Page 3 - PGA Community News - August '20

August 2020 August 2020 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3

From The Editor: The Cycle Continues…

Her smile made my heart education. I remember when my sister started kindergarten was an entertainer at heart and made her classes interesting.
skip a beat. I was certain and I was still at home. I would wait for her to come home She would periodically do a Marilyn Monroe imitation to
that one day we would every day to hear what she had learned and see the projects our delight! She encouraged our artistic pursuits.
be husband and wife. In she had completed. Education had such a positive effect My sister and I developed a bond with our teachers –
fact I had a dream which in our home that my sister became a teacher and obtained and it continues until this day. We still communicate with
is still vivid in my mind. her master’s degree. Angela and my brother-in-law, John, some of our teachers. It is that child-mentor relationship
I was standing at the altar then encouraged their children to do their best in all their that is so important to our society. We grew up in a lower
in my tuxedo and I was pursuits - and so the cycle continues. middle class environment and our parents’ understanding
mesmerized when I saw her One of the most impressive teachers in my high school of the impact of education provided the basis for us to
walking down the Church was Irma Fuentes, the chairperson the foreign language dream and achieve our goals. The parents of my brother-
aisle toward me. I later had department. She spoke five languages and I was lucky to in-law both worked so that he could have the opportunity
a dream we were dancing at be in the first Latin class that my high school ever offered at attend medical school. His mother spent long hours at
the wedding reception with all our guests around us. But in my junior year. I had never met Miss Fuentes before. a sewing machine making fine women’s clothing and his
my dreams and hopes would not be fulfilled because I was She walked in the class the first day and said, “Salve. Quid father worked for the New York City Transit Authority
six years old at the time and she was twenty three. She was agis hodie?” in the subways. Fortunately, they both lived to see John
Miss Cascione and she was my first grade teacher! She She spoke only Latin the whole semester in class graduate from college and medical school. In fact, his
reminded me of Connie Francis who had the same Italian and that immersion was a novel approach to learning mother witnessed her grand-daughters (my nieces)
heritage and, at that time, the same brown hair with a short the language. It forced us to think in Latin from the first graduate from medical school - and so the cycle continues.
haircut. You can’t imagine how excited I was at the end of moment that we were exposed to it. It was actually a fun People who see no hope in their future feel they have
the first grade school year when I was informed that Miss class. I can still remember a host of Latin conversational no role in our society. The poor and less educated in our
Cascione would also be my second grade teacher also. phrases. By the way, Miss Fuentes said, “Hello, How are population do not vote. Crime is a direct result of the
That summer was filled with such anticipation. It was a you?” feeling of hopelessness. Our teachers, police officers and
new concept that the school was developing in which the The response could be, “Bene gratias, tibi ago.” fire fighters are role models because they have the greatest
teacher would continue with the entire class to the next I volunteered before school each day among the impact on our lives. Television glamorizes the unsavory
grade level. However, my anticipation quickly turned to teachers who were guidance counselors. My favorite was aspects of our society. Too many celebrities in sports and
disappointment at the start of the next school year when I Adriana Mattioli who also happened to be my Italian the entertainment world are the focus of our children. But
learned that Miss Cascione would not return because she language teacher. We were all so happy for her when we can turn off the television and we can determine who
was getting married and moving away. Instead of Connie she married and became Mrs. Terilli. But within a year the role models will be for our children. We can influence
Francis my teacher was Ethel Mertz i.e. Mrs. Shenkman. her marriage ended. It was the first person with whom I our local and state governments and the salaries paid to
Ugh! Despite the turn of events I maintained an interest discussed divorce. I still remember the statement she made, our most treasured resources.
in the school material and developed a crush on Wendy “You never really know someone until you are married As an attorney, I have had the pleasure of meeting many
Danzig who was more age appropriate. She was in my to that person.” She never shared the specifics but we public servants throughout the years. I had the privilege of
second grade class. could all feel the pain she was experiencing. Her words meeting the principal of Boynton Beach High School as he
Teachers do have a significant effect on our lives. have repeated in my mind so many, many times since purchased a home. I was fortunate to meet a local professor
My cousin, Nancy, and her brother, James, became high then. I had countless positive experiences with teachers at the closing of the home he and his wife purchased. I
school teachers. James obtained his doctorate degree and throughout my schooling and so many of them left a lasting met a Jupiter police officer who went out of her way to
became a professor at the University of Delaware. My impression on me. Mr. Valderama, my high school home help a client of mine who became disoriented at a store.
sister, Angela, was a grade ahead of me in school and I room teacher, escaped Cuba with his wife and daughter Not only did she assist my client with the paramedics
was fortunate to have her as a role model. She excelled when Fidel Castro came to power. He witnessed Cubans but she contacted my client for several days after the
and really enjoyed her school experience. Our parents being shot if they refused to pledge allegiance to Castro’s incident to see if she felt better. The officer also referred
were very supportive and instilled in us the importance of revolution. Mrs. Maccaron, my 7th grade Italian teacher, my client to some local agencies that assist our seniors
in our community. The other day I attended a closing in
which an Iraq War veteran purchased a home with 100%
VA financing. These are our heroes.
Thousands of you read this newspaper and you have
an effect on thousands of more people. We can determine
the course and destiny of our community. There are
mentoring programs that need volunteers. The Guardian
Ad Litem Program helps children who need an adult voice
to intercede in their lives. No child among us should be
dropping out of school. Our teachers need to be encouraged
and acknowledged for the invaluable role they play in our
children’s lives. We need more children who recognize
the value of teaching and public service - and who are
rewarded financially for the service they provide to us.
You can volunteer at our schools so that our children
benefit from your education. Please send me an e-mail
if you would like to mentor a child or you know a child
who needs assistance. PLEASE help us to help all our
children obtain the best education possible - so that the
cycle continues.
Until next month…
James A. Cioffi, Editor
james@jcclaw.com

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