Comments on: Lawmakers: It’s just common sense, Paine artifacts should stay

By: GOPGirl

GOPGirl — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:29:18 +0000

Perhaps a compromise is in order. Allow the documents out on “field trips” during the summer months, let’s say May-September so the other interested schools and individuals may have a chance to see/study them – then return them to their rightful home, New Rochelle. And Ed1, you really haven’t listened to the kids in Westchester, they do actually have brains like sponges and they pick up on what they are told-they just don’t repeat it in the same verbiage as was presented to them.

By: Mark Wilensky

Mark Wilensky — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:22:49 +0000

I’m a fifth-grade teacher in Colorado, and a crucial part of teaching civics is providing students with our primary sources: the founding documents. This is critical in understanding what “We the People” means. Today, like 230 years ago, those documents instill in students the belief that all voices are important. Every one of our citizens are needed to pursue liberty. Futures do not have to be inevitable and “Little voices” can make dramatic impacts on events. That is Paine’s greatest contribution to our country. His pamphlet, Common Sense, spoke to all the voices in the 13 colonies during a time of great indecision. He gave a vast number of citizens a vision of what each could do, 176 days before the Declaration. A belief that power should radiate from the citizens. That message is still foundational for all our students today.

Mark Wilensky,
author of “The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages”

By: bob

bob — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:25:19 +0000

No problem, as a New Rochelle resident, I do take some pride that the local historical group has maintained the Cottage and that people continue to visit it. There are some good programs held there. I think kids always benefit from learning about history and visiting historical sites is something that may make them pay attention (rather than classroom). Finally, I’m glad my county legislator got involved here and wonder as usual why our state legislators never do anything.

By: ed1

ed1 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:58:13 +0000

I like Jim Maisano, if that’s any help. Sorry, but the rest stands.

By: bob

bob — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:49:53 +0000

ED1: Your post is unclear and not sure what it has to do with the issue. Are you arguing that it is a bad thing to take kids to historic sites? Because that would be kind of dumb.

Would you rather have kids at home on computers and playing video games or visiting a site like Thomas Paine Cottage, so they can learn a little about life in 1800s New Rochelle. That sounds like an awfully positive and useful experience for kids!

By: ed1

ed1 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:20:50 +0000

“Virtually every school in Westchester sends kids to Tom Paine’s cottage…” Right. They come in chains and handcuffs, accompanied by hordes of $125,000 baby sitters who have never read a word of Paine’s, all of them piling out of hundreds of buses belching black smoke – and they bill it all to the punch-drunk, nearly bankrupt homeowners. These kids can’t read a menu, never mind Paine’s painful prose.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:03:24 +0000

Sorry, my last post should have said “kids” go to the Cottage.

By the way, I believe it is very important that Westchester stay committed to remembering its great history.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:56:50 +0000

Are you kidding me?...virtually every school in Westchester sends kins on a trip to Thomas Paine Cottage. “No Pain, No Gain” has no idea what he or she is talking about. It is also common to see scouting trips there. The Cottage is an important historical site in Westchester and I am glad Maisano is trying to protect these items and keep them local. As we watch the joke of the State Senate play out, it is nice to see a legislator actually work in a bipartisan to get things done.

By: No Pain, No Gain

No Pain, No Gain — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:50:42 +0000

The three people who visit per year will be ecstatic.