Submission to the Newburyport High School Annual Favorite Poem Project ~ Spring 2010 ~ launching "The Year of Boundless Ambitions" (March 25, 2010 - March 24, 2011) |
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© 2002/2006 Bright iDear ~ a composite of the stained glass tiles on the bollards marking the historic "wayes" to the Waterside |
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FORWARDED IN A MOTION OF COMITY Comity's entry to the Newburyport Favorite Poem project ~ the full context ("forwarded to in a Motion of Comity" to Mrs. Szabo by the April 10 deadline) can be found at this link within ~ with the content adapted and tailored for presentation on this Comity.org webpage. PROLOGUE Referring to the submission highlighted below --- as cited at the Comity.org link within --- and advanced/anticipated when previously submitting the “Poems for Pettengill” work order form last December, resubmitted for the Heal Haiti project (see the Comity.org link within) --- which (on page 2 of that form) cites footnote 3 of a communication sent the Mrs. Szabo and her students on December 18, 2009 (below). From Leaves of Grass (*) ... The Essay, Absolute Balance [considered entitled “The (Goal and) Apex of All Education” (**)] 3) The students’ perspective/proposal (in prose) for the future candidates (and particularly the successful nominee) for Newburyport Superintendent of Schools ---
PERSPECTIVES AND PROSPECTS From Comity’s perspective, Whitman's essay serves as the perfect “proem” to “assay” our personal and common goals for the old-style Julian calendar civic year (March 25, 2010 – March 24, 2011, termed “The Year of Boundless Ambitions”). Of course, had Mrs. Szabo’s creative writing students the opportunity to complete the free form prose “ordered” with the aforementioned work order form # 3 --- it was hoped to (ap)ply their complementary essay(s) to articulate what they (and all life-long learners and educators) consider should be the “goal and apex of all education” --- addressed to the prospective Superintendant (candidates then Superintendent-elect). Given a “premonition” that Dr. Kerble may well share his favorite poem on the Firehouse stage on the afternoon of April 25, Comity will be delighted to share the “time and space” with the participating audience --- and be part of the process (and progress). With more opportunities in moons to come. TUITION, INTUITION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT With a keen intuition that the students’ selection of favorite poems for recitation is expressly “inclusive” --- thus the process inherently promotes that new entrants (and diverse entries) will take precedence --- Comity still takes pure delight in the knowledge that each and every entry is weighed, examined and assessed by students during the process of this priceless “tuition” (under Mrs. Szabo’s thought-provoking tutelage). Although Comity does not fully anticipate that this submission will be presented “on stage” (time: April 25, 2010; space: Firehouse Center for the Arts) during the Eighth NHS Favorite Poem Project event --- Comity.org will present this content “on page.” This to fulfill the hopes that this “proem” indeed promotes (and propels) a long-overdue “adventure in word and deed” for NHS students and lifelong learners alike --- a mission for this submission noted below. ****** ANNOTATIONS ON OTHER INSTANCES OF “TIME AND SPACE” ****** * As mentioned in prior exchange with Mrs. Szabo, last fall Comity had occasion remark about the remarkable “NHS Annual Favorite Poem Project” during an extemporaneous exchange with two consultants (John Connolly and Albert Argenziano) who were waiting to be interviewed by the School Committee at City Hall last fall. [NOTE: This, during the selection of consultant firms to guide Newburyport through the superintendent search process --- duly noting Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) was ultimately selected.] Standing on the top steps of City Hall, the two posed questions about what which strengths were deemed essential in prospective candidate(s) for superintendent --- and of course in the successful candidate --- being particularly intrigued with the conversation about engaging the community (in that two of the Comity below represent the demographic without children in the Newburyport public school system, although still engaged and passionate about public education ). Had extolled the virtues and creativity of many teachers within the system, mentioning that it was teachers who pulled the “school without walls” together which used City Hall as one location when the high school renovation was delayed in the fall of 2002 --- one mentioned the need for whoever takes the helm to be creative and enthusiastic about education, and inspire and support innovation. At that point mentioning the special projects that Mrs. Szabo’s creative writing students did throughout the year, both extracurricular and within the curriculum itself. And while realizing by its description “creative writing” is “creative” how needful it was to translate this to other disciplines. Noting that Comity had shared a similar conversation on the subject of education at this very “space” (on the steps of City Hall) at a point in “time” during the month of June. Encountering Dr. Kevin Lyons before he left his post here in port afforded the opportunity to wish him well and thank him for helping position an exciting venture which would be launched come August --- weaving seamlessly into the Waterside’s history and “history in the making” --- particularly since it would be coordinated with the Friendship’s visit. One suggested he may come return to port for the event. [NOTE: It would soon come to light that the visit to port by the Friendship would be scuttled due to rot behind the figurehead which sent the replica Tall Ship into dry dock for repairs. Then the third week in August, the pilot venture was summarily abandoned, ostensibly due to some confusion over the hardware platform.] Fast forward to another “time and space: --- (“time”) the evening of Thursday, March 11 --- (“space”) outside of Room 118 at the Newburyport High School. There to attend the NHS Theatre production of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” --- which happened to coincide with the night the School Committee chose to make its selection between the two candidates for superintendent --- one approached Mr. Connolly and Dr. Argenziano who asked if we were there for the School Committee meeting. With reintroductions, the two insisting that they recalled our prior exchange. Having explained that 10 health did not allow attendance in the recent candidate interviews, although we had followed the process closely, and 2) while understanding both candidates would serve well, we did have our fingers crossed for one in particular. Explaining that while at the high school for the play --- having brought a family member --- and that we had strolled down to Room 119 with an equal measure of excitement and curiosity about the pending decision --- we revisited our prior conversation about not only the engagement of the community but engagement of the key constituency (students), seeking to sustain an excitement about learning in many disciplines throughout their young academic careers. Reminding them of our prior conversation last fall, noted that it was nigh “time” for submission of “favorite poems” typically requested by Mrs. Szabo’s creative writing students (those participating in Poetry Soup and the Record Club) in early March --- and that this “time” the Comity’s submission would be entitled, “The (goal and) Apex of Education” --- with further engagement of another one of Mrs. Szabo’s students’ projects during the New Year. Which would hopefully bring good fortune to a mission long past due for a launch. And then thanked them for finding the perfect person to take the helm. ****** DULY (AND DUALLY) NOTED: MISSION (AP)PLIED WITH THIS SUBMISSION ****** NOTE: Harkening back (the “space” at the Firehouse Center stage; the “time” during the spring of 2002 (a year before the first NHS Favorite Poem Project in 2003) when --- in anticipation of the reopening of the renovated high school in the fall of that year --- “dreams” were shared between presenting educators and the participating audience of constituents about what “peradventures” for experiential learning might be facilitated by having a new facility. (The premise and promise being that in due “time” the “space” of the new facility would help facilitate progressive programming.) FURTHER NOTE: Foretold that on Sunday, April 25, 2010, the waxing Pink (or Sprouting Grass or Egg or Fish) Moon will rise at 4:40PM, with the changing tide (low tide) at 4:20PM. A perfect time to position “the Ship” for a launch. (A coincidence that “Comity” had advanced to Dr. Kerble when he mentioned this was the very situ he and his wife would often repose when visiting Newburyport.) [FURTHER STILL: In that the moon recedes one and one-half inches per year --- thus is currently a full foot more distant than that presentation in the spring of 2002. (Duly and dually noting that this Sunday marks a 40-year milestone for the launch of Apollo 13, the “successful failure” --- we hope that this proposition is successfully positioned this day through Monday eventide. More anon re this progress and “forward movement.”) Let us now intend, contend, support and champion that within six months from that “time and space” --- by the Full Hunters Moon of October 22-23 --- this mission to reach the “Apex of Education” will be well underway. For while the moon will recede another ¾ of an inch by next October --- we maintain it remains within reach.] Before that “time and space” --- let us seek the “soul-sight of that divine clue and unseen thread” that (be)holds the event (on April 25) with “the whole congeries of things, trivial and momentous.” Please keep this in the mind’s eye as you review the submission. And together we pursue the mission. All the while … LOOKING FORWARD ... |
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