13TH NORFOLK NEWS

This past weekend, I attended “No Kings” rallies in Medfield and Needham. Between the communities I serve, around 2,000 people came together in a powerful show of solidarity, standing in opposition to the President’s rhetoric and actions. It was inspiring to speak at Needham's rally and to be among such an engaged and energized crowd: hearing voices raised, horns honking, and neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder.

If passed, the TEACH-MA Act would introduce a statewide program designed to recruit, certify and retain teachers committed to three years of service in Massachusetts public schools. Program fellows would be placed in high-need districts and hard-to-fill subject areas, and provided mentorship, a stipend, and the promise of a reduced-cost master’s degree upon completion.

In August, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill that would require schools to limit student access to and/or use of cellphones during the school day. The vote garnered headlines, but the bill has yet to reach the State House floor let alone become law.

Hundreds of “No Kings” protestors from Needham and beyond filled the sidewalks around the town common on the afternoon of June 14, carrying homemade signs and breaking into frequent chants, all expressing intense disagreement with various policies and actions taken by President Trump in his second term.