The Boston Phoenix January 10-16, 1997: Vol 26 Iss 2

118 Pages·125.3 MB·English

JANUARY 10 - 16, 1997 # BOSTON’S LARGEST WEEKLY © FOUR SECTIONS
BJORK ¢ ALBERTA HUNTER ¢ MARY LOU LORD ° VERAGO-GO
Ph THE BOSTON I7
C #7 ° A guide for
} , | ON SALE the desperate
BY THE
BOOK
Thomas
Payzant
leads a
quiet |
revolution
BY YVONNE ABRAHAM
We hold this truth
to be self-evident:
_ Boston’ S pamlic
* “schools blow, »
_How did the city’.s
schools get this way?
Maybe it was
desegreg tion
busing, or racism.
Or perhaps the
problem is apathetic
teachers, or parents,
or students. Or
maybe the real
‘blame lies with the.|
unions, school
committees, city
councils, or mayors.
The truth is:
Boston Schools
Superintendent
Thomas Payzant “5 = 'g
aig eo a arvin’sR oom
He just kn e | ei, eee er
fix them. ‘eNge BOOKS THEATER
' Soe Novelist Paul West Joyce Carol Oates
on the eros of genius explains her play
2 JANUARY 10, 1997 NEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX
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JANUARY 10, 1997 NEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX 3
conte a
: THE BOSTON PHOENIX
“That’s the most dramatic thing about him. You know at any moment he can drop in Founded in 1966
unannounced. ... We've never had that before.”
— a school principal on Superintendent Thomas Payzant, News, page 10
news
TJi
COVER STORY:
A history lesson for Patricia Smith, bullets over Boston Harbor, and then a short quiz: how alienated
are you? Plus, five milestone cover songs. 6
AT THE
MOVIES Phoenix Flashbacks
In Arts, Burt Reynolds's family values, Argentinean beefs, the great Beastie Boys burglary, and other odds
pages 8 through 10 and ends from the Phoenix's past. 8
It’s a great week in film. Un-Patriotic by Peter Kadzis
Our critics take a closer
The New England Patriots are on a roll, but the stadium is going nowhere. Massachusetts
look at The People vs.
politicians are showing why they're not-ready-for-prime-time players. 9
Larry Flynt, Marvin's
Room, Mother, and
Citizen Ruth.
Class Struggles by Yvonne Abraham
Just about everyone knows that Boston's
public schools blow. What they don’t know
is that Superintendent Thomas Payzant is
quietly fixing them. 10
online this week
DON’T QUOTE ME: Touchy Tom by Dan Kennedy
Sometimes he yells. Sometimes he stamps. Sometimes Mayor Menino’s relationship with the press
Some material published in the Boston Phoenix is available online with
leaves something to be desired. 17
hypertext annotations. Our online edition also features cross-indexed
entertainment listings, reviews and features from back issues, and an
extensive archive of restaurant reviews. Visit us on the World-Wide cityscape: Truth Healers by Sarah McNaught
Web at http:/Avww.bostonphoenix.com/ — America Online users log Kids who witness horrifying crimes grow up believing in violent solutions. Now cops and therapists
on to keyword “Boston Phoenix.” are working together to intervene before it's too late. 2O
in styles in arts
Radical Remedies, page 6 Joyce Carol Oates: An Interview, page 6
A guide to cold cures you haven't The prolific author talks about her play, Cry Me a
tried — from acupuncture to the River, which makes its premiere at the Hasty
23rd Psalm. Pudding this week.
Also: Urban Buy animates Japan, Also: in place of irony, dreaminess; instead of
the men’s movement finds God, and anger, joy: the renaissance of Latin- and Euro-
Dining Out enjoys high-end Italian edged club music. Plus, Bjork’s remix set gets a
in the Back Bay. Plus, our thumbs-up and locals Verago-Go and La Peste. And
comprehensive restaurant guide and don’t forget “Eight Days a Week” and Boston's
other regular features. most comprehensive entertainment listings.
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4 JANUARY 10, 1997 NEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX
i
PhoeniTHE x@@
BOSTON « WORCESTER « PROVIDENCE
VOL. XXVI, NO. 2
13 Lansdowne St.
5.5 LANSDOWNE ST. PusuisHer & CHainman: Stephen M. Mindich
special guest Boston, 262-2437 Presipent & CHier Operatina Orricer: H. Barry Morris
THURS. JAN. 9 _Eorror: Peter Kadzis~
FUN Lovin’CRIMINALS THURS. JAN. 9 STICKFIGURE BOSTON.
SOULSHACK
Senior Manaaina Eprror/PHoenx NEewsPAPER Group: Clit Garboden; Senior Eorror: Katherine Wolf; |
FEATURING JACK Desian pinecton: Debbie Klein; Associate Desian omector: John Moss; Eprroniar Desianer: Kristen
UPSTAIRS MACDOWELL OF DGoroodztdroiwesnkdi;; NAerwtss EEoorrrroorr:s : GaCraertohl ynC ooCkl;a y Ar(ttsh eatEeorr)r,o r:P etJeerf frKeye ouGagnht z; (filAm)s,s ocJioant eG arAenltisc k Eo(rmruosni:c ),T edM atEt. |
DJ JUSTIN SPINS Ashare (events); Sty.es Error: Tom de Kay; Supptements Eorror: Susan Ryan-Volimar; Stare Eo |
tors: Stephen Heuser, Elizabeth Manus; Starr Warrers: Yvonne Abraham, Ellen Barry, Michael |
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GROOVIN"! Taylor, Steve Vineberg, Stephanie Zacharek; Cartoonist: David Sipress
GURSUIe,
January 27 WBCN General SaLes MANAGER: Eric JSoahcnseosn ;D iTrreacrtFoicr : MAAN.A GWEiRl:l iaMmi keR isPtiaenetnig ini, Trarric Coorpwators: Ni- |
amh Foley, Jennifer Price, Mary Ricciardi; CLassiiep Manacer: Surge Gojkovich; Assistant CLassiFieD
DOWNSTAIRS Nocturnal Fridays LEixneecsu tiMvaensa:c erA:n drMeawr yeAlvilteanb ileS,h ielJdesf;f DPeesrtosno,n acSst acReeyp rGeisaennntaaritsi,v e:M atFta itMha ySrmaintdh,, CKLealslys ifSiheapu gLhinneess syA,c coMuanrtc |
8pm doors 9pm show DJ TYM RYAN WITH DJ MELISSA tSwheesp:p arJdo;n atCha.na ssCa#retap, DAinsdprrea y EliScahatlets, MMiacnhaacele r:R idDeeonutn;i s CoGraprvoerya:t e CrMausssiicf ieSpa teDsi spMtaanya ceAnc:c ouMnitc haEexle cAul-i-
$20* 18+ SPINS THE BEST cong JAN. 11 berte; Corporate Music Saces Assistant: Alex Garcia-Rangel; Enrertaimment Sates Manacer: Sue |
IN PROGRESSIVE Ot'aCno nnAeclclo;u nEtn teExnetcaumtmieven:t CSaartreise MAecacdoeu;n t ReEtxeacnu tiAvcecs:o unLta urEexne cuBteilivnefsa:n te,C heDrayvli d BraKeintdhawlali;t e,S enLiizoar MRee--
HOUSE WITH neades; Sxi Account Executive: Dan Kornteld; Couriers: Frank Ames, Dean Lynch, David Tan
GUEST DJ NATIONAL SALES
TERRY MULLEN musi 17 peop NaTionat Saves Director: Carola Cadley; NaTionat Sates Account Executives: Everett R. Finkel- |
stein, Kristen Standish, William J. Wegman; NaTionat Sates Apmwistrator: Deborah Glassman
Said CATALYST, CHICAGO sue DAY CORPORATE ADMINISTRATION
Executive Assistant: Julie Bresnick; Recepnonists: Meaghan Agnew, Kate Kenney
| hea ae ad ee ae eo) JAN. 12
Human Resources
Dj TYM RYAN DUB STATION Corporate Human Resources Manacer: Suzanne Levine; Human Resources Manacen: Barry Ahem;
EIN : Human Resources Representative: Jessica Zeigler
ENTRANCES YOU WITH
Director oF MarkeTina: Carola Cadley
*V ics | A MYRIAD OF SONIC MON. JAN. 13 MARKETING Manacer: Tony Bennis; Promotions Manaaer: Chris Wooster, PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR: |
— — fea | BEATS AND UPLIFTING Barbara Rosenberg Director oF Operations: Gib Fullerton
RHYTHMS DOWNSTAIRS WXRV & NEWBURY Manaaine Eorror, Macazines ano Specia, Pusuicanions: Christopher Young; Anvernisinc Art Dinector:
& SUPER Dj DAVID COMICS PRESENTS AMImSy MMaynraicake;r :A ssPiasutla nSth aron Jr.; R&DA ntM aDniancecetro/rN: ewBr etMte pCioah:e n;D enPnaicsi waGteliloenr ; CoAosrsnopcmiaattoer : MIKSe viMna naBcanekrs:; |
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NEW WAVE ATROCITIES ist: Stephanie Eich; inrenner ProGrammers: Michael Genrich, Mikel Maron; GrapHic Annsts: Carianne |
KEVIN CONNELLY Hnatowicz, Pamela Maiato, Brian McDermott, Christine Micciche; Facirmes Manaacer: John Nunziato.
OF THE 80's UPSTAIRS.
10PM DOORS#19+ WED. JAN. 15 NewssTano Saces Manacer: DoCni mcBuuclmaatni;o n MeDricrneacntooirs:e r:E dwJoaerl d WhDitael;y Driver: Jack Thompson; Sus- |
scripTION CoorpinaTon: Julie Bresnick
SAT. JAN. 11 SUBHUMAN
Director oF Corporate Finance: Charles A. Walter
10PM DOORS-21. PRIMATES Controtter: Michael Newman; MERCHANDISE AominisTRATOR: Alan Orlove; TRADE CoorpinaTor:
Michael Bilotta; Senior Accountant: Darren Mcinnis; Stare Accountants: Nataliya Dzyuba, Kevin Ng;
Corporate Creo Manacen: Gerard LeBlanc; Creo Supervisor: John Bertram; Senior Crepit
Representative: Kathy Cardinale; Creo REPRESENTATIVE: Kary! Langill
ParaGcon Concert COMPANY |
Creative Director: Carl Tramontozzi; Trarric Coorpinator: Kim Weremey; Macintosh PropucTion
Armists: David Dembowski, Kim Young |
WORCESTER |
» fJaugsst in phattest Associate PususHer: Gary Kurtz * MANAGING Eoitor: Melissa Houston
ip hop egy: Events Eprror: Brian Gosiow; Contrisutinc Warters: Sally Cragin, Jim Johnson, Mark Edmonds, Chris
Flisher, Doug Hanchett, Joe Longone, Leon Nigrosh, Ron Richardson, Myles Tronic, Steve Vineberg, Mark
Wagner; ContrisuTiG PHotocrapHers: Chery! Richards, Paul Shoul,; Contrisutwa iLLusTRATor: Michelle
Friday Jan.1 Barbera; Creor/Trarric Coornowator: Lois Millett; Proouction Manacer: Kimberly Pierce; GRapnic
Arnst: Jon Carpenter; Semon Reta Account Executive: Michele Ferro; Account Executives: Debra
Levesque, Jodi Ragusa, Dominic’ Serafini, Carrie Simpson; Recernonist/ApminisTRATOR: Lisa Koykka,
STEVE
PROVIDENCE
WESTFIELD'S
ALTERNATIVE Associate Pususier: Stephen k. Brown » Manaaing Epitor; Lou Papineau
SLOW BAND News Eorror: Lisa Prevost Conrmisutina Epitor: Jim, Macnie (rusic); PHotoaraPnens; OmarB Bi pdley, }
deru sTpehciael gDueastm aja WDIOTHW NMISKET AGIIOSRCSIA WITH RICH GILBERT CRPohedteererik gsu,Ge ozl,Td obmJe orhgGn;re itlltSoe,p orMRtioscd:hra ieglCu heizlp,a coYTbeobruoin, g S:cE hmiiSnldtylae frrL, iskWaPertrae n!m PhSitlJeloaigpdeeyr ,& EJSMotiregcveBe,on r >B oS CtyoPcniotcsrk,ia reduE,t. Li.n EelWai izdaWbmreeitrht; e rRsAo?cc kc,oR uundBityl l |||
& UPSTAIRS SAT. RESIDENCY Ejox, eGciunta esP;a loBmrbuoc;e TArlalernr,i c CyCnotohriap inBaltacokrw:e ll,R obiBinll HKeaomumg;h , CrSacsostit riMecnG iLninn,e s JRusetporne seMnetraciteirv,e : MoMnaircka PMoounlitoet-: |
Propuction Manacer: Phil Maigret; Grapnic Artists: Stacy Astorino, Kathy Kohn; Contrisutina |
DAVID JAMES JAN. 18 - FEB. 1 AAsrsnisstt:a ntS:h elKbayt hrFiinsak e;M cFCiurarnyc.e RMeacnearncieorn:i stS:u saDna wnG reKeenahballeg h; Creo MANaGeR: Anita Anderson; Finance |
SPINS 80'S NEW
ALMO REc. ARTIST OFFICES
January 14 WAVE AND
INDUSTRIAL Boston: 126 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215; Tel: [phone]
Advertising department fax: [phone] Editorial department fax [phone]
8pm doors 9pm show 18+ TUES. JAN. 14 CWvoaascse#setpesr:: 331248 WNaeswhbiunrgyt onSt ., St.B, oAstuobnu,m ,M AM A0 20111550;1 ; TelT:e l: (6(1570)8 ) 26873-21-9283040;; FFaxa:x : ((651078)) 482352--25657100
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JAN. 19
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with residents SHAKA BLACK mSauisls ctroi p/neitotnesr:s @pBhuxl.kc orma.te P$4l5e/a6s e moinnctlhusd,e $a 80d/a1y tiymeear ; teflierpsth-ocnleas s nurmatbee r$ 11fo0r/ 6v ermiofinctahtsi,on $200/1 year. Bulk- |
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DUB STATION Copyrricut: © 1997 by the Boston Phoenix, inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission
spinning» by any method whatsoever, is prohibited
uncompromising Printeo By: Mass Web Printing Co., Inc.; 314 Washington St.; Auburn, MA 01501 « [phone]
underground house MON. JAN. 20 THe Puoenix Menia/Communications Group
‘TODD Stephen M. Mindich H. Barry Morris
WED. JAN. a CHAIRMAN PRESIDENT
THIBAUD
Arthur Fishelman Peter Kadzis
DELUSIONS IN SALEM & Executive Vice-PRESIDENT Epiror
SULES VERDONE Gib Fullerton Charles A. Walter
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Director OF CORPORATE FINANCE
A. William Risteen David Bieber
POINT OF ARES TUES. JAN. 21 DiREcTOR oF Newspaper Group Sates DinecTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
February 19 8pm doors 9pm show *10* 18+ THE BAILEY’S BAND PLASMA PROD. PRESENTS THE PHPOAERNAIGX ONN EwCsopnacreeprts ,C omSPtauArNFy ,M aTcEaLzEnPUeB,L ISWHFINNXG,, IMNCa.s, s INWSeTsAT RPArCi nTina,
CHIN STRAP
All tickets from the postponed Paradise performance, Nov 10 will be honored WED. JAN. 22
CALL FOR TICKETS 7exarZJ-asre= [phone] WED. JAN. 22
Next Week
Tickets available at Orpheum Theatre Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets EKG -
available at Avalon night of show only.*An additional service charge will be paid to and in the Phoenix
retained by ticket ee on all purchases at outlets or by phone. Please note: Date, time
PA&N ticket pricTe subject to Echange withRout notice. THURS. JAN. 23
News
This Tuesday! SKY HEROES
Bye-Bye Bishop
BOY WONDER
INTRUDERS
WSBi -e Friday Jan. 22 Stiyies
THE PEECOCKS
GIGOLO Recycling Chic
; a WALLACE SPM - 19+
Arts
PELE CIVIC CENTER PRE X NIGHT MON. JAN. 27
Can Woody Allen Make a Musical?
FREE SHOW TODD
CHAINSUCK
Fitchburg MA, forty miles west of Boston
Plus:
ya A
MARKY AMSTERBERG &
One in 10
JENNIFER KIMBALL
Visit the axis web
The Sex Issue
CALL (617) 423-NEXT site at Friday Jan. 31
the NEXT website is www.tparty.com/tpc
www.bSston -om/next TIX AVAILABLE AT ALL CURTAIN
SOCIETY
Tickets also available at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office without TICKETMASTER
a service charge, and all NEXT outlets. Tickets available at OUTLETS OR CHARGE
Wallace CDiavtiec C&e nttiemre sBuobxj eOcftf itcoe cnhiaghntg eo f wsihtohowu to nnloyt.i cPel.e ase note: paball.9 3 BY PHONE [phone] FOR INFO 421-9678
JANUARY 10, 1997 MEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX 5
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6 JANUARY 10, 1997 NEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX
SHELL GAME to upgrade the Moon Island Moon Island’s shore. rector of the Quincy-based Sea-
shooting range. The public-com- “We're beginning a very excit- side Environmental Alliance and
Menino goes ballistic
ment period on that plan ends ing period of growth on the Har- an associate professor of man-
this week. bor Islands,” says Bruce agement at MIT, says docu-
Menino’s decision to move Berman, BayWatch program di- ments the Menino Administra-
Picture this. It’s not long after site of an ew and improved
forward on the plan in rector for Save the Harbor/Save tion submitted to the state
the millennium, and the once no- shooting and demolition
|__ a of the national-park the Bay. “It would be ironic that clearly show that the project is
toriously polluted Boston Harbor range for the police.
designation miffs environ- the first thing to grow would be an expansion.
is bustling with activity. Boats The scenario is closer to
mental activists and shoreline the city of Boston’s shooting The square footage for the pro-
cruise lazily through the network reality than you might think.
of island parks that form the new Today, as the official planning residents who are concerned range on Moon Island.” posed range is approximately
about, among other things, stray And “grow” is the operative twice that of the original range,
Boston Harbor Island National process is underway for the
bullets, excessive noise, erosion, word here. State environmental Tyre says. The city’s new plan
Recreation Area. Gray seals and new federally designated recre-
sewage, and traces of lead (from secretary Trudy Coxe ruled last calls for a 300-foot-long rifle
harbor porpoises rise through ation area, Menino remains un-
bullets) that have been found off January that if Boston wants to range; there was no rifle range on
the shimmering water. Relaxing shaken in his belief
expand the shooting range — the original site. Moreover, the
on the shoreline, families nibble that Moon Island is
picnic lunches. the perfect place ior — eas:whi ch itw isttahrotuetd tthoe teraerq uidsoiwten paenrd- ciintgy ’osn pltahne sishloawnsd wtihlalt irneccrreuaiste trbayi n-
Then a shot rings out. Then target practice.
mits a few years ago — it must more than 100 percent.
another, and another. This past November, as
undergo a costly environmental Not an expansion? Call it
But the gunfire echoing across President Clinton signed
review process. Menino math, or maybe three-
the water from Moon Island long-awaited legisla-
Menino’s office — which has card Menino.
is not the handiwork of a tion officially des-
never looked for an alternative “It’s silly and shortsighted,”
deranged civil servant who ignating the is-
site and has insisted that its says an incredulous Berman.
has taken leave of his postal lands as a na-
plan is a “reconstruction,” “Unfortunately, just being
delivery boat. No, it is the lega¢y tional park, the not an expansion — de- «=~ a really bad idea doesn’t
of another civil servant — Boston Menino Adminis-
clined the Phoenix’s re- seem to be enough to
mayor Tom Menino — who took tration was quietly
quest for comment. stop this project.”
leave of his senses when he insist- submitting to the
But Marcie Tyre, di- — Tim Sandler
ed that the 44-acre island be the state its latest plan
NJJ OOHRND ELL
FREE
f INDEX
Boston hosts
One nation, under the weather which is only 49 percent alienat-
its second
ed, and whole educational cate-
gories, such as people with Grammy
i by Ellen Barry been taking the alienation poll, to an average of 52 in the 1970s. postgraduate degrees, who are
that number has been creeping In the ’80s we nudged it up to only 45 percent alienated. Showcase
The results are in, and Ameri- steadily toward the 100 mark — 57, and the average so far for the Though useful for a mass diag-
cans can now pinpoint their na- the point at which, according to 1990s is a gloomy 64 percent. nosis, the Harris poll falls apart You might not think that an or-
tional level of alienation. The an- Humphrey Taylor, chairman of Taylor says, “There’s no reason when applied to individual alien- ganization as formidable as the Na-
swer? Sixty-two. We are 62 per- Louis Harris, society becomes it shouldn’t climb up into the ation — the poll crudely labels you
tional Association of Recording
cent in despair in this country, 62 “totally nonfunctioning.” 70s” over the next decade or so. as alienated or not alienated with-
Arts & Sciences, better known as
percent apathetic, 62 percent cut At this rate, it shouldn't take But don’t get down in the out regard to alienation nuances
the group that administers the
off from our fellow man. Which is much longer; we’re on a clear mouth. There are whole income such as table manners or taste in
five points better than 1995. trajectory. In 1966, the first annu- brackets full of people who feel music. Toward that goal, the Grammy Awards, would have
But over the 20 years that al Alienation Index came up with pretty darn engaged, such as the Phoenix has devised an ingenious much to offer to an unsigned rock
Louis HarWris aind Azssoci ates has the magic number 29, which rose $75,001-plus income bracket, personal test. band. And up until last year, it real-
ly didn’t. But with the inauguration
of the Grammy Showcase competi-
7. A stranger on the street 9. You run into a friend in tears. tion — a nationwide battle of un-
asks you for directions. You You say: signed bands — NARAS has be-
a) give him directions. a) “You look like you need a gun to offer, as the event's project
How Alienated Are You? b) walk by without making eye hug.” manager John Abt puts it, “a
contact. b) “Your face is all puffed up.” unique opportunity for unsigned
c) give him directions, and then c) “Now you know how | feel.” bands to get their music heard by
For readers who missed (or were intentionally excluded from) the accompany him to his d) “It’s too late for that now.” industry decision-makers.”
national alienation poll, we at the Phoenix have devised our own destination, and wherever he
The-opening round of the sec-
survey. Are you a jolly good fellow or a stranger in a strange land? goes after that. 10. You have your eye on an
Take this simple test and find out. (Apologies to Cosmopolitan.) d) Mace. attractive coworker. You ond annual Grammy Showcase
competition begins later this ENAANRA15e 8aE N ET N NR
a) ask him/her to have lunch.
1. You’re at a party and some- 4. Your high-school yearbook 8. The last pair of shoes you b) start leaving your own lunch month, with bands from 12 US
one asks you to put out your quote was: acquired were on his/her desk, along with a cities battling it out to win a slot at
cigarette. You a) “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen a) Weejuns note saying “from an admirer. ” three regional semifinals in early
a) put out your cigarette. rain.” b) Doc Martens Cc) start following him/her from a February. In Boston, five bands —
b) put out your cigarette in his b) “This is the time to c) Tevas distance of two blocks on Jocobono, Mistle Thrush, Pound-
eye. remember.” d) leg irons his/her lunchyhour. cake, Ramona Silver, and Splash-
c) weep. c) “There’s a little black spot on d) eliminate your rivals. down — were chosen to compete
d) You don’t smoke. the sun today.”
on January 16 at the Middle East.
d) “| feel stupid and
The winner will go up against the
2. Your favorite TV show is contagious.”
a) 227 *}?! 0} POSN jay “ooueN ‘peep “oyoyooye ue top picks from New York,
b) Seinfeld 5. Your favorite poet is: S| POD “ADURN ONSIIUIN :Ob-ZE Ajqeqosd osje ese NOA Philadelphia, and Miami on Febru-
c) Cybill a) Ogden Nash *ys1eHy1ez ey} ave NOA ‘eippy ‘Aoy ary 6 in Washington, DC. And
‘asja Apoqhuiene ayy] 3snf *ys1aHj1ezZ Oy} UO UI 81,NOA
d) You just watch whatever's b) ee cummings whoever prevails in DC will then
@/,NOA :AUOM 0} {OU Ing “eeAo;dwe ‘pues} seGue © jo ped e1,no0A
on. c) yourself Jouuo} pejuruBsip & ‘4a}0A jse}O1d ‘enBoyeip eayonsysuoo e 0} Bul play the finals at Irving Plaza in
d) Alfred, Lord Tennyson B 81,NOA “UOHNNIOS 94} Jo ped -}NQU}UOS as,NOA “Apesg Bluey New York City during the week of
3. A colleague from work in- JO wie;qold ey yo ed syinb you ueyy Sqnjo ei0W 0} Buojeq NoA the Grammy Awards.
vites you to play touch football. 6. Hermann Hesse books read: G1, NOA “SIUUS PEIeYesiq >4 E-9% ‘Aued uwep ay} JO 341) oy} 81,no0A The Grammy Showcase show at
You a) none ‘aippy ‘eippa pebebuz :84-o4
“UJYLN O A “NOK yNoUIM JeUUIp the Middle East on Thursday, Jan-
a) show up stewed. b) Siddhartha
b) show up, then panic and c) Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, ve}s 1,U0M Bueb ey) yng ‘yeu0y ‘qd yore uary 16, is free, but tickets are re-
leave. Damien -OWe ay © 396 Aew NoA pue Ayye JO} NO} Puke ‘D YORE JO} 9Ouy} quired and available from the club;
c) have jerseys printed up. d) All, in the original German. -uossed unoA sj yey UNS 94} SSOs9e ‘q YoBe 105 OM) “Y YORE 104 JuIOd call 864-EAST.
d) You don’t have a colleague. Plus the diaries. YUP HIM PNojo e ‘eu, OF OUR euUOo YIM ‘suemsue JNOA dn ppe — Matt Ashare
WOJ4 “SIUUOG SUuIePsOg *SZ-6b ‘*3HO90S YNOA ONILNdINOD
ie ss outa tw us nent as Wi ch ta entee as ad ene ee ee
JANUARY 10, 1997 MEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX 7
HISTORY LESSON
Standard issue
Hysterical and uninformed attacks on education O previous item, 2.3: “The student will compare the
plans are usually associated with the right in this tribes of American Indians in Massachusetts with no-
country, from fundamentalist struggles against sex madic (e.g., Sioux) and settled, agricultural tribes “SATISFACTION,” recorded by Devo.
education to Lynne Cheney’s recent crusade against © (e.g., Pueblo) in other regions of America.” Then, far- This 1978 gem is a punk manifesto anda
proposed national history standards that she felt paint- ther down the page, “The student will metric ton of fun. An ultrastiff lock-step beat
ed an insufficiently glowing account of America’s past. ... describe settlers’ interactions with replaces the original’s affected
But Globe columnist Patricia Smith demonstrates som, American Indians.” And still farther, “The slinkiness, while singer Mark
that the left can be just as off-base. In a January 3 student will explain the .. . life of the Mothersbaugh recasts Mick
column, Smith denounced the state Board of Ed- ip Massachusetts Bay Colony, with em- Jagger’s swaggery lyrics
ucation’s proposed curriculum frameworks for phasis on its relationships with native as a neurotic blurt (“I
language arts and history as monolithic, right- tribes, including causes and effects of can’t GET-me-no/sat-
wing, and white-oriented. King Philip’s War.” is-FAC-tion”). By the
In the history curriculum, she wrote, “pre- This is not to say that all the outraged time they get to the
kindergarten to 4th-grade students are ex- multiculturalists Smith quoted in her “Babybabybabybaby
pected to describe the European discovery of column were wrong. The document treats baby babybabybaby
the Americas, without a mention of “American Indian” and “Native ...” part, they’ve
the fact that natives were already . American” as interchangeable overthrown the Rolling
settled there.” Pm terms, and its world-history Stones and everything else
Smith ended the column by giving section fails to mention any the Woodstock generation
the Department of Education’s Web ancient civilizations south of agreed was cool.
address, so that readers could see Egypt or on the Indian sub-
the offending documents for them- continent — both suggesting “THAT’S ALL RIGHT,” recorded by Elvis Presley.
selves. And sure enough, a visit to a troubling narrowness of Hey, the idea was to geta -
the site turned up Item 3.2, which perspective. But if Smith white guy who could sing
asks students to discuss European wants to combat such igno- like he was black, not
exploration and settlement without rance, she ought to make one who could write
mentioning Americans (or, for sure she knows what she’s songs like he was
some reason, the Dutch). talking about. black. So a certain
But then the eye wanders to the — Tom Scocca young truck driver
stretched his lungs
around a song by
WEB WATCH Arthur “Big Boy”
Crudup, and the
The Globe’s sheer drop
result, released in the
summer of 1954, drove
Memphis wild.
With the World-Wide Web evolving faster than a (www.globe.com, instead of www.boston.com).
parasitic virus, a year can encompass the birth, But Eric Meyer, who wrote about the survey results
“WALK THIS WAY,” recorded by Run-D.M.C.
maturation, and death of several technological for NewsLink, points out that entering
True, it hasn’t held up as well as “My Adidas”
generations. www.globe.com takes the user directly to the top lev-
or “It’s Tricky.” And it’s to
Which is as good an explanation as any for why the el of Boston.com, so the error results in no harm. As
blame for reviving
Boston Globe's megasite, Boston.com, plunged into for whether the Globe should have been listed sepa-
Aerosmith. But this
the abyss in a widely publicized (though rately, he notes that NewsLink merely re-
See cross-genre track
admittedly unscientific) survey of the Web’s peated what it did last year.
bbs marked the last great
best news sites. Meyer does concede that, despite efforts
moment in American
Nearly 33,000 readers last month partic- to prevent it, a considerable amount of bal-
popular music when
ipated in a poll conducted by NewsLink lot-stuffing took place, and that
black and white kids
(www.newslink.org), a popular webzine Boston.com — which, unlike many web-
could listen to the
published by the American Journalism Re- sites, did not build in a link to NewsLink so
same hit songs,
view. And Boston.com came in 51st, just that readers could vote for it — was at a
before honky
missing a spot in the Top 50, despite finish- disadvantage.
alternative radio came
ing fourth in the inaugural survey a year ago. The first Then, too, some of the luster has faded from Bos-
along and resegregated
five choices this year: CNN Interactive, the winner for ton.com since its debut in the fall of 1995. Widely
everything.
the second year in a row; the Washington Post; USA judged at the time to be one of the best media web-
Today; the New York Times; and the NandO Times, sites in the country, its slow loading speed and its
“| STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT 1’M LOOKING
published by the Raleigh News & Observer. failure to include the entire day’s Globe now make it
FOR (RADIO MIX),” recorded by Negativland.
Gina Maniscalico, Boston.com’s executive director, look a bit worn.
Bono may yelp about freedom, but
protests that since NewsLink was rating news sites, it Maniscalco, though, is having none of that, as-
in 1990 U2’s record label used
should have listed the Globe serting that Boston.com attracts 10 times the traf-
all its might to suppress this
(www.boston.com/globe) instead of the top level of fic it did a year ago, and that, according to a rough
track. The official
Boston.com, which encompasses some 30 media estimate, 30,000 to 50,000 users log on every day.
complaint: that the
partners, including magazines and broadcast-news “| judge our popularity by what our own statistics
recording’s title, “U2,”
operations. And she says that NewsLink even man- tell us,” she says.
would confuse
aged to get the address for Boston.com wrong — Dan Kennedy
consumers. Perhaps,
though, the Irish lads
were more upset by what
AWARDS
seem to be profanity-laced
Score two for the local girl outtakes from Casey Kasem’s
radio show, including one in
which the genial Casey rants about
There aren't too many surpris- her single “Mother Mother” is how stupid the U2 members’ stage names are.
es in this week’s Grammy nomi- up there with some of the big-
nation announcements. gies, including Sheryl Crow's “If “SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS),”
Babyface’s name is all over the It Makes You Happy” and Bon- recorded by Marilyn Manson.
place, the Beatles are back in the nie Raitt’s “Burning Down the Call it the Pat Boone principle: no matter how
running for Best Pop Perfor- House,” in Best Female Rock thrilling a new sound, some pinhead will finda
mance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Performance. And her de- way to make it boring. But these Alice Cooper
Vocal, and other old-timers like but CD The Burdens of Being wannabes earn mention for
Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Eric Upright (Island), which was cer- doing that to shock rock,
Clapton, and Bruce Springsteen tified gold last November, will be which was designed to
all, predictably, have their share going head to head with Tori repel the masses.
of nominations. Amos’s Boys for Pele (Atlantic), After Manson
The lone new artist who seems Beck's Odelay (DGC), R.E.M.’s finished piling up
to have caught the ear of the es- New Adventures in Hi-Fi (Warn- the transgressive
tablishment, to judge by her pair er Bros.), and Smashing Pump- clichés — cross-
of Grammy nominations, is Bos- kins’ Mellon Collie and the Infi- dressing, noisy
ton’s own Tracy Bonham. Bon- nite Sadness (Virgin). guitar, sinister
ham didn’t make the cut in the So what’s Bonham up to now? vocals — their
Best New Artist category, where After a year of heavy touring, she product was more
Garbage, Jewel, No Doubt, the is currently taking a month off in Top 40 ready, and
Tony Rich Project, and LeAnn Boston to write new material. less spooky, than the
Rimes are set to battle it out. But — Matt Ashare Eurythmics’ original.
— Tom Scocca
aa
8 JANUARY 10, 1997 MEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX
SHAWN
|| The Boston Phoenix has been covering the more deeply embarrassing than the face of
| trends and events that define our times since Burt Reynolds, eyes welling, chin atremble,
1966. The following selections, culled from staring feelingly into the camera and
our back files, were compiled by Chris Wright. |a nnouncing that he wants a kid. Sniffling
about love and children and art, he has the
| Beauty and the beast effulgent phoniness of a fundamentalist
years ago: January 10, 1992 huckster. Besides, Reynolds's cow-eyed sclf-
| | While Boston’s theater district has always pity looks pretty shabby on the most
attempted to elevate man’s spirit, the successful actor in the country.”
| neighboring Combat Zone has aimed, well,
| significantly lower. These days the lofty 2 Argentinean beef
| seems to have gained some ground on the years ago: January 11, 1977
| down-and-dirty, but, as Maureen Dezell It’s difficult to believe, but Andrew Lloyd
% = | _ §§| lamented, things were looking grim for a bit. |W ebber's Evita is not the worst event to
special guests . m™ | “Lower Washington Street houses some have befallen long-suffering Argentina. Stu
é r | seedy, sorry sights these days. Lafayette Place Cohen reported incidents that in sheer
| has gone bankrupt. The Opera House is dreadfulness surpassed even Madonna’s
likely to be boarded up soon. Drug dealing warbling.
and prostitution are increasing; police patrols “Last March 24, a well-organized and
| have been stepped up. Today, the liveliest thoroughly predictable military coup
sector is one that many had hoped would be dislodged President Isabel Perén from
gone by now. Instead of dying, though, that office. The civil war between the army and
| block — what remains of Boston’s Combat the guerrillas, the growing economic
| Zone — is showing signs of renewed life.” nightmare, the rampant corruption at every
level in Mrs. Perén’s administration —
1 The Beasties and a beaut each of these conditions encouraged
years ago: January 13, 1987 popular support for the coup.”
iniueemaes "aie The Beastie Boys are something ofa n ’ ,
ae - institution these days, but when Licensed To Ill 2 Lewd awakenings
sa debuted Chuck Eddy got quite beside himself. years ago: January 11, 1972
Orp aYsielan j f heatre “The Beastie Boys are three white smart- Rent strikes. War protests. Naked hippies.
asses from Brooklyn let loose in and laying The times, they were a-changing, and
waste to their wildest, most diseased answers were blowing in the wind. Authority
Friday Feb 28 7:30pm aii tickets :23"
daydreams. Pissing on the sober face of socially. was being challenged all over the place,
acceptable adult decorum, reveling in orgiastic particularly by groups such as Cambridge’s
fantasies of next-big-thing rock stardom, using | Lewd Commune, which ruffled feathers by
On Sale Vionday 1 eFsTaa hammer-of-the-gods Stratocaster licks advocating sexual openness. As Bob Chassell
burglarized from Tony reported, the beleaguered
lommi and Jimmy Page as Establishment often resorted to
Tickets available at Orpheum Theatre Box Office, select Newbury | weapons, and exhibiting the the principle “if you can’t beat
next CALL (6 17, } VRE <P Comics locations & Strawberries in ted yt *An additional
the NEXT website is service charge will be paid to and retained by ticket company on collective bravado of Bill "em, beat ‘em anyway.”
eras st, a at outlets or by phone. “Plus $.50 facility surcharge &
eones www.bo: On, com/ {sT=).4¢@ $.50 for Sports for Boston Youth. *Date, time and ticket price subject Haley and Bobby Fuller and “Last year the Lewd Commune
oi to change without notice. - Johnny Rotten, all balanced was acquitted of ‘lewd and
on Bronxilla beats enormous lascivious’ behavior after being
enough to turn skateboards busted for nude sunbathing. But
into rocket ships fueled by the triumph ofj ustice — a jury
alcohol and junk food and proclaiming innocence — has
angel dust . . . their new not saved the commune from
{ @ I |S aAN i HI V Licensed To Ill (Def hassles with the powers that be.
Jam/Columbia) is the most Just recently, Seth Many, one of
assured LP debut of 1986. the members of the commune,
REMUNE™ (previously known as Salk Vaccine)is an
“Not bad for a trio of WOULD YOU put a_ was accused of shoplifting at
experimental treatment intended to boost the body's brats that originally backed child in this man’s care? —_Zayres. Surprisingly, both Many
natural immune response against HIV. A Phase III Trial into hip-hop by accident.” ju ~ = or poisd ih la
i° s ongoin° g to i° nvestiPg ate the effecti° veness of the i° mmune 1 Love Burts oprite rchea dsitdoireye: . t Baitx thhei nsh ad banilo tshteo leSna ke
based therapy at delaying the development of years ago: detective, though, took him to a back room
AIDS - defining conditions in HIV infected individuals. January 12, 1982 and stripped him down, just to make sure.”
Long before his well-publicized
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: estrangement from the lovely Loni Anderson, Where are they now?
- Burt Reynolds had a well-publicized break-up Maureen Dezell is a staff writer at the Bos-
¢ HIV positive, CD4+ count 300-549 with the lovely Sally Field. Stephen Schiff ton Globe. Chuck Eddy is the author of
° 18 years of age or older watched in horror as Reynolds, airing his Stairway to Hell: The 500 Best Heavy Metal
ep : frustrations on national TV, yearned for a Albums in the Universe. Stephen Schiff is a
¢ Individuals allowed to be on Burt Jr. staff writer at the New Yorker and has writ-
anti retroviral drug therapy “There are few images in the wonderful ten a screenplay for the latest film version of
world of entertainment these days that are Nabokov’s Lolita, which is in production.
¢ No history of or current AIDS - defining
conditions except for KS
reality check by David Sipress
Treatment lasts up to 3 years with visits every
12 weeks. Study treatment, lab tests and medical
exams are provided free of charge. Sometimes
cae Join us for hove no idea
“=MUNE EDUCATIONAL FORUM |
On January 15th from 7pm - 9pm at | who ¥° met
Seto feletemal-teleele alG elelianaslaa Gaelian
40 Trinity Place, Boston
(near Back Bay Station & Copley Place)
Jaro) ape ete)c cm belle) acer-tatesemer-te
JSI Research and Training
at 61 7-482-9485ext.548
Men & Women of all Backgrounds
are Encouraged to Participate
JANUARY 10, 1997 MEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX 9
WAOPR/LWDID E
MOASRTKO W
PARCELLS: the man. CIANCI: the hain. WELD: put up. KRAFT: shut up. MENINO: watch your back.
POLITICS Some in Weld’s camp slyly point out that hance the neighborhood's image with the
he has positioned himself to appear pro- general public. (Just for the record, as a
stadium without taking any political risks. resident Bostonian born and bred, | value
Weld’s brand of hands-off support might neighborhood solidarity. Southie, however,
be annoying both Kraft and Menino, but takes it to extremes.)
then Kraft has already pissed off thousands Since the retirement of Whitey’s brother
The New England Patriots are on a roll,
with his team’s inept handling of playoff- William Bulger — a wily politician of Cian-
ticket sales — and as for Menino, he’s ci caliber — from the presidency of the
but their stadium plans are stuck. —
probably going to support Joe Kennedy for State Senate, Southie’s titular leaders have
governor. been city-council president Jimmy Kelly
The lesson: Massachusetts politicians
and State Senator Lynch.
TIME FOR some context. Eastern Massa- That Kelly, a hardworking but narrow-
seem intent on proving that they are
chusetts has three major development pro- minded pol of the old school, opposes the
jects in various stages of planning — a stadium is no surprise.
not-ready-for-prime-time players.
convention center, a new ballpark for the But the same stand is disappointing com-
Red Sox, and a new stadium for the Patri- ing from Lynch. He has the wit to put to-
ots. The convention center and the ballpark gether a deal that might guarantee a por-
are undeniably Boston-centric. tion of the construction jobs to his blue-
Un-Patriotic
Will any of these ever be built? Probably. collar constituents — as well as sizable
But there is no telling when. Southie representation on the workforce of
Why? Because so many local political and any convention center/stadium complex.
economic players exhibit a mindset that is He might even come up with a plan to
equal parts provincial, sophisticated, and block neighborhood streets to outside traf-
BY PETER KADZIS self-centered: Or, to put it another way, too fic during the eight to 10 weekends that
many are too smart for everyone’s good. football would be played.
In the abstract, there is no reason why a This, of course, is idle speculation.
convention center and a stadium can't be A Phoenix poll of a representative sample
HIS HAS NOT been a good week doned incinerator on which to build the built.in the vacant expanse abutting down- of political players yiclded the almost unan-
for the local political establishment. new stadium Kraft so fiercely wants, and town that is technically part of South Boston. imous conclusion that only a convention
Governor Bill Weld and Boston truly needs. If this were Atlanta it could happen. Dit- center could be built on the Southie site.
Mayor Tom Menino look like not-ready- Few want to say so, but the site is a dog. to Charlotte. LA might pull it off. Chicago Nobody has the stomach to take on the
for-prime-time players. Marisa Lago, Menino’s now departed de- would give it a shot. neighborhood on the stadium issue. And
They've been done in, at least temporarily, velopment chief, offered it to the Patriots But this is Boston — the home of the not too many trust the NFL or Bob Kraft.
by an unlikely cabal: Patriots owner Bob as one of her lame-duck acts. And the fact bean, the cod, and the neighborhood faction. The NFL is eminently untrustworthy. Its
Kraft, a hard-headed businessman; the Na- is that Lago herself was a dud. It was a no- As anyone who follows local politics notion of negotiation is sometimes tanta-
tional Football League management, a gang ble experiment to bring her from Balti- knows, South Boston is a proud, compact, mount to blackmail. As for Kraft, as one ob-
of opportunistic bully boys; and Providence more, but she never worked out. The may- not-very-affluent collection of precincts that server put it, “Many are irritated by his out-
mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, the undis- or kept her on too long, and responsibility wields political clout out of all proportion front behavior.” Kraft is a guy accustomed
puted political leader of am uch smaller city for the current development malaise can be with its size, primarily because its residents to getting what he wants. But after enjoying
who plays a rough game of politics — some- laid in part at her feet — and, by exten- have the smarts to vote in large numbers. months of publicity as the man who saved
times roguish, but almost always brilliant. sion, at the mayor’s. Southie has its share of distinguished the Patriots from moving to St. Louis, he’s
Unfair, say defenders of Weld and Meni- Kraft’s own choice for a site is a prime sons, daughters, and residents: US Repre- turned into a public-relations nightmare.
no, who point out that these three horse- undeveloped location on the fringe of South sentative Joseph Moakley, populist Herald
men of embarrassment enjoy-only the Boston, close to downtown. The Globe and columnist Peter Gelzinis, and State Senator TO HIS credit, Kraft has pledged about
short-term advantage afforded them by an the Herald have all but endorsed his plan. Stephen Lynch, to name three. $200 million of his own money to build the
unexpectedly triumphant football team. Bill Weld, for his part, has continued to jaw It may be unkind, but it’s nevertheless stadium, in exchange for necessary improve-
Still, it must have killed Weld and Menino in general about his support for the stadium, accurate to point out that two of the neigh- ments to the neighboring infrastructure.
to pick up the Globe and the Herald earlier but has done little to makes things jell. (It’s borhood’s favorite cultural pursuits are Still, expert political opinion ranges from
this week and see the headlines: the NFL had worth remembering that the Weld Adminis- speculating on the whereabouts of a federal weary resignation to outright support for
chosen Providence, not Boston, as the official tration exhibited a distinct lack of leadership fugitive known as “Whitey” and playing the idea of building the stadium right where
host of Sunday’s AFC championship game several years ago when the deal to build a lottery scratch cards. Hostility to blacks in it is now — in Foxborough.
between the Patriots and the Jacksonville new Boston Garden — translation, Fleet- general, and to gays and lesbians who There is an element of the “gotcha” in all
Jaguars. But the real killer was that front- Center — almost fell apart.) aren't natives, has also done little to en- this. When Kraft owned the stadium, but
page photo of Cianci, grinning like a Borgia not the team, he was a booster supreme of
prince who had just ravaged a nunnery. Foxborough. Situated in the triangle
What's the fuss? Aside from the political formed by Boston, Providence, and
penis envy (not to be discounted in all this Worcester, it was, he said, a superb region-
boys-will-be-boys jousting), it’s the free na- al location.
tional publicity — attention that would Now that Kraft controls the neighboring
probably cost a couple of hundred thou- Foxboro Park raceway — having squeezed
sand dollars to buy — that now accrues to longtime operator Charlie Sarkis out in an-
Providence. ticipation of an expected future deal to allow
The episode also highlights a larger prob- expanded gambling facilities — he has, the
lem: for more than 20 years, Boston has had presumption goes, more than cnough room
real trouble coming to grips with its urban to maneuver. He can simply tear down the
planning and development issues. Quincy track, build a new stadium, and then build a
Market, for example, almost went undevel- new track on the old stadium site.
oped because no one would spring for the There is a logic to this.
money needed to build a parking garage. The best plan for the city would be a
Only a crisis sparked resolution. That’s the joint complex in South Boston. But if that’s
way business is done in this town. a political impossibility, then the governor
Providence, by contrast, got its act to- and the mayor should say so.
gether years ago and undertook a massive Menino has been clear that his first pri-
renovation of its downtown. The city isn’t ority is getting the convention center built.
out of the woods yet, but it’s inching to- If he won't help turn public opinion around
ward a comeback. Development, it turns in Southie, then he ought to stand up and
out, is not just a political game: ii’s how say the stadium belongs in Foxborough.
cities make their names. Weld, for his part, might do well to get
Truth be told, this week’s Patriots news his hands dirty and take a stronger stand
isn’t such a surprise — visiting teams play- on the issue.
ing at Foxboro have lodged in Providence As for Bob Kraft — well, at this point
for years. But the NFL’s very public an- he’s best off keeping his mouth shut. ®
nouncement of Providence as official host
seems calculated to wound Menino, who ae 4 & AWPO/RWLIDDE P eter Kadzis can be reached at
has offered Kraft the site of the city’s aban- ANTI-CLIMAX: many political players believe the Patriots should stay in Foxboro. [email protected].
10 JANUARY 10, 1997 NEWS THE BOSTON PHOENIX
WE HOLD THIS truth to be self-evident: Boston’s
public schools blow.
Some, of course, are worse than others. And a few —
especially among the elementary schools — are even
very good. But mostly, overwhelmingly, they blow.
What proportion of Boston’s high-school juniors can
read at grade level? Twenty-four percent, thank you,
and that remarkable showing actually includes students
from the exam schools, which require a test for admit-
tance. What proportion of 11th graders demonstrate
similar competence in math? Six (6) percent. Boston
Latin, anyone? Yeah, yeah, take a number.
How did the city’s schools get this way? BY YVONNE ABRAHAM
It depends who you ask. Maybe it was de-
segregation, or court-ordered busing, or
racism. Maybe it was apathetic teachers, or
parents, or students. Maybe it was the
unions, school committees, city councils,
or mayors, all playing politics with educa-
tion. Maybe it was because the economy,
or the family, collapsed. Or maybe because
everybody was — and still is — so ob-
sessed with where kids go to school that
they forgot all about what happens to them
once they get there.
Whatever the reason, the result is a system
in which the teaching varies wildly between
schools and classrooms. It’s a system in
which it’s nearly impossible to track the per-
formance of students and teachers because
there are no reliable, standardized tests based
on uniform curricula. And it’s a system in
which the gap between the vast black and
Hispanic majority and the diminishing white
and Asian minority yawns wider with every
grade. A system from which white, middle-
class, and upper-working-class parents pull
their kids, often moving out of Boston, leav-
ing the city to the rich and the poor.
To be sure, these problems are not unique
to Boston. Nor are they new; the past two
decades have been especially bad ones for the
nation’s schools. It’s just that now, education
has finally attained hot-button status (witness
‘ Bob Dole’s tirade about “militant teachers’
unions” at the Republican convention). Ev-
erybody seems to be talking about the sorry
state of the schools. And everybody's got a
cure for what ails them — vouchers, school
choice, charter schools, uniforms, comput-
ers, union-busting, reading volunteers, de-
tention, even re-segregation.
Here in Boston, 12 superintendents since
1963 have tried to fix the schools. No dice.
And though Bostonians aren't the only peo-
ple in America to have lived through an
ugly desegregation battle, they act as if they
were, which makes education reform here
an extra-perilous, politically charged un-
dertaking, especially for outsiders. Some
folks say the schools can't be fixed at all.
Others say they can be saved, but only if
somebody does it now, before the malaise
consumes them.
Enter Dr. Thomas W. Payzant, a man
who is not quite the bomb many in this town
have long maintained the system needs.
He’s a man who was criticized as a can-
didate for the superintendent’s job in mid
1995 because he lacked charisma. A mild-
mannered man who has been praised most
often for quiet qualities like diligence, con-
centration, and lack of ego. A man who
hasn't lived here for 30 years. A man whose
public persona to date has been marked by
a kind of insistent blandness.
But this is the man who, since October
1995, has been working to save the Boston
schools. He actually, fervently believes he
can do it. Thing is, a lot of other people :
think he can, too. PAYZANT IN SCHOOL: “You know at any moment he can drop in unannounced.”