Whiz Kid Abigail McCarthy Wrote a Letter to the Superintendent

Abigail McCarthy is a sixth-grader at Andrews Middle School. She plays soccer and basketball, and enjoys hanging out with her friends. But it's because she likes to write and debate that she's got Roy Belson's ear.

On May 18, Abigail read her letter about the state of technology in MPS to School Superintendent Roy Belson and Assistant School Superintendent Beverly Nelson. In her letter, she expresses her frustration with MPS technology and her desire for "Computers we can use to get work done without any hassle, and after an assignment is finished, the ability to print it out."

When Abigail's teacher Mrs. Boos told the class about Mr. Belson's upcoming visit, the class decided to approach him about their computers.  Abigail says, "I suggested that we write him a letter from the child perspective. They really liked the idea and asked me to take care of it.  I wrote the letter thinking that we would hand it to him to read himself, but my teachers liked it so much that they asked me to read it to him during his appearance."

The letter "was about specific problems, and about being fed up.  We recently did a poetry project and it was frustrating that only a couple kids could type in school and the rest had to type at home."

The letter was well-received.  Belson referenced the letter during his visit, and a committee member asked her to go before the School Committee on it June 6 meeting.  Other members were very supportive and shook her hand.

Abigail will be at the June 6 meeting, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.  The MPS Technology Committee will be presenting at this meeting.  Abigail knows about the current proposal for one-to-one computing for MPS students, and "My only concern is how quickly this will happen because they are needed now."