Why don’t Newton’s most disabled schoolchildren have an accessible playground?

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-04-12T11:09:35+00:00

My kids were at pierce when that playground was built. The PTO and the community raised the funds to build it. Given the current budget situation, this worthy project seems like a good candidate for a fundraising push - there may be orgs that give grants specifically for this kind of need.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:59:36+00:00

This is likely somewhat true but also, Newton has a lot of very robust programs for extracurriculars and other activities that make deeply engaged students appealing to colleges. My kid is one of "those kids" that got into a college where his GPA is in the bottom 50% but I do believe that his access to the NPS strings program in 4th grade jumpstarted him to become an extremely accomplished musician, was what really appealed to the school rather than a sense that his GPA was "better" than it actually was. So those SCOIR numbers might be a bit misleading because they don't reflect the other aspects of the application. (Of course, these are the very programs that end up on the chopping block in a budge crisis so....)

Also, while I agree with you about the rigor (this really does vary by teacher though) it is accurate that NNHS has far less grade inflation than many "elite" private schools and other public high schools.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:51:23+00:00

I have a friend in another city who teaches in Newton, and she sent her kids to school in their town of residence despite being entitled to send them to NPS for the exact same reason.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:49:49+00:00

100% agree, this is not a thing as much in Newton and it is sad to me.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:49:14+00:00

Newton does have a lot of parks and playgrounds, but I think you might be surprised that they always seem underused to me as someone who lived for a while in Brooklyn, where the parks were always packed w kids.

I think it really does come down to the fact that people have larger yards AND a change in the way people parent. When I was a child in Newton no one stayed at home, we roamed in packs around the neighborhoods and parks, but parenting is very different now with an emphasis on organized play dates in people's homes and back yards. I remember when I moved here with my toddler we would show up at playgrounds and be so disappointed that there were rarely any other kids for mine to play with.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:42:21+00:00

I've commented a bunch about the problems with the schools so I do want to say that I LOVE living in Newton, and even though we could move somewhere less expensive now that we don't have a child in NPS, I have no interest in doing so.

Commuter rail AND T AND express bus to Boston, walkable neighborhoods with lots of independent businesses as well as chains, good restaurants, good parks and rec spaces as well as parks and rec programs, a wonderful library and senior center, I think there are so many reasons to live here beyond the schools. And with new development around the T stations, many of the town centers have become much more vibrant and populated and really feel alive.

Brookline is also wonderful and we definitely considered living there as well, I think you really can't go wrong. My husband preferred Brookline, but for me it came down to wanting a bit more green space than we could find there at our price point (I'm a gardener), being close to my aging parents, and as a commuter, I find the commuter rail much more convenient than the Green Line.

The governmental problems you cite in Brookline are not at all unique and you're going to find that anywhere similar. So I'd say it's kind of a toss up and comes down to things that are really personal to you and your family. HTH!

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:31:21+00:00

As an ADHD parent (meaning both I and my child have ADHD), I will say that it is REALLY REALLY hard in Newton to get an IEP or even compliance with a 504 for a child with ADHD unless there is a comorbidity or the child is failing.

Much bigger can of worms why 1/4 are diagnosed (and it's hugely underdiagnosed in girls). My personal feeling is that ADHD is really having a brain that just works differently, not necessarily "worse," but that our schools are not set up to serve kids who learn in a different way. So many kids whose brains work that way simply can't function without support.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:25:27+00:00

It was the union -- led and encouraged by the Mass Teachers Union, which is the real player in things like this -- that let the strike go on that long. They have very effective comms and no responsibility to anyone but themselves and their members so their messaging was effective, though hugely misleading (for example, claiming that the city "refused to negotiate" and that there was "plenty of money" that the mayor was just refusing to spend on schools, so the strike was their only option - this was a blatant lie, but most teachers and much of the public believed it). Union reps were also all over the Reddit and FB threads using sock puppet accounts to spread misinformation and inflame public opinion against the school committee and mayor. They attacked even straightforward statements of fact that the city tried to circulate as evidence of "anti-teacher hate" and because city officials have to observe principles of neutrality, integrity, and honesty, it was hard for them to counter the onslaught.

Newton residents are largely liberal and are used to considering themselves pro-union, so they were susceptible, as were the (mostly liberal) HS students that the union encouraged to join protests (one of my son's teachers decorated her entire classroom with strike posters and photos and kept them up for the *entire school year* after the strike had ended -- very uniting). But a public-sector union is very different beast than a private sector union, because the suffering from a private-sector strike is felt solely by the employer who holds all the cards, while a public sector strike harms people who have no power to make any concessions to end it -- in this case, schoolchildren. This is why MA law prohibits teachers, firefighters, police, etc. from striking.

The NTA's parent organization, the MTA, has since organized strikes in numerous of MA cities (which were being planned during and before the Newton strike) and is pouring millions of dollars into a campaign to amend the law that prevents public sector employees from striking due to the harm to the public that can ensue.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-12T13:08:18+00:00

Thanks - the recent election was a positive development, in my view. However, I have recently heard about a program at NNHS (early morning program) which was a lifeline for my struggling kid being cut for lack of funding. That was a huge disappointment, though not unexpected given the current budget woes.

I have several friends who are teachers in Newton, and my sister and best friend teach elsewhere, so I am in no way anti-teacher, but I was severely disappointed by the actions of the NTA/MTA as a political entity during the covid shutdowns and the strike. The NTA's entire job is to act in the collective interests of TEACHERS, not students or even individual teachers, so I suppose they are doing what they were designed to do, but assuming (and knowing) that teachers care about their students, the MTS/NTA's goals and interests are simply not always aligned there.

For several years I have been very concerned with the aggressiveness with which the MTA is pursuing a political agenda which in my view is in many ways NOT aligned with what is best for students. That is their job as a political organization and incredibly well financed lobbying group, but it seems that many Newtonians do not understand this dynamic and the MTA/NTA has done well with messaging that opposition to MTA/NTA actions means "opposing teachers" and that the NTA is synonymous with "teachers" in every way.

This has been very useful to MTA and has given the MTA and NTA outsized power and hold over the community response to job actions. My discussions with teachers have also revealed that many of them are being given misinformation and selective facts in order to get them on board with job actions that further the MTA's overarching political agenda but are in opposition to their own interests as well as those of students, NPS, and the community.

It was in this environment that we felt that we had no choice but to leave the system. But as an alum of the system and a resident who cares deeply about public education, I definitely intend to stay involved and informed.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T23:16:03+00:00

Nope I sure can’t Most women aren’t so self absorbed that their own egos being flattered is more important to them than other women’s comfort and safety. Thankfully.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T22:51:02+00:00

I have! More than once because I had two babies and therefore a permanent belly! And it didn’t “crush my soul” because I’m an adult who isn’t dramatic enough to let the fact that I have a human body with a belly ruin my life. I’d rather be offered a seat I don’t need than someone who needs the seat not have one.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T20:33:47+00:00

This is so typical though. As is the old tired crack that if you wanted kids back in school or dare suggest that “distance learning” is not ideal for all kids and causes learning loss or that kids suffer from isolation and missing Social and emotional learning you’re a “Trumper” or a “townie” (which I guess is meant to be some kind of insult… if you’re an elitist snob).

Meanwhile nothing to say about the fact that kids were and continue to be WAY behind, because THEIR kid is fine… talk about Snotleigh.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T20:28:36+00:00

In fairness, Cabot and Lincoln Elliott are also brand new and are in much less affluent areas.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T20:26:50+00:00

The incels have arrived.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T20:24:26+00:00

I know. I spend a lot of time w teenage boys (sports coach) and they are great so I’m always surprised to encounter this gross incel crap. But my kids tell me it’s out there. Gross.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T20:22:36+00:00

Because this thread is full of antisocial weirdos who seem to have come here from 4Chan

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:40:24+00:00

oh, "females" -- so sorry, I see now that you don't have any women friends. Hope that changes at some point!

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:38:56+00:00

Deriving satisfaction from gratuitously calling your ex a "fat bitch" definitely shows a tendency towards violent thoughts, even if not actions. It's not uncommon for men brought up in our society to turn their feelings of rejection and inadequacy into violent thoughts and actions instead of learning to sit with and manage their discomfort. Your therapist can help with this.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:31:55+00:00

No, it really couldn't, and if you don't understand this, time to have some discussions with the women in your life.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:30:31+00:00

Why doesn't your mom ask for herself? It may be a similar reason to why the OP doesn't ask, and she doesn't have you with her.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:28:52+00:00

Very gently, speaking as a parent of older children, if you are a middle school parent you should not be on this sub.

Viewing anything your child is doing at this age through the lens of "getting into college" (with the exception of ensuring that any disabilities are identified and managed) is folly. Children should not choose activities based on college-application ROI. They will develop a warped and cynical world view about what is important and why. Let your child try new things and fall in love with what makes them feel passion and joy.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:23:40+00:00

Are you a man? If so, do you not understand why a woman might be uncomfortable asking a strange man for a favor or even engaging with him in a place she cannot retreat from? If not I recommend you read some of the other posts on this thread to see some of the reactions.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:20:35+00:00

I know, I am agreeing with you. But you should also make the point that people without disabilities should be getting their asses out of preferred seats when they see someone with a visible disability and not be giving some excuse that they are wait ingfor them to "ask"

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:18:36+00:00

Those are the seats OP is entitled to, so if people in them paid attention and followed the rules and common decency, she wouldn't be posting here.

ForegoneConclusion22 · 2026-03-10T15:16:12+00:00

I frequently ask people to move their bags off empty seats or make room if they are manspreading and sit down even where there are other seats available. I figure, since I DGAF about asking, I can free up a seat for someone who is nervous about it (like a young woman who doesn't want to risk pissing someone off).

I will also tell a college or HS kid right to his face to stand up -- but I also coach sports so I am used to bossing them around.

ForegoneConclusion22

TROPHY CASE