
We would be less likely to see proactive efforts to protect and advance various educational and social rights. This could stall progress, particularly for less advantaged communities and specifically for learners who are bilingual and/or have disabilities.
Kochenour also reminded us that educators need stronger support for today’s multicultural realities and not to be too smug about educational outcomes in Massachusetts. Even in Winchester, many students do not meet proficiency standards, let alone exceed them.
Many issues raised by the audience were aired and discussed. By meeting’s end it seemed a major sentiment was that we need to talk more with each other, as at the meeting, and to roll up our sleeves to keep working to improve education in Massachusetts.
We also need to protect and advance health, justice and compassion in the state.
The mood throughout was friendly, positive yet determined.
The event, with refreshments, was organized by the Winchester Democratic Town Committee and was held in the home of one of its members.
