John Merrow
Cellphones should be banned in schools
Many schools, both public and private, are banning cell phones. Is this a good idea? Let me present three connected points and a (seemingly)...
A message to students on the first day of school
It’s my hope that my grandchildren’s teachers, and lots of other teachers as well, will say something like this on the first day of...
How to address a national crisis: Chronic absenteeism
American students are skipping school in record numbers, a crisis that is so acute that it became the lead story in The New York...
Toward a more perfect union
I’ve always loved the elegant, aspirational phrase “toward a more perfect union,” found in the opening sentence of our Constitution. It was our Founding...
Keep the faith in public education
Before we sign off completely for 2023, I have a short message: Our public schools are under attack, but they are stronger and more...
Community service versus ‘serving your community’
Some years ago, when I was visiting a high school classmate in a small town in Ohio, he showed me some benches near a...
Badly behaved bikers, and lax and lazy lawmakers
My neighbor tried to run me off the road in late August. He was in his car, and I was on my bike, and...
Help save public education with teacher business cards
Friends,
At every back-to-school night I can remember, I made a point of introducing myself to the women and men who taught my three children....
Want to make public schools better for students and teachers? Try ‘Looping.’
All over the U.S., public schools are reopening. You can picture what’s happening in about 85-90 percent of the classrooms: The teachers are spending...
What’s in a name?
Martha’s Vineyard is HOT! It’s pure gold for entrepreneurs, Realtors, hospitality providers, and more. While the home real estate market has cooled temporarily, storefronts...
Is ‘E Pluribus Unum’ a pipe dream?
“Out of Many, One” was the motto of the U.S. from 1782 until 1956, when it was replaced by “In God We Trust.” Even...
No one is safe from intolerance
First they came for the transgender kids in Florida, Texas, Idaho and more than 20 other states, and I did not speak out —...
Just how bad are things for teachers?
My wife and I had dinner in a Vineyard restaurant last week. Our waitress, a very pleasant young woman, appeared to be in her...
Will Martha’s Vineyard continue to ignore the future?
One year ago, this newspaper published my photo essay on the sad condition of the Island’s neglected bike and pedestrian paths, most of which...
Let’s keep things impersonal
The adult and child walking in front of me were complete strangers, people I had never seen before. The man, who looked to be...
Let students make the rules
We’re well into August now, and Island teachers are feeling the familiar dread and excitement of a new school year. I suggest that educators...
My white privilege
“Walt, I think you missed our turn. Weren’t we supposed to turn left back there?”
“Shoot, you’re right. I’ll find a place to turn around.”
“Well,...
The Island’s bike paths on the road to ruin
The internet loves Martha’s Vineyard’s 44 miles of bike paths!
“Martha’s Vineyard is truly a cyclist's paradise.”
“What's unique about biking on Martha's Vineyard is that...
Outrage fatigue
Recently a neighbor of mine asked how I was doing. Sighing, I responded, “I think I have COVID fatigue. The months and months of...
An Island emergency: Not enough bike helmets!
Martha’s Vineyard is suffering from a critical shortage of bike helmets, a situation that is nothing short of life-threatening. According to my own painstaking...