When I proposed the curriculum for Law & Society, I got permission from one of the law school professors at BU to use material we had in an undergraduate course called “Law: The Concept of Fault”. I created and presented the curriculum to Tom Connelly, who was at the time the Personnel Director for the Newton Public Schools. I was, and still am a Newton resident and graduate of Newton South. They loved the idea and said I could start immediately. They asked me if I wanted to teach at Newton South or at Newton North. Since I knew so many kids at South from my neighborhood and from coaching baseball, I decided to teach the class at North. Tom connected me with Ned Rossiter, who was the Social Studies (not History) Department Chair. Ned partnered me with Don Crowley, who was already teaching a law class. We incorporated the materials I brought and worked together for over 20 years until he retired.
Beginning in 2001, I taught the class with Gary Stollar, who was also an assistant vice-principal. The class was so popular that second and third blocks were added, and were eventually taught cooperatively with Tony Patelis. I split my time between the two classes for two years, until Gary left Newton North because his wife took a job in Texas. Since then I have taught Law & Society with Tony Patelis until he retired at the end of last year.That’s a total of 44 continuous years, including through Covid!I conservatively estimate that over those years, including the 17 years that I also coached the Newton North Mock Trial team, I have taught law to over 3,500 Newton North students. Interestingly, I am still in touch with some of them! When Tony retired, the new Law & Society teacher decided to change the curriculum, so my affiliation with Newton North came to an end.
What a terrific, special and rewarding time it has been, with memories to last several lifetimes. Newton North is a wonderful place for kids to learn. Over the years the Law & Society students were always most eager to learn and participate in our program. Beginning in 1984, each semester ended, meaning two times each year, with an evening trial at the Newton District Court which their parents attended. The kids and their parents uniformly commented and marveled at the learning, comprehension, presentation and public speaking skills their kids had learned and developed.And for me, it has been a two-way street. Starting with Don Crowley in 1980 and continuing through the Patelis years until 2024, I have come to thoroughly learn, understand, and appreciate the issues, and with the professionalism that teachers, special instructors, administrators and staff deal with in their teaching lives, and the commitment they make to helping kids navigate the process of learning and development. I feel so fortunate to have had a front row seat to observe all of this, and to have participated to some degree.
I have met so many wonderful people at Newton North over the years, a number of whom are still at the school. I would appreciate it if there was some way that we can let them know that I enjoyed associating with all of them, and that I will fondly remember all of the kind words, discussions, sharing of ideas and the “back-and-forth” we always had on all sorts of topics. I always looked forward to coming a few minutes before class to see and engage with everyone. My involvement with Newton North High School was a wonderful experience on all of these levels. Before he passed away, I told that mentor on several occasions that I had offered his advice to students who seemed interested in a profession, and not just the law, in which being a good listener, speaker and thinker might be helpful. Since then I have offered that advice even more. Newton North … thanks so much!
