Subject: Is there hope for the next generation? Maybe not!
What were we thinking? We were a married couple with two young children and the progeny of poor, uneducated, immigrant grandparents.
We were born in Brooklyn and raised in Forest Hills. What in the world inspired us, in 1969, to move into Great Neck? An American dream? Or a nightmare? We didn’t know a sole, had $1,200 in the bank, a rented apartment, started a new dental practice nearby and had a “crazy” notion that hard work would result in a better life for our family. We just didn’t have the time to consider the possibility of failure or feel sorry for ourselves.
Living only 45 minutes from “the City,” we could enjoy Great Neck’s “small town” charm, coupled with big city excitement, Imagine, ice skating at Parkwood, Little-League games at Kings Point Park, two movie theaters and even our own symphony, coupled with nearby New York City’s theaters and museums.
Our tennis courts, golf courses and swimming pools were typically suburban but we were only 10 minutes from the Nets, the Mets, and the Islanders. We found our own favorite local restaurants, The Golden Chariot, Navona, Millie’s Place, Violet’s and Giovani’s. Every Saturday night, we even joined the long lines in front of Fredrick’s, waiting to buy the Sunday Times. The Merchant Marine Academy, and living on Long Island Sound added to its charm.
But, what really set Great Neck apart was our nationally recognized schools.
What make them so special was the participation of the parents. We filled the classrooms during open house. I even attended the parent-teacher conferences. Student plays and concerts were also packed with those typically proud, “obnoxious” grandparents who paid more attention to their grandchildren than their own kids.
Some of these parents and grandparents were students themselves at these very same Great Neck schools. But to outsiders, our “little geniuses” were still those stereotypical, rich, spoiled-rotten, Great Neck brats.
But, we knew better. Sure they had high expectations. But this was due to family support and encouragement, parental bribery (nothing like a new bike for straight A’s), sibling rivalry and even a sprinkling of “typical” Great Neck threats,(no new car for you). Add to the mix was the fact that our teachers really enjoyed teaching our children. Well, most of them did.
His name was “Dick” Sherman and he was the long-time principal of Great Neck North,Middle School. He was truly a Great Neck treasure. Sure he ran a fabulous school. Sure he supervised a wonderful staff. Sure he was involved in every aspect of our kids education. The Middle School, which was eventually named after him,was his life. If I had to pick one memory I still have of him, it would be that by October, when the school year was barely four weeks old, Dick Sherman knew every single entering freshman by his or her first name.
Do you believe that? No exceptions! And not just the troublemakers! Even the quiet ones. If there was anyone who wanted our kids to succeed as much as we did, Dick Sherman was that one.
And then, with a totally opposite approach and personality, there was the “notorious tyrant” principal of the Kennedy School, Miss Grace Warner.
She was a “throw-back” to an old time parochial school era. But, we loved this austere, no nonsense educator anyway.
Unfortunately, I got to know her quite well, because, my son Brian spent lots of time being disciplined (house arrest!) in her office.
However, under that tough facade, beneath that serious, rough exterior, was a heart of gold. The kids respected (feared?) her, and the parents just adored our kid’s academic progress. She never let us ever forget that she was a teacher first and demanded and, yes, expected, nothing but excellence from and her students and her staff!
As my son Kevin once told me during an open-school night, “get rid of your chewing gum, dad, before Miss Warner sees you.” I truly believe that the incredible success that both my sons have attained, were initiated by the high academic expectations and tough-love of Miss Grace Warner and the warmth, sensitivity and caring of Dick Sherman.
Keeping Great Neck’s parental involvement in mind, did you hear about the new set of rules at New York City’s elite private schools? They so upset the lifestyles of so many parents, that some of them actually may transfer their gorgeous, budding geniuses, to another school.
As reported in last week’s New York Post, the parents of kids attending Marymount were hysterical. If you have a son attending Buckley, by now you probably have a scheduled emergency appointment with your “shrink.”
At the prestigious Birch Wathen Lenox School, mothers were actually seen weeping outside the building. All because of this new set of rules. Put away your checkbook. Don’t whip out your platinum cards. Forget calling your co-op neighbor who knows the dean. The schools don’t care if you are best friends with “The Donald” or you know Mayor Bloomberg personally.
Ready for this one? From now on, it will not be enough for you to pay the $40,000 per year tuition for your little Tiffany. Donating more money to the building fund won’t keep your gorgeous Bradley enrolled. Parents are besides themselves, because Buckley and all the other “exclusive” NYC private schools are now mandating that all parents, you heard me right, all parents, no exceptions, can not send someone else to take their place in every school activity. “You’re kidding?” “How can they possibly do this to me?” “I’m too busy! “ Here are the new rules:
1 – From now on, Nannies are not allowed to accompany your kids on their entrance interviews! Parents must be there themselves. Your kidding?
2 – Housekeepers can not make the costumes for the school play! Only mothers or fathers! That’s ridiculous.
3 – Doormen can’t help with the annual bake sale! “Really?” Me,cook?” I’ll just call Balthazar’s!
4 – Chauffeurs are not allowed to stand in for the parents for their mandatory two week safety patrol,in which parents themselves, must now walk the students to their cars and buses! “Me, do what??” And
5 – This may be the “worse” of all the new rules: Maids can not accompany the kids (ready for this one?) on the admissions “play date” interview! “What is this world coming to?” What if I have a lunch appointment at LeCirque?”
On second thought, maybe we shouldn’t allow these families into Great Neck!
Dr. Stephen Morris
North Hills
(graduate of NYC’s public elementary schools, Stuyvesant High School
and Queens College)
