There are many important things going on in Massachusetts, Boston, and South Boston. 

Here in South Boston, major developments along the waterfront are occupying what used to be rubble-strewn fields.  Challenging jobs are now locally available for residents who want to get into the rapidly growing hospitality field.  The new convention center, several hotels, seaside restaurants, parks, the pavilion, the Fort Point art colony, and the striking ICA building make the waterfront an exciting place to go these days.  And it will only get better.

     Little by slow, Boston is also realizing that public safety has become an urgent issue.  There is talk of adding over 100 police officers.  Citizens’ Crime Watch groups are forming, staffed entirely by volunteers.  That’s good news.  It shows we can resolve major problems.  We haven’t lost it yet.

But where are our efforts in high technology going?

     Massachusetts has always been known for its support of technology and its handmaiden, education.  Historically, the Puritans planted the seeds for universal education with their so-called “writting schools”.  In 1837, Horace Mann of Franklin started his career as “the father of public education”, establishing an educational system in Massachusetts that became a nationwide model.  The state has always given education a very high priority.

     Massachusetts has had numerous technical firsts - the telephone, anesthesia, radar, railroads, unit operations, and even the first cultivated cranberries, just to mention a few.  Combination of public and private entrepreneurs have always underwritten major projects to improve and expand commerce, starting with Faneuil Hall and the Long Wharf.  Our world-class universities and research hospitals are alive, well, and expanding.

     So what can we do better?  Remember, Massachusetts is losing highly skilled people, and the world is knocking on our door via “outsourcing”.

     First, open the doors to new, practical technologies.  One example is stem cell research.  Another is wind power.  Wind power won’t save a lot of money at first, but it will show the way to reducing oil imports and helping the environment.  Massachusetts has the engineering talent, and even more important, we have the wind.  Don’t let NIMBYs and their shameless political maneuvers stop this project.  Do the Dutch object to windmills in Holland?

     Next, continue to improve education at all levels.  Educated citizens are essential to high technology.  No matter what anyone tells you, the MCAS test standards should be raised – they have worked well.  Exam, pilot, charter, and magnet schools should be expanded – just take a look at their waiting lists.  Kids and their parents long for better education. 

     And never mind pre-school, bilingual, and other educational variations on a theme.  Put maximum resources into our high schools.  That’s where the problems are.  That’s where the greatest “bang-for-the-educational-buck” will be achieved. 

     Get the college professors out of their labs, offices, and libraries and into the classrooms, especially the undergraduate classrooms.  If you never see a professor, despite paying astronomical tuition costs, consider transferring to one of the state’s very fine smaller colleges – either public or private.  Frankly, a few of our major private universities in Massachusetts are pricing themselves out of the market, and at the same time, their undergraduate standards are slipping badly.

     Finally, for our politicians, particularly our elected officials, we have three requests:  one, take whatever political steps you need to improve our educational system in Massachusetts; two, reduce the cost of housing by sweeping away excessive regulations and restrictions on building; and three, then get out of our way.  Thank you.